Terror and starvation in Gaza

[Tom Joad]

John Pilger on the genocide that is engulfing Palestine as bystanders silently look on

A genocide is engulfing the people of Gaza while a silence engulfs its bystanders. "Some 1.4 million people, mostly children, are piled up in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, with no freedom of movement, no place to run and no space to hide," wrote the former senior UN relief official Jan Egeland and Jan Eliasson, then foreign minister of Sweden, in Le Figaro. They described a people "living in a cage", cut off by land, sea and air, with no reliable power and little water, and tortured by hunger and disease and incessant attacks by Israeli troops and planes.

Egeland and Eliasson wrote this four months ago in an attempt to break the silence in Europe, whose obedient alliance with the United States and Israel has sought to reverse the democratic result that brought Hamas to power in last year's Palestinian elections. The horror in Gaza has since been compounded: a family of 18 has died beneath a 500lb US/Israeli bomb; unarmed women have been mown down at point-blank range. Dr David Halpin, one of the few Britons to break what he calls "this medieval siege", reported the killing of 57 children by artillery, rockets and small arms and was shown evidence that civilians are Israel's true targets, as in Leba non last summer. A friend in Gaza, Dr Mona el-Farra, emailed: "I see the effects of the relentless sonic booms (a collective punishment by the Israeli air force) and artillery on my 13-year-old daughter. At night, she shivers with fear. Then both of us end up crouching on the floor. I try to make her feel safe, but when the bombs sound I flinch and scream . . ."

When I was last in Gaza, Dr Khalid Dahlan, a psychiatrist, showed me the results of a remarkable survey. "The statistic I personally find unbearable," he said, "is that 99.4 per cent of the children we studied suffer trauma. Once you look at the rates of exposure to trauma you see why: 99.2 per cent of their homes were bombarded; 97.5 per cent were exposed to tear gas; 96.6 per cent witnessed shootings; 95.8 per cent witnessed bombardment and funerals; almost a quarter saw family members injured or killed." Dahlan invited me to sit in on one of his clinics. There were 30 children, all of them traumatised. He gave each a pencil and paper and asked them to draw. They drew pictures of grotesque acts of terror and of women streaming tears.

New Statesman
______________________________________________________________

The silence of the US supports this terrorism against a people long under a brutal military occupation. This June marks the 40th anniversary of the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and Syrian Golan Heights. The world must cry out and say NO MORE. A massive protest will be held in Washington DC, as well as activities throughout the nation. Get involved.
EndtheOccupation.org

That Protest is sponsored by End the Occupation, United for Peace and Justice, and endorsed by Code Pink, Peace Action (largest peace lobby in the United States) and many more. It is made possible by people like you.

Never again! Don't say you didn't know.

[Shaktimaan]

1. I have a problem with the asserion that civilians are Israel's true target.

If that were so then why would Israel take any precautions to avoid hurting them? Despite what some people might think, Israel takes more precautions to avoid civilian casualties than pretty much any other nation in a war or occupation dealing with similar problems. Why would they call residents before targeting a house? In Lebanon, why would they leaflet neighborhoods to allow time for evacuation before bombing runs? When people criticize Israel's civilian casualty rate in Palestine they always compare it to the number of Israelis killed, never to similar situations involving other nations which usually demonstrate far higher civilian casualty rates. Look at the 1936-39 Arab uprising for example. Despite being only 3 years long 5000 Arabs died. While inter-tribe fighting and Haganah forces account for some of that the bulk was certainly from the 20,000 British force who were in charge. Or look at Black September in Jordan. Thousands were killed in 10 days of fighting.

If Israel was truly interested in killing civilians wouldn't they be doing a better job of it?

[Tom Joad]

2. Israel does have to "keep appearances" abroad.

It's not doing a very good job of it, but they do try.

It seems to have two aims: To terrorize the Palestinians into submission and to relinquish their rights (the goal is not to kill them all), while at the same time to control the PR for their funders abroad. Israel govt knows that while the Western media (especially US, where hardly an unpleasant word is spoken) is mostly silent about Palestinian suffering, there are times when there are problems (like when a bomb kills 19 civilians, or when a bomb kills a family on a beach, or a bulldozer used for destroying homes runs over a human rights activists), and that must be at least be limited.

