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53498
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Taking sides
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Taking sides works for football games but taking sides in war can be convoluted at best. I watch the postings supporting Palestinians while not admonishing the terrorist group that started the bomb volley between Gaza and Israel. Then the rhetoric builds against Biden for supporting Israel with weaponry. But nowhere in this situation is there a mention of the innocent Israeli’s including women children and the elderly, being the targets of a determined terrorist group to wipe them out, to every man woman and child. While Hamas ignited this war, it seems that Israel is not supposed to defend itself and its people. Much of the weaponry granted Israel are defensive weapons for the Dome. So bombs are ignited in the air and not on top of homes, schools, hospitals and synagogues. The danger of taking sides in this war is that people choose their support of one set of children/families and condemn the other set to death. Both sides of this war have committed terrible atrocities. Both are wrong. But Israel has a right to defend its people. And Palestine has the obligation to denounce the terrorist group killing on their behalf. And people posting have a responsibility to all life, on both sides, or they are part of the killing that happens in this kind of situation. Their very support of one side and ignoring the devastation wrought upon the other, condemns children to their deaths. Work at stopping both sides and work at peaceful solutions with the energy you expend on revenge and retribution. Or you are no better than those you crucify on their behalf. |
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53506
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: 'Hamas ignited this war' is a faulty premise
URL: https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/
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Netanyahu was amply warned by his own intel, by Egypt & likely by the CIA who also had intelligence indicating planning & preparation were in the works for an attack on Israel. Netanyahu ignored it. He wanted an excuse to literally wipe Palestinians off the map, to destroy any semblance of a culture in Gaza. He even created a map reflected it weeks prior to October 7. a dream map to visualize his deepest wish into existence. link NETANYAHU’S WAR ON TRUTH Israel’s Ruthless Propaganda Campaign to Dehumanize Palestinians Jeremy Scahill - February 7 2024 TWO WEEKS BEFORE Hamas commandos led a series of raids into Israel on October 7, Benjamin Netanyahu stood before an empty chamber at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The Israeli prime minister brandished a map of what he promised could be the “New Middle East.” It depicted a state of Israel that stretched continuously from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. On this map, Gaza and the West Bank were erased. Palestinians did not exist. “What a historic change for my country! You see, the land of Israel is situated on the crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe,” Netanyahu bellowed at a handful of spectators in the large hall, nearly all of whom were his loyalists or underlings. “For centuries, my country was repeatedly invaded by empires passing through it in their campaigns of plunder and conquest elsewhere. But today, as we tear down walls of enmity, Israel can become a bridge of peace and prosperity between these continents.” During that speech, Netanyahu portrayed the full normalizing of relations with Saudi Arabia, an initiative spearheaded under the Trump administration and embraced by the Biden White House, as the linchpin of his vision for this “new” reality, one which would open the door to a “visionary corridor that will stretch across the Arabian Peninsula and Israel. It will connect India to Europe with maritime links, rail links, energy pipelines, fiber-optic cables.” He was speaking on the grand stage of the U.N. General Assembly, but no world leaders bothered to attend. Outside, some 2,000 people, a mixture of American Jews and Israeli citizens, protested his attacks on the independence of the Israeli judiciary system. The scene served as a reminder of how deeply unpopular his far-right governing coalition, not to mention Netanyahu himself, had become in Israel. At that moment, it seemed that Netanyahu was pushed against the ropes, in a losing battle to continue his political reign. Netanyahu is using the horrors of October 7 to wage the crusade he’s been preparing for his entire political career." |
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53507
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: 'Hamas ignited this war' is a faulty premise
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Netanyahu is a terror. That is not disputed. You can ignore the fact (FACT) that Hamas started this war with a steam of missiles on Oct. 7. You can continue to shelter a terrorist organization (Hamas) who has both attacked Israel and violated cruelly the lives of Palestinians. But those lies and lies like them keep killing children on both sides. Because adults can’t make peace and have a burning desire to continue a vile vendetta between two peoples. |
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53502
