Post by Mech on Jul 13, 2006 17:49:01 GMT -5
Israel---a Rogue State
voltaire.blogster.com/israel---a_rogue_state.html
One wonders what is going on between Israel and the Palestinians. They're fighting again. As usual, Israel has the upper hand. Ostensibly, Israel wants the return of a 19 year-old soldier who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants. To achieve their aim, Israel attacked Gaza with tanks, armored trucks and bulldozers, and knocked out electrical power to parts of Gaza, in effect punishing the population for the kidnapping.
An item from the New York Times caught my eye: "Political leaders of Hamas on Wednesday joined the militants to demand the release of Palestinian women and minors from Israeli jails in exchange for the soldier---a condition that the Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, vowed would not be considered. The choice, Israel officials said, was the soldier's unconditional release or an escalation that could widen the conflict regionally..." Clearly, then, the soldier's return is not the real issue; it is an excuse by Israel to intimidate not only the militants but also the general population of Gaza, as well as a warning to Syria.
To counter those who would maintain that the militants get what they ask for, I would point out that Israel has appropriated Palestinian land, and although Gaza was ostensibly freed by Israel, it is still very much under Israeli control. Palestinian movement to the West Bank and Jerusalem is restricted and monitored closely by Israel. The state of Israel is the jailers of the Palestinians of Gaza, and as long as the occupation continues, Ha mas and the militants will continue to harass Israel.
The international community must no longer be duped by Israel's cry that it has a right to defend itself; so have the Palestinians that same right. Israel's leaders ought to be brought to justice on the charge of crimes against humanity and placed in the docket. Ironically, Ariel Sharon's stroke saves him from this deserved humiliation; and nothing can redeem the United States from having aided and abetted Israel in subjugating the people of Palestine because, after all is said, Israel is a democracy. So be it.
voltaire.blogster.com/israel---a_rogue_state.html
One wonders what is going on between Israel and the Palestinians. They're fighting again. As usual, Israel has the upper hand. Ostensibly, Israel wants the return of a 19 year-old soldier who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants. To achieve their aim, Israel attacked Gaza with tanks, armored trucks and bulldozers, and knocked out electrical power to parts of Gaza, in effect punishing the population for the kidnapping.
An item from the New York Times caught my eye: "Political leaders of Hamas on Wednesday joined the militants to demand the release of Palestinian women and minors from Israeli jails in exchange for the soldier---a condition that the Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, vowed would not be considered. The choice, Israel officials said, was the soldier's unconditional release or an escalation that could widen the conflict regionally..." Clearly, then, the soldier's return is not the real issue; it is an excuse by Israel to intimidate not only the militants but also the general population of Gaza, as well as a warning to Syria.
To counter those who would maintain that the militants get what they ask for, I would point out that Israel has appropriated Palestinian land, and although Gaza was ostensibly freed by Israel, it is still very much under Israeli control. Palestinian movement to the West Bank and Jerusalem is restricted and monitored closely by Israel. The state of Israel is the jailers of the Palestinians of Gaza, and as long as the occupation continues, Ha mas and the militants will continue to harass Israel.
The international community must no longer be duped by Israel's cry that it has a right to defend itself; so have the Palestinians that same right. Israel's leaders ought to be brought to justice on the charge of crimes against humanity and placed in the docket. Ironically, Ariel Sharon's stroke saves him from this deserved humiliation; and nothing can redeem the United States from having aided and abetted Israel in subjugating the people of Palestine because, after all is said, Israel is a democracy. So be it.