Dr. Hajo Meyer - "The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes"

Ross Kemp Middle East: ISRAEL

This is a continuation obviously of the previous blog post and the show it refers too. This show starts with a tour of the places in which suicide bombs have taken place. It is an awful thing to hear. So many Young lives lost; It's not right, not in a supposed civilised world.

Let me make my position clear on this; I do not support bombing Supermarkets and Bus Stops. I do not support killing innocent people. However, when people are opressed history has shown time and time again that they nearly always turn to the gun and bomb, as they see little else that they can do. As a result I will not condem people who are responsible for this. I can not condem. I have no right to condem.

Anyway the show continues, and Ross Kemp goes to a training session for the IDF. The man he talks with makes it clear that they have a shoot to kill policy when it comes to those they designate as terrorists.

This show highlights that 24 people have been killed as a result of Bombs/Rockets from Gaza and in retaliation the Israeli forces have slaughtered 4000 Palestinians. The lives of the 24 is regretable. Whether it is 1 life, 24 lives or 4000 lives it is unacceptable. As a Pro Palestinian I do not support the deaths of these people, I do not believe it can be justified.. However this is the arguement used against Israel. The Israeli forces have used indiscriminate, unproportional, heavy handed response slaughtering thousands of innocent people. They have evicted the people, leaving them homeless. They have destroyed their livelyhoods by destroying such things as their Olive Grove's. They have broken the international laws by cliaming land over the green line.

This show highlights that while protesters throw stones, the Israeli forces fire bullets and tear gas and use Watercannons firing "Something very nasty, not just water". It is once again the arguement against the Israeli forces. Heavy handed oppression. Where is the justification for this action?

At this stage the show turns to the settler question. The settler that he chooses to talk to states clearly that she does not believe that the Arabs have rights to live in the area and using biblical language to prove this.

Now at this stage I would like to highlight, that despite what this woman states, the Old Testament, the scriptures that Jews study, states that the land belongs only to God. He gives the Israelites permission to live there, but the land belongs to God. However lets assume that they do have historical and religious rights to the land surely this accounts only for Religious Jews. How does this apply to non Religious Jews? The Israeli state allows settlements of secular Jews and takes land from the Palestinian Arabs to house these people?

I'm gonna cut this here, as opposed to commenting the whole show. But before I end I would like to clarify my position on the Palestinian cause.

I support Palestinian rights to live free from opression. Free from checkpoints and siege. I believe that the siege of Gaza must end. I believe that the checkpoints that stop the Palestinian people from travel in their own land must end. I believe that violence must come to an end. I believe that the construction of the segregation wall must come to an end and the current fortifications torn down. I believe that the state of Palestine needs to exist as a united state. Not a nation divided into the West Bank and the Gaza refugee camp. I believe that the continuation of settlements and land grabbing must halt now.

God Bless
Peace

Ross Kemp Middle East: GAZA

Tonight, Sunday the 17th January 2010, Sky1 is broadcasting a show called "Ross Kemp Middle East: GAZA", in similar style to his "Ross Kemp on Gangs" shows. I decided to watch it, obviously due to my deep interest in and support for the Palestinian cause.

From the beginning of the show you can tell that it is to present antiHamas / ProIsrael propagandha. Anytime Hamas is mentioned, he refers to them as "terrorists", despite the fact that they are a democratically elected governing body for Gaza. None of his sweeping anti Hamas statements are backed up with evidence or sources. He claims that the people he has spoken to do not like Hamas, but with no evidence of the conversations.

The first conversation shows only a man claiming he has no issues with Israelis, but only the opressive government.

He accuses Hamas of firing rockets into Israel continually. Despite the incredile decline in rockets and the fact that Hamas have yet to admit, or even be accused of firing rockets into Israel since the slaughter a year ago. He then talks to "Islamic Jihad", a militant organisation, and using Israeli figures claims that they have fired over a Thousand rockets in the past year. Independant figures claim it is alot less.

Israel has desimated the Gaza strip, starved the people and continues to leave them homeless, sick and dying. Ross Kemp's entire show belittles the entire situation. He focuses completely on the fact that militant organisations exist. He attacks the "smuggling trade". Now I can not see why this is a bad thing? Israel has blockaded the innocent people of the Gaza strip, doing all it can to make sure no aid, food or treats get into the refugee camp. So in this situation is it wrong that people smuggle in as much as they can to keep life going? The issue of the rising prices for smuggled goods is the fault completely of Israel. Stop blockading the people and this could not happen. Stop bombing smuggling tunnels. I will be as bold as to say, I fully support the smuggling of goods. Hamas have no control over these tunnels, according to the smugglers and actually stop Drugs coming in to the refugee camp. Of course the black propaganda of Israeli and American media will deny this.

However near the end he seems to have a slight change of heart as he realises that these "smugglers" need to do this to put food in the stomach of their Children.

He ignores completely the situation that is actually day to day life. Hundreds of thousands of Men, Women and Children left homeless, starving and dying because Israel has blocked the borders, and decimated the area with massive explosions, including weaponry so inhumane that it is illegal.

Over 50% of Gaza's population are under 18. Impressionable young people, who living under oppression become angry and obviously can see no other option but to Fight. On going Rights marches and protests through out Palestine, West Bank and Gaza, have failed time and time again. Even at these peaceful protests, Israeli forces have used heavy handed attacks on the people and have even killed protesters. What other options do these people see for themselves?

The only hope for these people is calling off the blockade of Gaza and allowing the people to live. Allowing the people to see that the people of Israel do not hate Palestinians. Justice will breed peace and without this what hope is there for the people of Israel and Palestine?