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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“ While Hamas ignited this war, it seems that Israel is not supposed to defend itself and its people. Much of the weaponry granted Israel are defensive weapons for the Dome. So bombs are ignited in the air and not on top of homes, schools, hospitals and synagogues.” you do have a habit of saying things that aren’t true, don’t you? no one, and i really mean no one thinks israel shouldn’t be able to defend themselves. but dropping 2,000 lb bombs and firing large air to ground missiles at densely populated areas killing more than 32,000 civilians to date can in no way be considered israel defending itself. israel hasn’t depleted their defensive weapons, they are running out of large bombs and missiles that have been used on an area about half the size of most us cities. not sure what the bullshit about bombs igniting in the air so they don’t destroy homes, schools, hospitals and synagogues. have you seen the images and videos coming out of gaza? have you somehow not heard of all the schools hit when they were full of students? have you not seen the destruction of hospitals, homes and pretty much all other buildings? can you not grasp that of the 32,000 killed in gaza 2/3 of them, more than 21,000 are women and children? |
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53503
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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I see you are still not honoring your vow to ignore me. I am calling out both sides, unlike you and others here who concentrate on the terror war inflicts and the deaths of Palestinians while never speaking of dead Israeli children and their families. Always revenge and retaliation. In that both sides are equally responsible. Actually there HAS been a call for Israel to stop bombing. But those same voices supporting Palestine do not equally demand Hamas to stop. And Hamas sent those first unexpected missiles into Israel. It is a wonder and heartache to me that people take sides when both are so very much at fault. (Are you not informed how the Dome works in Israel? Really?) |
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53545
From: mitra, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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Thank you for your comments and view. Personally, I am pro-Israeli and Palestinian people, apart from the so-called leaders. After Oct. 7, Jose Andres fed workers and people of Jerusalem,and found most just wanted peace, not retribution, and when he went to Gaza found the same. Most people want to live and love and so much of this war, and all wars, just insanity of the greedy. |
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53508
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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i should ignore you but you weren’t calling out both sides, you were putting out some false shit about people not wanting israel to defend themselves and false things about bombs exploding in the air so they don’t destroy schools and such. israel is using large, us funded weapons to destroy schools, hospitals and all other structures and kill civilians on a massive scale. you described a completely false situation |
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53509
From: etc. , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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I did call out both sides and have continuously called out both sides, even before Oct. 7. Don’t lie about it Old Timer. And your ignorance and lack is showing when you don’t immediately recognize what I was stating about the Israeli missile defense system. Missiles blown up in the air don’t reach to blow up on the ground. (You need defense system 101 classes? Or just being obstinate?) |
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53511
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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the missile defense system has nothing to do with the mass slaughter of civilians in gaza. israel is using large offensive weapons such as 2,000 lb bombs on civilians including on schools and hospitals |
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53513
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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Multi layered complicated situations seem to be more than you can handle old timer. Slaughter on both sides is the point. There are no heroes here and many villains. But for sure, if Israel had nothing left to protect themselves, Hamas would finish them off. It does not excuse Netanyahu’s actions by any means. But it seems like you and others forget there are innocents on both sides dying. And Hamas lit the fuse. |
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53518
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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more falsehoods, what a shock. hamas couldn’t finish off israel if we took all their tanks and airplanes. hamas is a terrorist organization and wasn’t able to even control gaza, much less finish off israel. but israel does have the power to slaughter civilians on a massive scale with us supplied weapons and they are doing exactly that are innocents on both sides dying? since 10/7 when 1,200 were killed israel has killed 32,000 civilians, 2/3 of them women and children. and that death toll goes up daily. are innocents in israel still dying? is there really slaughter on both sides? it certainly appears since last october all the slaughtering has been the israelis slaughtering palestinians, mostly women and children nowhere in this slaughter does the missile defense system come into play |
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53520
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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Does Hamas still lob missiles? Are you so ill informed you think the defense system hasn’t been in effect all this time? I thought you kept up on things? And who do you think is arming Hamas? Not just Iran you know. You think Iran and others in the ME don’t have enough weaponry? You speak as if Hamas is some tiny ineffective terrorist group. It is being funded by big wheelers. And has ruled and abused Palestine for years. |
