After a brief lull, the war in Middle-East is on again...and just like always Israel and the West (US and its cronies) didn't shy away from repeating the old rhetoric about Israel's right to self-defense. I did not follow the previous conflicts between Israel and Palestine (or affiliate groups) but the latest one, I am following and with utter keenness.
The Belligerent and The Defender:
I was always bewildered to see, that despite the irony that Palestinians were forced to be refugees in their own country; despite Israel controlling/occupying 78% of the territory as opposed to UN mandated resolution of 56.47%; despite having unlawful Israeli settlements in occupied territories in West Bank, East Jerusalem; despite having a far superior military might (as opposed to slingshots/stones/petrol bombs and at best rockets); despite having an unrestrained support from the US for it's every action; how Palestine (or affiliated groups) was always portrayed as the aggressor and Israel's acts were always justified as Acts of Self Defense. So I was mighty pleased when a journalist at The Guardian finally got his guts together to say this about the present conflict "In fact, an examination of the sequence of events over the last month shows that Israel played the decisive role in the military escalation: from its attack on a Khartoum arms factory reportedly supplying arms to Hamas and the killing of 15 Palestinian fighters in late October, to the shooting of a mentally disabled Palestinian in early November, the killing of a 13 year-old in an Israeli incursion and, crucially, the assassination of the Hamas commander Ahmed Jabari last Wednesday during negotiations over a temporary truce." (Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/20/palestinians-have-right-defend-themselves?CMP=twt_gu)
I was always bewildered to see, that despite the irony that Palestinians were forced to be refugees in their own country; despite Israel controlling/occupying 78% of the territory as opposed to UN mandated resolution of 56.47%; despite having unlawful Israeli settlements in occupied territories in West Bank, East Jerusalem; despite having a far superior military might (as opposed to slingshots/stones/petrol bombs and at best rockets); despite having an unrestrained support from the US for it's every action; how Palestine (or affiliated groups) was always portrayed as the aggressor and Israel's acts were always justified as Acts of Self Defense. So I was mighty pleased when a journalist at The Guardian finally got his guts together to say this about the present conflict "In fact, an examination of the sequence of events over the last month shows that Israel played the decisive role in the military escalation: from its attack on a Khartoum arms factory reportedly supplying arms to Hamas and the killing of 15 Palestinian fighters in late October, to the shooting of a mentally disabled Palestinian in early November, the killing of a 13 year-old in an Israeli incursion and, crucially, the assassination of the Hamas commander Ahmed Jabari last Wednesday during negotiations over a temporary truce." (Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/20/palestinians-have-right-defend-themselves?CMP=twt_gu)
In fact Israeli belligerence is evident from quite some time now. It did withdraw its forces from Gaza under the Unilateral Disengagement Plan of 2005 but still continues to impose an economic and social blocade on Gaza. A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Gaza says, “The whole of Gaza’s civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law”. A look at more recent events only proves that the belligerence has worsened often reeking of arrogance. In July 2012, when UNHRC decided to probe the implications of Israeli settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem on the civil, political, economic rights of Palestinians, Israel refused access to the council's experts, even accusing the council of being biased against Israel! A recent white paper published by Israel foreign ministry stated that if Palestine wins an Observer status in UN (vote scheduled for 29 Nov), the only option they have is to topple the Mahmoud Abbas govt in Palestine. Israeli interior minister Eli Yishai's statements during the ongoing conflict read something like this ,"Destroy and damage infrastructure, public buildings and government buildings. We must make sure that Hamas will be spending many years rebuilding Gaza, and not attacking Israel."... “The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages..." .
Crime against Humanity:
International humanitarian law and the Rome Statute permit belligerents to carry out proportionate attacks against military objectives, even when it is known that some civilian deaths or injuries will occur. A crime occurs if there is an intentional attack directed against civilians (principle of distinction) (Article 8(2)(b)(i)) or an attack is launched on a military objective in the knowledge that the incidental civilian injuries would be clearly excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage (principle of proportionality) (Article 8(2)(b)(iv).
Gaza is one of the world's most densely populated areas and children make a significantly high % of this population. It's no surprise then, that of the 150 Palestinians deaths, around half of them were civilians including 40 children. Media buildings and kindergartens (Oxfam's) were also not spared. Out of more than 800 rockets fired at Israel, 421 were intercepted by Irom Dome and the remaining managed to kill 5 Israelis. In view of these facts two things are pretty clear a) Hamas is terribly ill-equipped, ill-trained and disadvantaged to carry out any decisive attacks against Israel b) There is a clear violation of Article 8(2)(b)(iv) mentioned above.
It's a pity that while the world sees the rocket attacks by Hamas as an act of terror, acts of State terrorism that rely on excessive use of Apache gunships, F-16s and drones are so conveniently condoned.
Obscure Motives?
May be there's more to conflict than what meets the eye! Presidential elections are due in Israel in Jan 2013. Elections were initially scheduled for October 2013 but were advanced as the budget for 2013 could not be finalized.
The present president Benjamin Netanyahu's approval ratings although higher than any of his competitors, are dipping (see chart below). He had to face some stiff public resistance in summer of 2011. Austerity measures announced in September this year were unpopular. There might be cuts on welfare programmes and government benefits in the next budget and the smaller religious parties are inimical to these measures. Also, it might not be possible to come to power without a coalition partner.
The present president Benjamin Netanyahu's approval ratings although higher than any of his competitors, are dipping (see chart below). He had to face some stiff public resistance in summer of 2011. Austerity measures announced in September this year were unpopular. There might be cuts on welfare programmes and government benefits in the next budget and the smaller religious parties are inimical to these measures. Also, it might not be possible to come to power without a coalition partner.
Source: http://www.jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/category/netanyahu_approval
So a plan was hatched. Everytime there is an event that evokes national pride or security, the ratings go up. Be it the Flotilla issue, or release of Gilad Shalit by Hamas or Obama's speech with unflinching support to Israel. Netanyahu tried to drum up popular support for a direct action against suspected nuclear sites in Iran but perhaps due to Presidential elections in the Godfather's own backyard and due to continued opposition by Russia and China, the plan had to be averted. Switch to Plan B. Kill a Hamas top leader. Obviously, Hamas will retaliate. Use the retaliation as a perfect opportunity to showcase the new Iron Dome defense system. Whip up public frenzy. Win the elections hands down !
The Culpability of Silence:
Today, a cease fire has been brokered. But am sure it will not last longer. The reason is in the newsclip on Barack Obama's reaction to the ceasefire:
"US President Barack Obama "commended the [Israeli] Prime Minister for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal - which the President recommended the Prime Minster do - while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself," according to a statement from the White House. Mr Obama said that the "United States would use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the issue of the smuggling of weapons and explosives in to Gaza."
Everything against Israel is not Anti-Semitism; And speaking up against Israel's political policies is definitely not !
