Project Nimbus: Why are Google workers protesting against Israel deal?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/23/what-is-project-nimbus-and-why-are-google-workers-protesting-israel-deal
Known as Project Nimbus, the joint contract between Google and Amazon signed in 2021 aims to provide cloud computing infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), and other technology services to the Israeli government and its military, which has faced condemnation for its ongoing war on Gaza.
Activists and academics have been alarmed by Israel’s use of AI to target Palestinians, while legal scholars say the use of artificial intelligence in war violates international laws.
US Muslim group denounces ‘deeper involvement in genocidal acts’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the House of Representatives for passing an unconditional $17bn military aid package for Israel as it continues its devastating war on Gaza. The group urged Americans to press senators set to vote on the bill to shut it down.
“Given the Senate’s probable approval of this legislation, our nation risks deeper involvement in genocidal acts planned by Benjamin Netanyahu, fueled by new US weapons,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S McCaw.
The group added: “Should the bill proceed to a vote, CAIR is calling on all US senators to support and vote ‘Yes’ on Senator Bernie Sanders’ latest amendments to condition US military aid on whether Israel is violating human rights in Gaza, and restore funding for UNRWA so children in Gaza don’t starve.”
Bernie Sanders offers amendments to aid package for Israel
The independent US senator from Vermont has said that he is offering two amendments to a spending package that would provide billions of dollars in aid to Israel. It is due to be voted on in the Senate this week.
“1. NO unfettered military aid for Netanyahu’s war on the Palestinian people. 2. Restore funding for UNRWA so that children in Gaza don’t starve,” Sanders said on X. On Monday, Sanders said: “We cannot continue to fund this horrific war.”
The Senate will take up the package of four bills passed by the House of Representatives, including one slating $26bn for Israel.
Activists disrupt insurer AXA’s shareholders meeting in Paris
Activists are demanding that the company divest its holdings “that fuel Israeli apartheid”, a statement by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has said.
The activists set up a two-metre-high mock separation wall and a mock military checkpoint outside of the venue “to represent Israel’s system of apartheid and oppressive control over Palestinian lives that AXA helps finance”, BDS said.
AXA invests in Israel’s Bank Hapoalim, which according to Human Rights Watch is a key financier of Israel’s illegal settlements, the movement said. “AXA cannot maintain its silence and lies to evade responsibility; not even the best public relations officer can continue to mask the hypocrisy of the AXA group and the ineffectiveness of its policy on human rights,” said Fiona Ben Chekroun, BDS Europe coordinator.
The BDS statement said research by the corporate accountability group Eko had found that in December 2023, the AXA group withdrew from Israel Discount Bank and Leumi Bank. AXA, however, still holds shares (worth approximately $2.6m) in Bank Hapoalim, one of Israel’s largest commercial banks, listed by the United Nations for its financing of Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise.
Launched by Palestinian civil society groups in 2005, the BDS movement seeks to use non-violent means to pressure Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, ensure equal rights for Palestinian citizens and respect the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