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53523
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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are you somehow trying to justify israel slaughtering civilians? you said you were presenting both sides while israel continues to slaughter women and children by the thousands. these are real people dying in large numbers |
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53525
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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No. At this point, you have introduced and are trying to imply something that is false. I have made my stance clear. And I have made my empathy for both sides evident. You are just trying to disabuse a very clear and deep opinion. If you have nothing further to offer, I suggest you find something to share that might help someone. Show your empathy and care. |
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53526
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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no, you created a false equivalence with this taking sides thread. that was your stance and you created a completely false narrative to support that shit. you implied anyone is denying israel’s right to defend themselves when no one is. what has people in this country and around the world upset is israel’s use of heavy weapons on civilian populations. and that isn’t a rumor or guess, it is no secret that israel is using 2,000 lb bombs and other heavy ordnance on civilians which is why the death toll is so high among women and children. israel is on a war of vengeance and retribution and women and children are dying by the thousands in gaza |
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53534
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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etc also called congressional representative Rashida Tlaib an "extremist" for speaking out against Palestinian oppression & genocide. That's the kind of person you're trying to reason with. |
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53527
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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You missed posting the point that I agree Netanyahu’s is responsible for terrible war crimes against humanity. But unlike you, I believe all life is equally precious on both sides. Not by numbers but by each individual life. Is that equivalency? It certainly is not a false narrative. I think that the Dome and defensive warfare is what has kept the number of deaths down on the Israeli side, not the lack of fire power or lack of desire of Hamas to kill more people. I feel Hamas is also to blame for deaths on their own side. They started this war knowing that the offensive would be swift and harsh and Palestinians would suffer the most by their actions. Your false narratives about what I have written does nothing to change my message old timer. You betray only yourself by trying to put me in the position to defend my words over and over again while distorting the direction of my message. It is a crafty skill but not an honorable one, and not intended to add substance to a discussion, but rather, to obscure it. You would do everyone a favor by ceasing. It bears no fruit. |
53528
From: old timer, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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“But unlike you, I believe all life is equally precious on both sides.” that’s a sleazy way to behave. clearly you again lie as is your habit didn’t miss your point. the hamas terrorist attack was a horrible human tragedy, i’ve said so repeatedly. but israel’s targeting of civilians is an ongoing human tragedy. you seem to be in the camp that feel this is hamas’s fault for starting it and no blame goes on israel which is bullshit. that event didn’t give israel the right to slaughter women and children. the deliberate and continued killing of civilians and destruction of gaza is despicable and will likely be condemned as a war crime by future generations |
53530
From: ryan, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
| you're just talking shit dude...hamas has targeted civilians too...most of the people they have killed have been civilians...it is my observation that almost everyone here is disgusted with what the israelis have done, have justified...but you keep slamming folks for no apparent reason except to stroke your whatever...chill... |
53535
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: why should anyone 'chill' about genocide?
| it's an obscene suggestion. |
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53531
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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first could you say tell the crazy lady that it is shitty to say things like “But unlike you, I believe all life is equally precious on both sides.” that’s a shitty way to behave and obviously false. she’s constantly dishonest and tries to make things personal like that you bet hamas targets civilians. but then again hamas is a terrorist organization so that isn’t surprising. on the other hand israel is targeting civilians and killing them in large numbers and they should definitely be held to a higher standard as they are supposedly a civilized nation and your observation is wrong as several here argue against a ceasefire and refuse to condemn israel for their continuing slaughter. been several topics on that and your disturbed buddy isn’t the only one here who holds israel blameless for the continuing slaughter of civilians |
