NOVANEWS
Dear Friends,
I have not found any news today about developments regarding the flotilla—not on the electronic editions of newspapers, not on the Israeli radio news, not on updates from the flotilla itself. This is not to say that the flotilla is not receiving attention. The final item of the 9 offers you more commentary on the flotilla than I print among the 8 items below. The flotilla is extraordinarily important in that it keeps attention on Gaza, though not so much about what is happening in Gaza itself. But we shouldn’t neglect other events and what is happening in the rest of Occupied Palestine. Additionally, there are several useful articles worth reading from the local newspapers.
I am eternally grateful to Ruth H. for having called my attention to an item that I was sure that I had sent yesterday, and indeed had intended to, but didn’t. Well not to these lists, at least. I did add it to the Occupation Magazine (http://www.kibush.co.il/), as Sunday is my day to contribute to the compilation. Thanks to Ruth, you now have it here, too, in item 1.
This is very important news from Mazin Qumsiyeh that informs us that from Friday, July 8 through Saturday, July 16 “hundreds of internationals and hundreds of Palestinians” are anticipated to participate in popular resistance. This will begin by hundreds arriving at Ben Gurion airport on the 8th. Israel is quite concerned about the event. Imagine what will happen to other passengers if everyone who arrives will be subjected to several hours of interrogation! Won’t help tourism to Israel. Actually, I have not heard about Israel’s plans for dealing with it, but Israeli news has reported that Israel knows about the intentions and does plan to deal with it. Hopefully, whatever Israel plans, it will be without violence. Usually Israel does use violence, but perhaps this time due to the situation it will desist. Will make news, for sure, if Israeli soldiers or border police start tear-gassing all passengers entering Israel! One way or another, this is a lose—lose situation for Israel. If it either ignores events (unlikely) or if it reacts, the publicity will do little to improve Israel’s image.
Item 2 is an open letter by members of the flotilla to Greek Prime Minister Georgios A. Papandreou.
In item 3 today’s Haaretz editorial states that “The Blockade is the Problem.” Indeed! And so is the Occupation, and the Colonization, and the Ethnic Cleansing, and other minor issues as these.
In item 4 Zvi Har’el discusses the possibility of the US talking with Hamas. As I said the other day, I have seen no indications of this happening yet, but am glad that others raise the possibility.
In item 5 Akiva Eldar writes that “The Oslo Accords are all but Dead.” I would omit the “all but.” They died along time ago, when Ehud Barak became Israel’s PM. They are brought out of the grave by Israel’s leaders and politicians when convenient, as when Israel’s Foreign Minister a week or so ago pronounced that if the Palestinians appeal to the UN for a state, that would be the end of the Oslo Accords. My! My! No great loss. They have brought the Palestinians zero.
Item 6 includes two commentaries from today’s Mondoweiss collection: “Why every flotilla succeeds and the siege of Gaza will end” by
Paul Woodward, and ““Deplorable!” – The ‘Quartet’ Comments on Gaza”
by Nima Shirazi. I did not bother to send the Quartet comment on Gaza, precisely because I found it disgusting, as does this commentary.
Item 7 reports that there is not much love among Knesset members for Ahmed Tibi’s bill “to revoke state funding for public NGOs and organizations who deny the “Nakba.” Will it pass? Not likely, but at least it will demonstrate the discrimination prevalent here in Israel, where it’s ok to revoke state funding for NGOs and organizations that commemorate the Nakba but not for those who deny it.
Item 8 is the link to Today in Palestine, where you will read about events, as, for instance, demolitions, and new construction for Jews in East Jerusalem, the government’s intention to Judaize all names in Jerusalem, that Israeli forces killed over 20 Palestinians in June, and all sorts of other unpleasant news, but things that you should know.
Item 9, as I said, consists of a few additional links to reports on the flotilla.
All the best,
Dorothy
=========================================
1. Mazin Qumsiyeh mazin@qumsiyeh.org
July 3, 2011
[see also http://qumsiyeh.org/rightsblog2011/]
Press Release بيان صحفي
(English, Arabic Below العربية تحت)
الرجاء تعميم. Please forward this version
Hundreds of Internationals and Hundreds of Palestinians Gear-up for July
8-16 activities
Some 40 Palestinian civil society organizations, popular resistance
committees, and political factions announce the launching of the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative July 8-16 where hundreds of Internationals will work with hundreds of Palestinians for Peace. The hundreds of men, women, and children will arrive July 8 at the Lod Airport. The international community must recognize the basic human right to receive visitors from abroad and support the right of their own citizens to travel to Palestine without harassment. Where Israel works to isolate us, we invite all to join with us openly and proudly. We do not accept the attempts to keep us apart or to force us to speak less than with full honesty.
