A majority of the most damning—and damaging—war crimes that are alleged to have taken place have now been confirmed by the IDF’s own investigations into the matter, themselves only conducted in an effort to derail the Goldstone report’s referral to the International Criminal Court.
"And I'm very pleased that you will be hearing from a good friend of mine, Congressman Jim Langevin, a great champion for Israel. And let's hear it for Jim."-- ??? Let it be known throughout the land we love Israel no matter how they spit on our faces or disregard law. We are proud of that? I have to look into Langevin to see what the deal is with the odd shout out...
--Lobbying for the interests of a foreign government? There are debates (with good reason) that it should be registered as an agent of a foreign government…
"Petitioning your government, expressing your views, speaking up in the arena - this is what democracy is all about."
--Even if this is true, one has to ask- are things such as the Palestinian birth rate (just one example) something you want to support Israel in combating as a security threat??? Israel has a very broad definition of security and even a very broad and generous definition of Israel for that matter, as it often includes land the international community has defined as Occupied Territory. Even if our interests are close, we need to be clear and stand firm in where we deviate and choose international law over Israel’s hearts desires.
"And therefore, we firmly believe that when we strengthen Israel's security, we strengthen America's security."
"So from its first day, the Obama Administration has worked to promote Israel's security and long-term success."--What is success? Everything needs decoded in this conflict. For Israel to stay Jewish primarily or stay democratic? Which is more important- peace and democracy or keeping Israel Jewish? Sometimes I’m not sure where we are on that.
“our commitment to Israel's security and Israel's future is rock solid, unwavering, enduring, and forever”--We should never declare such a thing to anyone. This seems to strike a rather religious tone. You should only declare this sort of devotion to God. Sometimes people confuse modern Israel and God it seems. It’s sad.
"Americans honor Israel as a homeland for a people too long oppressed and a democracy that has had to defend itself at every turn, a dream nurtured for generations and made real by men and women who refused to bow to the toughest of odds. In Israel's story, we see our own. We see, in fact, the story of all people who struggle for freedom and the right to chart their own destinies."--Why, then, can we not see Palestinians struggle for a homeland?? This sounds like their current struggle. I guess we can't see the similarities because we share with Israel the bond of ruthless colonizer. Native Americans probably can see the Palestinian story as their own more easily than we. The bond of colonizers is apparently stronger than more noble values and peace, justice and human rights!
"Under President Obama's leadership, we have reinvigorated defense consultations, redoubled our efforts to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge, and provided nearly $3 billion in annual military assistance."--She boasts about US military aid to Israel (even though Amnesty said Gaza-and probably other- attacks couldn’t have happened without it) ??? She should be reminding them that because of this, they owe us- at least to follow international law and our laws so we don't look like total idiots and funders of massacres for doing this!
"New construction in East Jerusalem or the West Bank undermines mutual trust and endangers the proximity talks that are the first step toward the full negotiations that both sides want and need."--The much publicized tough talk and rebuke. We have again backed down in the face of Israeli pressure. They clearly have learned their lesson. Israel is going to do what it wants and there's nothing we can do about it.
"But their rhetoric must now be backed up by action."--In the next breath she uses “momentum” toward peace to describe Netanyhu’s actions. ??? In what alternate universe is this remotely possible? He has only nominally accepted the two state solution. Official Israeli policies show disregard for international law and human life and rights. It is with him also that she should use such inflammatory language as “rhetoric” and backing words with actions!
"In recent decades the hatred of the Jews has reemerged with increasing force, but with an insidious twist. It is not merely directed at the Jewish people but increasingly at the Jewish state."--Criticism of Israel = anti-Semitism. Everyone's favorite way to avoid meaningful discussion.
--I agree with that first sentence wholeheartedly. However, Bibi believes Israel is being judged more harshly than other nations when in fact it is catching more breaks than anyone ever has. Clearly, there is a disagreement on the facts vs. myths in the Israel-US relationship as well as the Israel-Palestine relationship. The second sentence is pretty subjective and against modern law and conventional wisdom.
"But Israel should be judged by the same standards applied to all nations, and allegations against Israel must be grounded in fact. One allegation that is not is the attempt to describe the Jews as foreign colonialists in their own homeland, one of the great lies of modern times."
--And the Palestinian connection to the land? If the land was empty upon your arrival in 1948, then who, praytell, did you fight so valiantly against?? And what are the refugees in your area refugees of??
"The connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel cannot be denied. The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem cannot be denied."
--Ahhh. The old "we've done everything; they've done nothing" refrain. Gotta love 'em for trying. Preconditions. Ask that you follow international law? Is that really too much to ask? If so, who is really the problem, here? That must have been satisfying to slip in another swing at the meticulous Goldstone report and UN. It's international law. You don't have to like it. You have to obey it, though. Unless you deal with the US. Then, you can do whatever you want- provided you can deal with our Presidents' frownie face now and again.
