22 oct 2014
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper published an internal European Union document that defines several of the EU’s “red lines” regarding Israeli actions in the West Bank that could threat the possibility of the two-state solution. The EU’s ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, is set to relay the message to Israel over the issues which raised the EU’s concerns, the newspaper revealed.
In recent weeks, a series of discussions have been taking place in the EU’s headquarters in Brussels between the ambassadors of the 28 member states over the European response to Israeli appropriation of 4,000 dunums in Gush Etzion in the West Bank and even more since the push forward in planning for additional constructions in Givat Hamatos.
During these discussions, which ended last weekend, it was decided to relay a sharp message to Israel in the name of all EU members, focusing on the Israeli moves which create a “focused and increasing threat to the possibility of the two-state solution.”
“The EU considers the preservation of the two-state solution a priority,” the document reads. “The only way to resolve the conflict is through an agreement that ends the occupation which began in 1967, that ends all claims and fulfills the aspirations of both parties. A one state reality would not be compatible with these aspirations.”
The document said that construction in the Givat Hamatos neighborhood, beyond the Green Line in Jerusalem would jeopardize the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. The EU “cautions the Israeli government not to move ahead with tenders and construction. Such a development would constitute one more grave “fact on the ground” which would be liable to crucially prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations,” the document reads.
The document said construction in E1 area would also jeopardize the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, and added that it has already publicly and strongly opposed plans for E1’s development.
“The EU strongly urges Israel to put its plans of expelling 12,000 Bedouin from their lands on hold and search for other solutions together with the concerned populations and the Palestinian Authority. The EU underlines that implementing those plans may amount to a serious breach of International Humanitarian Law (IV Geneva Convention),” the document reads.
The document also addressed al-Aqsa Mosque issue, saying that attempts to challenge the status-quo have led to instability in East Jerusalem and increased tensions.
A top European diplomat noted that EU states consuls in East Jerusalem and in Ramallah planned to hold a joint tour in al-Aqsa Mosque, but aborted their plans following instructions from Brussels, fearing Israel would consider such a visit a provocation.
According to the document, the EU ambassador in Israel was instructed to clarify to the Foreign Ministry director and to the national security advisor that the EU is interested in holding “thorough discussion” on these and other issues related to the occupied Palestinian territories.
“…There is a legitimate expectation to have a constructive dialogue with the Israeli authorities on measures from their side which may impact on our assistance and its ultimate objectives of creating a sound enabling environment for economic and social development in the occupied Palestinian territories and contributing to create the conditions for a viable Palestinian state,” the documents reads.
According to Haaretz, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has followed the EU preparations to up the tone against Israel for several weeks. In discussions held over the issue in the ministry on Tuesday the expectation was floated that the message relayed by the EU ambassador would be the opening shot ahead of new European sanctions against the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“The negotiations the EU is offering are really the hearing before the sentence,” a senior official in the ministry said.
“We have a feeling they’re expecting us to reject the offer for negotiations and give them an excuse to push the sanctions against us, or that we’ll agree in any case to negotiations in which we’ll discuss which sanctions will be leveled,” he added.
In recent weeks, a series of discussions have been taking place in the EU’s headquarters in Brussels between the ambassadors of the 28 member states over the European response to Israeli appropriation of 4,000 dunums in Gush Etzion in the West Bank and even more since the push forward in planning for additional constructions in Givat Hamatos.
During these discussions, which ended last weekend, it was decided to relay a sharp message to Israel in the name of all EU members, focusing on the Israeli moves which create a “focused and increasing threat to the possibility of the two-state solution.”
“The EU considers the preservation of the two-state solution a priority,” the document reads. “The only way to resolve the conflict is through an agreement that ends the occupation which began in 1967, that ends all claims and fulfills the aspirations of both parties. A one state reality would not be compatible with these aspirations.”
The document said that construction in the Givat Hamatos neighborhood, beyond the Green Line in Jerusalem would jeopardize the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. The EU “cautions the Israeli government not to move ahead with tenders and construction. Such a development would constitute one more grave “fact on the ground” which would be liable to crucially prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations,” the document reads.
The document said construction in E1 area would also jeopardize the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, and added that it has already publicly and strongly opposed plans for E1’s development.
“The EU strongly urges Israel to put its plans of expelling 12,000 Bedouin from their lands on hold and search for other solutions together with the concerned populations and the Palestinian Authority. The EU underlines that implementing those plans may amount to a serious breach of International Humanitarian Law (IV Geneva Convention),” the document reads.
The document also addressed al-Aqsa Mosque issue, saying that attempts to challenge the status-quo have led to instability in East Jerusalem and increased tensions.
A top European diplomat noted that EU states consuls in East Jerusalem and in Ramallah planned to hold a joint tour in al-Aqsa Mosque, but aborted their plans following instructions from Brussels, fearing Israel would consider such a visit a provocation.
According to the document, the EU ambassador in Israel was instructed to clarify to the Foreign Ministry director and to the national security advisor that the EU is interested in holding “thorough discussion” on these and other issues related to the occupied Palestinian territories.
