Minihan's World

Israel proposes to deport 'activitists' supporting Palestinian Freedom

April 13, 2012 Arlington VA

What about the Israeli activists crowding our airlines here? Do we deport them?  No, We are a democracy, not an iron-curtain government.

CNN is reporting on YNET stories from Israel that the Israeli Government is determined to deport any activitists intending to support "Welcome to Palestine 2012" this coming weekend.  They report " Israeli security forces are preparing to deport hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists expected to arrive at the country's main international airport beginning Sunday to protest Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Police will be implementing measures inside and around Ben Gurion airport from the weekend in order to deal with the arrival of activists into the country," Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told CNN .

"We believe, like prisoners in prisons, we are entitled to receive visitors and Palestinians under Israeli occupation are also entitled to receive visitors," said event coordinator Mazin Qumsiyeh. "So we are entitled to get international visitors to come and visit and show solidarity with us to learn about the situation, but Israel chooses to prevent these people from coming,"

Israel's public security minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, has called the activists "provocateurs" and Israeli news portal Ynet was told they would "be dealt with in a determined and quick way," by Aharonovich, "If they arrive in Israel they will be identified, removed from the plane, their entry into Israel will be prevented and they will be moved to a detention facility until they are flown out of Israel."  Now that's the way a democracy acts!

What the US and other countries need to do is ban the myriad of Israeli politicians, speakers, and other 'activitists' that are pro-Israel from accessing our shores, our people, our media, and prevent them from stirring up anti-Palestinian sentiment.  Myabe then Israel will begin to realize that it needs to live by international rules if it expects to be taken seriously.  Of course, that won't happen because the Western nations don't have the guts to do it--they would rather listen to Netanyahu and his minions praise the genocide going on in Gaza and the West Bank.

Comments?

Israel vs the Palestinians. Who is right?

Arlington VA 22 March 2012

I put some comments on the Beast Blog today.  Like the WashingtonPost, they had 'technical problems' so i am putting the same here.

 

Read.

 

Like so many others, you split hairs to defend an undefensible position.  Yes, the Israelis and the Palestinians are both Semites--historically and factually.  They disagree on large numbers of issues, among them basic freedoms and rights they have to land that they have held for centuries--long before the migration of the first Jews to Palestine early in the 20th century.  It is true that the UN gave what had been Palestine to the Jews--with the provision that a Palestinian State--never created--would also be formed.  Instead, large numbers were expelled into Jordan and Egypt and remain expatriots not able to take back the land they legitimately own.
  Netanyahu insists that Israel is for Israelis.  What about the Palestinian israelis that tilled the land long before.  Have they no rights?  Should not the UN be able to send in their human rights inspectors to assure that what Israel claims is true.

Comments

Joy to the World (Maybe)

December 25, 2011
Arlington VA, USA

Just a moment to ponder....

Time Magazine - Person of the Year 2011.  As we barrel headlong into the rushing rapids that will inevitably be 2012, perhaps a few moments ought to be spent pondering where we are, what our nation is doing, and what directions we ought to pursue in the coming 2012.

First, it is interesting that Time magazine has announced its "Person of the Year" and named the protesters on Wall Street (and elsewhere in the Nation) as that honoree. Nothing could more succinctly express the general malaise of our society than that dedication.  If these protesters were genuine, and not a bunch of professionals that go from cause to cause where their stipends come from, or where they might get free food and lodging aside from the streets, then they just might make a good point on the decadence of Wall Street and the broader banking community.  However, just reading the signs, and listening to many of their 'spokesmen' on the airways, it is easy to tell that these people, in general, really don't know what they are protesting about, and, as usual, the range of topics goes far beyond the financial mess we are in right now.

Is Iran a sole threat or a conspiracy with others?   An interesting question brought up over drinks the other day at my favorite pub in Crystal City.  Some believe that Iran is a directed threat against primarily Israel, and that the US is simply exacerbating that threat by its support for Jewish State.  Others believe that Iran is either working in concert with or bankrolling other states, such as Syria, in their efforts to undermine US efforts at peace in the area.

Personally, I believe neither is the straight truth.  Iran is almost certainly bankrolling Syria, Hezbollah Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza, and probably a large wing of factions in Iraq that have popped up since the US withdrawal a short time ago.  Both Iran and Syria have, I believe correctly, gauged the international sentiment for reducing conflict over creating more brawling with either country.  Only Israel remains alone in realizing that these two countries are significant risks to its survival over time if not stopped in their tracks.  The US is now virtually powerless to stop that eventuality.  All the rhetoric at the UN and other venues; all the frozen assets, travel restrictions, and the Hillary Clinton speeches have done virtually nothing to stop their internal and external actions.  As long as either or both have the capability to produce nuclear weapons, they remain both a threat, and a danger that must be respected--even more than the danger currently posed by the succession in North Korea.

Iran has the oil, the partners, the customers, and supporters to prevent real action against it in the long run--all except Israel.  If Israel sees a significant or potential danger (beyond that already in place), it will strike first and ask for international permission later--and justifiably so.  Iran has at least a limited ability to respond with nuclear weapons, rocket-based, but will it really do so?  Can it afford to do so?  Probably not, leaving some measure of hegemony between Israel and Iran that will serve as a deterrent.  Either side can severely damage the other, and each side hassuppporters who would really prefer not to be deeply involved in that potential conflict.  Only time will tell, but I will bet that Iran and Syria will ratchet up the stakes, and either or both will find themselves on the other side of a massive attack in the next six months.

The future of Iraq.  With the US pullout, Iraq has quickly become a mess that will require future international attention.  The Government wants to arrest its own Kurdish Vice President, bringing the Sunni-Kurd wound out afresh--but without the US to mediate.  Terror squads are roaming the country at will bombing here and there as they choose--disrupting the Government, and showing the clearly that Iraq must either live with their decisions or face civil war.  Expect a full-blown civil war within 3 months here.

Implications for the US economy.  Much of what is discussed above is being steered by politics and the economy.  The Obama Administration is so clearly showing itself as the single most incompetent admistration since Warren G Harding - Even Jimmy Carter did a better job, and both got the Nobel Prize for their lack of effort.  Everything in the Obama White House from his first day in office has been directed toward re-election, and nothing, including war and diplomacy will stand in the way of that effort.  The economy is still in a shambles, unemployment remains too high, the banks continue to use Federal funds, supported by the Federal Reserve and Treasury, as they gouge customers, and Obama goes off to Hawaii as he has done something to merit a vacation.  He has inflamed Israel--not even realizing that every step he takes pisses them off even more as he claims to support them while crticizing at every opportunity.

Don't get me wrong here - unlike the jaded media who think a trip to Israel is mandatory and kissing Netanyahu's ass at every chance is obligatory, I disagree.  The US should be pursuing a policy as an honest broker in the Middle East, but now it is too late to get any government in the area to believe that story.  Even Hillary Clinton can't make that bitter pill go done anyone's throat.  In fact, it seems that Bill Clinton actually has more influence currently on the world stage that the President.  Something is amiss here for that to be happening.  Many overseas are actually hoping for a new Clinton Era.  Wonder how Hillary would work that out?

In any event, there are so many balls in the air for the US right now that something will be coming crashing down--bet it will be the economy again, since there will be less of a war to draw from the economy.  only time will tell, but you can be sureit will not be the Obama administration that will tell you.

Happy New Year

 

Still here and working

October 22, 2011

So many significant events ha ve been happening since I last wrote.  mostly, I have been busy working on a new book that should come out early in the year.  Have also been re-editing my first book, Bernie Minihan's DIlemma, and a new version of that volume should reach the public about March 1st.  Hope you will all respond to those new issues as you have in the past.

 

Well, let's see what is going on in the Middle East and Mediterranean area

The biggest news is probably the death of Mohamar Quaddafi in Libya  (Have anybody ever figured out the real spelling of his name?).  It came after a long series of battles across the desert, ending, for all practical purposes in Sirte as he was captured, beaten, and then carted away to an ambulance where a mysterious bullet ended up in his skull.  One son and his Chief of Staff were also among the dead hauled out of a series of culvert pipers where they had been hiding after a strafing run from a NATO drone.  Good riddance to Uncle Mohamar, but one has to wonder who the new strongman will be as the Transitional Council gets down to the real work of governing.  Only time will tell, but Hillary Clinton is there to help them sort it all out.

There is Egypt, of course, which first threw out Mubbarak and then the generals simply started a new ruling council, promising elections that will either never come, or be limited to those candidates the generals want elected.  Net plus up for the people - ZERO.  great frevolt though.

Syria, who acts as if it  doesn't care about the rest of cthe world continues to shoot and bomb its people to keep Assad in power, and, with the rest of the world simply looking on, seems to be winning at doing that.  We, of course, issued a strong condemnation, but no real action.

Israel finally got back Sgt Shalit from Hamas. They in turn got a promise of 1,000 arabs being held in Israeli jails (They must have large jails with still another 4,000+ remaining in their jails).  Several of the more prominent arab bombers were on the itial freedom list of over 400, with the rest to be released in stages.  Wonder how long it will take Israel to find a pretext for not returning the rest, and, conversely, for Hamas to take another prisoner?  Will israel now loosen its stranglehold on Gaza (as it promised months ago for the release of the soldier) or will it continue with its blockade  and international piracy that continues to starve and kill Gazans?  Again, only time will tell.

Abbas and the Palestinian Authority went to the UN seeking membership and creation of a Palestinian homeland.  In this situation the facts really get perverse.  The US has threatened a veto in the Security Council on full membership.  The Israeli prime Minister, Netanyahu was quoted as saying negotiations were the answer to Palestinian statehood and not the UN.  How quickly we forget that in 1946-7, when the Palestinians still held on to their land, Israelis asked for membership and a homeland, and the UN , led by the US ripped a space our of Palestine and called it Israel.  The US and most of Europe that were decidedly anti-semitic at the time, embarassed by the Holocaust, and not wanting back their jewish emigres, could not wait to create the state.  The Palestinians, many of them farmers on the land for generations were simply kicked out with no compensation.  Now they want their mand back, and have at least a chance at doing so.  The stupidity of politics at its best.  Sort of reminds you of the plight of the American Indians doesn't it?

More later.

Life as Usual in the Middle East

Arlington VA April 5, 2011

Gadhafi's son scrambling to be the next leader in Libya.

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, has been not-so quietly offering proposals for him to take over from his father in exchange for peace in the country.  You remember Seif, he indicated a few weeks back on international television that there would be a bloodbath in the cities if the rebels did not capitulate.  Now he wants to be seen as a healer of his 'beloved country.'  The rebels are not buying it, so don't expect a Gadhafi in power for too much longer.

There were explosions in the major Gadhafi compounds in Tripoli on the weekend, and it appeared to some media stationed there that either an aborted coup was moving or some action being taken to prevent more of the major players from deserting the Supreme leader.  Who knows.

(In the rest of the Middle East...

Syria still has thousands marching in the streets each day.  Bashar Assad has promised reforms and a new government, but the killing goes on.  Soon, he will outreach his father's totals in killings.

Yemenhas apparently split into two countries--if you read the al-Quada press.  an 'Islamic Emirate' has been formed from part of the country, while gassing of protesters and indiscriminate shooting still occurs daily in the streets.  Now the Government has introduced a stronger version of tear gas that has, so far, injured over two hundred, and perhaps more.  The US has now dropped any pretenses of supporting the Government.

In Oman,a group of terrorists took over an ammunition factory and blew themselves up--another result of good training which killed over 75 people outright.  All in the cause of democracy.

Bahrain, meanwhile is still in the grip of their dictator/strongman who has banned the opposition and closed some newspapers.  it does not seem to be stopping the people however, and one has to wonder what are the next steps here.  The US carefully watching this nation, since the Fifth Fleet is based there in the harbor.

And in Israel..

Lots going on in that peace-loving nation.  With the palestinians calling for the General Assembly to grant their their own nation, Israel is broadly hinting that it will simply annex the West Bank and other lands where vthere are mixed settlements, and the palestinians will get nothing--the rest of the world be damned.  And, oh yes, we need more munitions, planes, and bombs from the US.

Netanyahu, the Israeli PM is now demanding the US abrogate the Goldstone report on the atrocities in Gaza since Lord Goldstone has revised his personal view of what happened.  Not sure why Goldstone changed, but the numbers in the cemeteries have not, and the deaths are still attributable to Israel.

Iran is quiet, but still sending funding and fighters wherever it will help overturn governments and create fundamentalist regimes.

 

Footage on the Israeli Commando Massacre to be shown at the UN

June 10, 2010

Journalists release file footage at significant odds with official Israeli Version

This morning at the UN, filmmaker Iara Lee will show footage taken on the Marvi Marmara, a ship of the Freedom Flotilla, as it was attacked by the Israeli commando operation that left 10 dead and numerous wounded last week.  This film, one of the few not confiscated by the Israeli IDF, was sent out before the Israelis could confiscate it along with much other footage and tapes as they attacked the flotilla.

