No Change for the Palestinians

international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis

Thursday December 04, 2008 15:52

by Maidhc Ó Cathail

Obama picks Israeli hard-liner as White House Chief of Staff

Despite rightwing media attempts to portray Barack Obama as a covert Muslim during the U.S. Presidential election campaign, his appointment of pro-Israel hard-liner Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff indicates that there will be no change in American policy toward Israel/Palestine.

“Change we can believe in” - whatever is meant by “change” - was the marketing slogan of Barack Obama’s successful presidential election campaign. The next president of the United States quickly let it be known, however, that there would be no change in American policy toward Israel, with his first appointment as White House Chief of Staff - Rahm Emanuel.

“There could not be a more provocative appointment than Rahm Emanuel,” wrote Ali Abunimah, the editor of Electronic Intifada (5 November, 2008), an online news site from a Palestinian perspective, “if he wanted to send a signal that he is going to stick by a quite hardline pro-Israel policy.”

Rahm Emanuel’s father has no doubts either that his son will influence President-elect Obama’s Middle East policy in favour of Israel. According to an article in the Jerusalem Post (6 November, 2008), Dr. Benjamin Emanuel said in an interview with the Hebrew newspaper Ma’ariv: “Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to clean the floors of the White House.”

Whatever about the doctor’s racist comments, he is right. The Chief of Staff is a very important position because it’s he who decides who gets access to the President and who doesn’t. If Rahm has inherited any of his father’s racism, it’s unlikely that many Arabs will be given access while he’s running the White House.

Israeli Terrorism

In the 1940s Benjamin Emanuel smuggled weapons to the Irgun, the Zionist militia of Menachem Begin, (one of three Israeli Prime Ministers - Yitkhak Shamir and Ariel Sharon are the other two - who were former terrorists), which waged a campaign of terror against the Palestinians and the British, including the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946, in which 93 people were killed. As a result of the ruthless acts of Emanuel’s comrades, the Jewish state was established two years later. Founded on terrorism, the Israeli state is now in the vanguard of the “global war on terrorism.”

Although Rahm Emanuel was born and raised in Chicago, he also showed his loyalty to Israel when he volunteered his services to the Israeli army during the Gulf War in 1991. He maintained vehicles for the army near the border with Lebanon while Israel was occupying the southern part of that country.

Member of Congress

Rahm Emanuel was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2003, where he has been a staunch defender of Israel’s aggressive policies ever since. In June of that year, he was less than pleased with President Bush when Bush criticised the Israeli policy of assassinating Palestinian leaders. Along with 33 other Democrats, Emanuel signed a letter to Bush in which they said: “We were deeply dismayed to hear your criticism of Israel for fighting acts of terror.”

In July 2006, Emanuel gave a speech in the House of Representatives supporting Israel’s attack on Lebanon, in which they destroyed the country’s infrastructure and killed over a thousand civilians. He also tried to prevent Nouri al-Maliki, the President of Iraq, from speaking to Congress because of his criticism of the attack.

Ethnic Cleansing

Emanuel sometimes feigns concern for Palestinian civilians, however. In July 2006, he wrote to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice “on behalf of students in the Gaza Strip whose future is threatened by the ongoing fighting there.” Instead of criticising Israel for its barbaric blockade of the region, Emanuel laid the blame on the fighting between Hamas and Fatah. Predictably, he failed to mention that the United States had fomented the violence to get rid of the Hamas government, which had been democratically elected by the Palestinian people in 2006. Emanuel advised Rice to cooperate with other governments in the region - for example, Egypt and Jordan - to find a safe place in those countries for students from Gaza.

Palestinians are well aware, however, that the likes of Emanuel are not genuinely concerned with the students’ safety. It’s merely an excuse to transfer young Palestinians out of the country, as part of the ongoing ethnic cleansing that is necessary to maintain a Jewish majority in the Israeli state. At present, Palestinians comprise a little over 50 percent of the population in Israel and the Occupied Palestinians Terroritories combined, and that’s cause for concern for the Israeli government and its supporters overseas like Rahm Emanuel.