This July initiative comes in a planned series of events and follows similar
events carried out in December under the slogan of “ending apartheid and
ethnic cleansing.” The week of activities starts on July 9 because that is
the anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling about the
illegality of the Settlements and the apartheid wall in the occupied
Palestinian Territories and the anniversary of the Palestinian Civil Society
Call to Action: July 9 Ramallah area, July 10 Bethlehem area, July 11 North, July 12 Hebron and Jordan Valley, July 13 Neqab, July 14-15 Jerusalem.
The July “Welcome to Palestine” initiative will take participants
(Palestinians and Internationals) to different parts of Palestine from the
north to the Negev and highlight the power of nonviolence and peace building efforts. Visitors will be accommodated locally and will enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and volunteer peace work in Palestinian towns and villages together with hundreds of local activists.
The full program of activities is available for credentialed media outlets.
Volunteers and participants are needed and welcome. Some news stories that already appeared on this are linked below,
Contact: <mailto:info@palestineJN.org> info@palestineJN.org
———————-
بيان صحفي
تحت شعار “أهلا وسهلاً في فلسطين”: مئات المتضامنين الأجانب يصلون فلسطين في
يوم واحد ومئات الفلسطينيون يعدون لنشاطات مهمة في شتى أرجاء الوطن
أكثر من أربعين مؤسسة فلسطينية ولجان المقاومة الشعبية والقوى والفصائل الوطنية
المختلفة دعت المتضامنين الدوليين للقيام بزيارة إلى فلسطين للمشاركة بنشاطات
لمدة أسبوع. المتضامنون المشاركون في البرنامج والذين يصل عددهم إلى 650
متضامنا من مختلف الدول الأوروبية وأمريكا اتفقوا على الوصول إلى مطار اللد في
يوم واحد هو الثامن من تموز. حيث قرروا أن يخبروا سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي
بشكل واضح وعلني بأنهم قدموا للتضامن مع الشعب الفلسطيني وبذا يسلطوا الضوء على
الإجراءات التعسفية التي تنفذها إسرائيل عادة من سياسات لترحيلهم ومنعهم من
الدخول إلى فلسطين في محاولة لثنيهم عن القيام بما يؤمنون به من تضامن مع الشعب
الفلسطيني وحقوقه المشروعة.
تحت شعار “أهلا وسهلاً في فلسطين” يهدف المنظمون من هذا البرنامج مناهضة
التفرقة العنصرية والتطهير العرقي. سيكون التاسع من تموز هو اليوم الأول
لبرنامجنا وتم اختيار هذا التاريخ لأنه اليوم الذي قررت فيه محكمة لاهاي
الدولية في 2004 بأن الجدار والاستيطان غير قانونيين، ولأنه نفس التاريخ الذي
صدرت فيه دعوة المؤسسات الأهلية الفلسطينية للمجتمع الدولي أن يتحمل مسؤولياته
والتعامل مع إسرائيل كما تم التعامل مع نظام التفرقة العنصرية في جنوب إفريقيا.
كل الذين سيتمكنون من المرور سيشتركون لمدة أسبوع حتى السادس عشر من تموز في
برامج فلسطينية تشمل استصلاح أراضي ومسيرات شعبية ضد الجدار والاستيطان وبرامج
أخرى تهدف إلى بناء سلام شامل وعادل للجميع: 9/7 محافظة رام الله , 10/7 محافظة
بيت لحم, 11/7 الشمال, 12/7 الخليل والغور, 13/7 النقب, 14-15/7 القدس.
جرت استعدادات كبيرة وتجهيز الطواقم للعمل. تحت بعض الأخبار التي صدرت عن
الحدث. ندعو الجميع للتطوع والمشاركة.