These tapes are raw footage, not the doctored and enhanced video the IDF has been slowly releasing as they finish doctoring to support their version of events.  It is graphic and worth seeing as another version of the events.

We show it courtest of WPFW in Washington DC where it was shown on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman.

Click here to view.

More gutless commando work and other topics

June 7, 2010

Another ship taken in International waters

The MV Rachel Corrie is yet the latest ship forcibly taken in International Waters by the masked goons of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).  This masked group tries to play at being commandos--they shot ten people--mostly from behind, in the Freedom flotiilla taking, and have now swept down on the Rachek Corrie to do the same thing--still masked of course.  Some many remember that Rachel Corrie was the woman crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer as she protesting Israeli construction on arab land several years ago.

The moves have incensed much of the Middle Eastern landscape, extending into Europe and Asia as more countries are demandi ng that the UN take action.  of course, Israel, protected by its mentor, the US, will veto any real effort to condemn Israel.  For now, they get to continue to act as lawlessly as they choose.

Egypt will keep the Rafah Gate Open.

Egypt, which had been supporting israel on the blockage has now decided that the blockage is useless and serving no good purpose--rapidly becoming unenforcible.  So, it has decided to keep open idefinately the Rafah Gate through which Palestinians from Gaza can travel to and from Egypt.  It is still unclear how much in the way of humanitarian supplies will move through the gate as well, although for now Egypt says it will not allow bulk supplies to enter.  Another of israel's 'friends' join Turkey in moving a distance away from Israel.

Egypt better be careful here--the same Israeli goons that descended on the ships can easily descend on the gate area and try to close it.  Wonder if they will be masked as well.  more important, will the Egyptians fire back?

Israel has been falsifying footage and press information from the Freedom Flotilla.  News reports from Israel indicate that the IDF doctored footage taken from the Freedom Flotilla to show that the civilians on the Mara were actually preparing for the arrival of the Israeli goons.  They also issued press releases indicating they had information that many of the 'civilians' were actually al Quaeda operatives.  After Max Blumenthal, a noted reporter and commentator called the IDFs hand, the videos were withdrawn and the press releases changed to eliminate the al Queda references.  That, of course, now leads to the inevitable question of what to believe when it comes from the IDF or the ISraeli Government.

Israel names Reserve general to probe the actions of the Freedom Flotilla Massacre.

Israel still conti nues to refuse to allow a complete international investigation of the massacre of the Freedom Flotilla passengers, but it has announced that a reserve general wiull lead a probe--limited in nature--to see what lessons can be learned from the action.  So much for Israel's boast that it would conduct a credible probe and did not need international supervision or direction.

Still more Israeli goons attack Helen Thomas

For those of you who don't know Ms. Thomas, she is, at 89 years old, the dean of the Washington DC Press Corps, and has been a WHite House Press Correspondent for over 60 years.  Yet, because someone put a microphone before her and she made offhand comments on Israel, the goons, in the form of Ari Fleischer and Lanni Davis, both directors of AIPAC (Israel-America Public Affairs Committee) and forced her retirement.

Ms. Thomas's sentiments, that many of those who called themselves Israeli, but were actually from Europe until WWII, should stop occuping arab land and move back where they came from to let the Palestinians live in peace.  If this were a comment about almost any other country, it would be laughed off.  No so among the Israeli-loving communities.  Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for George W Bush was the first, demanding that Hearst Newspapers fire her immediately.  Then came Lanni Davis, who worked for Bill Clinton, demanded that the White House remove her credentials.  Both were ready to respond before she announced her retirement.

At least this incident is different --these goons had the guts to not wear masks.

More later.

The Continuing Diplomatic Crisis over Gaza

June 3, 2010

Israel continues to be beaten up over the flotilla massacres

The news is not dying down as Benjamin Netanyahu expected and hoped.  Instead, the drumbeat continues, and probably will, as he makes his frequently absurd statements of twisted fact.  The latest, reported in the Washington Times today, is that "The flotilla was seeking to challenge the blockade, not to bring aid to Gaza.  if the blockade had been broken, it would have been followed by dozens, hundreds of boats.  Each boat could carry dozens of missiles."  So, at netanyahu's direction, the flotilla was forcibly stopped in international waters and seized with considerable loss of life by a group of inept commandos who were nearly scared off by firehoses and broomsticks--before simply starti ng to shoot unarmed civilians.

Other sources are reporting....

(Washington Post) U.S. citizen among those killed in Israeli flotilla raid

JERUSALEM -- A U.S. citizen of Turkish origin was among the nine people killed in a botched Israeli effort to stop a Turkish aid ship from reaching the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, a Turkish official said Thursday.  The American citizen was identified by the Anatolia news agency as Furkan Dogan, a 19-year-old student. His body had four bullet wounds to the head and one to the chest, the news agency reported.  The killing of nine Turks has created enormous tensions in the relationship between Israel and Turkey.  (Read the Rest of the story here)

(Jerusalem Post)  ERGODAN:  Israel to lose closest ally.

Turkey is incensed over the deaths inflicted on its citizens last weekend and has made it clear by removing its ambassador that relations are going south for a long time.  Even a call from President Obama did not apparently reduce the anger being felt in Ankara by both the Government and its parliament.  (Read the story here)

MEANWHILE, the international community had demanded an investigation of the circumstances, which Israel has rejected out of hand, and has said that any investigation will be condicted impartially by Israel, probably with the help of its US ally.

(Christian Science Monitor) Israel rejects international investigation of Freedom Flotilla raid

Tel Aviv, Israel

As the Mo nitor reports, "Israeli leaders on Thursday rejected growing calls for an international investigation of its fatal intercept of the Gaza-bound "Freedom Flotilla." But they are weighing whether to include foreign observers in a domestic probe, a move that would help deflect international criticism after Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists. "

The article continued, "A decision to include international involvement would mark an evolution from last year, when, in the wake of the three-week offensive in Gaza, Israel resisted calls to set up its own independent investigation committee and refused to cooperate with the United Nations inquiry headed by Richard Goldstone

But part of the shift may be an Israeli perception that its prospects for vindication are greater this time around. An investigation of the isolated flotilla operation is seen as likely to be more straightforward than those that looked into the 2008-2009 Gaza war or Israel's 2002 invasion of a Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin that killed dozens.

(al-Jazeera) The Day the World became Gaza

"Since Israel's invasion and massacre of over 1,400 people in Gaza 18 months ago, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, global civil society movements have stepped up their campaigns for justice and solidarity with Palestinians."

"Governments, by contrast, carried on with business as usual, maintaining a complicit silence. Israel's lethal attack on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza may change that, spurring governments to follow the lead of their people and take unprecedented action to check Israel's growing lawlessness."

"One of the bitterest images from Operation Cast Lead was that of smiling European Union heads of government visiting Jerusalem and patting Ehud Olmert, the then Israeli prime minister, on the back as white phosphorus still seared the flesh of Palestinian children a few miles away.Western countries sometimes expressed mild dismay at Israel's "excessive" use of force, but still justified the Gaza massacre as "self-defence" - even though Israel could easily have stopped rocket fire from Gaza, if that was its goal, by returning to the negotiated June 2008 ceasefire it egregiously violated the following November."

Read the whole story here.

AT THE END.......Both sides of the ocean (except, of course, that part that includes the Washington DC area) have spoken out loudly that this foolishness and lawlessness of the Israeli's must stop if there is to be real peace.  Both sides have much to atone for, but the people of Gaza are the mostly innocent pawns that feel the pain.

perhaps this will all end someday.

 

Another tragedy in Gaza

June 1, 2010

Israelis assault a ship in International waters and call it self-defense.  US agrees while the rest of the world condemns Israel

The confrontation between Israeli commandos  and  activists on ships bound for Gaza has led to yet another international cry for condemnation of Israel and ending the Gaza  blockade.  Commandos dropped from helicopters to the ships and were met by activists who decided to protect themselves from the invasion. Scullfles ensued, and 10 activists were killed by Israeli small arms fire.  Several members of the IDF storm troopers were also injured.  Israel, of course claims it was only protecting itself,  but who gave them the right to stop the ships in international waters?  That was a criminal act, and any defense against the criminal act cannot itself be criminal.  This foolishness has to stop.

Israel has an attitude that anything it does is legal, and everything it does is in self-defense.  Apparently humanitarian supplies are offensive weapons--instead let the Gazans life in filth and poverty and may be they will eventually go away.  Not likely to happen now or in the future.

The US, the small puppy for Israel, particularly now under Czarina Clinton at State, will let them do anything they choose.  The US, in the face of the rest of the UN Security Council got a resolution watered down sufficiently that Israel was not condemned--only the event was condemned.  Yet, the US claims it has standing to be peace-maker in the region.  RUBBISH.

Major nations ought to remove their ambassadors, as Turkey has done, and isolate Israel further until that Israeli Government stops its genocial actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and starts real actions toward peace in the region.  The festering sore in the Mideast is not Iran, or Syria, or the Hamas, it is the attitude of the successive Israeli Governments, supported by the US, that allows them to be international murders and killers, and get away with it under the protection of Uncle Sam.

In the News - April 20th

April 20, 2010

China wants more discussions on Iran

China, aiming to get the most mileage it can from continuing discussions with Iran rather than sanctions-- which also means that China gets to continue to receive oil and gas from that country as well--seems to be creating problems for the Obama Administration in its attempts to impose significant sanctions on that country.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu has reiterated that there is still room for discussions to overcome issues around Iran's nuclear energy program, reports PressTV.  Russia has been joining China in that quest. 

"We have always believed that dialogue and negotiations are the best channels for resolving the Iran nuclear issue," Jiang said."   Referring to the regular meetings of the five permanent members of the Security Council — Russia, China, France, the US and UK — plus Germany (P5+1), she added, "We have stated many times that the six countries launching the talks in New York does not mean that the door is shut to dialogue and negotiations."

Iran claims their nuclear conference a great success

Iran conducted its own nuclear disarmament conference, as it claimed it would, following the recent Washington Conference to which it, Syria, and North Korea were not invited.  Iran continues to indicate that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and not for developing weapons.  Few countries in the West believe that position--something only time will tell.  Most recently Iran announced it would increase and extend its nuclear development program regarless of what the US wanted, and dared them, or others, such as Israel, to step in.

Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Killed in raid

Iraqi and U.S. troops, building on information provided by a captured al-Qaeda agent,  killed a regional leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq in an early morning raid Tuesday.  Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri were killed in a joint operation Sunday in what has been described as a "potentially devastating blow" to al-Qaeda in Iraq. The intelligence that led to the elusive leaders' desert safehouse about six miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Tikrit came from the same source — a senior al-Qaeda operative captured last month — that produced the information leading to Tuesday's raid, according to a senior Iraqi military intelligence officer who supervised both operations.  Security forces continue to put pressure on the terrorist organization following the reported deaths of these two top-ranking figures over the weekend, officials said.

Palestinians want the israeli security decision on expulsion of Palestinians reversed

The Palestinian leadership is exerting efforts to force Israel into cancelling the military decision on the expulsion of thousands of Palestinians out of the West Bank, Dr.Saeb Oraiqat, the head of negotiations in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said.  The Palestinian authority would head to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to demand the issuance of a resolution to black out the Israeli military decision.  Israel has reportedly started implementation of the resolution (1650) issued by the commander of the Israeli forces operating the West Bank to expel Palestinians residing in the city, claiming that they are classified as ‘infiltrators’.

Don't you just love the dancing going on

March 23, 2010

In the News......

Washington, DC. You just have to love the scenes going on around the AIPAC meeting now underway in Washington.  (PS:  The clue is that they always seem to have some kind of meeting after Washington decides not to agree with the Israeli Government over some issue)

In any event, here is Hillary Clinton extolling the 'rock solid' support of the adminstration for Israeli Security while continuing to demand that the settlement  buulding in East Jerusalem stops.  Ofcourse, they are not going to stop the building efforts because that would possibly enable the Palestinians to get their land back for the capital of their country--something decidedly against Israeli policy.  So they dance around the issue and us AIPAC to pressure the congressmen and senators they have in their financial back pocket to exert pressure on the obama administration for them.

Now the Obama people, including the President, know they can only go so far, but this president does not go all out to extol everything the Israelis do like his ass-kissing predecessor George Bush who assumed that anything they do is simply defense of their nation--like the Gaza genocide and massacres.

The next set of steps are today when the Israeli PM Netanyahu meets in a private meeting in the Oval Office where he will promise that no more public announcements of building will be made that will embarass Washington.  In direct words, the Israelis are going to dpo whatever they want, and Washington will allow it as long as nothing is announced.  Sounds a bit like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to me.  But that's just good politics I guess.

London.  The Brits have decided to expel the local head of Mossad from Britain as a reaction to the use of fraudulent British passports by the Mossad to kill the Palestinian leader in Dubai a short while ago. Better message than the ass-kissing going on in Washington.

