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Throughout the discussions of the attack on Gaza in the Israeli and US press, there’s been a recurring theme linking actions against Gaza to Iran – not simply in terms of Israel claiming Hamas is simply a tool of Tehran (though that is common), but also an underlying “this is all tied into our need to take on Iran” message.
For example, we have this from the LA Times on January 4:
But widen the lens and the true nature of this conflict emerges. Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, is a proxy for the real enemy Israel is confronting: Iran. And Israel’s current operation against Hamas represents a unique chance to deal a strategic blow to Iranian expansionism.
This theme has just stepped into the spotlight with word of the comments—made off camera—of the Israeli envoy to Australia according to Ha’aretz:
The Gaza operation was merely a "pre-introduction" to the challenge Israel would face from Iran, which will become a nuclear power within a year, the Israeli ambassador to Australia said yesterday.
According to Australia’s Channel 7 television, Ambassador Yuval Rotem made the statement at a meeting with leaders of the Sydney Jewish community, having first asked that the cameras be switched off.
While being filmed before the discussion, Rotem said, "The best thing to do is to have a very open dialogue if there are no reporters or journalists here," before telling the cameraman to stop filming.
"He said that Israel’s recent military offensives were a pre-introduction to the challenge Israel expects from a nuclear-equipped Iran within a year," Channel 7 reporter Sarah Cummings said. She also quoted Rotem as saying "Israel’s efforts in Gaza were to bring about understanding that we are ready to engage in a decisive way."
With Netanyahu—who is still favored to win the upcoming election—the likelihood of an Israeli strike against Iran keeps getting closer:
Netanyahu said if elected prime minister his first mission will be to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity.
When asked if stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions included a military strike, he replied: "It includes everything that is necessary to make this statement come true."
With Israel’s rather total disregard for world opinion over Gaza, the Israeli perception that with Obama in the White House, Israel is on its own (except for all those big weapons shipments), and with Israeli public support for the Gaza attack and whatever politician makes the most war hungry comments—this is not good news.
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Bombs away.
These guys have been straining at the leash to go after Iran.
Now we shall see what kind of clout Hilary has.
Digg It
“Pre-introduction” What does that even mean?
Let’s hope that the U S doesn’t allow Israel to attack Iran. Israel has shown itself to be unworthy.
“Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity”
And Iran has attached who and fought how many wars with ISreal over the past 60 years?
“Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the Likud party, called
IranIsrael the greatest danger toIsrael and toall humanity”They are bloody insane.
Given the overkill in Gaza it would seem to suggest that Israel would not be at all averse to using nuclear weapons. Of course, doing so would create exponentially greater problems for the United States if Israel overflew Iraq. I suspect that this may have been precisely the reason the Bush Administration nixxed the plans. Even they realized that the “blowback” would be intense.
Of course, now that Obama’s in the WH they don’t give a damn. In fact “We want him to fail!”
The alternative route, over the Mediterranean, then crossing Turkish air-apce, may have recently been broached with the Turks. But relations have really soured between these two States over Gaza, and recriminations by the Israeli’s (which may simply be spite after the Turk’s turned them down, as well).
What is the necessity to attack Iran? Does the Israeli government feel dissed by them and this requires a duel? Other than some objectionable statements by someone that does not control the army, why can’t we talk to Iran? The consistent Israeli refusal truly to work for any real peace should not be rewarded by allowing them to try to throw any more of the world into being a war-torn maelstrom. We are just preparing to get out of Iraq and we need to be getting out of Afghanistan. We don’t need to throw more of our military and money down another hole. We need to tell Israel that if they decide to attack Iran, it must be without weapons supplied by us. If Obama is being truthful, we should be preparing to talk to Iran, not attack them, and we shouldn’t let Israel dictate our foreign policy.
The confrontation between Turkey and Israel was pretty intense at Davos with the PM from Turkey walking out of the meetings and returning home to cheering crowds. It is a safe bet that Israel will not be allowed to cross Turkish air space.
I doubt it. If anything, I think that the main reason so many civilians died in Gaza was that the Israelis were following a very risk-averse policy; they wanted to lose as few of their own troops as possible, so they bombed excessively to clear whole areas out before troops advanced. And the people that they were fighting had no resources.
Iran is a vastly stronger opponent. After invading Lebanon and failing to achieve the objective, and invading Gaza and failing to achieve the objective, are they really in a position to strike?