للتواصل <mailto:info@palestineJN.org> info@palestineJN.org
—————–
English articles and stories on the event
<http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/06/challenging-racism-by-israelis-on-every-front/>
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/06/challenging-racism-by-israelis-on-every-front
<http://www.alternet.org/news/151491/activists_challenge_israel’s_other_blockade_by_air>
http://www.alternet.org/news/151491/activists_challenge_israel’s_other_blkade_by_air
بالعربيةArabic
<http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=401703>
http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=401703
<http://www.palpress.co.uk/arabic/?action=detail&id=11945>
http://www.palpress.co.uk/arabic/?action=detail&id=11945
<http://www.iba.org.il/arabil/?entity=745786&type=1&topic=188>
http://www.iba.org.il/arabil/?entity=745786&type=1&topic=188
Other related websites/links
<http://www.righttoenter.ps> http://www.righttoenter.ps
<http://www.palestinejn.org> http://www.palestinejn.org
<http://bienvenuepalestine.com> http://bienvenuepalestine.com
————– next part ————–
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==========================
2. OPEN LETTER TO
Georgios A. Papandreou
Prime Minister of Greece
July 4, 2011
Dear Mr. Papandreou,
We, members of the Gaza-Flotilla II who have come to the shores of
Greece from all parts of the world,leaving behind our work places and families, in order to put into practice our solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza, are outraged by the decision of your government to close by force the ports of Greece to our humanitarian initiative.
This decision not only violates the consacrated principle of
international law of the freedom of the seas and the anciant tradition of the freedom of the Mediterranian, but also disregards the claims for democracy and self-determination of the people of Palestine as well as of the non
governmental organisations we represent.
It is totally incomprehensive for us and fills us with just wrath that
the Greek government closes the ports to our ships just in a moment when
you, Mr. Papandreou, have been constantly expressing the need of solidarity for the Greek people. By putting yourself and your government as an ally of Israel in the Palestinian question you also seem to have forgotten the struggle against the military dictatorship in your own country.
The members of this international peace mission therefore demand, on
behalf of the people of Gaza and for ourselves the same right to move that has been granted for centuries to the Greek people in our countries.
MR. PAPANDREOU, LET US GO!
Dr. Leo Gabriel
Delegation from AUSTRIA
Dr. Samir Kazkaz
Delegation from GERMANY
Max van Lingen
Delegation from the NETHERLANDS
Vauro Senesi
Delegation from ITALY
Giovanni Esposito
Delegation from SWITZERLAND
Ines Mizic
Delegation from BOSNIA
Nooravman Samsuddin
Delegation from Malaysia
==============================
3. July 04, 2011
The blockade is the problem
The economic pressure of the blockade has not brought about moderation in Hamas’ positions, and stopping protesters en route to Gaza will not change the military balance.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-blockade-is-the-problem-1.371233
Haaretz Editorial
All signs indicate that the government of Israel has taken steps to receive the present Gaza flotilla in a manner much more systematic than last year’s actions. Instead of relying entirely on the use of force, diplomatic measures were taken this time, and friendly states, first and foremost Greece, mobilized to help Israel and hampered the flotilla’s departure. This diplomatic action proved that there are alternatives less violent than Israel’s predilection for discharging armed soldiers to suppress civilian protests.
Yet the industriousness and creativity which Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have displayed merely underscore the folly that serves as the foundation of their policy. Israel removed its settlements and soldiers from the Gaza Strip six years ago, and withdrew to the Green Line in order to end its occupation of a strip of land densely populated by Palestinians. The move was taken so that they could conduct their own lives. Since then, it appears as though Israel became addicted to occupation and is unable to liberate itself, even after it declared a “pull-out.” Hearing the cabinet’s statement about how Israel will act “with determination” to stop the flotilla, as well as the defense minister’s declaration yesterday about Israel’s intention to “defend its borders,” sufficed as evidence that the government still views the Gaza Strip as part of Israel, and insists on monitoring every entry and exit to and from Gaza.
The blockade, which was eased but not eliminated as a result of the fatal entanglement with the first flotilla, is unethical, and also mistaken on diplomatic grounds. Placing stiff restrictions on movement and commerce, in an embargo policy affecting one and a half million Palestinians, does not contribute anything. It only perpetuates the conflict and the hatred, and casts light on Israel as a cruel, occupying power.
The government justifies the blockade on Gaza by pointing to the hostility of Hamas, the organization which rules Gaza; Hamas, the government points out, refuses to recognize Israel and the Oslo Accords. In fact, the naval embargo is justifiable, in terms of the need to prevent the entry of heavy weaponry. Yet the economic pressure has not brought about moderation in Hamas’ positions, and stopping protesters en route to Gaza will not change the military balance. Dealing with Hamas necessitates the use of diplomatic methods which might bring about change in the organization’s approach; the military effort should concentrate on stopping the smuggling of arms.
Halting the second flotilla does not compensate for the total failure of Israel’s policy toward Gaza.