This is not the first time that the Israelis have had their hands slapped for forgery of British Passports. Former PM Margaret Thatcher also expelled Israeli diplomats in 1986. That time 14 diplomats went home and the Mossad Station was closed.  Don't know what will happen this time until Millibrand, the Foriegn Secretary speaks to parliament today.

Beijing.  Google has stopped censoring its internet pages for the Chinese Government, and re-directed its customers to their Hong Kong site.  This does not mean the end to censorship, but it will highlight the fact that the Commie Goverment will do the censoring now instead of hiding behind Google.

 

Netanyahu authorized Mossad-led killing in Dubai

February 25, 2010

Met in January to authorize killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai City in Early January

Ha'aretz is reporting in today's editions that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in early January at Mossad HQ.  If true, this is the first direct confirmation of Mossad involvement in what has not become an international tempest in a teapot--particularly over the use of forged passports. 

Meanwhile, the EU is still speaking out, saying that events are unfolding that may hurt Israel in its relationships with the EU and its members over time.  The passport issue is yet another incudent that is causing friction since the invasion of Gaza.  read that story here.

In other news, the Jerusalem Post is reporting on Australian problems with Israel earlier concerning another passport-related effort in which the Australian Government warned the Israeli ambassdor not to have the Mossad involved in falsifying Australian passports.  Quoting the Australian--an Aussie media outlet, the story comes out that the Australians were warned by the Palestinian Representative in Australia that Mossad was active. 

"The Australian quoted Ali Kazak as saying that he had warned the Howard government of the problem back in 2004, and that he had been "vindicated by confirmation that cloned Australian passports" had been used in the assassination of Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

"I told you but you didn't act on the warning," he was quoted as saying. "And you've put Australian lives at risk."

He added that he was sure that Mossad agents had killed the Hamas operative. "Yesterday the Israeli members of parliament were praising the head of Mossad for what he did - for assassinating the Hamas leader in Dubai," Kazak said.

Read the whole story here.

This is turning into a real mess.  Israel is already trying to reduce the impact by feeding stories that intelligence work continues as usual despite the actions in Dubai. yet, the US is particularly silent this time, since it normally rushes to Israel's defense.  perhaps they are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

More twists and turns on Dubai killing

February 23 2010

Four more suspects identified with forged passports

UAE Foreign Minister asks other nations to condemn Israel

al Jazeera is reporting in iths electronic (English) edition today the identification of four more suspects in the killing of  Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, who was found dead in a luxury hotel in Dubai on January 20.  This time the passports were from Britain and Ireland.  Both countries have made it clear, as has the European Community (EU) that they believe Mossad, the Israeli version of Murder Inc. was involved.

BBC, in its edition today indicated, " At least 15 people using European passports have been identified as suspects in the case.

The British Foreign Office has confirmed it has received information from the UAE about another two suspects carrying British passports, bringing the total number of British passports used to eight.

The Irish Foreign Ministry has said it too has been informed about two more suspects who used Irish passports with genuine numbers but fake names and photographs.

A total of five Irish identities were used.

Dubai authorities had already released the identities of 11 people who travelled under the false passports. French and German identities, as well as British and Irish ones, were used.

The UK government denies it had any prior knowledge of the fake British passports being used, although shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it was "entirely possible" the government had been alerted. "

Some Israeli ndews outlets had brief notes on the incident as well.

Ha'aretz, in Tuesday editions, said, "The Mabhouh case has knocked the bottom out of the argument that Israel will be safer if the worst of the freed terrorists are exiled to Damascus as part of a deal for Shalit. The huge effort put into assassinating Mabhouh in Dubai and the diplomatic and security risks - surely calculated ones - taken by whoever did it are indications of the man's standing in the world of terrorism. Exile, it transpires, can be an ideal hothouse for breeding arch-terrorists."   It is possible that Mossad killed the one man that could have forced the release of the young soldier, Shalit, taken during the Israeli invasion of Gaza months ago.  The irony of that possibility is too huge to ponder right now.

The Israeli government, by the way, has refused to either admit or deny its involvement, saying they maintain an 'obtuse' policy in that regard.  Some would call it needed, others would call it insulting; just as some will justify the murder while others will call it assassination.

The Jerusalem Post had a longer article than most and discussed primarily how the EU at its monthly meeting condemned the use of the forged passports, but refrained from condemning Israel.  Israeli foreign minister Libermen attended the brussles meetings, and discussed the issues privately with several fellow FM's.

 British Foreign Secretary Miliband was more direct than others, as the J-Post reprted, “It’s vital that relations between states are conducted on a basis that is clear and transparent,” Miliband said. “It’s also important to say that Israel – in some ways above all countries – has the most to gain from a Middle East that is based on the rule of law and that’s why I think that it’s right to take these issues to the highest level in Israel.”  Others were not so kind or direct.

This story still has a while to run before the public, hopefully, forgets it and gets on with other matters.  However, the length of its existence is squarely on the shoulders of the Israeli Government.  They could end it anytime with the truth if they are involved.  Don't hold your breath waiting.

 

In the latest news

February 18, 2010

Killings in Dubai  -  Interpol on the trail of the killers

Interpol is now involved in the search for the killer of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. last week in Dubai, reports Ha'aretz, a Jerusalem media source.  "Interpol should issue a warrant to help locate and arrest the head of Israel's spy agency Mossad if the organization was responsible for the killing of a Hamas militant in Dubai, the emirate's police chief said on Thursday.

In comments to be aired later on Dubai TV, police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim called for Interpol to issue "a red notice against the head of Mossad ... as a killer in case Mossad if proved to be behind the crime, which is likely now."   A "Red Notice" connotes the highest level of Interpol activity, and is similar to the US FBI "Most Wanted" Listing.

Placing the possibility of a Red Notice being issued for the Director of Mossad is only the most recent action by Dibai, whose Foreign Ministry called in the Israeli Ambassador late last week over the matter--something that indicated at the time that Dubai seriously considered this killing to be a Mossad act.

Also calling in Israeli ambassors were Britain, France, and Ireland, who each demanded to know what the Israeli Government knew about the use fraudlent passports by the killers, and to state in strong terms that they would not put uith such tactics by anyone--including Mossad--that used this type of ruse in the future, CNN reported.

Other media sources also reported on this issues involved in the killing, which has taken second place to the diplomatic angst surrounding it.  These included Reuters, which also called for the arrest of the Mossad chief if Mossad were involved; The LA Times, which reported the statements of the Dubai Chief of Police who implicated Mossad days ago; and YNET News, a Jerusalem-based outlet that reported on both the Interpol Red Notice and original Guardian article that started the political furor.

It remains to be seen if Interpol will issue the Red Notice for the Chief of Mossad.

In other international News.....

CNN reports the upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama at the White House.  "President Obama will meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, on Thursday at the White House despite strong objections from the Chinese government.

The meeting has the potential to complicate Sino-U.S. tensions further, which have been rising in recent months.

China has warned the meeting will certainly damage ties with Washington.

"It will seriously undermine the Sino-U.S. political relations," Zhu Weiqun, a senior Communist Party leader in charge of ethnic and religious affairs, said recently. "We will take corresponding action to make relevant countries see their mistakes."

Caning in Malaysia...

The Christian Science Monitor is reporting the first canings in Malaysia for adultery.  They reported, "Malaysia caned three Muslim women convicted of adultery by a court of Islamic law, the first time that women in the multi-faith country have been subject to the punishment.

Last August, a similar sentence against a Muslim woman caught drinking was deferred amid complaints that shariah courts had overstepped the mark. That punishment is still pending.

Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said he wanted to publicize the case of the three women, who also received short jail terms, because of “too much hype” over the earlier case.

“People are saying that no woman has been caned before… today I am announcing that we have already done it,” he told a press conference. He added that the women didn’t suffer any cuts or bruises from the caning and had “repented” for their offenses. Four men were also convicted of “illicit sex” and sentenced to whipping.

Wonder what the ACLU would think of that here in the good ole US of A?

This is shaping up to an interesting week.  More later

JT

 

Back and Forth with the UN

February 3, 2010

Who is right?  Who is wrong?

Last week, the Israeli Government responded to the Goldstone Report again--first denying deny that they had committed war crimes, and then going through a charade that even their own media saw through quickly over phosphorus bombs in Gaza.

As expected on the anniversary of the feeing of Aushewitz by the allies in WWII, Israel again denied they had committed war crimes in Gaza and demanded that the UN stop its further investigation as suggested by the Goldstone Report approved by the General Assembly.  They will submit their report, but take no further action.

Then, later in the week, it became even more curious as Israel first denied that they had used phosphorus in Gaza; backtracked as said they did, but that it was legal to do so; and then announced they were disciplining tow generals for the use of the bombs.  Their final bizarre act was to deny that they were disciplining the officers for their use of phosphorus.  All very interesting.

This week, the replies messaging turns to Hamas, which today (2-3) has decided that the hundreds of rockets sent into israel were not war crimes at all.  As reported in the Jerusalem Post:

"In the aftermath of the war, most criticism has been leveled at Israel, charging it with using disproportionate force and the destruction in Gaza. About 1,400 Gazans were killed, many of them civilians. The UN commission said Israel intentionally targeted civilians, an allegation Israel hotly denied.

The Hamas report will be submitted to the UN later this week, said the official, Mohammed al-Ghoul. Its argument is that rockets fired from Gaza were meant to hit military targets, but because they are unguided, they hit civilians by mistake.

Palestinian terrorists fired some 800 rockets and mortar shells into Israel during the war, killing three civilians, wounding about 80 and slightly injuring more than 800.

Hundreds of rockets pelted the border town of Sderot, where there are no military bases. They also hit cities as far away as Beersheba, about 40 kilometers from Gaza. Most Israelis in rocket range stayed in bomb shelters, avoiding further casualties."

You have to give Hamas credit for bravado.  How does killing a water fountain in Sderot turn out to be rockets aimed a military targets?  As indicated, they intend to submit their report, but undertake no further investigation.

That leaves everything up to the Secuity Council where, due to the diligence of the US in devfending everything Israeli, there will be no further invetigation of what really happened.

That's democracy for you.  Politics before truth every time.

In the News.....

January 26, 2010

CIA Wants permission to legally kill an American Citizen.

Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen currently in Yemen, is suspected of being involved in both the killings at Ft. Hood by Major Hasan and the aborted airline bombing in Detroit that resulted only in damage to the bomber himself.  Democracy Now:  The War & Peace Report on National Public Radio, is reporting in its news today that the CIA is actively trying to determine if it can legally kill an American citzen overseas--in this case in Yemen, with the permission of the president.  al-Awlaki has been charged with no crime, but is widely believed by the intelligence community to be deeply involved in al-Qaeda activities in Yemen.

While the CIA has been involved in political killings for years, they don't apparently routinely kill American citizens--and for good reason.  Even the CIA should know that in a democracy, we should at least charge them with something more than inuendo before killing them.  Maybe even give them a quick trial that has no witnesses and the accused is not able to see the testimony against them (My god, that sounds like a military commission).  Oh well, I guess that's how a demoncracy operates in the real world.

Israel to Condemn the Goldstone Report AGAIN

Israel is preparing for a full-scale assault on the Goldstone Report, using the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Aushwitz as its backdrop.  Israeli ministers have  been frequently calling the report anti-semetic for days--even weeks--and are working furiously to gain public support for their approach.  So far, the US has made no formal comments.

Israel has decided that the report is 'just another example of ant-semitic behavior' which really mystifies me.  How can a report that condemns both groups--both semitic groups by the way--and demands only that they conduct real, open investigations of what actually happened during the invasion of Gaza be anti-semitic?  The Israeli Army has already conducted its investigation and simply dismissed any evidence found as unreliable--even the statements of its own soldiers on the scene, most of whom were reprimanded for criticizing their leadership.  The Palestinians, who were also criticized for their bombings, asked the UN for assistance which was mostly denied by vetoes in the Security Council.  However, the General Assembly passed the resolution supporting actions under the Goldstone Report.

Put your money on the US jumping on the Israeli bandwagon when they are told to do so, and to come out sgtrongly against the Report on cue.

And in Iraq...

Chemical Ali -- Ali Hassan al-Majid -- one of the men on the deck of cards issued to soldiers in Iraq, and a cousin of former dictator Sadaam Hussein is dead by hanging--and good riddance to the man who thought gassing the Kurds was the way to go.  Hopefully, when he arrives wherever he gets, there will be no virgins waiting for him.

More later.

When you can't do it any other way....Arrest them

January 19, 2010

Israeli Police arrest protestors who object to the theft of Palestinian land  by illegal settlers.

The Israeli Government has now developed a new tack to continue settlements, and, at the same time, reduce the number of protestors over illegal confiscation of Arab land in the West Bank.  Midnight raids into homes, and brutal arrests are just the thing to reduce protests by anyone opposed to the continued illegal confiscation of land by a Government that claims to be a democracy.

According to the Washington Post today, Israeli spokesmen say the protests are illegal and they have even arrested many of their own citizens--including the head of the Israeli Civil Rights organization to prove their point.