If even George Bush turned down Israeli requests to overfly occupied Iraq, no way Obama’s going to go along (Hillary might have, since she’s an ultra-hawk wherever support of Israel is concerned, but she’s not in charge).
Nuclear weapons!???!!!! I think you may have caused me to fall out of my tree, you big ape.
So Israel attacks Iran.
Do we back it up?
Iran is not a big prison yard like Gaza. Iran has significant defensive infrastructure.
If the Isrealis flew over Turkey, to bomb Iran, it would be an Act of War to a NATO member.
Israel is blackmailing America. In more ways than you can know. America will do what Israel dictates. The warrantless wiretapping was facilitated by Israeli firms (Mossad) using our own money. They have EVERYTHING on EVERYONE.
the gov of israel depends, and has for years, on our veto of UN security council resolutions. that imo would be key (in addition to the billions of $$$ of aid and weapons shipments).
It seems unlikely to me, but who am I? Seems more like a trial balloon to test the waters of the Obama administration to see how far they can go. If it were seriously nuclear, I suspect the Russians would have a say, and that say might well involve a MAD threat.
As a result of the SOFA agreement IRAQ has assumed control of its airspace so that route I assume would also be blocked.
New Jane upstairs
Israel simply cannot destroy the nuclear program in Iran (regardless of whether it is legit as per the NPT, ie, fuel enrichment, or has a weapons program). The facilities are scattered too much and buried too deep. Not even our own earth penetrators could manage it.
Not even nukes would be assured of doing anything but committing the biggest crime against humanity since the Nazis.
Israel is screwed if they have a go at Iran. Iran wouldn’t even have to retaliate themselves directly – they have proxies all over the place all over the world. The US and the West would also be royally screwed because Iran can and will shut down the Gulf around the Straight of Hormuz. No more ME oil, plus a sunken US supercarrier or two.
What would the rogue state Israel care about Iraq sovereignity? They’d have no compunction about violating Iraq airspace at all…and what is Iraq going to do to defend their airspace? They got nothing at all.
Of course they do, I seriously think that if the Senate needs a blanket amnesty. It is the only way to stop Israel’s control over the US. Anyone who does not understand that has not been paying attention.
Watch out in Iraq, too. There is a reason the Christians are being driven out of Mosul.
Israel’s whole political class is bankrupt. That even Bush wouldn’t go along with shows just how batshit crazy they have become. After disasters in Lebanon and now Gaza, they lurch toward confrontation with Iran.
But it is always important to realize that there are games within games here. First, the Israelis would have great difficulties in even mounting such a raid. Second, it would be unlikely that they would succeed. Third, it would likely return Iran to a nuclear arms program that our intelligence services say it abandoned in 2003, precisely to counter any future Israeli raids. Fourth, it would undercut our position further in the Middle East. Fifth, it could destabilize oil supplies.
Again the Israeli political elites have become seriously unhinged so they are dangerous and could act in really, really stupid ways as their Gaza incursion attests. But this could also be an attempt to force Obama to take a harder line with Iran, to show support for Israel early in his term, to shore up political support among traditional allies like AIPAC and various members of Congress, and to blackmail the US into more aid in face of world recession.
Our own political elites that are nothing to brag about either really need to revisit their relationship with Israel. Skirting as we are on the edges of depression can we really afford unconditional support for a prima donna regime in Tel Aviv that is expensive to maintain and seeks to subvert our policy objectives in the region at every turn?
The temporary price of oil would make a lot of money for a few, though. Cui bono? It is always about the oil. All else is a smoke screen.
The US, EU, France, the list grows of those who have, or are sending, ships to the Straight. All under the guise of preventing arms smuggling.
I can never figure out how much all the fear-mongering about Iran is based on real existential fear of Iran. Rationally I simply don’t see the evidence of it. What major hostilities has Iran been involved in except for being attacked by Iraq? Say what you will about the regime, it has shown no interest in territorial expansion, or massive military build up. If it is pursuing a nuclear weapon why would we assume that Iran would pursue a first strike? Are they supposed to be more insane than Pakistan’s potential leaders? More unstable? Yes they are openly hostile to the idea of a Jewish state in what they see as Arab/Muslim lands. Much of Israel is openly hostile to the idea of an Arab/Muslim state in what they see as Israel’s lands. Meanwhile Israel endures as does Iran.