God Bless
Peace

Free Palestine

Objection to the DPP Meetings

So I would like to pass an opinion here, that will sit unpopular, esp with supporters and members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Republican Network for Unity.

The 32CSM deem this protest as a success. I'm not actually sure that is the word I would use. I mean I guess yea, in so much as the protest disrupted the meeting, and I believe that it was called off early, then yes it was a success. However the action and tactics used are, at best, questionable.

It was a public meeting, and I fully recognise the right to stage a protest and I agree with the 32CSM/RNU objection to the DPP and support for the PSNI/RUC. However they were completely undignified in their protest. The use of horns and whistles and man handling of hotel staff, plays right into the hands of the media and the British black propagandha machine. The footage caught on this evening can be used to easily paint the aformentioned groups as rabble, hoods and trouble makers.

This is in stark comparasion to the recent RSF protest at the DPP meeting on the Lower Falls, in the Clonard Youth Hall. This protest was both dignified and could not be painted as anything other than a valid political protest. PSF councillor Marie Cush explained that the protest effectively lasted just over 4 minutes.

"They came in and sat at the front. A woman sang a song, then they left" - Marie Cush

In my opinion this would be more effective than that of the 32CSM/RNU protest, for a few reasons. I know Republicans, who support PSF, but who are weary and still are finding it hard to adjust to PSF's stance on policing. To these people, with Republicanism at their heart, the sing protest of RSF is more likely to make them settle, to agree with the RSF stance, which at heart they probably already believe in, but have not voiced. However the equivlent in Derry will be likely unconvinced as it seemed so unorganised.

Now I will admit to being uncertain in myself about these things. I mean clearly the 32CSM/RNU protest got more media attention, meaning it was brought to the attention of more people than that of the RSF protest. One is brought to question the use of protest, if media attention is not there. Further more RSF left after staging their protest. I guess, imo, I rekon the best way to carry out these protests would be that of RSF, but to not leave. To stand at points throughout the hall staging silent protest with signs/posters/banners like that carried by the 32CSM/RNU.

I'm niave I guess, and at best do not obviously have the anwsers. I merely feel that this tactic supports our right to protest, but allows others their right also. Maybe its a contradiction

Now just to clarify, I do not condemn or disagree with the 32CSM/RNU, merely on this situation I wasn't sure that they acted the best they should have. I support anyone aiming for a 32 County Socialist Republic. I don't agree with the term "dissident". I also don't agree with the Public condemnation of PSF and PSF condemnation of anyone who is not PSF.

God Bless

Make up your own mind...

The following are exerpts from tesitmonials from IDF soldiers, in relation to Operation Castlead. You make up your own mind who you believe, the State controlled messages, or the fire from the dragons mouth

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Testimony 51: "We were told soldiers were to be secured by fire-power. The soldiers were made to understand that their lives were the most important, and that there was no way our soldiers would get killed for the sake of leaving civilians the benefit of the doubt… People were not instructed to shoot at everyone they see but they were told that from a certain distance when they approach a house, no matter who it is - even an old woman - take them down."

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - ROOFS, CELLULAR TELEPHONES, NIGHT TIME
Testimony 49: "Among other things, he strictly forbade us to climb up to roofs. He explained in fact that the air force has the 'go ahead' to fire at anyone seen on a roof."

Testimony 41: "You can't identify too much at night and anything that moves you engage in order not to take risks. It was not defined this way officially, but it was obvious. Any movement on the ground at night was doomed."

Testimonies 13 and 14: These describe an incident where an old man carrying a torch at night, walking towards an Israeli-held building, approached from about 150 metres - and was allowed to approach to 25 metres with no deterrent fire, before he was shot dead.

Testimony 14: "Everyone is shooting and shooting and the guy's screaming. The commander comes downstairs, glowing. 'Here's an opener for tonight'. He was asked why he wouldn't confirm deterrent fire. He said, "It's night time and this is a terrorist."

HUMAN SHIELDS
Some testimonies described the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, for example by making neighbours enter suspect houses ahead of troops. The use of human shields is prohibited under article 51.7 of the Geneva Conventions.

Testimony 1 "To every house we close in on, we send the neighbour in, 'the Johnnie'… Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian's shoulder, advancing into a house and using him as a human shield. Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it…"

BUILDING DEMOLITIONS
Testimony 2: "Part of the concept of razing was what the Israeli army calls 'the day after' consideration. Obviously this campaign would end at some point… The question was in what condition we'd leave the area, whether more exposed, a state that would afford us better firing and observation conditions, and far greater control. This was the principle behind all that razing - namely razing for our benefit.

Testimony 52: "Most of the destruction that went on there was not necessary.

AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE
Testimony 43 : "One guy said he just couldn't finish this operation without killing someone… [describes the shooting of a man "apparently some sort of lookout"] … I can definitely say he was not armed. I can definitely say the soldier regarded this as some children's game and was delighted and laughing after this. I think that a normal person, even having killed an armed terrorist, would not be amused."

Testimony 50: "The atmosphere was not one of fear but rather people too eager to shoot other people."

VANDALISM OF PALESTINIAN PROPERTY
Testimony 39: "The guys would simply break stuff. Some were out to destroy and trash the whole time. They drew a disgusting drawing on the wall. They threw out sofas. They took down a picture from the wall just to shatter it."

Testimony 52:
Q: Was there boredom at any point during these two weeks?
A: Much boredom.
Q: So what does one do to relieve this boredom?
A: I told you, fire at water tanks, I don't know, out of boredom. When there's nothing else to shoot at, you fire at water tanks."

WHITE PHOSPHORUS
Testimony 8:
Q: Why fire phosphorus?
A: Because it's fun. Cool… I don't know what it's used for… I don't understand what it's even doing in our supplies if we're not supposed to use such ammo. It's ridiculous.