Obama's Zionism

After Barack Obama spoke this June before AIPAC - the most powerful Israel lobby in the United States - Emanuel accompanied him to a meeting with AIPAC’s executive committee. The committee must have been pleased with Obama’s speech in which he pledged his firm support to the Israeli state. But they must have been delighted when Obama controversially said that an undivided Jerusalem was the capital of Israel, despite United Nations resolutions condemning Israel’s annexation of the city, and despite the fact that no country has its embassy in Jerusalem.

During the election, right-wing media like Fox News spread doubts that Barack Obama was a covert Muslim. They focused on his middle name, Hussein, trying to forge a link in the minds of an ignorant audience between Obama and Saddam Hussein. They must be happy now, however, that Rahm Israel Emanuel will be in the White House making sure that President Obama isn’t “soft” on terrorists - Muslim terrorists, that is. Of course, American and Israeli terrorists will be given free rein to widen their “war on terror.” Plus ça change...

This article was originally published in the Irish-language magazine Beo (www.beo.ie). That article can be read here:
http://www.beo.ie/?page=ar_na_saolta_seo&content_id=757

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Comments (16 of 16)

One state or two states? but stick to one objective!

by Frank Adam - private citizen

Sat Dec 06, 2008 18:24

Maidhic Cathail gives herself away by referring to the Arabs of Palestine being half the population in Israel AND the occupied territories; presuming to have the two state cake and eat it at the same time like a United Ireland? Nobody lives alone. If you can not stand the cousins, move. If you persisit in bricking their windows do not be surprised some of the shards cut yourself.

Currently there is Israel, AND territories that the UN since 1947 holds should be an Arab state in Palestine but which were bagged by Jordan and Egypt for twenty years; OR there is a single ex-British Palestine which when it suits certain lobbies they hold is all one political entity and damn the self-determination of Israel's 4/5ths Jewish majority to go back to Europe Iraq or the USA, as much as some say the Arabs should return to Egypt, Jordan or wherever.

This is like saying there should be one successor to the British Raj and damn the self-determination of the Pakistan Moslem overwhelming majority or Hindu independence from the Moguls or stuff the rights of the Northern Protestants of Ireland to secede from Ireland, even as Ireland seceded from UK.

Those who second an Arab state for the Palestine Arabs are welcome but tell their team the price is recognising and living with the one and only Jewish state in Israel next door. The longer Arabs needle Israel as they have done since 1949 instead of bottling her behind signed off frontiers as the Arabs could have done in 1949, 1967 - or 1937 and several other missed moments; the longer it will take to restore calm and trade. It will also help if the Arabs knuckled down to run their own affairs without their own civil war and spent their substance on civil building instead of shooting each other as much as the neighbours - who at the behest of Egypt, Syria and Iran have included Lebanese and Jordanians in 1970 & 76 at the least.

Then the sauce for goose and gander. If there are - are to be - Arab citizens in Israel, there is nothing against Jewish citizens or residents in Palestine. Since1920 the Arab PR smoothed case has been: no objection to Jews, only no Jewish state. Look at India where a eighth of the population is Moslem; or Ireland where there are Protestants in the South and Catholics in the North; but in both cases, the neighbouring states agreed at the departure of the British, to recognise each others' self-determination. Now re- read the Charters of the PLO and Hamas and it is clear why there is continual violence around Israel. The PLO & Hamas take a one way, instead of two way attitude to the World and as it happens are driving out the Middle East Christians a lot more quickly. For all the talk about the self inflicted problems of the Palestine Arabs why are there almost no non- Moslems in Pakistan and why are you backing the idea of no non- Moslems in Palestine?

Israel not getting it all its own way.

by Reporter12

Mon Dec 08, 2008 19:17

Sure thing Frank, whatever you say ! YAAAAWWWWNNN !

Meanwhile back in the EU there possibly IS change for the Palestinians afoot. The long awaited upgrading of ties between the EU and Israel will have to be awaited longer. The upcoming vote, that would see Israel gain first class quality access to the EU Arena if it were passed, ( and it surely would be) has been postponed on the basis that Israel is being told to clean up it's act in Palestine.
This will come as a surprise to all the right wing Israelis ( thats all of them bar 20 or 30 journalists) who profess hatred for anti-semitic Europe yet expect their magic, " guilt key " to open the Union on every level upon which benefits can be extracted.
In return for ever increasing and unprecedented access to Europe, Israel has striven to treat the Palestinians like insects and have recently turned the Mediteranean into a playground for its pirates and terrorists who never miss a chance to violate the rights of any person coming within range of their water cannons.

