Category: Conflict

Pope Leo XIV Proposes Vatican for Ukraine Peace Talks

Staff ReporterConflict, Politics 0

Pope Leo XIV has offered to host peace talks at the Vatican following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

VATICAN CITY — Amidst intensifying conflict in Ukraine, Pope Leo XIV met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday at the pope’s summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, located south of Rome. The encounter focused on peacemaking efforts for the war-torn nation.

The Vatican released a statement following the meeting, noting the pope’s expression of sorrow for the victims and his continued prayers and support for the Ukrainian people. The statement emphasized the pope’s encouragement for endeavors aimed at the release of prisoners and the pursuit of shared solutions. It highlighted the “cordial” nature of the 30-minute conversation, stressing the urgent need for a just and lasting peace and underscoring dialogue as the preferred path to ending the conflict.

The meeting occurred during a significant escalation of hostilities. On May 25, Russia launched its largest drone and missile assault since the conflict began in February 2022. These attacks persisted into Wednesday, with Russia deploying over 700 drones targeting strategic locations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S. mediation efforts have faltered, as no agreement has materialized to end the war.

Pope Leo reiterated his openness to hosting Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the Vatican to broker peace. Zelenskyy, while addressing Vatican journalists upon leaving Villa Barberini, expressed his country’s desire to conclude the war and their reliance on the Vatican and Pope Leo for a high-level meeting place conducive to peace negotiations.

Initially, Pope Leo XIV extended the offer to mediate peace talks shortly after his first meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican following the pope’s inauguration on May 18. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has supported this proposition and engaged in discussions with the Ukrainian leader.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov disparaged the potential Vatican meeting as “vulgar,” arguing that it was inappropriate for a Catholic institution to host discussions between two predominantly Orthodox nations. Lavrov voiced his objections during a conference in Moscow on May 23.

President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Vatican for its assistance in repatriating Ukrainian prisoners and children displaced by the war. In this mission, the pope appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops and an experienced negotiator, to lead the church’s efforts to reunite families and facilitate prisoner exchanges.

Before ascending to the papacy, Leo XIV had condemned the conflict in 2022 as a “true imperialist invasion,” accusing Russia of pursuing territorial conquest for power. He urged global leaders to more explicitly denounce the human rights violations occurring in Ukraine. Since becoming pope, Leo XIV has maintained a more diplomatic tone in his sermons and public appearances, persistently urging leaders to work toward a fair and enduring peace.

Source: Original article

Justice Department to Focus on Revoking Naturalized Citizenship

Staff ReporterConflict, Immigration 0

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying efforts to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans who have committed crimes, aligning with the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies.

The recent initiative by the DOJ emphasizes denaturalization, focusing on individuals involved in activities categorized under “war crimes,” “extrajudicial killings,” “human rights abuses,” and those posing ongoing threats, including terrorism. The directive is part of a memo, urging the DOJ’s Civil Division to prioritize these cases to the full extent permitted by law and supported by evidence.

This development marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, which seeks to target not just undocumented immigrants but also lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a lawful permanent resident, following criteria set by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there were 24.5 million naturalized citizens in the U.S. in 2022, accounting for 53% of the immigrant population, based on data analyzed by the Migration Policy Institute.

The path to naturalization is rigorous, requiring individuals to be lawful permanent residents for a minimum of five years—exceptions are made for spouses of U.S. citizens and U.S. military members—and to possess proficiency in English as well as an understanding of U.S. history and government.

The shift towards increased denaturalization began under the Obama administration, as noted by Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University. The rise was due in part to improved digital tools for identifying cases of naturalization fraud. The trend has accelerated under the Trump administration, which has been actively pursuing denaturalization at unprecedented levels.

Statistics from the DOJ indicate at least 305 denaturalization cases were filed between 1990 and 2017, with the number surging during Trump’s first term. From January 2017 to August 2018, USCIS reviewed approximately 2,500 cases for possible denaturalization, referring over 110 cases to the DOJ for prosecution.

The recent memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate includes denaturalization among the top five priorities for the DOJ’s Civil Division. Denaturalization is pursued in instances where individuals have allegedly obtained citizenship fraudulently by concealment of material facts or willful misrepresentation.

Concerns over the constitutional aspects of these efforts have been voiced, with Robertson arguing that civil litigation to strip citizenship may violate due process under the 14th Amendment. The DOJ’s approach allows for the potential use of denaturalization as a tool against free speech, targeting individuals and institutions for allegations ranging from antisemitism to criticism of U.S. foreign policy.

The DOJ has already denaturalized individuals in cases involving serious criminal convictions. One case involved the revocation of citizenship from a person convicted of collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material.

This DOJ initiative reflects a broader strategy by the Trump administration to leverage immigration policy as a means to address national security and public safety concerns, often amidst debate over the balance between enforcement and civil liberties.

Source: Original article

U.S. State Department Report Suggests Potential Israeli Violations in Gaza Conflict: Review Sparks Debate on Policy Shifts

Staff ReporterDiplomacy, Conflict 0

A recent assessment from the U.S. State Department suggests that Israel may have breached international humanitarian law during its military actions in Gaza, though the report refrains from making definitive judgments about Israeli conduct in its conflict with Hamas.

The Biden administration initiated this review of Israel and six other nations receiving U.S. arms. While facing criticism domestically and internationally, this evaluation does not mandate any specific responses.

The report reflects a growing level of scrutiny towards Israel within the administration, coupled with frustration over its handling of the conflict. Despite this, President Biden maintains his support for Israel’s efforts to combat Hamas in Gaza.

The investigation focused on two main inquiries: whether Israel misused U.S. weapons in violation of international law and whether it hindered humanitarian aid.

Regarding the former, the report stated, “It is reasonable to assess that [U.S.] defense articles … have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its [International Humanitarian Law] obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm.” Although numerous instances of civilian casualties in Israeli airstrikes raised serious concerns, conclusive evidence was lacking.

Palestinian health officials claim that over 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in Gaza, while Israel asserts it has killed more than 13,000 Hamas fighters.

On the matter of humanitarian aid, the report initially criticized Israel for impeding aid efforts, but acknowledged subsequent cooperation. However, recent disruptions at the Rafah border crossing have severely impacted aid delivery.

The Biden administration’s decision to withhold a shipment of over 3,000 large bombs to Israel indicates a shift in approach, though it is unlikely to significantly affect Israeli operations in Gaza.

While the U.S. supports Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas in Rafah, it opposes a full-scale assault due to concerns about civilian casualties. The lack of a credible plan to protect civilians in Rafah is a point of contention.

A national security memorandum issued in February mandated the report, prompted by congressional Democrats’ concerns about potential violations of international law.

Although the report does not legally obligate the U.S. to cease arms transfers, it may influence future policy decisions. However, analysts doubt significant changes will occur, noting President Biden’s reluctance to alter his stance on Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his resistance to external pressure, including from the White House, highlighting potential challenges in U.S.-Israel relations.

The report raises questions about how President Biden will manage his relationship with Netanyahu, particularly regarding Gaza. Despite threats of policy adjustments, little substantive change has materialized, leaving uncertainty about the administration’s red lines.

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