Testimony 11: "There was an area of about 200-300 square meters of glazed sand.... We understood this resulted from white phosphorus, and it was upsetting… in training you learn that white phosphorus is not used, and you're taught that it's not humane. You watch films and see what it does to people who are hit, and you say, 'There, we're doing it too.' That's not what I expected to see. Until that moment I had thought I belonged to the most humane army in the world."

RELIGIOUS RHETORIC
Testimony 15 [describing a talk by a military rabbi]: "Lots of pathos, the kind of religious discourse I'm a bit familiar with: war of choice, holy war - differing rules. He spoke less in religious terminology… and was much more into militant faith. He aimed at inspiring the men with courage, cruelty, aggressiveness, expressions such as 'no pity, God protects you, everything you do is sanctified'. The gist of these statements was perhaps to bring things into agreement with religion, with God and whoever this man was supposed to represent, that everything or nearly everything is permissible. "

Leonard Cohen Legitimises the Nakba

Protests at the Leonard Cohen concerts in Dublin and Belfast have been organised by various organisations such as the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (http://www.ipsc.ie) to protest against the musicians intention to play later this year in Tel Aviv, Israeli contolled Palestine.

In July 2005 almost 200 Palestinian civil society organisations called for a "Boycott, Divesment and Sanctions against Israel until it complies with international Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights". Since 2005 Israels regime has become even more hateful and cruel, with the Seige on Gaza still not being lifted. The aparthied wall has been condemned as illegal by the UN and yet Arabs are still unhoused for its continued construction. More people are being unhoused for building developments in the West Bank. More and more checkpoints have been set up, breaking human rights laws. 2009 began with another slaughter of Palestinain civilians by Israeli armed forces, backed by the USA finacially and with weapons, that left 1,300 murdered, 0ver 400 of whom where women or Children and 86% o whom were declared civilians. News later revealed that innocents has been slaughtered intentionally. During this slaughter houses, hospitals, schools and mosques where attack with phospherous gas, which is illegal.

It is based on this that Leonard Cohen has been called upon to cancel his Tel Aviv appearence. At nearly every performance this year, different organisations have organised protests outside his shows, as letters from many orgainsations where ignored. To further add insult to the cause of Palestinian human rights, Leonard Cohen cancelled his Palestinian date instead.

A letter signed by 4 Jewish academics wrote

"You will perform for a public that by a very large majority had no qualms about its military forces' onslaught on Gaza... You will perform in a state whose propaganda services will extract every ounce of mileage from your presence... And you are telling the Palestinians ...that their suffering doesn't matter."

IPSC echoes that call.

In further news, as we already know in the latest elections Israel elected a Right Wing, more so anti Palestinian party. The education minister in this regime has decided that the word Nakba should be dropped from text books. Despite the fact that the word only appears in the book aimed at Arab Israeli citizens.

The passage in question, which occurs in one textbook aimed at Arab children aged around eight or nine, describes the 1948 war, which resulted in Israel's creation, in the following terms: "The Arabs call the war the Nakba - a war of catastrophe, loss and humiliation - and the Jews call it the Independence War.

Furthermore, despite the fact that Israel celebrates this every year, the new regime is trying to pass a bill that will make it illegal for the Arab Israelis to mourn this day in commemeration of the Nakba every May 15th. More Racist rule from Binyamin Netanyahu's regime.

Also, I have been trying to follow the story in Honduras, which is something I will blog about if I can educate myself further. However one thing that does bear mentioning is All EU countries pulled out their diplomats from Honduras within days or weeks apppearently. However when Israel was slaughtering the people of Gaza Hugo Chavez was the only leader with the testicular fortitude to remove his Israeli ambassador. That is a bit dissapointing.

God Bless
Peace

Inspired by a True Story...

In Defence of Smaller Nations... Western White Nations

The World vowed never again, after the horriffic events of WWII. However yesterday the nations of the world turned their back on that very promise, allowing the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine to continue, cause sometimes the truth is just to financially damaging.

The United States, Australia, The Netherlands, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Poland and Israel amoung others boycotted a United Nations conference on Racism, in South Africa. The basis of their boycott, was that Zionism was a topic that was to be addressed. I personally am completely for this Conference.

Navi Pallay, a UN Human Rights Chief, say she is disappointed at the boycott. The Pope spoke out in favour of the conference, saying it was an opportunity to fight discrimination and intolerance.

"A handful of states have permitted one or two issues to dominate their approach to this issue, allowing them to outweigh the concerns of numerous groups of people that suffer racism and similar forms of intolerance to a pernicious and life-damaging degree on a daily basis all across the world..." - Navi Pallay

"We ask for firm and consistent action, at national and international level, to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance," - Pope Benidict XVI

Many of the Western Nations that did not boycott the conference, including France, Spain and Britain, walked out once the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began to speak. These Nations chose to walk out on the many in the world suffering under Racial oppression. They walked out on the Palestinian people, the Tibetian People, the Burmese people and the Sri Lankan People. I have no shame in saying I agreed with alot of what Ahmadinejad said. The following, are quotes from the speech, that I agreed with.