It remains to be seen, is this new move on behalf of Europe a real attempt to enforce the democratic values of Europe along with the practical ethos of the Human rights Declarations in place of Israel's terror mechanisms, or is it just more European Hot Air designed to make Europe appear reserved beside the ever eager USA.

For the sake of the struggling Palestinians, lets hope this declaration has some teeth that dont go into a glass beside the bed each night.

http://www.imemc.org/article/57940

"It's time for the Israeli Government to stop considering itself above the law and start respecting it, beginning by freezing all settlement building activities and ending its siege on the Gaza Strip. Until the Israeli Government signals its willingness to abide by international law, and especially human rights and humanitarian law, the European Parliament is not disposed to vote," the EP’s Vice President, Luisa Morgantini, declared in a scathing Parliamentary statement.

New lake in Brussels?

by Sceptic

Mon Dec 08, 2008 20:55

Firstly the European Parliament is fully democratic being directly elected
so that a vote there is similarly democratic whatever else you may think of it. Also the picture in the link is not of the EP in Brussels – it is of Strasbourg, France.

E U and Democracy EU business report

by Sean Og

Tue Dec 09, 2008 09:31

EU moves to boost ties with Israel EUbusiness.com

- business, legal and economic news and information from the European Union

The ministers, after talks in Brussels, said in a statement that they wanted to improve relations with Israel.
But that had to be based on "democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, good governance and international humanitarian law." -

And when the EU attains that level acceptable to Israel the EU will apply again

Meanwhile we must here keep voting until we give you the result you want us to give - after all we must all fall in line - is nt that democracy and respect for human rights E U Style ?

http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228762922.93

You harvest what you reap

by Frank Adam - Private citizen

Tue Dec 09, 2008 15:05

The Arab World reaps what it sowed in violently rejecting UN 181 and for years Arab states refused to acknowledge their fellow UN member, Israel, according to UN charter obligations Arab states signed up to eighteen of them after Israel had.

For decades Arab states have refused to take responsibility and pursued their violent policies by ope war with Soviet tanks or deniable private sector jihadis and other resistants - that wore Syrian or other army's boots and are liberally supplied with the latest in rockets from Soviet, Chinese or Iranian factories. Your "friends" (Who needs enemies?) stoke terrorism - they get it back deservedly.

When the whole shebang backfires the crocodiles weep copiously and hypocritically shout, "Human rights!" and much elsewhile forgetting that war and peace and mutual recognition are a two way streets. The late Abba Eban put it rather well: " The Arabs can have peace; or the Arabs can have war. What the Arabs can not have is that we [Israel] should be at peace and they [Arabs] at war."

The present depression and the impending "peak oil" will create a situation in which the World moves out of oil and certainly does not have spare cash to bail out the impecunious thugs of the Arab League and OIC. Then the Ahmadinejads and Arabs either get off their high horses and clean up their own act over international respect and hangings or they will find themselves abandoned with exasperation. The only reason Egypt and Iran can currently feed themselves is on North American grain and European populations are no more welcoming to refugees than they were in the fifty years before 1940.

Kouchner is not averse to a bit of Harvesting.

Tue Dec 09, 2008 21:14

France's Foreign Minister, Kouchner, has managed to cut out the Organ of European Parliamentary democracy during a private meeting with Israels Foreign Minister, Livni. During a closed meeting with Livni, from which all other Foreign Ministers were excluded it was pretty much agreed to drop any conditions on Israel receiving upgraded access to Europe. This most likely will overturn the Parliamentary decision made last week to make Israel's participation in Europe dependant on it's curbing of it's continuing human rights abuses in Palestine.

http://www.imemc.org/article/57954

--- Last week, after being denied a vote altogether by EP Vice-President, Luisa Morgantini, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tzipi Livni, decided to do some more lobbying with the EP’s foreign ministers, but in particular Bernard Kouchner of France, who currently sits as the EU’s rotating president. ---

Why Kouchner ?

Well, Hes got the credentials that would appeal to the Fascist Israeli regime for sure.