Since the summer, dozens of Palestinian and Israeli activists have been picked up, including those organizing weekly protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier as well as others advocating international boycotts of Israeli goods.

Some of the Palestinians were released without charge only after weeks and months of questioning.

The arrests come at a time of shifting tactics in the protests against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and annexation of east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. Israel captured both from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war.

The violence of the second Palestinian uprising, with mass marches and violent attacks, has given way to carefully calibrated protests and legal action in which Israeli and Palestinian activists now often work together.

The main protest efforts are Friday demonstrations against the West Bank barrier in the Palestinian villages of Bilin and Naalin and vigils in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah, where Palestinians have been evicted.

There appears to be an increased police crackdown on the protests with greater numbers of activists being arrested.

In the West Bank, troops fire tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds - even midnight arrest raids - to disperse anti-barrier protesters. Israel says the protests are illegal, and the harsh tactics are a response to stone-throwing and violent rioting.

In east Jerusalem, police have arrested some 70 demonstrators during marches in recent months, according to Israeli rights groups. On Friday's protest, police arrested 17 Israelis, including Hagai Elad, head of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post is calling the continued isolation and mistreatment of the citizens in the Gaza Strip "Collective Punishment, pointing out the recent report by Amnesty International on the continuing blockages that are letting few trucks of humanitarian supplies through to the Strip.  Israel claims there has been an increase in traffic, which Amnesty International only partially accepts.  Gaza presently has an over 40% unemployment rate, due primarily to the intense shelling that left Gaza City nearly destroyed.

What is there to make of a country that claims to be peacefuk--but only if you agree with them and, of course, are not palestinian

Only time will tell.

In the News - January 11th

January 11, 2009

Catchphrases, Criticism and Fences  -- The pieceparts of terrorism and politics

"Lawyering Up" - the latest fad phrase.  Several columnists over the past few days have been describing the decision of the Justice Department to follow a civil court route for the Detroit would-be terrorist who only succeeded in blowing up his own crotch--giving him Miranda rights instead of combatant status as 'Lawyering Up.'  Now Senatory McCain and Lieberman are echoing the phrase on the talk shows.

Basically, when a terror suspect is found the intelligence people get first crack, but this became a political footbal when Obama apparently made the decision he was going to civilian court.  He was read his rights and, as soon as they got to lawyer, he clammed up.  He had been speaking constantly as they took him off the plane, put out the fire in his pants, and took him away initially.  Perhaps it was a reacton to the pain.

Bottom line--someone who should be at Guantanamo, or some equivalnt place, being waterboarded is now being treated to the lap of relative luxury as a simple criminal suspect.  That gives the politicians the time to get to the shows and overuse a trite catch phrase like 'lawyering up.'  And they do it well.

Then there are the critics..

It seems that Sen. Harry Reid, in earlier times, referred to the current President as a 'light skinned negro', and someone who didn't event speak like a negro unless he wanted to'.  These words he said in 2008 during the heat of the campaign, and he has now apologized for doing so, even as Republicans call for his removal as the majority leader.  Naturally, the Democrats won't stand for that, and won't even call for an inquiry.  That's too bad--it would clear the air on the affair.  There must not be much happening in DC right now, if the republican researchers have nothing else to do but research historical quotes.

Finally, the fences...

Complementary to the deep piles Egypt is putting into the ground along their border with Israel, the Israelis are now planning a fence above the ground to further prevent terrorist infiltration.  That will cost a lot of money and probably not prevent a single rocket from being fired.  perhaps they should just do what the UN said to do a long time ago--give the Palestinians their land and let them form their own state.  perhaps they might actually recognize Israel then.

What a wonderful world we live in.

What's in the news

January 7, 2010

Israel to pay damages to UN for buildings in Gaza.  Israel has agreed to pay over $10 Million to the UN for damage to its buildings in Gaza, The Wall Street Journal is reporting today. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was in Israel during one of the incidents, demanded $11.2 million from Israel for damage to two U.N. schools and a World Food Program warehouse in Gaza City. The family of a driver of a U.N. truck, who the U.N. says was killed as a result of Israeli fire, would be compensated, the U.N. official said.  Israel had argued shortly after the attacks that they were resp0onding to sustained gunfire from inside the facilities, although there was no independent confirmation of those reports.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that several rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel overnight.  No damage was reported.  The rockets exploded over the Negev, according to the JTA Report.  Israel, in response, dropped leaflets from fighters over Gaza warning people to stay clear of the border walls.  There was no report of possible retaliation. The Palestinian Popular Resitance Committees claimed responsibility.

The Galloway convoy arrives in Gaza with humanitarian supplies.  The convoy led by British MP George Galloway arrived at Raffa today with humanitarian supplies after a nearly week-long delay caused by the insistence of Egyptian authorities that part of the convoy enter through an Israeli gate since it had food on board, rather than medical or other non-food supplies.  The convoy leaders refused, leading to a stalemate.  During the wait, over 50 drivers and other support personnel were beaten in clashes with the Egyptian police and Army, and one Egyptian soldier killed.

The convoy, dubbed Viva Palestinia, left Britain nearly 60 days ago.  Galloway, on arrival apologized to the waiting Gazans for their delay in getting the much needed suppliues to the Strip.  They have 48 hours to disctribute the supplies at various locations in Gaza.

Israeli officers cancel trip to Britain over arrest fears.  A group of israel senior military officers cancelled their planned trip to Britain over fears that thay might face arrest over Israeli actions in Gaza. Other Israeli officials have already been harassed, including the Foreign Minister, on similar charges being brought by activists under the 4th Geneva Conve ntion.  That convention allows charges to be brought in any state where egregious violations of international law are seen and can be prosecuted in a jurisdiction other than the locale where the actions occured.  So far, the British courts have issued one warrent, but no court has agreed to actually hear a case.

Unfortunately, no one in Britain has stepped forward to bring similar charges against any Palestinians, leading one to suggest that these actions are more political and agttention getting than serious in nature.

What's new in the News

January 4, 2010

 First in Yemen...   

Yemeni security forces apparently 'lost track of' six trucks heavily laden with arms and ammunition, causing the closing of US, UK, and French Embassies in the Capital Sanaa, reports the BBC in its today's editions. The news reports said, "It (the closings) comes after threats from an al-Qaeda wing linked to an alleged plot to blow up a transatlantic plane over the US.  Yemeni government sources, meanwhile, said their forces had shot dead two militants north of Sanaa." 

"A Yemen-based group called Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) last week urged attacks on "crusaders" in embassies, as it claimed an alleged attempt to bomb a US airliner on Christmas Day. "

"The US shut its embassy in Sanaa on Sunday, citing "ongoing threats" by the militant organisation, and the UK followed suit.  On Monday, France shut its Yemen embassy, Japan suspended its consular service in Sanaa, and Spain restricted public access to its mission there. "

Read the complete story here.

The Yemeni Government, meanwhile, is reporting the killing of two suspected al-Qaeda leaders near Sanaa, reports al-Jazeera in today's editions.  In that report, the Foriegn Minister, Abu Baker al-Qirbi, commented, " Yemen is going to deal with terrorism in its own way, out of its own interests, " al-Qirbi said in reponse to a rumor that the US might intervene.  "I don't think it (the US) will counterfire. The negative impact on Yemen is if there is direct intervention of the US and this is not the case."

There is much media attention on Yemen these days as they seem to be becoming a focal point of terrorist training and events, such as the attempted bombing of the Delta jet headed from Amsterdam to Detroit.  That government will be under increasing pressure to clean up its act, especially by Saudi Arabia which, while it doesn't much like American bases and troops, does like the security, funds, and arms that US leases provide.

Read this story in al-Jazeera.

Meanwhile in Egypt...

Palestinian president Abbas met with Egyptian President Mubarak this past weekend, and both leaders apparently agreed to demand cessation of further settlement buiulding before a new round of negotiations with Israel will occur.

Reuters, in today's editions, has Abbas suggesting that a summit be held between Israel, The Palestinians, and Egypt as a means of moving the talks off dead center.   He does not want to have another meeting with Netanyahu that appears to leave the palestinians nothing while Israel gets more publicity.  Nor does he want to seem soft before elections that might reduce the infuence of Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank.  Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman are due to go to Washington on Friday for talks on the proposed initiative.  mediator former Senator George Mitchell is also scheduled to go to the Middle East Shortly, but any chances of his gaining broader acceptance of negotiations without a stoppage of the settlements is unlikely.

Then in Dubai....

The largest skyscraper in the world is scheduled to open this week in Dubai. The Burj Dubai Tower stands at 2,625 feet and will be the tallest in the world.  That may not be the final height.  Total cost - $20 Billion.

 

That's it for today.

 

 

 

Rallies with real meaning

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year to all.  let's see what is happening on this aupicious occasion.

Rallies first...

You may recall the Iran rally in Tehran the other day that was decidedly pro-government.  Of course, they provided a bus, lunch, and a bullet if you didn't attend 'voluntarilly.'  Thousands who did not want to die chanted fervently in favor of the idiots running that country.

Now North Korea has been quick to respond.  Huge rallies came out for New Year's day in the capital, Pyongyang and elsewhere.  They also provided a bus, free lunch, a flag, and a picture of the 'dear leader' to wave.  Wonder if they borrowed the buses from Iran?

The South Koreans hel their own rally near Panmunjom, the militarized border to protest the NK leadership.  The poster says "Murderer Kim Jong-il."

In any case, the usual New Years message from the leadership, broadcast in the three major parrty daily newspapers (Which everyone apparently reads fervently while they are starving) proclaimed that it was time to cease hostilites and increase friendship with the US.  Must be very cold in Korea right now--they usually start this kind of thing as people begin to both starve and freeze.  Only the leadership and the army gets sufficient food, fuel, and other comforts.  That's how 'democratic republics' work.

We should give neither country any compassion or assistance.  Everytime we do, they lie their way out of agreements, or run a few cheap rockets into the air as if that is scaring anyone, other than themselves.  Then they put themselves on alert as if they are about to be attacked.  The media makes heyday out of it and the resulting publicity gets everyone edgy even more.

On to Israel...

China View, A Chinese online journal is reporting a story that Israel has decided to apply its version of the Bush Doctrine--grab someone, hold them without trial, deny them rights, and then hold them even after they get a trial--and is applying it to those that were arrested during the recent Gaza incursion and massacre.  The Israeli parliament passed an 'illegal warrior' law that apprently allows them to do this.,  Two are being held from the lebanon incursion for no other reason to have bargaining chips on the soldier still held there.  The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been complaining to international bodies about the law, but to no avail.

An then to the inept would-be plane bomber..

President Obama has now decided, apparently on good evidence, that al-Qaeda is reponsaible for aborted bombing to the Delta jet coming into Detroit a week ago.  You tube is showing a video, shown below on this issue.

Obama has also, according to the Associated Press, promised the alleged bomber a fair trial.  That remains to be seen.

What a grerat start to the New Year.  And, wehaven't even heard from Hillary Clinton or Jimmie Carter yet.

This Week's News in Brief

December 18, 2009

A Mathematical Model for Predicting Terrorism Attacks

Science Daily reports in yesterday's edition that researchers at the University of Miami have developed a mathematical model for predicting violent attacks.

 "Researchers and their collaborators analyzed the size and timing of 54,679 violent events reported in Afghanistan, Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Northern Ireland, Peru, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The findings show that there is a generic way in which humans carry out insurgency and terrorism when faced by a large powerful state force, and this is irrespective of background history, motivation, ideology, politics and location, explains Neil Johnson, principal investigator of the study and professor of Physics at the UM College of Arts and Sciences," according to the paper.

"We have found a unified model of modern insurgent wars that shows a fundamental pattern in the apparent chaos of wars," says Johnson. "In practical terms, our analysis can be used to create and explore scenarios, make predictions and assess risks, for present and future wars," they concluded.  Read the entire story here.

Remember Mumbai

An Op-ed piece in the New York Times last month (Nov 25) by John Reid, the former UK Minister of Defense, uses the  Mumbai anniversary as a cause for reflection on how terrorism continues to be a  violent and looming force to be reckoned with around the world.  The statistics are enormous.  As Reid indicates,  " Twelve months after Mumbai, it is clear that the terrorist threat will remain extremely serious globally for years to come. This is not, as some critics of Britain’s foreign and defense policies assert, primarily because of the “excesses” of Western policy since 9/11, especially in Iraq. This critique is a major misjudgment.

Indeed, according to the U.S. government’s Counterterrorism Center, approximately three quarters of the almost 11,800 terrorist incidents that took place across the world in 2008 (the latest full year for which data is available) took place outside the Iraqi theater.

Attacks in Africa, for instance, particularly in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rose markedly last year, accounting for some 2,200 fatalities. These are countries and areas where little or no connection to Iraq can be rationally claimed. "  Read the entire piece here.

Hamas wants all of Palestine

The Philadelphia Examiner, in this morning's editions, began a series of articles on Hamas and the Palestine Question with an explosive obsewrvation.

"Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh declared that Hamas’ goal is to take over all of Palestine.  That would include Israel," the paper reported in in opening.  "Up to now, some Israelis talked themselves into believing that some elements in Hamas, such as Mr. Haniyeh, were moderate, just wanted the area beyond the Green Line, and would live in peace.  Haniyeh’s declaration disproves it."  The article goes on to discuss how both Hamas and Fatch have, at various times, been offered parts of what they want, usually behind the so-called green line, and failed to respond.  Read the whole article here.   Why are we surprised?

More later.

UN says settlements freeze has 'no significance'

December 17 2009

Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said Thursday that recent activities by both Israel and the Palestinians are not contributing to settling their conflict and confidence remains low as 2009 draws to a close, according gto reports by Schlomo Shamir in Ha'aretz, an Israeli paper.

"Even the genuine progress taking place in parts of the West Bank runs in parallel with negative trends. We are in a race against time to overcome the contradictions on the ground and the crisis of confidence between the parties, and move decisively towards a political end game," he said.

The Associated Press, in its releases today, has a story about the village of Quariout, caught in the middle of the changing landscape as Israel rapidly continues to build settlements, where before there were only small arab villages.  In this village, what once had been pasture and farmland, owned primarily by arabs, now splotches of red-roofed settlements have broken up the landscape in and near the village.  The arabs call it the taking of their land, and the new Israeli settlers insist that it is nothing more than their return to their biblical homeland.  The real questions is who is right?  An even more important question is when the Israelis will actually produce on their commitment to stop the settlements and get on with negotiations.

My bet is that real negotiations will never take place--and whatever discussions do occur will only be from a position of strength for the Israelis, and crippling restrictions imposed on the arabs by Israel and their puppy dog, the US.

Comments?

Israeli Government Furious over Arrest Warrant for Livni in UK

October 15, 2009

The Israeli Government has issued a 'stern' warning to the UK Government over the issuance of an arrest warrant under the Fourth Geneva Convention for the former Foriegn Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni.  The message warned of increased tension and potential reduced relations over the incident, according to the Times of London in today's editions.

Under the convention, any country can arrest and try someone for crimes deemed so heinous that society in general would condemn them.  In this case Livni had been a principal in the decisions to invade Gaza during the last go-round in the MIddle East--a situation described in the Goldstone Report, and condemned by the UN General Assembly.  Since Livni had no diplomatic immunity as a former member of the Government, the warrant by the Westminister Court  could have resulted in her arest and confinement.  Instead, she cancelled her inteded trip to the UK and stayed home.  Increasingly, there is reduced travel between israel and UK and other Eurpoean countries as the Geneva Conventions come up more frequently and requests are made for arrests in Europe.  Israel is a signatory to the Conventions from 1951.

While these actions are seen by some as a ploy for publicity, it is increasing the pressure on Israel and other supporters, such as the US, to come to grips with the message that Israel cannot simply do what it chooses to the people of Gaza, or elsewhere, in violations of law, without consequences.

The UK Government should tell Israel to shove their 'stern' warning.  They won't, of course, but it would go a long way to make them accou ntable for their indiscriminate large scale bombing, injury and killing of civilians, especially women and children in Gaza.

Egypt Building Underground Steel Walls to Contain Gaza

December 10, 2009

The very latest in stell underground walls is being constructed by Egyptian engineers to co ntain Gaza and reduce smuggling along its borders.  According to the Guardian (UK) in today's editions, "Work has begun on Egypt's northern border to dig the foundations for what reports say will be a vast underground metal wall in the latest effort to prevent weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.""

Egyptian security officials have said they are digging steel tubes into the ground on their side of the border and are paving a road that will have devices along its route to monitor smuggling. The US Army Corps of Engineers, which is reportedly involved, has worked with the Egyptians on preventing smuggling along this border for at least two years, said the Guardian.  The complete story is here..

"Egypt's new wall will be about six miles long and "impossible to cut or melt", the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz said. It said construction had already begun and that large slates of steel would eventually be buried into the ground. Joint Egyptian-American patrols had been seen on the Egyptian side of the border, it said."

Meanwhile, in the European Union vs Israel fight...

The Associated Press reports today on the continuing media battles between the European Union and Israel over the status of Jerusalem as the eventual capital of both Israel and Palestine.  In its reports AP rreported that, "The European Union accused Israel on Thursday of trying to divide the 27-nation bloc to stop it passing a resolution calling for Jerusalem to be the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state."

"The new resolution adopted by the EU on Tuesday sparked an angry reaction from Israel, which captured the eastern half of city on 1967 and considers it its eternal undivided capital. Palestinians want east Jerusalem as part of a future independent state."

"An EU official said Israel had lobbied intensively for the European foreign ministers to dilute an earlier draft proposed by Sweden — who currently holds the EU's rotating presidency — which explicitly stated that east Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state."

"Israeli leaders telephoned politicians in several European nations to press for removal of the passage, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. In the end, the ministers modified the original draft, but still referred to the status of Jerusalem "as the future capital of two states," the official said."

"Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Thursday that Israel should desist from trying to divide the bloc. He insisted that the Tuesday's decision demonstrated that the EU was a "cohesive and clear force" on global issues, including the Middle East."

So much for peaceful co-existence among usually allied peoples.

That's it for now.  Stay tuned for more news.

EU Supports Jerusalem as Common Capital of both Israel and the Future Palestinian State

December 9, 2009

Newspapers throughout the Midlle East are reporting today on the EU declaration that Jerusalem should be the capital of both Israel and the yet-to-be established Palestinian State.  BBC News is reporting that this is causing mixed  reactions, even in the media.

Commentators in Israel say the country "dodged a bullet" when the proposal from the EU that East Jerusalem be recognised as the future Palestinian capital was rejected. One commentator urges Israel's leaders to act quickly to quell any momentum that the statement may grant to the Palestinian cause.

Quoting Gideon Samet in Israel's Ma'Ariv:  "The European community is fed up waiting for peace talks. The draft proposal was softened at the last minute, but remains a clear signal of the change in the international attitude to settlements in the [West] Bank. When the Palestinian initiative for unilateral independence is rolled out most of the countries of the world will recognise it. The United States cannot prevent this becoming an international fact even if it vetoes such a resolution at the [UN] Security Council. "

Similarly, quoting Herb Kenon in theJerusalem Post, "The bottom line is that Israel very much dodged a bullet... Had the Swedish resolution been adopted the language would probably have seeped into debates at the UN Security Council, making Israel's diplomatic situation more difficult than it already is... In the absence of Israeli initiatives or any real movement, other actors will put forward their own initiatives which may be deleterious to Israeli interests. "

Palestinian Al-Ayyam writer Hani Habib took a different tack on the ability of Israel to prevent direct designation of East Jerusalem as the future Palestinian Capital, saying, "Although Israeli President Shimon Peres expressed his disappointment with the final statement issued by the EU's foreign ministers on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, we think Israel was somewhat successful in redrafting Sweden's draft proposal... It is true that this decision is a Palestinian gain in one way or another, but it has not added anything new."

Generally, newspapers in the Middle East agree that Palestinians stand to benefit from a joint EU statement calling for Jerusalem to serve as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state, noted the BBC News item.  Commentators in Israel say the country "dodged a bullet" when the proposal from the EU that East Jerusalem be recognised as the future Palestinian capital was rejected. One commentator urges Israel's leaders to act quickly to quell any momentum that the statement may grant to the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian press welcome the statement as positive yet flawed - viewing the softening of its language as a concession to Israel. This sentiment is echoed by one Pan-Arab commentator who argues that Arab support for the Swedish proposal should have been more robust.

Nir Barkat the mayor of Jerusalem completely rejected the EU decision, according to a statement issued by his office late Tuesday.  The statement quoted Barkat as saying that the decision posed "real danger" for the future of Jerusalem, and that it would "never work." The mayor noted that the recent celebration of the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Berlin reminds everyone that no divided city in the history of the world has functioned properly.

In the news

December 4, 2009

Marwan Barghouti to be released? 

Talk in the Middle East is that long-time palestinian activist and leader Marwan Barghouti will be among those to be released in a swap for SGT. Gilad Shalit, taken by Hamas during the last invasion of Gaza.  barghouti has alreadey announced che will run for president of the palestinian Authority even if he stays in jail.  An interesting twist if it happens.

The freeze in settlement-building in the West Bank - Reality or politics?

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, announced a moratorium in further settlement building in the West Bank, but has run into opposition from the settlers already there.  The current settlers have been organizing to prevent governmnet inspectors from viewing the building that continues to go on in the face of the moratorium.

The real question, though, is what Netanyahu's intent was in the first place.  Did he do it to placate Obama while knowing that stopping all building was simply not going to happen?  The Israeli  PM is not a stupid man--he knows his people well, and what they will do when pressed for action. So, announcing a moritorium that cannot be enforced without violence against the settlers is a far easier way to say you are dsoing something without actually having to do it.  A great play when you can do it.  Time will tell, but I'm betting on the side of the settlers.

Immigration to Israel and the Palestinian-controlled areas is increasing

Most of the major Middle East news Bureaus are reporting significant increases in both immigrants to Israel and returning Palestinians to their own native land areas.  Even the economic downturn is helping as costs become more reasonable in relation to other countries' economies.  nearly 4000 American jews have made the journey as new immigrants to Israel this year--the largest jump since 1973.  Similar gains are occuring among the palestinians, and new villages and towns are bei ng built to house and support them.  On particularly interesting article is in Yesterday's (12-3) Milldle REast Edition of the Wall Street Journal. 

Israeli UN Ambassador criticizes the General Assembly's Day of Solidarity with Palestinians

Gabriela Shalev, Israeli Ambassador to the UN crticized the celebrations and speeches in the Assembly as one-sized and overly critical of Israel, which the Assembly,created by Resolution 181 in 1947. 

"How can it be, then" said Ambassador Shalev "That the debate in these halls embraces a one-sided narrative that promotes and maintains an obsessive and condemnatory focus on Israel?" she asked.

"Today's debate undermines the endorsement of the two-state solution. It reflects the reality of an automatic majority that ensures that any debate on the situation in the Middle East shall be unfruitful, destructive, cynical and hateful."

These two day events have been held since 1977, and are often the only public forum in which palestinian issues are freely debated without the ever-present veto of the US.

A Final Note - President Abbas to visit Lebanon

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will shortly be visiting Lebanon to discuss the refugee camps and the reestablishment of one destroyed in fighting during past years.  Some organizations count as many as 250,000 Palestinian refugees in lebanon, although the Lebanese Government provides a much lower figure.  Abbas, who has announced in retirement and will not seek reelection has exp-ressed earnet desires to lessen the burden on refugees in nearby countries.

On Thankgiving Day

November 26 2009

Its's Thanksgiving Day here in the US.  Even if you don't celebrate it for any reason, it is a day to think and reflect on what has been happening in the world.  So, here is a few of things to reflect on as we move quickly toward a new year.

The Anniversary of the Mumbai Attacks.

"Today is the first anniversary of the attacks on the buildings and hotels in Mumbai by Pakistani Terrorists  (it is good remember that not all terrorist necessarily come from the same place, though).  The Guardian describes the events of the day in its reporting today. 

The first anniversary of last year's terror assault on Mumbai was marked today by a show of strength from the city's security services and a series of ceremonies to remember the 166 people killed by 10 Pakistani Islamist gunmen.

Police marched from the Trident hotel in Mumbai, scene of a hostage drama a year ago, and abseiled down prominent buildings. The security forces paraded armour-plated vehicles, machine guns and amphibious craft – part of a 1.3bn rupee (£16m) upgrade approved after the security forces' ineffectual response to last year's attack.

Religious leaders and diplomats gathered for a candle-lit memorial service in the city's synagogue.

"We will not let the terrorists deter us," said Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, who is in charge of rebuilding Chabad House, a Jewish centre where six people were killed. "We will continue with the full faith in God that he will protect us."

The two luxury hotels attacked, the Taj and the Trident, both took out full-page newspaper advertisements praising staff and thanking guests. "We offer our heartfelt gratitude … Today we take a step forward. Tomorrow we'll take many more," ran the words."

Things have since quieted down in India, but the threat from their neighbor's terrorist front is still real, as is their own home-growm varities that occasionbally raise their heads. Read the rest of the story here

The travels of Ahmadinejad - Brazil

The Christian Science Monitor is reporting today on the visit of the Iranian president to Brazil and his effusive welcome by President da Silva.  They point out that da Silva is actually doing what Obama only suggests should happen--discuss major issues without preconditions, and is apparently having some success.  da Silva seems to recognize the inerent dangers but is willing to try.

The Montitor story, written by Taylor Barnes, suggests that real discussions, rather than the rhetoris of the Obama Administration thus far, may produce more real results over time--even with a country that exports terror, rigs elections, and persecutes those opposing the country's leadership.   it may also represent an effort by other countries to begin to enter the dialogues ongling on terrorism and middle east peace that so far seem to elude resolution by the major powers.  The story is a great treatment of what can happen when leaders want to start their conversations in earnest.  Read it here.

