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The truth told should not be taken as insult!
Palestinian medics evacuating an injured protester during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis, last year.
(Credit Adel Hana/Associated Press)
The truth told, should not be taken as insult!
Voices are usually silenced, when it comes to Israel.
Very often, we see public figures and government officials including members of Congress to receive a backlash of “angry voices” claiming that any statement make in regard of Israel, if isn’t favorable, then is antisemitism.
On July 12, four days after the latest war in Gaza began, hundreds of Israelis gathered in central Tel Aviv to protest the killing of civilians on both sides and call for an end to the siege of Gaza and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The New York Time
In my opinion, the tragedy of WWII is an open wound for Palestinians, who still carry on their backs the horrific events that took place in Europe.
Before and after the end of the war, their destiny [Palestinians] was marked by the partition of their land.
The Jewish people, who emigrated to Palestine by force or by their own will, found safe heaven there, as Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said, during a Yahoo News podcast “Skullduggery.”
71 years later, Palestinians are suffering persecution, oppression, occupation, incarceration and a slow ethnic cleansing.
For Palestinians, the Holocaust is not a painful memory, but a crude reality.
Israel converted Palestine into a pastrami sandwich.
“What is to become of the Palestinians?” Churchill asked. “We’ll make a pastrami sandwich of them,” Ariel Sharon said.
Winston Churchill III recalled his 1973 encounter with Sharon during a National Press Club
By Sharon’s statement, it is obvious the plan to install settlements-Settlements are illegal under International Law, was to take more land, and to uproot more Palestinians.
#humanrights #occupation #Holocaust #Palestine
Cornel West speaks for Palestinians
By Marivel Guzman
Cornel West photo credit CornelWest.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif.– Sept. 29, 2016. Cornel West at Press Conference at Sacramento State University.
I was aware of West’s role in advising the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, particularly on the Palestine Issue. For over 40 years, West has been a vocal advocate and supporter of the Palestinian people in their struggle against the Zionist occupation of their nation; Knowing West’s position on this important issue-of-the-day, I was intrigued by his deep concern about the plight of the Palestinian people and the need for people in this country to gain an objective and historical understanding of the roots of the current plight of Palestinians.
In my familiarity with West’s books, he has almost maintained a very progressive stance by tying their oppression to foreign occupation of their country. Therefore, I was eager to hear more about his views when I attended his lecture and press conference at Sacramento State University.
Knowing that the mainstream media would not only shy away, but ignore the conflict in the Middle East, particularly in regards to the Palestinian issue, I made it a point to ask West about his role in advising the Sander’s campaign regarding the rights of Palestinians that live under Israel’s occupation. His response made it clear that he remained firm in his conviction that the people of this country must understand and support the Palestinian struggle to regain statehood.
When I asked why the Democratic Party after the primaries refused to acknowledge the Palestinian issue, his reply was unequivocally clear,
“If they didn’t address it, they were just wrong, this was cowardly and too indifferent, too unwilling to engage the level of suffering and misery and injustice of precious Palestinians brothers and sisters.”
West went on to explain that the position of the Democratic Party has been “tied too long to American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee.” He went on to explain that “AIPAC is not representative of Jewish-Americans, it represents a slice of centrist and conservative Jewish-Americans.” He then went on to explain that the AIPAC is “very powerful, like the NRA, and any other powerful lobby that is shaping U.S. policy … and for too long the kind of policies that the AIPAC promotes has not recognized the humanity (of the Palestinians) and the evil of Israeli occupation …. I am against foreign domination, I think what we are about is that every human being has some security from domination.”
The topic went on to highlight Assembly Bill 2844 which Governor Brown recently signed into law opposing the boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
There is a broad campaign both nationally and internationally to boycott, divest and impose sanctions upon companies that financially benefit from the Israeli seizure of Palestinian lands and resources.
This campaign included a boycott of those products from the occupied territories. The intent of Governor Brown bill is to protect the Israel by silencing and suppressing the groundswell support of an ever-growing number of people in this country and worldwide of the Palestinian people. Therefore, I asked West for his opinion of Assembly Bill 2844 and whether he thought groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union would challenge it on the basis of a denial of free speech. He felt that there would be legal challenges to this bill because he considers himself a libertarian when it comes to freedom of speech.
He went on to state that “there’s no doubt that there are many brothers and sisters in the BDS movement who are being targeted and demonized because they have a critique of not just Israeli occupation, they have a critique of the Israeli state that is perceived by very powerful elite at the top as being anti-Semitic …” “It is very difficult to have that conversation in the United States and so those of us who are part of the BDS we get demonized, we get viewed as if we are anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic and we just have to make it clear that we have to rob that kind of shallow characterization of the substance, we have to be very explicit about that fact that we take principled stance against anti-Jewish hatred and anti-Jewish prejudice and anti-Jewish sensibilities and still have fundamental commitment to the self-determination of Palestinians…”
I was very heartened by West’s formulation of the Middle East conflict and his wholehearted opposition to bigotry of any type. It was evident that he has pondered the issue long and hard or in his words for “30 to 40 years.” I found that his comments about President Obama’s neoliberal identity that leads him to support the State of Israeli to be on-target. He bravely criticized President Obama for his support and allowing himself to be captive to the right-wing elements in Israel. This included the passage of the $38 billion bill to the State of Israel. West concludes that the Middle East conflict is a very complex issue that demands “that we have enough people who are willing to tell the truth the best way they know it.”
The Jewish settlers and Israel as a matter of policy condoning-violence-policy is to be blamed
Ethnically Cleansed Palestinian Refugees on their way to Lebanon, October, 1948. photo/Palestine remembered
Well he goes to blame the current situation to the leaders of Palestine for the anger that is uncontrollable and has been displaced by the Palestinian youth mostly in recent incidents. Worth mentioning that only part of the stabbings did really happened as published by Palestinian news and other outlets, the rest of the Palestinians killed have been staged by the settlers filled with their common hate for any Arab; Christian or Muslim. And even there is an incident that a settler confused the darker skin of an individual for Palestinian and it was a Jew. Last Thursday, The New York Post said that 31 Palestinians were killed recently from which only, 14 were recognized as attackers, according to mathematics the other 17 were indeed executed
Palestinians have been living in Palestine for centuries as history records.
If you like recorded history and want to learn more about Palestine, I invite you to visit Palestine Remembered where you can watch videos of interviews from Palestinians and Jews before the creation of the political entity Israel, photos of villages all gone now, stories of battles and more.”The CORE issues of the Palestinian-Israeli are the collective dispossession and ethnic cleansing (compulsory population transfer to achieve political objectives) of the Palestinian people for the past six decades. In our opinion, the conflict would have been at the same level of intensity even if both parties had been Jewish, Muslims, or Christians. ” PalestineRemembered.com
Golberg repeats the same mantra that is being distributed by the Streaming Media: “Netayahu has said that the State of Israel is not trying to change the Status Quo.”
But what is the “Status Quo”?
Are check points the Status Quo?
“Each checkpoint looks like a military zone, consisting of a guard tower, a pedestrian waiting area, and two car lanes: one with a long wait for Palestinian cars and a special open car lane for Israeli cars. ” Electronic Intifada 2004
Palestinian Muslim males over 45 not allow to enter Jerusalem.
The South Africa pass laws implemented in Israel are kicking and running. Palestinians need to secure a permit to move around the occupied territories. If Israel feels like it, it won’t grant a permit.
Palestinians are not allowed to freely move in Palestine at all. Shuhada Street in Hebron is one of the best examples of living under a military dictatorship occupation. Shuhada Street is close for Palestinians but Jews can freely walk and harass the Palestinians residents that live on Shuhada street but need to leave their homes thru a hole on the roof.
Jerusalem is only open on Friday and males 55+, women 45+ after IOF clearance.
People living in Gaza are not allow to enter West Bank at all, actually the refugee camp of Gaza is a deportation camp. Families are completely separated.
Palestinian protesters and IDF soldiers at the beginning of the weekly protest near Bil’in. The apartment houses of Modi’in Ilit can be seen in the distance. March 30 2013 (photo: Noam Sheizaf)
And also do not forget that the violence is not only in Jerusalem but in all the occupied territories including the modern concentration camp of Gaza which has been blocked from the rest of the world for almost 10 years.
So, people do not swallow the pill that this is a religious war, is not.Goldberg makes an excellent surgical extraction of the truth to portray the Israel’s side of the story.
For people that only follows the main stream media news, Goldberg’s piece is an excellent source to stay uninformed, misinformed and with this stripping Palestinian of all their humanity and right to fight for their existence in the only way they know; throwing rocks and now using kitchen knives.
Remember Israel has tanks, F16s, Apache Helicopters, Drones, War ships to attack Gaza, in other words Israel has all the defense gadgets and Palestinians has none but stones and knives. The fact that Palestine has been invaded many times in history does not mean it did not exist before United Nations decided to partition the land in 1947. It does not means either that the violence started on 1947. It only means that Palestinians have been peaceful people that never wonder outside of their land, they have been farmers and shepherds, not conquerors.Further reading Survey of Palestine by British Mandate 1200 pages report includes 1917-1945
The Walls will fall from within
The walls will fall from within!
Samsom destroys the temple
Israel has no hope, its leadership is crumbling down, their political figures start pointing fingers to each other for the state of affairs of the Zionist entity, the disbanding of the heads of the state will lead the Apartheid State to finally meet its end.
The avalanche that started rolling in 2005 when the Boycott Sanctions and Divestment movement started to take form is rolling down stronger and bigger, together with the recent assault to the Gaza strip that left half millions homeless, indiscriminately high number of civilians killed have the eyes and ear of the world in Israel judging the ‘Jew State’ as the fascist dictatorship, the killing machine. Israel has been called Genocidal, psychopath that executed thousands of civilians in different events,, the latest this last summer that killed more than 2500 Palestinians. Israel list of extrajudicial killings is long, the number of victims in Palestine since Israel was inserted in the Middle East number in the hundred of thousands, the refugees in the millions. Over the years Israel color of victim have wore out to expose its true colors.
The Palestinian lands were illegally given to a group of European victims of the Nazi Holocaust in 1947 in a well crafted plan to disposes millions of native of their lands and homes
Leftist MK Stav Shaffir (Labor), a former leader of the social protest movements, hailed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s decision Tuesday night to disband the coalition government, firing ministers Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni.
“The time has come for the public in Israel to internalize that and act together with us to finally replace the government in Israel,” said the young leftist MK, who has vocally opposed the Jewish presence in Israel’s Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Former Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief Carmi Gillon on Saturday night launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government.
“Israel is headed today by a bunch of pyromaniacs and is being led by an egomaniac to its final destruction,” said Carmi Gillon, who spoke at a demonstration by leftists protesting against the Jewish State Law outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
“The Jewish State Law will eat the body of the entire nation like a cancer. The continuation of the radical and messianist policy on the Temple Mount will bring about a Gog and Magog war against the Jewish people,” he added.
This is the side of Israeli politics seldom seen by the western world and harsh words coming from a man who was once responsible for Israel’s domestic security.
The Gatekeepers: In New Film, Ex-Shin Bet Chiefs Denounce Occupation, Compare Israel to Nazi Germany
DemocracyNow.org – Amidst a spate of killings by Israeli forces of unarmed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, we turn to the stunning Oscar-nominated documentary, “The Gatekeepers.” The film brings together six former heads of Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, collectively speaking out for the first time ever. They detail their methods against Palestinian militants and civilians in the Occupied Territories, including targeted killings, torture, recruiting informants, and the suppression of mass protests during two Intifadas. But in doing so, they also criticize the occupation they were assigned with defending, and warn successive Israeli governments have endangered their country’s future by refusing to make peace. We’re joined by the film’s director, Dror Moreh.
The Holocaust Card always handy
Two important meanings to the direction of rotation of the swastika. Benign sense counterclockwise, luck. Sense evil time, chance. “Use of the swastika by Nazism is linked to the fact that it is a strong symbol, seductive and captivating look. In this sense, served the purposes of Nazi propaganda appeal to the masses” desconstruindo-o-nazismo.blogspot.com
“The world’s most wanted Nazi criminal, Adolf Eichmann’s second hand-in-command, died four years ago in Syria at the age of 98, the Simon Wiesenthal Center said Sunday, citing the testimony of a former German secret service agent deployed in the Middle East,” says The Times of Israel.
How the Simon Wiesenthal Center got a hold of that secret agent’s testimony?
Things are not going as planned with ISIS and the agenda to depose Assad, the president of Syria, now, Israel has to use the holocaust card again to refresh those pitiful memories of Jews dying in concentration camps in Europe, linking Syria with the worse Nazi, what a better moment to bring up the ‘news’ of Eichmann’s ‘best man who send 128,000 Jews to the camps’. If you notice the news is not about Adolph Eichmann that man history books says was the Holocaust architect, but about Alois Brenner.
How the writer knows that Alois Brenner was “described by Eichmann as his “best man,” another question I ask. Israel seems to know the secrets of Nazi Germany!
Now, I ask the ?question, who is this ‘former German secret service agent deployed in the Middle East?’ Would this former German secret service agent be around 100-year-old by now? if he was German secret service agent during the Nazi Germany this article tries to allude, that would had been right before 1945 at the end of the WWII, also this “service agent deployed in the Middle East,” is this means, he was deployed in what is now occupied Palestine, aka Israel? ,if we make memory there was no Israel then at least not before 1945, so, where exactly in the Middle East? who were the Middle East countries allies of the enemies of Germany that needed to be spied upon? This questions bring us to this, Operation paperclip!
We have received information from a former German secret service agent who had served in the Middle East who said that Brunner was dead and buried in Damascus,” Zuroff told The Sunday Express on Sunday.
“Given his age it would not be surprising and the information came from someone who we consider reliable.”
We should consider unreliable any information coming out of the Zionist Entity.
Suastica Symbol
In 1945, Operation Overcast (renamed Operation Paperclip for the paper clips attached to the dossiers of the most “troublesome cases”) began, says Annie Jacobsen.
Jacobsen says, that more than 1,600 Germans were secretly recruited to develop armaments “at a feverish and paranoid pace that came to define the Cold War.
“Although some of these men had been Nazi Party members, SS officers and war criminals, they were valued as vital to American national security.” by Annie Jacobsen in an article written for the New York Times, on Feb, 28, 2014
If Israel is the sacrosanct ally of the United States, and Israel exist because of the U.S., this means that part of these 1600 Nazi members of the S.S were working directly with and for Israel.
Now, going back to Syria, ISIS and the whole mess in the Middle East, why the Simon Wiesenthal Center comes out with this “news” that first and all it is 4 years old, how is that when Syria is in turmoil the news is available?
Like a said, do not believe anything that comes out of Holocaust, Inc.
Marissa Newsman, the writer of this opinion piece made sure to name in the first paragraph Adolf Eichmann, the bogie man of Nazi Germany, even though this article is about Alois Brunner.
In a review in amazon.com for the Memories of Simon Wiesenthal, Scamp Lumm writes the following
Simon Wiesenthal, the most famous Nazi war criminals’ most successful tracker, even managed to find the SS agent who arrested Anne Frank in Amsterdam. I’ve just read how he trailed Joseph Menegele, the malevolent experimental doctor of Auschwitz, to the outposts of Paraguay. He was never apprehended….”
Now I ask, how a concentration camp survivor that has lost everything, properties, family, money finds the resources to become Nazi Criminal tracker?
What’s so amazing to me is Wiesenthal’s outlook despite having lost everything, and especially family members, he wasn’t motivated by hate or revenge in the work he did hunting for Nazis, says Scamp Lumm
The Holocaust Industry written by Norman Finkelnstain can give you more light on the exploitation of the Jews that died during the WWII.
“The Double Shakedown, in which I documented the Holocaust industry’s blackmail of European governments in the name of “needy Holocaust victims” and then the shakedown of Holocaust victims by the Jewish organizations that pocketed the “Holocaust compensation” monies. Norman Finkelnstein
Celebrities for Palestine: Julia Boutros sings for Gaza
Julia Boutros in Dubai during One Candle Lit for Every Martyr
Donations to be gathered on campus
Lebanese Christian Julia Boutros is considered one of the top pop singers of the Arab world. She has just released a new album, entitled ‘Righteousness is my weapon’ in which she praises the steadfastness of Hamas and other Gaza resistance groups for giving a bloody nose to the Jewish army.
“Righteousness is my weapon and I resist. Despite my pain I will resist, I will not give up, I will not give in. And about my country I will not compromise” said one of the verses of his praise song for Gaza resistance fighters.
“My home is here, my land is here. the sea, the plains, the river are ours. And how, while facing fire can I be peaceful” continue the song
The newly released “Al-Haq Silahi” (The Right is my Weapon) is an ode to the Palestinian resistance fighting in Gaza and all those who resisted Israeli occupation. The song rejects Israeli settlements, supporting the Palestinian claim to the natural landscapes of the occupied territories, said Albawaba
in veooz.com
Julia has vocally supported Hizbullah and the “Resistance” despite being a Christian herself – making her a living embodiment of how an “Islamic Resistance” could transcend nationalism.
According to wiki article 0n October 11, 2006, Boutros announced a new single called “Ahibaii” (My loved ones). The lyrics are based on a letter sent by Hizbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah to the fighters in South Lebanon during the 2006 Summer War between Hezbollah and Israel. The poet Ghassan Matar adapted the original text. The music is composed by Ziad, brother of Julia and arranged by Michel Fadel. The profits from the song’s sale went to help the families of Hizbollah fighters and to all Lebanese who died during the Israel-Lebanon conflict
Boutros began singing at the age of 12. From very beginning of her singing career, she decided to use her talent on behalf of others. Her first song, a French tune titled ‘A Maman“, was dedicated to all mothers on Mother’s Day. It proved to be the first step in a lifelong journey of dedication: her gift to others.
By the age of 14, she had released her first album, titled ‘C’est La Vie’ (This is Life), which was written and composed by Elias Rahbani. It was also around this time that the civil war in Lebanon broke out, playing a central role in Julia’s life and bringing into sharp focus her desire to commit herself and her singing to humanity and civilization in the Lebanese community in particular and the world in general.
Julia Boutros speaking at the American University in Dubai for an event to raise funds for Gaza
On January 2009, the Palestinian Arab Cultural Club at the American University in Dubai organized the AUD Rally and Candlelight Vigil, in support of the people in Gaza. The event took place on campus where members of the faculty, administrative and student bodies at AUD assembled to raise their voices against the massacres in Gaza in the presence of the Consul General of the State of Palestine in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Mr. Hussein Abdul Khalek, and Mrs. Julia Boutros – who participated to express her solidarity with the innocent in Gaza-, as well as prominent dignitaries from the media.
Early on, unlike other artists of her age, Boutros dedicated her career to a cause. This burning desire to be a voice for others led directly in 1985 to her recording “Ghabet Shams Al Haq”, which was composed by Julia’s brother Ziad Boutros, who composes most of her work today. The song expresses her anger at the continued killing of the innocents: children, women, men and the elderly civilians by Jewish army and its Christian Lebanese Phalangist collaborators.
“The only thing we were able to do at the time was to raise our voices and send a message to the world, and that was achieved by my first song” says Julia.
She wanted to send a message, and she did so, forcefully. One week after this song was released; Julia’s voice entered every house in the Arab world. Her voice had become their voice, with millions of people singing her songs. Even schools began teaching the children the real meanings of Julia’s words.
After “Ghabet Shams Al Haq”, Julia would say, “I felt that I had a responsibility and that it is to speak on behalf of my people whose voice goes unheard“.
Today, Julia’s fans range from children to elderly, as she became a national symbol for Nationalism, Patriotism, Resistance and even Romance.
Julia received several national and international awards, including the Lebanese President’s Award which was presented to Julia for her contribution, through her voice, to the Lebanese Islamic Resistance Hizbullah against the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, shortly after the liberation of the South in May 2000.
Recently, and during the 2006 Israeli 34-day carpet-bombing of Lebanese civilian population, Julia Boutros was featured on Al Jazeera TV Station in a special program; she talked about the Politics in the Arab world, daring to say the least. She has today developed a fundraising project for the families of all Lebanese Martyrs who perished during the 34-day war.
Exclusive: Christian singer Julia Botrous honors fighters in Gaza with subtitles in English (الحق سلاحي). Her newly released 2014 music video “Righteousness is my weapon” refers to resistance movements in Gaza. Released on July 25, 2014, under Al-Mayadeen television.
Celebrities For Palestine use the universal language of music for a just cause – Mick Blake
Mick Blake #CelebritiesForPalestine from Ireland
Mick Blake social protest music singer and composer supports Palestine, as musician do with their music, his heartfelt song “Another Child Another War” written for Gaza children, innocent victims of Israel ‘war’ of aggression.
Show your support for #CelebritiesForPalestine that raise their voices and use their celebrity status to raise their voice for Palestine.
My contribution to the plight of the surviving children of Gaza https://t.co/7RhQ1AC0FG
— Mick Blake Music (@mickblake13) September 18, 2014
Mick Blakes writes on his youtube video Another Child Another World “My humble contribution to raising awareness of the plight of the surviving children of Gaza.
The idea for this song came to me on the beach at Rosses Point, Sligo, a few weeks ago, Blake said, at the moment that Photographer Brian Farrell, had the wonderful idea of photographing 400 children dressed in red to show the extent of the young casualties in the conflict.
The rest fell into place when I read a transcript (translated from Hebrew) of an interview from an Israeli radio station.” he said.
Alternative singers and composer now days have the ability to brake out of the stream entertainment culture with more control over their careers than traditional singers that were exposed to the control of the record industry, now the the social media tools in place, authors, singers, and other artists have the ability to survive in the entertainment industry without compromise their integrity as a human beings.
Like Mick Blake that sings for the survivors children of Gaza, other singers have come out in their support for Palestine without fearing the repercussions of the Jews Lobby that it is entrenched in the music industry around the world, lobby that in the past was like yoke on the neck for new musicians, still in US Hollywood is controlled by the Jews Lobby, and any artist that comes out in their support of Palestine is blacklisted, we seen it recently with Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem that faced Hollywood fury over their letter against Israel Genocide in Gaza.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem face ‘fury’ of Hollywood following ‘genocide’ letter condemning Israel” wrote the independent in their August 10 online publication, heading like these denouncing the actors that broke out of the mold of “Israel support no matter what’ inundated the stream media headlines for days but thanks to their fans supports base that Penelope, Bardem and hundreds of others artist are coming out of the shell without fear
Social Media is showing again to the controllers of lives that the people with their power, controls the success of the artist and not the old- school-grip of dirty tactics which are used to menace to destroy careers for speaking their minds.
The importance of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions in the current Palestinian-Israel conflict will be the tipping point in the history of Palestine occupation. Conflict as the media wants to called it, is none other but an going military occupation and a continuous annexation of Palestinian’s lands.
In recent years more and more #CelebritiesForPalestine are speaking up their disgust, against Israel daily practices of murder than amount to #Genocide, and as some want to call it a #PalestinianHolocaust. Mick Blake, the social songwriter and singer subliminally says it in its recent composition to the survivors children of Gaza, in it is song “Another Child Another War” comparing a murdered Jew girl name Anne Frank that die in a concentration camp in 1945, to Eman Ammar, a Palestinian girl killed by an Israel Strike.
