Trump delivers fresh tariff threats against EU and China

By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal

January 22, 2025

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-is-discussing-10-tariff-china-feb-1-2025-01-21/?

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports because fentanyl is being sent from China to the U.S. via Mexico and Canada.

Trump voiced his latest tariff threats in remarks to reporters at the White House a day after taking office without immediately imposing tariffs as he had promised during his campaign.

Financial markets and trade groups exhaled briefly on Tuesday, but his latest comments underscored Trump's longstanding desire for broader duties and a new Feb. 1 deadline for 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, as well as duties on China and the EU.

Trump said the EU and other countries also had troubling trade surpluses with the United States.

"The European Union is very, very bad to us," he said, repeating comments made Monday. "So they're going to be in for tariffs. It's the only way ... you're going to get fairness."

Trump said on Monday that he was considering imposing the duties on Canada and Mexico unless they clamped down on the trafficking of illegal migrants and fentanyl, including precursor chemicals from China, across their U.S. borders.

Trump had previously threatened a 10% duty on Chinese imports because of the trade, but realigned that with the Feb. 1 deadline.

China said it was willing to maintain communication with the U.S. to "properly handle differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation". It sought to promote stable and sustainable ties with the U.S., the foreign ministry said.

"We always believe that there is no winner in a trade war or tariff war. China will always firmly safeguard its national interests," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told CNBC early on Tuesday that Trump's Canada and Mexico tariff threat was to pressure the two countries to stop illegal migrants and illicit drugs from entering the U.S.

"The reason why he's considering 25, 25 and 10 (percent), or whatever it's going to be, on Canada, Mexico and China, is because 300 Americans die every day" from fentanyl overdoses, Navarro said.

Trump on Monday announced a sweeping immigration crackdown, including a broad ban on asylum.

APRIL 1 REPORTS

Trump on Monday signed a broad trade memorandum, opens new tab ordering federal agencies to complete comprehensive reviews of a range of trade issues by April 1.

These include analyses of persistent U.S. trade deficits, unfair trade practices and currency manipulation among partner countries, including China. Trump's memo asked for recommendations on remedies, including a "global supplemental tariff," and changes to the $800 de minimis duty-free exemption for low-value shipments often blamed for illicit imports of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

The reviews ordered create some breathing room to resolve reported disagreements among Trump's cabinet nominees over how to approach his promises of universal tariffs and duties on Chinese goods of up to 60%.

Trump's more measured approach to tariffs fueled a rally in U.S. stocks that pushed the benchmark S&P 500 index (.SPX), opens new tab to its highest level in a month, though Trump's new salvo on China and the European Union may deflate that momentum.

Trump likely "decided to go a little slower and also to make sure he has as firm a legal foundation as he can get for these kinds of actions," said William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "He's figuring out how to best use his leverage to get what he wants."

SOFTER TONES

Mexico and Canada struck conciliatory tones in response to Trump's Feb. 1 deadline. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she would emphasize Mexico's sovereignty and independence and would respond to U.S. actions "step by step".

But she added that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement was not up for renegotiation until 2026, a comment aimed at pre-empting suggestions that Trump will seek an early revamp of the pact that underpins more than $1.8 trillion in annual three-way trade.

Corn farmers are worried about U.S. tariffs and retaliatory duties disrupting trade with Mexico, their top export customer for corn, and with Canada, the top export customer for U.S. corn-derived ethanol.

"We understand that he is a negotiating type of person," Illinois farmer Kenny Hartman Jr, board president of the National Corn Growers Association, said of Trump. "We're just hoping that we can come out of this where we don't lose the exports - we don't lose that corn going to Mexico or that ethanol going to Canada."

Xi holds talks with Putin, calls for guiding China-Russia ties toward greater heights

Mutual trust, close strategic coordination highlighted in 1st interaction in 2025

By 

Wang Qi

Published: Jan 22, 2025

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1327341.shtml

Chinese President Xi Jinping talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video meeting on Tuesday, as the two leaders hailed bilateral ties in their first interaction in 2025. Xi called on the two sides to consolidate and expand bilateral relations and push for in-depth development of practical cooperation.

Chinese experts believe that the virtual meeting underscores a high degree of strategic mutual trust and close strategic coordination between the two countries. Unlike some Western countries which define their strategic relations in terms of external rivals and alliances, cooperation between China and Russia is not directed against any third party, and the deepening of China-Russia ties has a solid endogenous momentum.

Toward greater heights 

The video meeting between the two leaders comes a few days ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Xi and Putin exchanged greetings for the Spring Festival.