Holder's Decision on the Detainees

Criticism of Attorney General Holder's decision to try Khalid Mohammed and others in New York Federal Court conti nues to be pilloried in the press--as it was today in the Washington Post.  It has not helped, of course, that both he and the president have made it clear that these guys will be tried, convicted and executed--after a fair trial, of course.  From my perspective, there is too much of a possibility that their trials could be thrown out by the judge.  Of course, Holder has already said that even if they are not found guilty it would only mean their return to Guantanamo or elsewhere.

What is happening here can only produce a huge black eye for the US.  It would have been more prudent to give them a kind of trial in a military copmmission and then execute them.  That's done in wartime.  To bring them to a civilian court and risk the possibility that they will not be convicted, but still sent to prison would be disasterous for the country that prides itself on exporting democracy and the rule of law to the world.  The US has so little credibility now, that erosion of any more may eventually make us irrelevant.

Perhaps the government will reconsider before the trial starts.  It would be wise to do so.

See the Post Story here

On the Israeli - Palestinian Front...

There is a website, Right Side News, which often has information on the continuing conflict between Israel and the palestinians.  Their latest reports deal with rockt attacks and responses.  The statistics are very illuminiating.   I have included their graph on mortars and rockets here. 

My one criticism is that, while they have charts and graphs for Arab rockets, but not for Israeli rockets and bombs in reponse.  That would complete the story.  Nonetheless, it has a lot of good information and a great read.  See it here

That's it for today.

.

Clinton Clarifications

November 2, 2009

Clarifyi ng her previous clarifications, Hillary Clinton, fearless US Secretary of State now is telling the world that she really didn't mean to be so effusive about Netanyahu, the Israeli PM's stand on settlements.

Are you confused?

Well, officially the US position, from the mouth of the President is that further settlements, to include expansion of existing ones, are illegal, and contrary to US positions and UN resolutions.  That was, of course, u ntil Netanyahu stated that he didn't really care about our or the UN position and would continue to build them.

In short order, the US position--according to Hillary-- was that his (Netanyahu's) decision to perhaps limit, in the future, some settlements was 'unprecedented' and should form the basis for further negotiations.

What happened next is classic Hillary.  The Palestinians went crazy--felt insulted--and the Egyptian President and the Jordanian King met in Egypt with the Palestinians to discuss the matter.  Hillary was in Morocco thinking she was negotiating the Palestinian future, but quickly found out that they weren't listening to her rhetoric.

SOOO, Hillary again changed gears and now clarifies her postion, says Bloomberg today in its editions. “I think President Obama was absolutely clear,” she said in an interview on Al Jazeera. “He wanted a halt to all settlement activity. And perhaps those of us who work with him and for him could have been clearer in communicating that that is his policy, that is what we’re committed to doing.”

She clarified her remarks AFTER she left Israel (Can't piss of Netanyahu or he will sic the AIPAC on Obama and his cronies).  Of course, Obama isn't much better.  While Hillary said last May only a complete construction halt in the West Bank would be acceptable, in the last month, Obama referred only to “restraint” in settlement activity, not a “freeze.”   So it seems they both had changed positions to suit the Netanyahu remarks.

VOA Reported her as saying, "We are committed to a two-state solution and we are determined and persistent in the pursuit of that goal," she said. "It is important that we all work toward that objective. And, I think that does require that all parties should be careful about what we say, the kind of recriminations that are so understandable. But we need to work together in a constructive spirit toward this shared goal of a comprehensive peace."  Imagine that--being careful about what one says--it seems with her only to apply to the Palestinians.

VOA also reported that Clinton believes that the American commitment to the peace process is understood by Arab leaders. She thinks that, with their support, the process can move forward, despite what she calls the difficult and tangled history that too often prevents progress.

"We can maintain an allegiance to the past. But we cannot change the past. No matter what we say about it, it is behind us," said Clinton. "Or we can work together and follow the vision and the inspiration of President Obama to help shape a future that will be so much better for the children of both Palestinian and Israeli families."

Let's all work together Hillary--but perhaps the US should be an honest broker instead of a syncophant for Israel.

Comments?

The Obama-Clinton Team--Rapidly becoming an International Disaster

November 1st

First in Pakistan

The Clinton part of the team has managed through skillful diplomacy to alienate parts of this country's population with her comments on the inability of the Pakistani Government to find and kill Obama, and her refusal to commit the US to asistance in resolving the Border crises that have plagued their history for years.  As the Wall Street Journal will report in its Monday editions, Obama had indicated in his campaign that he wanted to assist in the settlement of those issues, but has apprently changed his mind -- at least at this particular time.

The LA Times published similar reports, saying, "Every time Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tried to win over Pakistanis during her three-day charm offensive last week, they fired back a polite but firm message:

We don't really trust your country.

No matter how hard Clinton tried to reassure audiences in Lahore and Islamabad with talk of providing economic aid where it's needed most, Pakistanis seized on her visit as the perfect moment to lash out at a U.S. government they perceive as arrogant, domineering and insensitive to their plight."  That says a lot about the current status of the Obama Administration in the Muslim World.

In Pakistan, the International News was even more blunt, indicating that her visit will only increase the crisis brewing in that country.  The writer, Tahir Hasan Khan, presents a balanced view on the conflicting issues that need resolution in that country, and which will not be helped by the Clinton visit.

Meanwhile in Israel

The Jerusalem Post is reporting today (11/1) that the Palestinian Authority considers Clinton's words in Israel as a major breakdown for the potential for negotiations.  As the JP reported, "Palestinian Authority officials on Sunday warned that Washington's failure to force Israel to halt all construction in the settlements would lead to an "explosion.  The (PA) officials also criticized US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statements in Jerusalem in which she backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position on the issue of settlements, calling his moratorium on new construction "unprecedented."

"One official in Ramallah told The Jerusalem Post that the "mask has fallen off the face" of US President Barack Obama.  The US, he said, has once again demonstrated that it's not an "honest broker" in Middle East because of its "bias" in favor of Israel."  That comment--the US as no longer being an honest broker in the region is probably the most telling argument in favor of the administration sutting their mouth if they are not going to really attempt peace in the region.

This article is a must read for understanding the underlying issues involved in settlement negotiations.

Then its Morocco

Clinton met with several foriegn ministers in Morocco over the past weekend  for a meeting to discuss democracy in the region and ways to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. came to Marrakech for the sixth Forum for the Future, which joins civil society groups and the private sector with foreign ministers from the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations and the Middle East to talk about democracy and resolving conflict in the region.  The Israeli/Palestinian crisis is high on the agenda.

During the meetings, she addressed the issue of settlements built by the Israeli Government and what she called the 'unprecedented' agreement of the Israeli PM to stop settlements in the future.  She supported his postion in that matter.  Unfortunately, only a week before Obama was still calling for complete cessation of building in occupied territories and Jerusalem in order to start the talks.  After Netanyahu complained, the postion of the US apparently changed.  Discussion of the meeting was included in today's dispatches from Voice of America, and reported broadly in the internatioinal press.  read the complete report at VOA

Regretably, the one major player needed in these discussion is Hamas.  Clinton and Obama still hold to the ridiculous proposition that Abbas of Fatah speaks for the Palestinians, which is wholly untrue and a fantasy.  Until they get to the point of returning to the table with all parties, they have no real chance of settlement.  of course, that fits neatly into the plans the Israeli Government has for the area.

Bottom line here--- no improvement in position by any of the parties--everybody assumes that the US is speaking out of both sides of its mouth--Obama and Clinton are either out of synch or trying to create a position for themsevles they can't have.  Net gains  (or even near misses) - ZERO

 

In Today's News

Halloween, October 31st

Hillary Clinton Rejects Palestinian Authority Demand that Settlements Stop as a Condition for negotiations

In a curious development, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rejected PA President Abbas' demands that new settlements building be stopped as a condition for negotiations.  Keep in mind that both Clinton and President Obama have both alternatively condemned and waffled on stopping the settlements before--most recently simply because PM Netanyahu indicated he had no intention of stopping the further building of settlements both throughout Israel and in Jerusalem. His refusal seems to be the clue for us to follow along like puppy dogs.

Her statement itself was incredible.  The Jerusalem Post quotes her as saying, "What the prime minister has offered... a restraint on the policy of settlements, which he has just described, no new starts, for example, is unprecedented in the context of prior to negotiations."   Of course, Netanyahu has made the same offer before and then simply continued building, as had his predecessors.  Instead of new building permits, they simply allow 'upgrades' or 'family enhancements' supposedly to allow families to live in the same neighborhood--which usually means taking over Palestinian homes and land, bulldozing the buildings and turning it over to a 'family member' of someone already living there-even if they don't actually know each other.

At the UN:  Israel continues to try to change historical fact.

I really dislike what seems to be a constant tirade against the Israeli political establishment, but they become more ridiculous all the time.  They are still upset that Goldstone had the audacity to condemn both Israel and Hamas for what was really a massacre in Gaza during the most recent major incursion.  From their perspective, Israel was in the right to destroy the city and its infrastructure for a few rockets that destroyed a fountain and put a couple of holes in homes in Sderot.  Along with that destruction in Gaza, over 1300 people were killed and thousands wounded, against less than 20 among the IDF.  Some of their own troops, members of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) supported the Golstone conclusions that Israel used ex cessive force, used civilians as shileds while searching in homes and neighborhoods, and inflicted destruction on the population as general punishment rather than for specific military purposes.  That adds up to CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY for everyone else it seems, except the Israeli Government.

Haaretz reports on recent statements of the Israeli Ambassador to the UN concerning the Human Rights Council which Israel and its puppy dog, the Obama Administration have been constantly whining over the last several weeks.

According to Haaretz, "Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Gabriela Shalev, said on Friday at the organization's weekly assembly that the UN Human Rights Council had betrayed the very values and principles it was established to protect. "

"Shalev spoke after the assembly was issued the Rights Councils' annual activity report," state Haarezt, "which includes the Goldstone report findings that accuse Israel and the Palestinians of war crimes during the Gaza offensive in December 2008. Friday's discussion preceded the upcoming deliberation on Wednesday at the UN assembly regarding the report's conclusions."

"Shalev accused the council of constant and exclusive discrimination against Israel and said that more than half of the council's meetings have dealt with condemning Israel for one reason or another. Shalev also said that the council has approved more resolutions critical of Israel than resolutions criticizing any other UN member country. "

Women become Taiban target in Pakistan

It is becoming increasingly clear from the news reports that the Taliban have started zeroing in on women--as they had during their brief reign in Afghanistan a few years back.  The Times Online (London) has an interesting article with insights on the reasons behind the latest series of what they call 'horrific' attacks in the marketplaces and central areas of Peshwar.

As the Times indicates, "As the death toll of Wednesday’s car bomb in the northwestern Pakistani city reached 117, it became clear that women have now become key targets in the militants’ twisted strategy of creating mayhem across this volatile, nuclear-armed country. Such was the revulsion at the deaths of so many women and children that even the Taliban and Al-Qaeda tried to distance themselves from the atrocity, although few believe their denial of responsibility. "

Read the article.  It's insights are interesting at the least, and illuminative of the depths to which the Taliban and their allies have gone to try to regain the initiave in the region.

More Tomorrow.  Comments?

Bad day at the Security Council

October 15

Israel had a bad day at the Security Council in NY yesterday as the monthly meeting took up the discussion of the Goldstone Report.  Alone, except perhaps for the US, Israel used every complaint, suggestion, and mis-statment it could to stop the proceedings.  Among them are the following:

"We have a right to Self-defense."  Certainly they do, and the missiles coming from various places in Gaza should be stopped--but not at the expense of over 10,000 homes and over 1,000 killed and more wounded for a bunch of missiles whose most critical hit was a fountain in a southern Israeli town.  Israel, it seems believes it has the right to defend itself, but the Palesti nians are simply supposed to roll over and take what they get.  Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev made this comment, in which she also called the madate of the Commission "Too Broad."

"This discussion belongs in the Human Rights Council, not the Security Council."  That also is probably true-- EXCEPT for the simple fact that war crimes charges and referral to the World Criminal Court can be made by the  Human Rights Council WHEN the parties are signatories to the treaty creating the court.  Otherwise, the only body with referral authority is the UN Security Council.  Israel has thus far, as has the US, refused to sign the treaty. This particular argument was presented by Deputy US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff.

Then two others, "The Report is one-sided", and "The Report blames Israel more than the Palestinians" are really interesting.  First the Report blames BOTH Israel and the Palestinians for War Crimes activity, and recommends that both conduct REAL investigations of their own actions.  The second argument is even more specious.  Some Israeli commentators complain that more pages of the report are devoted to Israel than Hamas.  This is certainly true, since the sheer volume of alleged crimes, witness statements to support them, and descriptions of the results of the utter destruction of Gaza has to be more comprehensive than the description of the fountain destroyed in Israel.

