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The Forgotten Refugees of Gaza
The Gaza Ceasefire: An Early Assessment
Posted on November 24, 2012 by Akashma Online News
by Richard Falk
The Gaza Ceasefire, unlike a similar ceasefire achieved after Operation Cast Lead four years ago, is an event that has a likely significance far beyond ending the violence after eight days of murderous attacks. It is just possible that it will be looked back upon as a turning point in the long struggle between Israel and Palestine. Many have talked about ‘the fog of war,’ but it pales besides the ‘the fog of truce making,’ and in our media-infected air, the outcomes along with conjectures about the future are already being spun in all possible directions. Supporters of every position give their own spin, and then proclaim ‘victory.’ But as with the violent phases of the conflict, it is clarifying to distinguish the more persuasive contentions and interpretations from those that are less persuasive. What follows is one such attempt at such clarification.
It remains too soon to tell whether the ceasefire will hold for very long, and if it does, whether its central provisions will be implemented in good faith. At this early moment, the prospects are not promising. Israel has already used excessive violence to disperse Palestinian civilians who gathered on the Gaza side of the border, with a few straying across into Israel, to celebrate what they thought was their new freedom now to venture close to the border. This so-called ‘no-go-area’ was decreed by Israel after its 2005 ‘disengagement’ has been a killing field where 213, including 17 children and 154 uninvolved, had lost their lives according to Israeli human rights organizations. Israeli security forces, after firing warning shots, killed one Palestinian civilian and wounded another 20 others with live ammunition. The Israeli explanation was that it had given warnings, and since there had been no agreement on new ground rules implementing the ceasefire, the old regime of control was still in place. It is notable that Hamas protested, but at this point has made no moves to cancel the ceasefire or to retaliate violently, but the situation remains tense, fragile, and subject to change.
Putting aside the precariousness of the current situation and the accompanying uncertainties, it remains useful to look at the process by which the ceasefire was brought about, how this sheds light on the changing dynamics of the conflict itself, as well as discloses some underlying shifts in the regional and global balances of forces.
First of all, the role and outlook of the Arab governments was far more pro-active than in past interludes of intensified Israel/Palestine violence. During attacks several leading foreign ministers from the region visited Gaza and were received by the Hamas governing authorities, thus undermining the Israeli policy of isolating Hamas and excluding it from participation in diplomacy affecting the Palestinian people. Egypt played the critical role in brokering the agreement, and despite the Muslim Brotherhood affiliation of its leaders. Mohammed Morsi, the Egyptian President, emerged as the key diplomatic figure in the process and widely praised by the West for his ‘pragmatism.’ This can be understood as recognition of Morsi’s capability as a statesman to address the concerns of both sides without intruding his own pro-Palestinian outlook. Indeed, the auspices of this brokered agreement inverted what Americans have brought to the table in past negotiations, a pretension of balance, a reality of partisanship. Read more…
Hight Alert in Israel Kings in Gaza Matters
Posted on November, 04, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Head of States visiting Gaza means only one thing; The Blockade is Off.
After the pompous Royal visitors leave Gaza, Israel renewed its attacks on the coastal enclave. The joy lasted for 2 weeks. The Gazan residents and the world were expecting that these visits will be the beginning of the end of the Gaza blockade.
After the visit of Qatar Royalty with 400 millions to invest in Gaza, another Royal delegation followed with more money. Bahrain lesser entourage but not less important came and brought their EID gift for the besieged Gaza.
Israel is not receiving these shows of acceptance of Hamas too well, after all, in 2006 after Hamas won the election against the official Israeli choice Fatah Israel yelled “Terrorist” and half of the Western World put Hamas in the terrorist list. Which in reality it is US/Israel list. The rest of the world do not believe that the little government of Gaza has the means or the technology to play war with Israel.
“This visit has great political significance,” said Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu. He is the first Arab leader to break the political siege.” The investment project seeks to build 1,000 homes for poor families in the devastated Khan Younis area in the south of the Strip.
Khan Younis refugee camp is located about two kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, north of Rafah. It lies west of the town of Khan Younis, a major commercial centre and stop-off point on the ancient trade route to Egypt. Khan Younis Refugee Camp
Laying the foundation stone of the project, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh thanked the emir “for his brave decision to visit Gaza”. “The visit of the emir announces officially the breaching of the political and economical siege imposed on Gaza for more than five years,” said Haniyeh.
The hopes still linger in the minds of Palestinians politicians and the people of the besieged Gaza, after all this is the first time a Head of State brakes Israel siege. Meaning only one thing; the Qatari King does not recognize the siege, and coming to Gaza was a show of just that. Israel could not dare to fire a single fireworks with the Royals in Gaza. Why would Israel will shot her own foot if the money of the kings indirectly benefit Israel one way or another. The oil rich State it is a staunch ally of US, and headquarter of Aljazeera the News Outlet that controls the Media in the Arab World.
The king of Qatar with Hamas Prime Minister
Photo Credit Hatem Moussa AP
Fatah in West Bank and Israel are the side liners spectators of these New Royal diplomatic ties that Hamas had gained.
The Arab Spring that swept the Middle East last year taking Mubarak Egypt in its winds of revolution, brought Muslim muscle to the game in Egypt. Saudi Arabia long time financier of the Muslim Brotherhood has a stronghold in Egypt with the new government, too close to Israel’s borders . Hamas is the pet project of Saudi Arabia which also control Egypt now.