The resemblance on the story of their death, and even the resemblance of their faces is striking.
Blake subliminally makes the connection of the crimes of the Nazis to the crimes of the Israelis in the same context of a holocaust.
Welcome to the new era of social media where we the people are the opinion makers.
An open letter to the people of Gaza
An open letter for the people in Gaza
This letter is published under the Freedom of Information Act: “Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”
, Swee Ang e, on behalf of 24 signatoriesWe are doctors and scientists, who spend our lives developing means to care and protect health and lives. We are also informed people; we teach the ethics of our professions, together with the knowledge and practice of it. We all have worked in and known the situation of Gaza for years.
On the basis of our ethics and practice, we are denouncing what we witness in the aggression of Gaza by Israel.
We ask our colleagues, old and young professionals, to denounce this Israeli aggression. We challenge the perversity of a propaganda that justifies the creation of an emergency to masquerade a massacre, a so-called “defensive aggression”. In reality it is a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity. We wish to report the facts as we see them and their implications on the lives of the people.
We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose.
This action also terrifies those who are not directly hit, and wounds the soul, mind, and resilience of the young generation. Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.
The blockade on Gaza has tightened further since last year and this has worsened the toll on Gaza’s population. In Gaza, people suffer from hunger, thirst, pollution, shortage of medicines, electricity, and any means to get an income, not only by being bombed and shelled. Power crisis, gasoline shortage, water and food scarcity, sewage outflow and ever decreasing resources are disasters caused directly and indirectly by the siege.1
People in Gaza are resisting this aggression because they want a better and normal life and, even while crying in sorrow, pain, and terror, they reject a temporary truce that does not provide a real chance for a better future. A voice under the attacks in Gaza is that of Um Al Ramlawi who speaks for all in Gaza: “They are killing us all anyway—either a slow death by the siege, or a fast one by military attacks. We have nothing left to lose—we must fight for our rights, or die trying.”2
Gaza has been blockaded by sea and land since 2006. Any individual of Gaza, including fishermen venturing beyond 3 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza, face being shot by the Israeli Navy. No one from Gaza can leave from the only two checkpoints, Erez or Rafah, without special permission from the Israelis and the Egyptians, which is hard to come by for many, if not impossible. People in Gaza are unable to go abroad to study, work, visit families, or do business. Wounded and sick people cannot leave easily to get specialized treatment outside Gaza. Entries of food and medicines into Gaza have been restricted and many essential items for survival are prohibited.3 Before the present assault, medical stock items in Gaza were already at an all time low because of the blockade.3 They have run out now. Likewise, Gaza is unable to export its produce. Agriculture has been severely impaired by the imposition of a buffer zone, and agricultural products cannot be exported due to the blockade. 80% of Gaza’s population is dependent on food rations from the UN.
Much of Gaza’s buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, 2008—09, and building materials have been blockaded so that schools, homes, and institutions cannot be properly rebuilt. Factories destroyed by bombardment have rarely been rebuilt adding unemployment to destitution.
Despite the difficult conditions, the people of Gaza and their political leaders have recently moved to resolve their conflicts “without arms and harm” through the process of reconciliation between factions, their leadership renouncing titles and positions, so that a unity government can be formed abolishing the divisive factional politics operating since 2007. This reconciliation, although accepted by many in the international community, was rejected by Israel. The present Israeli attacks stop this chance of political unity between Gaza and the West Bank and single out a part of the Palestinian society by destroying the lives of people of Gaza. Under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Israel is trying to destroy the growing Palestinian unity. Among other lies, it is stated that civilians in Gaza are hostages of Hamas whereas the truth is that the Gaza Strip is sealed by the Israelis and Egyptians.
Gaza has been bombed continuously for the past 14 days followed now by invasion on land by tanks and thousands of Israeli troops. More than 60 000 civilians from Northern Gaza were ordered to leave their homes. These internally displaced people have nowhere to go since Central and Southern Gaza are also subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. The whole of Gaza is under attack. The only shelters in Gaza are the schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), uncertain shelters already targeted during Cast Lead, killing many.
According to Gaza Ministry of Health and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),1 as of July 21, 149 of the 558 killed in Gaza and 1100 of the 3504 wounded are children. Those buried under the rubble are not counted yet. As we write, the BBC reports of the bombing of another hospital, hitting the intensive care unit and operating theatres, with deaths of patients and staff. There are now fears for the main hospital Al-Shifa. Moreover, most people are psychologically traumatized in Gaza. Anyone older than 6 years has already lived through their third military assault by Israel.
The massacre in Gaza spares no one, and includes the disabled and sick in hospitals, children playing on the beach or on the roof top, with a large majority of non-combatants. Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, mosques, schools, and press buildings have all been attacked, with thousands of private homes bombed, clearly directing fire to target whole families killing them within their homes, depriving families of their homes by chasing them out a few minutes before destruction. An entire area was destroyed on July 20, leaving thousands of displaced people homeless, beside wounding hundreds and killing at least 70—this is way beyond the purpose of finding tunnels. None of these are military objectives. These attacks aim to terrorize, wound the soul and the body of the people, and make their life impossible in the future, as well as also demolishing their homes and prohibiting the means to rebuild.
Weaponry known to cause long-term damages on health of the whole population are used; particularly non fragmentation weaponry and hard-head bombs.4, 5 We witnessed targeted weaponry used indiscriminately and on children and we constantly see that so-called intelligent weapons fail to be precise, unless they are deliberately used to destroy innocent lives.
We denounce the myth propagated by Israel that the aggression is done caring about saving civilian lives and children’s well-being.
Israel’s behavior has insulted our humanity, intelligence, and dignity as well as our professional ethics and efforts. Even those of us who want to go and help are unable to reach Gaza due to the blockade.
This “defensive aggression” of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity must be stopped.
Additionally, should the use of gas be further confirmed, this is unequivocally a war crime for which, before anything else, high sanctions will have to be taken immediately on Israel with cessation of any trade and collaborative agreements with Europe.
As we write, other massacres and threats to the medical personnel in emergency services and denial of entry for international humanitarian convoys are reported.6 We as scientists and doctors cannot keep silent while this crime against humanity continues. We urge readers not to be silent too. Gaza trapped under siege, is being killed by one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated modern military machines. The land is poisoned by weapon debris, with consequences for future generations. If those of us capable of speaking up fail to do so and take a stand against this war crime, we are also complicit in the destruction of the lives and homes of 1·8 million people in Gaza.
We register with dismay that only 5% of our Israeli academic colleagues signed an appeal to their government to stop the military operation against Gaza. We are tempted to conclude that with the exception of this 5%, the rest of the Israeli academics are complicit in the massacre and destruction of Gaza. We also see the complicity of our countries in Europe and North America in this massacre and the impotence once again of the international institutions and organizations to stop this massacre.
Supplementary Material
References
Plugging Our Ears Does Not Serve Israel
by Oded Na’aman
An Israeli soldier poses with Palestinian detainees in an undated photo taken by an Israeli soldier and made available by the campaign group Breaking the Silence.
I was born in Israel. I served in the Army. Israel is the only home I know. You would think my speaking to students at Hillel would be welcomed. Yet my presentation to students at Washington University’s Hillel in St. Louis last month sparked a storm of controversy.
I had been invited by J Street U and was graciously hosted by Hillel at their beautiful new building. As a member of Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli combat veterans that collects and publishes the testimonies of soldiers who served in the occupied territories, I was on campus to discuss the practices and principles of Israel’s military rule.
In the days leading to my visit, many in the Jewish community called for the event’s cancellation, claiming our sole goal was to “bash Israel.” Jacqueline Ulin Levey, executive director of St. Louis Hillel at Washington University, backed the event. She did, however, impose certain restrictions, asking that I not show any photographs or mention any testimonies besides my own. Hillel also flew in an Israel Fellow from Yale University to “balance” my talk by debriefing the students before and after.
Despite the constraints, the talk went well, with a long question and answer session. After the event, Lawrence Wittels, the chair of the school’s Hillel board, congratulated me.
But in the days following, the assault on Hillel and J Street U escalated. Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International, subsequently wrote to members of the Hillel community defending the organization’s decision. “While we join with the majority of the community in deeply resenting the actions of the former IDF soldiers in Breaking the Silence, who come to college campuses in America to disparage the IDF,” Fingerhut wrote, “it is, regrettably, part of the broad tent of dialogue regarding Israel.” By housing the event within Hillel, he argued, the staff could control and mitigate an unfortunate debate.
I applaud Hillel’s work facilitating a broad dialogue within the American Jewish community. But Fingerhut and those whom his letter addressed, seem to be more concerned with their own feelings toward Israel — their “tent” — than with Israel. Mention of the actions of the IDF, the values to which Israel is committed, and concern for the well being of Israel’s residents, whether Israeli or Palestinian, are noticeably absent from Fingerhut’s letter.
I don’t doubt Fingerhut’s genuine concern for Israel. I am sure those who called for the event’s cancellation are also sincerely dedicated to my country. But their concern does not protect Zionism. Rather, it threatens it. If Zionism is the dream of Jews to overcome a state of mere survival and forge our own destiny, then claiming that the occupation is necessary, that Israel “has no other choice,” is the betrayal of Zionism. Israel’s rule of force over a civilian population threatens our democratic integrity, moral character, and international standing – in short, it threatens that future.
Israel is a strong and thriving country. We can take responsibility for our actions, hold our institutions and military accountable, acknowledge our mistakes, and correct them. We can forge our own future, but only by ending the occupation.
Naturally, our claims are met with doubt. But we encourage critical debate based on evidence. We have testimony from over 950 soldiers about their service, many of them on film. Incidents we exposed have been confirmed by the Israeli media and we have been invited to speak at the United States Air Force Academy. Carmi Gillon, former head of the Shin Bet, has praised our work.
The testimonies portray a system of control and expropriation of land that is founded on the use of military force. Arbitrary violence is of the essence of military rule, which cannot rely on democratic legitimacy.
Instead of an actual dialogue about our reality and future, they are content to have a conversation about the conversation about Israel. Rather than respond to what they hear, they argue over whether they should plug their ears. This may serve some staff and some donors of Hillel International, but it doesn’t serve Israel. It takes some chutzpah to claim that by silencing our voices you are protecting our own country from us.
Oded Na’aman served in the IDF between November 2000 and October 2003. Since 2005 he has been a member of Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli veterans that collects soldiers’ testimonies from the West Bank. Oded is currently pursuing his PhD in Philosophy at Harvard University.
Asymmetric war: CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul reports from Gaza
Khaled Hamad,a Palestinian journalist.Killed by a targeted Israeli airstrike while covering Shaja’iya massacre. #Gaza on July 20, 2014 at Gaza, Palestine
The body of a elderly woman, who medics said was killed during heavy Israeli shelling, is seen at her house in the Shejaia neighborhood, which was heavily shelled by Israel during fighting, in Gaza City July 20, 2014. At least 50 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli shelling in a Gaza neighborhood, where bodies were strewn in the street and thousands fled for shelter to a hospital packed with wounded, witnesses and health officials said. Militants kept up their rocket fire on Israel, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough toward a ceasefire in sight. REUTERS/Ali Hassan
A Palestinian boy, who medics said was wounded by Israeli shelling, receives treatment at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City July 20, 2014. At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli shelling in a Gaza neighbourhood, where bodies were strewn in the street and thousands fled toward the hospital packed with wounded, witnesses and health officials said. The mass casualties in the Shejaia district in northeast Gaza appeared to be the heaviest since Israel launched its offensive on the Palestinian territory on July 8 after cross-border rocket strikes by militants intensified. Militants kept up their rocket fire on Israel, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough toward a ceasefire in sight. (Photo/Ali Jadallah)
Palestinian killed under the rubble of his home after an Israel missile targeted his home. “The sleep, that never ends.” reads a post in facebook
The death toll continues to rise in the East of Gaza as Palestinians retrieve their loved ones from the rubble. July 20, 2014 at Gaza, Palestine
The remains of an ambulance hit during the assault of Shaja’ia neighborhood at #Gaza July 20, 2014
61 people were killed in Friday alone, Saturday 10, the tally is 309 Palestinian killed so far in this 17 days of slaughter. But who is counting right?
Source: Ma’an News Agency
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — 22 Palestinians were killed overnight with at least ten killed just since day break on Saturday as Israeli forces continued their military offensive against the Gaza Strip by air, sea, and land for the twelfth day, Palestinian medical sources said.
The killings follow the deadliest day in the conflict so far, after Israel killed at least 52 Palestinians and injured more than 400 on the first day of their ground invasion of the besieged coastal enclave.
Spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qidra said on Saturday that Israeli forces had “committed a massacre against Palestinian civilians” in the Khan Younis district in the southern Gaza Strip overnight, killing seven.
He identified the victims as 20-year-old Yahya Bassam al-Serri, Muhammad Bassam al-Serri, 17, Mahmoud Ridha Salihiyya, 56, Mustafa Ridha Salihiyya, 21, Wasim Ridha Salihiyya, 15, Muhammad Mustafa Salihiyya, 22, and Ibrahim Jamal Kamal Nasr, 13.
Al-Qidra also said that 27-year-old Raed Walid Laqan was killed in Khan Younis by an Israeli attack on a home belonging to the Tartouri family.
In addition, 30-year-old Said Ali Issa was killed in Juhor Addik neighborhood in the central Gaza Strip near al-Bureij refugee camp.
34-year-old Ahmad Mahmoud Hasan Aziz was killed by an Israeli missile on his home in Abraj al-Nada in the northern Gaza Strip overnight as well.
Saturday morning’s deaths bring the total death toll of 12 days of Israeli military offensive in Gaza to 309 in addition to 2268 injuries, according to al-Qidra.
The spokesman highlighted that Friday was the deadliest day of Israel’s military aggression on Gaza with 52 Palestinians killed as of midnight.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that 71 children, 25 women and 17 elderly people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza as of Friday night.
Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip — which it has dubbed “Operation Protective Edge” — in response to rocket fire from the area, which had increased in the weeks before the operation due to a massive Israeli military operation in the West Bank.
10 Palestinians died, more than 130 were injured, and more than 600 Hamas-affiliated individuals were arrested during that operation, which was launched following the disappearance of three Israeli youths in June.
Israel accused Hamas of being behind the disappearance, and in addition to the assault on the West Bank launched nightly airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which has been under a full economic blockade for the last seven years.
Hamas, however, denied the charges, and many have accused Israel of using the subsequent deaths of the three Israeli teenagers as a pretext for a widespread assault on the group.
Gaza being attacked again-July 2014
Today July 10, 2014 a partial list of the person murdered by Israel in Gaza, Palestine .
UPDATE July 13, 2014 4:29 p.m PCT
The names of the 176 victims of Israel onslaught in Gaza, Palestine
Israel Missiles destroys buildings in Gaza city, July 2014, Gaza, Palestine (photo/RevolutionNews.com
Gazawans have no place to run for cover they live in an open prison surrounded by 25-cement-wall and bared wires in three fronts and Egyptian border sealed on Rafah.
This is an example of how these Palestinians died. The following video shows a Palestinian apartment building being destroyed by an Israeli missile.
This house being destroyed by an Israeli missile housed 5 families of total 45 people or more. As a punishment for living in the same apartment building of a relative wanted by Israel the whole apartment building is destroyed rending homeless the other families.
The IDF sends mobile messages to the people warning them that their home is going to be destroyed, but not everyone have mobile phone in Gaza, and the message comes three minutes in advantage before the missile come down, not enough time to run three, four, five floors down.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=779757395400016&set=vb.179609608748134&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152599233298112&set=vb.523263111&type=2&theater
The names of 97 martyrs in Gaza strip from the Israeli occupation aggression
More than 665 injuries :
Muhammed shaban 24 years Gaza
Amjad Shaban 30 years Gaza
Khader Abu Jabal 45 years from Gaza
Rashad Yaseen 27 years Alnusirat camp
Mohamed Ayman Ashir 15 years Khan Younis
Ryad Kware’ 50 years Khan Younis
Baker Mohamed Joda 22 years
Amar Mohamed Joda 26 years Khan Younis
Hyssien Yousif Kware 13 years
Mohamed Kware 50 years Khan Younis
Muhammad Habib 22 years Gaza
Musa Habib 16 years Gaza
Saqr Al ajory 22 years Jabalia camp
Ahmed Mahdi 16 years Gaza
Basem Kware 10 years Khan Younis
Hafith Mohammed Hamed 30 Years Biet Hanoun
Ibrahim Mohammed Hamed 26 years Biet Hanoun
Mahdi Mohammed Hamed 46 years
Fawzia Hamed 62 years
Donia Hamef 16 years
Soha Hamed 25 years
Suliman Abu Swawin 22 years
Seraj Abd Alal 8 years
Abd Alhadi Alsofy 24 years
Rasheed Alkafarna 30 years
Naifa Farajallah 80 years
Abd Alnaser Abu Queeq 50 years
Khaled Abu Queek 31 years
Mohammed E’reef 13 years
Mohammed Malaka 1 year and half
Amna malaka 27 years
Mohammed Alnamara 22 years
Hatem abu Salem
Sahar Almasry 40 years
Ibrahim Almasry 14 years
Mohammed Alnwasra 4 years
Nidal Alnwasra
Salah Alnwasra
Nahid Alnwasra
Aisha nijm
Amna Abd Alghafor 40 years
Raneem Abd Alghafor 4 years
Ibrahim Albal’awi 24 years
Abd Alruhman Alzamli 22 years
Ibrahim Abdin 46 years
The twins Mohammed and Mustapha Aby Mor 20 years
Mazen Algarba 30 year
Marwan Sleem 27 years
Hani hamed 57 years
Ibrahim Hamed 20 years
Salima Alarja 60 years
Mariam Alarja 11 years
Khaled Shehab 37 years
Mohammed Khalil Qanan 26 year
Ibrahim Khalil Qanan 24 years
Suliman Alastal 55 years
Hamdi Swaly 33 years
Ahmed Swaly 28 years
Raed Shalat 37 years
Mohammed Alaqad 24 years
The brothers :Asmaa .. Najlaa .. Sa’dy and Tareq Alhaj
Thier mother Fatma Alhaj 62 years
Omar Alhaj
Basma Alhaj 57 years
Ahmed Alhaj 58 years
Ahmed Alastal
Musa Alastal
Ahmed Alzwara 33 years
Bahaa abu Elil 37 years
Salem Qandeel 27years
Amer Alfiomy 30 years
Abdulla Abu Ghazal 4 years
Mohammed Frwana 18 years
Ihsan Abu Jame’ 19 years
Mohammed Ashor 25 years
Ghalia Alghanam 7 years old
Wisam Alghanam 23 years old
Mahmoud Alghanam 26 years old
Kifah Alghanam 20 years old
Mahmoud wlod 26 years Jabalia camp
Hazem Ba’losha 30 years Jabalia camp
Nour Alsultan 27 years Jabalia
Hassan Abu Jame 75 years Khan Younis
Yasmeen Mtwaq 4 years old Biet Hanoun
Ahmed Hamdan 24 years Biet Hanoun
Samy Sheldan 25 years Gaza city
Mohammed Alkahlout 25 years Jabalia camp
Jom’a Abu Shalof Rafah 25 years
Bassam Khatab 6 years Dier Albalah
Abdulla Abu Mahroq Deir Albalah 22 years
Anas Abu Alkas 33 years Gaza city
Nour Alnajdy 10 years
Samer Issawi arrested again
Source International Middle East Media Center
UPDATED 2:34 p.m
Samer Al_Issawi re-arrested today June 23, 2014 by Israel Occupation Forces. Isawi spent 10 years in jail prior to been released with another 1027 Palestinians, he was re-arrested without charged, Al-Issawi spent 8 months in hunger strike and was released in Jerusalem. His home was demolished on January 2013.
Samer Tarik Issawi (Al-Issawi) served 10 years in Israeli jails and became an internationally recognized icon for the prioners’ movement after spending 9 months on hunger strike last year.
The Palestinian News Network (PNN) reports that Samer was released, along with 1027 Palestinian prisoners, as a result of an Egypt-brokered deal between Hamas and the Israeli government for the return of Gilad Shalit.
In July of 2012, however, he was re-arrested for violating the terms of his release when he left Jerusalem into the West Bank.
Convicted for 8 months, to possibly include a reinstatement of the rest of his original 26 year sentence, Essawi began a hunger strike in August, 2012.
In April of last year, when a deal was finally reached where he was to serve 8 months for violating his bail, and then be released to Jerusalem, Samer announced the end of his strike.
Today, Israeli forces raided al-Essawi’s village, where clashes broke out with residents before they broke into Samer’s house and arrested him again.
According to Ma’an, military forces detained 37 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, earlier, as Israel’s massive arrest campaign continued for the 11th day.
Israel accuses Hamas of kidnapping three Israeli teenagers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Gush Etzion, near Bethlehem, though no evidence has actually been presented to determine that a kidnapping took place, let alone by Hamas.
Israeli military spokesman General Motti Almoz said, on Sunday, that all information indicates that the teenagers “are alive”.
Samer’s sister Shireen was arrested with their brothers Medhat and Shadi in March. They were not charged, but Israel has refused to release any details about their arrest, in line with behavior typical of the Administrative Detention policy.
Shireen’s detention has been extended by the Israeli court system three times, now, according to the PNN.
In January of 2013, brother Ahmad Issawi’s home was bulldozed.
Under the pretext of searching for the missing teenagers, Israeli forces have detained 471 Palestinians, including 11 parliamentarians, in over 400 targeted raids on homes, civil society institutions, universities and media outlets, according to the PLO. Ma’an News Agency
Economics of the poor and Israel
One step at the time.
Lessons in economy of global systems. This is of course my very personal lesson in economics of the poor. “For a Capitalist System to exist, the slaves masses have to produce the goods and buy them back.
The basic neccesities for humans are food, sleep, sex, entertainment and shelter. When the system keeps those neccesities to a bare minimum, the masses do not live, they merely survive. Now, when the masses stop buying the goods they produce, the system collapse. If the reasons are to boycott the system, the system will respond by making some changes, but if the reasons are political in nature where ideas and ideals clash with the system, the masses as united force can bring the system down. It calls revolution.
Now, I’m not talking of an armed revolution but of a revolution from within the system where the masses start thinking in their behalf and get it of the box.
That is what we are doing now boycotting Israel, the capitalist system that supports Israel can not itself survive if the masses stop buying the goods, first in the settlements, then Israel and finally the corporations that support Israel. We could start big, and start from the corporations but now it is impossible to do that, we need our jobs, so we think. We are programed to our life style of comfort. It is easy to look the world with a magnifying glass and think we are outside, wrong we all part of the mess
But…. One step at the time.