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53532
From: ao, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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"who holds Israel blameless.." I think it was Paul who said.. A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.. |
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53529
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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Old timer wrote “you seem to be in the camp that feel this is hamas’s fault for starting it and no blame goes on israel which is bullshit.” I have been clear. And That is an outright lie old timer. Talk about sleazy. Your habit not mine. Have you no decency? I think we are done here. You misrepresent me on purpose (lie) and gain no ground. I’m not going to call you names or swear at you. Lacking integrity is its own burden. |
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53524
From: ao, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
| oh no, mr bill, here we go again! |
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53515
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: false equivalency & the hollow 'both sides' narrative
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...doesn't fit. redux just for you. GREGORY SHUPAK -2021 Israel/Palestine Coverage Presents False Equivalency Between Occupied and Occupier WSJ: Israel Strikes Hamas Targets After Rockets Fired at Jerusalem The Wall Street Journal headline (5/10/21) presents the Gaza violence as a clear-cut case of aggression and retaliation. Media coverage of heightened violence in Israel/Palestine has misrepresented events in the Israeli government’s favor by suggesting that Israel is acting defensively, presenting a false equivalency between occupier and occupied, and burying information necessary to understand the scale of Israeli brutality. Corporate media have presented Israel’s killing spree as defensive, as a reaction to supposed Palestinian aggression. A Financial Times headline (5/10/21) read, “Hamas Rocket Attacks Provoke Israeli Retaliation in Gaza.” The New York Times’ description (5/12/21) was, “Hamas launched long- range rockets at Jerusalem on Monday evening, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes.” An article in Newsweek (5/12/21) had it that “Hamas rained down rockets on Israeli civilian targets, and the Israeli military responded with surgical air strikes against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza.” A CNN headline (5/12/21) said, “At Least 35 Killed in Gaza as Israel Ramps Up Airstrikes in Response to Rocket Attacks.” The Wall Street Journal (5/12/21) ran the headline, “Hamas Attack on Israel Aims to Capitalize on Palestinian Frustration,” which makes it sound as if Israel were simply minding its own business and Hamas lashed out for no reason. The Journal reinforced this impression by describing Israel’s bombing of Gaza as merely a “response” to and a “counterstrike” against the rockets from Palestinian resistance factions. Imagine for a moment that the entire history of Israel/Palestine began on May 10. Even then, Hamas’ rocket fire was a follow through on its promise (Ynet, 5/10/21) to fire rockets in “response” to and “retaliation” against Israel if the latter didn’t remove its forces from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah, where Israel has been attempting to force Palestinians from their homes and repressing the resultant protests, and from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which Israel had just raided during Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month (Jacobin, 5/14/21). More to the point is that Israel, and its forerunners in the Zionist movement, have been carrying out a war against Palestinians for over 100 years, so Israeli self-defense against Palestinians is a logical impossibility (Electronic Intifada, 7/26/18). As an occupying power, Israel does not have a legal right to claim self-defense against the people it occupies (Truthout, 5/14/21). Israel has been subjecting Gaza to a military siege for 12–14 years, depending on the metric one uses to determine the starting point, which has left the territory effectively unlivable (Jacobin, 3/31/20); a siege is an act of war, so the party enforcing it cannot claim to be acting defensively in response to anything that happened subsequent to the start of the blockade. ‘Both sides’ narrative NBC: Over 70 killed as Israel, Palestinians exchange worst violence in years — and prepare for more NBC News (5/12/21): “Both sides appear to be preparing for more violence.” Similarly, media have had a long-running tendency to amplify the view that violence across historic Palestine should be understood as roughly equivalent fighting on “both sides.” This remains a commonplace feature of the coverage, exemplified by NBC headline (5/12/21), “Over 70 Killed as Israel, Palestinians Exchange Worst Violence in Years.” A Washington Post editorial (5/11/21) was headlined “New Israeli/Palestinian Fighting Serves Political Agendas on Both Sides.” It said that “the worst conflict in years has erupted between the two peoples, with Palestinian missiles raining down on Israeli cities and airstrikes rocking the Gaza Strip.” A David Ignatius article in the Post (5/13/21) was headlined, “The Vicious Cycle Gets Worse for the Israelis and Palestinians.” The author wrote that Israelis and Palestinians “both” are “swept up yet again by the cycle of violence.” The word “clash” is frequently employed to avoid acknowledging that violence is overwhelmingly inflicted by one side on the other, as in headlines like Reuters‘ “Israeli Police, Palestinians Clash at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa, Scores Injured” (5/8/21). The headline gives no clue that 