I can't help but to think that we need some John and Yoko inspiration for Gaza.
Give Peace A Chance.
The dire consequences of no solution after so many decades, so embroiled in religious history and global politics - and so much ethnic cleansing, propaganda, lies, extremists against moderates and fundamentalists - on both sides. More than anything the extremists need to be removed from the equation, those on both sides who will NOT recognize BOTH Israel AND Palestine in 2009. The racism and bigotry will lesson when those extremists are removed from the picture. The most effective way to remove them is to not heed them. If they have no ears their voice is silenced.
What concerns me most in the peace process - that has achieved no far reaching, long lasting solution to date - is that those involved are so unable to be completely objective. We hear them make comments that tell us they are not objective, that they wear their bias on their sleeves. The US/Israel coalition is SO apparent and that most western countries follow them blindly, do not question that perhaps they may be wrong - is shameful.
There is such ignorance and stereotyping of Islam and Muslims. There seems to be recognition of extremist Muslims but not extremist Jews. There seems to be an acceptance that 'most' Jews are moderate, perhaps because they are westernised? and dress and sound more like us, and have been integrated and active in our western countries for longer, to the point where they have massive influence over western media and more. In contrast many Muslims don't embrace western ways to the same degree, and don't dress entirely like us. I think what fundamentalist Muslims reject from western life we would be wise to follow their lead - for it is these things that have damaged western countries the most - alcohol, drugs, a decline of religious and moral values. But they do follow the laws of their country of residence. Islam dictates that I beleive. Muslims and Islam have been demonised by western politicians in the same way communism was years ago. When one actually meets some Muslims, befriends them, and thinks ' oh they're nice people' for Muslims. They tend to see them as exceptions rather than very representative of most fundamental Muslims and feel all warm and fuzzy because they have become friends with a Muslim and can tell themselves they are not racist, they just don't like all the other Muslims because all the rest aren't like these I've befriended. Fundamental Muslims are as appalled by extremist 'Muslim' groups as us - and condemn them as much as we do - they are not following Islam. They are not real Muslims. Extremists, fanatics DO NOT follow religion, politics, laws, rules. Not the Jewish ones, not the Muslim ones. They are cancers growing on their stated religion.
About Me
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Henry Siegman - Israel's Lies
Credible sources, credible argument, a 'must' read.
http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2009/01/25/henry-siegman-israels-lies/
Extract from conclusion -
Cordesman concludes that 'any leader can take a tough stand and claim that tactical gains are a meaningful victory. If this is all that Olmert, Livni and Barak have for an answer, then they have disgraced themselves and damaged their country and their friends.'
http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2009/01/25/henry-siegman-israels-lies/
Extract from conclusion -
Cordesman concludes that 'any leader can take a tough stand and claim that tactical gains are a meaningful victory. If this is all that Olmert, Livni and Barak have for an answer, then they have disgraced themselves and damaged their country and their friends.'
Let's Not Pretend.
Surely no one, not even Israelis can call this defense. To all Israeli's who say "we have the right to peace" "We have the right to defend ourselves" What about Palestinians? What rights do they have? Any????
Saturday, January 24, 2009
In reply to Michael.
Michael said
Firstly I will address the 'What drugs did you take darling? question.
I do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs other than prescribed drugs from time to time for medical purposes, and even those as seldom as possible. My 'drug' is life, and by far the worst withdrawal symptom of that drug is seeing crimes against humanity, such as those in Gaza. I am guilty, however of using the drug caffeine on occasion, in tea, coffee, and mmmmmm chocolate, my weakness.
Secondly, I will address your use of the word 'darling' referring to me and I will do this in the form of a question.
Are you calling me darling because you have feelings of fondness towards me or do you call me darling to be condescending, to display a patronizingly superior attitude?
Thirdly, I will assume that you ask if I am on drugs to suggest that I am hallucinating when i speak of all matters concerning Israel and Palestine. I guess I've already discounted the drug/hallucination theory, and no I don't have any other medical condition that would cause hallucinations, just in case you were wondering.
As for the definitions of 'Palestine', 'Palestinians' and 'genocide', I'll assume you are asking because you are truly ignorant and are asking in good faith because you truly do not know the definitions and have never heard of Wikipedia. I'm making it easy for you, I'm providing you with the links.