Xi stressed that in the new year, he is willing to work with Putin to continue guiding China-Russia relations toward greater heights, to cope with the uncertainties of the external environment with the stability and resilience of China-Russia relations, to jointly promote the development and revitalization of the two countries, and to uphold international fairness and justice.

Xi called on the two sides to continue deepening strategic coordination, firming up mutual support and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the two countries, saying that China and Russia should consolidate and expand bilateral relations and push for in-depth development of practical cooperation.

The video meeting between Xi and Putin came three weeks after the two leaders exchanged New Year greetings on December 31, 2024.

There were frequent exchanges between the leaders of China and Russia in 2024, which marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two leaders exchanged congratulatory messages on October 2 to warmly celebrate the 75th anniversary of ties.

On May 16, 2024, Xi held talks with Putin in Beijing during the latter's state visit to China. The two leaders met again on July 3 in Astana, Kazakhstan, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. On October 22, 2024, Xi held a meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the frequent interactions between the Russian and Chinese leaders underline the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, and they highlight that the strategic coordination between the two countries when dealing with regional and global issues is close and fruitful.

Echoing Li, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, said that the frequent interactions between the leaders of China and Russia in recent years have been a regular feature, which plays a pivotal role in guiding bilateral ties.

The interactions between the Chinese and Russian leaders amid the US power transition show that both Beijing and Moscow hope to ensure that their ties remain stable and positive, Cui said.

According to Russian news agency Tass, Putin said that ties between Russia and China are self-sufficient and do not depend on the global political environment or domestic politics. "Their comprehensive strengthening fully meets the objective of Russia's and China's comprehensive development and improving the well-being of people in both countries," he said. 

According to Xinhua, Putin said that Russia firmly supports Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory and firmly opposes any form of "Taiwan independence."

Li stressed that cooperation between China and Russia is not directed against third parties, and the strategic basis of relations is not defined in terms of "external rivals" and developing alliances, as is the case with some in the West. On the contrary, China-Russia relations are truly consolidated and deepened on the basis of universal and common interests.

The development of China-Russia relations has a strong endogenous impetus and is based on a solid common strategic foundation. Such a relationship stems from the consensus over the international system and rules, as well as from the reality of strong mutual support for each other's core interests, Li said.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, in 2024, the trade volume between China and Russia reached a record high of $244.8 billion, a 1.9 percent increase year-on-year.

Jointly defend UN-centered system

The two heads of state also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common interest and agreed to maintain strategic communication in the new year, according to Xinhua.

During their dialogue, Xi noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN.

China and Russia should jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the outcomes of victory in World War II, Xi noted. 

Putin mentioned the shared determination of Russia and China to avert a revival of Nazism, fascism and militarism, Tass reported. 

China and Russia should use this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UN-centered international system and victory in WWII, promote all countries' adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi stressed.

Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the security situation in Eurasia has witnessed serious security challenges and trust among major powers is declining, Cui said. "As the global governance has fallen into regression amid the declining role of multilateral mechanisms, the dealing of global affairs is increasingly dependent on collaboration among the major powers," Cui said.

As two major countries of vital importance on the Eurasian continent, the strengthening of cooperation and coordination between China and Russia is positive for the maintenance of security and stability in Eurasia, Cui said. 

In terms of global governance, Xi stressed that as the rotating chair of the SCO, China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to usher in a new phase of the SCO featuring higher-quality development and greater responsibility.

The Chinese leader called on the two countries to jointly advance greater BRICS cooperation and write a new chapter of unity and self-improvement for the Global South.

"There is no doubt that China and Russia are positive, stable and constructive forces in the transformation of the international system and order," Li said, noting that significant influence exerted by China and Russia would help to make the world more balanced.

Coordination and cooperation between China and Russia, with joint efforts from other Global South countries, would have a broader and more positive impact, Li said.

Can Trump Fix Our Broken Foreign Policy?

by Ron Paul 

Posted on January 21, 2025

https://original.antiwar.com/paul/2025/01/20/can-trump-fix-our-broken-foreign-policy/

By the time most of you read this column, we will have a new US President. Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated for his second term today at 11:30 AM, Eastern time, and many Americans are hopeful that the disastrous foreign policy of the past four years under Biden will be improved. There is good news and bad news.

First the good news. It is no surprise that Trump’s appointees to foreign policy and national security positions are to the person very hawkish on China. However Trump, as he often does, has defied conventional wisdom on what his China policy might be by not only inviting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend the inauguration, but actually picking up the telephone and having a conversation with his Chinese counterpart.