97% of the injuries were being suffered by Palestinians. The fatal flaw in the “both sides” narrative is that only the Israeli side has ethnically cleansed and turned millions on the Palestinians’ side into refugees by preventing them from exercising their right to return to their homes. Israel is the only side subjecting anyone to apartheid and military occupation. It is only the Palestinian side—including those living inside of what is presently called Israel—that has been made to live as second-class citizens in their own land. That’s to say nothing of the lopsided scale of the death, injury and damage to infrastructure that Palestinians have experienced as compared to Israelis, both during the present offensive and in the longer term. Amnesty International: End brutal repression of Palestinians protesting forced displacement in occupied East Jerusalem Amnesty International (5/10/21) declared unequivocally that “Israeli security forces have used repeated, unwarranted and excessive force against Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem.” The “both sides” approach, however, permeates the coverage. The New York Times (5/12/21) relied on a bogus symmetry between oppressor and oppressed, with Jerusalem bureau chief Patrick Kingsley writing: For weeks, ethnic tensions had been rising in Jerusalem, the center of the conflict. In April, far-right Jews marched through the city center, chanting “Death to Arabs,” and mobs of both Jews and Arabs attacked each other. In contrast, Amnesty International (5/10/21) documented: “Evidence gathered by Amnesty International reveals a chilling pattern of Israeli forces using abusive and wanton force against largely peaceful Palestinian protesters in recent days. Some of those injured in the violence in East Jerusalem include bystanders or worshipers making Ramadan prayers,” said Saleh Higazi, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. “The latest violence brings into sharp focus Israel’s sustained campaign to expand illegal Israeli settlements and step up forced evictions of Palestinian residents—such as those in Sheikh Jarrah—to make way for Israeli settlers. These forced evictions are part of a continuing pattern in Sheikh Jarrah, they flagrantly violate international law and would amount to war crimes.” Eyewitness testimonies—as well as videos and photographs taken by Amnesty International’s researchers on the ground in East Jerusalem—show how Israeli forces have repeatedly deployed disproportionate and unlawful force to disperse protesters during violent raids on Al-Aqsa mosque and carried out unprovoked attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Sheikh Jarrah. The Wall Street Journal (5/12/21) presented the Israeli police as neutral peace keepers, obscuring power differentials between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel: Israel is also facing an internal conflict, as pro-Palestinian Arab residents clashed with their Jewish neighbors in mixed towns, prompting the government to bring in border police troops to quell riots. The reality is that Israeli police have violently assailed Palestinian demonstrators across Israel. That the Palestinians arrestees have been denied legal rights and necessary medical treatment is also omitted. Another Journal (5/12/21) article referred to “Palestinian anger over what they see as years of efforts to push them out of Jerusalem and limit their access to land they claim, as well as infringing on their basic rights.” Yet these views are not simply a matter of “what [Palestinians] see as” discrimination. As Human Rights Watch (5/11/21) noted: Nearly all Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem hold a conditional, revocable residency status, while Jewish Israelis in the same area are citizens with secure status. Palestinians live in densely populated enclaves that receive a fraction of the resources given to settlements and effectively cannot obtain building permits, while neighboring Israeli settlements built on expropriated Palestinian land flourish. Israeli officials have intentionally created this discriminatory system under which Jewish Israelis thrive at the expense of Palestinians. The government’s plan for the Jerusalem municipality, including both the west and occupied east parts of the city, sets the goal of “maintaining a solid Jewish majority in the city” and even specifies the demographic ratios it hopes to maintain. This intent to dominate underlies Israel’s crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution. Presenting as debatable the indisputable fact that Palestinians in Jerusalem are denied “their basic rights” is a form of “both sides-ism,” taking incontrovertible factual information about the status of Palestinians in Jerusalem and reducing it to merely one of multiple possible narratives. Important facts left out I looked at Gaza coverage during the first four days of Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire, focusing on the databases of the five US newspapers with the highest circulation: The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. Crucial aspects of what is happening in Gaza have been severely underreported. For instance, Israel closed Kerem Shalom Crossing on May 10, “blocking the entrance of humanitarian aid and fuel destined for Gaza’s power plant” (Gisha, 5/12/21). Kerem Shalom is also Gaza’s main commercial crossing, which means that the closure will further devastate Gaza’s economy, already in ruin thanks to the Israeli siege. Between May 10 and May 13, the five newspapers published a combined 114 articles that refer to Gaza. Only two pointed out that Israel has tightened the siege during the bombing campaign. The New York Times (5/10/21) ran an article that noted that Israel “shut a key crossing between Gaza and Israel,” but