"This is what my government has done for peace. What has the Palestinian Authority done for peace? Well, they have placed preconditions on peace talks, waged a relentless international campaign to undermine Israel's legitimacy, and promoted the notorious Goldstone report that falsely accuses Israel of war crimes. In fact, they're doing right now in the UN in the grotesquely misnamed UN Human Rights Council."
--I wonder how many public squares and streets and buildings are named (renamed, that is) for Israelis who have killed, massacred, or ordered such on Palestinians?? Hmmm… Not only is nothing done, they are celebrated as patriots, not the terrorists they were known as before 1948.
"Regrettably, the Palestinian Authority has also continued incitement against Israel. A few days ago, a public square near Ramallah was named after a terrorist who murdered 37 Israeli civilians, including 13 children. The Palestinian Authority did nothing to prevent it."
"If the United States really wants peace in the Middle East, it must insist that Israel abide by the judgment of the world community as expressed in resolutions by the United Nations."
"Why? I don't know why they kill animals. I don't believe birds can harmI guess these pigeons were working for Hamas-- or perhaps firing a rocket into Israel, since Israel doesn't kill anyone not associated (there are problems with this thinking, but I have talked about political vs military wings before) with Hamas.
them. My white pigeons were shot. I know that because I found their bodies."
Gaza Cease-Fire Negotiations Stall, January 11, 2009
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99220483&ft=1&f=1001
Abbas at UN, appeals for mutual Gaza cease-fire, January 7, 2009
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053237.html
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On the unilateral cease fire as of January 17 or 18:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200911718127624660.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=6668742
Israel achieved its objectives and more?? What were the objectives anyway? Deterrance? Inspire fear in the hearts of those who dare to support leaders Israel doesn't approve of (smacks of terrorism, doesn't it?)? Regime change? Revenge or rocket attacks? Whatever goal they claim they accomplished, what's the "and more"?? Was the civilian death toll an added bonus? 400 children dead just a perk on the side of the greater goal?
So sly of them to plan this so-called retaliation for rocket attacks for the period between the election and the inaugration. What a coincidence that the siege fell ever so neatly into that timeframe. Israel declared its ceasefire just in time for inauguration weekend. I'm sure they could have attacked during Obama's administration and still been able to kill just as many as during the Bush administration. Perhaps Obama may dare to give them a slap on the wrist (at least until AIPAC lays down the law and tells him who really runs the show in Washington), but they'll still of course be able to do whatever and kill whomever they want with our money. They will still be able to flout international law, steal our technology and sell it back to us, keep the apartied- like conditions and still be called a democracy and friend and beneficiary.
Also convenient is the unilateral ceasefire after ceasefire negotiations stalled. The negotiations would have given Israel responsibilites it really doesn't want- pull out, blockade ending, etc. When you case such a high level of human suffering, why on earth would you want to clean it up or take responsibility in any way? As with the unilateral Gaza pull out of 2005 (I think that was the year for political formaldehyde?), they think they can sidestep the law and do it their way. The US set a pretty good example for this with Iraq, so you know the Bush admin couldnm't say anything lest they have to admit any fault. Why negotiate and talk to people when you can just do it your way?
“Her emphasis on the civilian costs of the violence in Gaza suggested that the incoming administration might be more inclined than President Bush has been to urge restraint on the Israelis.”
“…the army has clearly come in great strength and pushed quite quickly and easily into the city.”
We hear the usual Israeli line. General Yaakov Amidror, the former head of the Israeli army's "research and assessment division" announced that "no country in the world would allow its citizens to be made the target of rocket attacks without taking vigorous steps to defend them". Quite so. But when the IRA were firing mortars over the border into Northern Ireland, when their guerrillas were crossing from the Republic to attack police stations and Protestants, did Britain unleash the RAF on the Irish Republic? Did the RAF bomb churches and tankers and police stations and zap 300 civilians to teach the Irish a lesson? No, it did not. Because the world would have seen it as criminal behaviour. We didn't want to lower ourselves to the IRA's level.
"An initial inquiry into the allegation raised by B'tselem has concluded that the claims are without foundation.
"The IDF goes to great lengths to avoid harming Palestinians uninvolved in combat and reiterates that it is Hamas that chooses to launch its attacks against Israeli towns from within civilian areas."
"In the night between Thursday and Friday, when the secretary of state wanted to lead the vote on a ceasefire at the Security Council, we did not want her to vote in favour," Olmert said.
"I said 'get me President Bush on the phone'. They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia. I said I didn't care. 'I need to talk to him now'. He got off the podium and spoke to me.
"I told him the United States could not vote in favour. It cannot vote in favour of such a resolution. He immediately called the secretary of state and told her not to vote in favour."
"Initial checks ... show that from inside the school mortars were fired at Israeli forces," an IDF spokesman said. "In response, the forces fired a number of mortar rounds into the area."
"Available in the market, a U.S.-made product whose date has expired — Abu Mazen," reads a text message circulating in the West Bank these days.
“In Geneva, the international Red Cross said Gaza was in a "full-blown" humanitarian crisis.”
“Israeli leaders say there is no humanitarian crisis and that they have allowed the delivery of vital supplies.”Two quotes are from : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1037879.html
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