According to a read-out of the call, the two discussed “trade, fentanyl, TikTok, and other subjects” and agreed to remain in regular contact. Winston Churchill is often (inaccurately) credited with the phrase “jaw-jaw is better than war-war,” but nonetheless it is an accurate statement. It is much better to engage even with “adversaries” than to refuse contact and add more sanctions. Those who prefer sanctions over communications are the true isolationists.

On TikTok, the popular application has credited Trump with preventing the Congressional ban from taking effect. If true, it is another good Trump move in favor of our Constitutional free speech guarantees.

Likewise with Russia, media reports suggest that holding a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the first things Trump does as President. That is great news for all of humanity, as Biden’s dangerous proxy war in Ukraine and refusal to communicate with the Russian president has brought us to the very edge of a once-unimaginable nuclear exchange. When the end of life on earth is at stake, it is reckless to ignore the possibility of de-escalation.

In the Middle East, incoming President Trump is being credited with securing a ceasefire in Gaza, an achievement the Biden Administration seemed incapable of or uninterested in seriously attempting for the past year. Does Trump deserve all the credit? We don’t know. But we do know that thousands have been needlessly slaughtered while Biden dithered and sent more weapons. The wholesale destruction of Gaza with US bombs and financial support will be Biden’s enduring legacy and a stain on everyone involved.

The bad news is that because of President Trump’s decision to appoint the most hawkish advisors, he will be surrounded by individuals who will constantly encourage him to confront rather than disengage. For example, his special envoy on the Ukraine war has recently boxed Trump in on Iran by declaring a return to the failed “maximum pressure” campaign of his first Administration. The policy failed to achieve the desired results when first implemented and it will fail again if adopted again. Why? Iran has developed far more extensive trade ties outside the influence of the US government, for example among the BRICS countries. It is not possible to isolate Iran as it has been in the past. As with China and others, with Iran it would be far better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Let’s hope President Trump understands that.

We will no doubt see some disappointments in incoming President Trump’s foreign policy, but there are solid reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Particularly when measured against his predecessor.

 

Mexico is the biggest threat to the United States

In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump only mentioned two countries by name, Mexico and Panama (he insisted on his lie that U.S. ships are mistreated in the Canal and that the Canal is “run by China,” so he promised to “take back the Canal”; which means a declaration of war on that small Central American country).

In the case of Mexico, he said he would reestablish his “Remain in Mexico” policy, under which asylum seekers in the United States must stay in Mexico, and he would sign an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

But Mexico appeared mainly in the cases of the border and organized crime, as Trump said his first executive order will be to declare a National Emergency on the southern border; and that he will declare drug cartels (the main cartels are Mexican) as terrorist organizations; it will also apply a 1798 Alien Enemies Act to apprehend and expel foreign members of criminal organizations from the country.

Here is what chatgpt.com says about the law:

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is one of four pieces of legislation known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. It was enacted in 1798 during John Adams's presidency in the context of tensions with France (the so-called Quasi-War Crisis).

Main Content of the Act

The Alien Enemies Act gave the president the authority to deport or restrain citizens of foreign countries with which the United States was at war, provided they were considered a threat to national security.

Key Points:

1. Application in times of war:

o The law only applied when the United States was officially at war with another country.

o It allowed the president to order the detention or deportation of any foreign national (non-U.S. citizen) from an enemy country if they were considered a threat.

2. National security justification:

o The idea was to protect the country from espionage or sabotage by foreign citizens in times of conflict.

3. In force today:

o It is the only one of the Alien and Sedition Acts that is still in force. It has been amended several times, but its core remains.

It was used, for example, during World War I and II.

Context and controversy:

• At the time, this law was very controversial, as it was part of a legislative package perceived as a tool to silence the political opposition (Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party).

• Although it was intended to protect the country, many saw it as a violation of civil rights and basic freedoms.

Are the United States and Mexico already at war? For Trump, that seems to be the case.

Regarding tariffs, Trump did not directly mention Mexico and Canada, but he did reiterate the creation of the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs that will be imposed on “foreign countries” (he did not specify which ones), which he says are taking advantage of the United States.

It was striking that in his speech he never mentioned China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, considered the main adversaries of the United States, and instead most of the security measures referred to the expulsions of undocumented migrants, the fight against organized crime and drug cartels, as well as the restoration of law and order in the cities of the United States.