He is known for his tendency to use Humanitarian disasters as a pretext for promoting military intervention, specifically in oil rich regions. No luck for the Palestinians there!

He's been disowned by Medicin Sans Frontiers, which he helped found, for such tendencies.

He's a right wing supporter of Israel .

He also thinks America is great and has brought France a long way back to being a US Lacky after their admirable opposition to Iraq.

He is a actually a Supporter of the war of destruction in Iraq.

A proponent for the destruction of Iran, if they dont do what they are being told.

And like Israel, He's not averse to indulging in a bit of terrorist abetting himself as he showed in his tenure as UN Chief in Yugoslavia when he enabled the terrorist KLA ethnically cleanse 400,000 Serbs from "Kosovo" .

Perhaps what most endeared him to Livni was his shady involvement in stealing body parts from kidnapped Serbs which has brought him to be compared to none other the Nazi Dr. Mengele.

http://byzantinesacredart.com/blog/2008/05/blod-trail-t....html

Yes, this guy is some piece of work. And he's Ours ,all ours, at the EU, undermining the work of the Parliament.

Vote Yes to Lisbon... Yay !!!

http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/lovein.htm

Christians in Palestinian areas

by Maerton - None

Thu Dec 11, 2008 09:06

Kfar Vradim, Galilee, Israel.

There is a terrible outcry in the territories that was once part of Trans-Jordan ,now called Palestine by many. The cries are being muffled and the stories are being censored by the ruling thugs. No reports are allowed to be published or else say goodbye to the reporter and his family. The Christians of Judea and Samaria are being forced out, their businesses are being forcefully bought at low prices, their lives are constantly under threat, the Churches are being ransacked or taken over (remember Bethleham a few years ago and the disgusting situation at the holy Chuch of the Nativity) and the poor (once rich) Christians are living in fear. My colleagues and friends there (Christians) told me that a few months ago a gang of Muslims came to their door to take away his daughter who would be married that day to a Muslim who really fancied her. The local Iman was there too ready to convert her. Luckily my friend has a licenced gun for hunting and he threatened to shoot them on the spot. They left but he packed his bags and took his family away and they live near me now (in a Christian village 10 minute drive from me)but still in fear. He has left everything behind him, just like many Jews had to do in Europe. He awaits a visa to Canada where he wants to join his family who fled before him. They tell me tales of intimination of all the Christians as the Mulims do not want the "Crusaders" in their lands.
Where are the crying people being heard.? The Vatican says nothing (like under the Nazi regime too), the leading Church people say nothing, The Irish say nothing but you Irish protest the sale of an orange that is grown in Israel (or so I hear) but yet you don't give one ounce of your strength in fighting for the legitimate rights of your fellow co-religionists. This Christmas they will suffer even more as they venture to go out and pray and they surely will be hasrrised if they dare to display a christmas tree in their dwelling place.
The Council of Christians and Jews are trying to raise money to help these families buy food and stay alive during what should be a festive occasion and I know you will all marvel at the show that will be allowed for the world to see from the Church of the Nativity but what they will not allow you to see, will be the voices of those Christians who are under threat and who will not be allowed to attend.
If you do wish to help feed starving Christians here in the Holy Land then please contact the council at http://www.ifcj.org where they will direct you to the right place.

Happy Christmas and Chanukah to all my fellow citizens.

Racism 101

Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:04

Imagine the scene......

You are a student sitting in your class in school. next minute the door opens and with fanfrare in walks none other that Biffo Cowen, our thundering , blundering Prime minister. He's introduced by the learned faculty of the hallowed education system.
After clearing his throat he proceeds to deliver his important message.

Dear children,

I am here today to tell you that Protestants are not welcome in Ireland. We give them equal rights here, but now that we have found it within our Catholic hearts to give them the six counties thay should realise that there is no future in Ireland for them. Their National realisation is elsewhere and they should leave our lovely Catholic State.

Than you Kiddies.

X X

Welcome to Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.

http://www.imemc.org/article/57992

Two States

Sat Dec 13, 2008 17:36

Hermon 68 Kfar Vradim 25147 Galilee

Those who refuse to accept the Nationality of the State that they live in and refuse to serve the State, have no place there.