The final argument "The adoption of this report would encourage terror" is the most interesting of all.  The levels of terror surrounding the Gaza invasion and massacres is itself terror against a mostly innocent population who could not escape since Israel had closed all exit points when they invaded.  This does not absolve the Hamas destruction, or even the previous bombings by them that seems to have started the invasion.  What matters is the sheer magnitude of response that becomes terror in itself.

We all know there are no simple answers here, but the Israeli position is to let it go away because, after all,, Israel is the good guys and the palestinians are the bad guys here.  Believe it if you will.

Co mments?

UN Urges 'credible' investigation of War Crimes in Gaza

The review  of the Goldstone Report has started in the Human Rights Council, and so have the media:

First came AFP:

UN urges 'credible' probes into Gaza war

(AFP) – 5 hours ago

UNITED NATIONS — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges Israel and the Palestinians to conduct, without delay, "credible" domestic probes of war crimes allegations during the Gaza conflict, a top UN official said Wednesday.

Ban "calls upon all of the parties to carry out credible domestic investigations into the conduct of the conflict without delay," UN Under Secretary General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe told the UN Security Council.

"He hopes that such steps will be taken wherever there are credible allegations of human rights abuses throughout the world," he added.

Pascoe noted that Ban's call dovetails with a key recommendation in a UN report that accused both Israel and Palestinian armed groups of war crimes during the three-week Gaza conflict over the new year.

The damning report by a team led by South African jurist Richard Goldstone, a former international war crimes prosecutor, also directed Ban to bring its report to the attention of the UN Security Council for follow-up action, which could be a referral to the International Criminal Court.

Ban "believes that international humanitarian law needs to be fully respected and civilians must be protected in all situations and circumstances," Pascoe said during a council debate on the Middle East."

read the rest of the story here.

Others followed quickly.

U.N. rights body opens door to new Gaza debate

Laura McInnes

GENEVA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council will hold an extraordinary meeting this week on the occupied Palestinian territories, providing another chance for Israel's critics to discuss a Gaza war crimes report.

"The holding of the special session is at the request of Palestine," the United Nations said in a statement circulated on Tuesday in Geneva, where the 47-member body is based.

The Human Rights Council did not vote during its last three-week session, ending Oct. 2, on a resolution condemning Israel's failure to cooperate with the Gaza inquiry, led by South African jurist Richard Goldstone.

The report, issued in September, concluded that both the Israeli armed forces and Hamas militants committed war crimes in the December-January war. But it was more critical of Israel.

Action on the Human Rights Council resolution was postponed until March after pressure from Washington, which is trying to restart Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. [ID:nL2147555]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has come under sharp criticism at home for agreeing to the delay. [ID:nL7622436]

In New York, the U.N. Security Council has brought forward a scheduled meeting on the Middle East after Libya demanded it urgently debate the Goldstone report. [ID:nN07494350] That debate will take place on Wednesday, the day before the Human Rights session which is expected to stretch into Friday."

That story continues here on Reuters.

From the Jerusalem Post,

Barak calls for Goldstone rejection

"Ahead of Wednesday's UN Security Council debate set to be used by Palestinian diplomats and representatives of Arab states to press for action on the Goldstone Report, Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a series of phone conversations with world statesmen and diplomats in a bid to convince them not to adopt the findings of the report, which accuses Israel of committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza last winter. "

 "Among others, Barak spoke with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, British Foreign Minister David Miliband, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store. "

"The Defense Ministry said Wednesday that in the previous night's conversations, Barak said, "The Goldstone Report is false, twisted, biased and supports terror."

"Adopting the report will likely give encouragement to terror organizations across the world," he reportedly added. "Democratic nations must understand that adopting the report will severely impair their ability to fight terror."

Al Jazeera reported as well:

UN agrees to 'Goldstone session'

"The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session in Geneva, as requested by the Palestinian Authority, in which the Goldstone report is expected to be addressed, Al Jazeera has learnt." "The session will begin on Thursday and is expected to last into the following day." "The request by the Palestinian Authority (PA) is co-sponsored by the 18 member states of the human rights council." "Those members are: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Senegal." "The meeting will be the 12th special session of the council, following the Security Council's open debate on the Middle East expected in New York on Wednesday." More on the Security Council debate later in the day. Comments?

 

 

Today in the Middle East

October 13th)

Israel - The Israeli PM, Netanyahu, told the Israeli Knesset that Israel is "seriously considering restricting travel to Europe by its senior officials and military officers.." in reaction to the possibility that they might be arrested for war crimes, according to today's Washington Times.  His statement comes just  before the Goldstone Report is scheduled to be discussed in the UN Security Council and, a long way before any possible action could occur, seems to be aimed more at swaying US and other Council members than being engtrenched in reality.  A splinter group did try to have Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrested in London recently, but neither the UK Government or the police took that effort seriously.

"While the Goldstone Report accuses both Israel and Hamas of suspected war crimes, Israeli offiicals see themselves as the biggest targets and charge that Mr. Golstone's findings effectively deprive the Jewish State of the right to self-defense.," continued the Times Article.

Conservative estimates of deaths range from 900  to 1300 among the residents of the Gaza Strip--invaded by Israel to try to stop rocket attacks--with the Israeli death total at about 20.  Some sources thank this is clearly indicative of the Israeli intent to simply go in and punish the population rather than stop rocket attackes--while killed no one, and did little real damage.  Converselt, thousands of homes, utilities, and public facilites were simply leveled by Israeli armor and artillery.

The Ti mes report is far from objective, with the reporter Eli Lake, making a number of statements that referred to the Goldstone Report as commissioned by  'authoritarian states', suggesting that attention is being focused on israel while the crimes in Sudan go unnoticed and unpunished, and that the "Israeli Defense Forces sought to minimize those casualties..", a statement in significant conflict from testimomy from a number of solidiers on the group during that invasion.

Netanhayu's views are not shared throughout Israel, and are often at odds with the facts.  The Israel Blog  Has a broader view--quoting several sources, such as the Economist, which said:

"It concludes that “While the Israeli government has sought to portray its operation as essentially a response to rocket attacks in exercise of its right to self-defence, the Mission considers the plan to have been directed, at least in part, at a different target: the people of Gaza as a whole.”"

"The purpose, the mission added, was “punishing the Gaza population for its resilience and for its apparent support for Hamas”. It held that Israel’s partial blockade of the Gaza Strip since Hamas took power there three-and-a-half years ago amounted to collective punishment and violated the Geneva Conventions."

Read the Israel Blog.  Several of its writer/readers have incisive comments on the overall situation in Israel following the invasion.

On the Arab side, al Arabyia had several comments in its latest editions, including:

"Is there no limit to the wiles of those dastardly anti-Semites?
Now they have decided to slander the Jews with another blood libel. Not the old accusation of slaughtering Christian children to use their blood for baking Passover matzoth, as in the past, but of the mass slaughter of women and children in Gaza."

"And who did they put at the head of the commission which was charged with this task? Neither a British Holocaust-denier nor a German neo-Nazi, nor even an Iranian fanatic, but of all people a Jewish judge who bears the very Jewish name of Goldstone (originally Goldstein, of course). And not just a Jew with a Jewish name, but a Zionist, whose daughter, Nicole, is an enthusiastic Zionist who once “made Aliyah” and speaks fluent Hebrew. All this in order to defame the most moral army in the world, fresh from waging the most just war in history!"

"The official Israeli reaction to the Goldstone report would have been amusing, if the matter had not been so grave." That last line sums it all up.  Why not let the UN conduct its inquiry, participate in it, and suggest solutions--other than stifling it totally.  Israel still has the feeling that anything it does is right, and anyone opposing them is wrong.  That will get them no where these days.  Bit if Israel cdid nothing in violation of International Law, why be worried about prosecution of its leaders? Fatah vs. Hamas - Another tinderbox, but for a different reason.  Egypt has been attempting to broker a cease fire between the two Palestinian factions, and finally seemed to make progress.  Fatah has agreed with the major points and also agreed to sign the accords.  Hamas has yet to respond on its own.  That will unfold further over the next several days, but be hopeful that some form of reconciliation actually occurs.  It will not happen, nor will it be successful with Abbas continuing to be a stooge for the Israeli Government and the US. Palestinians vs. Israel -  With Fatah at least willing to enter into an accord with Hamas, the Israeli Government has not raised the ante on a settlement agreement-- the palestinians must now not just recognize Israel as a state, but as a "Jewish State".  That brings everything back to 1948 with the original screwing of the Palestinians by the UN and the US.  Do things never change?

Abbas the Fraud...or Abbas the Peacemaker?

(October 5th)

What is there to make of the current antics of Mahmoud Abbas, the erstwhile leader of Fatah and the Palestinian Liberation Organization?  Fresh from backing down to Netanyahu, the Israeli PM on the settlements issue, he has now succumbed to pressure from the US to drop his demands that the Goldstone war crimes report be referred to the UN General Assembly for discussion and action.  Again, Netanyahu had decreed that consideration of that document meant the end to negotiations with the Palestinians, and the US buckled--getting Abbas to do the same.

There is no question that the Palestinians want their homeland--and there is no question, as well, that the israeli's have no intention of giving one to them.  Instead, the Israelis are pushing to create settlements everywhere they can, including Jerusalem, so that the borders they draw and force down the collective PLO and US throat will be so toruous as to make a 'homeland' ridiculous.  And you know what?  They will get away with it too under the ever-emerging synchophancy of the Obama Administration.

Abbas should bew replaced by someone with a spine--not a terrorist, but someone who will stand up to the bullies that israel and the US have become in the Middle East.  The Israelis, at least, won a couple of wars (if we forget Lebanon and Gaza) that give them some claim.  The US, however, has gone from semi-honest broker in the region to supplicant at the feet of the Israelis.  This needs to stop.

Vote Delayed on the Goldstone Report

(2  October 2009)(apwx5fkbnh)

In yet another indication that the Abbas Administration (Fatah) is the lap dog of the Israeli Government, they released their demand for a vote on the Goldstone Report on War Crimes in Gaza.  Reportedly demanded by the Obama Administration as well, according to an article in the Washington Post, this effectively means that the UN will not consider the impact of that report in this session.

As usual, the Israelis indicated they would walk away from negotiations unless the report died before being introduced.  They are, and should be afraid of the potential of an International Court review of their actions in Gaza that killed over 1400 people against 13 of their own.

Read the interesting story in Today's Post.

Comments?

UN issues critical report on Gaza fighting

"Gaza","UN Gaza","Gaza Strip"

By Matti Friedman (JERUSALEM (AP)) — A new United Nations report criticizes Israel for attacking U.N. installations during the Gaza campaign, according to an Israeli description Tuesday of the still unreleased document, which it called "tendentious and entirely unbalanced."

The report, commissioned by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, was expected to be presented to the Security Council later Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said. Government officials said a copy was provided to Israel for comment, but would not provide the report.

The material Israel presented to the U.N. commission investigating strikes on U.N. institutions in Gaza was largely ignored in the final report, Palmor said, and no blame was placed on the Hamas militants Israel says were using the U.N. compounds for cover during the fighting.

"The spirit of the report and its language are tendentious and entirely unbalanced and ignore the facts as they were presented to the commission," the Foreign Ministry said in an official statement. "The commission prefers the positions of Hamas, a murderous terror organization, and by doing so misleads the world public."

A U.N. spokesman in Jerusalem would not comment. The U.N.'s New York offices were closed and officials there unavailable for comment.  Read the rest of the story here...)

The UN is in the process of releasing the report on the bombings of the UN facilities and compound in Gaza during the recent IDF invasion of Gaza by the Israelis.  It is expected to  be issued sometime this week, and go to the Security Council for review.  Israel already has their media, and other media allies in full gear to make sure that world knows that they should be listening to Israel, and not some Hamas spokesperson who is anti-Israel.  More coming on this, but expect it to generate a lot of noise, but little action.

Comments?

Obama reiterates U.S. support for Palestinian state

April 6, 2009 (Reuters)

ANKARA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday the United States strongly supported the aim of setting up a Palestinian state living "side by side" and at peace with Israel. Obama reiterated the U.S. position after Israel's new foreign minister said last week that Israel was not bound by a deal to start negotiations on establishing a Palestinian state.

"Let me be clear: the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security," Obama said in a speech to the Turkish parliament.

"Now, we must not give into pessimism and mistrust. We must pursue every opportunity for progress," he said, weighing in on the Middle East peace issue for the first time since rightist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took power and formed a new government.   Read the whole story here..

Comments?  Can it really happen?

UN official: Gaza border situation intolerable

UN official urges Israel to 'abide by its obligations,' adds rocket attacks must end

Reuters (March 25, 2009)  Israel News

The situation at the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip is "intolerable" and restrictions on imports into the Palestinian territory must be eased, a top UN official said on Wednesday.

"The intolerable situation at Gaza's crossings remains the key impediment to bringing help - and hope - to the people of Gaza," UN Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe told the UN Security Council during a monthly debate on the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Earlier this week, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Western donors that Israel would lift restrictions on food supplies entering Gaza after a row with Washington over blocked convoys of macaroni and cheese.