=================================
4. Haaretz,
July 03, 2011
The U.S. may be heading toward talks with Hamas
Perhaps U.S. dialogue with Hamas is not as far-fetched as current American policy toward the group makes it seem.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-u-s-may-be-heading-toward-talks-with-hamas-1.370965
By Zvi Bar’el
How would Israel respond if a “senior American official” were to declare that the United States was prepared to speak with Hamas leadership?
Don’t be alarmed just yet. The United States still maintains its policy of not speaking with Hamas, yet last week America did lift its ban on speaking with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. From this point on, there’s no need for meetings in a dark alley. Official American representatives can talk with any member of the Brotherhood. Washington has not acted prematurely. The Egyptian army and the temporary Egyptian government, along with the majority of presidential candidates in Egypt, view the Brotherhood as an integral part of society and politics in Egypt. The announcement by one of its leaders, Abdel Moneim Abu al-Fotouh, that he intends to run for president, was not seen as an unusual step in Egypt.
“There will not be free, just elections in Egypt unless we agree to speak with persons who are part of the democracy,” said Edward “Ned” Walker, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel. While Israel hides its smirks over pictures of the broken propeller on one of the flotilla ships, and while it threatens to wage war against a few hundred citizens of the world who want to challenge its “sovereignty” in Gaza, Washington has decided suddenly to pursue realistic diplomacy.
The decision should come as no surprise. An American administration that engages in a dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan, which had a political discussion with terror organizations in Iraq, and which cooperates with a Lebanese government that includes Hezbollah members, does not need to make excuses when it holds meetings with an Islamist movement that takes part in Egyptian politics, even if its ideology is radical.
Those alarmists who search for a “tsunami” can view this as the first wave. That is because the Muslim Brotherhood is the mother organization of Hamas, and the next question that will arise is why America shouldn’t speak with Hamas. After all, Hamas is an integral part of Palestinian politics and society, and has also won a decisive majority in election balloting; and now, after its reconciliation with Fatah, Hamas will vie in the next Palestinian parliamentary elections. The official excuse for a no-discussion policy is that Hamas has not denounced terror as a means of attaining political objectives, and that it also does not recognize the state of Israel – neither as a Jewish state nor as a state at all. At first glance, these are compelling justifications. Yet the Muslim Brotherhood does not exactly view Israel as the Jewish state either. The Muslim Brotherhood does not uphold terror, but it does not view the armed Palestinian struggle as terror. Rather, the Muslim Brotherhood sees it as a liberation struggle against occupation. And if terror is the yardstick, how can Washington justify its cooperation with the Lebanese government, which includes Hezbollah, a group listed by the United States as a terror organization?
The contradictions in U.S. foreign policy are not the key point. Instead, the crux of the matter is the way Washington is drawing its new map of enemies and friends. To be precise, the United States isn’t drawing the map – instead, developments in the Arab world are compelling America to revisit its policy in the region. What has been happening in Cairo, cities in Syria, and in Bahrain does not stem from planned American policy; these are venues where American policy is refashioning itself, and those who claim that policy will soon be compelled to reconsider their position on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Washington defines enemies and friends not just for itself; its foreign policy positions become a road map for other countries of the world. The “threat” posed to Israel has to do with this fact. Suddenly, it is becoming clear to the American government that Mahmoud Abbas is not cowering under pressure to not turn to the UN for statehood recognition. It is becoming clear that the internal Palestinian rapprochement agreement has been signed despite U.S. opposition, and that Hamas will be a cornerstone in any diplomatic process. What will Washington do when Palestinian elections are held? Should it boycott the Palestinian parliament or the new Palestinian government? Should it ostracize the new Palestinian president if that president belongs to Hamas? Hamas, after all, is “part of the democracy.” Perhaps America will try to preempt a diplomatic debacle, and will reach out to talk with Hamas before the elections so that it can conduct a dialogue with the organization after the polling? The Gaza flotilla is soon likely to appear a pleasure cruise compared to the American diplomatic flotilla, which has disembarked in Egypt. But why fret about this right now, when we can ponder the Gaza flotilla carnival?