What is the real rational argument for fearing Iran? All I hear is wildly overblown rhetoric about Hamas and Hezbollah being twin mindless tools of Iran. Weren’t the Palestinians Saddam’s tools not so long ago?
i’m not saying this is driving israel’s foreign policy re iran (i don’t think it is), but there are israeli’s who have written something seems to me not completely crazy. iirc, it goes something like this – israel’s existence requires being the dominate regional power because israel has depended on jewish immigration to israel to counter in part the demographic pressure of non-jewish population growth and jewish emigration. and it is feared that the presence of a nuclear iran would affect the desire of jews to live in israel dooming the long term viability of the zionist project of a jewish homeland in israel.
ok, maybe that is completely crazy too.
There is no legitimate fear of Iran. Power and control; Israel demands to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East. Israel is the rogue state. They will not allow inspections of their nuclear facilities; Iran does. The world’s guess is 200 nukes. No body knows for sure. The man who first told the world about Israel’s nukes got 20 years in jail. He is a unsung hero. The world would still not know, if not for the bravery of one man.
A few months ago, the Israelis started the nonsense rhetoric that Iran can build a bomb in a year. That is now what you will hear US politicians repeat soon, I’m sure. When reading in Australia, I found the same pro-Israel theme there as you find in your MSM. That is why the ambassador from Israel was caught on tape. He felt very free to talk against Iran; he had a receptive crowd. Haaretz usually is fast..they release news almost as soon as it happens. This video was not discussed for a few days after it happened. Very unusual…it adds credibility to the ambassador’s words.
Iran really does not allow inspection except for a few sites.
Let’s hope that there is nothing to fear from Iran and that they don’t seek to export the influence of their repressive, regressive and barbarous regime.
If that was REALLY true then he would be negotiating with the Palestinians and making MAJOR Concessions, offering economic aide, and doing his utmost to prevent the Palestinian issue from being used by the Iranians at all.
Remember that the US and USSR was more than willing to set aside fears and antagonisms for what was felt to be a greater threat – Nazi Germany. But Netanyahu sin’t willing to retreat on a few illegal settlements? Is too pig-headed to negotiate directly with Hamas? Escalates minor acts into responses that kill 200 times as many Palestinians?
If Iran is the real “threat” then why play into their hands?
No, the answer lies elsewhere. The Iranian “threat” is simply propaganda.
Clearly it’s not true.
The settlements and the mad settlers have to go. But what’s that got to do with Hamas? There are no longer settlements in Gaza.
Israel has been running a blockade of Gaza. It removed its settlers from Gaza to run a more effective prison. It just killed 1300, wounded 5000, and damaged or destroyed some 20,000 buildings.
Also with some half million settlers on the West Bank and Jerusalem, they are not going anywhere. Israel effectively eliminated the possibility of a two state solution. It now is running an apartheid state. The only viable long term solution will be a binational unitary state.
I will take the word of the IAEA before the propaganda of the US and Israel. You were joking with your comment, right? I am still waiting for you to explain why it was legal under International Law for the US to attack Afghanistan? You might have missed the question a few days ago. That would surprise me as you do make a point of sending me comments and looking for my answer and I had responded to you in that instance.
It is propaganda from the mad man that said 911 was good for Israel. He claimed in a book that he ‘predicted’ 6 years before that those towers would be hit. How very interesting. He wants every Palestinian dead and it is that simple. He is not satisfied with a partial genocide, he wants a total one. And the US is going right along with the plan; paying for the weapons and excusing the results.
Nope. Not with Obama.
If we back either, it let’s the low yield nuke genie out of the bottle.
I believe, Israel just may HAVE some of them bunker busters we developed.
But to USE one of them? On Iran?
That let’s the genie out of the bottle and means China, Russia, Pakistan and India and France can play . . . and at TWO of them will play, one way or another, once genie is out of bottle.
We the USA, and libs/progressives, had best pray (against my personal inclination) that Obama can beat back the Pentagon, the 4 Star Gen’s massing against him for Iraq/Afghan policy, and prevent Israel from using nukes on anyone.
Cuz once that genie’s out of the bottle . . . . . all bets are off. And EVERY little insurgent group with a cause will be seeking to piss someone off to use on against someone else . . . . there will be firefights across the globe, and SOME of them are bound to result in more low yield nuke usage.
At that point, all bets are off . . . .
Here’s the latest REPORTED rift ‘tween Petraeus and The Prez.
If this grows, we got ourselves a real internal issue. Who runs the country? A revolt? Coup?