BDS and Academic boycott of Israel institutions, why because Israel is shaping our world Read more…
Gaza 2013 Olive Harvest
by Marivel Guzman
On August 10, International Solidarity Movement called the international community of Palestinians supporters to come to Palestine to help the residents to harvest the 2013 Olive Harvest. Every year the settlers makes the harvest almost impossible, the presence of ISM members with their cameras y their bodies as human shields help Palestinians to get to their groves without being molested by the settlers.
Every year hundreds of Olive trees are burn or uprooted by settlers, the IDFs presence is obsolete, they do not defend the rights of the Palestinians, for the contrary their presence strengthen the settlers bully attitude.
Harvesting the olives in Gaza, 2013
“We often post distressing news of settlers uprooting, burning or wrecking the olive trees of Palestinians. There is such a report from Sarta, in the north-west West Bank at the foot of this post. But first, we post some lovely photos from Palinfo.com of Palestinians – men and women, young and old – picking and sorting their olives in settler-free Gaza.” Jews for Justice for Palestine
Settlers burn olive trees in Sarta
From International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team
September 27, 2013
Settlers burned around 35 olive trees in the Palestinian village of Sarta late on Thursday night, following the area being declared a closed military zone in preparation for the construction of a new settler road.
Around 60 settlers from the illegal Bruchin settlement and surrounding area, many armed with guns, set fire to the trees late on Thursday 26th September. At around midnight, the settlers arrived in Sarta. The town mayor asked the Palestinian Authority to liaise with the Israeli army in order to intervene, but when Israeli forces arrived on the scene they informed villagers that the area had been declared closed and told them to leave.
Two days earlier, town residents witnessed four bulldozers arrive in the village to prepare the ground for the construction of the road, which will connect the settlement with road five and is part of an expansion plan for the settlement which will take it from 40 houses to around 550.
The proposed road and settlement expansion is a source of concern to local Palestinians, who stand to lose much of their land under new plans, including local features such as a 500-year-old cemetery.
Egypt clossing Gaza Tunnels-Hunting “terrorists” in the Sinai Peninsula
Published on July 07, 2013 by Akashma Online News
Egypt army ‘preparing for Sinai operation’
According to Ma’an News, Egypt’s army is preparing for a large-scale military operation in Sinai, an army official said Sunday, as forces sealed more smuggling tunnels along the Gaza border.
An Egyptian military official told Ma’an the army was preparing for a major operation in Sinai “to clean it up from terrorist and criminal cells.”
The army official said “coordination is ongoing between the Egyptians and the Israelis to bring military vehicles, troops and jets into Sinai to fight terror.” Ma’an News Agency
I am really sad for the situation of Gaza, we know that part of their life line comes from the tunnels, but analyzing Egypt situation, we need to understand their position.
They somehow depend on US military and economical aid, wanted or not, they are on a short leash.
Adding to that the “peace agreement of 1979, Camp David which is another rope hanging on their neck.
President Sadat was the focus of Islamic extremists primarily for his dealings with Israel. Though he had become a national hero in 1973 for springing a surprise attack against Israel in the Sinai Peninsula, the eighth anniversary of which was being celebrated in the parade, his decision to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 had turned him into a pariah in the Arab world. New York Times
You know that Egypt lost control control of the Sinai Peninsula, (supposedly Israel gave back to Egypt, but not really) and unfortunately some of the Bedouins had transformed the Sinai in a porous illegal trade of arms, drugs, and human trafficking to Israel.
We understand that also it is used to bring military equipment to Gaza, and of course all the products blacklisted by Israel but, some radical groups not controlled by the central government of Hamas also make use of the tunnels to bring materials to make rockets, off course they do on their understanding to liberate Palestine, but sometimes that undermine Gaza’s government and ability to reach political agreements.
Of course I m not agreeing with their policies of closing the tunnels before to opening completely the Rafah crossing, and guarantee that Israel opens the other crossing to the West Bank, but Prof. how can we blame Egypt?, they are a crippled apparatus of corrupt military old generals from the old regime and under paid security guards.
They want to assure their peace with the stronger neighbor -Israel- and apace their stronger financial supporter-The US.
Egypt is trapped between its moral support for their Arabs’ brothers, the Palestinians, and US money, and Israel’s military might.
They play the cards to better serve their masters, and lately they succumbing to the might of the Egyptian people.
We have to be honest with ourselves, The Egyptian people with so many ties with Palestine they do not support the Palestinian struggles, actually grand part of the Egyptian population had the wrongly programed idea that Palestinians are the cause of all their problems. They are neighbors and they have not organized a great coalition to push their government to open the Rafahs’ border once and for all.
In the big scale they do not support the Palestinians. They see them as ignorant Americans do, that blame the Mexicans for United States economical problems
At least 20 killed in southern Lebanon mosque complex
Posted on June 24, 2013 by Akashma Online News
Shared from Al-Arabiya
Lebanese Army soldiers advance during clashes in Sidon, southern Lebanon, June 24, 2013. (Reuters)
At least 12 soldiers have been killed in less than 24 hours of fighting between the Lebanese military and Sunni radicals in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, an army spokesman told AFP on Monday.
“An armed group loyal to Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir attacked, for no reason, a Lebanese Army checkpoint in the village of Abra” on the outskirts of Sidon on Sunday, a statement from the army said late Sunday, according to local Lebanese press.
The army was reported to have said it will not stop its fight in Sidon until Assir is detained.
The fighting began on Sunday when Assir loyalists flared up volence, the army said in a statement.
The controversial Sunni sheikh called on his supporters last week to fire on apartments in Abra that he says house Hezbollah members.
Lebanese soldiers attempt to quell unrest caused by the Syrian civil war
Abra is home to a mosque where Assir leads the main weekly prayers on Fridays. The sheikh believes Hezbollah uses the Abra apartments to keep him under surveillance.
His supporters clashed with Hezbollah in Abra last week in fighting that left one man dead.
Sectarian tensions in Lebanon have risen since the country’s Shia movement Hezbollah backed Syria’s government in the civil war there.
Witnesses said machine gun and rocket fire shook Sidon, 40km (28 miles) south of Beirut, causing panic among residents.
The army blamed the violence on supporters of hard-line Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir.
Correspondents say Sidon has been on edge since violence erupted last week between Sunni and Shia fighters who have taken different sides in the Syrian conflict.
Lebanese officials have since been trying to quell the unrest.
However, fresh clashes broke out on Sunday after police arrested a follower of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir at a checkpoint, sources told Reuters.
Other supporters of the cleric then attacked security forces in retaliation and called on their supporters to take to the streets nationwide, the sources said. Ammon Voice of the Silence Majority
Lebanese army tanks enter the Bilal Bin Rabah complex in Abra, Monday, June 24, 2013. (The Daily Star/Mohammed Zaatari) Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221410-lebanese-army-seizes-militant-preachers-complex-in-abra.ashx#ixzz2X7uGNySr (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Assir was unknown until around two years ago, when he rose to prominence over his radical opposition to Hezbollah and its ally, the Damascus regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria-related tensions have soared in Lebanon, deepening sectarian rifts between Sunnis and Shiites.
Shiite Hezbollah supports Assad’s regime, while the Sunni-dominated opposition backs the rebels fighting it.
During Sunday’s fighting, Assir distributed a video message via mobile phone addressed to his supporters.
“We are being attacked by the Lebanese army,” Assir said, describing the military as “sectarian” and accusing it of supporting Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
“I call on everyone… to cut off roads and to all honorable soldiers, Sunni and non-Sunni, to quit the army immediately,” Assir said in the message.
He urged supporters across Lebanon to flock to Abra “to help defend our religion, our honor and our women.”
Lebanese Army seizes militant preacher’s complex in Abra
The sources said despite having taken control of the complex, soldiers were still exchanging gunfire with snipers located on the rooftops of nearby buildings.
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Bil’in protesters oppose a ‘horrible, horrible wrong’ — Michael Moore
Posted on January 12, 2012 by Akashma Online News
by Theodore Sayeed
UPDATED By Marivel Guzman
I have been activist for few years now. I consider myself part of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement and like Bil’in resistance fighters, I m an advocate for non-violence movement. It is difficult to witness the struggle of Palestinians fighting their battle with a Palestinian Flag and a camera.
Bil’in residents decided to wage a Non violent resistance war against the stronger army of the Middle East.
They started this war 7 years ago, protesting the Land grab for Settlements and the construction of the Apartheid Wall. They are not deterred by the gas, arrests, the bullets, the bullying and the death. Every Friday after prayer they gather by the Wall pacifically protesting the stealing of the Land.
I have been sharing photos and videos taken from the villages in West Bank, Gaza and West Jerusalem, images that could be rated R by the MPAA(Motion Picture Association of America) by its violent content. The violence is recorded in every one of the videos shoot by the residents and by the International Community of activists volunteering to be live witness of the Israel Occupation, internationals that take their own doses of beating, gas, bullets, arrests, and sometimes death. 5 Broken Cameras Exposes Israel True Colors
Phil was known as The Elephant, his Name was Bassem Abu Rahman RIP
Killed April 07, 2009
Michael Moore tweeted his followers to watch the film about Palestine that launched earlier in the departed year called 5 Broken Cameras. Twice. The chieftain of cinematic guerrilla activism sings it up as “one of the best films of the year” and “that rare documentary that has the power to move many. Pls watch!”
“Watch one of the best films of the year, “5 Broken Cameras,” the story of a Palestinian farmer who picks up a camera” MMFlint
Moore reveals a deeper connection to the film than suggested by those lonesome tweets. It took home the best picture award at the Traverse City Film Festival founded by Moore in his native Michigan. And he’s spoken at a number of screenings in the US. A video of one such pre-screening talk shows the extent of his directorial admiration for Emad Burnat’s film and the significant Israeli obstacles he has had to climb to showcase the debut Palestinian talent.
I was able to get Emad to Traverse City, Michigan. He’d gone to the airport in Tel Aviv and they wouldn’t let him leave. And so we had to get him to Amman to get on a plane there. But because I run a large international network of terrorists we were able to make this happen (laughs). I have been a huge advocate for this film for the better part of the last year. I was just telling Tom (the event’s co-organizer) downstairs that if I were the third Koch brother and had their resources … I would send a copy of this film to every home in America. And I believe that within 24 hours, if people would watch it, public opinion on this issue would change dramatically. This film is so powerful in its humanity, in its heart, its belief in non-violence as the way to succeed.
When Emad and his family were in Traverse City, Terry George, who made Hotel Rwanda, and I were introducing the film and then we did a Q&A afterwards and Terry said something I thought was really very true: every now and again a documentary comes along that after you see it you won’t discuss it as a documentary, you will discuss it as a work of art, a work of cinema, a movie. And we feel very strongly that this is one of those movies. This is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, of all movies, not just documentaries. And their struggle goes on as you will see. This man is not a documentary film maker – he’s a farmer. And the film that you are about to watch is a film made by a farmer. With no training whatsoever. And I don’t even think that they have a theater in their town so I don’t even know what he’s seen.
So that makes it even more amazing as you watch this film, and you’re realizing that sometimes if you have that, whatever that is in you, whatever you have to say, you want your voice heard, and he found the medium to do that, quite accidentally: because his son, Jibreel, was born in 2005 and he picked up a used home video camera; and started you know wanting to film his son growing up but things started happening, they (Israel) started building the wall to bleed their town, so he started filming that, and the title of the film, as is probably self-evident, in terms of what happens to his cameras. One thing we did in Traverse City town is that when he left we sent him a brand new camera (laughs) so he can keep filming. A small price to pay for trying to right a horrible, horrible wrong.
So I’m really happy that he came here tonight to watch this; and I encourage you in terms of not only your appreciation of the art of this film, but also when you leave here, when you think about this tomorrow, to do what you can to help other people who don’t have five broken cameras, don’t have a voice. We (Americans) are the funders of what you are about to see.
“As Israeli settlers begin building homes and erecting a barrier wall in the West Bank village of Bil’in, a Palestinian farm worker documents the town’s resistance to the new settlement. Over the course of several years, the townspeople clash with the Israeli Defense Force, and tensions mount as the wall remains and the building continues.” 5 Broken Cameras
Discover Bil’in
Bil’in is a Palestinian village that is struggling to exist. It is fighting to safeguard its land, its olive trees, its resources… its liberty.
By annexing close to 60% of Bil’in land for Israeli settlements and the construction of Israel’s separation wall, the state of Israel is strangling the village. Every day it destroys a bit more, creating an open air prison for Bil’in’s inhabitants.
Supported by Israeli and international activists, Bil’in residents peacefully demonstrate every Friday in front of the “work-site of shame”. And every Friday the Israeli army responds with violence, both physically and psychologically.
Bil’in residents have continued to withstand these injustices despite the frequent night raids of Israeli soldiers in the town followed by an increasing number of arrests of inhabitants and of activists. But now, the army has toughened the oppression by systematically arresting members of the Bil’in committee in charge of organizing the non-violent resistance actions. The aim of the arrests is to discourage Bil’in residents and reduce their resistance to the occupation.
By supporting Bil’in, you will help its inhabitants to continue their struggle and maintain hope in their fight for liberty. This site is dedicated to all people of good will – Palestinian, Israeli and the internationals who fight side by side against the injustices endured by the people of Bil’in.
Since I watched the trailer of 5 Broken Cameras I got inspired to shared as a great film without knowing, that this reality film was being nominated for the best documentary in our Oscar 2013. 5 Broken Cameras it is simple, real, painful as Palestinian reality is. If you have the chance “watch it”, go to Alive Mind Cinema and download it, Group Screen it, show it in your College Campus. Reality sting, but this is the only way to educate the public regarding Occupied Palestine.
“Alive Mind Cinema shares a large chunk of the proceeds with the filmmakers, who are often the best spokespeople for their cause, as in the case of 5 Broken Cameras. We also support many organizations through partnerships, free screenings, education, etc.” Elizabeth Sheldon from Alive Mind Cinema.
Emat Burnat Palestinian Filmaker take you on a road of desperation, occupation, outrage and tears. In 5 years IDF (Israel Soldiers) destroyed 5 cameras, but he continue filming Palestinian Struggles.
Now for first time in history, Palestine Occupation has come out to the light of an audience silenced by Israel Propaganda Machine. 5 Broken Cameras in the hands of a Palestinian farmer bring you the painful Palestinian truth.
An extraordinary work of both cinematic and political activism, 5 BROKEN CAMERAS is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements. Shot almost entirely by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, the footage was later given to Israeli co-director Guy Davidi to edit. Structured around the violent destruction of each one of Burnat’s cameras, the filmmakers’ collaboration follows one family’s evolution over five years of village turmoil. Burnat watches from behind the lens as olive trees are bulldozed, protests intensify, and lives are lost. “I feel like the camera protects me,” he says, “but it’s an illusion.”
Democracy Now interview with Palestinian Filmmaker/Farmer/Activist Emat Burnat and Israel Filmmakers/Activist David Davidi, they walk us to the making of 5 broken cameras, which it is an everyday reality in Bil’in Palestine.
Rony Brauman – We do not parachute democracy
Posted on January 12, 2013 by Akashma Online News
Interview with Rony Brauman : “We do not parachute democracy”
Source Jeune Afrique
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, Syrian, Iranian nuclear Libyan revolution, intervention in northern Mali. Many cases in which the ultra destroyer of duty to intervene, Rony Brauman, displays positions that clash.Humanitarian action Figure, Rony Brauman, founder of Doctors Without Border France, where he is still active.
Born in Jerusalem in 1950, he claims Israeli citizenship, but he does not have the nationality. He dissociates the Jewish state dissociates into the two concepts, the second drawing community distinctions. “I have not been back to Israel since the government requires me to enter with an Israeli passport, he said. With such a document, I can not go into the occupied territories. And I refuse to go to Israel if I can not go in the Territories. ”
Author of several essays, he distinguished himself by his warnings about the dangers of having interference. A position that has resulted in a real duel of intellectuals with the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy on the Libyan issue in 2011.
Jeune Afrique: How do you react to granting Palestine the status of observer state at the UN?
Rony Brauman: This is good news. This will deal with the Israelis occupying their status in a country recognized and no longer “disputed territories”, as they like to say. This will enable the Palestinians to get face-to-face sterile in which they are trapped and their claims to the UN, where they have many supporters. Must obviously stop relying on Washington, clearly the Israeli side to play the referee. Recognition of Palestine, though incomplete, goes in this direction.
The cease-fire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, it is the failure of the policy of peaceful negotiation? It is indeed a failure of policy of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA), who renounced armed struggle and have received in exchange the continued expansion of settlements. Israeli policy has always been to marginalize progressive nationalists to seek face-to-face with the Islamists. By military, political, economic, Israelis have literally walked the AP to anchor the idea that they had no partner for peace. This is one of their major slogans: we want peace, but it takes two for it. Tel Aviv’s strategy is to declare what are its legitimate interlocutors. Considering one hand Hamas as a terrorist organization, another AP like a ghost without legitimacy, both the invalid and close the door on negotiations.
The West also considers Hamas a terrorist movement …
This is insane, even though I do not believe in a military solution to the conflict: the intifada was a disaster and many Palestinians recognize. However, an occupied people have the right to defend themselves. Self-defense is an indisputable notion, enshrined in all the texts present in all heads and which can not oppose. Use violence against Israelis is a political and strategic mistake – given the relationship of forces completely unbalanced in favor of Israel and its terrible human consequences – but consider Hamas as a terrorist because he defends is another . Especially since he has made it clear several times that he accepted the existence of Israel within the 1967 borders. Hamas must be one of the speakers Israelis.
What else does the peace camp in Israel?
There is always a peace camp consisted of people more moderate than those in power. They receive support measured. Meretz, which advocates the solution of two separate states, received only 2.5% of the seats in the legislative elections of 2009. There is also the extreme left those proposing the creation of a Palestinian-Israeli confederation: the solution of the single state, binational. Spontaneously, I am inclined to this form of confederation, which formalize a fact, of course with equal civil, political, social for the entire population. Unfortunately, time is the overall shrinkage identity. De facto, it is a binational state that is built, but under worse auspices with the establishment of an apartheid situation.
Can we expect progress to Obama’s second term?
Nothing has been done for the first … Hope we can still do it and there is a little forced, the Americans are the only ones to have an influence on the Israelis. Unfortunately, despite the barely concealed antipathy for Netanyahu Obama, support for the Jewish state has never been stronger and strengthens the Israeli Prime Minister’s intransigence. And international opinion against Israel is deflected so that the United States remains his only friends and protectors. It is very unwise for Israel to base its existence and security on a single ally, while many signs that even the United States the strength of this alliance is crumbling, including among American Jews more and more distant from the state and sectarian violence.
What is your position on the Syrian conflict?
My perspective covers two different aspects. I wish first of all to see that the majority of the opposition, having long played the popular mobilization and self-defense, abandoned this strategy to the choice of open warfare. Armed struggle selects the most violent, the most radical and promotes frightens a number of people who end up taking refuge in the wait. My sympathy goes to those who reject opponents in a single movement dictatorship and armed struggle, and which are, unfortunately, not considered by our media and politicians. Another important point is the requirement of immediate departure of Bashar al-Assad asked by Westerners. Establish a prerequisite that will never be accepted, it is sign for war. The key for me is that the current policy resume, with or without Bashar. That this tyrant is ultimately expelled from office, I could only be satisfied with all the people who hope for a democratic solution in Syria.
Israel’s position on the Iranian nuclear program is legitimate? Israel, which has triggered a spiral of nuclearization in the Middle East, also with the help of France is the latest country founded to defend such a position. Iran was attacked by the British suffered a coup orchestrated by the CIA in 1953, was attacked by a coalition of US-French interposed by Iraqis, but Iran went to war with anyone. I have no sympathy for the mullahs and all my support goes to the opponents of the green revolution, but even among these, many supports Iran’s right to develop nuclear and sanctuaries in its territory in order to guard against attack. As with Iraq in 2003, Iran has made the problem. And the solution is to attack. When one sees the world as a set of nails, we did not mind that other tools hammer and tongs, but in politics it should be the exception, and the opposite should be the
rule. We do not parachute democracy, we do not require bombs.
(de g. à dr), Bernard-Henri Lévy, Nicolas Sarkozy, Mahmoud Jibril et David Cameron, le 15 septembre 2011, à Tripoli.
© Éric Feferberg/AFP
You have detonated in the media denouncing the intervention in Libya …
The Libyan adventure is itself part of a media manipulation characterized. Decided what Sarkozy and Obama was the air strafing protesters in Tripoli February 21, false information broadcast by Al-Jazeera on the basis of a simple telephone testimony. Yet there has been no demonstrations in Tripoli and even fewer aircraft strafing the crowd. No mainstream media has deigned to make any verification. The first page of the story of Bernard-Henri Lévy War begins without loving it: Then Cairo to support the Arab Spring is about to return to France when he sees on the screens of the airport aircraft to attack the crowd dive. He makes it clear that the importance of an event is the beginning. At right: this beginning-there has not occurred, it was a huge assembly propagandist, and set the tone for the future. Other manipulation: Benghazi, where the rebellion is part, was not within the scope of the threat of annihilation. Which saw columns of tanks that have been talked about so much? Person. The rebellious city was then completely build a position of strength. Subsequently, the National Transitional Council (CNT) could appeal to various mediators who proposed, such as Niger, Senegal and Turkey. But everything has been done for the option of war is the first resort. This war was decided in the early days of the uprising in Benghazi and was made its justifications (massacres, rape) and no one bothers to check.
What motivated this war?
Sarkozy could only furious at having been tricked by Kaddafi: all contracts Rafale, EPR, big-French strategic partnership Libyan Africa were a deception. There is first of all feeling, quite justified, that had French President Nicolas Sarkozy have been fooled by Gaddafi: all contracts Rafale, EPR, big-French strategic partnership Libyan Africa were a deception. Sarkozy could only be furious. The second reason is its second session from the Arab Spring. I shared also not all accusations addressed to the then government of ignoring the arrival of the Arab Spring. I saw in these reproaches intelligence hindsight always easy, and cunning of imperial thinking. It is indeed not in France or the West to open the doors of the rule of law to the people. It is the Arabs that it was to be released, the role of democratic countries is to show their support for these movements. Third reason: to engage in a war probably very victorious for a cause that is almost indisputable – stop the massacres committed by the tyrant more isolated area – was to ensure the success of esteem and entry in history whose dream any head of state.
Are you also unfavorable to French intervention on the side of African troops in northern Mali?
Can quite bring aid to a sovereign who asks: is not evil in itself. But if that request help Malians is not provided, is that there is a situation coup. American rule, which is not the worst, in principle prohibits help an army coup. And beyond the coup, we must ask who is in charge in this country. Mali is currently living in a state of dissolution, and in the absence of a reliable political pole, any military enterprise is doomed to failure. All over Syria and Libya especially I felt isolated, as what I think about Mali joined what most experts say political, economic and military: it must give a little color and substance to the Malian government, which will not happen overnight. Resume Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal should not be complicated, but it is the famous day after that poses a problem if there is not a state, a set integrator, this day will be one of a disaster.