This could be the reason the King himself came to Gaza under the covers of 400 millions in Aid to reassured Israel that business as usual will run the region? It is hard to say.
We all wonder what is going on, Qatar is the closest military ally of the US in the Middle East. Qatar has close military ties with the United States, and is the location of U.S. Central Command Headquarters and of Middle East Navy and Air Operations Center.
The base was also the source of the cluster bombs Israel dropped on Southern Lebanon in 2006 and of the white phosphorous bombs Israel used to bomb Gaza Strip in 2008/2009. It was reported that these shipments were supervised by the Emir Sheikh Hamad personally. Similar to all the Arab dictators, subservient to the American military protection and political support, Qatar was instructed to normalize relationship with Israel. This started with opening Israeli trade offices in Doha, then upgraded to mutual official visitations and meetings to establish trade agreements especially supplying Israel with cheap Qatari gas. MWC Media with conscience
If Israel is the closest friend of the US placed in the heart of the Middle East, and Hamas is the only enemy of the Jews State, why will the best military friend of US, which is the best friend of Israel will brake the blockade imposed by Israel in Gaza?
We can not discount also that Qatar is the richest state in the region and Gaza shores is found to hold $4 billion in gas reserves. Why not come and explore the possibilities to share the discovery with Palestinians.
It is premature to say what is the advantages in the long run for Gaza, but for sure the 400 millions and the promise to bring fuel are needed badly in Gaza after 6 years of Israel blockade.
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WHEN ISRAEL ATTACK WHAT WE SHOULD DO?
Posted On February 26, 2011 by Omar Karem
ترجع معظم الإصابات و الحوادث الناجمة عن القصف إلى الأسباب التالية:
– القذائف والعبوات ورصاص القناصة0
– انهيار المباني جزئيا أو كليا.
– ردود الفعل البشرية المتهورة نتيجة الذعر.
– الحرائق المتفاقمة بسبب نقص مياه الإطفاء أو لعدم تمكن فرق الإطفاء والإسعاف0 من الوصول للمكان0
– الأثاث المتساقط و الثريات الزجاجية أو المعدنية و الأغراض الأخرى.
– انهيار أعمدة و كوابل الكهرباء و الهاتف.
قبل حدوث القصف:-
o استكشاف أكثر الأماكن توفيرا للحماية في المنزل و تعريف جميع أفراد العائلة بها.
o إغلاق مصادر الغاز والطاقة و التخلص من السوائل البترولية المخزنة المختلفة ولا يسمح ببقائها داخل المنازل0
o تعريف أفراد الأسرة بأماكن المفاتيح الرئيسية لمصادر الطاقة في المنزل و تدريبهم على كيفية استعمالها في فصل التيار الكهربائي و إغلاق شبكة المياه ومحابس الغاز في حالة الطوارئ.
o فتح الأبواب والنوافذ و أبواب الدواليب والخزن0
o قم بجمع الأموال و المعادن الثمينة والأوراق الرسمية والمستندات الخاصة والعامة ووضعها داخل حقيبة خاصة0
o تأمين سلالم النجاة من خلال إزالة أي عوائق تعرقل عملية إستخدامه0
o تجهيز حقيبة إسعاف أولى وبعض أنواع الأدوية المطلوبة لذوي الأمراض المزمنة و التأكد من جودة وجاهريه وصلاحية هذه الأغراض للاستخدام.
o تخزين كميات كافية من الأطعمة المحفوظة والمعلبات و ماء الشرب0
o الاحتفاظ براديو وكشاف إنارة يدوي يعملان ببطارية مع الاحتفاظ ببطاريات احتياط 0
o وضع شريط لاصق عرض 10 سم على الألواح الزجاجية بشكل مربعات0
o إنزال الأشياء الثقيلة عن أسطح الخزن والرفوف و اللوحات و أحواض الزهور0
أثناء حدوث القصف:-
عدم الوقوف مقابل شرفات ونوافذ و وأسطح المنازل0
إذا كنت تقود سيارة توقف على الفور بجانب الطريق وقم بفتح النوافذ وإيقاف محرك السارة وتوجه لمكان أمن0
التنقل والسير داخل المنزل أو الشقة عن طريق الزحف أرضا ويمنع منعا باتا استخدام المصاعد الكهربائية0
عدم شغل الهاتف والمحمول إلا عند الحاجة الماسة والضرورية جدا0
التدخل الفوري لإخماد أي حريق قد يحدث باستخدام أجهزة الإطفاء المتوفرة0
النزول إلى الأدوار السفلى ( يفضل الجلوس على سلم البناية ) في حال عدم وجود ملاجئ0
المحافظة على الهدوء وعدم الارتباك و الفزع والخوف وطمأنة وتهدئة الأطفال0
متابعة المحطات الوطنية المحلية من خلال مذياع يعمل بالبطارية0
الالتزام والتقيد التام بالتعليمات الصادرة عن الدفاع المدني والهلال الأحمر والشرطة0
استخدم سلالم النجاة عند الطوارئ دون التوتر و الخوف والفزع مع الحرص الشديد على عدم التزاحم و التدافع0
الابتعاد عن المباني و خاصة المباني القديمة.
الابتعاد عن أبراج التوتر العالي و المنحدرات و الجدران العالية المعرضة للانهيار ( الأسوار).
لا تحاول العودة إلى المنزل إلى أن ينتهي القصف0
إطلاق سراح الحيوانات الأليفة فهي ستتدبر أمرها بنفسها.
Akashma Online News 