"Peace be upon them all who are the harbingers of monotheism, fraternity, love, human dignity and justice...Over the last centuries, humanity has gone through tremendous suffering and pain. In the middle ages, thinkers and scientists were sentenced to death. It was then followed by a period of slavery and slave trade, when innocent people in millions were captivated and separated from their families and loved ones, to be taken to Europe and America under worse conditions; the dark period that also experienced occupations, lootings, and massacres of innocent people... It did not take long that the coercive powers imposed two wars in Europe which also plagued a part of Asia and Africa. Those horrific wars claimed about 100 million lives and left behind massive devastation. Had lessons been learned from the occupations, horrors, and crimes of those wars, there would have been a ray of hope for the future...The victorious powers [of the world wars] call themselves the conquerors of the world, while ignoring or down-treading the rights of other nations by the imposition of oppressive laws and international arrangements... Following World War Two, they resorted to making an entire nation homeless on the pretext of Jewish suffering. They sent migrants from Europe, the United States and other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in the occupied Palestine. In compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive, racist regime in Palestine... It is all the more regrettable that a number of Western governments and the United States have committed themselves to defending those racist perpetrators of genocide, whilst the awakened consciences and free-minded people of the world condemn aggression, brutality and the bombardment of civilians of Gaza... the word Zionism personifies racism, that falsely resorts to religion and abuses religious sentiments to hide hatred... It should be recognised that boycotting such a session is a true indication of supporting the blatant example of racism." - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The nations of the world, too afraid to lose out financially, walked out on the truth and chose to ignore the suffering of small nations. "In defence of small nations" seems to mean nothing when that small nation is both eastern and Arab. The fact that many chose to Boycott the conference, just because Ahmadinejad was addressing, shows racism against small Arab Nations.

Ahmadinejad had the courage to stand up and say, what the general people of the west said, and have been saying, since Operation Cast Lead and even before. However the Governments of the western world are too afraid to make such statements, cause they are afraid of being called anti semitic. Being pro Palestinian and anti Zionist is not the same as being anti semetic, as many Jews throughout the world will agree. It is not Jewish to remove Arabs from their land and replace them in their homes with foreign settlers. It is not Jewish to Build a wall through Palestinain territory, housing them all in, and stopping their travel with illegal checkpoints and putting them under military occupation. It is not anti semetic to support Palestinian rights.

At least some of the nations leaders returned after Ahmadinejad's speech, however, the Czechs refused to return as a result. His presence there was too much, for this White Western nation, and they refused to share the rest of the day with him. The response of many of the worlds nations should be addressed. The Czech Foriegn Ministry, and current President of the EU, refused to return and said;

"We cannot allow, through our presence, the legitimisation of absolutely unacceptable anti-Israeli attacks. The Czech delegation will not return to the conference at all, as a consequence to Ahmadinejad's speech." - Czech Foriegn Ministry

To this I say, why can you not allow your presence to legitimise the "attacks". Infact I believe that your presence should and Must legitimise these "verbal attacks". Your walking out Legitimised 1,300 dead, 400 of whom where Children and women, and 86% were confirmed to be civilians. It legitimises the recent confessions that innocent civilians were shot intentionally. That the homes of Civilians where vandalised and their faith insulted by crude sexual diagrams. It legitimises the tshirts worn by Israeli soldiers that showed Arab women in the crosshairs. Your walking out legitimised Phosphuros attacks on Schools, Hospitals, mosques and homes. Your walking out legitimised Racism.

To David Miliband, the British Foriegn secretary, after claiming "President Ahmadinejad's remarks... were offensive, inflammatory and utterly unacceptable", I say this. Yes they where offensive, cause sometimes the truth hurts, and you are offended because you refuse to stand up and be held to account, and to stand for what you know is true and right.

As for Jonas Gahr Stoere, Norwegian Foreign Minister, you were completely naive when you claimed "Norway will not accept that the odd-man-out hijacks the collective efforts of the many". Odd Man Out?? Tell that to the thousands of civilians who took to the streets across Europe, America and the rest of the world. Tell that to the thousands of people, that you and your collective Nation leaders chose to Ignore. Tell that to the Jews For Justice, Anarchists against the Wall, the Anti War Movement and the Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. Just because you chose to ignore the calls for justice from the civilians across the world, does not mean they do not exsist, and this man is no odd man out.

Ban Ki Moon has disappointed me before and makes no exception here. "I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian president to accuse, divide and even incite. This is the opposite of what this conference seeks to achieve." This conference seeked to achieve what then exactly? Was it not to fight Racism?? So if a Racist regime gets shaken in the process is this not part of what you set out to do. Or is it now Racist to disagree with Racists??

Furthermore, not only do I agree with the statement during the conference, but the attempt to justify himself afterwards.

"The main issue of the conference was racism. Are they supporting racism?... So why shouldn't they participate in a conference which is aimed at discussing and eleminating racism. The second point is, that the United Nations should be Civil Manifestation of Democracy and freedom of expression. Everybody should enjoy the right to freely express his or her own opinions. In turn we should not be intolerant to listening." - Ahamdinejad

The United Nations may as well join the League of Nations in the grave as it died of a lack of exercise, and the United Nations seems fit to follow.

I do not claim to know enough about Iran to fully support Ahmadinejad's rule, but I agree with what he said at Durban II, and I think the nations that Boycotted the Racism conference in Durban, are the ones that need to do the Soul Searching. They need to step back and take alook at themselves.

The United States is a Nation that is built on Slaughter and Slavery. A nation of people, that when they arrived on the shores, attempted to genocide, to rid the land of its indigenous people. A nation that while writing "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...", enslaved the African people based purely on skin colour. Are still a nation that spend more on War and weaponry than Education, and provide more aid to Israel than they do to the rest of the world combined. Now they Boycott a Racism conference, cause they don't like one of the sub-issues.

The British Empire, built off the spoils of poorer nations, when they plundered and pilaged and colonised Africa, India, Asia and America. A nation that has ravaged the history of Ireland with Bloodshed, opression and left it a divided nation amoung a divided people.

Let us take a look at this world we live in. Ravaged with Inequality, Opression, Occupation and Poverty. United Nations?? Our Nations are far from United. Very Very Far.