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Five Questions Netanyahu needs to Answer
Posted on January 05, 2013 by Akashma Online News
Source PLO -Negotiations Affairs Department
There is also a Security Non-paper issued on 2010 with singular statements like :
“Based on reciprocity, Palestine will not enter into alliances with parties hostile to Israel. ”
The only reason most of the Arab countries are hostile to Israel is because the Palestinian issue, so why, the PLO goes to promise such things. Or maybe they are talking of new alliances? Because the wording is talking into future, not past or present alliances. “Palestine will not enter into alliances” Security Non-Paper 2010
1. Why does Netanyahu refuse to define which “compromises” he will make?
Mr. Netanyahu said in his speech to the U.S. Congress in 2011 that ‘painful compromises’ will be neccesary to ensure a lasting peace. Neither in that speech nor in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last year did Prime Minister Netanyahu give any indication of which positive initiatives or agreed to any concessions during meetings arranged by the U.S., Jordan and the Quartet over the last two years.
2. Why does Netanyahu never acknowledge that the PLO has long recognized Israel’s right to exist?
The Declaration of Principles of 1993 were based on a historic compromise in the exchange of letters by which ‘the PLO recognizes the right to the State of Israel to exist in peace and security.’
The Palestinians have genuine and legitimate interest in establishing a Palestinian state that will be recognized, that acts as an independent state and is able to exercise its full rights and responsibilities as a sovereign nation.The Palestinian state needs also to be able to govern and exercise authority effectively, and maintain a responsible self-defense capability with no interest in establishing an offensive military threat to its neighbors. The main aim, after all, is to establish a national homeland for the Palestinians living in peace and security with all of its neighbors.
3. How could Palestine be a sovereign country without East Jerusalem as its capital and with Israeli occupying forces controlling every one of its borders?
The Israeli Prime Minister told the U.S. Congress that he is in favor of a Palestinian State, while saying that ‘Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel’ and that ‘it is vital that Israel maintain a long term military presence along the Jordan River.’
4. Is it not the truth that – judged by his unrelenting annexation of Palestinian land – Netanyahu is committed to making a viable Palestinian state impossible?
In last year’s speech to the U.S. Congress, Netanyahu also claimed that Palestinians should have a national life of dignity as a free, viable and independent people in their own state’. Yet he refuses to stop the expansion of Israeli settlements, continues to construct a massive and illegal wall that denies Palestinians freedom of movement, and refrains from committing to 1967 borders. In other words, he insists on building on the land that is supposed to make up the future state of Palestine.
Settlements: Since 1967, Israel has colonized the Occupied Palestinian Territories by systematically transferring parts of its Jewish civilian population into the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in violation of international law. Today, more than half a million Israeli settlers, including over 190,000 in and around East Jerusalem, live in settlements established on land illegally seized from us in the OPT. These settlements range in size from nascent settlements or “outposts,” consisting of a few trailers, to entire towns of tens of thousands of settlers. Colonizing the Occupied Territories
5. When will he admit that by setting non‐negotiable pre‐conditions on all issues and unilaterally acquiring Palestinian land, his support for a negotiated solution is a cynical pretense?
The Israeli Prime Minister repeatedly calls for negotiations without pre‐conditions, while setting pre‐conditions and extra demands of his own and undertaking aggressive and illegal actions to predetermine the outcome of negotiations. These include rejecting any compromise on Jerusalem, pre-emptively denying Palestinian refugees their right to return, demanding that Israel control the Jordan Valley area, and accelerating the theft of Palestinian land for the construction of Jewish-only settlements.
Paris Protocol, Oslo and David Accords need to be scrapped out of the Palestinian Compromises, and a new set of rules have to be put in place according to Palestine State sovereign new status, and according to International Law. Anything that benefit Israel and put Palestine in disadvantage should not be honored for being Legally Unjust.
Are the Palestinians Ready to Share a State With Jordan?
Published on December 27, 2012 by Akashma Online News
By Daoud Kuttab
Source The Atlantic
President Abbas may be pursuing a confederation with Jordan — a move that could finally break the stalemate in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) speaks with Jordan’s King Abdullah upon his arrival in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Dec. 6. (Yousef Allan/Reuters)
In the summer of 1993, I was granted a rare scoop as a Palestinian journalist: an exclusive interview with the prime minister of Israel at the time, Yitzhak Rabin, the first ever given to a reporter working for a leading Palestinian newspaper. Midway way through the one-hour meeting, I asked Rabin for his vision as to the ultimate political status of the West Bank and Gaza in 15 or 20 years. Rabin, who at the time, we later discovered, had approved the Oslo back-channel, took a puff at a cigarette given to him by one of his aides, and answered that he envisions It being part of an entity with Jordan.
I remember this response almost 20 years later, and at a time now when the Oslo Accords — which Rabin signed on the White House lawn in September 1993 — have all but been declared dead by all parties involved. Mahmoud Abbas, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Israel on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that fall, is now on the verge of leaving political life with no clear successor for him or for the Palestinian Authority that has been established in parts of the West Bank since the agreement’s implementation in 1995.
The failure of this approach has led some to suggest other avenues of breaking up the logjam — the result of U.S. President Barack Obama’s lack of political will and the failure of the rest of the world to pick up the pieces without U.S. involvement. It is in this political limbo that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is finding itself toying with an old-new formula: A role for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
In a meeting with members of the Ebal charity in October, which is made up of Jordanians of Palestinian (Nablus) origin and hosted by Jordan’s speaker of the upper house, Taher al Masri, Jordan’s Prince Hassan bin Talal opened up the issue. In the speech, recorded and posted on the jordandays.tv website, the prince stressed that the West Bank is part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which includes “both banks of the [Jordan] River.” He added that he “did not personally oppose the two-state solution,” but that this solution is irrelevant at the current stage.
The October 9 talk received little attention until a former PLO leader repeated the idea, albeit in a different tone. Farouk al Qadoumi, one of the founders of the PLO’s Fatah movement, gave an interview to the London-based Al Quds Al Arabi, in which he suggested the return of the West Bank to Jordan as part of a federation or a confederation. Qadoumi, who opposed the Oslo Accords and has refused to step foot in the Palestinian Authority areas, has little clout in the PLO, and at one time accused Abbas of being behind the poisoning of the late Yasser Arafat. Qadoumi’s statement was quickly opposed by the secretary of the PLO, Yaser Abed Rabo, who called it “naïve.”
But earlier this month, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that Abbas informed several PLO leaders “to be prepared for a new confederation project with Jordan and other parties in the international community,” and that his office has already issued reports that evaluate “the best strategies to lead possible negotiations with Jordan” toward “reviving the confederation.” He has reportedly asked PLO officials to prepare themselves to pursue this strategy. This report, if confirmed by official sources, could be a watershed moment for the Palestinian national movement, and the highest profile endorsement of this persistent proposal.
Abbas’s willingness to explore a Jordanian confederation comes on the heels of the United Nation’s recent declaration of Palestine as an observer state by a 138-9 vote. This clear victory for Abbas gives him the political capital to explore such a potentially controversial move — and also the international recognition of sovereignty that would allow Palestinians to enter into a confederation with Jordan as equal partners.
The idea of Jordan having a greater role in Palestine is attractive for various parties. With the Israelis claiming that the Palestinians might repeat the Gaza rocket problem if they withdraw from the West Bank, the idea of a Jordanian security role in the West Bank can defuse such Israeli concerns. A role for Jordan in Palestine would be publicly acceptable in Israel, where the Hashemite enjoy consistent respect among everyday Israelis. Americans would also find such an idea easier to deal with if talks ever return. And even among Palestinians who are unhappy with the PLO and its failures to end the Israeli occupation, any process that can end Israeli presence in Palestinian territories is welcome — even if that is replaced, temporarily, by an Arab party, whether it is Jordan or any other member of the Arab league.
The suggestion that Jordan returns to a direct role that can include sovereign control (and therefore responsibility) for the West Bank is a long shot for most Palestinians — and more importantly, Jordanians. Palestinians will see it as infringing on their independence. Jordanians will see it as a burden that will weaken their attempts at building a new East Bank Jordan with as few citizens of Palestinian origin as possible. Such a deal would certainly make Palestinians a majority in a federal system, bringing about the scenario that right-wing Israelis have been pushing, namely that Jordan is Palestine.
A Palestinian-Jordanian confederation, however, is another issue. Confederations are political systems that include two independent countries. For some time in the 1980s, this was the most talked-about term in the region. The late Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyyad), the former head of intelligence for the PLO, was quoted as saying that what Palestinians wanted was five minutes of independence and then they would happily agree to a confederation with Jordan. However, the issue became politically poisonous as soon as the late King Hussein of Jordan said publicly that he doesn’t want anyone to ever utter the term “confederation.” And so it has been for the past two decades.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose wife is of Palestinian origin, doesn’t have the same sensitivity, nor do Palestinians have the same concerns about him and a possible Jordanian lust for Palestinian land. Since 1988, Jordan, which had controlled the West Bank until it was lost in the 1967 war, has declared that the unity of the two banks back in the early 1950s is no longer the case. Shortly after the eruption of the 1987 Palestinian intifada, King Hussein declared a cessation of its role in the West Bank. This cessation, which has yet to be constitutionally mandated, has been rejected by the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood — the largest and most organized opposition group in Jordan.
It is not clear whether the idea suggested by Prince Hassan and Farouk Qadoumi, and apparently espoused secretly by U.S. envoys to the region, will ever get traction. It is also not clear whether the words of the late Rabin of the Labor party that I published in the leading daily Al Quds at the time are still valid in Israeli governmental circles now headed by the Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu and most likely will continue so after next month’s election. Ironically, Jordan’s parliamentary elections, which the Muslim Brotherhood’s Islamic Action Front Party will boycott, will take place the following day.
While it is unclear if Jordan will ever end up having any sovereign role in the West Bank, support for a greater role for Jordan in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will no doubt increase in the coming months and years if the current decline of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority continues. The one determining factor in all of the discussions will have to come from the Israeli side, which has yet to decide whether it will relinquish sovereignty over the areas occupied in 1967 to any Arab party, whether it be Palestinian or Jordanian.
Daoud Kuttab’s bio
Daoud Kuttab is a Palestinian journalist and media activists. He is the former Ferris Professor of Journalism at PrincetonUniversity. Daoud Kuttab is currently the director general of Community Media Network (CMN) a not for profit media organization dedicated to advancing independent media in the Arab region. CMN is registered in Jordan and Palestine and administers Radio al Balad in Amman, and www.ammannet.net
Born in Jerusalemin 1955, Kuttab studied in the United Statesand has been working in journalism ever since 1980. He began his journalism career working in the Palestinian print media (Al-Fajr, Al-Quds and Asennara) as well as the audio visual field (Documentary producer). He established and presided over the Jerusalem Film Institute in the 90s. In 1995 he helped establish the Arabic Media Internet Network (AMIN) a censorship free Arab web site www.amin.org. He established and has headed between 1996 until 2007 the Institute of Modern Media at Al-Quds University. In 1997 he partially moved to Amman (because of family tragedy and remarriage) and in 2000 established the Arab world’s first internet radio station AmmanNet (www.ammannet.net). Mr. Kuttab is active in media freedom efforts in theMiddle East. He is a regular columnist for the Jordan Times, The Jerusalem Post and the Daily Star inLebanon. He has co-produced a number of award winning documentaries and children’s television programs. His op-ed columns have appeared in the NY Times, TheWashington Post, The Los Angles Times, The Daily Telegraph and Shimbum Daily inTokyo. He has received a number of international awards among them the CPJ Freedom of Expression Award, the IPI World Press Freedom Hero, PEN Club USA Writing Freedom Award, the Leipzeg Courage in Freedom Award and the Next Foundation (UK) Peace through Media Award. He is a regular columnist for the Huffington Post, Palestine News Network, Al Arrabiya.Net and the Jordan Times.
Annual Report on Military Power of Iran
Published on December 26, 2012 by Akashma Online News
US DOF-UPDATED
UNCLASSIFIED ON 29 June 2012
Executive Summary
There has been no change to Iran’s strategies over the past year. Iran continues to seek to increase its stature by countering U.S. influence and expanding ties with regional actors while advocating Islamic solidarity. Iran also desires to expand economic and security agreements with other nations, particularly members of the Nonaligned Movement in Latin America and Africa.
Iran’s military doctrine remains designed to slow an invasion; target its adversaries economic, political, and military interests; and force a diplomatic solution to hostilities while avoiding any concessions that challenge its core interests. Iran over the past year publicly threatened to use its naval forces to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to increasing sanctions and in the event Iran is attacked. Iran also has threatened to launch missiles against U.S. interests and our allies it1 the region in response to an attack and has issued threats to support terrorist attacks against U.S. interests.
Iran established the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp:r-Qod.s Force in 1990 to provide arms, funding, and paramilitary training to extremist groups.
We assess with high confidence that during the past three decades Iran has methodically cultivated a network of sponsored terrorist surrogates capable of targeting U.S. and Israeli interests; we suspect this activity continues.
Iran’s unconventional forces are trained according to its asymmetric warfare doctrine and would present a formidable force while defending Iranian territory.
Iran continues to develop technological capabilities applicable to nuclear weapons. It continues its uranium enrichment and heavy-water nuclear reactor activities in violation of multiple United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions and also continues to develop ballistic missiles that could be adapted to deliver nuclear weapons.
Regular Iranian ballistic missile training continues throughout the country. Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles that can range regional adversaries, Israel, and Eastern Europe, including an extended-range variant of the Shahab-3 and a 2,000-krn medium-range balllstic missile, the Ashura. Beyond steady growth in its missile and rocket inventories, Iran has boosted the lethality and effectiveness of existing systems by improving accuracy and developing new submunition payloads.
During the last two decades, Iran has placed significant emphasis on developing and fielding ballistic missiles to counter perceived threats from Israel and Coalition forces in the Middle East and to project power in the region. With sufficient foreign assistance, Iran may be technically capable of flight-testing an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2015.
Preparation of this report study cost the Department of Defense a total of approximately $22,000 for the 2012 Fiscal Year Generated on 2012Jun 071226 REID: 5-UNCLASSIFIED
Full Update
Iranian Grand Strategy, Security Strategy, and Military Strategy
There has been no change to Iran’s strategies over the past year. Iran’s grand strategy remains challenging U.S. influence while developing its domestic capabilities to become the dominant power in the Middle East. Iran’s security strategy remains focused on deterring an attack, and it continues to support governments and groups that oppose U.S. interests.
Diplomacy, economic leverage, and active sponsorship of terrorist and insurgent groups, such as Lebanese Hizballah, Iraqi Shia groups, and the Taliban, are tools Iran uses to increase its regional power. Iran’s principles of military strategy remain deterrence, asymmetrical retaliation, and attrition warfare.
Iran seeks to increase its stature by countering U.S. influence and expanding ties with regional actors while advocating Islamic solidarity. Iran also desires to expand economic and security agreements with other nations, particularly members of the Nonaligned Movement in Latin America and Africa.
With the advent of the Arab Spring in 2011, Iran saw opportunities to increase its influence by supporting groups opposed to regimes in power, particularly those perceived to support U.S. interests. Iran publicized its belief that these popular, democratic uprisings were inspired by its own 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Outside the Middle East, Iran’s efforts to expand political, economic, and security ties with a range of countries demonstrate Tehran’s desire to offset sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
Iran continues to use a multipronged strategy in Iraq, including engagement with leaders across the political spectrum, outreach to the Iraqi populace, and continued support to Iraqi Shia militants and terrorists, such as Kataib Hizballah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and the Promised Day Brigade, in the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal. Iran provides money, weapons, training, and strategic and operational guidance to Shia militias and terrorist groups to protect and preserve Iran’·s security interests, including threatening the residual U.S. presence. In addition to providing anus and support, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp-Qods Force (lRGC-QF) is responsible for training Iraqi militants and terrorists in Iran, sometimes using Lebanese Hizballah instructors.
Iran continues to influence events in Afghanistan through a multifaceted approach, including support for the Karzai government while also supporting various insurgent groups. Tehran maintains ties with Afghan leaders across the political spectrum and continues to be involved in a number of humanitarian, economic, and cultural outreach activities among the Afghan populace. Although Tehran’s support to the Taliban is inconsistent with their historic enmity, it complements Iran’s strategy of backing many groups to maximize its influence while also undermining U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) objectives by fomenting violence.
2 – UNCLASSIFIED
Iran has been involved in Lebanon since the early days of the Islamic Republic, especially seeking to expand ties with the country’s large Shia population. The IRGC-QF oontinues to provide money, weapons, training, and logistic support to Lebanese Hizballah and views the organization as a key tool in its efforts to pressure Israel.
Since the beginning of the Syrian unrest, Iran has supported President Bashar al-Assad while downplaying the depth
of this support in public. Iran’s support to the Assad regime has included military equipment and communications assistance. Iran probably has provided military trainers to advise Syrian security forces.
(U) Iran’s Conventional Forces
Iran’s conventional military capabilities continue to improve. Naval forces are adding new ships and submarines while
expanding bases on the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. In addition, Iran continues to expand the breadth of its naval operations. Iran deploys naval ships into the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea for conterpiracy operations and in 2011 and early 2012 deployed two separate surface groups to the Mediterranean.
In early 2012, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Resistance Forces (IRGCGRF) conducted a series of exercises in northeastern and central Iran. The exercises, MARTYRS OF UNITY in the northeast and SUPPORTERS OF VELAYATand VALFAJR in central Iran, were the first significant exercises conducted by the IRGCGRF since its
reorganization in 2008. Three three exercises consisted of combined-arms maneuvers and were meant to show the
IRGCGRF’s offensive and defensive capabilities while offering limited training value for the participating writs.
Iran’s Unconventional Forces and Related Activities
Through the IRGC-QF, Iran provides material support to terrorist or militant groups such as HAMAS, Lebanese Hizballah, the Palestinian Islarnic Jihad, 1he Taliban, and Iraqi Shia groups.
• In close cooperation with Syria, Iran has provided Lebanese Hizballah with increasingly sophisticated weapons, including
a wide array of missiles and rockets that allow Hizballah to launch weapons from deeper in Lebanon or to strike Israel. We judge that the Iranian
military trains Hizballah and Palestinian extremist groups at camps throughout 1he region.
• Iran provides funding and possibly weapons to HAMAS and other Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Iranian Capabilities Related to Nuclear and Missile Forces
Iran is developing a range of technical capabilities that could be applied to the production of nuclear weapons if the decision is made to do so. It continues to progress with its uranium enrichment at Natanz and the newly operational Qom Enrichment Facility despite UN Security Council sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) November 2011 report on Iran provided extensive evidence of past and possibly ongoing Iranian nuclear weapons related research and development work. Iran has refused to address this evidence and denied repeated IAEA requests for access
to documents, personnel, and facilities.
• At the Natanz Underground Fuel Enrichment Plant, as of February 2012, Iran was producing 3.5-percent low-enriched uranium hexafluoride (LEUF6) with about 8,800 of the 9,150 installed IR- 1 centrifuges. At the Natanz Aboveground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, Iran was producing 20-percent LEUF
with one intercoooected cascade pair (328 centrifuges). About 6,200 empty IR-1 centrifuge casings were installed in that facility. At the Qom Enrichment Facility (aka the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant), Iran was producing 20-percent 6 LEUF1 with two pairs of interconnected cascades (about700 IR-1 centrifuges). Iran had filled the remainder of the facility’s centrifuge capacity with 2,100 empty IR·I centrifuge casings. Iran declared the entire facility would be used for producing LEUF previous plans to conduct centrifuge research and development there.
• Iran continued construction at the heavy-water Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40) at Khondab in violation of UN resolutions.
Regular Iranian ballistic missile training continues throughout the country. Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles that can range regional adversaries, Israel, and Eastern Europe,including an extended-range variant of the Shahab-3 and a 2,000-km medium-range ballistic missile, the Ashura. Beyond steady growth in its missile and rocket inventories, Iran has boosted the lethality and effectiveness of existing systems with accuracy improvements and new submunition payloads. Iran’s missile force consists chiefly of mobile missile launchers that are not tethered to specific physical launch positions.
Iran may be technically capable of flight testing an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2015.
During the last 20 years, Iran has placed significant emphasis on developing and fielding ballistic missiles to counter perceived threats from Israel and Coalition forces in the Middle East and to project power in the region. In 2011, Iran launched several missiles during the NOBLE PROPHET 6 exercise, including a multiple missile salvo.
Short-range ballistic missiles provide Tehran with an effective mobile capability to strike partner forces in the region. Iran continues to improve the survivability of these systems against missile defenses. It is also developing and claims to have deployed short-range ballistic missiles with seekers that enable the missile to identify and maneuver toward ships during flight. This technology also may be capable of striking land-based targets.
Iran also has developed medium-range ballistic missiles to target Israel and continues to increase the range, lethality, and accuracy of these systems.
Since 2008, Iran has launched multistage space launch vehicles that could serve as a test bed for developing long-range ballistic missile technologies.
Read the PDF File of the Report DOD-Iran Report 1204
As you read this report, ask yourself this question. US seems to know exactly what is happening in classified underground nuclear Iranian plants. This make me deduct that the information is technically real, taken from the UN inspectors. With this discounting the claims of US insistence that Iran is not allowing Inspections on its nuclear facilities.
The other parts of the report are simply facts. Iran is looking to protect its territory and its population. The only way to assure their survival it is developing its military ballistic capabilities.
Iran Sanctions Committee Reports
It is ironic that most of the members of the Iranian Sanctions Committee are nuclear States with no accountability for their Nuclear Arsenal.
Azerbaijan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Mehdiyev
China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Zhang Junan-
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Osorio
France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Briens
Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wittig
Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Rosenthal
India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Manjeev Singh Puri
Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Masood Khan
Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Moraes Cabral
Russian Federation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Churkin
South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Laher
Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. M’Beou
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . . . . Mr. Parham
United States of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. DiCarlo
SOURCE: FAS-Federation of American Scientist
More than a decade and a half after the Cold War ended, the world’s combined stockpile of nuclear warheads remain at a very high level: more than 17,000. Of these, some 4,300 warheads are considered operational, of which about 1,800 U.S. and Russian warheads are on high alert, ready for use on short notice.
The exact number of nuclear weapons in each country’s possession is a closely held national secret. Despite this limitation, however, publicly available information and occasional leaks make it possible to make best estimates about the size and composition of the national nuclear weapon stockpiles.