On Palestine and Palestinians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_(disambiguation)
You will find additional links on that site. And of course you will probably find different definitions if you read the Tanakh or the Qur’an and related historical texts and teachings associated with them eg Hadeeth. I wish you well in your research. You may also like to look at world maps over the centuries - you will find them metamorphic and it's probably best to limit yourself to contemporary definitions of borders, countries and populations, no matter how steeped in history they may be.
On genocide:
Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide
While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). Article 2, of this convention defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."[1]
I will add here a reply post of mine to replies on Laila's blog.
(Link on right of mine. This post. "In Zeitun, a massacre and its perpetrators desire for genocide")
My reply to post:
If the IDF destroys the tunnels, the rockets may stop. Preposterous as this may sound, they never wanted to achieve this. In fact they rely on allowing them to remain, so that the rockets will fire out in retaliation (of oppression of Palestine by Israel). Once again they will call Hamas terrorists and declare themselves victims. This will then justify their future incursions, probably already planned, into Gaza again. Israel does not want Palestine to exist. Their real objective/goal is to bring all Palestinians to their knees, this is what terrorists do. They cause their victims to 'give up' on hope. They WANT them to witness the most shocking, inhumane destruction of their homes and families. They WANT some to live and spread the word of such horrendous acts. This is what terrorism is. Not only does it cause their victims to give up hope of peace, but of a normal life, and to feel dreadfully mortal - to feel their life is of no more value than that of a fish and that the next bullet may be aimed at them, and be just around the next corner. And THAT, American 6103, is why that graffiti is so deplorable. Real armies are supposed to act with respect and embrace some moral fibre. The IDF behave like what they are, thugs and terrorists. That graffiti is part of the terrorist message.
Israel's goal is to extinguish Gaza, then later, West Bank, and incorporate them both into Israel. The United States knows this and backs them, their US-made strongest ally in the middle east. (edit: having Israel do their 'dirty work' takes the heat off them to a large degree)
The HEROES here are the Palestinians, who today, survive and defy Israel by existing and getting back to as normal life as is possible under the circumstances, eg school and rebuilding their lives.
I plead, beg anyone to tell me I'm wrong. I WANT to be wrong.
This is the definition of Genocide. Genocide is not a word limited to the Holocaust Michael.
hmm...What exactly is palestine? or palestinians? What genocide? What drugs did you take darling?
Firstly I will address the 'What drugs did you take darling? question.
I do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs other than prescribed drugs from time to time for medical purposes, and even those as seldom as possible. My 'drug' is life, and by far the worst withdrawal symptom of that drug is seeing crimes against humanity, such as those in Gaza. I am guilty, however of using the drug caffeine on occasion, in tea, coffee, and mmmmmm chocolate, my weakness.
Secondly, I will address your use of the word 'darling' referring to me and I will do this in the form of a question.
Are you calling me darling because you have feelings of fondness towards me or do you call me darling to be condescending, to display a patronizingly superior attitude?
Thirdly, I will assume that you ask if I am on drugs to suggest that I am hallucinating when i speak of all matters concerning Israel and Palestine. I guess I've already discounted the drug/hallucination theory, and no I don't have any other medical condition that would cause hallucinations, just in case you were wondering.
As for the definitions of 'Palestine', 'Palestinians' and 'genocide', I'll assume you are asking because you are truly ignorant and are asking in good faith because you truly do not know the definitions and have never heard of Wikipedia. I'm making it easy for you, I'm providing you with the links.
On Palestine and Palestinians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_(disambiguation)
You will find additional links on that site. And of course you will probably find different definitions if you read the Tanakh or the Qur’an and related historical texts and teachings associated with them eg Hadeeth. I wish you well in your research. You may also like to look at world maps over the centuries - you will find them metamorphic and it's probably best to limit yourself to contemporary definitions of borders, countries and populations, no matter how steeped in history they may be.
On genocide:
Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide
While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). Article 2, of this convention defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."[1]
I will add here a reply post of mine to replies on Laila's blog.
