Tag Archives: Israel/Palestine

Obama, Israel discuss ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy on East Jerusalem Settlements

After last week’s announced settlement expansion effectively torpedoed the indirect peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli government is will to do almost anything to build “trust,” so long as it doesn’t involve the only thing the PA actually wants, abandoning that settlement expansion.

Now, Israel has reportedly reached an agreement with the Obama Administration on something called a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In short, Israel would continue to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem with impunity, but they wouldn’t make a big deal of announcing those expansions in the press. (Read more from antiwar.com)

As Netanyahu arrives is Washington Israel approves ANOTHER new building in east Jerusalem

The Jerusalem municipality has approved 20 new apartments for Jews in an Arab neighborhood of east Jerusalem, the city said Wednesday, in a move that could stir a new diplomatic crisis with the United States just as Israel’s leader is in Washington on a fence-mending visit. (Read more from news.yahoo.com)

Remember, the Muslim world hates us because they are crazy, evil radicals.

Israel & the Goldstone Report

U.S. Jewish activist: Why I am protesting the Friends of the IDF dinner
Why am I protesting the $1,000-a-plate Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dinner honoring Chief of the IDF Staff Gabi Ashkenazi at the Waldorf on March 9?

Like many American Jews, I grew up hearing that the IDF was the most moral army in the world. An honest look at the historical and current evidence, however – most recently documented in the report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Israeli Invasion of Gaza (the Goldstone Report)- reveals a very different reality.

As a college student in the 1970s, I defined myself as a socialist Zionist and attended Israeli consulate-sponsored “hasbara” workshops.

The literal translation of hasbara is “explanation,” but specifically refers to Israel’s campaign to promote its public image. These sessions taught a simple strategy for “dealing with” Israel’s critics on college campuses.

Begin by speaking about Israel as having the most moral army in the world. Never address the content of your opponents’ allegations.

Reference the Holocaust repeatedly, emphasizing the need for a Jewish homeland with a strong army so that those who hate the Jews will “never again” prevail.

And be sure to question the integrity of Israel’s critics, insinuating that they are anti-Semitic (or, in some cases, self-hating Jews). Those of us in the room who supported a Palestinian state (and there were a few) recognized ourselves in their descriptions of who to watch out for.

I remained active on Palestine-Israel but left my identity as a Zionist far behind, recognizing the incompatibility of Zionism (and the reality of what it was) with my support for justice for the Palestinian people. (Read more from haaretz.com)

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Pastor Hagee Denounces Goldstone in Jerusalem 3/8/10:

Pastor Hagee and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem 3/8/10:

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European Parliament endorses Goldstone Gaza report
The European Parliament on Wednesday urged its 27-member states to monitor the Israeli and Palestinian probes into alleged war crimes committed during last year’s late-winter conflict in Gaza.

The resolution backed the findings of a UN-appointed expert panel chaired by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, which concluded that both sides committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the war that began in December 2008 and ended in January 2009.

The parliamentary move, which would give the EU an unprecedented role in evaluating the progress of Israel’s war crimes probe, was sharply criticized by Israel. (Read more from haaretz.com)

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Israel: EU support for Goldstone unhelpful to peace talks
The Foreign Ministry has condemned the EU Parliament’s decision to express support for the Goldstone report and call for a war crimes investigation against Israel.

“Israel regrets the EU Parliament’s decision, which is unhelpful to the peace process and does not become the principles of law and justice. At a time of international struggle to foster talks it is unfortunate that the European parliament is choosing to express a stance on such a controversial opinion already discussed in other forums. Israel is committed to the peace process and will continue to defend its citizens and soldiers,” the statement says. (Read more from ynetnews.com)

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Gaza in plain language

Colonizing East Jerusalem — the latest headlines

All the talk about an ‘undivided’ Jerusalem is a euphemism for taking land from Palestinians. I’d prefer it if we followed George Washington’s advice and avoided entangling alliances altogether. Unfortunately, we are heavily involved.

Here’s the latest flare-up. These chronologically ordered headlines speak for themselves. Notice the quick stamp of approval by the U.S. government, followed by a rare (but appropriate in my opinion) condemnation.

– Israel has authorized the building of 112 new apartments [15,000 new homes] in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

– US denies Israel settlement move violates moratorium

– Israel rebuffs Biden by announcing new settlement construction

– Biden: East Jerusalem plan undermines peace talks

– Arab League chief: Abbas won’t enter indirect peace talks now

– Deputy FM tells U.S.: Israel won’t make any more concessions

– Clinton rebukes Israel over East Jerusalem homes

– Netanyahu: Probe events that led to row with U.S. over East Jerusalem

– Yesha Coucil: Knesset should back PM, reject Clinton’s comments

Trial over death of U.S. activist Rachel Corrie begins

The family of an American activist who was fatally crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza accused Israel of whitewashing its investigation into the death Wednesday in the opening of a civil case against Israel.

The parents of Rachel Corrie are seeking unspecified compensation from Israel’s Defense Ministry for their daughter’s death in 2003.

Corrie, a U.S. citizen, was 24 when she was struck and killed in 2003 by a bulldozer as she and other activists tried to stop Israel razing homes in Rafah by using their bodies as human shields.

The driver said he didn’t see her, and the Israel Defense Forces has ruled her death an accident – a version her parents reject. (Read more from haaretz.com)

Report: Dubai assassins used U.S. credit accounts

U.K. demands Israel’s aid in probing alleged use of fake U.K. passports by killers of Hamas strongman.

Dubai authorities are looking into five U.S.-issued credit card accounts suspected to have been used by the alleged assassins of Hamas strongman Mahmoud al-Mabhouh last January, the Wall Street journal reported on Thursday.