=================================
5. Haaretz,
July 04, 2011
The Olso Accords are all but dead
Settlement expansion persists as Israel’s right-wing government continues to ignore the terms agreed to in the accords close to two decades ago.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-olso-accords-are-all-but-dead-1.371234
By Akiva Eldar
In October 1991 he came with U.S. President George H.W. Bush to the Madrid Conference, which squandered the fruits of the Gulf War victory. In September 1993 he celebrated, with U.S. President Bill Clinton, the birth of the battered Oslo Accords. In early 1997 he managed to get Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign the Hebron Accord, which left tens of thousands of Palestinians to the mercy of the students of Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba. In late 1998 he was among those who gave birth to the Wye River Memorandum, which died in infancy. In 2000 he was a senior partner to the reverberating failure of American diplomacy in Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. And here he is again, this time as U.S. President Barack Obama’s special envoy responsible for prolonging the death throes of the terminally ill patient known as the peace process.
Before Dennis Ross’ comeback, our acquaintance managed to write a new book (together with David Makovsky ) called “Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East.”
It would be tough to find a bigger expert than Ross on the myths and illusions related to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. For years he has been nurturing the myth that if the United States would only meet his exact specifications, the Israeli right would offer the Arabs extensive concessions.
During the years he headed the American peace team, Israeli settlement construction ramped up. Now Ross, the former chairman of the Jewish People Policy Institute, is trying to convince the Palestinians to give up on bringing Palestinian independence for a vote in the United Nations in September and recognize the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people – in other words, as his country, though he was born in San Francisco, more than that of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who was born in Safed.
If they give up on the UN vote, Ross argues, then Netanyahu will be so kind as to negotiate a final-status agreement with them. Has anyone heard anything recently about a construction freeze in the settlements?
Ross is trying to peddle the illusion that the most right-wing government Israel has ever seen will abandon the strategy of eradicating the Oslo approach in favor of fulfilling the hated agreement. In an effort to save his latest boss from choosing between recognizing a Palestinian state at the risk of clashing with the Jewish community and voting against recognition at the risk of damaging U.S. standing in the Arab world, Ross is trying to drag the Palestinians back into the “peace process” trap.
If Obama really intended to justify his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize, he would not have left the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the hands of this whiz at the never-ending management of the conflict.
Let us hope that the Palestinians are not tempted to give up on the UN vote in favor of the appearance of negotiations, which will serve to further prolong settlement expansion under the cover of the Oslo Accords. All we need is to recall the statement by Netanyahu, in which he was recorded telling settlers in Ofra in 2001 that he had previously extorted from the Americans a commitment that he would be the one to determine what qualifies as the “defined military sites” in the territories that will remain under Israeli control.
Netanyahu said that from his perspective the entire Jordan Valley qualifies. “Why is this important?” he asked. “Because from that moment I put a halt to the Oslo Accords.”
As for Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the Palestinians need to trap him with his own words; he had previously threatened that if the United Nations recognizes a Palestinian state, Israel will annul the Oslo Accords.
If I were in Abbas’ place, I would tell Dennis Ross that he should tell his president to forget about negotiations without recognition in writing from Netanyahu stating that the permanent borders will be based on the 1967 lines with agreed-upon changes and committing to a total freeze of settlement construction during negotiations and a set timetable for withdrawal from the territories.
You don’t want Oslo? Fine, we don’t need it. No more “Palestinian Authority”; no more Area A, B or C (a division that has in effect created a Land of the Settlers on 60 percent of the territory ); no more “peace process.”
Restore military rule in the West Bank. At the same time, you can reoccupy Gaza and go back to Gush Katif.
According to the Oslo Accords, the final-status agreement was supposed to have been decided upon 13 years ago – meaning that we would be celebrating its bar mitzvah this year. On September 13, the accords themselves will be turning 18, the number signifying life in the Jewish mystical tradition. The time has come to put the Oslo Accords out of their misery.
=====================================
6. July 3, 2011
http://mondoweiss.net/
Why every flotilla succeeds and the siege of Gaza will end
Jul 03, 2011 08:21 am | Paul Woodward
Is it possible to break the siege of Gaza if no one notices?
As an exercise in directing global attention to the plight of a population subject to collective punishment, the first flotilla in August 2008 was a bit of a flop — even though it reached Gaza.
In the Jerusalem Post, Herb Keinon cynically wrote at the time:
Ever since the Free Gaza Movement made known its intent a few weeks ago to set sail for the Gaza Strip to “break” the Israeli blockade, it was clear that the two boatfuls of professional left-wing demonstrators and tag-along journalists were after one thing: a huge media event.
Nothing, therefore, would have given them a greater media buzz than if a couple of Israel Navy boats stopped them on the high seas, arrested the protesters (hopefully, from the point of view of the organizers of the protest, with some gratuitous brutality), and dragged the Greek-registered vessels into the Ashdod port.