(Link on right of mine. This post. "In Zeitun, a massacre and its perpetrators desire for genocide")
My reply to post:
If the IDF destroys the tunnels, the rockets may stop. Preposterous as this may sound, they never wanted to achieve this. In fact they rely on allowing them to remain, so that the rockets will fire out in retaliation (of oppression of Palestine by Israel). Once again they will call Hamas terrorists and declare themselves victims. This will then justify their future incursions, probably already planned, into Gaza again. Israel does not want Palestine to exist. Their real objective/goal is to bring all Palestinians to their knees, this is what terrorists do. They cause their victims to 'give up' on hope. They WANT them to witness the most shocking, inhumane destruction of their homes and families. They WANT some to live and spread the word of such horrendous acts. This is what terrorism is. Not only does it cause their victims to give up hope of peace, but of a normal life, and to feel dreadfully mortal - to feel their life is of no more value than that of a fish and that the next bullet may be aimed at them, and be just around the next corner. And THAT, American 6103, is why that graffiti is so deplorable. Real armies are supposed to act with respect and embrace some moral fibre. The IDF behave like what they are, thugs and terrorists. That graffiti is part of the terrorist message.
Israel's goal is to extinguish Gaza, then later, West Bank, and incorporate them both into Israel. The United States knows this and backs them, their US-made strongest ally in the middle east. (edit: having Israel do their 'dirty work' takes the heat off them to a large degree)
The HEROES here are the Palestinians, who today, survive and defy Israel by existing and getting back to as normal life as is possible under the circumstances, eg school and rebuilding their lives.
I plead, beg anyone to tell me I'm wrong. I WANT to be wrong.
This is the definition of Genocide. Genocide is not a word limited to the Holocaust Michael.
Palestinians - don't count on Obama.
All Americans wanting Palestinian justice and peace should contact and comment, particularly on foreign policy and ties with Israel. I would be questioning what part my tax played in arming Israel. http://www.whitehouse.gov/
Friday, January 23, 2009
TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Two more cartoons
TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Two more cartoons
There are other very poignant political and humanitarian comments on Gaza made via cartoons by Latuff, visit his site. Some are posted in the right column of my blog here.
Following extract is from the link below.
Read on . . .
http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/17/the_myth_of_israels_strategic_genius
Those who refuse to criticize Israel even when it acts foolishly surely think they are helping the Jewish state. They are wrong. In fact, they are false friends, because their silence, or worse, their cheerleading, merely encourages Israel to continue potentially disastrous courses of action. Israel could use some honest advice these days, and it would make eminently good sense if its closest ally were able to provide it. Ideally, this advice would come from the president, the secretary of state, and prominent members of Congress -- speaking as openly as some politicians in other democracies do. But that's unlikely to happen, because Israel's supporters make it almost impossible for Washington to do anything but reflexively back Israel's actions, whether they make sense or not. And they often do not these days.
Read on . . .
http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/17/the_myth_of_israels_strategic_genius
I believe this is one of the best summaries of the situation between Israel and Palestine. Post from http://www.counterpunch.org/eno01022009.html
An Experiment in Provocation
Stealing Gaza
By BRIAN ENO
It's a tragedy that the Israelis - a people who must understand better than almost anybody the horrors of oppression - are now acting as oppressors. As the great Jewish writer Primo Levi once remarked "Everybody has their Jews, and for the Israelis it's the Palestinians". By creating a middle Eastern version of the Warsaw ghetto they are recapitulating their own history as though they've forgotten it. And by trying to paint an equivalence between the Palestinians - with their homemade rockets and stone-throwing teenagers - and themselves - with one of the most sophisticated military machines in the world - they sacrifice all credibility.
The Israelis are a gifted and resourceful people who fully deserve the right to live in peace, but who seem intent on squandering every chance to allow that to happen. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that this conflict serves the political and economic purposes of Israel so well that they have every interest in maintaining it. While there is fighting they can continue to build illegal settlements. While there is fighting they continue to receive huge quantities of military aid from the United States. And while there is fighting they can avoid looking candidly at themselves and the ruthlessness into which they are descending.
Gaza is now an experiment in provocation. Stuff one and a half million people into a tiny space, stifle their access to water, electricity, food and medical treatment, destroy their livelihoods, and humiliate them regularly...and, surprise, surprise - they turn hostile. Now why would you want to make that experiment?
Because the hostility you provoke is the whole point. Now 'under attack' you can cast yourself as the victim, and call out the helicopter gunships and the F16 attack fighters and the heavy tanks and the guided missiles, and destroy yet more of the pathetic remains of infrastructure that the Palestinian state still has left. And then you can point to it as a hopeless case, unfit to govern itself, a terrorist state, a state with which you couldn't possibly reach an accommodation.
And then you can carry on with business as usual, quietly stealing their homeland.