God Bless
Peace

"A Good Arab is an Arab in the Grave"

So this has been a bad week for the IDF and the Israeli Government. Apart from admital to the vandalisation of Palestinian homes, the truth behind the murder of innocent, unarmed civilians, including women and children has been revealed in testimonies from Soldiers. They have made claims that they were both allowed and on some cases even ordered to do so!!

I need not saying anything more than the words of the Soliders themselves:

"What's great about Gaza; You See a person on a path, he doesn't have to be armed, you can simply shoot him. In our case it was an old person on whom I did not see any weaon when I looked. The order was to take down the person, this Women, the minute you see her. There are always the saying, 'Maybe he's a Terrorist.' What I felt was, there was a lot of thirst for blood"

"The atmosphere in general; How should I say this? The Life of Palestinians is much less important than the life of our soliders"

"At the beginning the directive was to enter a house with an armoured vehicle, to break the door down, to start shooting inside and to ascend floor by floor and – I call it murder – to go from floor to floor and to shoot at everyone we identify. In the beginning I asked myself how could this make sense? Higher-ups said it is permissible because everyone left in the city [Gaza City] is culpable because they didn't run away. This frightened me a bit. I tried to influence it as much as possible, despite my low rank, to change it. In the end the directive was to go into a house, switch on loudspeakers and tell them 'you have five minutes to run away and whoever doesn't will be killed'." (Note: That is Ethnic Cleansing Philosophy)

What more do I need to say on the matter. Surely this is all the evidence the ICC needs to at least begin an investigation? I do not have much faith left in the ICC. Much like the UN and the EU, these organisations semm to fail to look after the most vunarable people of the World. Time and time again positions of power have corrupted the purpose behind these organisations.

After incidents of Trauma, one of the methods of recovery is to find sanctuary. For many, returning home after these traumatic expeirences is exactly the sanctuary the people need. After all many fond memories revolve around ones home. The return brings the feeling of safety and security. Not always the case, but for many it is.

Palestinans have always been denied this right. For many Palestinians, once they leave their home, there is no return. Bulldozers, F-16's and Tank Shells usually make sure of that. However for those that have been luck enough to return to their homes after Operation Cast Lead, they are not granted the feelings Peace, Safety and Security. They are returning to find their Homes vandalised and defaced.

The squad leader said: "To write 'death to the Arabs' on walls, to take family pictures and spit on them, just because you can. I think this is the main thing: To understand how much the IDF has fallen in the realm of ethics." - Squad Leader Aviv

Crude sexual diagrams, Racist drawings of Mosques urinated upon and Hate slogans have been left all over the remaining homes, or ruins of homes.

"The writing left by Israeli soldiers in the homes in Gaza provides an insight into the disturbing culture of hatred and racism towards Palestinians and Arabs which exists among parts of Israeli society,"- Hamdi Shaqqura (The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights' (PCHR) director of democratic development)

In light of the evidence PCHR has gathered of the willful and wanton killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, this graffiti is even more disturbing.

A stairwell, includes the following sentences written in chalk:

"There will be a day when we kill all the Arabs."

"Bad for the Arabs is good for me."

"A good Arab is an Arab in the grave."

"Peace now, but between Jews and Jews, not Jews and Arabs."

I don't even know where to go from here. Will we never see a world where people do not hate. Where people are not constantly trying to one up the other??

In other news, an article I read in the Gaurdian, by Seth Freedman, he reports upon threats of a third Intifada. The article is entitled "Trouble Brewing in Jerusalem". I would suggest reading it. Its very interesting.

I think I will end here, with my request as usual. Boycott Israel, Economically and Academically.

God Bless
Peace

Its been a brave while... and nothing has changed

Well it has been a brave while since I posted anything. Quite alot has been going on in the world. It's a sad thing, that everyday I read about Wars, Murders and Occupations. I for one have not posted a blog in a long time not regarding the aforementioned topics. This blog will be no different.

Firstly to address the reasoning behind My lack off bloging. I recently did not see the point. I have few readers, and clearly this blog is not making any difference to anyone. I read recently that the Reason the ICC have not made a case against Ehud Olmert, and other Terrorists, is that they are not sure is Palestine is enough of an official state. How is that even justified?? People are people, regardless of whether they are an officially recognised state or not. Despite that, as Edward Campbell says

"The Palestinian Authority does not need to be a sovereign state for Israel to be tried in the ICC, because the ICC will not be asserting jurisdiction over Palestine. The ICC will be asserting Jursidiction over Israel" - Edward Campbell, taken from his article "The ICC Doesnt need Jurisdiction over Palestine to Proceed against Israel".

Secondly, I want to address an article I came across today, on the BBC and Al Jazeera. Hamas have criticised the Rocket attacks on Israel. I was interested at the language of the spokesman. The spokesperson said rockets where "being fired at the wrong time". This is quite similar to the language of the Irish Republicans sitting in the Stormount Government, when talking about recent dissident Republicans. I will not disscuss my views on that here. I just thought the similarity was interesting.

Anyway Israel have yet to make a response about the recent statement. However Israel has held Hamas responsible for all the attacks on the Southern Israeli towns, and has made threats against them for them all. Hamas have now criticised them and have denied responsibility for them all. So a response from Israel will be Interesting.

Also, people from Israel now seem to be questioning the whole Operation Cast Lead results and purpose. One newspaper even asks "Did we even fight a war in Gaza?" We can see the uncertianty in the following quote:

"In the face of the enemy... Israel will present itself as a 'Crazy Country', the kind that will respond in a massive and unfettered assault, with no proportion to the amount of casulties it has endured" - Ofer Shelah

The Israel Daily, Yediot Ahronot, went as far as to say Operation Cast Lead had failed miserably. In fact the conclusion was simply "In Brief, We're Screwed".