“…There is a legitimate expectation to have a constructive dialogue with the Israeli authorities on measures from their side which may impact on our assistance and its ultimate objectives of creating a sound enabling environment for economic and social development in the occupied Palestinian territories and contributing to create the conditions for a viable Palestinian state,” the documents reads.
According to Haaretz, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has followed the EU preparations to up the tone against Israel for several weeks. In discussions held over the issue in the ministry on Tuesday the expectation was floated that the message relayed by the EU ambassador would be the opening shot ahead of new European sanctions against the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“The negotiations the EU is offering are really the hearing before the sentence,” a senior official in the ministry said.
“We have a feeling they’re expecting us to reject the offer for negotiations and give them an excuse to push the sanctions against us, or that we’ll agree in any case to negotiations in which we’ll discuss which sanctions will be leveled,” he added.
21 oct 2014
Professor Hillel Vice, a university lecturer at the Israeli Bar-IIan University, sparked a public outrage after he launched calls for wiping out the Palestinian people. Vice wrote on his Facebook page: “The liquidation of the Palestinian people is an unavoidable undertaking”, and “The Arab movements exist to kill and spread insanity.”
The Israeli Jerusalem Online newspaper on Monday quoted Vice, who did not express any regret, as claiming: “The fact that Abu Mazen (PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas) called us murderers on the UN General Assembly stage stirred up my wrath.”
Vice, currently serving as the chairman of the so-called Friends of the Temple, dubbed the Palestinian people as some insignificant minority.
“You are not a nation. You are an insignificant minority, the faster you leave Israel willingly, the better it will be for you,” Vice’s Facebook statement read verbatim.
The Israeli Jerusalem Online newspaper on Monday quoted Vice, who did not express any regret, as claiming: “The fact that Abu Mazen (PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas) called us murderers on the UN General Assembly stage stirred up my wrath.”
Vice, currently serving as the chairman of the so-called Friends of the Temple, dubbed the Palestinian people as some insignificant minority.
“You are not a nation. You are an insignificant minority, the faster you leave Israel willingly, the better it will be for you,” Vice’s Facebook statement read verbatim.
19 oct 2014
An expert in the European affairs indicated that the Zionist reverse migration to Europe and the western countries is increasing. Husam Shakir , the expert in the European affairs, predicted ,according to the results of his analysis in Brussels on Friday, an unprecedented wave of Zionist reverse migration from Palestine to Europe
Shakir clarified that the Zionist reverse migration is becoming a public tendency at various levels, especially with choosing new destinations for residing. Such a fact is posing as a nightmare for the Zionist regime which knows that one-third of the Israelis are not present in occupied Palestine all the time.
He also mentioned that this tendency is causing tensions between young Israelis who are calling for travelling abroad and the government and media circles which are inciting against these calls describing them as "anti-Zionism". Shakir expected that these migrations will widen the gap between the Jewish and the Israeli gatherings in Europe on the one hand, and the Israeli propaganda and political discourse on the other.
He added that: "It was very clear during the last war on Gaza that the occupation supporters in Europe failed to mobilize the Jews in the pro-aggression public events, while more Jews and former Israelis expressed their anti-Israeli aggression and pro-Palestinian rights positions”.
Different levels of migration
Shakir categorized the reverse migrations into different levels; some of which are considered to be "permanent migrations", others as "temporary migrations".
Some of the wealthy or experienced persons are moving to certain destinations like Britain and Switzerland, taking the form of frequent travels, long residences or traveling for business and teaching, and eventually become actual migrants.
He also pointed out that "the European destinations are the most preferable for the Israelis from European origins; since migrating there is as an attempt to return to the roots".
Migration waves
According to the indicators revealed by Shakir, some Israelis are concentrating in places that have never been desirable by them before, such as the German capital.
Berlin mostly attracts the Israeli youth; since they are looking for self-realization and acquiring a practical experience in soft economic conditions considering the increasing social crisis in the Israeli society, Shakir said, adding, "living costs in Berlin are very low compared to Tel Aviv; which makes it a very desirable destination for the Israeli youth".
Shakir estimated the number of the Israelis who have migrated to Berlin during the last few years to be 25,000 - 35,000, and it is expected that this ratio will increase to be more than a quarter million in Berlin and other German cities in the coming few years. He also pointed out that ironically; Berlin may become the European capital of the Israeli youth reverse migration and at the same time it is the most prominent center of the Palestinian Diaspora in the continent.
The migration wave is not attracting the attention
Shakir mentioned that the Israeli reverse migration to Europe occur quietly and does not usually attract any attention; since the Israelis enjoy the privileges of residency in Europe, like having a European passport in addition to an Israeli one, allowing them to reside and work in any country of the European Union without any obstacle.
The expert also clarified the effect of the last Israeli war on Gaza on this reverse migration: "Throughout seven weeks, the Israeli society realized that its country is not able to protect its citizens".
He said: "Gaza prevented the Israelis (in the southern areas) from sleeping for many nights; consequently this "existential angst" encouraged the tendency to move abroad and run away from the political and economic pressures, and Europe and America will be a suitable choice".