Imagine the footage, imagine the images, and imagine the public relations bonanza for those few “brave souls” on the sea-weary vessels. Israel would, undoubtedly, have faced a public relations drubbing. So by deciding to let the boats through, the government deprived the protesters of the huge media event they so obviously wanted.
Indeed, instead of footage of heavyhanded Israelis stopping boats carrying an 81-year-old American nun and the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Tony Blair leading the nightly news broadcasts in the West on Saturday night, the story of the boats’ arrival in Gaza barely made a blip on the CNN, Fox, or Sky news broadcasts. With the world’s eyes still glued to the Olympics in Beijing, and the media focusing on US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden as his vice presidential nominee, the Gaza blockade-running story didn’t register in the electronic media.
And in the written press, the protesters didn’t fare that much better. The New York Times ran a small piece on page 16 on Sunday; The Washington Post on page 12; and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch relegated it to a three-paragraph brief. As media events go, this one was not particularly successful.
But — as Keinon also noted — the story was not over. Indeed.
What the flotilla organizers understood was that whatever the outcome, each challenge to the siege could in fact never fail. Ships could succeed by reaching Gaza, or succeed without reaching Gaza by exposing Israel to the eyes of the world as a bone-headed bully.
The only solution to Israel’s problem was and remains the one that it refuses to entertain: backing itself out of a dead-end policy that by any metric one wants to use, has been a demonstrable failure — a policy which hasn’t weakened Hamas; hasn’t turned Gaza’s population against its rulers; hasn’t made Israel safer; and above all has brought Israel’s global image to an all-time low while callously inflicting yet more suffering on the Palestinian people.
The Israeli columnist, Asaf Gefen, suggested this week:
If the Marmara that took part in the previous sail sought to present Israel’s brutality to the world (and managed to do so, thanks to our kind assistance,) it appears that the current flotilla was meant to present Israel’s stupidity.
At this time already, when it’s still unclear whether and when the ships shall arrive, it appears that this objective had also been fully achieved.
But now that the flotilla appears stuck in Greece, can’t Netanyahu claim victory? Some Israeli reporters seem to think so:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sometimes seems almost too arrogant and self assured for his own good. However, unlike in most instances, this weekend he actually has justification for his haughtiness.
Really? Watch the video of The Audacity of Hope as it chugged out of a Greek harbor yesterday and ask yourself: what kind of prime minister and what kind of nation could feel threatened by this kind of challenge?
The need to subjugate others; the obsession with existential threats; the insatiable hunger for loving affirmations; and the fear of equality between Jews and non-Jews — all of this exposes Israel’s intrinsic weakness, a weakness that cannot be overcome by belligerence, isolation or warfare.
In truth, nothing threatens Israel more than its own fear of the world.
It’s time not just for Israel to end the siege of Gaza but for Zionists to break out of their own self-made prison.
This post also appears at Woodward’s site, War in Context.
====================
“Deplorable!” – The ‘Quartet’ Comments on Gaza
Jul 03, 2011
Nima Shirazi
Provided always, That if any goods, wares or merchandise, shall be laden or put off from, or discharged or landed upon, any other place than the quays, wharfs, or places, so to be appointed, the same, together with the ships, boats, and other vessels employed therein, and the horses, or other cattle and carriages used to convey the same, and the person or persons concerned or assisting therein, or to whose hands the same shall knowingly come, shall suffer all the forfeitures and penalties imposed by this or any other Act on the illegal shipping or landing of goods.
– Boston Port Act of 1774 (14 Geo. III. c. 19)
On March 30, 1774, in response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament enacted the Boston Port Act, effectively shutting down all commerce and travel in and out of Massachusetts colony. The law, known as one of the Intolerable Acts, was enforced by a British naval blockade of Boston harbor. These punitive acts, which collectively punished an entire colony for the acts of resistance and frustration of a few, served to unite the disparate colonies in their fight for self-determination, sovereignty, and natural and constitutional rights. Colonies as far away as South Carolina sent relief supplies to their compatriots in Massachusetts. As a result of British imperial overreach, the First Continental Congress was convened on September 5, 1774. The Congress, in turn, established the Continental Association, a solidarity pact between the colonies to boycott all British goods and, in the event of continued British aggression, to stand as one in their fight for independence.
237 years later…
The so-called “Middle East Quartet” – that is, the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia – has issued a “Statement on the Situation in Gaza” today.