Status of World Nuclear Forces
| Status of World Nuclear Forces End-2012* | |||||
| Country | Operational Strategic |
Operational Nonstrategic |
Reserve/ Nondeployed |
Military Stockpile |
Total Inventory |
| Russia | 1,740a | 0b | 2,700c | 4,500 | 8,500d |
| United States | 1,950e | 200f | 2,500g | 4,650 | 7,700h |
| France | 290 | n.a. | ?i | 300 | 300 |
| China | 0j | ?j | 180 | 240 | 240j |
| United Kingdom | 160k | n.a. | 65 | 225 | 225k |
| Israel | 0 | n.a. | 80 | 80 | 80l |
| Pakistan | 0 | n.a. | 90-110 | 90-110 | 90-110m |
| India | 0 | n.a. | 80-100 | 80-100 | 80-100n |
| North Korea | 0 | n.a. | <10 | <10 | <10o |
| Total:p | ~4,100 | ~200 | ~5,700 | ~10,200 | ~17,300 |
“For forty or fifty years past, Mr. H. G. Wells and others have been warning us that man is in danger of destroying himself with his own weapons, leaving the ants or some other gregarious species to take over. Anyone who has seen the ruined cities of Germany will find this notion at least thinkable. Nevertheless, looking at the world as a whole, the drift for many decades has been not towards anarchy but towards the reimposition of slavery. We may be heading not for general breakdown but for an epoch as horribly stable as the slave empires of antiquity. James Burnham‘s theory has been much discussed, but few people have yet considered its ideological implications—that is, the kind of world-view, the kind of beliefs, and the social structure that would probably prevail in a state which was at once unconquerable and in a permanent state of “cold war” with its neighbors.” George Orwell-“You and the Atomic Bomb”, published October 19, 1945
Iranian Ambassador: It’s Not in Iran’s Interest to Build a Nuclear Bomb
Jerusalem-born thinker Meron Benvenisti has a message for Israelis: Stop whining
Posted on December 20, 2012 by Akashma Online News
The notion of a Jewish-democratic state is an oxymoron and the two-state solution will never work. ‘This country is a shared land, a single homeland,’ he says.
Originally Posted on October 11, 2012 in Haaretz Daily Newspaper
By Ari Shavit
Meron Benvenisti (b:1934) was born in Palestine in to a Sephardic father (from Salonika) and an Ashkenazi mother (Suvalki on the border of Prussia, Lithuania and Poland). Meron Benvenisti is a former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem (from 1971 to 1978) and the author of numerous books
Meron Benvenisti was my first editor. At the beginning of the 1980s, Ariel Sharon established more than 100 settlements in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. At the beginning of the 1980s, Meron Benvenisti founded a Jerusalem-based information center to monitor the settlements Sharon established. At the beginning of the 1980s, I was a very young, very enthusiastic young volunteer in Peace Now, which thought (rightly) that the settlements Sharon was establishing and that Benvenisti was monitoring were going to lead Israel to perdition. Thus I found myself working for the tempestuous Meron.
In a small apartment on the edge of Jerusalem’s Rehavia neighborhood, he would roar in a booming voice while I documented every new settlement in the territories, every new road in the territories, every industrial zone. He would shout and rant while I noted a land expropriation and another land expropriation and yet another land expropriation. The country’s leading journalists came and went. And the leading American journalists came and went and foreign embassies requested information, whose compilation was funded (barely) by foreign foundations. But after the melee subsided, I cast my gaze on the man who caused a media storm by claiming that the occupation was irreversible. An overgrown boy, I said to myself. An overgrown − and delightful − boy.
He was born in 1934 in Jerusalem, went to a kibbutz (Rosh Hanikra) for self-fulfillment and left the kibbutz. He studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (history of the Crusades), and left the Hebrew University. He joined Teddy Kollek (Tourism Ministry, Jerusalem Municipality), and left Teddy Kollek. After he ceased to be deputy mayor of the city and after failing to enter the Knesset, he went to Harvard and earned a Ph.D. in conflict management and founded the West Bank Data Base Project in Jerusalem, to document the establishment of the settlements. Betwixt and between, Benvenisti wrote books about the Crusaders, about Jerusalem, about the conflict and about cemeteries. For 18 years he wrote a column in this newspaper. He now divides his time between Caesarea and the city in which he was born, where he will be buried and for which he grieves.
I plead guilty to having a weakness for Meron. I love his volcanic temperament and I love his authenticity and his unbearability. I love his sabra quality and his earthiness, and I love the intensity of his tragic romanticism. Benvenisti is not only an out-of-the-box person; he is an out-of-the-system, out-of-the-mold, out-of-every-convention person. Being irresponsible, immature and unrestrained, he does not feel a commitment to any solution or any stream of thought. Being all chutzpah and provocation and quarrelsomeness, he does not belong to any group. But it’s precisely that lone-wolf intellectual wildness that makes him so fascinating. Serious and not serious, logical and illogical, Meron Benvenisti contains within him all the contradictions and all the vicissitudes and all the irreconcilables of the land with which he is engaged in a relentless wrestling match.
It has been 10 years since we last met. The man who opens the door for me is older and less healthy than the man I knew. After two major heart operations, he is thinner, softer and a bit more conciliatory. When I enter, he does not tell me what he thinks about my articles and my path and my worldview. Instead, he gives me a gift: a short letter written in a refined hand that my mother’s aunt wrote to his father in the village of Zichron Yaakov 92 years ago. Surprisingly, this delicate letter is what opens the subversive autobiography (“The Dream of the White Sabra,” 2012, Hebrew) of the subversive Zionist I have come to listen to. Because, when all is said and done, what’s important for this subversive Zionist to say is that he is from here. From within. From this land. From the guts of the story against which he rails.
***
What is it you are saying, Meron? That we are South Africa? That we are white settlers like the Boers and are suppressing the natives like the Boers and that we are doomed to collapse like the Boers?
The comparison to South Africa is wrongheaded, simplistic and dangerous. There was something there which does not exist here: biological racism. The whites there were only 17 percent, and the blacks 83 percent. But on the other hand, the whites and the blacks shared the same religion and lived with one another and the blacks were not expelled. So, I do not accept the allegation that Israel is an apartheid state. Even what is happening in the territories is not exactly apartheid. But what is taking shape here is no less grave. This is a master-nation democracy; in German, a “Herrenvolk democracy.” We are a country that behaves like a full-blooded democracy, but we have a group of serfs − the Arabs − to whom we do not apply democracy. The result is a situation of extreme inequality.
There is a society here of settlers who dispossess others by seizing their place and pushing them out and creating a unilateral power system of migrant rule. That system cannot survive. Ultimately, the good Israelis will not be able to sustain the tension between their liberal values and the brutality of the reality amid which they live. They will leave. They are already starting to leave. Therefore, what’s needed is a transition to a different paradigm. The Jewish nation-state is doomed. It will implode. In the end, the only way to live here will be to create an equality of respect between us and the Palestinians. To recognize the fact that there are two national communities here which love this land and whose obligation is to channel the unavoidable conflict between them into a process of dialogue for life together.
Just a minute. You are saying more than I can take in. I have no argument with you about the settlements and the settlers. But that is exactly why the solution of two states for two nations was devised. That is exactly the reason that the majority of Israelis are ready for a partition solution. It will take time, it will be hard, but in the end we will have a Jewish-democratic nation-state here and they will have a Palestinian nation-state there. That is the way, it is the only way.
It is time for you and your friends in Tel Aviv to understand: it is impossible to divide this land. Impossible. You cannot tell the Arabs to forget about Jaffa and Acre. They will not forget. And you cannot get any Palestinian to sign off on “the end of the conflict.” They will not sign. And the Green Line, which was the great alibi of the left, no longer exists. The Green Line is dead. The separation fence: that is truly apartheid. Separation is apartheid. Tel Avivans don’t want to understand this, but the Land of Israel is whole. It is a single geopolitical unit. It follows that the partition of the land is impossible. It is as impossible geographically and physically as it is psychologically. What’s impossible is the solution you are proposing. Even in Spain and Canada and Belgium, the binational structures are breaking up and falling apart. So, do you expect that in the Middle East, of all places, the Jewish fanatics and the Palestinian fanatics will be able to live under one roof?
You’re dreaming, Meron. You are more divorced from reality than any Tel Aviv leftie.
First of all, I am not proposing solutions. That is not my job. I am saying that the dominant paradigm is a lie, and I am fighting it. I am proposing an alternative paradigm of equality with honor. I am bringing a different terminology and a different way of looking at reality; because the “villa in the jungle” approach won’t work. If you bring about a coerced and unjust division, you will end up with a Palestinian state that is crippled, hurting and angry, which will turn violent. The right wing is correct about that. You saw what happened in Gaza. The disengagement solved nothing and brought Hamas to power. And in the future, you are liable to get something worse than Hamas in the West Bank. That is why division is not a solution to the problem − it is an exacerbation of the problem. It’s true that the Middle East is not a comfortable place. But you came to live in the Middle East. So, what will you say now: “Sorry, it was a mistake, so pack your bags and leave”?
I am not about to pack my bags and leave. I do not have a foreign passport and I will not have one. I am a native son. I am native-born. I am from here. That is why I know that two national communities emerged in this land, both of which are an integral part of it. There are two national communities here that live together in the same place, one within the other. In this situation, partition is not an option. There was a time when it was possible, but no longer. This country is a shared land, a single homeland.
Fine, I get it. Now let’s go back. To the bedrock. Was Zionism born in sin?
Zionism was not born in sin, but in illusion. The illusion was that we are coming to a land in which there are no Arabs. And when we figured it out, we pulverized the country’s Arabs into five different groups: the Arabs of Israel, the Arabs of Gaza, the Arabs of the West Bank, the Arabs of Jerusalem and the refugee Arabs. We succeeded in creating a divide-and-rule system that made it possible for us to rule them and to preserve hegemonic power between the Mediterranean and the Jordan.
I do not want to say that Zionism is racist, but a constellation of traits developed here that is generally identified with racism, albeit without the biological element. We are imbued with a combination of hatred for the goy, which we inherited from our forebears, and hatred for the other whom we encountered here. The result is what we see today. Among a large segment of the public, there is an element of racism vis-a-vis the Arabs, but I would not categorize us all as racists. I would say that what characterizes us collectively is ethnic hatred, ethnic recoil, ethnic contempt and ethnic patronizing. Instead of progress, Zionism brought reaction. It became a movement of dispossession based on nonuniversal, non-egalitarian values.
When did this deviation by Zionism occur − in 1967 or in 1948?
In June 1948. How so? Because that was when state institutions were created here that were supposed to operate according to universal values. That was the moment at which the Zionist revolution was supposed to stop behaving by means of revolutionary force and bring into being a normal Western state. But [David] Ben-Gurion, who until that moment was the head of an ethnic group, did not internalize the fact that he was no longer the head of an ethnic group. He transformed the nascent state into the continuer of the ethnic struggle. Thus, the Arabs who remained within the boundaries of the state were immediately subjected to ethnic discrimination. Discrimination was institutionalized by means of the Military Government, land expropriations, budgetary inequality and the continued existence of organizations such as the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Agency, which served only Jews.
But in 1967, that distorted situation, which was implicit in the state, underwent a quantum leap. Now it was no longer the Judaization of Galilee but the implementation of a wild policy of dispossession across the Green Line. Seizure of land, settlements, bypass roads: the creation of a declared situation of one law for Jews and another law for Palestinians. Oslo was a purported attempt to stop the rampant situation. There was mutual recognition between the nations, which is important. But in practice, it turned out that it was not Yossi Beilin who shaped the process but those who saw in Oslo an opportunity to continue the occupation indirectly and conveniently. Thus, a neocolonialist situation was created in the territories. We enjoy maintaining a captive market there which enriches us all.
At present we are talking about 350,000 settlers; or, if you also take Jerusalem into account, 550,000 settlers. So, everyone now understands what I said 30 years ago: it is irreversible. Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni can say whatever they like − it is irreversible. There is no way out of this mess.
Zionism, which did not undergo a metamorphosis in 1948 and did not desist in 1967, became a kind of revolution-in-progress and thereby became like the other revolutions-in-progress of the 20th century. It forged a situation that a liberal democrat cannot live with and cannot accept. This is a situation that cannot endure indefinitely.
I will tell you where you differ from the Zionist left. For most of us, the key concept is the “State of Israel.” As we see it, the Zionist enterprise was intended to bring into being a place where the Jewish people would constitute the majority and enjoy sovereignty. If there is no majority, there is no sovereignty and no democratic-Jewish state; there is no point to all this. It’s more convenient to live as a minority in Manhattan. But for you the basic concept is the “Land of Israel.” In that sense, you resemble the right wing and the Palestinians. You have a soil fetish. You come from the soil and you live the soil and you speak in the name of the soil.
It’s true that I live the story of the soil. I live the whole land and I am mindful of all the people who live here. That is how I know that the land cannot tolerate partition. And I know the land is hurting. The land is angry. After all, what two great monuments have we built here in the past decade? One is the separation fence and the other is [architect Moshe] Safdie’s terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport. The two monuments have something in common: they are intended to allow us to live here as though we are not here. They were built so that we would not see the land and not see the Palestinians, and live as though we are connected to the tail end of Italy. But I see all the fruit groves that were demolished in order to build the fence. I hear the hills that were sliced in two in order to build the fence. The heart weeps. The heart weeps in the name of the soil. For me, the soil is a living being. And I see how this conflict has tortured the soil, the homeland. I grieve for the torments of the homeland.
For years, we built against the Arabs. We dried the Hula Valley and we wrecked Jerusalem and we tore apart Judea and Samaria. But afterward, the Arabs started to build against us. They are no better than we are. We raped the soil and they raped the soil, and now the soil is violated. But I know that in the end it will be the soil that laughs at us: because we cannot exist without it and it cannot exist without us.
In the past, there were so many nations that thought they had succeeded in wresting control of the land. None of those nations was willing to share the land; they wanted the land for themselves and tried to seize it the way you seize a mare. But that noble untamed stallion shook them all off. The point is that if you want to live here, you cannot live alone and you cannot live without listening to the soil. You need to know that the soil breathes and the soil remembers. If you do not understand that, you are not truly a native son. Not truly a native. Your place is not here.
Now we have reached the heart of the matter: nativism. You have a nativist obsession, Meron. And I must tell you that there is something dangerous about your worship of the soil and your admiration for the natives, something undemocratic and illiberal and unenlightened. Why this contempt for migrants? What is the justification for rejecting those who seek a haven here? I discern in you a hidden preference for the Palestinian story over the Israeli story because you are enthralled by the fact that the Palestinians are natives here.
I am drawn to the Arabs. I love their culture, their language, their approach to the land. Our love of the land is an acquired love. Look at the heritage project of [Education Minister] Gideon Sa’ar and [cabinet secretary] Zvika Hauser: it is kitsch. First we defined some sort of theoretical Land of Israel and then we fell in love with the concept, and then we destroyed everything that did not fit the concept. We destroyed the Palestinian landscape, dug to find the remnants of Herod and King David in order to justify our existence, and we came up with a landscape of asphalt and malls that even we do not like. “Man is a tree in the field” − that is not us. Our love of the land is a love that we imposed on the land and foisted on the land. With the Arabs, it is the opposite. Their love for the land truly sprang from the soil. Love of the fig, of the tree, of the house.
It’s true that we have managed to mess them up, too. They are doing terrible things in Ramallah. But I love their love of the homeland. I love what [Palestinian national poet] Mahmoud Darwish writes about it and what [Israeli writer] S. Yizhar writes about it. I see a great closeness between Darwish and Yizhar. And I believe in a future in which the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Darwish and Yizhar live together. Because, as Yizhar wrote: Deep down, the soil does not forget. Only those who are capable of listening to the unforgetting silence of this tormented soil, from which everyone begins and to which everyone returns, Jews and Arabs, has the right to call it homeland. I believe in that with all my heart. In my perception, anyone who does not believe it is not a Zionist.
After everything you have said here, about the masters and the dispossessors and the suppressors, do you still consider yourself a Zionist? Is there such a thing as a Zionist who is against the Jewish nation-state? Is there such a thing as a Zionist who is in favor of a binational state?
Look, despite everything, Zionism is a success. It created a Jewish national community here that is alive and kicking. It forged a Jewish-Israeli nation that was not here. That’s why everyone wants to be a Zionist − to be part of the success. And I will not give all kinds of Revisionists and Likudniks the pleasure of saying that they are Zionists and I am not. In my view, the Revisionists and the Likudniks are good only in verbiage. They’re all talk. Look at this prime minister: All he knows how to do is spout verbiage. To go to the United Nations and speak excellent English and show some ridiculous drawing. In this matter he is totally his father’s son. With them it’s all verbiage. With them there is no coping with real life. And it disturbs me deeply that these Likudniks were able to transform the tremendous project of the working Land of Israel into something flawed. Because, despite all my criticism, I am very proud of my kibbutz past. I am very proud of the United Kibbutz Movement and of socialism, and of everything we succeeded in doing. I am thrilled to hear the “Internationale” and to sing the “Internationale.” What were the Revisionists, after all? A few thousand breakaways who purport to claim that they expelled the British. The only thing they were good at is talk. Only talk.
And it’s the same with the Mizrahim [Jews of Middle Eastern or North African descent]. I do not accept all this Mizrahi whining. Because, what would the Mizrahim have done if we had not been here to take them in? What would they be worth? What would have happened to them if we had not created the Israeliness to which they connected and turned into some sort of cartoon? If it had not been for us, the Mizrahim would have remained a potpourri of migrant cultures. True, we made plenty of mistakes. But we made a heroic decision to take them all in. And by that decision we effectively committed suicide. Our Hebrew-Israeli culture dissolved under the flood of immigration. That is why we now have Likud governments and constantly hear Mizrahi whining. But I do not accept either the one or the other. I am proud of being a white sabra. And I will not allow anyone to expel me from the Zionist camp. I am one of the founders of this place. I am from the Zionist Mayflower. I will not allow anyone to treat me as a non-Zionist.
So, on the one hand you are a Zionist, but on the other hand you want full justice and full equality for the Palestinians. How does that work in the real world? Do you evacuate settlements or not? Do you take in refugees or not? Do you accept the right of return or reject it?
The settlements are of no interest to me. Lawbreakers should be expelled. The rule that should be applied in Judea and Samaria is full equality between the Jewish settlers and the Palestinians. After 45 years it is no longer possible to hide behind the term “military occupation.” There is no such thing as military occupation that is not temporary. But in the same degree that the settlers live there, the Arabs have to return to their villages here. There are 140 Palestinian villages inside the State of Israel on which no communities were built but were turned into nature reserves and national parks. Some of them, at least, can be rebuilt. The people of Ikrit and [Kafr] Bir’im [in Upper Galilee] have to be allowed to return to their lands. There is no justification for Kibbutz Baram to occupy so much pastureland. The Palestinians have to be allowed to pray in the abandoned mosques. And every time people make billions from lands that belonged to Arabs, a certain percentage should go for the refugees. The Palestinians should be given a share of the profits that are raked in when all those huge malls are built on lands of kibbutzim and moshavim [cooperative villages]. And certainly the quarter of a million “present absentees” who live in Israel should be given their rights: to build a home, be hooked up to the power grid, not to have to live in “unrecognized villages.”
Don’t be so frightened of the Palestinian villages and mosques that I am talking about. There is no cause for the demographic fear. Most of the refugees don’t even want to return. We need to break down the highly charged question of the right of return into a series of acts of conciliation that address the trauma and move toward some sort of more equitable arrangement. I do not believe that it will be possible to live in one state according to the principle of one person-one vote. If so, the side that gets a majority will exploit its majority to seize the power centers and suppress the other side. We need to find a structure that will not be either a Jewish nation-state or a Palestinian nation-state, but a shared framework in which the two nations will go on squabbling − but on a foundation of equality. A foundation that consists of my acknowledgment of their story and their acknowledgment of my story, with an attempt to find some sort of reasonable balance between the two.
When did all this happen to you? After all, your father was one of the first of the Zionist educators who taught local geography [in Hebrew: “knowledge of the land”] and preached love of the land. You were a student leader of Mapai, the ruling party at the time and the forerunner of today’s Labor Party. The deputy of Teddy Kollek and one of the unifiers of Jerusalem. When did you suddenly cut yourself off from the umbilical cord of the Zionist establishment and become an anomalous figure who promotes weird ideas that infuriate both the right and the left?
The subtitle of my book is “An autobiography of disillusionment.” And that is exactly what it is. I went through an interesting process. My father wanted me to be one of the cornerstones of this country. He wanted the small soles of the feet of his son to touch this soil and no other. He tried to forge in me − and in many thousands of others whom he taught − a feeling of absolute belonging to the Land of Israel. And he succeeded. That is why I went to Kibbutz Rosh Hanikra in the 1950s and experienced the transcendent feeling of working in the banana groves − without noticing that in order to plant the banana trees, I was uprooting olive trees, thousands of years old, of a Palestinian village. That is why in the 1960s I bribed Arabs to remove hundreds of graves from the Muslim cemetery on the Tel Aviv shore so that it would be possible to clear the land on which the Hilton now stands. After the Six-Day War, I was with Teddy [Kollek] and “Chich” [Maj. Gen. Shlomo Lahat, afterward mayor of Tel Aviv] when we decided together to remove the 106 families of the Mughrabi neighborhood to create the large plaza of the Western Wall. I remember to this day the bulldozers and the clouds of dust that rose into the air and the old woman who was buried under one of the houses.
In all those cases and during that whole period I was a go-getter. I did not understand the meaning of what I was doing. But when I started to deal with the Arabs of East Jerusalem, I began to understand. I saw that the problem is not only the individual rights of the Palestinians but also their collective rights. And when I monitored what Arik Sharon was doing when he established 120 settlements in the West Bank, I suddenly realized that it’s irreversible. Finished. The Green Line is finished and the hope of a Jewish state here is finished. After all, the notion of a “Jewish-democratic state” is an oxymoron, and the two-state solution is no solution. And the terms the left uses − “peace,” “occupation,” “Green Line” − are lying, stock phrases. Their only purpose is to give Israeli liberals the good feeling that they are not responsible for the injustice and the dispossession and the terrible deeds their country is doing. I decided that I was no longer going to take part in that fraud. I would not take part in the left’s conceptual [population] transfer. I am not David Grossman of “The Yellow Wind,” who went to describe the occupation in the West Bank like some Captain Cook describing the life of the natives in some remote country. I am not Ze’ev Sternhell, who is constantly waiting for the arrival of some deus ex machina by the name of Barack Obama to force on Israel a peace that will not happen.
The fact is that, in the end, because my father so much wanted me to be a native, I am truly a native. And as a native, I see all the natives who live here − both the Israeli natives and the Palestinian natives. I am not afraid of them and do not flinch from them and do not patronize them. I believe that there is a possibility that they will find some imperfect way to live in the one common homeland.
Strangely, you are less pessimistic than many of the left-wing veterans. You, of all people, are not saying that the country is finished and all is lost. Do you feel that your generation succeeded or failed?
My generation both succeeded and failed. Mostly failed. Look, I belong to the population group that was here in 1948 − people who were 6 years old or more before the state’s establishment, and who were therefore shaped by prestate Zionism. Now I am an extinct species. But when you look back, you see that we played a tremendous part in forging this society and this national community. At the same time, you see that we lost all the wars we fought. We lost the war of creating a new person and creating a new culture and creating a new society. All in all, it came out pretty crappy for us. Everything was debased. And we, because of our bourgeois way of life, let the other forces take over in Israel and vanquish us. And the reason they vanquished us is that they were more steadfast in their goal and we were more pampered.
Living in Jerusalem today, I live in a bubble. Jerusalem outside my bubble is a city that has disintegrated completely. It is on its last legs. It does not exist. And it is too painful for me to see that. When I travel around the country today, I don’t understand exactly what is happening. Everything is different. Not what we wanted it to be; not something I can understand.