Common sense says cooler heads will prevail and support the Prez. But I see a complete lack of common sense amongst the 23%, the 4 Stars For War Machine and the Banking, Big Biz and Munitions factions.
Stay tuned for some serious suspense if this shit by the 4 Stars takes root and is NOT dealt with fast. Petraeus, Ordiern, Gates should be relieved of command, IMMEDIATELY, for treason against the CIC. And Keane should be muffled, somehow, legally.
This is a key issue, I think. Keep yer eyes on it pups. This could go incendiary in a heartbeat.
And only HuffPo, so far, has covered it that I can find?
“Israel does not recognize
The Hamas government in Gaza –
But holds it responsible
For the attacks from there.”
“Israel does not recognize
The Hamas government in Gaza –
But demands that it
Guarantee the cease-fire there.”
“That is ridiculous. That is hopeless.
We must talk with Hamas.
The enemy in war is also
The partner in the cease-fire.”
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/ho…../weekly_ad
Palestine was guaranteed the status of Statehood when Israel was formed. Apartheid has been the policy for a long long time.
Yes, that is what this is all about. In twenty years, the Jews will be a minority. That is why Israel constantly tries to get Jews from around the world to move there. A one state solution would mean that the Zionists failed. There would be no more Israel. Bolten promoted a 3 state solution to the 2 state problem ie give the people of Gaza to the control of Jordon and Syria. The f..ker proposed that Western countries pay for that, too.
To police the Israelis’s, or to support them? *G*
I thought I sent you an answer for that,bb. Ar you sure I didn’t?
No doubt on the answer to that, unfortunately.
I agree about the situation in Gaza. I tend to disagree about your statement re the settlements on the West Bank, I think that the buildings are staying, but sovereignty is going to pass back over most of the land.
I might have missed your answer as I was quite busy at Perris’s diary that night. No problem, I am sure that you can answer me for a second time.
Thx I saw that and loved it. The BS that Hamas isn’t governing Gaza is just BS.
Briefly, for this thread isn’t for that, the US based the right to attack Afghanistan the idea that the Afghani regime was complicit in al Qaeda’s attack of 9/11 and therefore the right of self-defense was invoked.
fyi…when israel ordered the israeli settlers out of gaza they destroyed all the settlers’ houses. those houses could have been used by the gazans. it broke my heart that they tore down those buildings.
i wouldn’t expect them to leave the west bank. however, should that ever come to pass, i’d fully expect them to also destroy the buildings the israelis have built there.
No. The houses won’t be destroyed unless the madmen currently living in them do it.
In the Gaza pullout, didn’t somebody pay the Israelis to leave a great many large greenhouses standing?
Israel has destroyed the majority of farmland. I will find the video later. Have to leave for awhile. I will get back to you on Afghanistan when I get home.
*****************
” Gaza’s 1.5 million people are facing a food crisis as a result of the destruction of great areas of farmland during the Israeli invasion. “
” According to the World Food Programme, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and Palestinian officials, between 35% and 60% of the agriculture industry has been wrecked by the three-week Israeli attack, which followed two years of economic siege. “
” Christine van Nieuwenhuyse, the World Food Programme’s country director, said: “We are hearing that 60% of the land in the north – where the farming was most intensive – may not be exploitable again. It looks to me like a disaster. It is not just farmland, but poultry as well. “
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..ood-crisis
Interesting argument.
I don’t blame them for wanting to be free of enemies bearing nukes. Maybe they should be more actively seeking peace treaties as well as militarily strong.
Is the Zionist Project a plan to take more land than is within the boundaries of Israel? If so, why should we support that?
Merely playing out the current back and forth fighting to keep “an acceptably low level of destruction and death” doesn’t actually lead to real lasting Peace. It’s a failed (or at least incomplete) strategy and immoral for those who are constantly being put at risk during these small wars.
Safe trip,bb
America helped create Israel. We support a nation for the world’s Jews. We support a Republic. We support a Democracy. We support their economy and national defense.
We will not support acts of aggressive war, especially with nukes.
If they attack with nukes when not in concert with our military then I think it’s safe to say Israel will be done — seen as hopelessly irresponsible with a military force.
As irresponsible as George W. Bush was, he didn’t use nukes.
3,000 greenhouses were left to the Gazans. James Wolfensohn arranged to pay the outgoing settlers $14MM.
I saw the report of the farmland destruction. It says that the livelyhood of 13,000 families has been affected.