It is a brief and unsurprising document. No mention of a “siege” or “blockade,” of course. While it states that the “conditions facing the civilian population in Gaza” are “unsustainable,” it provides absolutely no indication of the extent of the humanitarian crisis (i.e. 80% aid dependency, 95% of water is undrinkable, a mere 20% is food secure, 36% unemployment – 47% among Gaza’s youth – and 38% living below the poverty line).
The statement ignores all of this. Instead, it “notes that efforts have improved conditions over the last year, including a marked increase in the range and scope of goods and materials moving into Gaza, an increase in international project activity, and the facilitation of some exports.”
Yet, these “improved conditions” are illusory. For instance, a recent report found that while, since June 2010, there has been “improved access to formerly restricted goods, including some raw materials, the increased imports of construction materials (cement, gravel and steel bar) through the tunnels from Egypt, and the improved volume of imports of construction materials for PA-approved projects implemented by international and UN organizations helped reactivate the local economy in Gaza,” this “[e]conomic growth has not translated into poverty reduction.”
More importantly, “Israeli restrictions on access to markets (imports on a range of raw materials and exports) and access to natural resources (land and water), as well as the increasing transport costs due the closure of Karni crossing” make it virtually impossible for real economic sustainability – through private sector growth – to occur. Furthermore,
The recent decrease in unemployment in the Gaza Strip is mainly linked to the construction and agricultural sectors which have some of the lowest wages and employ mainly unskilled/casual laborers. The new access regime allowed for an increasing number of construction projects under the UN or international umbrella, but failed to trickle down the benefits to the private sector. The latter is still relying on tunnels for the supply of construction materials. The agricultural sector is seasonal and more than half of the labor force is composed of unpaid family members.
[…]
Ongoing restrictions on the movement of goods and artificially-inflated food prices and transport costs continue to impact the economy even after the new access regime, and thereby the June 2010 decision failed to impact the viability of the tunnel economy.
[…]
The new access regime did not translate into a tangible relaxation of exports despite the 8 December 2010 cabinet decision by the GoI, and the consecutive agreement with the Quartet Representative in February 2011. The blockade is still in place. Apart from a very low rate of cash crops exported, no other goods have been exported out of the Gaza Strip under the new access regime. The unpredictability of the crossing, frequent power cuts, as well as increased transportation costs do not ensure sustained exports of agricultural goods. Moreover, the exports are cut from their market of origin.
Nevertheless, the Quartet Statement commends Israel for the recent approval of $100 million in construction material to be allowed into Gaza and used to build 18 schools and 1,200 houses. Distraction accomplished.
But then things get even more ridiculous.
The statement reads:
The Quartet recognizes that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue to be safeguarded. Members of the Quartet are committed to working with Israel, Egypt and the international community to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Gaza and believe efforts to maintain security while enabling movement and access for Palestinian people and goods are critical.
Naturally, Palestinians in Gaza – y’know, the ones that keep getting murdered by Israeli bullets, tank shells, mortars, missiles, cluster bombs and flechettes – are not entitled to the same kind of security guarantees. While the U.S. continues to supply the occupying power with the latest killing machines and heavy-duty artillery, the occupied are denied their own right to resist brutality and slaughter. One wonders, if “illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Gaza” is to be avoided, what channels are available for the legal transfer of weaponry and mechanisms for self-defense? Oh right, there are none. Something about barrels, fish, and white phosphorous comes to mind.
The Quartet Statement then goes on to voice its opposition to the 2011 Flotilla – without mentioning its stance on international law and whether or not the blockade is legal (hint: it’s not) and blah blah blah “established channels” blah blah “established land crossings.”
The disconnect is staggering. While the Quartet condemns the Flotilla, it has already acknowledged the slight benefits of Israel’s “new access regime” implemented in June 2010 as a direct consequence of the 2010 Flotilla. So, while calling for an end to that tactic, they already understand full well that it is the only thing that has worked so far to bring attention to the blockade and to force Israel to act (even meagerly) on its obligations.
And then the kicker:
The Quartet regrets the injury and deaths caused by the 2010 flotilla, urges restraint and calls on all Governments concerned to use their influence to discourage additional flotillas, which risk the safety of their participants and carry the potential for escalation.
