The National Interest Foundation Newsletter

Issue 254, September 27, 2024

Welcome to our NIF Newsletter. In this week’s edition, we examine how Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on Lebanon have prompted fear of an all-out war, look into Israeli forces’ raiding and shutting down of Al Jazeera’s office in the occupied West Bank, and provide analysis on the Biden administration’s proposal of a ban on Chinese software in vehicles.

Editor: Bassam Tarbush

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Israel’s Indiscriminate Attacks on Lebanon Prompt Fear of an All-Out War

Israel’s Indiscriminate Attacks on Lebanon Prompt Fear of an All-Out War

By Daniel Imbornoni

Israel’s reckless ongoing bombing campaign in Lebanon has elicited fresh concern over the prospect of a widening conflict in the Middle East. The indiscriminate attacks have drawn condemnation for the large-scale devastation and displacement that they have caused, including an alarming civilian death toll. The strikes began days after Israel’s highly-criticized pager and walkie-talkie explosions across Lebanon which killed dozens and left thousands of others injured. These bellicose and inflammatory actions from Israel have spurred the latest escalation in tensions, and the subsequent tit-for-tat with Hezbollah that has ensued has yet again put the region on edge and prompted fear of a catastrophic all-out war.

Israel was denounced for its device explosion operation which stoked the most recent spike in tensions and violence, with these being identified as war crimes and acts of state-sponsored terrorism by prominent watchdog organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. This is due to the fact that those who planned and carried out the attacks did so with the awareness that innocent civilians would be killed and wounded, as regrettably of course, ended up being the case. As such, the actions were indiscriminate, a condition that is illegal under international law, and thus necessitates a war crime investigation. Unfortunately, this is merely one in a long line of many unlawful actions and policies that have been carried out by Israel in the preceding months. All of these have resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, mass devastation, and the creation of a dire humanitarian crisis.

As a result of the destructive Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the staggering number of civilians killed or wounded continues to rise, while hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced and forced to flee from their homes in southern Lebanon due to the intense and indiscriminate bombardment. Earlier this week on Monday, Lebanon was said to have experienced its deadliest day in nearly two decades. Human rights groups like Amnesty International have outlined how many of the areas struck by Israeli attacks in recent days were crowded residential areas, with medical facilities and personnel also coming under fire. Israel’s unwavering onslaught on Gaza has seen more than 42,000 Palestinians killed during the past year, and now, the latest attacks on Lebanon have consisted of the same reckless and indiscriminate manner of military warfare. This has created a critical need for humanitarian relief efforts in southern Lebanon, as various organizations are hard at work trying to provide food, water, shelter, and other essentials to the hundreds of thousands that have been negatively impacted.

While mediating parties have been trying to bring about an end to the latest Israel-Hezbollah hostilities, Israel appears to be seeking to ramp up efforts on its northern border even further. Israeli officials continue to conduct offensive operations in Lebanon, directly contributing to retaliatory actions and attacks from Hezbollah. Belligerent behavior like this is consistent with the long-held belief that Israeli officials are purposefully provoking escalations in the region and perpetuating conflict. In fact, Israeli armed forces have stated that they are now preparing for a possible ground operation into Lebanon, even amid growing international pressure for a negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected global calls for a cessation of hostilities and appears defiant and hell-bent to press ahead with the attacks. He cavalierly dismissed the United States and France-drawn up plan, which had also gained backing from a host of other countries, disdainfully stating that he would “continue the fighting with full force,” both in Lebanon and in Gaza. All of this comes as UN officials issue warnings regarding the troubling deteriorating situation unfolding and the need to stop the violence that has fueled fear of a broadening regional war. The possibility of a protracted conflict is a worrying one which would come at the expense of innocent civilians in the region, and only serve to foster animosity.