That hasn’t caused the food crises. The food crises is due to the disruption of UN supplies. The UN estimates that 70% of Gazans depend on donated food.
You must learn to read slower.
************
” Gaza’s 1.5 million people are facing a food crisis as a result of the destruction of great areas of farmland during the Israeli invasion. “
************
Here is the video. The Israeli’s destroyed the farmland. They destroyed olive trees, they ploughed through the land with tanks, they crushed barns with chickens in them, etc.
*****************
http://uruknet.info/?p=m51358&…..1&l=e
*****************
Siun will forgive me for asking you that question as she knows that I always participate in her Gaza threads. It was illegal. This is not International Law…this is Bush doctrine. Regime change is not a valid reason for an illegal invasion of a country.
******************
” The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001 as the U.S. military operation Operation Enduring Freedom, was launched by the United States with the United Kingdom in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. The United States’ Bush Doctrine stated that, as policy, it would not distinguish between al-Qaeda and nations that harbor them. “
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)
This is the ‘love’ written by Rabbis for the IDF.
****************
” An overview of some of the army rabbinate’s publications made available during the fighting reflects the tone of nationalist propaganda that steps blatantly into politics, sounds racist and can be interpreted as a call to challenge international law when it comes to dealing with enemy civilians. “
” Haaretz has received some of the publications through Breaking the Silence, a group of former soldiers who collect evidence of unacceptable behavior in the army vis-a-vis Palestinians. Other material was provided by officers and men who received it during Operation Cast Lead. Following are quotations from this material: “
” The IDF rabbinate, also quoting Rabbi Aviner, describes the appropriate code of conduct in the field: “When you show mercy to a cruel enemy, you are being cruel to pure and honest soldiers. This is terribly immoral. These are not games at the amusement park where sportsmanship teaches one to make concessions. This is a war on murderers. ‘A la guerre comme a la guerre.’”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058758.html
I guess the Rabbis never read the paperwork that declared Israel existed ’cause it also mandated the statehood of Palestine. This history revision is just a bit much. Funny..most of the Jews in Israel are European descent..minor detail, I guess. This is a declaration of the intentions of the Zionist..no more Palestine period. They stole the Palestinian land originally and now they want all of it.
**************
” Today the problem is the same. The Palestinians claim they deserve a state here, when in reality there was never a Palestinian or Arab state within the borders of our country. Moreover, most of them are new and came here close to the time of the War of Independence.”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058758.html
Israel just does not appreciate the truth of its actions getting out to the world.
**************
” Instead, it chose to limit the network’s activity in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. First, Israel will not renew the visas of Al Jazeera’s non-Israeli employees or grant visas to new employees. Second, station representatives will have reduced accessibility to government and military bodies, and will not be allowed into briefings or press conferences. “
” Third, the network will have access to only three official spokespeople – those of the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces. The information directorate has also instructed Knesset members and ministers not to grant interviews or otherwise cooperate with Al Jazeera, but this is a non-binding instruction which lawmakers may apply at their discretion. “
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1061115.html
Hi again.
I’m not disputing the farmland destruction. What I’m telling you is that I think that you’re saying that (from 47)” Gaza’s 1.5 million people are facing a food crises as a result…”.
That’s unlikely because 70% of Gazans were, BEFORE the invasion, being fed by donation, if you believe the UN.
On the Afghan invasion, if I remember correctly, you asked me under what law the invasion was justified. I gave you a justification theory. You could probably shoot holes in it, but simply stating that it’s not valid would not be sufficient.
Iran is the problem..Livni wants peace; the lies go on and on. I am not sure what the reference to bi-national state means. Not sure I want to know. Her last sentence is almost enough to turn a human’s blood into ice water.
**************
” Addressing international relations, the foreign minister discussed the increased solidarity with Israel, saying “when we looked around we used to feel secluded, [but now] we see alongside Israel other countries for which Israel is not the enemy any more and [they] understand Iran is also their main enemy.”
” Speaking ahead of the general elections, scheduled for Feb. 10, Livni said “these elections will decide whether we are ready to take that next step toward peace, and that is up to the citizens of Israel to decide.”
“The choice will be between a Jewish state and a bi-national state. Will we be a state of fear or a state of hope?” Livni asked. “
” Livni also commented on Israel’s recent three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip, which ended as the two sides declared separate truces last month, saying “we cannot afford to accept their [Hamas’] rule in Gaza and it’s not only us, it’s everyone in the neighborhood we call the Middle East, and if by ending the operation we have yet to achieve deterrence we will continue until they get the message.”