Shakir noted that this reverse migration hasn’t developed to be a return to the "original homeland" of the Israelis yet; because the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Hungary and Poland, wouldn’t host the Israeli reverse migration, in spite of the frequent Israeli travels to them, especially with the presence of extreme right-wing rhetoric and the traditional reservations about the Jews compared with the Western European countries.
Shakir clarified that the Zionist reverse migration is becoming a public tendency at various levels, especially with choosing new destinations for residing. Such a fact is posing as a nightmare for the Zionist regime which knows that one-third of the Israelis are not present in occupied Palestine all the time.
He also mentioned that this tendency is causing tensions between young Israelis who are calling for travelling abroad and the government and media circles which are inciting against these calls describing them as "anti-Zionism". Shakir expected that these migrations will widen the gap between the Jewish and the Israeli gatherings in Europe on the one hand, and the Israeli propaganda and political discourse on the other.
He added that: "It was very clear during the last war on Gaza that the occupation supporters in Europe failed to mobilize the Jews in the pro-aggression public events, while more Jews and former Israelis expressed their anti-Israeli aggression and pro-Palestinian rights positions”.
Different levels of migration
Shakir categorized the reverse migrations into different levels; some of which are considered to be "permanent migrations", others as "temporary migrations".
Some of the wealthy or experienced persons are moving to certain destinations like Britain and Switzerland, taking the form of frequent travels, long residences or traveling for business and teaching, and eventually become actual migrants.
He also pointed out that "the European destinations are the most preferable for the Israelis from European origins; since migrating there is as an attempt to return to the roots".
Migration waves
According to the indicators revealed by Shakir, some Israelis are concentrating in places that have never been desirable by them before, such as the German capital.
Berlin mostly attracts the Israeli youth; since they are looking for self-realization and acquiring a practical experience in soft economic conditions considering the increasing social crisis in the Israeli society, Shakir said, adding, "living costs in Berlin are very low compared to Tel Aviv; which makes it a very desirable destination for the Israeli youth".
Shakir estimated the number of the Israelis who have migrated to Berlin during the last few years to be 25,000 - 35,000, and it is expected that this ratio will increase to be more than a quarter million in Berlin and other German cities in the coming few years. He also pointed out that ironically; Berlin may become the European capital of the Israeli youth reverse migration and at the same time it is the most prominent center of the Palestinian Diaspora in the continent.
The migration wave is not attracting the attention
Shakir mentioned that the Israeli reverse migration to Europe occur quietly and does not usually attract any attention; since the Israelis enjoy the privileges of residency in Europe, like having a European passport in addition to an Israeli one, allowing them to reside and work in any country of the European Union without any obstacle.
The expert also clarified the effect of the last Israeli war on Gaza on this reverse migration: "Throughout seven weeks, the Israeli society realized that its country is not able to protect its citizens".
He said: "Gaza prevented the Israelis (in the southern areas) from sleeping for many nights; consequently this "existential angst" encouraged the tendency to move abroad and run away from the political and economic pressures, and Europe and America will be a suitable choice".
Shakir noted that this reverse migration hasn’t developed to be a return to the "original homeland" of the Israelis yet; because the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Hungary and Poland, wouldn’t host the Israeli reverse migration, in spite of the frequent Israeli travels to them, especially with the presence of extreme right-wing rhetoric and the traditional reservations about the Jews compared with the Western European countries.
16 oct 2014
Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, Moshe Ya'alon, stated official Israeli government policy in an interview with Israel Hayom Newspaper on October 15th 2014. Please find below extracts from his answers:
- On the Palestinian State: "We need to free ourselves of the notion that everything boils down to only one option called a Palestinian state. As far as I am concerned let them call it the Palestinian Empire. I don't care. It is an autonomy if it is ultimately a demilitarized territory. That is not a status quo, it is the establishment of a modus vivendi that is tolerable and serves our interests".
- On the two-state solution: "Call it whatever you want. The political separation has already happened, and is a good thing. We are not controlling the lives of residents of Gaza or Judea and Samaria [i.e. Occupied West Bank]. This separation is important. I would encourage and reinforce governability, the economy and the residents' ability to live in dignity and economic comfort. But to derive something so black and white from that? State or no state? Let's put the terminology aside."
- On President Abbas: "He never said that he has given up on demanding refugee rights. So where can we go with him? He is a partner for discussion; a partner for managing the conflict. I am not looking for a solution, I am looking for a way to manage the conflict and maintain relations in a way that works for our interests."
- On Settlement freeze: "There is no construction freeze."
Link to the interview:
This is the official policy of the Israeli government coalition, a coalition which, in less than two years, has shown itself to be one of the most extreme in history. Mr. Ya'alon has confirmed that the Israeli government does not seek a two-state solution, but rather a way to manage the situation. This has always been, and remains, the line of Netanyahu's government. In stark contrast to the positions of Palestine and the entire international community, the ruling coalition in Israel has made clear that it has no intention of seeing an independent state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel. Rather, the Israeli government aims to consolidate the occupation that continues to control the lives of the Palestinian people.