However it is far from a change in attitudes and actions from Israel. Despite the presence of an international committee, examining the Arab Living conditions in Negev, Israeli athorities have demolished two arab owned houses, and uprooted a further 100 Olive Trees. Plans for further Israeli only settlements have continued to be developed for the West Bank.

God Bless
Peace

What (a) Wonderful World?

Sometimes I am brought to question my faith in Humanity. A question that comes to my mind more and more these days is "What kind of World are we living in?". Reading the papers and online reporting I am really unsettled.

I love this Planet, and I do believe we live in a wonderful world. Its a pity that some people and governments seem to have given up on their fellow man, and hold themselve above others.

As some of you may know, Tibet is under Chinese rule, and the Tibetan people are unfairly treated. China has for a long time been known to have a bad track record with Human rights, and this continues with the treatment of Tibet. However what I read in the news today is a sad sad story.

It is a common practise for Tibetan monks to set themselves alight, as a form of peaceful protest. Residents of the town of Aba, in the south west Sichuan Provice, witnessed a Monk waving the Flag of Tibet, douse himself with Petrol and set himself alight. However uncommonly they then witnessed Police shoot the protester. His name was Tapay. The protest came after a gathering to Celebrate the Tibetan new year, which the Chinese Government had banned. It is also nearing the 50th Anniversary of the uprising that led the Dalai Lama to flee to India.

On the other side of the world, Palestinian militants have fired five Rockets into Southern Israel, hitting the coastal town of Ashkelon, damaging a school but causing no injuries. A general strike was called across the occupied West Bank territory, with schools and shops remaining shut, to protest against the 1,500 to be evicted.

The United States, Israel and Canada have shamefully refused to attend a conference on Racism, to be held in Geneva, becuase documents for the conference make reference to Zionism. Tzipi Livni, the current foriegn minister, has used the typical trick of the United States and Israel. Anyone who speaks out agianst Zionism is labelled antisemitic, despite the fact that Zionism is not Judaism.

"Under the fig leaf of combating racism, this conference is blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli" - Tzipi Livni

Obviously Pro Israeli groups are supporting the move also. The Netherlands and France have voiced concern but are not yet boycotting the conference. In other Palestine related news Israel have blocked a Pasta shipment to the Gaza strip. Food, a basic human right.

Why do I question humanity?? Well this is the cliff hanger. I question humanity, cause no one seems to give a .... well you know. Currently the Tibetan, Burmese, Palestinian, Tamils, Basque and Irish people, to name very very few, live under illegal occupation, and/or are opressed in one form or other.

In Tibet, it is illegal to even fly the flag. In Burma, the legally elected Government are held in detention by a military force government. Read my previous blogs, you'll see that to even be Palestinian is a crime according to Israel. In the Basque region any Basque affiliated Political parties are banned. In the Occupied Ireland we can't even get equal standing for our language.

And No one seems to care.

Those that do care are penalised, by being branded as Racist or antisemitic. In Canada too colleges banned posters calling for an end to Israeli aparthied.

I don't know where I'm going with this so I guess I'll leave it here.

God Bless
Peace

Evictions, Uprootings, Deaths and Border Opening

More than 1,500 people are to be left homeless after Israeli forces issued eviction notices to the Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. The Israelis have informed the owners that the houses, which have been there since before the 1967 war, are illegal. Since 2004 aprox. 350 houses have been demolished for being illegal, according to human rights organisation B'Tselem.

In accordence to international law, East Jerusalem is not recognised as Israeli territory, but occupied land. This being fact, makes the demolishing of these houses illegal:

Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, is a grave breach of the Convention.

Art. 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907: In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war;

Also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of, December 10, 1948, Article 17: 'No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.'

In other news, 300 Olive saplings have been uprooted in Jab'a, Western Bethlahem. Bulldozers uprooted the saplings, because Israeli Occupation Forces claim t to be state land, and so it would be illegal for the owners to cultivate it. The land is owned by four families, who have inherited it from their fathers, and who own official ownership papers and so Israeli forces can not claim it as state land, and cultivation of the land is not illegal.

A further 25 Olive Trees where uprooted in Ni'lin, leading to clashes between residents and soldiers. Rubber bullets and Tear gas were fired on the civilians, and one civilian was shot in the face.

For the 2nd time this month, Arab tents have been demolished, and water tanks confiscated by the occupation forces of Israel. These tents had be provided to the families by the Red Cross, as Israeli forces originally demolished their tents on the 3rd of February.

Two fighters in Gaza have been killed by Israeli gunfire, early on Saurday morning. The inncedent occured in the Bureji Refugee camp. Israeli military have denied firing but claim that Israel was hit by two mortars from Gaza over night.

Around 9am on Sunday morning, Eygpt opened the Rafah border, which was expected to stay open for just 3 days.

"The mood here for the first time in an awful long time is one of great happiness for those few who are being able to cross the border" - Todd Baer, Al Jazeera

God Bless
Peace

Gaza shakes under Israeli Terrorism

By now I'm fed up highlighting the ProIsraeli stance of the BBC. Once again the BBC failed to report an Inncedent, which Israeli spokes people have commented on. This is because of the antipalestinian roots to the inncedent. Israeli shells hit a target in Palestine, killing one person. The Israeli armed forces cliamed that they did not know about the shells, and that they would carry out a full investigation into why it happened. However this afternoon the BBC have a report on the recent Gaza attacks, following rockets on Israel.

These rockets where once again not connected to Hamas, and yet Israel have chose to punish Hamas and the Palestinians, by bombing the only source of Food and Fuel that is available to them; The Smuggling Tunnels bordering with Egypt. The responsibility for the Rockets was cliamed by "Hezbollah Brigades, Palestine". The rockets resulted in no injuries, and Israel responded by bombing the southern Gazan town of Rafah.

