Sierra Club Reverses Decision to Cancel Trips to Israel

Sierra Club Reverses Decision to Cancel Trips to Israel
TT

Sierra Club Reverses Decision to Cancel Trips to Israel

Sierra Club Reverses Decision to Cancel Trips to Israel

The Sierra Club reversed its decision to cancel trips to Israel, saying it was "hastily" made and did not accord with the conservation group's mission.

"Recently, the Sierra Club hastily made a decision, without consulting a robust set of stakeholders, to postpone two planned outings to Israel," said the Club.

Earlier, the organization announced it was canceling environmental-tourism trips to Israel because of its actions against the Palestinians.

In a Tuesday statement, the Club confirmed new Israel trips would be announced later this year, saying earlier decision to cancel tours was made in ways that created "confusion, anger, and frustration."

The head of Sierra Club's National Outings, Mary Owens, confirmed in a previous mass email to hundreds of volunteers and members that trips were canceled saying the decision came after activists alleged the foundation was "greenwashing the conflict" and "providing legitimacy to the Israeli state, which is engaged in apartheid against the Palestinian people."

"Greenwashing" is a term used by anti-Israel activists that accuse the Jewish state of using environmental causes to disguise alleged human rights violations.

The Sierra Club Foundation, founded by John Muir in 1892, is a charitable foundation concerned with nature, with over 750,000 members and an annual budget for the current year of more than $97 million.

Its first trip to Israel began in 1960 to explore biodiversity, bird migrations, desert landscapes, and ancient monuments. Last year's trip was called "Natural and Historical Highlights of Israel," offered for two weeks in March for about $5,000 per person.

More than 250 upcoming trips are listed on Sierra Club's website, including more than 200 to sites in the US and others to places like Malaysia, Nepal, and Antarctica.

The email sent from Owens stated that the Club's decision was taken after a campaign an advocacy push from one "Jewish American activist" and a host of both progressive and anti-Zionist groups, including the pro-Palestinian Adalah Justice Project, the Indigenous rights group the NDN Collective, the Campaign for the Boycott of Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Sunrise Movement and the Movement for Black Lives.

An employee confirmed he was aware of his organization's efforts but was not authorized to say more. A request for comment from JVP, the Jewish anti-Zionist group, went unanswered.

The decision sparked outrage in Israel, particularly against Jewish Voice for Peace, which has been working in the United States since 1996.



Türkiye Summons Ukraine Ambassador Over Black Sea Attacks

Smoke rises from a civilian vessel on fire, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises from a civilian vessel on fire, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 19, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

Türkiye Summons Ukraine Ambassador Over Black Sea Attacks

Smoke rises from a civilian vessel on fire, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises from a civilian vessel on fire, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Türkiye summoned Ukraine's ambassador over attacks this week in the Black Sea against a Turkish vessel, and against a second ship that came to tow the first, the country's foreign ministry said Saturday.

The attacks happened on Wednesday and Thursday, the ministry told AFP.

"During the meeting, Türkiye warned about the absolute need to ensure the safety of people, of assets, of navigation and of the environment in the Black Sea," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the Turkish container ship Lider Bordo Mavi was hit on Wednesday while it was off the Russian coast on the Black Sea. The next day, the ship Lider Kocatepe sent to tow the cargo vessel was also targeted, the ministry said.

The ministry did not say whether there were any casualties in the attacks.

According to local Turkish media, the container ship was towed to the Turkish port of Samsun.

Ankara has been calling for weeks on Ukraine and Russia to suspend their attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Each of the warring countries has been seeking to damage the other's sources of export revenues as part of their conflict, which Russia started in 2022 with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Turkish commercial ships are active in the Black Sea, sailing under various countries' flags, and several have been hit by drones suspected to be launched by Ukraine.

Türkiye, a NATO member country that maintains relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has not joined Western sanctions levelled against Russia.

On August 8, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a "moratorium" on Black Sea attacks.

"The conflict has spread across the whole Black Sea," he said at the time, complaining that "they are attacking all commercial shipping without distinction".


French Far-Right Accuses Left of Threatening ‘Civil Peace’ if Le Pen Wins

French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

French Far-Right Accuses Left of Threatening ‘Civil Peace’ if Le Pen Wins

French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)

The French far-right on Saturday accused the left of seeking to "undermine civil peace" should Marine Le Pen win the presidential election next spring, underscoring the increasingly confrontational tone of the campaign.

With less than eight months to go before France's presidential election, far-right leader Le Pen, 58, remains the front-runner in the polls.

Analysts say that the appeal of political extremes is growing in France, and recent surveys show that hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, 75, may have the best chance of reaching the run-off against Le Pen.

Speaking at an agricultural fair in the northeastern town of Chalons-en-Champagne, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN) party and Le Pen's prospective prime minister in the event of her victory, said he was concerned by calls from the left for "civil disobedience" if the RN comes to power.

Bardella, 30, said they amounted to "an admission of weakness from the left, which hates democracy and is calling into question the fundamental principles of the rule of law and the electoral process."

"The attitude of France Unbowed at the start of this campaign is deeply worrying," said Bardella.

"They are already seeking to undermine civil peace in our country."

Mathilde Panot, leader of the LFI parliamentary group in parliament's lower house, and Greens leader Marine Tondelier have recently said they would support "civil disobedience" in the event of an RN victory.

Some observers say the election campaign is increasingly at risk of becoming a contest dominated by populist anti-establishment forces, raising concern among investors about the prospect of a presidential runoff between the far right and the hard left.

Bardella said he was concerned about Melenchon's "true intentions."

During a first presidential debate on Thursday, Melenchon vowed to "disobey" European decisions that contradict the wishes of French voters and pressed ahead with his proposals to cancel a chunk of France's public debt.

"France Unbowed and Monsieur Melenchon do not want to win this presidential election," said Bardella.

"They do not want to protect institutions, they want to destroy them."


Kremlin Says It Sees EU as Hostile, No Prospect of Improved Relations

19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
TT

Kremlin Says It Sees EU as Hostile, No Prospect of Improved Relations

19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)

Europe is making statements suggesting that it regards Russia as an "adversary and even an enemy," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ‌said on ‌Saturday, adding that ‌Moscow ⁠sees no prospect ⁠of improved relations between Russia and the European Union.

It was not ⁠immediately clear which ‌statements ‌Peskov was referring to.

He added ‌that the EU's current politicians are confrontational towards Russia, "not only ‌in words but also in deeds".

"They ⁠are ⁠mobilizing Europe's military capabilities and directing them against our country, whilst taking a direct part in hostilities against us," Peskov said.