JOHNSTONE December 23: For Refaat Alareer, 1979-2023

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THIS month’s cover painting of JOHNSTONE is dedicated to the Palestinian poet, academic and activist Refaat Alareer who was recently assassinated by a surgical strike on 7 December 2023 as a part of the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing attempt being committed in Gaza. In the weeks before his death, he tweeted “If I must die, let it be a tale” with his now famous poem “If I Must Die”.

Refaat, here is our humble attempt to tell at least a part of that tale. 

All works are written by Caitlin Johnstone and Tim Foley. The Caitlin Johnstone project is 100 percent reader-funded. 

Visit caitlinjohnst.one for the original articles and their supporting links. 

Inside the cover:

1. Hamas Isn’t The Target, It’s The Excuse ... 4
2. The Atrocities In Gaza Are The Perfect Embodiment Of ‘Western Values’ ... 7
3. Anne And Joe Argue About The Child-Killing Murder Robot ... 9
4. Going Mask-Off About The Two-State Solution Lie ... 11
5. For Refaat Alareer ... 14
6. Israel Has Damaged Israel’s Reputation Far Worse Than Its Enemies Ever Have ... 16
7. Putin Was Declared A War Criminal For Relocating The Same Number Of Children Israel Just Killed ... 18
8. Never Stop Being Shocked By The Depravity Of The Empire ... 20
9. White House Fears Pause In Fighting Will Let Journalists See What’s Been Happening In Gaza ... 22
10. This Is The Real Face Of The US Empire ... 24
11. “From The River To The Sea” Is Genocide, But Actual Genocide Is Not Genocide ... 26
12. Israel Propaganda Vs Palestine Propaganda ... 29
13. Israel Doesn’t Have A Gen-Z Problem, It Has A Morality Problem ... 32
14. It’s Impossible To Bomb A Population Into Submission And Obedience ... 35
15. Only Truth And Clear Seeing Can Lead Us To Peace And Harmony ... 39
16. I Will Not Look Away ... 43
17. The Horrors In Gaza Are Happening Because The US Empire Wants Them To Happen ... 45
18. If I Were Going To Commit A Genocide ... 47
19. The Goal Is Ethnic Cleansing, Not Defeating Hamas ... 52
20. Israel’s Savagery Is So Shocking It’s Sometimes Hard To Take In ... 55
21. War Is Not Abstracted Anymore ... 58
22. Israel Supporters Would Defend Literally Any Israeli Atrocity ... 61
23. Gaza Is Deliberately Being Made Uninhabitable ... 64
24. CNN Goes To Gaza ... 67
25. Biden Intends To Keep Participating In The Incineration Of Gaza ... 70
26. All The Propaganda Is Splattering Against A Solid Wall Of Reality ... 73
27. The Biggest Lie We’re Being Told About The Gaza Assault Is That It Is Necessary ... 75
28. The IDF Are So Good At Killing Israelis They Should Consider Joining Hamas ... 78
29. The Official Story Of October Seventh ... 81
30. At This Point We Have To Always Assume Israel Is Lying Until Proven Otherwise ... 83
31. If The Pro-Israel Position Was Based On Truth And Morality, It Wouldn’t Depend On Lies And Slander ... 86
32. There’s Nothing You Can Say To Make Me Accept The Murder Of Thousands Of Children ... 88
33. “Stop Murdering Thousands Of Children,” Said The Evil Crazy Nazi ... 92