The Israeli government’s latest actions in Lebanon are not those of an entity which in any way appears interested in quelling hostilities in the region, and on the contrary, exhibit a desire to perpetuate and exacerbate conflict. As the longstanding and destructive Gaza War nears its 1-year milestone, Israeli officials now seem keen on opening a new front, despite widespread international calls to put an end to hostilities in Gaza and halt the escalations in Lebanon. These military actions and policies endanger the livelihood of civilians in Gaza and the Israeli-Lebanese border region. If they are allowed to continue, the world will sadly bear witness to more reprehensible war crimes and human rights violations.

Israeli Forces Raid and Shut Down Al Jazeera’s Office in the Occupied West Bank

Israeli Forces Raid and Shut Down Al Jazeera’s Office in the Occupied West Bank

By Jake Spiller

This past weekend, armed Israeli troops stormed Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, a Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank. The soldiers raided the bureau with a military order to shut down its operations, telling local Al Jazeera staff that they had ten minutes to collect their belongings and leave. During the raid, the Israeli military seized cameras and sealed the building. Notably, the move is completely arbitrary and can be renewed indefinitely at the Israeli government’s request. This all comes merely four months after Netanyahu’s government shut down Al Jazeera from operating within Israel as well. The raid is just the latest effort in the Israeli crackdown on the media network, which provides around-the-clock coverage of the Israeli war crimes being committed in Gaza in addition to human rights abuses taking place in the occupied West Bank. The news network is also currently providing live reports and updates on the Israeli attacks being carried out in Lebanon.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have long made baseless allegations that the media outlet has an anti-Israel bias, when in fact, it has simply drawn their ire due to its extensive coverage and documentation of Israeli human rights violations and war crimes. Analysts have pointed to how the closure is an affront to the principles of press freedom and objective journalism, and that the repressive action is blatantly intended to prevent the world from seeing the reality of what is unfolding both in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. As was also the case after the recent Israeli suppression back in May, many American and international organizations have denounced Israel’s latest actions against Al Jazeera, including Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders. The Israeli Foreign Press Association rebuked the government’s move as well, calling the West Bank raid and shut down a threat to press freedom and a shift away from democratic values.

Despite the global criticism regarding the destructive Gaza War, Netanyahu has been unwilling to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal, sparking increasingly large protests from citizens who see that the Israeli prime minister is undoubtedly putting his political and personal considerations above all others. Netanyahu’s actions against Al Jazeera only further fuel dissent regarding his undemocratic stand. Some might wonder why, after shutting down Al Jazeera’s operations within Israel, Netanyahu’s government is now going after their bureau in the occupied West Bank? Well, while the war rages on in Gaza, violations have concurrently only skyrocketed in the West Bank, fueled by Israeli settler violence against Palestinians. In direct defiance of international law, the number of illegal Israeli settlers continues to rise, forcibly displacing entire Palestinian families and communities. The uptick in violence has even prompted the U.S. and U.K. governments to react, as both have, beginning back in February of this year, imposed sanctions on certain individuals and organizations that are targeting Palestinian communities. Regrettably, these have had little effect due to the Israeli government’s too often seen protection, state-sponsoring, and incitement of settler violence.

Al Jazeera is one of the few media outlets providing comprehensive round-the-clock coverage of Gaza and the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank. Many viewers trust Al Jazeera to show frontline and unfettered insight into the mass suffering caused as a result of Israeli human rights abuses and war crimes. In the West Bank, Al Jazeera has covered stories from the assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the hands of Israeli forces while covering one of their violent raids in Jenin up to the most recent heinous murder of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi – an activist killed while protesting against unlawful Israeli settlements. The news network has documented how the increasing violence as a result of Israeli raids and settlements has only gotten worse since the onset of the Gaza War. Within Gaza itself, Al Jazeera journalists continue to provide live updates of the war’s mass destruction, including the alarming killing of civilians and the unprecedented high level of murdered journalists and humanitarian aid workers.

