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Israeli occupier attacks threaten historic Christian presence in West Bank town

In Taybeh, one of the few Palestinian communities with a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, fears are growing that Israeli occupier attacks on farmland and property could push more families to emigrate, threatening the town’s demographic character and historic Christian presence. Local officials and clergy warned of the impact of rising violence by Israeli occupiers, which has coincided with worsening living and economic conditions in the town. Taybeh, east of Ramallah, is one of the few Palestinian towns in the West Bank that still has a Christian majority, according to church and local accounts. Residents say the town’s Christian roots go back thousands of years. Residents say the attacks have deepened fears in the town, even as they stress their determination to remain on their land. Also Read: Pakistan raises red flag over illegal settlements in West Bank, calls for Israel accountability In recent years, Israeli occupiers have established several ill...

Australia strips military officers of war medals over Afghanistan war crimes

Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has revoked distinguished service medals from several Australian Defence Force (ADF) officers in response to findings from the Brereton Report, which uncovered alleged war crimes in Afghanistan under their command. The exact number of officers affected remains undisclosed but is fewer than ten. This decision is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address accountability following the 2020 report, which recommended investigations into 19 soldiers for the killing of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners, as well as the mistreatment of two others. Although the report found no evidence that higher-ranking commanders were aware of the crimes, it held them morally responsible for the actions of their units. While some commanders have lost their honours, former Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell, who led Australian forces in the Middle East, retains his Distinguished Service Cross. The government has finalised its response to nearly all of the report’s 143 recommendations and has launched a compensation process for victims of Australian military misconduct. However, inquiries by the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) into potential prosecutions continue and are expected to take years. The decision has sparked controversy within the defence community. Critics, including some veterans' groups and political figures like Senator Jacqui Lambie, have condemned the timing, which coincides with the release of a royal commission report into Defence and Veterans Suicide. Others argue the investigation did not go far enough up the chain of command to hold top officers accountable. Despite the criticism, Marles emphasized the importance of holding Australia accountable for the war crimes and praised the courage of those who brought the allegations to light.

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