This comes following recent announcements from Hamas and Israeli spokespersons regarding the Peace talks. Hamas spokespersons made an announce ment, saying that they expected results soon, resulting in at least a year long Ceasefire. However an Israeli spokeperson later denied this.

Israel have demanded the release of an Israeli Soldier, Gilad Shalit, held prisioner by Hamas since 2006. According to Hamas this had not been brought up during the Egyptian Peace talks, and is now appeared as a truce was beginning to look positive. The release of said prisioner was appearently part of other talks, involving the release of Palestinian POWs. As for the Peace talks Hamas want the borders opened and the Siege to end.

Whatever the future holds for these people, it does not seem peaceful, especially since a more Right Wing party is likley to aggrovate the situation.

God Bless
Peace

Palestine Update

Well due to headaches and such this week I've failed to post again, so here's just a wee update on what has been going on and why we must continue to boycott Israel, and demand the re-opening of the Borders.

The BBC once again does not come out looking to good in this blog. Now maybe the BBC in this situation just don't see the Palestinian story important, but the way they report only makes me feel they are just Pro-Israeli. At the beginning of the week reports announced that Israel had fired on a Lebanon Ship, bringing aid to Gaza. The BBC reported this as a side story online with the headline "Israel 'attack' Gaza aid ship", insinuating that this is only an alleged incident. Al Jazeera had the story as breaking news.

Now the truth is a little hazy to me, however Palestinians on the ship say Israel fired, and Israel have denied it. Either way the BBC has failed to report the story effectively. Israel however did admit to boarding the boat. The Aid and the Activists were expelled, but blood products were brought by road. Reports claim that men on the boats were beaten and kicked, though once again Israel denies this.

Also following the seizure of aid, by HAMAS, the UN has decided to cease sending Aid. Hamas has said the seizure of the Aid was a mistake, and that the aid will be returned. The UN are currently still waiting.

In the early hours of Friday morning, Israeli forces fired four missiles on to the Gazan smuggling tunnels. The attacks came following two rockets fired onto southern Israel from Gaza.

Also Israeli forces killed a man in the West Bank, but I will not claim to have enough knowledge of the situation to make any statements about it.

The world can not seriously believe that there is still a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has broken that ceasefire, and is still forcing Palestinians to live in abject poverty. The Siege of Gaza must end, and it must end now. The only way to make a lasting effect on Israel is to boycott their goods. The EU governments must urge for an end to Israeli - EU trade.

Does the world want to see Israel successfully complete their Ethnic Cleansing of the Palestinian People? If they refuse to recognise the crimes of the Israeli state, and recognise the plight of the Palestinian people then that is exactly what will happen. The World vowed "Never Again", and yet they stand by and ignore this Ethnic Cleansing. Disgraceful.

God Bless
Peace

Violent Unrest continues...

As stated in my last blog, Palestinian militants fired rockets on the south of Israel, and in response Israel promised isproportionate response. Well within a few hours of making this promise, the Israeli Airforce carried out raids on the South of Gaza. At this stage Hamas had not yet ended their ceasefire. Israel broke first.

However last night more rockets where fired on southern Israel, and no Palestinian group has accepted responsibility.

This again highlights to me the Pro-Israeli Stance of the BBC. When the rockets where fired on Israel, it was quickly reported. The airraids carried out by Israel reported by Al Jazeera, however the BBC left their reports until after it had been revealed that only one person had been killed. To me this shows that the BBC were waiting for an excuse to downplay the action. Rather than report the news as it happened, as the BBC cliam they do.

Where does this leave Palestine? After Israel's attack of the Gaza strip the people on both sides of the divide, have been left in the same place they were beforehand, echoing the worries of an Israeli civilian interviewed by the BBC.

On a terrible note, for the Palestinian People, Tzipi Livni has hopes to be appointed Primeminister. She has already ruled out any suggestions of negotiation with the rulers in the Gaza region. Livni has said "Terror must be fought with force, and lots of force". Throughout history one has seen that force against Freedom Fighters has only proved to be an incentive to keep fighting. This is clearly an attempt to justify her use of extreme terror and murder, against the Palestinian people. She has insisted continuing action against Palestine, "until they get the message". This is clearly not the mentality of a state leader. It is the same mentality of a playground bully. She is a murderer, and she is a terrorist.

Another candidate for the Priministerial office is Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said the only discussions between Israel and Palestine should be for economic reasons.

What hope do the Palestinian people have. They should erect a plaque above all border entries stating in German, "Work Shall Set You Free". Anyone educated in WWII history should get that reference

What gets me about this whole thing, is why the Israeli terrorist forces continue to make hate speeches against Hamas and refuse to talk to them. The recent attack on the South of Israel was cliamed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, led by Mahmoud Abbas, whom is currently involved in the Egyptian talks with the Israeli people.

This leds me to believe that the attacks on Gaza, are not only racially based, but also economic. There is a rather large Oil reserve of the Gaza coast and clearly Israel are looking to cliam it. This of course is a biased niave cliam, and so I will merely mention it and move on.

Lets Continue our Boycott, let us not help fuel Israeli Terrorism!

God Bless
Peace

A promise for the future...

Well I've just returned from a few days in the Free State, and now back in the Occupied Territory I decided to immediately read up on the going ons in Palestine. Its heart breaking to see that News Channel, such as the Biased and uncaring BBC, no longer see the event's there suitable for frontpage news. The News one finds after surfing to the Middle East Specific page, strenghtens my belief that the BBC are Anti-Palestine.