All these issues point directly to the relationship with Mexico, so Claudia Sheinbaum's government can no longer hope that President Trump's policies will not significantly affect the bilateral relationship. Trump is directing his policies towards countries that are weaker than the United States, such as Mexico and Panama, which are in his “backyard” and which he can intimidate and “bend” with relative ease.

Instead, he did not mention Canada and Greenland in his speech, even though in recent weeks he insisted that both will remain under the sovereignty or at least the guardianship of the United States. Trump may return to this topic in the next few days, but the fact that he did not mention it in his inaugural speech, and did insist that the US will “retake control” of the Panama Canal indicates what Trump’s priorities are at the beginning of his administration.

It is clear to Sheinbaum’s government that her repeated declaration that there will be a “good relationship” with Trump is, so far, pure wishful thinking.

The Mexican government had better prepare itself for a contentious and harsh relationship with Trump, unless it is willing to accept all the orders, demands, and insults of the new president of the United States, to avoid a major confrontation with Trump.

We will see what Sheinbaum decides, but from what she has shown so far, everything seems to indicate that she will accept Trump’s directives, trying to save some face in the eyes of national public opinion.

Interesting times are beginning.

Hamas Releases First Three Israeli Hostages as Gaza Ceasefire Takes Hold

Israel will release 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, including 69 women and nine children

by Dave DeCamp 

January 19, 2025

https://news.antiwar.com/2025/01/19/hamas-releases-first-three-israeli-hostages-as-gaza-ceasefire-takes-hold/

The Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect Sunday morning, leading to Hamas releasing the first three hostages out of the 33 they’re expected to free in the first phase of the deal, which involves a 42-day truce.

The three female hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, which said they were in good health and transferred them to the Israeli military. The hostages are already back in Israel, and now Israel is expected to release 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, the 90 Palestinians set to be released include 69 women and nine children, the youngest being 15. They will be freed from the Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and 78 of them will stay in the West Bank while 12 will be transferred to East Jerusalem.

In the occupied territories, Palestinians can be imprisoned without charges, which Israel calls “administrative detention.” Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel will release 30 Palestinians per civilian hostage and 50 Palestinians in exchange for female IDF soldiers.

The Israeli military has imposed strict measures in areas around the Ofer Prison to prevent major celebrations from taking place during the prisoner release. According to Middle East Eye, the military ordered shops near the prison to be closed, and the police have warned families not to celebrate or raise Palestinian flags, threatening the release could be canceled.

The ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to go into effect at 8:30 am Gaza time, but it was delayed three hours, and during that time, Israeli strikes pounded the Strip, killing at least 19 Palestinians. Among the dead were children preparing to return home because their family thought the ceasefire had started at 8:30.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday that its death toll since October 2023 had reached 46,913 and the number of wounded climbed to 110,750. The Health Ministry typically only counts dead and wounded Palestinians brought to hospitals, meaning their numbers don’t account for the thousands who are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

A new study published in The Lancet found the Health Ministry’s numbers were a significant undercount, likely by 41%. The study said that as of October 2024, the true death toll was likely over 70,000, which only accounts for violent deaths, not indirect deaths caused by the US-backed Israeli siege.

We advise Burns and his ilk to try out ‘RedNote’: Global Times editorial

By Global Times

Published: Jan 17, 2025

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1327058.shtml

A choir of American children recently sang the Chinese song "Ru Yuan" ("As You Wish") during a visit to the Temple of Heaven, garnering millions of likes online. Meanwhile, a wave of "TikTok refugees," foreign influencers, is flooding Chinese social media app "RedNote," or "Xiaohongshu," inadvertently opening new channels for mutual engagement between the peoples of the US and China. At the same time, the outgoing Biden administration, now in its final lap, has rolled out a series of policies targeting China, from semiconductors to AI to connected vehicles. Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, who recently concluded his tenure, stated, "I've spent probably 80 percent of my time on the competitive edge with China and about 20 on the positive engagement," claiming this was "the right balance." These events illustrate the richness and complexity of US-China relations.

China-US relations are multifaceted. Whether it's "RedNote" or Burns, both represent different aspects of this relationship. Washington's zero-sum, even negative-sum, mind-set largely shapes its perception of and policies toward China - this is an undeniable fact. Equally true is the growing dissatisfaction among ordinary Americans with Washington's various "decoupling" moves and the significant grass-roots demand for engagement with China, leading to a surge in organic exchanges. The harm caused by Washington's bias in its China policy is real, but so too is the healing power of increased people-to-people exchanges. 

