articles my EDITOR hesitateS to publish

---

A ceasefire deal to end the killing in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages has been negotiated just in time for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Whatever we call the humanitarian catastrophe endured since October of 2023, it will always be associated with American President Joe Biden and his administration.

We have learned much over the last 15 months; our world is forever changed. Now we are left with many more questions. To find the answers, fewer and fewer people are looking to the mainstream media, with alternative news sources now filling the void, especially among younger generations. 

There is a huge difference between mainstream and alternative news coverage, especially when it comes to the Biden-sponsored assault on Gaza. Two events in Toronto in 2024 illustrate what appears to be an anti-Palestine bias in the mainstream media, though the bias also extends to law enforcement and government.

In February of last year, during a protest in downtown Toronto, a character dubbed “Spiderman for Palestine” climbed from building to building raising a Palestinian flag. One of these buildings was Mount Sanai Hospital, a Jewish institution. This was immediately condemned as an act of antisemitism by everyone from the Mayor of Toronto to the Prime Minister of Canada. 

Chelsey Lichtman of Jews Say No To Genocide, one of the organizers of the march, said, “Spiderman for Palestine is somebody who commonly comes to these protests and is a climbing expert. There was no specific targeting of any of the structures that he chose to climb.” 

Despite the reasonable doubt as to the motivation of Spiderman for Palestine, an editorial in the National Post concluded, « They protested a Jewish hospital because they hate Jews, or at the very least are entirely tolerant of people who hate Jews….Everyone knows it. »

Several months later, in the Toronto neighbourhood of Leslieville, vandals stenciled the words « F*** Gaza » using spray paint on everything from bus shelters to planter boxes. Instead of calling this an alleged act of anti-Palestinian racism or a potential hate crime, the Toronto Police charged three suspects with « mischief to property under $5,000. »

What is especially interesting is that the incident received almost no coverage in the mainstream media. A headline in the Toronto Sun simply stated, “3 charged, 1 wanted after city properties vandalized over Middle East conflict. »

Most of what we know comes from independent Toronto journalist Samira Mohyeddin, who has confirmed that one of the suspects is Robert Walker, assistant director of the Israeli media watchdog Honest Reporting Canada. 

I would be remiss not to address the potential accusation of schadenfreude directed at both Mohyeddin and me because Honest Reporting Canada has many times targeted our journalism. I have even been accused of being anti-Israel. 

My readers will note that I consistently promote human rights and international law. More than anything, I want all people, including those in the Levant, to live in peace, regardless of their religion. I recognize Israel’s right to exist, and I am deeply concerned about the long-term impact of Israel’s current policies. One only needs to look at historical patterns to see the warning signs. Napoleon’s unending military aggression, for example, led to his downfall.  

I also wish no ill on Mr. Walker, but I am puzzled by his alleged actions. 

One thing is clear: The world wants an end to violence. We want politicians and journalists who are fair and honest because truth leads to peace. Promoting human rights is not a partisan effort; all individuals everywhere deserve great respect. 

For the moment, Donald Trump is the world’s hero for achieving a ceasefire when Joe Biden could only make excuses while thousands upon thousands of innocent children were traumatized and murdered. 

May President Trump’s ceasefire endure so that Palestinians, Israelis, and all people of West Asia can live in equality, peace, and prosperity.

Prince George, BC, January 2, 2025/Troy Media/ - What will happen in 2025? It is a question we ask about each new year as it begins. Of course, no one knows the answer to this question, but we can look at historical patterns to gain an idea of what is likely to happen if certain actions are taken.

First, we need to understand that wars of aggression are never a good idea. More territory may be taken, but occupying another nation is an endless drain on a country’s resources. In addition, one will always face tremendous resistance in fighting against people defending their homeland. It is always most economically expedient to develop mutually beneficial relationships with other nations. 

Secondly, “shock and awe” methods of warfare only lead to short-term gains. When civilian populations are bombed it has the metaphorical impact of swatting a beehive with a stick. One will get stung and be forced to retreat.

Thirdly, while Western military weaponry was once the most effective and advanced in the world, other countries have now caught up. In essence, Western countries and their allies are paying huge sums of money for weaponry that is proving inferior to what is produced more cheaply in other countries. This could change in the future, but in 2025, the West has no response to the Russian Oreshnik missile.

Fourthly, Western politicians need to be mindful of the fact that young people understand the realities of war and will not volunteer for the military. Whereas in World War I, it was relatively easy to manipulate the media to create a frenzy of support for “God and King”, this is now impossible. Western governments may use air and missile attacks, but there can be no follow-up with boots on the ground. 

It is also significant to note that the West, and in particular the United States, has become more isolated politically and economically. We see this not only in votes in the United Nations General Assembly, but in the growth of influence of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) nations. In addition, the International Monetary Fund reports, “an ongoing gradual decline in the (US) dollar’s share of allocated foreign reserves of central banks and governments.” Perceived support for Israel’s aggressions against Palestinians has also resulted in significant losses for American companies, and one wonders what the long-term impact of this shift in consumer spending will be for both the United States and their allies.

The unavoidable reality is that the American Empire has weakened itself in the last 30 years largely due to failed military exploits. To continue to attack other countries, either directly as was done in Afghanistan and Iraq, or through proxies, as is currently being done in Ukraine and Israel, will only hasten this decline. It could also lead to World War III.

Of course, there is an alternative to world war. There are structures in place that provide a mechanism to settle disputes through negotiation rather than military aggression. We have a system of international humanitarian law, which if respected, will significantly reduce the risk of further violence.  In addition, international economic collaboration is far more conducive to long-term stability than exploitation and isolationism. 

What will be written in the history books about 2025? Will we build a better world, or will we destroy what we and our ancestors have built? We can naively ignore our current reality and continue on the road to military aggression, or we can come to our senses, accept the situation as it is, deal effectively with the mistakes we have made, and begin to work together.