The US has the same problem. How to pretend the govt is "spreading Democracy" by backing dictators (like Pinochet) or bombing cities (from vietnam to Iraq), so there are some limits... sometimes. Governments work at "manufacturing consent" to their bloody policies of oppression.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

3. Give me a damn break

At some point the world needs to wake up to the fact that there are two responsible governments here. Until the Intefadah, Israel provided roads, water, hospitals, schools, and other vital infrastructure to the territories. Do I defend Israel's occupation? Not entirely, but I am certainly not of the camp that the Israelis are evil occupiers and the Palestinians can do no wrong.

When the Palestinians were given self governance, and Arafat took over as their leader, they sat back while their government chose to invest in martyr money, AK47s, and Katyusha rockets instead of building their infrastructure and providing for the general welfare of those who elected them. They are just as guilty and culpable as the Israelis for their own predicament. As soon as they achived governmental status, they owned their issues.

DBDB

[Tom Joad]

4. Israel is responsible for the welfare of the territories under occupation.

That is not a choice, that is international law under the Geneva convention.

It has bombed infrastructure that is vital for the needs of the people, such as the power plant. It has closed many of its border crossings at whim. It has even restricted Gaza fishermen from going out to sea.

You make it sound as if Palestine were another state, like Canada or Peru, not a people under a military occupation.

Spare us the fictional account, please.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

19. Spare the fiction?

Which part is fiction?

I never said they were not under occupation. They do, however, have an elected leadership with money coming in from somewhere that they choose to use in part to pay out martyr money, and to support the purchase of weapons.

DBDB

[furman]

5. Here is how Pilger keeps up his appearances

“… the vote for Hamas was actually a vote for peace.”
-John Pilger
http://www.newstatesman.com/200606190029


“Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded. Allah willing, before they die, they will experience humiliation and degradation every day... Allah willing, we will make them lose their eyesight, we will make them lose their brains.”
-Khaled Mashal
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP108706

"We will not give up the resistance in the sense of jihad, martyrdom-seeking, sacrifices, arrests, the demolition of homes, and the uprooting of trees, at the same time, nor the shattering of the Israeli enemy's honor in all the confrontations - the war of tunnels and of security against the Israeli enemy, which ultimately led to its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank....
...Palestine means Palestine in its entirety - from the Sea to the River, from Ras Al-Naqura to Rafah. We cannot give up a single inch of it. Therefore, we will not recognize the Israeli enemy's to a single inch."
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP108306

[Tom Joad]

6. Those are not quotes from Pilger, of course. MEMRI is not impartial.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,773258,00.html
Selective Memri


Brian Whitaker investigates whether the 'independent' media institute that translates the Arabic newspapers is quite what it seems


For some time now, I have been receiving small gifts from a generous institute in the United States. The gifts are high-quality translations of articles from Arabic newspapers which the institute sends to me by email every few days, entirely free-of-charge.

.....

The organisation that makes these translations and sends them out is the Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri), based in Washington but with recently-opened offices in London, Berlin and Jerusalem.

Its work is subsidised by US taxpayers because as an "independent, non-partisan, non-profit" organisation, it has tax-deductible status under American law.

Memri's purpose, according to its website, is to bridge the language gap between the west - where few speak Arabic - and the Middle East, by "providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew media".

Despite these high-minded statements, several things make me uneasy whenever I'm asked to look at a story circulated by Memri. First of all, it's a rather mysterious organisation. Its website does not give the names of any people to contact, not even an office address.

The reason for this secrecy, according to a former employee, is that "they don't want suicide bombers walking through the door on Monday morning" (Washington Times, June 20).

This strikes me as a somewhat over-the-top precaution for an institute that simply wants to break down east-west language barriers.

The second thing that makes me uneasy is that the stories selected by Memri for translation follow a familiar pattern: either they reflect badly on the character of Arabs or they in some way further the political agenda of Israel. I am not alone in this unease.

Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations told the Washington Times: "Memri's intent is to find the worst possible quotes from the Muslim world and disseminate them as widely as possible."

_more at above link____________________________________

Thanks Furman

[furman]

9. The first quote was indeed from Pilger

Here is Pilger's quote again:

"the vote for Hamas was actually a vote for peace."
-John Pilger
http://www.newstatesman.com/200606190029


The Hamas quotes provided some more context.
I was not implying that the Hamas quotes were from Pilger.

Why do you even stoop to attacking MEMRI?
Because Hamas is so indefensible that you instead have to accuse the
MEMRI translations of being biased and unreliable in a
truly lame effort to deflect from the truth of Hamas's genocidal ambitions of annihilating Israel and Jews.