I cannot understand why this should be a problem. Let us say that the Protestants and Muslims of the Republic refuse to accept the Dail as their parliament and Dublin as its Capitol but not only that, they also refuse to pay taxes but delight in receiving benifits, do they deserve the right to live in Ireland? I say no!

When one is called to serve the country that you were born in and you refuse, are you entitled to be a equal citizen of the country? I say no!

If therefore you have an alternative place to live where you agree with the mode of Government and they are part of your brethern and religion, why should there be restrictions on your movement? If you wish to live in a different society and you disagree with the society where you were born, then you should be free to move to a place which is more acceptable to you.

Those people, be they Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, Druse, Zoroastrian, Bahai or other who live in Israel and refuse to join the army or do National service and help the less fortunate have no place in Israel.
In fact anyone living anywhere who refuses to help the country that they were born in, have no place or say in that country in my humble opinion.

Those too who refuse to vote are usually the ones who complain most.
So if anyone wants equality, then let them serve and let them pay their taxes too and vote.

Disgraceful.

by Vincent

Sat Dec 13, 2008 20:09

Mr Maerton,

I think it is safe to say that the most informative part of your "analysis" is the bit where you said : " I cannot understand why this should be a problem. "

Everything else in your post can be explained by this fact.

Many people in many countries refuse the draft and they dont have to surrender citizenship as a consequence.Your belief that it should be standard process belies your totalitarian outlook. Besides, it is not for any reason other than their non-Jewish identity that Livni is proscribing that they leave the country.

Her father was only in Palestine 3 decades when she was born and now she is telling families that have lived there for 10, 20, 30, 40 or more generations they have no future there. Thats the kind of Chutzpah that precedes pogroms, ethnic cleansing or worse.

The fact that she vomits this out in front of a high school classroom informs us of how Israel, in general, intends to treat it's minorities for years to come.
As you say in your weasle words,these minority citizens should be free to move to a place which is more acceptable to them, but they should also be free to stay in their homes and not have to worry that the Prime Minister is not going to come to their daughter's school and tell her to sling her hook, shes not welcome.

The fact that you presume that Palestinians with Israeli citizenship dont work, vote or pay taxes clarifies without doubt that, like Livni, you are democratically and racially challenged in your consideration of these important issues.

Sat Dec 13, 2008 22:37

Is nt this exactly what happened here in the "South " in the 1920s 1930s and 1940s

Was not Devs and everyone else in Irish govt --puppets of the Church concept ?

It only took 80 -90 years and EU money to get rid of that idea

Pure evil

by Susan

Thu Dec 18, 2008 15:21

No impression of the plight of the Palestinians under the Israeli occupation is complete without reading and fully understanding the fate suffered by the al-Kurd family of Jerusalem at the hands of the Israeli authorities and the rabble of immigrants invading East Jerusalem.
Israeli journalist Gideon Levy gives a full and shocking account of these harrowing events.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=1...47895

" Everything was left behind, all their belongings. Her husband in pajamas, she in a nightgown, that's all they had. "I asked a policewoman for water and she shouted: 'Shut up!' They were so violent, that's why I'll never forgive them. My husband was crying and they were laughing." "

Israel's only hope, locked up !

Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:32

Mr Maertopn says : " Those who refuse to accept the Nationality of the State that they live in and refuse to serve the State, have no place there. "

These young people, for expresssing their moral postitions and paying the price in jail, should be expelled from their country , according to his credo ?

---- Eighteen-year-old Raz Bar-David Varon, also serving her third prison term, said on the day of her arrest:

"I have witnessed this army demolishing, shooting and humiliating people whom I did not know… It hurts me when people, Palestinians, are being so brutally assaulted, and it hurts me when they later turn their hatred towards me because of it. I wasn't born to serve as a soldier who occupies another… My responsibility is to refuse."

---- Yuval Oron-Ofir was jailed for the third time on 14 December. The 19-year-old explained his reasons for refusing to enlist:

"There is another way, which is not the way of war. This is the path of dialogue, of understanding… of peace. This is why I shall not join an army behind whose actions I cannot stand and whose behavior I cannot justify."