said nothing about the consequences of doing so. WaPo: Israel’s military assault on Gaza threatens to worsen the pandemic in the enclave In the first four days of the assault on Gaza, this Washington Post article (5/13/21) was the only report in a major US newspaper that mentioned that the Israeli government had blocked humanitarian aid, including Covid vaccines, from entering the occupied territory. A Washington Post report (5/13/21) quoted Sasha Muench, Palestinian territories director for the US-based humanitarian group Mercy Corps: At the moment, no goods or people can enter Gaza because the border crossings are closed. This means no medical supplies, including vaccines, can enter…. In addition, no fuel to run the generators can enter, and Gaza authorities are warning of increased blackouts, including at hospitals, and potentially having no electricity in Gaza at all within a few days. The latter is the only one of the 114 articles that mentioned that Israel has been blocking the entrance of humanitarian aid even more so than before it began this round of violence against Gaza. On May 12, the Israeli human rights group Gisha noted that Israel is “banning all access to Gaza’s sea space, a cynical and punitive measure that harms fishermen’s livelihoods and food supply,” and that this move is a form of collective punishment that is illegal under international law. Restricting Palestinians’ food access is particularly egregious, given that 68.5% of Gaza residents are already food insecure. Collectively, the five newspapers ran 88 articles that mentioned Gaza between May 12 and 13. Just one mentioned anything about Israel barring access to the sea, a New York Times piece (5/10/21) that said Israel “barred fishermen from [Gaza] from going to sea,” but did not point out that there is already a major problem with food access in the Strip that Israel’s move is sure to worsen. In fact, zero of the 88 articles mention that there is widespread food insecurity in the territory that Israel is incinerating. Thus, the enthusiastic cheers for attacks on Palestinians, coming from, say, the New York Times’ Bret Stephens (5/13/21), are not the only form of media misdeeds against Palestinians. It’s the inversion of attacker and attacked, or the flattening of distinctions between the two. It’s the burying of information that clarifies the scope of Israeli criminality. Such approaches can confuse the public about the differences between those who fight for liberation and those who fight to snuff it out. |
53519
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Israel’s occupation: 50 years of Palestinian oppression
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educate yourself. A few months ago you proved you knew nothing about what AIPAC's purpose was, while pretending otherwise. It's clear your knowledge of the Israel-Palestinian conflict is limited as well. Israel’s occupation: 50 years of Palestinian oppression "After 50 years of Israeli war crimes on Palestinian land, the world has to act and ban Israeli settlement goods. “Everyone has a right to live in his home and no one may uproot him.” These were the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Knesset event this week marking 50 years of Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories in which he vowed to strengthen Israel’s “settlement enterprise”. The right elucidated in Netanyahu’s speech, it would appear, however, does not extend to Palestinians in the occupied territories. Israel’s unlawful construction and expansion of settlements and their related infrastructure on Palestinian soil is one of the most defining features of Israel’s occupation and has bred mass violations against Palestinians over the past five decades. Everyone has a right to live in his home and no one may uproot him Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech to Knesset about settlements Tens of thousands of Palestinian homes and properties have been demolished displacing entire communities from their homes and at least 100,000 hectares of land have been seized for Israel’s settlement project, including for construction and agricultural use. Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land do not just amount to war crimes under international law, they violate fundamental principles of international law triggering additional responsibilities among all states. Yet, for decades, Israel has openly defied international law by ruthlessly pursuing its settlement expansion. For decades, Israel has openly defied international law by ruthlessly pursuing its settlement expansion. Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International Palestinian natural resources such as fertile land, water and minerals have been extensively and unlawfully appropriated to sustain the Israeli settlements. At the same time, Israel has imposed restrictions on Palestinians’ access to – and use of – water, land and other natural resources, as well as restricting Palestinians’ freedom of movement, tearing families apart, stopping farmers from accessing their farmland and preventing people getting to work or earning a living. Over the years, as the Palestinian economy has steadily declined under the strain of these restrictions, Israel has simultaneously built a multibillion-dollar business out of Palestinian suffering – exporting hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of settlement goods internationally each year. This thriving enterprise helps to sustain the presence and the expansion of settlements and is a key driving force for the systematic violations we continue to witness against Palestinians today. For five decades, the world has stood by and watched as Israel has exploited Palestinian people, land and natural resources for profit to support its illegal settlement