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060932.html
The stuff with the rabbinate is good and true. Saying that the Israelis prevent the creation of a Palestine side-by-side with Israel, though, isn’t correct. The Palestinians chose war to prevent the creation of Israel, rejecting the formation of a Palestine that was apportioned.
It is impossible to prove a theory. It is possible to prove a legal written document that gave the right under International Law. Go find it and leave me alone until you do, please. Seek and thou shalt find..or not.
” Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades called WND and also released an official pamphlet to take credit for firing at least five rockets and four mortars today, lightly wounding two Israeli soldiers and one civilian. Also taking responsibility was a cell claiming it was working on behalf of the Iranian-backed, Hamas-allied Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. “
” The claimed results of an immediate investigation launched by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad were shared with WND. The probe found the Islamic Jihad rockets were actually fired by Fatah. “
” Hamas and Islamic Jihad sources explained that when Hamas took over Gaza from its Fatah rivals in 2007, about 100 members of Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades joined Islamic Jihad, and it was those members who launched today’s attacks. “
http://www.palestinianmothers……mas-firing
” HOWEVER, THE worst results of this war are still invisible and will make themselves felt only in years to come: Israel has imprinted on world consciousness a terrible image of itself. Billions of people have seen us as a blood-dripping monster. They will never again see Israel as a state that seeks justice, progress and peace. The American Declaration of Independence speaks with approval of “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind”. That is a wise principle. “
” Even worse is the impact on hundreds of millions of Arabs around us: not only will they see the Hamas fighters as the heroes of the Arab nation, but they will also see their own regimes in their nakedness: cringing, ignominious, corrupt and treacherous. “
” The Arab defeat in the 1948 war brought in its wake the fall of almost all the existing Arab regimes and the ascent of a new generation of nationalist leaders, exemplified by Gamal Abd-al-Nasser. The 2009 war may bring about the fall of the current crop of Arab regimes and the ascent of a new generation of leaders – Islamic fundamentalists who hate Israel and all the West..”
” In coming years it will become apparent that this war was sheer madness. The boss has indeed gone mad – in the original sense of the word. “
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/ho…..1232152100
The leaked database of the illegal Israeli government’s settlements has been made into a map. A click on the blue dots gives a complete description of the settlement.
http://www.philipweiss.org/mon…..r-map.html
I tried a fix for this link, but could not make it work. Sorry.
philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/02/spiegel-database-of-west-bank-settlements-and-outposts—view-larger-map.html
http:www. goes at the front, of course….This should compensate for the fact that I don’t know how to make the link work.
I hit submit before I saw your message. Thanks for trying.
” Israel, she said, is a Jewish and democratic state. The Arab citizens enjoy full civil rights. But they must know that this is the Jewish nation-state, while they belong to another nation, and their nation-state will be the putative Palestinian state. “
” This statement did not arouse a storm, not on the spot and not in the media. It does not contradict the convictions of most Israelis. The public accepts the view that Israel is a Jewish state, and that its Arab citizens are, at most, a tolerated minority. “
” What is special about Tzipi Livni is her emphasis on the two words “nation state”. She has made them into her trademark and repeats them at every opportunity. They give her statements a certain respectability, the halo of a thought-out world-view, which makes her sound different from Ehud Olmert, Binyamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, who, of course, think exactly the same. “
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/ho…..1229205376
” Instead of the group of American Jews who had been in charge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during both the Clinton and Bush administrations, Obama, on his very first day in office, appointed an Arab-American, George Mitchell, whose mother had come to America from Lebanon at age 18, and who himself, orphaned from his Irish father, was brought up in a Maronite Christian Lebanese family. “
” These are not good tidings for the Israeli leaders. For the last 42 years, they have pursued a policy of expansion, occupation and settlements in close cooperation with Washington. They have relied on unlimited American support, from the massive supply of money and arms to the use of the veto in the Security Council. This support was essential to their policy. This support may now be reaching its limits. “
” It will happen, of course, gradually. The pro-Israel lobby in Washington will continue to put the fear of God into Congress. A huge ship like the United States can change course only very slowly, in a gentle curve. But the turn-around started already on the first day of the Obama administration. “
” Fortunately, there is also another Israel. It is not in the limelight, and its voice is heard only by those who listen out for it. This is a sane, rational Israel, with its face to the future, to progress and peace. In these coming elections, its voice will barely be heard, because all the old parties are standing with their two feet squarely in the world of yesterday. “
” We want to be on the right side of history. That will take months or years, but I am sure that we shall get there. The time to start is now. “
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/ho…..1232853498
Well, but scarily put, Siun. “rather total disregard for world opinion over Gaza” really nails it. And “war hungry comments” … this, too, was chilling.