The current Knesset coalition is made up of 68 members of Knesset (MK). At least 28 of them have clearly and unequivocally declared that they oppose the two-state solution. These are not the MKs with qualms about the repercussions of the two-state solution, or hesitations about implementation: they are, in principle, opposed to the existence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Among the other 40 MKs, a large number, including PM Netanyahu himself, refuse to end the occupation of East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley (even with the Palestinian-proposed compromise of an international security presence), and refuse to allow Palestinian control over their own borders, air space, maritime borders, electromagnetic sphere and natural resources, including water.
These 28 MKs are the cornerstone of the Netanyahu coalition. While the PM may be able to say anything he likes about his diplomatic aspirations, the political reality is that any steps in the direction of a two-state solution will topple the coalition. This is the coalition Mr. Netanyahu selected, and is the one which represents his own ideological commitments. It was this Prime Minister who attempted to justify the Israeli occupation in his latest UN speech by arguing a religious right over Palestine: "The people of Israel are not occupiers in the Land of Israel. History, archeology and common sense all make clear that we have had a singular attachment to this land for over 3,000 years." In the same address delivered at the 69th UN General Debate, Mr. Netanyahu never mentioned the two-state solution, negotiations or the peace process.
The world has to assume its responsibility and support Palestinian diplomatic initiatives for peace by setting a deadline to end the occupation and recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border. As a logical translation of international law and consensus, the international community should also ban all settlement products, divest from companies and organizations linked directly or indirectly with the Israeli occupation and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations of UN resolutions, international law and human rights. The world cannot continue acting as if it is not aware of this one indisputable fact: The Israeli Government does not want peace based on a two-state solution.
- On the Palestinian State: "We need to free ourselves of the notion that everything boils down to only one option called a Palestinian state. As far as I am concerned let them call it the Palestinian Empire. I don't care. It is an autonomy if it is ultimately a demilitarized territory. That is not a status quo, it is the establishment of a modus vivendi that is tolerable and serves our interests".
- On the two-state solution: "Call it whatever you want. The political separation has already happened, and is a good thing. We are not controlling the lives of residents of Gaza or Judea and Samaria [i.e. Occupied West Bank]. This separation is important. I would encourage and reinforce governability, the economy and the residents' ability to live in dignity and economic comfort. But to derive something so black and white from that? State or no state? Let's put the terminology aside."
- On President Abbas: "He never said that he has given up on demanding refugee rights. So where can we go with him? He is a partner for discussion; a partner for managing the conflict. I am not looking for a solution, I am looking for a way to manage the conflict and maintain relations in a way that works for our interests."
- On Settlement freeze: "There is no construction freeze."
Link to the interview:
This is the official policy of the Israeli government coalition, a coalition which, in less than two years, has shown itself to be one of the most extreme in history. Mr. Ya'alon has confirmed that the Israeli government does not seek a two-state solution, but rather a way to manage the situation. This has always been, and remains, the line of Netanyahu's government. In stark contrast to the positions of Palestine and the entire international community, the ruling coalition in Israel has made clear that it has no intention of seeing an independent state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel. Rather, the Israeli government aims to consolidate the occupation that continues to control the lives of the Palestinian people.
The current Knesset coalition is made up of 68 members of Knesset (MK). At least 28 of them have clearly and unequivocally declared that they oppose the two-state solution. These are not the MKs with qualms about the repercussions of the two-state solution, or hesitations about implementation: they are, in principle, opposed to the existence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Among the other 40 MKs, a large number, including PM Netanyahu himself, refuse to end the occupation of East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley (even with the Palestinian-proposed compromise of an international security presence), and refuse to allow Palestinian control over their own borders, air space, maritime borders, electromagnetic sphere and natural resources, including water.
These 28 MKs are the cornerstone of the Netanyahu coalition. While the PM may be able to say anything he likes about his diplomatic aspirations, the political reality is that any steps in the direction of a two-state solution will topple the coalition. This is the coalition Mr. Netanyahu selected, and is the one which represents his own ideological commitments. It was this Prime Minister who attempted to justify the Israeli occupation in his latest UN speech by arguing a religious right over Palestine: "The people of Israel are not occupiers in the Land of Israel. History, archeology and common sense all make clear that we have had a singular attachment to this land for over 3,000 years." In the same address delivered at the 69th UN General Debate, Mr. Netanyahu never mentioned the two-state solution, negotiations or the peace process.
The world has to assume its responsibility and support Palestinian diplomatic initiatives for peace by setting a deadline to end the occupation and recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border. As a logical translation of international law and consensus, the international community should also ban all settlement products, divest from companies and organizations linked directly or indirectly with the Israeli occupation and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations of UN resolutions, international law and human rights. The world cannot continue acting as if it is not aware of this one indisputable fact: The Israeli Government does not want peace based on a two-state solution.
By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Palestine
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is notorious for making theatrical attempts to find "distractions" or "red herrings" in order to divert attention from his unceasing efforts to decapitate all chances for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank.
Netanyahu has effectively tripled the building of Jewish colonies in the West Bank. He has also allowed millenarian Jewish settlers to carry out almost daily provocations against Islam's third holiest sanctuary, namely Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque. This could trigger a worldwide conflagration that would put an end to peace efforts in the region.