---- Tamar Katz, aged 19, has already spent 50 days in jail and is serving her third prison sentence. In her declaration of refusal she stated:

"I am not willing to become part of an occupying army... I am not willing to become one of those holding the gun pointed indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians, and I do not believe that such actions could bring any change except ever more antagonism and violence in our region."

There is still hope while young people like this make a stand.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/israeli...81218

ARAB PEACE PLAN

by Sean Og - Media analyst

Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:21

Based on reports from Israel

Rockets rain down on southern Israel

Since Hamas decided to end the calm on 19 December, there has been a marked deterioration of the situation in southern Israel.

The Israel civilians living near the Gaza border have been the targets of Hamas rocket and mortar attacks for years, despite the fact that Israel disengaged from Gaza more than three years ago.

The situation improved somewhat during the state of calm that began in June of this year.

However, since Hamas decided to end the calm last Friday (19 December), there has been a marked deterioration.
Dozens of Kassam rockets are now raining down on Israel on a daily basis. Hamas is launching the longer-range and more deadly Grad Kaytusha rockets at the southern resort city of Ashkelon and is threatening to carry out suicide bombings in Israel.

The lives of the citizens of southern Israel are threatened with each launch.
More than a hundred thousand Israelis are trying to celebrate the eight-day festival of Hannukah, as well as to carry on with their normal day-to-day activities, only to be interrupted time and again by the warning sirens of an incoming missile.
They have only a few seconds to try to find cover, to pray that this time the rocket won't explode in a house, a school or a crowded supermarket. A whole generation of children is growing up in fear, dreading the next attack that could cut short their young lives, as has happened to too many of their neighbors.

Hamas, and Hamas alone, is responsible for the escalating violence.
it is said that Israel hopes that this terrorist organization, and the other organizations it can control, will cease their violent attacks on Israeli citizens, to the benefit of both Israeli and Gazan civilians.

Israel has no interest in conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip, but it is clear that the current situation, in which Israeli civilians are being targeted around the clock, cannot continue indefinitely.

The residents of the cities of Sderot and Ashkeon, as well as the towns and villages in ballistic range of the Gaza Strip, cannot be held hostage forever to the radical fundamentalist agenda of Hamas.

The government of Israel has the right - indeed, the duty - to protect its citizens. This is one of the most basic responsibilities of every democratic government, and Israel is no different.

Moreover, it is not only Israeli civilians who are being held hostage, so too are those Palestinian residents of Gaza who wanted the calm to continue.

Hamas and other terror organizations are firing from within populated areas, exposing Palestinian civilians to danger.
It cannot be emphasized enough that absolute responsibility for any injuries to such civilians lies solely with Hamas.
Hamas is willing to pay with the blood of Palestinian civilians in order to advance their own narrow interests.

Hamas also is willing to sacrifice the well-being of all the residents of Gaza. Israel does not want a humanitarian crisis in to develop in Gaza and will continue to supply rood, medications and electricity to Gaza's residents, as the situation allows
But the ability to supply these necessities depends on the conditions on the ground, as created by Hamas.

The violent attacks being carried out on Israel impair efforts to reach a peaceful resolution of the disputed issues between Israel and the Palestinians, harming the political aspirations of the Palestinians.

The situation created by the continuous mortar bomb and rocket attacks on Israel proves once again the necessity of isolating the Hamas terrorist organization. International pressure must be placed on Hamas, so that it stops its violent attacks and accepts the three conditions laid out by the international community.
Hamas is part of the international Jihadist movement and it is the responsibility of Israel, and the international community to strive to prevent Hamas from realizing its nefarious goals.

* * *

Selected statements

PM Olmert to Cabinet (21 Dec): "Last June, we decided on the calm agreement... The calm could exist only as long as it was administered by both sides and not with one side relentlessly launching Kassams and mortars... The State of Israel will know when to respond correctly and with the necessary responsibility."
FM Livni (22 Dec): "We cannot accept a situation in which Hamas continues to attack Israeli civilians in cities and communities within Israeli sovereign territory."
President Peres in Sderot (Dec 24): "In Gaza they light rockets, and in Sderot we light candles... To the Palestinians I say - we do not want to see you suffering on account of Hamas's guilt. The moment that you stop firing rockets at us, there will be quiet in Gaza and the crossings will be open."