But all of that pales in the face of our huge achievement in establishing a Jewish-Israeli national community here which, despite everything, is alive and kicking. That is why I do not accept the whining of the Mizrahim and I also do not accept the white whining of the veteran Israelis.
It was not by chance that I titled my autobiography “The Dream of the White Sabra.” As the white sabra, I am not ashamed of anything. I made mistakes and I admit the mistakes, but in the end I am proud to be a son of the founding fathers. I of all people feel myself to be a Zionist. Sometimes it even seems to me that I am the last Zionist.
Books and Article written by Meron Benvenisti
- Benvenisti, Meron (1970): The Crusaders in the Holy Land, New York [1]
- Benvenisti, Meron (1976): Jerusalem, the Torn City, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, ISBN 0-8166-0795-8)
- Benvenisti, Meron (1984): West Bank Data Project: A Survey of Israel’s Policies, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, ISBN 0-8447-3544-2 [2]
- Benvenisti, Meron (1988): Conflicts and Contradictions, Villard, ISBN 0-394-53647-9 [3]
- Benvenisti, Meron (1995): Intimate Enemies: Jews and Arabs in a Shared Land University of California Press ISBN 0-520-08567-1 [4]
- Benvenisti, Meron (1996): City of Stone: The Hidden History of Jerusalem University of California Press ISBN 0-520-20521-9 [5]
- Benvenisti, Meron (2002): Sacred Landscape: Buried History of the Holy Land Since 1948. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-23422-7 [6]
- Benvenisti, Meron (2007): Sons of the Cypresses: Memories, Reflections and Regrets from a Political Life. University of California Press [7]
- Benvenisti, Meron (2012), The Dream of the White Sabra(Hebrew)
Articles
- Either a Zionist or a terrorist, 2 January 2002 Haaretz,
- Systematically burying ourselves, 17 January 2002, Haaretz,
- The homeland purified of Arabs, 26 September 2002 Haaretz, (about Sataf)
- Loving `the homeland’, 10 October 2002, Haaretz,
- The binational option, 8 November 2002, Haaretz,
- The never-ending enterprise, 21 November 2002, Haaretz,
- A tank under the Christmas tree, 19 December 2002, Haaretz,
- Prime minister of what?, 13 March 2003, Haaretz,
- The true test of the imperial pretension, 10 April 2003, Haaretz,
- The capital nobody wants to lead, 24 April 2003, Haaretz,
- The High Court and fear of return, 3 July 2003, Haaretz, (about Ikrit)
- When will Israel become a homeland?, 31 July 2003, Haaretz,
- : Cry, the beloved two-state solution (Part 2), 8 August 2003, Haaretz,
- A wall against fear, 28 August 2003, Haaretz,
- Defensive walls of self-righteousness, 6 November 2003, Haaretz,
- Which kind of binational state?, 20 November 2003, Haaretz,
- Bantustan Plan for an Apartheid IsraelThe Guardian April 26, 2004.
- The hypocrisy of tolerance, 9 February 2006, Haaretz, (about the Museum of Tolerance, Jerusalem)
- A lull of no return, 29 May 2008, Haaretz, (on the possible/probable de facto long-term political division between Gaza and the West Bank and its effects on both Israel and the Palestinians)
Israel threatened to cancel ceasefire over Mashaal visit
Posted on December 08, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Source Ma’an
Khaled Meshal Leader of Hamas visits Gaza for first time
Israel threatened to cancel the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt if Hamas’ chief in exile and his delegation visited the Gaza Strip for the movement’s 25th anniversary, says senior Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishiq.
In an interview with the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa TV Saturday, al-Rishiq said, “We received real threats that occupation could cancel the ceasefire agreement or do anything.”
Al-Rishiq highlighted that Mashaal decided to visit the Gaza Strip even at personal risk.
Describing the “historic” visit by Hamas’ leaders in exile to Gaza, he said, “This is a great view, and we are happy to set foot on the pure land of Gaza and met from the very beginning with our people.”
He added: “Our people should be more assured about resistance. Hamas is a resistance movement, and without resistance there will be no Hamas.”
On Thursday Islamic Jihad officials said Israel threatened to assassinate the leader of Islamic Jihad if he entered the Gaza Strip, causing the party to reconsider.
Egyptian authorities told Islamic Jihad that Israel rejected the visit and would target leader Ramadan Shalah and his deputy Ziad Nakhla if they went into Gaza, sources close to the discussions told Ma’an.
Islamic Jihad leaders were considering whether to cancel the visit Thursday.
Israel launched an 8-day assault on Gaza that ended Nov. 21 with a ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt.
Pakistani enhanced economic cooperation with Iran
We need to learn Geography to understand the strategic alliances between the countries.
Posted on Akashma Online News
Source IRNA
Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close and brotherly relations which are rooted in historical, cultural and religious commonalities.
At the same time Closer Pakistan-Iran military ties proposed.
The Senate Defense Committee, which has broken taboos in the realm of national security by opening up debates on defense budget, counter-terrorism policies, civil-military relations, had this time invited a delegation of Iranian parliament led by Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman, National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Majlis-i-Shura, for security dialogue.
The Prime Minister expressed these views in a meeting with Iranian Parliamentary delegation led by Chairman Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy of Majlis, Alaeddin Broujeri at the PM’s House on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that cooperation between the two countries is on a positive trajectory. He underscored the importance of constant and extended contact between parliamentarians and public representatives of the two countries to further cement the existing warm relations.
The Prime Minister said that the close economic ties between the two countries are reflected in the cooperation on the gas pipeline project, electricity and infrastructure projects, a statement from the PM office said.
On Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that Iran and Pakistan have shared objectives and both the countries have to work in tandem for peace and reconciliation. He said that a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of not only Pakistan but the entire region. He said that terrorism and extremism are our common enemies and we must join hands to defeat these, he stressed.
Mr. Alaeddin Broujeri said that Iran is keen to expand and strengthen its relations with Pakistan. In this connection, agriculture is one area where both countries can cooperate more intensely, he added.
Mr. Alaeddin Broujeri thanked the Prime Minister who asked him to convey his best wishes to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. Mohammad Esmaeili and Mr. Ali Reza Ayyari.
Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister for Interior, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.
Turkey strengthen ties with Iran
Posted on December 04, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Source IRNA
UPDATED
by Marivel Guzman
Ankara, Turkey Dec 5, – Head of Iranˈs Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad on Wednesday called for expansion of cultural cooperation with Turkey.
He made the remarks in a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim.
Khorramshad highlighted the cultural affinity between Iran and Turkey and said that the common grounds in the field of culture serves as longstanding heritage for the two nations to bring them closer and bolster their friendship.
He said that ICRO is willing to work with Turkish cultural organizations to help develop multilateral ties.
He called for implementing the cultural agreement signed between Iran and Turkey last year and forming a cultural expert group to follow up the agreement.
Khorramshad and Yardim agreed to implement the articles 11, 13 and 15 of the existing cultural agreement to repair late Imam Khomeiniˈs old house in Bussan, Turkey.
He invited the head of the Turkish Language Academy to pay a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mohammad Javad Khorramshad, who was speaking in the inauguration ceremony for Iran’s sacred defense film festival in Ankara, said he was conveying this message that there is no limitation for expansion of bilateral ties between Iran and Turkey. Referring to visits of officials from both countries in different levels, Khorramshad said that senior officials of the two countries have always underlined expansion of relations and now in the section of cinema and theater we are witnessing the process. He stressed that OCIC is ready to develop its relations in different sectors with related organizations and ministries in Turkey.
Turkey-Iran relations goes way back in the history of the two countries. Regardless of the regional conflicts they both faced, their relations had been steady with its ups and downs. When the news broke out that Turkey will be hosting the defense missiles system and missiles tracker Iran discouraged and made clear to Turkey that this could jeopardize their relations.
Turkey had asked guarantee to the US that this system should not be shared with Israel, with this Turkey is looking to apace Iran and at the same time to become an intermediary between Iran and the West.
Reza Shah visiting Turkey June 2 1934
Reza Shah took off on his only travel to a foreign country Turkey on June, 2, 1934. He was accompanied by 17 people, mostly high ranking military officers.
A brief background of Iran-Turkey Relations : Reza Shah was the first person to congratulated Ataturk after foundation of the Republic of Turkey
in 1923, sending him asword and a Quran as gift. On Apr, 22, 1926, a treaty of friendship and security was signed between the two countries. Although some incidents in the Kurdish region and foreign meddling prevented the two countries from approaching further, the leaders of these two neighboring countries tried to resolve border disputes and signed a new treaty in Ankara on Nov, 5, 1932
Reza Shah’s trip to Turkey marked the beginning of a new era in Iran-Turkey relationship. After short stops in Tabriz, Khoy and Maku, the Iranian mission entered Turkey on June, 11. They were accompanied by Turkish authorities through Kars, Erzurum, Trabzon, Samsun and arrived in Ankara on June, 16, 1934. They stayed in Turkey for 38 days and visited military, historical and other installations before returning to Tehran On July, 11.
Among other things, Reza Shah was very much impressed by modernization in Turkey and believed that Iran lacked participation of women in the society in order to develop. He founded many modern educational and public institutions and passed regulations that practically banned veil and changed the way Iranians were to dress on Dec, 23, 1935.
Turkey Iran relation
On April 22, 1926 the First “Treaty of Friendship” between Iran and Turkey was signed in Tehran.
On January 23, 1932 the first definitive frontier treaty between Turkey and Iran was signed in Tehran. It should be mentioned that the border between Turkey and Iran is one of the oldest in the world and has stayed more or less the same since the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514.
On July 8, 1937 a Treaty of Non-aggression was signed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. This treaty would become known as the Treaty of Saadabad. The purpose of this agreement was to ensure security and peace in the Middle East.
In August 1955 CENTO (Central Treaty Organization), a mutual security-pact between Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Britain was established.
In July 1964 the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development), aimed at joint economic projects between Turkey, Iran and Pakistan was established.
A period of coldness passed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution which caused major changes in Iran and the Middle Eastern status quo. Today Iran and Turkey cooperate in a wide variety of fields that range from fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia.
U.S. Challenges in a Changed Middle East
Posted on December 04, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Excerpt from CFR
Interviewee: Robert A. Malley, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa, International Crisis Group
Interviewer: Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, CFR.org
The events in the Middle East continue to rapidly unfold, providing difficulties for U.S. policy in the region, whether it is the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, the rise of Islamists, the conflict in Syria, or tensions with Iran. Middle East expert Robert Malley says, “With Islamists in power in Egypt, with Hamas more powerful than it was the last time it was at war with Israel [2008-09], the United States is trying to figure out its place in a region that is no longer the one it was accustomed to.” And in Syria, although a negotiated end to Bashar al-Assad’s regime is preferable, “unfortunately, it almost certainly is not the most likely” way the conflict will end. He says the United States is conflicted over accepting Egyptian help in ending the recent Israel-Hamas attacks while it is also uncomfortable with the domestic policies of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The situation in the Middle East seems extremely complicated right now. A little over a week after the United States and Israel negotiated a cease-fire with Hamas, its rival, the Palestinian Authority, is getting approval for an “observer state” status in the UN. Meanwhile, the situation in Egypt, whose leader Mohamed Morsi had been praised by the United States for his work in getting the cease-fire with Hamas, is in a fight over who’s going to run the country. How do you put all of this together?
On one level, there’s a lot that’s very familiar: A war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel that ends in an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire. A Palestinian bid for an elevation of their status at the UN. An Egyptian president, who, on the one hand, acts in ways that are viewed as quite constructive by the United States when it comes to the relations between Israelis and Palestinians, and on the other hand, takes steps at home that are quite inconsistent with our view of democratic governance. We’ve seen all of that before. But the difference is that it’s taking place in a radically transformed environment where the protagonists have changed identities and worldviews. With Islamists in power in Egypt, with Hamas more powerful than it was the last time it was at war with Israel [2008-09], the United States is trying to figure out its place in a region that is no longer the one it was accustomed to.
So far, it seems Israel has passively accepted the inevitable vote in the United Nations. What’s the long-term significance of this?
Israel is beginning to do what it probably should have done from the beginning, which is to minimize the impact of this vote and to look to the day after the vote, rather than focus its energies on either trying to stop it or threatening retaliation in the event it took place. It was never in a position to stop it, and retaliation would backfire because it would be more harmful to Israel to see a collapse of the Palestinian Authority than it would be to the Palestinians themselves. The indications now coming through that Israel is going to take a more measured stance in response to the vote is something that would have been welcomed months ago, but better late than never.
The challenge is going to be twofold. One: managing the immediate aftermath of the vote to ensure that neither the Israeli government nor the U.S. Congress take retaliatory actions that would turn this in a very different direction. Second, if, as Palestinian President Abbas has said, negotiations are to resume after the vote or after Israeli elections, those negotiations learn something from the failures of the past. You can’t simply go back to the recipes that were used years ago and failed under circumstances that were more propitious than the ones that exist today.
Any renewed peace effort has to take into account the rise of Islamism, the increased mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, the coming to the surface of issues that have been relatively secondary in the past and have now become very central, such as the notion of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state or the origin and the plight of the Palestinian refugees. These are some of the existential issues that were never easy to ignore but have become much harder to set aside, given the increasing influence in Israel and in Palestine of constituencies for whom those are the central issues, and given the rise of Islamists in Palestine and the Arab world, for whom some of the solutions of the past are going to be much more difficult to accept today.
Britain and France may recall ambassadors to protest Israel’s settlement construction
Posted on December 03, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Original Excerpts published By Barak Ravid
UPDATED by Marivel Guzman
Moves against Israel will be made in the next few days following Netanyahu’s decision to move ahead on planning in E1 and build 3,000 housing units in the settlement blocs, and in East Jerusalem, say senior European diplomats.
Britain and France are poised to take action − possibly including the unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors, according to senior European diplomats − in protest at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to move settlement construction ahead in the area known as E1, between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem.
“This time it won’t just be a condemnation, there will be real action taken against Israel,” a senior European diplomat said.
ILC Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind (1991)Article 22(2)(b) of the 1991 ILC Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind considers “the establishment of settlers in an occupied territory and changes to the demographic composition of an occupied territory” as an “exceptionally serious war crime”. Customary international humanitarian law.
Netanyahu’s decision Friday to move ahead on planning in E1 and to build 3,000 housing units in the settlement blocs and in East Jerusalem, has apparently shocked the foreign ministries and the leaders in London and Paris. Not only do Britain and France view construction in E1 as a “red line,” they are reportedly angry because they view Israel as having responded ungratefully to the support the two countries gave it during the recent Gaza operation.
“London is furious about the E1 decision,” a European diplomat told Haaretz.
According to three senior diplomats from various EU countries, Britain and France were coordinating their moves against Israel, which they will reportedly implement over the next few days, and have discussed the extraordinary step of recalling their ambassadors from Tel Aviv for consultations. This step has never been taken before by these countries toward Israel. It would be so extreme that Britain and France may not take such action at this point but, rather, could invoke it in the case of further escalation of Israeli actions against the Palestinians. A final decision in the matter will be made today by the British and the French foreign ministers.
Geneva Convention IVArticle 49, sixth paragraph, of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV provides: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.This amount to war crimes. This amount to War Crimes
A source in the Prime Minister’s Bureau said Israel was planning more steps against the Palestinian Authority. “The Palestinians will soon realize they made a mistake in taking unilateral steps that breached agreements with Israel,” the source said.
Israel’s decision to approve 3,000 new homes on occupied territory drew sharp condemnation from European allies on Monday, with at least three governments summoning ambassadors to express their disapproval of an action they say undermines an already troubled peace process.
The Israeli envoy to Paris was called to a meeting late Monday morning, according to a statement from the French foreign ministry spokesman, Philippe Lalliot. France, which was the first major European country to announce support for the Palestinian effort to win recognition at the U.N., also sent a letter to the Israeli government, calling the settlement decision “a considerable obstacle to the two-state solution.” Israel feel heat from Europe over constructions of settlements
ICC StatuteUnder Article 8(2)(b)(viii) of the 1998 ICC Statute, “[t]he transfer, directly or indirectly, by the Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies” constitutes a war crime in international armed conflicts. Customary Practice Relating to Rule 130. Transfer of Own Civilian Population into Occupied Territory
Britain, France, and Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassadors to their countries on Monday to express their condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to move settlement construction ahead in the area known as E1, between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem.
Last July Netanyahu Vows To Continue Settlement Construction, was the headlines on the Huff Post.
Article 49, sixth paragraph, of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV provides: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
Article 85(4)(a) of the 1977 Additional Protocol I provides that “the transfer by the Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies” is a grave breach of the Protocol
Under Article 8(2)(b)(viii) of the 1998 ICC Statute, “[t]he transfer, directly or indirectly, by the Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies” constitutes a war crime in international armed conflicts. Customary Practice Relating to Rule 130. Transfer of Own Civilian Population into Occupied Territory
Hamas Successful test of the Fajr-5 Missiles
Posted on November 26, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Source Israel Defense
UPDATED
Interceptor Missile Used by David Sling System
Iron Dome was the news yesterday, the 1 billion dollars “Defense System” was being portrayed as the winner of this one sided war with Gaza. Israel was bragging that their Iron Dome success was 90 % when in reality was only 28 %. The inconsistency on the numbers are astonishing. Knowing that this Iron Dome was completely financed by the Department of defense of the US with a 1 billion 275 millions of American tax payer money, we wonder why now they are putting aside the Iron Dome News and they started another PR campaign.
The New David’s Sling Missile System has been awarded to Rafael since 2006, why now the buzz?
According to Lieutenant General Henry Obering, former director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, “We wanted a truly co-managed program because the United States will be very interested in this for our own purposes.”
Israel has successfully test fired the David’s Sling missile defense system on November 25 2012, bringing the country’s air interception capabilities one step closer to the potential to intercept all enemy fire, the country’s military has announced. This is 4 days after the truce of cease of fire was agreed with Gaza. Did they wait after the rockets from Hamas stop to test their system?
According to Israel sources they knew of the existence of Fir 5, Iran missiles technology in Hamas hands.
“The Fajr missiles revived Arab and Islamic community’s prestige and dignity, an Iraqi lawmaker said after Iran taught Palestinian Resistance groups how to make Fajr missiles which, military analysts say, made Israel drop its war plans and demand a ceasefire with Palestinian groups.
“The Iranian Fajr-3 and 5 (the technology of) which had been given to the Palestinian Resistance restored the (shattered) awe of Palestine, Arab and Islamic Ummah against Israel,” Borzoni stated, adding that these missiles proved that “there is no Iron Dome contrary to what was claimed by the Zionist enemy”. ” FARS Agency
The David’s Sling battery, stationed at an undisclosed desert location in Southern Israel, fired and destroyed the incoming missile with a two-stage interceptor.
“The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency completed the first phase of the development of the David’s Sling Weapon System, by conducting a successful interception,” the statement said.
Fajr-5 Iranian Technology helped in the cease of fire
The complex, also known as the Magic Wand, is a military system developed jointly by the Israeli military contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American contractor Raytheon. It is designed to intercept medium- to long-range missiles fired from 40 km to 300 km away. The Fajr-5 Iranian Missiles capabilities is 80 kilometers. If Iron Dome was a failure why Israel did not use the David Sling Defense System? Real simple, they were selling the Iron Dome to the world. Now they are looking for more money from the US to complete their defense system. Lucky for United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 is about to expire and new money will be coming in for the 2013 give away
Political and military experts believe that Israel was shocked and later pushed to reassess its calculations after Palestinian groups responded to the Israeli army’s Wednesday aggression on Gaza with a stunning retaliation, hitting Tel Aviv, a move which eventually made Israel start an overture and change its war rhetoric about an impending ground incursion into Gaza to a tone of compromise in pursuit of truce.
The system is also designed to fill the gap between the other two functioning pillars of Israeli air defense: the Iron Dome short-range protection and the Arrow 2, a ballistic long-range defense system. The next generation of the Arrow is also being developed, and is set to be deployed in 2016. The military states that David’s Sling will “provide an additional layer of defense against ballistic missiles.”
The new technology utilizes Stunner interceptors installed in 16-missile launcher. It works jointly with the Israel Aerospace Industries multi-mission radar (MMR) and could also be formatted to be used against enemy aircraft.
Projected to be fully operational by 2014, the new arsenal would be used to defend Israel’s border against oncoming missiles such as the Fajr and Fateh 100, M 600 and the Zelzal, which are often used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which Tel Aviv calls a threat to its national security.
The David’s Sling system is intended to provide Israel with an additional layer of defense against short and medium-ranged missiles, thus strengthening the country’s air-defense layout which protects against the threat of missiles and rockets. Rafael is the chief contractor for the development of the David’s sling system, working in cooperation with Raytheon.
The radar used by the system is developed by Elta Systems, and its command and control system is developed by Elbit Systems.
Hamas rocket teams carried out an experiment against Israel’s wonder weapon: They fired a 16-rocket Grad salvo at Beersheba. Iron Dome blew up 8 in mid-air, 4 landed outside built-up areas but 4 made it into the heart of the town. A few minutes later Hamas started shooting 14 Grades in volley after volley just a few minutes apart – altogether 30 rockets at the same target in the space of two hours.
The score was 8 to 22 in favor of the Hamas tactic. The experiment was designed to assess the Iron Dome teams’ post-operation reloading speed – information which is a close IDF secret.
What the Palestinians learned from the Beersheba experiment was that their strength against the Israeli defense system lies in numbers: the bigger the multiple missile barrage, the greater its chances of penetrating Iron Dome cover and reaching urban targets. They accordingly put together large batteries of 6 to 8 rockets each side by side and fired them all at the same time from underground silos.
The launchers were then folded back underground for concealment.
DEBKAfile’s military sources confirm that, like the Palestinians and Iranian missile engineers, the team which developed Iron Dome likewise used the Gaza operation as a testing ground. Certain improvements were introduced on the spot in the course of the hostilities. This process continues apace.
What happens if the interceptor missile misses it target? Do they do the same destruction that the missile itself ? If the interceptor misses the target and touch ground, what happens to it?
Israel is contracting enemies by the dozen, with all their Iron Domes, David’s Sling and Arrow defense system Israel will need to built
thousands of these Batteries if Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Palestine will decide that enough and enough of this arrogant bully.
Israel attacks Gaza-Pillar of Cloud another one sided war
Posted on November 14, 2012 by Akashma Online News
UPDATED Every day
Under the silence of the world leaders and the completely backing of UN and US, Israel started another genocide in Gaza.
Today in its seventh day of sky attacks, Israel had killed 7 people, and injured 20 many of them in very serious conditions. On the day of this article which it was the original date that Israel give to the world to start this one sided world, was in reality a continuation of attacks on the population and the infrastructure of Gaza. As this date Israel had already killed 7 Palestinians, besides the other 7 he has already assassinated by October 24, 2012.