Netanyahu hopes to desensitize any semblance of Western, especially American, opposition to Israel's lebensraum policy in the West Bank and the Jewish states' unrelenting efforts to kill any remaining prospects for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
However, Netanyahu's diversionary tactics seem to have been blunted by two main recent developments: The Swedish decision to recognize a future Palestinian state and the British Parliament vote to do the same.
None the less, the news from London and Stockholm is not expected to make Netanyahu change his mind or rethink his policy. After all Netanyahu is more of a dishonest demagogue and pathological liar than a straight, honest statesman who would value truth and rectitude.
Netanyahu would insist and swear that Israel wants peace and aspires for peace. He would go as far as making all sorts of solemn testimonies and eloquent statements underlining Israel's desire for peace. But the truth of the matter is that all of his declarations are sanctimonious and mendacious.
In the final analysis, however, a country that truly desires peace doesn't build hundreds of settlements on its neighbor's territories. A country that truly desires peace doesn't transfer hundreds of thousands to live on a land that doesn't belong to them.
Netanyahu and the other shipyard dogs of Israeli hasbara would never cease invoking old lies that the settlers are simply returning to their fathers' land.
But would anyone under the sun give up his home and land if a stranger showed up, insisting that the property belonged to him and claiming that his ancestors owned or occupied the area five thousand years ago???
Needless to say, this analogy more or less epitomizes the entire Palestinian question.
Red herring policy
Israel's "red-herring policy" is not new. During Egypt's Gamal Abdul Nasser's rule, Israel argued that if only Nasser would stop rotating in the Soviet orbit, peace would be around the corner.
In the 1970s and the 1980s, Israel argued that if only the PLO and its leader Yasser Arafat would recognize Israel and revoke the PLO charter that called for Israel's destruction, peace would be within reach very soon.
In fact, Netanyahu himself repeatedly blamed the lack of progress in talks with the PA on Palestinian disunity, namely the rift between Fatah and Hamas. In numerous TV interviews, he argued that the “the Palestinians are not speaking in one voice. Let them get united first."
However, when Hamas and the PA finally agreed to reconcile, Netanyahu got quite hysterical and convulsive. He warned that the PA would have to either make peace with Hamas or Israel, claiming that Palestinian national unity was the ultimate antithesis to peace. Now, Netanyahu is playing the same Hasbara game once again. And the reasons for this game of make believe remain unchanged, namely morbid Israeli efforts to distract attention from Israeli recalcitrance, intransigence, and rejectionism.
The ISIS Mantra
Having failed to destroy Hamas militarily and liquidate the Palestinian people's enduring struggle for freedom and independence from Israel's Nazi-like occupation, Netanyahu is now trying to lump Hamas with ISIS.
His ultimate goal is to make the international community demonize Hamas and therefore distract the world's attention from Israel's nefarious occupation.
But Hamas, a national Islamic liberation movement that appeared on the Middle East's political horizon after winning transparent democratic elections in 2006, is simply something different.
Hamas's strategic goal is liberty, not domination, or hegemony or anything of this nature.
Hamas's ultimate goal is to enable the thoroughly tormented Palestinians to live a normal life. like the rest of the peoples of the world, free from Nazi-like Jewish Zionist roadblocks and checkpoints, enable them to travel freely, pray freely in their mosques, especially in Jerusalem's Aqsa Mosque, to harvest their olive fields freely and be able to move and commute freely from one locality to the other. Is this too much?
Hamas wants the Palestinian people to live in dignity and be able to do the sort of things that other peoples around the world take for granted.
Hamas would like to see the Palestinian people free from the specter of fear and terror, including arbitrary arrest at the hands of Gestapo-like Israeli soldiers who routinely raid Palestinian homes in the quite hours before dawn.
In brief, Hamas is not evil. That is why at least 50% of the Palestinian people back Hamas.
In fact, Israel doesn't hate Hamas because Israel believes Hamas is evil. As far as evilness is concerned, even Satan himself learns from Israel.
Israel hates Hamas for an entirely different reason, namely the conviction that Hamas is the main hurdle that prevents or impedes the realization of Israel's ultimate goal: the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.
It is not true that Hamas stands in the road to peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel has been negotiating with the PA (not in good faith) for over 20 years, but to no avail.
The failure of peace talks between Israel and the PA cannot be attributed to Hamas. Those claiming it was are simply not telling the truth.
The real cause is Israel's adamant insistence on retaining the spoils of the 1967 war.
Khalid Amayreh is a veteran journalist and commentator living in occupied Palestine.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is notorious for making theatrical attempts to find "distractions" or "red herrings" in order to divert attention from his unceasing efforts to decapitate all chances for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank.
Netanyahu has effectively tripled the building of Jewish colonies in the West Bank. He has also allowed millenarian Jewish settlers to carry out almost daily provocations against Islam's third holiest sanctuary, namely Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque. This could trigger a worldwide conflagration that would put an end to peace efforts in the region.
Netanyahu hopes to desensitize any semblance of Western, especially American, opposition to Israel's lebensraum policy in the West Bank and the Jewish states' unrelenting efforts to kill any remaining prospects for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
However, Netanyahu's diversionary tactics seem to have been blunted by two main recent developments: The Swedish decision to recognize a future Palestinian state and the British Parliament vote to do the same.