Brian Eno is a musician and music producer.
An Experiment in Provocation
Stealing Gaza
By BRIAN ENO
It's a tragedy that the Israelis - a people who must understand better than almost anybody the horrors of oppression - are now acting as oppressors. As the great Jewish writer Primo Levi once remarked "Everybody has their Jews, and for the Israelis it's the Palestinians". By creating a middle Eastern version of the Warsaw ghetto they are recapitulating their own history as though they've forgotten it. And by trying to paint an equivalence between the Palestinians - with their homemade rockets and stone-throwing teenagers - and themselves - with one of the most sophisticated military machines in the world - they sacrifice all credibility.
The Israelis are a gifted and resourceful people who fully deserve the right to live in peace, but who seem intent on squandering every chance to allow that to happen. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that this conflict serves the political and economic purposes of Israel so well that they have every interest in maintaining it. While there is fighting they can continue to build illegal settlements. While there is fighting they continue to receive huge quantities of military aid from the United States. And while there is fighting they can avoid looking candidly at themselves and the ruthlessness into which they are descending.
Gaza is now an experiment in provocation. Stuff one and a half million people into a tiny space, stifle their access to water, electricity, food and medical treatment, destroy their livelihoods, and humiliate them regularly...and, surprise, surprise - they turn hostile. Now why would you want to make that experiment?
Because the hostility you provoke is the whole point. Now 'under attack' you can cast yourself as the victim, and call out the helicopter gunships and the F16 attack fighters and the heavy tanks and the guided missiles, and destroy yet more of the pathetic remains of infrastructure that the Palestinian state still has left. And then you can point to it as a hopeless case, unfit to govern itself, a terrorist state, a state with which you couldn't possibly reach an accommodation.
And then you can carry on with business as usual, quietly stealing their homeland.
Brian Eno is a musician and music producer.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Burning Conscience
What really happened in the last decade or more during Israeli occupation in Palestine. First hand accounts by Israeli veteran soldiers. Brave enough to take off the blinkers. The resulting 'breaking the silence' tour information is here, http://www.shovrimshtika.org/index_e.asp along with testimonies, galleries etc all from Israeli soldiers brave enough to 'come out' about what was going on in occupied Palestine.
If Hamas is such a huge terrorist threat, why are there attacks on Israel so impotent? If they were a real threat, there would be a reversal of the situation. Israel would be occupied, their supplies almost completely cut off. They wouldn't have the luxury of going off to work, or even have jobs, or go to school, or their synagogues, or have the freedom of movement without numerous checkpoints dealing mainly in humiliation.
It's time for altruism to be embraced by the foreign policies of Israel, US, Australia, Britain and all the other Western countries. I feel shame that as an Australian we blindly follow the US in foreign 'defense' - defense is used very loosely. The golden ethic of all religions, altruism - it's time.
The real terrorists are the Israeli's and the governments and foreign policies of western countries are giving them the green light and dragging it's citizens/taxpayers along though we do NOT condone what Israel is doing and demand that it stop.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Quote Conner and Dad. "Unfortunately, the world will sit back since Hamas and many Islamist organizations embrace terrorism since it's cheap and it works (in the short run)."
If you listened to the Syrian Leader's response, and I have to agree with him, Hamas was democratically voted in. It cannot therefore be a terrorist group but a legitimate military force who's place is to defend it's own people. It is not Hamas that is invading Israel, it is Israel invading Gaza. . . AGAIN!
It is also my understanding that Hamas have never broken ceasefires, it has been Israel (and Egypt?)
The Bush administration have called 'wolf' (terrorist) before and been shown to be wrong. Hamas may well have links with terrorists groups, but the impact of what they are doing in Israel is minuscule in comparison to what Israeli forces are doing in Gaza. In fact, the Israelis have suffered fewer losses than most cities experience as road deaths on a daily bases, and almost half of them were friendly fire. What Israel is perpetrating amounts to terrorism and war crimes.
Be very aware of the use of terms they assign to themselves eg retaliate, defend, victims etc. These terms are far more appropriate, in this conflict, to be assigned to the Palestinians. Both countries have the right to defend. Israelis have warnings of rockets, they have bunkers, they have the freedom to escape. Those in Gaza do not. They are STILL trapped. They are starving, they are running out of basic need supplies. The term terrorist does not only apply to Hamas.