Names of Palestinian martyrs killed in the ongoing Israeli bloody military aggression
Because we are NOT just numbers, keep following this post of the names and ages of murdered people who fell victim during the past days of Israeli attacks on Gaza since Wednesday. The number rises to 143 and still rising 😦 I hope that this battle will cost us no more souls. However, nothing will depress us, no matter how much Israel escalates its inhumanity and crimes. We’ll remain ready to pay any price for attaining of freedom and dignity. Every drop of your blood has just made our Palestinian soil smell more beautiful and precious and raised our determination to keep fighting for your justice and the just cause you paid your lives for. RIP.
1- Ahmad Al-Ja’bary, 52 years old.
2-Mohammed Al-hams, 28 years old.
3- Rinan Arafat, 7 years old.
4- Omar Al-Mashharawi, 11 moonths old.
5-Essam Abu-Alma’za, 20 years old.
6-Mohammed Al-qaseer, 20 years old.
7- Heba Al-Mashharawi, six-month pregnant, 19 years old.
8- Mahmoud Abu Sawawin, 65 years old.
9- Habis Hassan Mismih, 29 years old.
10- Wael Haidar Al-Ghalban, 31 years old.
11- Hehsam Mohammed Al-Ghalban, 31 years old.
12- Rani Hammad, 29 years old.
13- Khaled Abi Nasser, 27 year old.
14- Marwan Abu Al-Qumsan, 52 years old.
15- Walid Al-Abalda, 2 years old.
16- Hanin Tafesh, 10 months old.
17- Oday Jammal Nasser, 16 years old.
18- Fares Al-Basyouni, 11 years old.
19- Mohammed Sa’d Allah, 4 years old.
20- Ayman Abu Warda, 22 years old.
21- Tahrir Suliman, 20 years old.
22- Ismael Qandil, 24 years old.
23- younis Kamal Tafesh, 55 years old.
24- Mohammed Talal Suliman, 28 years old.
25- Amjad Mohammed Abu-Jalal, 32 years old.
26- Ziyad Farhan Abu-Jalal, 23 years old.
27- Ayman Mohammed Abu Jalal, 44 years old.
28- Hassan Salem Al-Heemla’, 27 years old.
29- Khaled Khalil Al-Shaer, 24 years old.
30- Ayman Rafeeq sleem, 26 years old.
31- Ahmad Abu Musamih, 32 years old.
At 8:20 am, as a result to an Israeli inhumane attack on Deel Al-Balah, central Gaza, three people were killed. The list of murdered victims goes longer>>>
32- Osama Musa Abdeljawad, 27 years old.
33- Ashraf Hassan Darwish, 22 years old.
34- Ali Abdul HakimAl-Mana’ma, 20 years old
At 8:45 am_ 9:00 am, warplanes attacked several places including Rafah, Khan-Younis, and Tal Al-Sultan, southern Gaza, leaving three killed>>
35`- Mukhlis Edwan, 30 years old.
36- Mohammed Al-Loulhy, 24 years old.
37- Ahmad Al-Atrush, 22 years old.
In a series of attacks on several places on central Gaza at noon, two more people fell victim:
38- Abderrahman Al-Masri, 31 years old.
39- Awad Hamdi Al-Nahhal, 23 years old.
40- Ali Hassan Iseed, 25 years old, killed in an attack on his motorbike in Deer Al-Balah, central Gaza, at 8:10 pm, Novebmer 17.
IOF attack another motorbike in Deer Al-Balah at 8:20 pm, leaving two more killed:
41- Mohammed Sabry Al’weedat, 25 years old.
42- Osama Yousif Al-Qadi, 26 years old.
In an attack on central Gaza, to the west of Al-Masdar area, at 9:10 pm, two more people people killed:
43- Ahmad Ben Saeed, 42 years old.
44- Hani Bre’m, 31 years old.
At 9:40 pm, Israel attacked Qdeih family’s house in west Khan-Younis, Southern Gaza and a woman got killed.
45- Samaher Qdeih, 28 years old.
46- Tamer Al-Hamry, 26 years old, died after being seriously injured in an attack on Deer Al-Balah.
On November 18, the fifth day of the Israeli ongoing aggression on Gaza:
Israeli warplanes shelled the house of Abu-Alfoul family in northern Gaza, killing two children and injuring at 13 at least, mostly children and women.
47- Gumana Salamah Abu Sufyan, 1 year old.
48- Tamer Salamah Abu Sufyan, 3 years old.
An Israeli warplanes fired missiles at a house that belongs to the family of Abu Nuqira in Rafah killing one person:
49- Muhamed Abu Nuqira
An Israeli war plane fired a missile at a house in an agricultural land east of Bureij camp, in the Central Gaza Strip, killing one child and injuring 2 other children:
50- Eyad Abu Khusa, 18 months old.
Two people were killed, one of them a child, when an Israeli missile hit a beachfront refugee camp in Gaza City:
51- Tasneem Zuheir Al-Nahhal, 13 years old.
52- Ahmad Essam Al-Nahhal, 25 years old.
Medics also reported finding the body of woman under the rubble of a house in eastern Gaza City who had been killed in a strike earlier in the morning.
53- Nawal Abdelaal, 52 years old.
At 3:10 pm, November 18, Israel rocked a house belongs to Al-Dalou family in Sheikh-Redwan area, west Gaza, killing at least 10 people, including 4 women and 4 children.
Soon after Al-Dalou massacre, 2 more were killed, a father and his son, in an attack on a car for water supply in northern Gaza.
65- Suheil Hamada, 53 years old.
66-Mo’men Suheil Hamada, 13 years old.
In an airstrike that targeted Nussairat camp after that two people were murdered and 10 at least got injured
67- Atiyya Mubarak, 55 years old.
68- Hussam Abu Shaweish, 35 years old.
69- Samy Al-Ghfeir, 22 years old, killed in an attack on Shijaiyya area, west Gaza.
70- Mohammed Bakr Al-Of, 24 years old, killed in an attack on Al-Yarmouk st. in Gaza city.
At 8:00 pm, November 18, the ministry of health in Gaza has reported that Israel has risen the death toll in Gaza to 69, including 20 children, 8 women, and 9 elderly people. Moreover, Over 660 person got injured since Wednesday, including 224 children, 113 women, and 50 elderly people.
At 10:00 pm, November 18, an Israeli warplane attacked a motorbike near the ministry of finance roundabout, west Gaza, killing a father and his son:
71- Ahmad Abu Amra, 42 years old.
72- Nabil Ahmad Abu Amra, 20 years old.
At 10:10 pm, November 18, an Israeli warplane rocked a house belong to Nasser family near Abu-Sharekh crossroad in northern Gaza, killing a child and his father.
73- Hussein Jalal Nasser, 8 years old.
74- Jalal Nasser
On November 19, the sixth day of the Israeli ongoing aggression on Gaza:
At 12:10 am, an Israeli warplane attacked Mahmoud Al-Hashash house in Rafah killing one woman.
75- Sabha Al-Hashash, 60 years old.
At 1:00 am, an Israeli warplane rocked a car in Rafah killing two people:
76- Saif Al-Deen Sadeq
77- Ahmad Hussein Al-Agha.
78- Emad Abu Hamda, 30 years old, killed after being seriously injured in as a drone fired a rocket at Beach camp, west Gaza.
79- Mohammed Jindiyya, mentally disabled, killed in an attack on Helles roundabout in Shijaiyya, west Gaza.
At 4:10 am, Israel committed another atrocious crime shelling a house belong to Azzam family that is full of children. 3 people were killed in this attack and at least 40 injured. Medics said that more than 15 children have arrived Shifaa hospital, three of them are in a very critical condition.
80- Mohammed Iyad Abu Zour, 4 years old.
81- Nisma Abu Zour, 19 years old.
82-Sahar Abu Zour
83- Ahed Al-Qattaty, 38 years old.
84- Al-Abd Mohammed Al-Attar, killed in an attack on Beit-Lahya, northern Gaza at 6:00 am.
85- Rama Al-Shandi, 1 YEAR OLD, killed as four F16s airstrikes hit former security compound Al-Saraya in Gaza City.
In an Israeli attack on Al-Qarara area to the south of the Gaza Strip, two farmers were killed at 8:50 am:
86. Ibrahim Suleiman al-Astal, 46 years old.
87. Omar Mahmoud Mohammed al-Astal, 14 years old.
As a warplane rocked a motorbike in Khan-Younis, southern the Gaza Strip, two people were killed:
88. Abdullah Harb Abu Khater, 21 years old.
89. Mahmoud Saeed Abu Khater, 34 years old.
An Apache warplane fired a rocket at a car in Al-Berka street in Deer Al-Balah, killing three people:
90. Rashid Alyan Abu Amra, 45 years old.
91. Amin Zuhdi Bashir, 40 years old.
92. Tamer Rushdi Bashir, 30 years old
93- Hussam Abdeljawad, killed as an F16 rocked his car in Saftawi street, northern Gaza, at 2:25 pm.
94- Ramadan Ahmad Mahmoud, 20 years old, died this morning after being seriously injured in an attack that hit Al-Maghazi camp, two days ago.
95- Mohammed Riyad Shamallakh, 23 years old, killed as IOF targeted a car in Tal Al-Hawa, southern Gaza city.
At around 4 am, two people were killed as an Israeli warplane fired a missile that hit Al-Nusseirat Camp, to the west of Gaza city.
96- A’ed Radi
97- Ameer Al-Malahi
In an attack on Al-Shorouq building in Gaza City which contains several media offices, 2 were killed and 3 journalists were seriously injured.
98- Ramez Harb
99- Salem Sweilem
100- Muhammed Ziyad Tbeil, 25 years old, killed in an attack than hit central Gaza.
At 6:55 pm, an Israeli warplane attacked Al-Bureij camp killing two people:
101- Arkan Harbi Abu Kmeil
102- Ibrahim Mahmoud Al-Hawajri
At around 8:00 pm, an Israeli warplane shelled Shhada family’s house in Nusairat camp killing two people from the same family.
103- Khalil Shhada
104- Osama Shhada
At around 9:00 pm, Israel committed another massacre against Hjazi family killing a father and his two sons, and injuring at least 15, most of them are children and women.
106- Suhaib Fo’ad Hjazi, 2 years old.
107- Mohammed Fo’ad Hjazi, 3 years old.
108- Fo’ad khalil Hjazi
On November 20, the seventh day of the Israeli ongoing aggression on Gaza:
At around midnight, an Apache rocked a house in Rafah that belongs to Nassarsa family, killing two siblings and injuring 10 others.
109- Mohammed Tawfeeq Al-Nassasra, 20 years old.
110- Ahmad Tawfeeq Al-Nassasra, 18 years old.
111- Akram Ma’roof, 38 years old, a farmer killed at 9:20 am as an Israeli warplane attacked agricultural lands in Al-Atatra area, northern Gaza. Four other farmers were injured in this attack.
In an Israeli attack on an agricultural land in Beit-Layha, northern Gaza, at 10:10 am, two people were killed:
112- Yahya Mohammed Awad, 15 years old.
113- Bilal Al-Barawi, 20 years old.
114- Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, killed in an attack on Al-Mughraqa are in the middle of the Gaza strip.
115 Palestinian killed and about 984 injured in Gaza
This is the update til 15:00 pm Alquds time, November 21 2012
115- Abderrahman Hamad Abu Hamza, 22 years old, killed at 12:10 pm in an Israeli attack on Mokhabarat buildings, west Gaza.
116- Mohammed Bader, killed at 12:20 pm as IOF targeted Abu Tama’a family in Deer-AlBalah, in middle the Gaza Strip, at 12:20 pm.
117- Ahmad Doghmosh, died in Egypt after being transferred to a hospital in Egypt for being seriously injured in an airstrike that hit Tal Al-Hawa on November 18.
Within 1 hour and while negotiating the truce between Israel and Hamas, Israel committed another massacre killing at least 14 people.
At 4:20, an Israeli warplane rocked a car in Al-Sabra neighborhood, leaving 6 people torn to pieces:
118- Ahmad Doghmosh
119- Sobhi Doghmosh
120- Salah Doghmosh
121- Musab Doghmosh
122- Unknown
123- Unknown
124- Ameen Al-Dod, 22 years old, killed in an Israeli attack on Baghdad street in Shijaeyya, west Gaza at 2:30 pm.
In an attack on Kishko street in Zaytoon street, two children were killed while playing football in front of their house:
125- Mohammed Ibrahim Ashoor
126- Saqer Bulbul
127- Ayman Rafiq Abu Rashid, killed in an Israeli attack on Jabalia camp, northern Gaza.
In another attack on Al-Shawwa family’s house in Shijaeyya, west Gaza, two people have arrived at Shifa hospital as charred pieces. 20 people were injured in this attack at least, 3 cases are severe.
128- Yosra Al-Shawwa
129- Mahmoud Al-Shawwa
130- Saber Bulbul
At 5:55 pm, an Israeli warplane attacked a press car working for Al-Aqsa TV station in Nasser street in Gaza city killing two journalists. They were just holding their cameras, reporting on the ongoing attacks…
131- Mahmoud Al-Koomi
132- Hussam Salama
At 6:10 pm, two more were killed in an attack on Beit-Hanoon, northern Gaza.
133- Unknown
134- Unknown
At 6:50 pm, an Israeli missile hit a car in Deer Al-Balah killing two people:
135- Mohammed Musa Abu Eisha, the manager of Al-Quds educational radio.
136- Hassan Yousef Al-Ostaz, 22 years old.
At 8:30, two brothers were killed in an Israeli attack that targeted a motorbike in Bilbeisy street in Rafah:
138- Ahmad Abed Abu Moor
139- Khaled Abed Abu Moor.
At 9:00 am, two were killed in an Israeli attack on Deer Al-Balah:
140- Mohammed Abu Sitta
141- Salem Abu Sitta
At 11:45 pm, two people were found as pieces in Al-Shouka area western Rafah.
142- Ahmad Hamad
143- Mahmoud Al-Arja
In addition to over 157 people injured so far including many women and children!!
At 3.35 on November 14, 2012 Israel “officially” started his Operation Cloud and Gaza started shaking under Israel bombs and missiles; the Israeli occupation army started a new military offensive on the Gaza Strip, which they codenamed “Pillar of Defense”. A series of airstrikes hit Gaza city, Khan Younis and other places across the Gaza Strip. Ahmad al-Jabari, the leader of Hamas’ Al Qassam brigades, and his son were assassinated in one of the first airstrikes of today. In response Hamas said Israel had “opened the gates of hell”; several armed groups fired home made rockets, grad-style rockets and mortars towards Israel.
Since this afternoon more than 35 Israeli airstrikes have targeted streets, homes, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad sites. At least 7 Palestinians have been killed, of whom 2 children and 1 baby, and nearly 70 have been injured. The numbers are rising as these words are written down.
The people in Gaza can only guess what will come next in this operation. For the Israeli army this is a remote controlled war, waged through drones, apaches, F16s and gunboats. For civilians across the entire Gaza Strip it is a living hell from which they, living in the largest open air prison in the world, cannot escape.
Gaza victim again of Israel one sided war waged from the sky. Today November 14 Israel announced that they starting Operation Pillar of Cloud
Fire rains in Gaza Tonight as Israel started another one sided war against the Gaza Strip population.
Gaza it is a dense populated area of Palestine, where close to 2 millions people are forced to live in what it is called the “Biggest Open Prison” of the 21 century.
Since Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza Strip moving some 40,000 settlers out, the situation has gotten worse for the besieged Gaza. What supposed to be joy and freedom once the army got out of Gaza, has has become the worse nightmare for the population of Gaza. Israel crossed the only open crossing point between Gaza and West Bank. No Palestinian is allowed to cross this crossing known as “No men land”, only UNRAW, UN personal are allowed to use this point of crossing. Severing with this all tides between the Palestinian families. Added to the already cripple economy of Gaza the economic and naval blockade has been struggling the people every day.
Israeli military spokesman said that all possibilities are open including a land offensive, and Israel has taken all necessary measures including mobilizing Israeli military units.
The problem for Israel is not Hamas government, the civil government of Gaza that won the election on 2007. This has been used as the excuse for Israel to keep a military control on Gaza. Keeping the flame of terror allows Israel to get the almost 5 billions of dollars from the US, that considers Israel security sacrosanct.
Another life lost Another Child killed today November 15 2012 Photo Ahmed A Aladini
So, as long as there are home made rockets coming from Gaza, Israel has the excuse to keep its grip on all the Mediterranean enclave, its people and its natural resources.
If ever there were peace in Israel, the money will stop coming from the US, the various Jews organizations around the world, and Christian fundamentalist groups in the US, such 700 club lead by the no lest lunatic mind Pat Robertson.
Another Child Burn to death-November 15 2012- Photo Ahmad Aqel
Can you see that fire coming from between the homes in Gaza, do you even wonder if the homes are occupied? Why will Israel care for the welfare of the people? They are in the business to make war and war means killing innocent. The age does not matter as long as they live in Gaza they are perfect targets for Israel.
This latest surge of violence between Israel and Gaza militants occurred after Israel shot and killed at least two Gazans and intruded into Gaza with tanks and bulldozers. In response, Gaza militants fired a missile at an Israeli army jeep, wounding four soldiers – to which Israel responded with an extended bombardment of airstrikes.
Ahmed Jabari Hamas official and his body guard victims of target Assassination-November 14 2012
“Israel killed a top Hamas military commander in a targeted strike on Gaza City Wednesday, prompting outrage from fighters who said the Jewish state had opened “the gates of hell.”
Israel confirmed it had targeted Ahmed Jaabari in an air strike on a car, warning it was only the start of an operation to target ‘militant’ groups which was launched as the Jewish state prepares for general elections in January. It also warned it was prepared to launch a ground operation “if necessary.”
What are the odd for Gaza to fight this one sided war?
“Israel Ranked World’s Most Militarized Nation. Israel tops the list of the world’s most militarized nations, according to the latest Global Militarisation Index released Tuesday by the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC)” Jim Lobe wrote(Nov 15,2012) Antiwar.com
Today in the Embassy of Israel website the following statement appeared regarding the massacre they are perpetrating in Gaza.
“I have to say that from my talks with world leaders, I have the clear understanding that they have a clear understanding of this. Yesterday I spoke to President Obama and I briefed him on Israel’s operations. I want to express my appreciation once again to President Obama for his unequivocal support for Israel’s right to defend itself. I also want to express my appreciation to the other world leaders I’ve had a chance to speak to in the last 24 hours: to President Hollande of France, to UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, to EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton and to Quartet representative Tony Blair. I want to thank them for their understanding of Israel’s need to defend itself, and Israel’s right to defend itself.” Benjamin Netanyahu
For people that no nothing about the events that lead to this genocide, his candid words will seems truthful, but the truth of the matter is that there have not been one victim on Israel civilian site. The rockets being fired from Gaza territory are short range home made rockets that get lost in the desert.
Gaza does not have helicopters, drones, military planes or any air vehicle. Israel on the other hand counting with the latest technology it is committing a massacre in Gaza. Missiles, cluster bombs are killing innocent civilians.
An elderly woman sustain serious injuries today in Gaza
Mohammed Ziad Qanoa sustained wounds in the bombing of Shijai
Today is Tuesday 21, 2012 Gaza time. The list of victims of Israel aggression reached 120, with 857 injured. The situation it is unbearable as the hospital has run out of the basic medicines long time before the war had started. The illegal blockade that Israel had placed on Gaza since 2007 had made impossible to maintain medical supplies in the local hospitals. The only medicine allowed inside Gaza is from donations that comes from International organizations from around the world. Medicine that comes to Gaza thru Israel and sits in Israel warehouses for months before it can be transfer to Gaza. Some pharmaceuticals use Gaza a dumping site for their expired medicine, making Gaza responsible for disposing of hazardous material.
If anyone can help me (Hani Silliman Pharmacy) to collect some medical stuff from out side to Gaza I have some contacts with Egyptians could carry the stuff to Gaza through Rafah Border
the Urgent things are :
1- Normal saline for IV (Nacl 0.9 w/v)
2-Glucose/Saline for IV
3-Glucose Solution for IV
4- Ceftrixon 1g vials + Lidocaine 2%
5-First Aid kits
for more details contact me on drelmalihi@gmail.com
Israel Pirate of the Sea Strikes again-The Estelle
Posted on October 20, 2012 by Akashma Online News
For the people of the world that have been following the Estelle with your heart in your hand. Let me tell you that The people of Gaza and the Solidarity Palestinian Movement of the world was one more time humiliated, cheated of our rights, publicly scorned by the Criminal, Pirate, Racist, Apartheid State of Israel. Israel allowed the Estelle to sailed closer to Gaza, while the world waiting with hopes that maybe this time Israel was going to have a fiber of compassion and allow this mission to reach Gaza.
Israel knows that there are no arms, no terrorists aboard, they know that this is a humanitarian mission. Why stage the event to make us hold false hopes?. Why wait so long to stop the Estelle? It is as if they were playing with the switch of hope, one minute we see the Estelle sailing, and another minute there is silence and expectations.
We were heart broken to see pictures of Palestinians in Gaza waiting in the beach for the Estelle to show up, that was one of the moments that I felt so powerless, almost like a joke played by Israel on the people of Gaza. I was crying with hope and happiness minutes before I read the tragic news, and minutes later, I was crying with anger, this anger that we feel when you see injustice being committed.
It is ironic that when you see that picture of Gaza beach with a very short horizon, it is double the pain. Even their horizon is limited. For days they waited for hopes to show up in the form of the Ship.
The Estelle was the name this time for hope to arrive to Gaza. You can not deny the truth of what happens in Gaza. The situation in Gaza is unbearable and Israel is busy with her PR story to the world of deception.
The latest of Israel’s reports on how maintain Palestinians barely alive just made public. But Gaza people do not need to read reports, they feel every day the taunt of the occupation, they suffer the bombs and the shortest of food.
I wonder this simple questions why the leaders go along with the lies?, why the leaders allow the carnage to go unpunished?, why the leaders do not stop the aid to Israel?, why the majority of the world do not see the truth, the simple truth as we see it? As I see, as is felt in Gaza, very raw, crude, almost grotest . Why is there people that still support Israel, knowing all the crimes that it commits?. Why the Arab Muslim leaders doing business with Israel?, Why is there no Justice in the world?, Why the world stand in silence? Why?
When Israel sent their bunch of lies that excuses her reason to keep the illegal tactics against Palestinians to the United Nations, we did not hear the response from the United Nations. Israel was fast in publishes the letter sent to the UN security council, but did not bother to post anything later. The letter wanted to make clear the UN security council that any actions that Israel will take regarding the Estelle, was excusable. Even if they killed some activist like they did on May 2010, where Israel murdered at close range 9 unarmed activist. That was the letter about to have in print her official defense in case there is another Mavi Marvara. OH! this devilish men are cleaver, Machiavelli mentality, chauvinistic mentality and heartless beings.
I keep looking for official statements on response of Ambassador Prosor’s letter, nothing to be found not in the United National Official Page and nothing on the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which take us to conclude that the actions perpetrated by Israel to the International Humanitarian Civil unarmed Mission of the Estelle was once more a public disregard of International Law and an abuse of a civilian human rights, and the rights of individuals to sail on the sea to a desire destinations.