None the less, the news from London and Stockholm is not expected to make Netanyahu change his mind or rethink his policy. After all Netanyahu is more of a dishonest demagogue and pathological liar than a straight, honest statesman who would value truth and rectitude.
Netanyahu would insist and swear that Israel wants peace and aspires for peace. He would go as far as making all sorts of solemn testimonies and eloquent statements underlining Israel's desire for peace. But the truth of the matter is that all of his declarations are sanctimonious and mendacious.
In the final analysis, however, a country that truly desires peace doesn't build hundreds of settlements on its neighbor's territories. A country that truly desires peace doesn't transfer hundreds of thousands to live on a land that doesn't belong to them.
Netanyahu and the other shipyard dogs of Israeli hasbara would never cease invoking old lies that the settlers are simply returning to their fathers' land.
But would anyone under the sun give up his home and land if a stranger showed up, insisting that the property belonged to him and claiming that his ancestors owned or occupied the area five thousand years ago???
Needless to say, this analogy more or less epitomizes the entire Palestinian question.
Red herring policy
Israel's "red-herring policy" is not new. During Egypt's Gamal Abdul Nasser's rule, Israel argued that if only Nasser would stop rotating in the Soviet orbit, peace would be around the corner.
In the 1970s and the 1980s, Israel argued that if only the PLO and its leader Yasser Arafat would recognize Israel and revoke the PLO charter that called for Israel's destruction, peace would be within reach very soon.
In fact, Netanyahu himself repeatedly blamed the lack of progress in talks with the PA on Palestinian disunity, namely the rift between Fatah and Hamas. In numerous TV interviews, he argued that the “the Palestinians are not speaking in one voice. Let them get united first."
However, when Hamas and the PA finally agreed to reconcile, Netanyahu got quite hysterical and convulsive. He warned that the PA would have to either make peace with Hamas or Israel, claiming that Palestinian national unity was the ultimate antithesis to peace. Now, Netanyahu is playing the same Hasbara game once again. And the reasons for this game of make believe remain unchanged, namely morbid Israeli efforts to distract attention from Israeli recalcitrance, intransigence, and rejectionism.
The ISIS Mantra
Having failed to destroy Hamas militarily and liquidate the Palestinian people's enduring struggle for freedom and independence from Israel's Nazi-like occupation, Netanyahu is now trying to lump Hamas with ISIS.
His ultimate goal is to make the international community demonize Hamas and therefore distract the world's attention from Israel's nefarious occupation.
But Hamas, a national Islamic liberation movement that appeared on the Middle East's political horizon after winning transparent democratic elections in 2006, is simply something different.
Hamas's strategic goal is liberty, not domination, or hegemony or anything of this nature.
Hamas's ultimate goal is to enable the thoroughly tormented Palestinians to live a normal life. like the rest of the peoples of the world, free from Nazi-like Jewish Zionist roadblocks and checkpoints, enable them to travel freely, pray freely in their mosques, especially in Jerusalem's Aqsa Mosque, to harvest their olive fields freely and be able to move and commute freely from one locality to the other. Is this too much?
Hamas wants the Palestinian people to live in dignity and be able to do the sort of things that other peoples around the world take for granted.
Hamas would like to see the Palestinian people free from the specter of fear and terror, including arbitrary arrest at the hands of Gestapo-like Israeli soldiers who routinely raid Palestinian homes in the quite hours before dawn.
In brief, Hamas is not evil. That is why at least 50% of the Palestinian people back Hamas.
In fact, Israel doesn't hate Hamas because Israel believes Hamas is evil. As far as evilness is concerned, even Satan himself learns from Israel.
Israel hates Hamas for an entirely different reason, namely the conviction that Hamas is the main hurdle that prevents or impedes the realization of Israel's ultimate goal: the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.
It is not true that Hamas stands in the road to peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel has been negotiating with the PA (not in good faith) for over 20 years, but to no avail.
The failure of peace talks between Israel and the PA cannot be attributed to Hamas. Those claiming it was are simply not telling the truth.
The real cause is Israel's adamant insistence on retaining the spoils of the 1967 war.
Khalid Amayreh is a veteran journalist and commentator living in occupied Palestine.
Israeli Member of Knesset (MK) Miri Regev of the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu called for firing Arab (MK) Dr. Ahmad Tibi from the Knesset, and to strip him from his privileges.
Regev said that MK Tibi, of the Arab Movement for Change, flew to London “to convince British legislators to vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian State”.
On his Facebook page, Dr. Tibi responded to Regev’s statements in a satirical manner by saying: “I swear to God I asked her to take her meds regularly, three times a day.”
Dr. Tibi added that, unlike the hostile statements of Regev, he would not demand dismissing her from the Knesset, as she represents the true nature of Israel’s extremist right wing polices.
Regev’s statements are not an isolated issue, as many Israeli politicians are known for their extreme ideology against Arabs in the country, and Palestinians in general.
On Monday, Israeli MK of the fundamentalist Israel Our Home Party, Alex Miller, said that MK Tibi is only a “puppet” for the Palestinian Authority (P.A.), adding that the stances of Tibi “would only delay the possibilities of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians."