Read the rest of the story here..

New israeli Government set to 'negotiate' with Palestinians

Netanyahu 'will be peace partner'

March 25, 2009  (BBC News)   Israel's next prime minister, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, has said his incoming government will be a "partner for peace" with the Palestinians. He said he would negotiate with the Palestinian Authority, a change of tack after being critical of previous talks. Correspondents say the right-winger is trying to temper his image as an opponent of the peace process. Palestinian officials said Mr Netanyahu must back the idea of a Palestinian state to be considered a partner. The incoming prime minister, who previously led Israel from 1996 to 1999, is also coming under international pressure to publicly support a two-state solution. read the whole story here... The only problem is that he will apparently only negotiate with The Palestinian Authority--the puppet government they support.  There is no comment on negotiations with hamas or other groups. Is this approach doomed to fail? Comments Appreciated.

Israel says no cease-fire until soldier comes home

Associated Press (Feb 18 2009)

By JOSEF FEDERMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) — Top Israeli Cabinet ministers Wednesday set a series of tough conditions for accepting a proposed cease-fire with Hamas, saying there would be no deal until the Islamic militant group releases a captured Israeli soldier.

The unanimous decision by the 11-member Security Cabinet was likely to set back Egyptian efforts to broker a long-term truce in the wake of Israel's harsh military offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip last month. Israel planned to dispatch a senior envoy to Cairo in the coming days.

There was no immediate reaction from Egypt or Hamas.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened Wednesday's meeting to discuss the emerging deal. Israel has been demanding an end to Hamas rocket attacks and arms smuggling and the freedom of Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid in June 2006.  (Read the Whole Story)

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Egypt has been brokering a more permanent cease fire for some weeks, and it appeared, at one point, that both israel and Hamas could agree to one.  That would reopen the borders and allow reconstruction materials, food, and other aid into Gaza--something the Israelis have been refusing to allow thus far.  Both wangt the soldier freed, but dissagree on how to do it.  The Israeli have now dramatically upped the stakes in the peace process, mostly because Olmert the PM wants the soldier's release before he leaves office.

So, the stupidity continues.  COMMENTS?

Egypt, Turkey call for Palestinian reconciliation

ISTANBUL (AFP) — The leaders of Egypt and Turkey said Wednesday that reconciliation between the two main Palestinian groups was crucial to establish a lasting truce in Gaza after Israel's deadly operation.

"Israel's attack would have been out of the question if there were no divisions and disagreements among the Palestinians," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told a new conference after talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

"I underlined (to Gul) the importance we attribute to national Palestinian reconciliation because the interests of the Palestinian people are above reconciliation between the groups," he said, through a translator.... (Read Full Story)

Comments?

UN launches probe into Gaza damage

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has announced an inquiry into damage to UN property in Gaza during Israel's military offensive. More than 40 people were killed by Israeli fire outside a UN school and a warehouse in the main UN compound was destroyed by Israeli shells during the three-week offensive.  In all there were 10 incidents in which UN property was damaged.  Mr Ban says the inquiry will be headed by Ian Martin, formally the UN envoy to Nepal.  Israel and the United Nations have a fraught relationship in Gaza.  (Read Story)

 

Comments welcome.

A better future for Palestinians

Voice of America Reports......

08 February 2009

The United States is committed to bringing about a better future for the Palestinian and Israeli people in the wake of the fighting in Gaza.  

Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell recently met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss steps toward forging a lasting ceasefire.

"It's important to consolidate a sustainable durable ceasefire," said Mr. Mitchell, "and we encourage continuing efforts in that regard. To be successful in preventing the illicit trafficking of arms into Gaza, there must be a mechanism to allow the flow of legal goods and that should be with the participation of the Palestinian Authority."
  Read the whole story...(Here)

Israeli results dismay Palestinians

Palestinians say they are concerned about the future of the Arab-Israeli peace process following the strong showing by right-wing parties in Israel's parliamentary elections.

With hardline leaders gaining a greater say in Israeli politics, officials in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are of the view that a new Israeli government - be it under Tzipi Livni or Benyamin Netanyahu..... (Read the whole story).

 AlJazeera.Net English Edition Today

Comments?

Who killed who, or what?

Ma'an, which claims to be independent news service, and the 'voice' of an independent Palestine published an article on February 2nd about the killing or wounding of 181 Palestinians by Hamas.  The article has been extensively copied on various Internet blog sites as fact over the past few days.

Accurately, the article asks for people to come forward to confirm the deaths and injuries, and provide factual evidence--they (Ma'an) apparently has none, but reported what is was told by 'reliable sources'.  They do not reveal the sources.  While I do not doubt that the names represent those who were killed or injured, the manner of public representation leaves much to be desired.  Stay tuned for further information.

The effects of the conflict in Gaza

January 30, 2009

The Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) has released a report on the effect of the current conflict in terms of agricultural production for use as food in the Territory.  It is an interesting read, and says, in part:

For twenty two days and nights so far, no one night witnessed any changes of the previous night or day with air activities of surveillance and bombing by helicopters and fighter-bomber F16s and war vessels. They left no stone unturned as they targeted homes of civilians, playgrounds, and public gardens! For example, in al-Nasser neighborhood, last night [17 January 2009], at least 9 homes were hit by F16s! All of it was apartments in high-rise residential buildings On Wednesday, January 14, F16 missiles landed in the Sheikh Radwan graveyard destroying 17 tombs and bringing up its dead bodies! This has put forward a question of where else they will hit, and this also makes one wonder what other places the Israeli army commanders have in mind to destroy! Gaza medical authorities announced a death toll of 1,300, including 418 child and 118 woman, 118 elderly, plus 5,500 injured. Let alone those traumatized, and panicked by the Israeli invasion. Let alone those who have not been saved or rescued and died under rubble or in the green fields! Medical doctors mentioned that hundreds of the injured will never recover and return to normal life! Hundreds will live as physically handicapped.

....Thousands of tonnes of donations in terms of food stuff, basic supplies and fuel have been coordinated to arrive to Gaza across the Rafah crossings. UNRWA stored it in the precincts of its headquarters in Gaza city; unexpectedly, all of a sudden, on January 15th the whole world was surprised and shocked when the stores were burnt during an attack by Israeli aircrafts. The whole stores were set ablaze! The whole world condemned the attack! The attacked raised the humanitarian predicament of thousands of displaced and refugee families in Gaza Strip.

As a result of the attacks, 90,000 people have fled from their homes. They have either lost their homes (4,200 completely destroyed and 5,600 damaged) by air raids, shelling and bombing, or they escaped from immediate combat zones, or they were ordered by the Israeli army to evacuate their homes! Thousands are staying with relatives or friends in what they think are safer areas inside the cities and towns. But those who have no relatives to resort to found only one place to hide; they packed themselves in UNRWA schools. Unfortunately, three of those schools where targeted by the Israeli forces; the UNRWA school in Jabalia was bombed by three shells from a tank; 67 of the refugees died in that attack, and more than 40 were injured. A third UNRWA school was hit in Beit Lahia village; at least 10 people died and dozens injured. Therefore, at the present time, 40 UNRWA schools embrace Palestinians escaping from war. In each school, there are 120 families taken care of by UNRWA which provided them with blankets and offers them three meals a day to survive. Other relief efforts are provided by other local NGOs including the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC).

Read the rest.  It is a chilling story that adds much to what the media has NOT been reporting.  I continue to try to find a similar report issued by a reputable Israeli group on theri damages.  The UN Food & Agricultural organization (FAO) in its own report on Gaza echoes many of the same sentiments as those provided above.

Establishing a new dialogue

January 30, 2009

News From Bangladesh published an article on Gaza, entitled Gaza : How The Peeace Quartet Led The Way To war , by Dr. Terry Lacey on Jan 28th.  His major point was that “For the past year and a half, Israel with the full backing and encouragement of the Quartet of Middle East mediators (the European Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia) as well as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and even the West Bank-based PLO, has maintained an economic blockade on the Gaza Strip”.

He explained the blockade was to persuade Gazans to depose Hamas and join the peace process, “It was paralleled by a program of accelerated development and investment in the West Bank , spearheaded by the Quartet´s emissary, Tony Blair, intended to persuade West Bankers of the benefits of peace.”

Dr. Lacey argues for a different approach to the issues surrounding Gaza, and the broader Palestinian question, and points out that different actors are required to make it happen.  He points out that " It was clear many Israelis as well as Palestinians were moving against the proposed peace agreement in the mid 1990s. The region was marked by a strange fear of peace. The older generation could not cope with the prospect of a new generation coming up. Everything they understood, and their careers, were built on the institutionalized lines of conflict of yesterday, not on the qualifications needed for tomorrow. "

"The Quartet peace team in its turn became trapped in the building of an elaborate international matrix of slowly won positions that became a Holy Grail instead of just one of the options for peace. It was like building a house from the top down with no foundations. Peace has to be built on people, not on previously agreed paragraphs, guarded by a priesthood of bureaucrats. "

"The Middle East Quartet, led by the US, was propelled from negotiating, to maneuvering, to confrontation with those who did not want the peace agreement. At least not yet, and not this way. Led by President Bush the Quartet rejected the legitimacy of elections and resorted to economic warfare. Finally the supposed Israeli moderates fought a war to improve their political chances and to save a dying twin state solution, which they then buried in the bloody rubble of the Gaza Strip."

This is probably the best retrospective on the these issues in a while--a MUST READ.  Take the time to read and absorb the whole story.

The Rearming of Hamas and other news

The Canberra Times reports an interivew with Ahmad Youssef, a senior official with Hamas, who describes how they are continuing to rearm and replace what they expended during the recent flareup in Gaza.  I guess that should be expected since they have the same right to 'defend themselves' that George Bush had reserved to Israel.  Seems a shame that they don't get the same discount price (i.e. free) from iIan that Israel gets from the US.

Meanwhile, theAustralian Times reports that  Israeli Defense Force (IDF) troops were instructed to kill themselves or their fellow soldiers, rather than have them captured.  The Israelis continue in a fiction that somehow their captured soldiers are   'kidnapped', but the effect is the same.

ISRAELI soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip offensive this month were ordered to kill themselves rather than be captured, and if necessary to kill any Israeli soldier they saw being taken into captivity, the Yediot Achronot newspaper has reported.

"No matter what happens, no one will be kidnapped," the paper quotes one company commander telling his troops before the fighting began. "We will not have a Gilad Shalit 2."

Corporal Shalit, the Israeli soldier taken prisoner three years ago, is being held by Hamas, which is demanding the release of more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds convicted of terrorism, in exchange for his release.

The newspaper quotes similar orders given in different Israeli field units, which reportedly reflect a new army policy.

In the past, there were standing orders, known as "Hannibal mode", for firing at a vehicle taking Israeli troops into captivity to disable it and permit a rescue team to reach it, even at risk to the captive soldiers inside the vehicle. The new orders tighten those instructions, reportedly by permitting the vehicle to be blown up.

A soldier in a commando unit that operated behind Hamas lines said his unit was equipped with "special weapons". "We were instructed to use them also against any vehicle carrying a kidnapped soldier," he said.

And an Israeli company commander told the newspaper he had instructed his men to resist being taken prisoner "even if this costs you your life".

Israel's Channel Ten television station broadcast a recording of a battalion commander instructing his men just before they invaded the Gaza Strip, in which he says one of Hamas's main goals was to capture soldiers to exchange for imprisoned terrorists. "No soldier from the battalion will be kidnapped, even if that means he blows up on his own grenade together with whoever wants to take him," the commander says.

Israeli officers reported several attempts, none successful, to kidnap soldiers during the house-to-house fighting in Gaza and to take them away through tunnels.

The Israeli-Hamas Conflict in Pictures

Without being there it is clearly impossible to completely understand what is happening in Gaza, or in Sderot where the majority of the Hamas missiles have  been landing.  However, a few pictures are worth a lot of words, so I have selected a few for comparison of the events.

First, in Sderot where a number of Hamas missiles have been falling, including some after the cease fire was announced by Israel. These Israeli police officers take cover near a wall and fence to protect themselves from the  barrage. The second photo shows Israeli mothers in a local underground bomb shelter caring for their children during the attacks.  While there was damage in Sderot and other coastal towns, the people in these places had protected shelter from the attacks.

Now, in Gaza, the situation and the level of bombing effort provides considerably different results.  The first Gaza picture shows an initial bombing run that aimed on a highrise target.  Israel used both bombs dropped from aircraft, and high explosive shells from armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery to level whole blocks, as shown in the next photo. There are effectively no bomb shelters in Gaza, and virtually the entire infrastructure is destroyed.  The third Gaza photo is a view of a main street in Raffah where extensive damage occured with large death and injury counts.  Total Israeli dead -- less than 20 from all attacks.  Total Palestinian dead from all attacks ---over 600, mostly women and children.