Even after the recent move, Al Jazeera vowed to continue working in Gaza and the West Bank, outlining the importance of maintaining global focus on what is taking place there. Israel’s actions in shutting down a media outlet are clearly in violation of the core democratic value of press freedom, as Israeli officials are actively seeking to suppress news coverage which sheds light on their human rights abuses. Thus, the decision should raise alarm bells regarding the extent to which they are willing to go in order to hinder awareness of them and try to avoid any potential accountability. Without a free and fair media, Israel cannot claim to be a democracy, and belongs on a list alongside repressive regimes that also silence impartial coverage and the truth.

Biden Administration Proposes a Ban on Chinese Software in Vehicles

Biden Administration Proposes a Ban on Chinese Software in Vehicles

By Meg Richards

Under the contemporary political climate these days, one of the most notable things U.S. elected officials appear to agree on across party lines is cracking down on China. In a recent bipartisan action aimed at strengthening national security, President Biden announced a proposed ban on Chinese-developed software in American vehicles. This would not affect cars currently in the United States, but would rather go into effect in 2027 – and in 2030, so would a ban on Chinese and Russian hardware used in vehicles. Coming months after new 100% tariffs on Chinese electric cars, President Biden’s newest measure in encouraging “American-made” is all in an effort to protect us citizens – but it is important to delve into whether this is truly the sole motivation behind the proposed plan, and how it might evolve following the outcome of the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Hypothetically, the security threat implied here is that a foreign adversary could possess the ability to “shut down or take simultaneous control of multiple vehicles,” according to White House officials. If initiated, this would be potentially catastrophic and result in road blockages and car crashes. Proponents of the ban have also argued that Chinese, Russian, or other foreign officials can utilize the existing software technology in the cars to access a user’s WiFi and Bluetooth, leaving them vulnerable to their personal information ending up in the wrong hands. At the moment, the more pressing issue seems to be with Chinese software specifically, since Russian software is much fewer and farther between in American cars. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed that “We’ve already seen ample evidence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) pre-positioning malware on our critical infrastructure for the purpose of disruption and sabotage,” allegations that the Chinese government has denied. Presently, the proposed ban is still in its early stages, awaiting approval to be enacted.

Given that these possible bans will not go into effect for another three years, and that no action is being taken to prevent these cyber-attacks against cars already on U.S. soil, it is hard not to view them as punitive measures towards a top trade competitor rather than merely an act in defense of American citizens. In tandem with Congress’ sweeping effort to encourage TikTok to cut ties with China, it can certainly be argued that the government is trying to protect us from our vulnerabilities being shown to potential bad actors. However, in consideration with Biden’s new tariffs, it seems like nothing short of a game of chess with a longtime competitor. In any case, it will only accelerate, no matter who wins the election in November. The question that lingers, for both candidates, is: what American products will fill the void, and how will we get there? We do not have access to the same technology as China, the world’s largest market for cars and electric car batteries. Half the cars in China are electric – the United States’ 6.8% pales in comparison. As such, our car manufacturers cannot adapt to the ever-evolving market and advancements in technology as quickly, nor do we have the resources to, which is why we have been relying on China for the products. Consider these possible negative repercussions for Americans, and the fact that we have three years to catch up to where China is now. It may certainly be largely about safety and security, and while that is commendable, there may be collateral damage that either Former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will inherit and have to deal with.

As outlined in a recent article on the subject, “Nonetheless, whether Former President Donald J. Trump is returned to the Oval Office or Vice President Kamala Harris is elected, experts believe that the expanding list of banned Chinese imports – and the restrictions on what kinds of chips and software can be exported to Beijing – will most likely only accelerate.” So far, U.S. banned imports from China have specifically targeted companies accused of using forced labor, and while Biden argues that increased tariffs and restrictions on Chinese imports are for the sake of security and safety, it also seems like a move to assert the United States as an aggressive trading competitor. With respect to what is anticipated to transpire next, experts say that it could result in growing tensions between the world’s two largest economies, divided by the very thing that they said would unite them: technological advances regarding the Internet.