Since the beginning of the second intifada, Hamas is directly responsible for the
death of over 350 people and 2100 injured, mostly civilians.

This is Pilger's vote for peace.

[Tom Joad]

10. Why do you stoop to attacking Pilger?

I think you are twisting what he has said. Palestinians do want peace. With dignity.

Why aren't you defending the policies of the Israeli regime in the Gaza? It's policy of "putting Palestinians on a diet". Its destruction of powerplants that provide drinking water (for all the people of Gaza, not just Hamas fighters)

this thread is not about the writings of Hamas, or the imagined writings of Hamas, as "translated" by some shadowy organization.

[furman]

11. Why do I attack Pilger? Because he wrote the article you posted.

Why do you not speak out against Palestinian and Hezbollah rocket attacks, suicide bombings, roadside shootings,
and antisemitic incitement in the Arab media?

Terrorist activities coupled with the the perpetual rejection of Israel and Jewish presence in the region is the direct cause of the Palestinians' plight.

Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Tom.
The PA is by and large responsible for civil administration there now.
The fact that they are unwilling or unable to stop acts of war such as Qassam rockets and kidnappings
is the root cause of their deteriorating situation and Israeli counterterrorism operations.

If you truly want an end to the conflict with an equitable solution,
Tom Joad, you would petition for the PA, Hamas,
and their state sponsors of terrorism to renounce violence and seek a true peace with Israel.

[Amused Musings]

26. The Palestinians may want peace

but they voted into office an organization that refuses to renounce the utter annhilation of Israel. Woops. Does not sound very peaceful to me. Sure they offered a "ten year truce." But a bad peace is worst than war. Besides, Hamas is unable, or unwilling, to stop violence during other cease fires.

[Shaktimaan]

13. I have two questions.

The theory on why Israel is keeping such pressure on the Palestinians in the west bank is that it will discourage them so much that they'll start leaving. So if that's the case, and it is also true that it is the living situation that drives such hardcore resistance (which is a factor I'm sure) then what does Israel have to gain by 'terrorizing' the Gazan population? Considering the price they pay, both in public image and increased terrorism (according to this model) and the fact that they clearly don't want gaza, what's their motive for turning up the heat there more so than in the WB?

My second question is to ask your recommendation. Considering that whenever Israel tried to ease the Palestinian's living conditions they pay a price in increased attacks, what options do they have in attaining peace? I don't think anyone expects them to fulfill their entire side of the roadmap, pull back to the 48 borders, tear down the separation barrier, etc. without some good will given from the Palestinian camp. Yet every baby step taken by Israel has been discouraged by renewed violence. Obviously if Hamas enforces a ceasefire but doesn't include any of the other groups then it is meaningless. I'm talking about a real cessation of violence. What immediate actions can Israel take to move the peace process forward that will not instigate terrorism?

[Tom Joad]

15. The world is waiting for Israel to ease Palestinian living conditions.

We have not seen it yet.

[Shaktimaan]

16. Perhaps not to a standard you choose to recognize.

But they have at various times given the Palestinians increased freedom. Both of movement and to govern their own affairs. Ultimately Israel can't give Palestine better living conditions. They can only give them the opportunity and resources to do it. Look at post-Oslo as a time period of cash influx, jobs, representational government, easing of checkpoints and military pullbacks, ceding control of areas to the PA. There isn't any other way to do this other than in stages.

But answer the questions, regardless. I'm interested to hear what you think is the "correct" path to attain a peaceful settlement.

[Tom Joad]

17. Settlements increased during the Oslo years. As did the number of checkpoints.

It was a golden time for Israel to create facts on the ground.

[Shaktimaan]

18. you're just not going to answer the question, are you?

[Tom Joad]

7. A week under occupation.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

Two members of the Palestinian resistance were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian detainee died in an Israeli prison.
IOF conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman and her daughter.
IOF transformed two houses into military sites.
IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a girl.
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank; IOF razed areas of land in Um Salamouna village southwest of Bethlehem to construct a section of the Wall and 15 demonstrators were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Wall.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank; Israeli settlers razed areas of land in Yatta village, south of Hebron, to establish a settler road, and an invitation for bids to construct 44 new housing unit in “Ma’ale Adomim” settlement near Jerusalem was published in Israeli newspapers.

http://www.pchrgaza.ps/files/W_report/English/2007/18-01-2007.htm

[oberliner]

20. There is no Israeli entity that calls itself the "IOF"

Might as well refer to Israel as the "Zionist entity".