I do not condone terrorism, from any country, or group. The people dying in this crisis, on masse, are innocent, non militant, non terrorist civilians. Surely you must question what Israel is doing when they won't allow reporters into Gaza. When they say they allow in supplies but use those supplies in the most horendous way, to elicit information about Hamas from civilians who are desperately in need of those supplies. eg we'll give you this if . . . . When CIVILIANS are already terrorised, traumatised, starving, thirsty, should they really be subjected to further humiliation and trauma.
Israel are creating a perfect environment amongst the trauma and terror they have caused to plant the seeds of terrorists of the future. These victims will be far more receptive to a 'cause' had they not been victims in the first place. The only way they can prevent this from happening now is to ensure that the conflict stops, the hate stops and they assist in the rebuilding of Gaza, financially, with no presence, I doubt any Palestinian wants them there after the years and years of control and daily humiliation they have placed on both the resident Palestinians and those who attempt to visit. Create a Palestine that is not poverty stricken, that has it's land back to become self sufficient again, and to stop the bulldozing of Palestinian homes for Israel's own 're' settlement (another aggression by Israel against Gaza over the years and condemned by UN) eg an illegal activity. The US would also be better off assigning their millions of dollars given to Israel for their aggression and funding a strong Palestine. But no, this won't happen, they want to 'retailate' just like the 'terrorists' retaliated on Sept. 11. and the cycle will keep going.
The US and its allies seem to always have an enemy. The communists, cold war, now it seems all of Islam. There is a lot of hate for Arab ethnics. It's stereotyping, racism and fear at it's worst, again! Beware of labels. Not all Muslim, or Muslim countries are terrorists or are run by terrorists. And the label 'terrorists' does not only belong to Muslims or Muslim run countries.
The real focus though, should not be Hamas, and terrorists. The real focus should be what Israel is doing to innocent civilians in Gaza. Don't be fooled into not seeing past the labels Israel is putting on Hamas. Wouldn't it be interesting if reporting didn't include the words, Hamas, Israel etc but used ficticious names and labels. I wonder how differently people would view the conflict then.
Thanks for your comment Connor.
If you listened to the Syrian Leader's response, and I have to agree with him, Hamas was democratically voted in. It cannot therefore be a terrorist group but a legitimate military force who's place is to defend it's own people. It is not Hamas that is invading Israel, it is Israel invading Gaza. . . AGAIN!
It is also my understanding that Hamas have never broken ceasefires, it has been Israel (and Egypt?)
The Bush administration have called 'wolf' (terrorist) before and been shown to be wrong. Hamas may well have links with terrorists groups, but the impact of what they are doing in Israel is minuscule in comparison to what Israeli forces are doing in Gaza. In fact, the Israelis have suffered fewer losses than most cities experience as road deaths on a daily bases, and almost half of them were friendly fire. What Israel is perpetrating amounts to terrorism and war crimes.
Be very aware of the use of terms they assign to themselves eg retaliate, defend, victims etc. These terms are far more appropriate, in this conflict, to be assigned to the Palestinians. Both countries have the right to defend. Israelis have warnings of rockets, they have bunkers, they have the freedom to escape. Those in Gaza do not. They are STILL trapped. They are starving, they are running out of basic need supplies. The term terrorist does not only apply to Hamas.
I do not condone terrorism, from any country, or group. The people dying in this crisis, on masse, are innocent, non militant, non terrorist civilians. Surely you must question what Israel is doing when they won't allow reporters into Gaza. When they say they allow in supplies but use those supplies in the most horendous way, to elicit information about Hamas from civilians who are desperately in need of those supplies. eg we'll give you this if . . . . When CIVILIANS are already terrorised, traumatised, starving, thirsty, should they really be subjected to further humiliation and trauma.
Israel are creating a perfect environment amongst the trauma and terror they have caused to plant the seeds of terrorists of the future. These victims will be far more receptive to a 'cause' had they not been victims in the first place. The only way they can prevent this from happening now is to ensure that the conflict stops, the hate stops and they assist in the rebuilding of Gaza, financially, with no presence, I doubt any Palestinian wants them there after the years and years of control and daily humiliation they have placed on both the resident Palestinians and those who attempt to visit. Create a Palestine that is not poverty stricken, that has it's land back to become self sufficient again, and to stop the bulldozing of Palestinian homes for Israel's own 're' settlement (another aggression by Israel against Gaza over the years and condemned by UN) eg an illegal activity. The US would also be better off assigning their millions of dollars given to Israel for their aggression and funding a strong Palestine. But no, this won't happen, they want to 'retailate' just like the 'terrorists' retaliated on Sept. 11. and the cycle will keep going.