The ambassador’s wanting to turn off the cameras. The willful, relentless momentum …
Thank you for the updates. I am praying especially hard these days for peace.
There are pictures at the site.
*****************
“For over four weeks, nearly continuous protest demonstrations against Israel’s full-scale military assault on Gaza have been unfolding in the streets of cities around the world. The United States, whose government has fully backed the Israeli invasion, was no exception. California witnessed the largest protests ever against against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories: over 3,000 in San Jose on four successive weekends beginning on January 4, 2009, over 10,000 in San Francisco on January 10 and December 28-30, 2008, and thousands more in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and elsewhere. “
” A young woman who had family trapped in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza spoke eloquently at an interfaith candlelight vigil at San Jose City Hall on January 15, 2009 about why so many Palestinian Americans and supporters are now speaking out. Palestinians in Gaza “have not been able to live a life,” she said. It was not always this way because “Palestine was the land of Christians, Muslims, and Jews – always.” She went on to explain why Americans have a vital responsibility for what is happening in Palestine: “Our tax dollars are funding this atrocity 100 per cent.” “
” Israel may have won the battle for Gaza with a kill ratio of 100 Palestinians for each Israeli killed, but it has decisively lost the battle to break the Palestinian people’s will to resist. It has also lost the contest for world sympathy and support. While President Obama disappointingly promises only incremental change in U.S. policy towards Israel and Palestine, American public opinion is shifting under his feet. People are mobilizing into civic action in escalating numbers, and making their voices heard. Obama has promised to listen. Now is the time for him to prove it, for the solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict lies not so much in Tel Aviv or Ramallah or Gaza City, but rather in Washington, DC. “
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421023.html
” About the Project ”
” Israeli and international corporations are directly involved in the occupation: in the construction of Israeli colonies and infrastructure in the occupied territories, in the settlements’ economy, in building walls and checkpoints, in the supply of specific equipment used in the control and repression of the civilian population under occupation.
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http://www.whoprofits.org/
The US government should register under FARA.
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fara/
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” The second example of Zionist belief in Israeli supremacy over US Middle East policy and Presidential servility came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Olmert’s boast that he successfully dictated and imposed White House policy in the United Nation. According to the Forward: “Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert didn’t do anything wrong but he should have kept his mouth shut. That was the reaction of several Jewish leaders…’I have no problem with what Olmert did’, said Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.” (Forward, January 15, 2009) Former AIPAC chief lobbyist Douglas Bloomfield, stated that he (an American citizen) had no problem with Israel dictating US policies but ‘it is a mistake to talk about it.’ (Forward, January 15, 2009). By talking about Israel’s power in Washington, it exposes the role of the Zionist Power Configuration in deciding US policies. “
” By savaging Gaza with extreme brutality, Israel is testing the waters of US support for more offensive wars. Gaza allowed the Jewish leaders to measure the depth and scope of US Zionist political influence and their willingness to ‘go all the way’ when Israel decides to bomb 74 million Iranians in to the stone age. Or as the famous Israeli Zionist historian, Benny Morris, suggested in the New York Times July 18,2008, turn Iran “into a nuclear wasteland”. “
” On the most obvious level Olmert’s revelation confirms the power of Israeli leaders over the White House. Secondly, the public nature of the exercise of power, tells the world that Israel can openly flaunt its capacity to humiliate and ridicule the President of the United States and later brag before Israeli officials with no adverse consequences. Thirdly it tells us that Israel has a greater say in US foreign policy than the American Secretary of State (or Foreign Minister). Fourthly it tells us that Israel decides how the US behaves, votes, vetoes and abstains in the Security Council, subject to Israeli approval. “
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420999.html
[Mod Note: Edited by Mod for length. To help keep the FDL servers running smoothly and to avoid any copyright issues, please do not post entire articles. Thank you. ]
I made the error of posting an entire article only once because the wording of the website said that the article could be cross posted only if not altered. The article that I posted from was one of the longest I have ever seen. I do not understand why you edited for length.
What is the maximum length for your server?