At the moment of this notes 10:30 PT, the Estelle is being dragged to a Ashdod without the consent of the Captain, or the passengers.
I commend the people of the world to stand up for Gaza, Palestine,for the Estelle Crew, for for you, for our world.
These actions when leave unattended, and without complain, will be repeated over and over.
Until we really unite in one voice against the monsters of the Zionist Movement that seem to control the world. We can not advance in our endowment for peace.
And please do not go along to the Anti Semitic rhetoric that is old school of propaganda of the ADL, a Racist organization that is working to created Anti Semitic sentiment in the word.
There is nothing more criminal that what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people.
Do you think that it is fair that Israel having the latest weapon technology to attack a unarmed population, then go to the world and said that they are killing terrorist? Do you read the news, at least they tell you sometimes numbers that you can put into perspective and balance the truth. More than 1500 people died on the winder of 2008-2009 by Israel missiles, more than 600 were children and the rest woman, men and elderly. Israel killed most of the security forces in Gaza, they attack a police academy and killed all the youth that were students, not terrorists. They could have been your sons, but the news reported that Israel killed jihadist, terrorists. What a blatant lie.
There is nothing more criminal that what the Zionist Lobby around the world are doing to undermine our own governments.
And there is nothing more Anti Semitic that what Israel is doing to the Nation of Palestine. The Genocide that the indigenous of Palestine is being victim, that is Anti Semitic. The rest is Israel Propaganda.
The well propagated idea by Israel that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the worse cruel lie they spread in the news, the truth is simple and you just need to see the pictures continuously uploaded by Palestinians and from internationals that have moved to Palestine to record for history the horror that Israel is creating in Palestine, specially in Gaza which have been victim of a Naval and land blockade since 1967 really not 2007 as the world thinks.
None of the Big News were following the Estelle, but once Israel attacked the Estelle then all the Paid News were ready to make their headlines.
This is ABC except from their news today regarding the Estelle, ABC according to the world is one of the respected leading News outlet, but for us that know the truth, ABC is just another propaganda outlet.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement praising the military for enforcing the blockade, said there “is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza” and accused the activists of trying to “to provoke and slander Israel’s name.”, if ABC really care for the truth should have journalist in Gaza, reporting the truth to the world and not the parroted lies that Israel dictates.
This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces, shows the Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged boat, Estelle as it near the waters off the Gaza Strip Saturday Oct 20, 2012. Israeli naval vessels thwarted the advance of a pro-Palestinian boat attempting to reach Gaza on Saturday in defiance of Israel’s blockade of the territory, the military said. (AP Photo/IDF)
“We have this blockade because there are constant smuggling attempts of weapons, munitions that eventually reach the hands of terror organizations inside Gaza,” she said. How can a “respected News Outlets” will be distributing lies and propaganda to deviate the attention of the world of a terribly humanitarian horror developing in Gaza?
These are the sailors on board Estelle:
7
Member of Parliament Hagen Aksel Norway 10/04/1953
Member of Parliament Britton Sven Sweden 14/06/1938
Member of Parliament Kodelas Dimitios Greece 02/01/1979
Member of Parliament Sixto Ricardo Spain 07/01/1967
Member of Parliament Diamantopoulos Evangelos Greece 20/04/1980
Former Member of Parliament Manly James Canada 29/10/1932
Opperdoes Joel Arvid Alexander Sweden 1983-06-20
Andreasson Charles Bertil Sweden 1965-03-10
Särner Daniel Karl-Erik Sweden 1985-12-16
Uddebrant Johan Lars OS Sweden 1981-06-28
Widell Anders Nils Olof Sweden 1986-07-11
Reksten Herman Elias Norway 1989-10-06
Elhanan Elazar Israel 1977-04-01
Sjøstrøm Nils Johan Norway 1963-11-10
Koivisto Velimati Finland 1968-03-01
Hammervold Jan Petter Norway 1944-27-03
Feiler Dror Sweden 1951-31-08
Svenberg Kristian Sweden 02-07-1947
Boethius Maria-Pia Sweden 09/04/1947
Mor Reut Israel 09/08/1982
Jämiä Mika Finland 1959-09-06
Arau Crusellas Laura Spain 02/05/1980
Ramazzotti Stockel Marco Italy 17-09-1947
Shapira Yonathan Israel 12-02-1972
Tiktopoulos Mikhalis Greece 24/12/1946
Zabale Gouzalet BegoÒa Spain 09/01/1950
Stamellos Loukas Greece 22/06/1979
Piassas Evangelos Greece 02/04/1947
Gardell Mattias Sweden 10/08/1959
Vinthagen Stellan Sweden 13/10/1964
Last moments sailing to Gaza, just 30 miles from Gaza’ s shores, Estelle was intercepted by Israeli pirates. Intercepted in international waters. In contravention of the International Law.
“We are Civilian Mission, disobey your leaders, they are making you look like pirates, you are acting against International Law” was shout from the Estelle to the 2 masked speed Israeli boats approaching to assault the freedom boat.
At any given day I invite to visit the page Marine Traffic a public where you can check the Port activity, Ashdod Port, and Haifa Port two of the busy ports of Israel. While Israel have an illegal blockaded of Gaza, not allowing it to develop their Naval infrastructure and their fishing industry at all, Israel enjoy of free trade from Oil, Arms, war technology, agricultural products, industrial products, just name it Israel is a striving industry in all the aspect of the economy, and Palestine is left to the charity of the world. Where is the fairness on this? Why the UN allow this atrocity to occur? Please wonder, please raise your voice.
This is the Croatia Cargo Vessel, on of hundreds that come and go from Israel ports. Who is really inspecting those ships, whey could be trading illegal nuclear weapons for what we know. I wonder if the United Nation Nuclear Agency has inspectors in Haifa and Ashdod Ports checking for shipments of enriched and depleted uranium coming to Israel.
Palestinians Refugees In Lebanon
Posted on May 15, 2012 by Akashma Online News
I m Humanity Lebanon, Palestine the same people
Before Hezbollah came to be, there were grounds of discontent in Lebanon, thanks to the colonizers and invaders inflicted pain into the land and the Lebanese population.
Do we civilians purposely engage in the killing of each other? I doubt that any Lebanese will answer yes. Militias are trained, and used to curtail civilian discontent and in the case of Hezbollah that was founded to fight the Israel occupation in Southern Lebanon.
Who breed and fuel the violence and division? Honestly speaking, I think every human being have this desire for peace inside his heart, and that desire will transcend out to live peacefully between his neighbors. There is always the latent danger to fall into the clash of classes, and religion division, but it takes a hand to stir the mood the people and to make them angry. Usually this hand will be, the hand that will benefit on creating chaos and division inside society.
Do you wonder as a human being, with weakness, compassion, love, pains, struggles and awakened conscience, how can we each other?
How can we desensitized our hearts, blind our eyes, and deaf our ears, to the cry of other people suffering?
Does my blood and your blood isn’t red and warm?
Does my heart and your heart beats to live another instance with the same rhythm?
I wonder what does makes us hate one another and spill the blood of my brothers and sisters that wish the same as I do: To Live and raise a family, to help my land to flourish with the same colors that the flowers in Spring paint.
Don’t we all respect our elders, and teach our children to respect them as well?.
Does the mother rise in the morning with the same thought in her minds?: to feed, protect and raise her children.
Why the father teach his children to Respect God? Isn’t the same God for all Humanity? The same God that is almighty and omnipotent, and can bring a deluge to kill us all if we grow selfish, inattentive of nature, and destroy his creation?
Who has the best interest in making us fight one another?
Is my next door neighbor wishing me dead for not having the same religious rites that he does?
We worship the same God, but our roads went apart some time in time, a time that we did not control but some evil minds used the divergence on ideas to act against our differences and make us enemies.
We do not know why? My God is not better that his God….It can not be better, it is the Same God.
Who is thriving with our fights? Wonder Please.
You do not win, you only lose.
I do not win, I only lose. No one win in this fight, we all lose.
You need to go back to principals and values and love humanity and love your land.
There are no better humans.
We all are humans, the same flesh and blood.
The future of men is not in fighting to death, or proving who is the stronger.
No!..The future of humanity is in the understanding that we all are part of the same holographic universe.
We are just one little speckle of this great Universe that surround us with all its mighty. Men are just part of Humanity. The union of the ONE that formed that WHOLE.
Lebanon it is a beautiful spot on Earth, so precious as Mexico, Palestine, France or any other spot on Earth. Do not allow the racial, ethic, and religious differences to destroy your Land. Do not allow the profiteers of War to divide you, using the oldest trick in the book of history. Religion!.
The inert bodies lie on the dirt, lifeless, no expression in their faces, no nationality to be told, or religion can be prove from their mouths shut by the murders hands. Can you tell by their position on the grown what God they worship before they were killed?
Your neighbors are victims of the same evil that are destroying your land, and killing your brothers. Palestinians have been suffering persecution, and extermination, they seek refugee in your beautiful land, not because they wanted to take it away from you, they were forced out of their lands, they are being forced out to make space for the foreign settlers.
It is not necessarily one ending to it. Every story has different ending, do not allow the division structured by the profiteers of war to make you enemy of your brother.
The oppression suffered by the Lebanese masses at the hands of Israel, and the fact that they live in the same impoverished regions as half-a-million Palestinian refugees, has given rise to strong feelings of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, as well as the view that the Palestine “peace process” will not be complete without solving the problem of the refugees in Lebanese neighborhoods.
Speaking at the event, Minister Faour, a Druze and member of Walid Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party, called on his fellow politicians to follow his lead and experience firsthand conditions in Lebanon’s 12 Refugee camps. “Whoever wants to rediscover his humanity has to see the living conditions in Palestinian camps in Lebanon” Minister Faour told Lebanon’s Parliament. “We are used to bringing Palestinians to discussions in fancy hotels and then sending them back to the misery in the camps. We decided to invert these traditions by coming to the camps.”Minister Faour Opinion Maker
Israel creation has been the root of all evil. The Palestinian Refugee problem it is perpetuated to Israel advantage, that have used the Biblical stories to shaped the present and to distort humanity thought and social behavior to serve their plans.
We can change the ending stand up in solidarity with your brothers and sisters. Help us all to end War.
Israel is strong entity, in appearance only, the propaganda machine have made of Israel an untouchable power, but we all have the solution in our hands. Unite for the betterment of Humanity as a whole.
The Union Makes the Force, The People United, Will Never be Defeated. The people chant in the streets, the people gather in the plazas, with the common interest in mind: PEACE IN THE LAND, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL
I m Palestinian, I m Lebanon, I M humanity. Peace, Light and love to All.
Grand Theater: A Tale of Beirut is a half hour documentary film produced and directed by Omar Naim. It examines the Lebanese civil war through the microcosm of the Grand Theater, a historic structure which found itself on the green line between East and West Beirut. Featuring interviews with various witnesses, from actors to soldiers, the film mixes pathos and humor with striking archival footage.
Life in Lebanon before and after destruction, violence, hate, and division is not the same. Listen to the stories.
Human perseverance is amazing, as a miracle in the making. The hope of better tomorrow have keep alive the flame of resistance, resistance against internal corruption, and foreign intrusion.
American Preparing For A Post-Israel Middle East
Posted on Aug 29, 2012 by Akashma Online News
By Franklin Lamb
Beirut
Congresswoman Illena Ros-Lehtinen will have her hands full as she makes the political and social rounds at this month’s Republican National Convention. Illena, is the only female committee chair in the House of Representatives and arguably Israel’s most ardent agent. She is a constant thorn in the Obama administration’s side, regularly castigating the president for playing “political games with U.S. foreign policy” and being “soft on Iran” and undermining the legitimacy of Israel. Ros-Lehtinen is a congressional cheer leader also for her Jewish voters in Florida — a key battleground in the rapidly approaching US presidential election. Most recently, Ros-Lehtinen helped shepherd through Congress yet another bill tightening sanctions against Iran while calling for US military action against the Assad regime in Syria.
The Congresswomen’s focus will likely not be on pushing the republican’s talking points regarding her party’s nominee, Mitt Romney the former “moderate Massachusetts governor” who she is aware is unlikely to win the White House. Nor, according to a source at the Democratic National Committee, frantically putting together final touches on their own Convention, to be held the week of September 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina,will Ileana spend much time with or promoting Mitt’ running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Ryan, an Ayn Rand (author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged as well as founder of the Objectivism movement) follower, regularly tells audiences that “ Ayn Rand’s teachings have been one of the most profound philosophical influences of my life,” Well, except for religion and abortion, as Ayn who passed away in 1982 was an avowed atheist and strongly pro-abortion, the opposite of what Ryan tells audiences he is.
Rather, Ros-Lehtinen will be meeting with local, national, and international Jewish leaders in this must win state where she has been assigned the task of reassuring them that the Republican Party is Israel’s best friend and that a recent US government draft report urging a US re-think of its relationship to Israel is the responsibility of none other than Barack Obama, and it reveals his true disdain for Israel.
Helping her smear the White House with the findings in the draft analysis will be William Kristol, publisher of the neoconservative Weekly Standard and Director of the New American Century, an “Israel first” Washington-based lobby “promoting joint Israeli and American political and military leadership across the globe, while bringing democracy to the Middle East”.
So what is all the fuss about?
It’s a paper entitled: Preparing For A Post Israel Middle East, an 82 page analysis that concludes that the American national interest in fundamentally at odds with that of Zionist Israel. The authors concludes that Israel is currently the greatest threat to US national interests because its nature and actions prevent normal US relations with Arab and Muslim countries and, to a growing degree, the wider international community.
The study was commissioned by the US Intelligence Community comprising 16 American intelligence agencies with an annual budget in excess of $ 70 billion. The IC includes the Departments of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Defense Intelligence Agency, Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, State, Treasure, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Agency, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Agency and the
Central Intelligence Agency commissioned the study.
Among the many findings that Ros-Lehtenin and Kristol and other unregistered agents of Israel will likely try to exploit politically between now and November 6, by using them to attack the Obama Administration are the following:
- Israel, given its current brutal occupation and belligerence cannot be salvaged any more than apartheid south Africa could be when as late as 1987 Israel was the only “Western” nation that upheld diplomatic ties with South Africa and was the last country to join the international boycott campaign before the regime collapsed;
- The Israel leadership, with its increasing support of the 700,000 illegal settlers on the occupied West Bank is increasing out of touch with the political, military and economic realities of the Middle East;
- The post Labor government Likud coalition is deeply complicit with and influenced by the settlers’ political and financial power and will increasingly face domestic civil strife which the US government should not associate itself with or become involved with;
- The Arab Spring and Islamic Awakening has to a major degree freed a large majority of the 1.2 billion Arab and Muslims to pursue what an overwhelming majority believe is the illegitimate, immoral and unsustainable European occupation of Palestine of the indigenous population;
- Simultaneous with, but predating, rapidly expanding Arab and Muslim power in the region as evidenced by the Arab spring, Islamic Awakening and the ascendancy of Iran, as American power and influence recedes, the US commitment to belligerent oppressive Israel is becoming impossible to defend or execute consistent given paramount US national interests which include normalizing relations with the 57 Islamic countries;
- Gross Israeli interference in the internal affairs of the United States through spying and illegal US arms transfers. This includes supporting more than 60 ‘front organizations’ and approximately 7,500 US officials who do Israel’s bidding and seek to dominate and intimidate the media and agencies of the US government which should no longer be condoned;
- That the United States government no longer has the financial resources, or public support to continue funding Israel. The more than three trillion dollars in direct and indirect aid from US taxpayers to Israel since 1967 is not affordable and is increasingly being objected to by US taxpayers who oppose continuing American military involvement in the Middle East. US public opinion no longer supports funding and executing widely perceived illegal US wars on Israel’s behalf. This view is increasingly being shared by Europe, Asia and the International public;
- Israel’s segregationist occupation infrastructure evidenced by legalized discrimination and increasingly separate and unequal justice systems must no longer be directly or indirectly funded by the US taxpayers or ignored by the US government;
- Israel has failed as a claimed democratic state and continued American financial and political cover will not change its continuing devolution as international pariah state;
- Increasingly, rampant and violent racism exhibited among Jewish settlors in the West Bank is being condoned by the Israeli government to a degree that the Israel government has become its protector and partner;
- The expanding chasm among American Jews objecting to Zionism and Israeli practices, including the killing and brutalizing of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, are gross violations of American and International law and raise questions within the US Jewish community regarding the American responsibility to protect (R2P) innocent civilians under occupation;
- The international opposition to the increasingly apartheid regime can no longer be synchronized with American claimed humanitarian values or US expectations in its bi-lateral relations with the 193 member United Nations;
- The Draft ends with language about the need to avoid entangling alliances that alienate much of the World and condemn American citizens to endure the consequences.
Interestingly, it notes Iran as an example of a country and people that have much in common and whose citizens have a real interest in enjoy bilateral associations (here an apparent reference to Israel and its US lobby) not determined by the wishes of other countries and their agents. It also highlights the need for the US to undertake “the repairing relations with Arab and Muslim countries including the drastically curtained use of drone aircraft.
The coming days will clarity the success of Israel’s in making an issue of the finding in the soon to be published daft report and the degree to which the Republican Party will gain for its findings in the race for the White House.
More on Israel
The loss of human lives was and still pain our history but more hurtful is when is by design. There is no doubt that in every war or every conflict that humanity have suffered, the hand that planed the horror will be the main benefactor of such a tragedy. We can go back in history and pin point to every event and every time the winner is shown to gain the most. Will Israel fall in five years? CIA Predicts 20, Israelies are seaking a way Out!
Guilt by Association. I Recommend this book to to Anyone that is alive and directly or indirectly was and is a supporter of the State of Israel. Also I recommend to reading the Nuremberg Trials,
The Trojan Horse that Landed In Iran
Posted On December 09, on Akashma Online News
The Trojan Drone or Demonstration Model
Building the robot planes themselves was relatively easy. Much tougher was writing the software needed to fly the drones. “The operating system is the part that’s hardest to deal with,”
Drones are Spies on the air, steel birds that fly at low altitude and can pick up signals of conversations from cell phones, cordless phones, digital radios, digital TV’s sets and they have the capabilities to take images using infrared technology, and snap pictures as small a few pixels, this amazing and surprising disturbing technology that have taken away the peace of mind, sleep and every bit of privacy to the citizens of the world. These steel birds have the spies agencies and best reverse engineers (theives) of the world fighting each other for the software and hardware blue prints.
This technology has been around since the early 1900 but not until was built by Boeing become public.
Some recent unveiled information suggested that the early spies programs were stripped away from German secret technology too advance to be from human minds.
Drones in the skies are called messengers of death, they are used every day in the skies of Gaza Palestine, to terrorize and kill innocent civilians. They are use to spy and to destroy infrastructure. All under the disguise to kill “Militants” than in Israel terms are “Terrorists”, but in reality every person that works for the government such security personnel are considered the Bad Guys. Gaza does not count with a formal army, it is not allowed under previous agreements signed by Yaset Arafat.
In Pakistan and Afghanistan are used every day by US, this information is never reported in the Paid Media, those drones have killed thousands of people in the last 10 years since the invasion of Afghanistan.
The tensions between Pakistan and US at its highest point, the use of drones in Pakistani territory is an everyday practice. The killing of civilians goes unreported in the remote villages bordering Afghanistan.
We are made believe that Pakistan and US are enemies, the Propaganda Machine AKA News reports indicate this fact, but if you dig little further you find out that is farther from the truth. US legal and illegal financial aids goes back decades. The Network of illicit sources of money can be found in the War Complex Industry backed it up by the Bank Industry.
“With the official blessing of George H. W. Bush as the head of the CIA, Adham transformed a small Pakistani merchant bank, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), into a world-wide money-laundering machine, buying banks around the world to create the biggest clandestine money network in history.” History Commons
In Libya the US Drones attacked and immobilized the convoy that was transporting Col Gaddafi, and the NATO illegal attacks of drones in sovereign territory of Libya was the cause of destabilizing the government by the mercenaries paid by the west.
With $14 trillion in the hole and a slew of wars seemingly no one wants America to be in, what better way for the United States to spend their money by putting $23 billion into spy planes?
The US will drop billions on defense spending with the purchasing of 55 Global Hawk drone planes over the next few years. Each of the four dozen-plus spy crafts comes at a price tag of $218 million apiece — ten times the price of the largest armed attack drone.
The Spy business is More expensive than feeding the American people, and against all Odds the American Government and others choose the Spy Business. The Profits are too high to pass.
The US Defense Department is only just one client of the many from around the world of this booming industry that it is “saving Lives” on the Offensive side of the war, according to “Official Sources”. The unmanned vehicles are remote controlled miles away from the target and they do not recognize innocent civilians from military targets, at least that’s what the number of collateral damage show in the latest incursions of these drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Gaza, Libya and other hot spots.
Is the US exporting its secretive spy technology to other countries? The latest News on the Drone in Iran hands sound too good to be truth. The two scenarios that I draw in this “fiasco” if is true, which I doubt very much is that the best way to demonstrate the product to a higher profile client of the war industry is to bring the drone to Iran. Or if we really are pursuing to invade Iran what best way to infiltrate their deep secret militarily Installations. Taking pictures of every inch of their installations, picking signals, voices, faces, frequencies, transferring of high sensitive Data and other important information.
In this advance era of frequencies, sophisticated software, Satellite technology, and lack of resources we can expect everything, Including treason from the War Makers Aka Weapon Manufactures. Just a Thought.
Iran is airing a video showing an American Drone in pristine conditions, we must wonder how a drone that can move to a extreme velocities can land inside enemy territory without getting one scratch, or without crashing. This devices are so precise in its functioning, they are manage by remote control using the latest technology, they are integrated with, cameras, microphones, infrared and frequency sensors, and they probably count with self destructive mechanism.
The Trojan Horse
Still seeking to gain entrance into Troy, clever Odysseus (some say with the aid of Athena) ordered a large wooden horse to be built. Its insides were to be hollow so that soldiers could hide within it.
Once the statue had been built by the artist Epeius, a number of the Greek warriors, along with Odysseus, climbed inside. The rest of the Greek fleet sailed away, so as to deceive the Trojans.
One man, Sinon, was left behind. When the Trojans came to marvel at the huge creation, Sinon pretended to be angry with the Greeks, stating that they had deserted him. He assured the Trojans that the wooden horse was safe and would bring luck to the Trojans.
Only two people, Laocoon and Cassandra, spoke out against the horse, but they were ignored. The Trojans celebrated what they thought was their victory, and dragged the wooden horse into Troy.
That night, after most of Troy was asleep or in a drunken stupor, Sinon let the Greek warriors out from the horse, and they slaughtered the Trojans. Priam was killed as he huddled by Zeus’ altar and Cassandra was pulled from the statue of Athena and raped.
There are more than 17, 000 satellites in our skies, those are the ones publicly known and used for defense, weather, communications, GPS, Data Transfer and other categories. But those numbers don’t reveal the countless others used for spies activities.
Real Time Satellite Tracking
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