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Day: August 11, 2025
Internal Tensions Mount Within EU Over Pro-Palestinian Protests
Pro-Palestinian protests within the European Union are causing significant internal conflict, as staff express concerns over potential repercussions while unions remain divided on their support, reports 24brussels.
According to four individuals familiar with the situation, protesters are uncertain about the legal and professional consequences of their actions. Some believe that a strike could be justified if they frame it as an effort to compel the EU to fulfill its fundamental international human rights obligations, which civil servants are expected to uphold.
An internal letter from the group EU Staff for Peace, which advocates for Palestinian solidarity, highlights that certain protest methods have been met with “intimidation” tactics, including claims of physical confrontations by security personnel, unfair contract terminations, and actions against an internal petition.
In a notable incident, security escorted seven officials from the European Council’s Europa canteen for wearing t-shirts stating “Say no to genocide.” Reports indicate that one individual had their arm twisted and another was compelled to delete videos of the incident from their phone and its trash folder.
The letter also cites instances where contracts of unnamed protesters were not renewed or they were forced to resign, alongside an unexplained ban on a pro-Palestinian internal survey that quickly garnered 1,514 responses within 48 hours. Additionally, Israeli Colonel Moshe Tetro, accused of war crimes, was spotted on June 25 at the staff entrance of the Commission headquarters.
Podestá denied any claims of intimidation, asserting that resignations occurred due to “service needs and individual performance.” A spokesperson for the European Council confirmed the removal of staff from the canteen, echoing the Commission’s stance that the protests were “political.”
However, staff dispute this characterization, asserting that their activism aims to hold the EU accountable to its own treaties and international law, which they argue Israel has consistently violated. Israel maintains that it adheres to international law amid its military operations in Gaza.
“This is an institution born to spread peace in Europe and globally—and the global dimension is very important to the EU,” stated another civil servant. They emphasized that the EU is failing to adhere to its foundational principles.
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
- Elon Musk says he will sue Apple over the X and Grok apps’ ranking on the App Store.
- Musk called Apple’s behavior an “unequivocal antitrust violation.”
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT is ranked first on Apple’s App Store, while Grok is ranked fifth.
Elon Musk said on Monday that xAI will take “immediate legal action” against Apple for its bias toward OpenAI on its App Store.
“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation,” Musk wrote in an X post.
xAI and Apple did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Earlier, Musk had asked Apple on X why its App Store had not placed X higher in the rankings. Musk said X deserved the spot for being “the #1 news app in the world.”
“Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know,” Musk added.
As of press time, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is ranked first on the App Store, while Grok is ranked fifth.
“Unfortunately, what choice do we have? Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body!” Musk wrote on X on Monday.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The PM’s escalating criticism of Israel comes as the French president overnight welcomed Australia’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood
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Benjamin Netanyahu is “in denial” over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Anthony Albanese claimed after a phone call with the Israeli leader, saying frustration with Israel’s military campaign in the besieged territory was part of Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
The prime minister’s escalating public criticism of Israel comes as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, overnight welcomed Australia’s commitment to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September.