Trump Threatens Iran with ‘Hell’ Over Protester Deaths
US President Donald Trump reiterated his threat on Thursday of retribution against Iran should the Islamic Republic target protesters who have been taking to the streets in large numbers to demonstrate against the regime over the past two weeks.
His comments coincided with the biggest protests yet of nearly two weeks of rallies across Iran, as authorities cut internet access and the death toll from a crackdown mounted.
“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots… we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
When the radio host noted that dozens have been killed in the protests, Trump countered that some of those deaths were caused by stampedes, and not necessarily caused by law enforcement.
“I’m not sure I can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that, but… they’ve been told very strongly – even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now – that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” the president said.
Trump first issued a similar threat last Friday, when he warned that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” then the US would “come to their rescue.”
At least 45 protesters, including eight minors, have been killed since the rallies began on December 28, rights groups said Thursday.
Asked on Hewitt’s radio show to offer a message of support to the anti-regime protesters in Iran, Trump said: “You should feel strongly about freedom… You’re brave people. It’s a shame what’s happened to your country. Your country was a great country.”
The already riled-up protesters in Iran were further fueled on Thursday by a call from the country’s exiled crown prince for the public to take to the streets.
The response to his call, with thousands of people shouting from their homes and rallying outside, represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Demonstrations have included cries in support of t
What is Israel’s Nation-State law?
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israel’s Nation-State Law, formally known as the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, is a constitutional law passed in July 2018 that declares Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and defines its symbols and values.
The law enshrines the establishment of Israel as the national home of the Jewish people, stating that the right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people. It also establishes Hebrew as the official language of the state and recognizes the Jewish calendar as the national calendar. Arabic was demoted from an official language to having “special status,” which sparked controversy. The law doesn’t explicitly address the principles of equality or democratic values, leading to concerns about its impact on the rights of non-Jewish citizens.
The law was approved by a vote of 62-55 in the Knesset on July 19, 2018. The full text of the Basic Law is available on the Knesset website.
Key Provisions of the Law
The Nation-State Law contains several key provisions that define Israel’s character. It explicitly states that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, promotes jewish settlement, and recognizes Jerusalem as the complete and united capital of Israel.
Specifically, Section 1 of the law states: “Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, in which the right to national self-determination is exclusive to the Jewish people.” Section 2 declares the State of Israel as open to Jewish immigration and the ingathering of exiles. Section 3 establishes Hebrew as the official language of the state, while Section 4 designates the Jewish calendar as the national calendar. Section 5 recognizes Jerusalem, complete and united, as the capital of Israel. Section 6 states that the symbols of the state, including the flag and anthem, will reflect the Jewish character of the state.
A detailed breakdown of the law’s sections can be found in the Jewish Virtual Library’s analysis of the law.
Controversies and Criticisms
The Nation-State Law has faced significant criticism, primarily from Israeli Arab citizens, civil rights organizations, and international bodies, who argue that it discriminates against non-Jewish citizens and undermines the principles of equality and democracy.
Critics argue that by defining Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, the law implicitly relegates non-Jewish citizens to a second-class status. The removal of Arabic as an official language and the emphasis on jewish settlement are seen as particularly discriminatory. Concerns have also been raised about the law’s potential impact on legal rights and protections for non-Jewish citizens.
Adalah,The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel,filed a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the law. Adalah’s campaign page details their legal challenge. In June 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition without ruling on the law’s constitutionality, citing procedural grounds. Reuters reported on the Supreme Court’s decision.
International Reactions
The international community’s reaction to the Nation-State Law has been largely critical. Many countries and organizations expressed concern that the law contradicts international standards of equality and non-discrimination.
The European union issued a statement expressing concern about the law’s compatibility with the principle of non-discrimination.Several UN Special Rapporteurs also voiced their concerns, stating that the law violates international human rights law. The United States State Department, while acknowledging Israel’s right to define itself, also expressed concern about the law’s potential impact on equality.
The United Nations Human Rights Office released a statement on July 27, 2018, stating that the law is “clearly discriminatory” and violates Israel’s obligations under international law. the full statement is available on the OHCHR website.