The US and its allies seem to always have an enemy. The communists, cold war, now it seems all of Islam. There is a lot of hate for Arab ethnics. It's stereotyping, racism and fear at it's worst, again! Beware of labels. Not all Muslim, or Muslim countries are terrorists or are run by terrorists. And the label 'terrorists' does not only belong to Muslims or Muslim run countries.
The real focus though, should not be Hamas, and terrorists. The real focus should be what Israel is doing to innocent civilians in Gaza. Don't be fooled into not seeing past the labels Israel is putting on Hamas. Wouldn't it be interesting if reporting didn't include the words, Hamas, Israel etc but used ficticious names and labels. I wonder how differently people would view the conflict then.
Thanks for your comment Connor.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Hamas, The Decoy: The Way I See It.
Hitler set up CONCENTRATION CAMPS and infra structure to transport Jews to them. Then Hitler and his armies secretly began the dirty job of ETHNIC CLEANSING - such a nice, shiny, sugar coated term meaning to murder massive numbers of humans belonging to a particular ethnic group, (also known as GENOCIDE and HOLOCAUST) from a particular geographic area in a systematic way and inflicting great fear, humiliation, pain and suffering, starvation, removal of all human rights.
Israel has simply changed two of these conditions to carry out the GENOCIDE of Palestinians.
1. They created a concentration camp within Palestine. Gaza. No need for transportation or rounding up. Instead they prevent escape, with the help of Egypt. They cause an implosion - starvation, poverty by blocking supplies.
2. They didn't need to even attempt to keep it secret. They simply engaged in ethnic cleansing openly, setting up a decoy, namely Hamas, that the media, the press would be able to blame for Israels incursion. They were supported by this by Arab and Western leaders and diplomats, all content to blame anyone but Israel.
Get real. Hamas didn't break the ceasefire, Israel did. Where are supplies into Palestine coming from? Are there any? Hamas is a wonderful DECOY. There are so many willing to point the finger at them instead of where it should be pointed, fairly and squarely at Israel. The decoy extends to getting media focusing on conflict WITHIN Palestine, that won't work when they are all under fire and desperate. They cannot negotiate with each other while trying to desperately survive. The efforts to resolve conflict MUST be with global powers putting extreme and total pressure on Israel to get the hell out of Gaza. Negotiate a ceasefire free of occupation, free of the stranglehold of checkpoints, and without the control of supplies into Gaza.
Israel has simply changed two of these conditions to carry out the GENOCIDE of Palestinians.
1. They created a concentration camp within Palestine. Gaza. No need for transportation or rounding up. Instead they prevent escape, with the help of Egypt. They cause an implosion - starvation, poverty by blocking supplies.
2. They didn't need to even attempt to keep it secret. They simply engaged in ethnic cleansing openly, setting up a decoy, namely Hamas, that the media, the press would be able to blame for Israels incursion. They were supported by this by Arab and Western leaders and diplomats, all content to blame anyone but Israel.
Get real. Hamas didn't break the ceasefire, Israel did. Where are supplies into Palestine coming from? Are there any? Hamas is a wonderful DECOY. There are so many willing to point the finger at them instead of where it should be pointed, fairly and squarely at Israel. The decoy extends to getting media focusing on conflict WITHIN Palestine, that won't work when they are all under fire and desperate. They cannot negotiate with each other while trying to desperately survive. The efforts to resolve conflict MUST be with global powers putting extreme and total pressure on Israel to get the hell out of Gaza. Negotiate a ceasefire free of occupation, free of the stranglehold of checkpoints, and without the control of supplies into Gaza.
Safety Is A State Of Mind.
I am most fortunate. I live in Australia. But that does not make me or any other Australian immune to war. I live in Darwin. (Many people won't remember that Darwin was more heavily bombed, and suffered more casualties than Pearl Harbor). So long ago, and so fleeting. For much of the time I can be complacent about what happens in the rest of the world. But there is one place that consistently tugs at my thoughts, at my conscience and tugs at my heart. The Gaza. The terror. The horror. The injustice. Not that there can ever be justice in war. I feel completely dis empowered - what can I do? I am no one. I have no influence.