expansion, offering little more than condemnation of Israel’s unlawful acts. International lack of action Unless concerted international action is taken to stop and remove settlements, the already dire human rights situation for Palestinians in the occupied territories will only get worse. Under international law, states have an obligation not to recognise nor to render aid or assistance to the illegal situation created by Israeli settlements – yet many states continue to allow imports from settlements and permit their companies to operate on occupied Palestinian land. The vast majority of states, including all EU member states, publicly acknowledge Israeli settlements as illegal under international law and have been nearly unanimous in their condemnation of the settlement project. There have also been many UN resolutions passed demanding an end to settlement construction and expansion. As early as 1980, UN Security Council Resolution 465 called on all states not to provide Israel with any assistance “to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the occupied territories”. Time and again, the global condemnation of Israel's settlement policy has fallen on deaf ears Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International Yet, time and again, the global condemnation of Israel’s settlement policy has fallen on deaf ears. Israel has repeatedly made it clear that it couldn’t care less what the world thinks and is doggedly determined to continue its expansion of settlements in flagrant violation of international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech pledging his continued commitment to expanding settlements proves just that. Israel’s military-run Civil Administration is also set to approve thousands of new homes in existing settlements in the occupied West Bank announced earlier this year as well as plans to establish two new settlements, the first in years. Ban settlement goods It has become increasingly evident that merely condemning Israel’s settlement expansion is not enough. That’s why, to mark the 50 years of occupation Amnesty International is making a call, for the first time in the organisation’s history, on governments worldwide to uphold their obligations by banning settlement goods from their markets and putting in place laws and regulations to stop their companies from operating in settlements or trading in settlement goods. Governments worldwide have the responsibility to ensure that goods grown, produced or manufactured on stolen Palestinian land do not end up on our supermarket shelves. They have to show that their verbal condemnation of Israel is more than hot air. Failure of states to do so would undermine the legal principles that they claim to uphold. Fifty years on it’s easy to feel helpless about what can be done to address decades of injustice and Israeli violations against Palestinians. Banning settlement goods and stopping companies from operating in settlements are concrete steps that governments must take to meet their international obligations and to help to end an inherently discriminatory system that has brought suffering to millions of Palestinians. Philip Luther is Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa. " |
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53521
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Israel’s occupation: 50 years of Palestinian oppression
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I’m the one to be educated yet you take sides?! There will be no peace in this land by taking sides. Yet, you cannot admit that. You will continue the revenge and retaliation, the hate. I have studied both sides for years. That is why way before all this, I made my statement about both sides being wrong and that I didn’t support either. Since that moment you have acted and reacted just like those in Palestine and Israel act and react to each other. Hateful. Divisive. Abusive. That is telling Akira. You make no progress here either like they make no progress there. Because the premise of your stance is flawed, broken, and useless. |
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53517
From: etc., [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: false equivalency & the hollow 'both sides' narrative
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This is not about false equivalency. The extreme annihilation from and to both sides kills all the children. So then, who wins? |
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53505
From: ao, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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"I see you are still not honoring your vow to ignore me. " When OT first came around he said this place was not to his liking and he was leaving.. and not a day has gone by without him proving otherwise. If only he kept his word. |
53516
From: akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
| When will you be turning 3 years old? |
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53512
From: old timer , [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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i never said i was leaving, just that i might go back to lurking because of assholes like you who constantly troll. been here a long time, post a while lurk a while |
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53500
From: ao, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Taking sides
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Good thoughts, thanks for taking the time to articulate them. Though I suspect those rooting for Hamas don’t care. I’m hoping the Israelis listen to Joe and get rid of Bibi.. but then, as long as Hamas keeps throwing bombs at them it’s difficult. What a shame.. |
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