[newyorican]

21. There is no Palestinian entity that calls itself "terrorist"...

...naming your enemies in accordance with their actions is a time honored tradition. Nothing to lose sleep, or the point of the article, over.

[oberliner]

22. No but there is an entity called Islamic Jihad

If an article referred to them as "Islamofacist Jihad" instead of their actual name, I would think that would reflect poorly on the credibility of the article.

I would think that an article from an Israeli source that deliberately misidentified Palestinian Authority entities would not be welcome in a serious forum such as this, likewise for a Palestinian source and an Israeli entity.

[Tom Joad]

23. The Israeli military is not an occupation force in the West Bank?

What do you expect them to be called?

Is the West Bank under occupation?

"Our esteemed and welcomed guests, the most moral army in the universe"?

[oberliner]

24. From Haj Mohammed, publisher of new Palestinian newspaper in English

What are you going to call a suicide terrorist? Or the Israel Defense Forces?

"In English it's easier. I'll write 'suicide bomber' and not 'martyr.' In the case of the army, it's 'the Israeli army' and not 'the Israel Defense Forces,' but also not 'the occupation forces' or 'the Zionist occupation.' The wall is a wall, but not 'the racist apartheid wall.' I am against the use of the term 'militant' - it has too negative a connotation."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/814835.html

[Tom Joad]

8. Not being very careful here: Palestinians to be put on "diet" (Israeli leaders laugh)

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=9785

The Hamas team had not laughed so much in a long time. The team, headed by the prime minister's advisor Dov Weissglas and including the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, the director of the Shin Bet and senior generals and officials, convened for a discussion with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on ways to respond to the Hamas election victory. Everyone agreed on the need to impose an economic siege on the Palestinian Authority, and Weissglas, as usual, provided the punch line: "It's like an appointment with a dietician. The Palestinians will get a lot thinner, but won't die," the advisor joked, and the participants reportedly rolled with laughter. And, indeed, why not break into laughter and relax when hearing such a successful joke? If Weissglas tells the joke to his friend Condoleezza Rice, she would surely laugh too.

But Weissglas' wisecrack was in particularly poor taste. Like the thunder of laughter it elicited, it again revealed the extent to which Israel's intoxication with power drives it crazy and completely distorts its morality. With a single joke, the successful attorney and hedonist from Lilenblum Street, Tel Aviv demonstrated the chilling heartlessness that has spread throughout the top echelon of Israel's society and politics. While masses of Palestinians are living in inhumane conditions, with horrifying levels of unemployment and poverty that are unknown in Israel, humiliated and incarcerated under our responsibility and culpability, the top military and political brass share a hearty laugh a moment before deciding to impose an economic siege that will be even more brutal than the one until now.

The proposal to put hungry people on a diet is accepted here without shock, without public criticism; even if only said in jest, it is incomparably worse than the Danish caricature. It reflects a widespread mood that will usher in cruel, practical measures. If until now one could argue that Israel primarily demonstrated insensitivity to the suffering of the other and closed its eyes (especially the stronger classes, busy with their lives of plenty) while a complete nation was groaning only a few kilometers away, now Israel is also making jokes at the expense of the other's suffering.

[oberliner]

12. What is the "never again" in reference to?

Traditionally that phrase has been used to reference the Holocaust. As in the world will not allow that to take place ever again.

Are you suggesting that what is happening now in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinians is akin to that historical event?

[Tom Joad]

14. It's akin to never being silent in the face of a great injustice.

It seems a very good sentiment. It is for everyone.
We can't be safe unless we struggle together for justice for everyone.

Like maybe were just one big family.

Tom Joad said:
maybe it's like Casy says. A fellow ain't got a soul of his own, just little piece of a big soul, the one big soul that belongs to everybody, then...
Ma Joad: Then what, Tom?
Tom Joad: Then it don't matter. I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight, so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready, and when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise and livin' in the houses they build - I'll be there, too.
_________________________________________________________________

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

[harveyrunner]

25. The "invisible Iraeli hand in Gaza"

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9FD6B601-A2DB-4216-BC9A-4BE0D81B1439.htm

There is no doubt that Palestinian civilians are the target here.