On July 7, the Israeli MK of the fundamentalist Jewish Home Party called for killing all Palestinian mothers because, according to her ‘logic’, “they give birth to snakes and terrorists”.
She said, “All Palestinian mothers should be killed; their homes should be demolished so that they cannot give birth to any more terrorists,” adding, “all of them are enemies of Israel, including the mothers of dead terrorists; their blood should be on our hands.”
There are various current and former members of Knesset, ministers and officials, who openly call for removing all Arabs and Palestinians from the country.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, frequently made such statements when he served as a member of the Knesset, and a "Minister of Strategic Affairs", and repeatedly said that Arabs and Palestinians are a strategic threat to Israel, and should be expelled to Arab countries.
His statements referred to all Arab citizens of Israel, and all Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
Regev said that MK Tibi, of the Arab Movement for Change, flew to London “to convince British legislators to vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian State”.
On his Facebook page, Dr. Tibi responded to Regev’s statements in a satirical manner by saying: “I swear to God I asked her to take her meds regularly, three times a day.”
Dr. Tibi added that, unlike the hostile statements of Regev, he would not demand dismissing her from the Knesset, as she represents the true nature of Israel’s extremist right wing polices.
Regev’s statements are not an isolated issue, as many Israeli politicians are known for their extreme ideology against Arabs in the country, and Palestinians in general.
On Monday, Israeli MK of the fundamentalist Israel Our Home Party, Alex Miller, said that MK Tibi is only a “puppet” for the Palestinian Authority (P.A.), adding that the stances of Tibi “would only delay the possibilities of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians."
On July 7, the Israeli MK of the fundamentalist Jewish Home Party called for killing all Palestinian mothers because, according to her ‘logic’, “they give birth to snakes and terrorists”.
She said, “All Palestinian mothers should be killed; their homes should be demolished so that they cannot give birth to any more terrorists,” adding, “all of them are enemies of Israel, including the mothers of dead terrorists; their blood should be on our hands.”
There are various current and former members of Knesset, ministers and officials, who openly call for removing all Arabs and Palestinians from the country.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, frequently made such statements when he served as a member of the Knesset, and a "Minister of Strategic Affairs", and repeatedly said that Arabs and Palestinians are a strategic threat to Israel, and should be expelled to Arab countries.
His statements referred to all Arab citizens of Israel, and all Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
13 oct 2014
The Israeli Shin Bet security apparatus will exploit the latest facilities provided to the people of Gaza to recruit new spying agents and get back at the Palestinian resistance, analysts said. Al-Majd security website quoted a security expert as stating: “We look at the latest Israeli facilities provided to Gazans with open eyes and awareness of the tacit targets of the Israeli intelligence apparatus.”
The Palestinian security apparatuses will adopt special tactics and strategies to keep tabs on the affair and work out all the projected security risks that might be wrought on the blockaded Gaza Strip, the website added.
The source warned of any potential surrender to the Israeli temptations and blackmailing, vowing that the Palestinian resistance will come down heavily on whoever dares to take the wind out of the sails of the Palestinian internal front.
Current analysis of the security affairs indicate that Israel’s recruitment of collaborators has dropped off, the website added.
Head of the department of the Palestinian border-crossings, Nadhmi Mihana, revealed Israel’s official approval to allow some 5,000 Gazan workers access into 1948 occupied Palestine for work.
The website said that Israeli intelligence might exploit such a situation, the daily passing of 5000 workers through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, to try and recruit new agents.
The Palestinian security apparatuses will adopt special tactics and strategies to keep tabs on the affair and work out all the projected security risks that might be wrought on the blockaded Gaza Strip, the website added.
The source warned of any potential surrender to the Israeli temptations and blackmailing, vowing that the Palestinian resistance will come down heavily on whoever dares to take the wind out of the sails of the Palestinian internal front.
Current analysis of the security affairs indicate that Israel’s recruitment of collaborators has dropped off, the website added.
Head of the department of the Palestinian border-crossings, Nadhmi Mihana, revealed Israel’s official approval to allow some 5,000 Gazan workers access into 1948 occupied Palestine for work.
The website said that Israeli intelligence might exploit such a situation, the daily passing of 5000 workers through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, to try and recruit new agents.
7 oct 2014
Live tweet from the protest by Jewish Journal reporter Simone Wilson
A group of right-wing Jewish Israelis, including former Knesset (Parliament) members, held a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday chanting racist slogans against African immigrants and waving ISIS-style black flags.
The flags had on them the word 'High Court' in Hebrew, written in the style used by the right-wing 'Islamic' group calling itself ISIS that has taken control of parts of Iraq and Syria. Protest organizers said that they were meant to draw attention to a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to allow immigrants out of a detention camp where they were being held.
The detention facility, called Holot, was located in the Negev desert, and was used to house asylum seekers from Africa, none of whom had committed any crime except having attempted to seek refuge from conflicts in their home countries.
One attendee told the Jerusalem Post, “These are migrant workers and their behavior is unacceptable. Every single person who will be released from Holot [detention center because of the court’s ruling] is one more robber or rapist on the street.”