I was watching a movie the other night "Bruce ALMIGHTY". Bruce the reporter's chance to report live, the power goes off and he loses links to what news he should cover, he must present something newsworthy . . . "Fighting continues between Israel and Palestine . . .' I laughed, it was a safe bet, a sure thing, but for that reason it wasn't funny and I should not have laughed. It was like predicting the weather in Darwin during the dry season. Clear sky, no cloud, min and max temperatures always a safe bet, always a sure thing.
Watching CNN news Sunday, January 4th '09. Seeing the streaming of video of the Israeli incursion into Gaza. How can the world watch and not intervene.? No oil in Gaza . . . is it that simple? No one ever cares what happens to Arabs . . . is that it? They're Muslims, Muslims are terrorists . . . is it the stereotyping, racial and religious bias and hatred? Jews, the victims of the holocaust . . . is it the historical guilt of that?
The UN gather to make a statement . . . only the US opposes the view taken by the rest of the UN members . . . what message does this send to the world? The UN, are they also dis empowered to do anything to stop this? Who does have the power? All the Arab nations, why do they not intervene . . . fear of US retaliation (there's that word)? The United States are still holding the hand of Israel and handing over their wallet to them for arms. How does the rest of the world, and the taxpayers of the United States allow this? How do they justify it? Are they even aware of how many millions of taxpayer dollars go towards financing Israels war against Palestine?
And then it occurred to me. In the past almost everything I had seen on the news, current affairs shows etc, with the exception of some very interesting articles and some You Tube movies found over the net), had been so biased in reporting this conflict, biased in favor of Israel.
BUT CNN reporting was seemingly devoid of this today, and lately, and the rest of the world . . . demonstrating against Israels incursion and poor reasoning for their incursion (those Hamas missiles cause less death and injury than what a school yard of children could do with slingshots). Slowly opinions have been changing. For so long it seemed the Jewish owned and dominated Western world press has been able to influence the Western world and severely temper the reports of journalists and gain the sympathy 'victim' vote. How did they do that? Look back over the years at how certain words were used in reporting on this conflict. There was an Israeli media machine that controlled the linguistics of reporting. Words used to describe Palestinians = terrorist, suicide bomber, attacker, perpetrator, militant, suspect, muslims, arabs . . . . .
Israelis = defend, victim, retaliate, army, military, jews, holocaust . . . . I think you have the idea now. The power of words. Words and phrases . . . holocaust, ethnic cleansing, weapons of war, bulldozers(could it be that these are weapons of war? think about it, resettlement/relocating/disempowering/suppress/impoverish . . . Words and phrases, like the word PROPOGANDA. And what does a ceasefire mean? Does it mean the same for Palestine as it does for Israel? Of course it does not. It means continued occupation, control, fear, poverty and so much more pain for Palestinians. The ceasefire brings 'normality' back, but not a desired normality, not the desirable normality that it brings to Israel. But many Palestinians prefer that over what they have today, it's why many resent Hamas for firing into Israel. I don't condone what Hamas have done, I understand it. I don't condone what Israel has done as 'retaliation' (lol at this word in this context) and I do NOT understand it. The pursuit of a purely jewish state in the region . . . could it be that simple?
The US defending Israels 'right to defend' - apparently Palestine does not have that right . . . Israel making the most of the timing of US politics - Bush heading out Obama not yet in.
Israel attempts to shift the blame onto Hamas for firing missiles when in fact they welcomed the opportunity to 'retaliate'(ahhh that word again). The more pain and suffering Israel inflicts on Palestinians the more strength will be gained by Hamas. If not Hamas, a new regime to replace them, but they will be angry, they will be hurting badly and that hurt will anger them and their anger will be aimed at Israel. And Israelis must know that. It must put fear for the future into them. Israel and the United States are losing the grip they had on world sympathy. And not before time.
For me there, right there, is the hope for Palestinians. The shift in reporting, the shift in sympathy. The western world can access news via the web, uncensored, biased and unbiased, they can deliberate and decide for themselves and not be dependant on western media.
The other hope for Palestinians are people like Laila El-Haddad. What a brave woman. It was the interview of Laila and her father that compelled me to begin this blog. I took the title of this post from her blog. http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/2008/12/gaza-city-under-heavy-bombardment.html. I hope there is nothing in my post that will offend or upset her and those like her.