Diary of events

On Friday morning (19 Dec), the Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades officially declared that the six-month calm was over. Three rockets fired from northern Gaza Strip landed in open areas in southern Israel, and Palestinians fired at farmers working in kibbutz fields. More than 40 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip over the weekend.
Palestinian terrorists fired over 20 Kassam rockets and mortars into Israel on Sunday (21 Dec), one damaging a house in Sderot. A foreign worker on a kibbutz was lightly injured from shrapnel from a mortar bomb.

On Tuesday (Dec 23) an IDF patrol killed three terrorists intending to plant an explosive device along the security fence on the border with Gaza near Netiv Ha'asara.

60-80 rockets and mortar bombs were fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip between Tuesday night and Wednesday (23-24 Dec), including 7 rockets at Ashkelon, among them Grad-type missiles, and 5 at Netivot - one exploding outside a local community center which was full of children enjoying Hanukkah activities. Although no injuries were reported, about 60 people were treated for shock and several homes suffered direct hits.

- Ynet - Rocket fire leads to close calls: Lives of three children saved as Grad missile fired from northern Gaza hit their home.

DM Barak (24 Dec) canceled plans to allow food and medicine to enter the Gaza Strip after the crossings had been closed due to ongoing rocket fire from Gaza. Trucks from Egypt and international relief organizations had been scheduled to cross into Gaza on Wednesday.

Citizens duty

Sun Dec 28, 2008 15:19

In a democratic society, it is known that one can refuse to serve their state. However, the elected government of that country has the right to refuse all and any services to that person. That person has also the right to leave that country.
In most countries like Britain, France, Italy and the United States, refusing to serve is punishable by a prison term.

4 people who refused to serve shows that like the Jews of Europe, in the past they'd prefer for their enemies to wipe them out. Luckily most Jews today stand up and fight their enemies.

Most Arabs who live in Israel have been here since the first wave of Jewish immigration as they came to work and more later flooded in to work under the British. Under the Ottoman empire there were approx. 100K persons of all religions in Israel and many were Christian. Approximately 25% were of the Jewish faith.

Under the British, Jews were not allowed to freely immigrate but Arabs were encouraged to do so. Any Arab claiming to be a 40th. generation Palestinian is a liar. There has never been a country called Palestine, there has never been a government of Palestine, there has never been a President or King of Palestine, there has never been a Palestinian currency, a Palestinian passport although the British did issue Palestinian mandated passports of which many Jews of Israel have retained. I have yet to see an Arab with one.

After the United Nations resolution dividing the area under British control was passed, the Arabs declared war and lost. The victorious Jews, Beduin and Druse encouraged the enemy to leave rather than be murdered like what would have happened if the opposite had happened.

It is known that in the past that many Catholics always supported Murderers, thieves, rapists, dictators and anyone who supported or conived with the Vatican. Just look at who supported Franco, Mussolini, & Hitler. Therefore it is not surprising for me to read anti-Jewish/Israel letters like those on this site. When good Catholics ran to help the elected government of Spain in 1936, they were later banished by the Vatican for opposing the Fasciast government of Franco and the government of Ireland refused to give them employment upon their return to Ireland.

It also amazes me at times to find not one Catholic group advocating the right of return to the 800,000 Jews who fled, left or were banished from Arab countries or any Catholic group advocating that the Arabs help to find decent homes in their countries for their brethern. I mean with all that oil wealth, surely they could provide one days income for their suffering brethern.

It further amazes me to find support amongst these Catholics for these Islamic terrorists and Jihadists who not only want to wipe every Jew off the face of the earth but also intend to do the very same to all Christians later on.
You have now over 20K Muslims in Ireland. Watch out. Soon they will claim to have been there for hundreds of years.

Just look at the last terror attack in India. One Rabbi in the whole of India and they go and torture and murder him and his wife. You are supporting this type of person. Shame on you!

Best regards and seasons greetings.

sorry

by Irish catholic

Sun Dec 28, 2008 18:55

as an irish catholic, lapsed battallion, i would like to apologise to the people of isreal for having the audasity for thinking that the murder of over 300 people who had no way of defending themselves was in any way wrong, i apologise and i apologise again and again 1000 times for every time i get my scences back and that wicked taught enters my head, i apologise.

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Comments (16 of 16)