Read that again. “Injury and death caused by the 2010 flotilla.” Not by the heavily-armed and armored Israeli commandos who illegally stormed the ships in international waters and shot nine innocent people to death. No no, the “flotilla” is to blame. Just for the record, here’s what the United Nations – a member of the Quartet! – had to say about last year’s Mavi Marmara massacre:
The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality. Such conduct cannot be justified or condoned on security or any other grounds. It constituted grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
It also found “clear evidence to support prosecutions of the following crimes within the terms of article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: willful killing; torture or inhuman treatment; willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health,” and stated that Israel had seriously violated its obligations under the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the “right to life…torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment…right to liberty and security of the person and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention…right of detainees to be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person…[and] freedom of expression.”
Based upon “forensic and firearm evidence,” the UN fact-finding panel concluded that the killing of Turkish-American citizen Furkan Dogan and that of five Turkish citizens by the Israeli troops on the Mavi Marmara “can be characterized as extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions.”
Also, from whom is the Quartet “urg[ing] restraint”? They never say. Clearly not Israel! That would be anti-Semitic. Maybe they’re wishing 86-year-old Hedy Epstein should calm the hell down. Maybe Alice Walker should chill out. But Israeli soldiers executing civilians on the high seas? Whatever.
The statement concludes with a single sentence: “The Quartet also calls for an end to the deplorable five-year detention of Gilad Shalit.” Deplorable. The capture and detention of a single Israeli Occupation soldier receives the deepest condemnation of the entire document. But, what were the “conditions facing the civilian population in Gaza” – 1.6 million people – again? Oh right, “unsustainable.” Obviously, were the siege simply more sustainable and less of a burden, it wouldn’t be an issue. But since it’s “unsustainable,” it should probably be addressed somehow since the Quartet is “concerned.”
But does the Quartet call for an end to the four-year naval blockade or the five-year siege or the 44-year occupation or the airstrikes or kidnappings or buffer zone sniper shootings or drone attacks or collective punishment? Nope. But they sure do “call for an end to the deplorable five-year detention of Gilad Shalit.”
Because, after all, it’s clear that the life of one Israeli soldier is more important than a million and a half Palestinians any day of the week…and especially over July 4th weekend?
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7. Jerusalem Post
July 4, 2011 12:10 IST
Photo by: Ariel Jerozolimski
MKs to ask Knesset: Disqualify Tibi bill on Nakba denial
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=227807
By JPOST.COM STAFF
04/07/2011
Bill submitted to Knesset proposes to revoke state funding for NGOs that deny Nakba; Benny Begin: Bill tries to prove Israel born out of injustice.
Right-wing Knesset members on Monday were expected to ask the Knesset Speaker’s Office to reject a bill submitted by MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List) to revoke state funding for public NGOs and organizations who deny the “Nakba,” Israel Radio reported.
The Knesset Speaker is authorized to refuse the discussion of a bill in the Knesset if is racist or denies the existence of the Sate of Israel.
The Knesset’s legal adviser, Eyal Yinon, decided in an unusual move not to take a stand on the disqualification or approval of the proposal, and left the decision to the Knesset Presidency.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin expressed doubt over whether it was legal to disqualify Tibi’s bill, but said the bill is an act of provocation against the state.
Likud Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin said in response to Tibi’s bill that marking Nakba Day on May 15 is designed to try to prove that the Jewish state was born out of injustice, and that this should be corrected by changing the basic nature of the state.
Begin told Israel Radio that he trusts the Knesset Speaker and the legal adviser to accurately determine the legal status of the bill.
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8. Today in Palestine
http://www.theheadlines.org/11/03-07-11.shtml
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9. Links to additional reading, all about the Flotilla, except for the first one from Al Jazeera,
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· by Paul Rosenberg, “Hope Lost, Audacity found.” http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/201163015241434959.html
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· Ynet Monday, July 04, 2011
By Elior Levy _Flotilla activists reject Greek offer to ship aid to Gaza
Harbor-bound pro-Palestinian activists say Athens’ offer to deliver aid to Strip a scheme concocted in cahoots with Israel
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4090605,00.html
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· Washington Post July 3, 2011
By Joel Greenberg With Gaza flotilla stalled, both sides claim victory
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/with-gaza-flotilla-stalled-both-sides-claim-victory/2011/07/03/AGrc1ZwH_story.html
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· The Independent Monday, 4 July 2011
By Catrina Stewart
Mystery deepens over the flotilla on the rocks
The many mishaps that have befallen 10 ships heading for Gaza have triggered accusations of Israeli dirty tricks
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mystery-deepens-over-the-flotilla-on-the-rocks-2306298.html
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· Irish Times Mon, Jul 04, 2011