"Hello." When many American influencers first log onto "RedNote," they tentatively post this simple greeting. Some admit that years of Western politicians and media shaping an "information cocoon" to demonize China left them initially apprehensive about exploring a Chinese-language platform. Yet, they quickly discover that the friendliness and openness of Chinese users dissolve their unease. Some are even moved to tears by a single "hello" from a stranger across the Pacific. From sharing memes and "cat taxes" to helping with homework and balancing budgets, the enthusiasm for mutual exchanges between netizens of both countries is rising rapidly. Conversations are transitioning from lighthearted to profound, causing the "information cocoon" to be squeezed into its cracks.

Meanwhile, figures in Washington, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, have recently weighed in on China-US relations with no shortage of negative remarks, such as continued disparagement of so-called "Chinese influence." While their attitudes and policy preferences may impact China-US relations to some extent, they do not determine their trajectory. As one American talk show host noted, when Washington's TikTok ban looms, US netizens respond by downloading another Chinese app.

Although China and the US are separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, their economies, societies, and cultures are deeply intertwined, establishing intricate connections in global industrial and supply chains, technological cooperation, educational exchanges, and personnel interactions. The common interests between China and the US have not diminished but rather increased; the willingness of the people of both countries to enhance mutual understanding and deepen exchanges and cooperation has not weakened but grown stronger.

On the significant question of "what kind of China-US relationship the US needs," there is a notable gap between American politicians and the general public. The approach described by Burns, in which he spends 80 percent of his time on competition with Beijing and 20 percent on engagement, seriously deviates from public sentiment. Demonizing China's development and using it as a scapegoat for Washington's ineffective governance is a narrative that is increasingly losing its ability to deceive in light of evident truths. As one popular post by an American netizen on the X platform noted, "Thousands of people downloaded RedNote to spite the US government, finding themselves having lovely interactions with the millions of Chinese citizens on the app & inadvertently undoing decades of US propaganda." As the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, there is vast potential for cooperation and mutual benefit between China and the US. This is the "ironclad foundation" of US-China relations, which should not and cannot be defined solely by "hawkish politicians."

"They want the two great powers in the world to be enemies, but we want to be friends." "We must remember the love and trust we have for each other in this moment." Now, "RedNote" has become a message board for the people of China and the US, reflecting the simple wish of both countries and the international community for a world of peace, prosperity, and universal security. People see the trend and the direction of public sentiment through the song of "Ru Yuan" ("As you wish"), the messages on "RedNote," the enthusiasm for "China Travel," and the explosive popularity of Black Myth: Wukong. The hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in our societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. We advise Burns and his ilk to try out "RedNote," and it is hoped that the "RedNote phenomenon" can serve as a mirror for Washington to reference when formulating and adjusting its policies toward China.

First ceasefire, then Palestinian liberation.

https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2025/01/15/first-ceasefire-then-liberation/?

Today, after 15 months of the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, supported and enabled by the U.S. government, a 42-day ceasefire agreement was reported. We hold tightly to the hope of a halt to the Israeli military’s bombardments, an end to the starvation of Palestinians by the Israeli government, a beginning of rebuilding in Gaza, and the return of hostages held in Israel and in Gaza to their families. 

The coming days and weeks during this fragile ceasefire will be critical for the Palestine solidarity movement to turn this temporary agreement into a full halt of the genocide, including the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid and an end to the Israeli military occupation and siege of Gaza. Since the Israeli government’s genocide began, over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military — a severe undercount, with some estimations as high as hundreds of thousands. The Israeli military has devastated entire neighborhoods and cities, and has razed the centuries-old infrastructure of Palestinian life, decimating Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, water supplies, electricity grid, schools, universities and cultural institutions. 

We mourn each and every precious life lost. As Jews, we know that the trauma of this campaign of annihilation will unfold for generations. 

As Americans, we understand that the Israeli genocide has been carried out with U.S. bombs, U.S. funds, and U.S.-facilitated impunity — we continue to demand a full weapons embargo now. We also demand an end to the complicity of corporations that profit from genocide. Left in the hands of the U.S. and Israeli governments, weapons manufacturers, and warmongering institutions, this fragile respite will not mean an end to Israeli genocide or to the violent status quo of Israeli apartheid.

It is up to all of us to ensure that this temporary agreement is only a beginning. Every day of the last 467 days, millions of people around the world have come together to demand an end to the genocide and Palestinian freedom. Together, we must ensure this agreement becomes a step on the path toward Palestinian liberation — the only way to achieve a just peace for all.

JVP is a national, grassroots organization working towards Palestinian freedom and Judaism beyond Zionism. With roughly 750,000 members, supporters, and participants in the last year, JVP is the largest such organization in the world.