The march went from Hatikva neighborhood to Lewinsky Park, an area where a population of African immigrants live, and where many of the white Jewish Israelis who also live in the area have protested the presence of their African neighbors on many occasions.
Leading the march was right-wing settler leader Baruch Marzel and Mai Golan, who openly declared in a march two years ago, “I am a proud racist” - then running for city office and winning soon afterward.
The march follows an ongoing Twitter campaign in which supporters of Palestine have compared Israel to ISIS, dubbing it #ISIL – The Israeli State of Israel in the Levant. They have posted pictures and examples of Israeli soldiers and settlers carrying out atrocities and actions against civilians based on religion, pointing out parallels between these actions and those of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
A group of right-wing Jewish Israelis, including former Knesset (Parliament) members, held a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday chanting racist slogans against African immigrants and waving ISIS-style black flags.
The flags had on them the word 'High Court' in Hebrew, written in the style used by the right-wing 'Islamic' group calling itself ISIS that has taken control of parts of Iraq and Syria. Protest organizers said that they were meant to draw attention to a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to allow immigrants out of a detention camp where they were being held.
The detention facility, called Holot, was located in the Negev desert, and was used to house asylum seekers from Africa, none of whom had committed any crime except having attempted to seek refuge from conflicts in their home countries.
One attendee told the Jerusalem Post, “These are migrant workers and their behavior is unacceptable. Every single person who will be released from Holot [detention center because of the court’s ruling] is one more robber or rapist on the street.”
The march went from Hatikva neighborhood to Lewinsky Park, an area where a population of African immigrants live, and where many of the white Jewish Israelis who also live in the area have protested the presence of their African neighbors on many occasions.
Leading the march was right-wing settler leader Baruch Marzel and Mai Golan, who openly declared in a march two years ago, “I am a proud racist” - then running for city office and winning soon afterward.
The march follows an ongoing Twitter campaign in which supporters of Palestine have compared Israel to ISIS, dubbing it #ISIL – The Israeli State of Israel in the Levant. They have posted pictures and examples of Israeli soldiers and settlers carrying out atrocities and actions against civilians based on religion, pointing out parallels between these actions and those of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
6 oct 2014
An Israeli navy vessel enters the southern Israeli port of Ashdod (AFP/File)
Israel is planning to fully or partially privatize a number of state-owned companies, in a move reportedly aimed at "boosting efficiency, reducing the national debt and fighting corruption".
According to AFP, the decision, which was approved by the ministerial socio-economic cabinet, is expected to add 15 billion shekels ($4.07 billion) to state coffers over the next three years, Israel's finance ministry stated on Sunday.
Minority stocks are to be issued for firms "in which the state has an interest in retaining long-term governmental control", to include Israel's electricity corporation, aviation, trains, water, mail and natural gas industries.
It will also sell companies in which it has "no long-term interest," such as the Ashdod and Haifa ports, a modified and declassified military industry (with the state retaining the right to determine the ownership), the Dead Sea Works and others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the "reform" will "increase the state's income and enable greater transparency in government companies."
Finance Minister Yair Lapid deemed the move "an additional measure to end the politicization of companies and reduce corruption in them."
PM Netanyahu presided over a number of privatizations while he was himself finance minister, some 10 years ago.
One economics expert said, however, that the companies sold off back then were "easy" compared to those currently on the list.
"I can't see these things going ahead," said Michael Beenstock of the Hebrew University's economics department, noting that powerful unions at Ashdod port and in the electricity company have prevented any reform or change for decades.
While Lapid and Netanyahu may be successful in privatizing some smaller estate enterprises, the electricity corp and Ashdod port are "not going to take this lying down", he said.
"To break these things you have to put the country into misery for a long time" ...Netanyahu and Lapid are "not going to do it."
Israel is planning to fully or partially privatize a number of state-owned companies, in a move reportedly aimed at "boosting efficiency, reducing the national debt and fighting corruption".
According to AFP, the decision, which was approved by the ministerial socio-economic cabinet, is expected to add 15 billion shekels ($4.07 billion) to state coffers over the next three years, Israel's finance ministry stated on Sunday.
Minority stocks are to be issued for firms "in which the state has an interest in retaining long-term governmental control", to include Israel's electricity corporation, aviation, trains, water, mail and natural gas industries.
It will also sell companies in which it has "no long-term interest," such as the Ashdod and Haifa ports, a modified and declassified military industry (with the state retaining the right to determine the ownership), the Dead Sea Works and others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the "reform" will "increase the state's income and enable greater transparency in government companies."
Finance Minister Yair Lapid deemed the move "an additional measure to end the politicization of companies and reduce corruption in them."
PM Netanyahu presided over a number of privatizations while he was himself finance minister, some 10 years ago.
One economics expert said, however, that the companies sold off back then were "easy" compared to those currently on the list.
"I can't see these things going ahead," said Michael Beenstock of the Hebrew University's economics department, noting that powerful unions at Ashdod port and in the electricity company have prevented any reform or change for decades.
While Lapid and Netanyahu may be successful in privatizing some smaller estate enterprises, the electricity corp and Ashdod port are "not going to take this lying down", he said.
"To break these things you have to put the country into misery for a long time" ...Netanyahu and Lapid are "not going to do it."