I was watching a movie the other night "Bruce ALMIGHTY". Bruce the reporter's chance to report live, the power goes off and he loses links to what news he should cover, he must present something newsworthy . . . "Fighting continues between Israel and Palestine . . .' I laughed, it was a safe bet, a sure thing, but for that reason it wasn't funny and I should not have laughed. It was like predicting the weather in Darwin during the dry season. Clear sky, no cloud, min and max temperatures always a safe bet, always a sure thing.
Watching CNN news Sunday, January 4th '09. Seeing the streaming of video of the Israeli incursion into Gaza. How can the world watch and not intervene.? No oil in Gaza . . . is it that simple? No one ever cares what happens to Arabs . . . is that it? They're Muslims, Muslims are terrorists . . . is it the stereotyping, racial and religious bias and hatred? Jews, the victims of the holocaust . . . is it the historical guilt of that?
The UN gather to make a statement . . . only the US opposes the view taken by the rest of the UN members . . . what message does this send to the world? The UN, are they also dis empowered to do anything to stop this? Who does have the power? All the Arab nations, why do they not intervene . . . fear of US retaliation (there's that word)? The United States are still holding the hand of Israel and handing over their wallet to them for arms. How does the rest of the world, and the taxpayers of the United States allow this? How do they justify it? Are they even aware of how many millions of taxpayer dollars go towards financing Israels war against Palestine?
And then it occurred to me. In the past almost everything I had seen on the news, current affairs shows etc, with the exception of some very interesting articles and some You Tube movies found over the net), had been so biased in reporting this conflict, biased in favor of Israel.
BUT CNN reporting was seemingly devoid of this today, and lately, and the rest of the world . . . demonstrating against Israels incursion and poor reasoning for their incursion (those Hamas missiles cause less death and injury than what a school yard of children could do with slingshots). Slowly opinions have been changing. For so long it seemed the Jewish owned and dominated Western world press has been able to influence the Western world and severely temper the reports of journalists and gain the sympathy 'victim' vote. How did they do that? Look back over the years at how certain words were used in reporting on this conflict. There was an Israeli media machine that controlled the linguistics of reporting. Words used to describe Palestinians = terrorist, suicide bomber, attacker, perpetrator, militant, suspect, muslims, arabs . . . . .
Israelis = defend, victim, retaliate, army, military, jews, holocaust . . . . I think you have the idea now. The power of words. Words and phrases . . . holocaust, ethnic cleansing, weapons of war, bulldozers(could it be that these are weapons of war? think about it, resettlement/relocating/disempowering/suppress/impoverish . . . Words and phrases, like the word PROPOGANDA. And what does a ceasefire mean? Does it mean the same for Palestine as it does for Israel? Of course it does not. It means continued occupation, control, fear, poverty and so much more pain for Palestinians. The ceasefire brings 'normality' back, but not a desired normality, not the desirable normality that it brings to Israel. But many Palestinians prefer that over what they have today, it's why many resent Hamas for firing into Israel. I don't condone what Hamas have done, I understand it. I don't condone what Israel has done as 'retaliation' (lol at this word in this context) and I do NOT understand it. The pursuit of a purely jewish state in the region . . . could it be that simple?
The US defending Israels 'right to defend' - apparently Palestine does not have that right . . . Israel making the most of the timing of US politics - Bush heading out Obama not yet in.
Israel attempts to shift the blame onto Hamas for firing missiles when in fact they welcomed the opportunity to 'retaliate'(ahhh that word again). The more pain and suffering Israel inflicts on Palestinians the more strength will be gained by Hamas. If not Hamas, a new regime to replace them, but they will be angry, they will be hurting badly and that hurt will anger them and their anger will be aimed at Israel. And Israelis must know that. It must put fear for the future into them. Israel and the United States are losing the grip they had on world sympathy. And not before time.
For me there, right there, is the hope for Palestinians. The shift in reporting, the shift in sympathy. The western world can access news via the web, uncensored, biased and unbiased, they can deliberate and decide for themselves and not be dependant on western media.
The other hope for Palestinians are people like Laila El-Haddad. What a brave woman. It was the interview of Laila and her father that compelled me to begin this blog. I took the title of this post from her blog. http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/2008/12/gaza-city-under-heavy-bombardment.html. I hope there is nothing in my post that will offend or upset her and those like her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