The cards, according to the Wall Street Journal report, issued by U.S. banks, were used by the suspected assassins to buy plane tickets connected to the operation, as well as other travel related items.

If indeed the cards will prove to have been used by the suspected killers of the Hamas commander, that incident could join a string of diplomatic strains between Israel, who many estimate is behind the assassination, and it’s western allies. (Read more from haaretz.com)

Syrian official: Golan tax breaks prove Israel doesn’t want peace

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official said Thursday that a Knesset bill that would grant tax benefits to residents of the Golan Heights, a territory that Syria demands that Israel return in any peace agreement, proves that Israel does not really want peace, Israel Radio reported.

On Wednesday, some 67 of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset voted in favor of the bill, while 13 voted against. The rest abstained or were absent. (Read more from haaretz.com)

British Government Promises Israeli Official He Won’t Be Arrested During Visit

After receiving a letter from the British Foreign Ministry promising that he wouldn’t be arrested for war crimes while in England, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon arrived in London on Monday.

He is the first Israeli official to visit Britain since a British judge issued an edict declaring that Israeli officials would be subject to ‘universal jurisdiction’ laws requiring their arrests and trial for war crimes. The ruling included an arrest warrant for Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni.

Since its invasion of the Gaza Strip last year that resulted in 1400 Palestinians killed, 80% of whom were civilians, and 5 Israeli civilians killed, Israeli officials have faced increased scrutiny and criticism abroad. This increased after Israel refused to acknowledge or examine the contents of the United Nations Report examining the Gaza invasion for possible war crimes. (Read more from imemc.org)

12 Arrested For Disrupting Israeli Ambassador At UC Irvine

Twelve people were arrested this evening during a raucous lecture at UC Irvine where Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren came to talk about U.S.-Israel relations.

Oren was interrupted 10 times while trying to give his speech before 500 people at the UCI Student Center, where there was heavy security. Oren took a 20 minute break after the fourth protest, asked for hospitality and resumed his speech, only to be interrupted again by young men yelling at him every few minutes. Many members of the audience also applauded Oren.

After the 10th interruption, several dozens students who opposed Oren’s talk got up and walked out and staged a protest outside. It is not clear whether they were members of the UCI Muslim Student Union, which issued an email earlier in the day condemning Oren’s appearance on campus.

(Read more from politicaltheatrics.net)

Premier: Israel to keep parts of West Bank forever

Israel’s leader declared his country’s permanent claim to parts of the West Bank on Sunday, angering Palestinians again and complicating efforts by President Barack Obama’s Mideast envoy — though the same claim was also made by previous, more moderate premiers.

Timing and context lent weight to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to two Jewish settlements and his declaration that they would remain in Israel forever. He planted a tree at one of them — Maaleh Adumim, home to about 30,000 Israelis about two miles (three kilometers) from Jerusalem — a symbolic act of ownership.

“Our message is clear: We are planting here, we will stay here, we will build here. This place will be an inseparable part of the state of Israel for eternity,” Netanyahu proclaimed, just as envoy George Mitchell was trying to restart peace talks after a yearlong stalemate. (Read more from news.yahoo.com)

Remember, they hate us because they are radical fanatics.

Robert Fisk: Why does the US turn a blind eye to Israeli bulldozers?

“Palestine” is no more. Call it a “peace process” or a “road map”; blame it on Barack Obama’s weakness, his pathetic, childish admission – like an optimistic doctor returning a sick child to its parents without hope of recovery – that a Middle East peace was “more difficult” to reach than he imagined.

But the dream of a “two-state” Israeli-Palestinian solution, a security-drenched but noble settlement to decades of warfare between Israelis and Palestinians is as good as dead.

Both the United States and Europe now stand idly by while the Israeli government effectively destroys any hope of a Palestinian state; even as you read these words, Israel’s bulldozers and demolition orders are destroying the last chance of peace; not only in the symbolic centre of Jerusalem itself but – strategically, far more important – in 60 per cent of the vast, biblical lands of the occupied West Bank, in that largest sector in which Jews now outnumber Muslims two to one. (Read more from independent.co.uk)

Construction in West Bank settlements booming despite declared freeze

Despite the construction freeze, dozens of settlements in the West Bank are experiencing a building boom, even on the eve of another visit to the region by U.S. envoy George Mitchell to try to restart talks for a final settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Construction is being carried out mostly to the east of the separation fence; it began shortly after warrants were issued on November 26 freezing construction.

Haaretz toured the area on Wednesday and witnessed work being carried out in the Barkan and Ariel industrial zones, as well as the construction of housing at Ariel, Elkana North, Peduel and Kfar Tapuah. A sign at Kfar Tapuah announced plans for the construction of 65 new housing units. Israel patrols were evident, but not inspectors of the Civil Administration enforcing the construction ban.
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In all the sites mentioned there is evidence of heavy equipment preparing the ground for construction or for the creation of suitable infrastructure. (Read more from haaretz.com)

Remember, they hate us because they are evil fanatics. </sarcasm>

Israel Threatens Abbas: Defer UN vote on Goldstone or face ‘second Gaza’

The request by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the United Nations Human Rights Council last year to postpone the vote on the Goldstone report followed a particularly tense meeting with the head of the Shin Bet security service, Haaretz has learned. At the October meeting in Ramallah, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told Abbas that if he did not ask for a deferral of the vote on the critical report on last year’s military operation, Israel would turn the West Bank into a “second Gaza.”

Diskin, who reports directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatened to revoke the easing of restrictions on movement within the West Bank that had been implemented earlier last year. He also said Israel would withdraw permission for mobile phone company Wataniya to operate in the Palestinian Authority. (Read more from haaretz.com)