The headline read "Israel Vows Tough Rocket Response". This is a promise, that the Israeli state will intentionally act violently and strongly against the people of Gaza. How is this not worthy of a frontpage story?

The speech made by Ehud Olmert, to his Cabinet, promises a "severe and disproportionate response". For many this was what brought attention to the crisis. People, not completely agreeing with Palestine's cause, still believed that Israel were wrong for their disproportionate action. This is a promise that admits they will not be acting as a responsible government, but will take revenge. It is almost an admittal that more Civilians will die.

Now it is clear that Rockets have been fired onto the south of the Israeli state. Responsibility for these rockets have been cliamed by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs, according to Al Jazeera. This means that Hamas have not broken the ceasefire. Why then does Israel continue to make threats against Hamas, and the Palestinian people that elected them? The words of Taher al-Nunu seem to make sense to me.

"This is an attempt to find a false excuse to escalate the aggression against the Palestinians, to destroy the egyptian efforts to improve the calm and to use the pressure against the Plaestinian people to accept Israeli conditions in those talks"

I can only hope that the Israeli elections, taking place on the 10th of February, can produce a governing body, lest racist than that of Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni the "Foreign" minister. I unfortunately can't see this happening, as many candidates have already stated their intention to continue the illegal siege and the threat of illegal military action.

On a positive note, the UN has called for an independant body to carry out War Crimes. I'm not a fan of the United Nations. Is it not up to them to defend the people of the world? Can they not do more than make a suggestion? Well appearently they can. The United Nations have announced that an investigation will take place into the attacks of the UN Headquarters. Not a perfect solution, but it is a start.

I am suprised to read of Ban Ki-moon's statement, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Over the past several weeks, unacceptable and terrible situations have taken place against the civilian people and against particularly the United Nations compounds, where many civilians were sheltered"

Ban Ki-moon also launch an appeal to raise money to help the rebuild of Gaza, and to provie aid to the 50,800 left homeless and the 400,000 left with out clean drinking water. However he stated that his aim for $613 Million would only cover the next six months of required aid. I'm may be one of only a few, but I don't see Egypt as innocent parties in this whole conflict, however I am please to hear that they intend to raise $2 Billion for Gaza.

However the United States, another nation that seems these days to be anti Islam and anti Palestinian has tried to throw yet another spanner in the works. Even with the new Leadership for whom so many held hope. Susan Rice, the new US ambassador to the Security Council has suggested that any Investigations should be carried out by the Israeli Government. She said

"We expect Israel will meet its international obligations to investigate and we also call upon all members of the international community to refrain from politicising these important issues"

How ridiculous it is, to actually try and convince the people of the World, that a State that indiscriminately destroyed the lifes of at least 1,000 families, by killing 1,300 people including men women and children, will carry out fair investigations into its own crime and punish itself. That is not only ridiculous, but an insult to the intellegance of the public, worldwide.

The 53 member body of the African Union has also called for investigations into the series of "massive, idiscriminate and disproportionate raids", and condemned Israeli action. The Irish Times has printed a full page of names for the IPSC, calling for justice. Over 350 people signed, and the add was paid for by the signatories.

To close here I would like to make a very harsh set of statements. Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni are murderers. They are two of a vast amount of Israelis who are. I am not calling Israelis murderers, but the men and women that helped to murder innocent civilians.

The United States, Sky TV, BBC, Dead Sea Spa, Marks and Spenser, Starbucks amoung many many more are sponsers of the murders, and are infac accessory to murder.

So people I urge you, for the cause of innocent people, to support the continuing Boycott of Israel, and their trade, which by International law, is actually illegal. I urge you to call on the governing bodies of your countries and states to condemn the Israeli treatment of Palestinian people, and to stop there trade with Israel and expel the Israeli ambassadors, just like Chavez. If you believe in Prayer, then pray for justice.

God Bless
Peace

What does this mean for Ceasefire/Peace talks?

An explosion on the Gaza border has left one Israeli soldier dead and three others injured. In retaliation Israeli troops enteredthe strip and killed one Palestinian. Decided that this was not retaliation enough the Israeli Airforce carried out airstrikes in Southern Gaza, wounding two people, one of whom was thought to be linked to Hamas.

Is this a break of the ceasefire? Israel said if Hamas fired Rockets they would enter the strip again. Hamas, who have never denied responsibility for its actions, have not cliamed this explosion. However Israel regardless carried out airstrikes. In my eyes that is breaking their ceasefire. How can Hamas be expected to continue holding back, if they will be punished for the actions of others. I feel this is merely bait to lure Hamas into breaking its ceasefire.

Israel, who have yet to pay for their war crimes, have bombed an area that has been virtually decimated in recent weeks, and is still starved of aid and shelter. This is unacceptable. Legitimate governments should not make decisions under, "Well they started it".

To further fuel my anger with the disgusting decisions of the BBC, they made "Explosion on Gaza Border Kills Israelis" ground breaking news on their website. When the airstrikes happened hours later, it appeared as an "Also in the News" article. The BBC can no longer convince me of their impartiallity.

I wish everyone would take leadership from Protesters in London, and refuse to pay their TV Liscence. Why should we be expected topay for this biased, uncaring company to remain as the dominate British TV company? Its wrong, immoral and unacceptable.

During the DR Congo war, when many hundreds have been displaced, and left in desperate need of aid, the BBC hosted an appeal on their own News show. Where was their impartiallity there? Where is the difference in the situation then and now?

We must fight this atrocity. Boycott Israeli good, and supporters of the Zionist movement. I will post a more indepth blog about this at some point this week. We must complian, through emails and letter to the BBC, to force them to actually be impartial.

You can email the BBC general director, Mark Thompson, at the following address:

mark.thompson@bbc.co.uk

Please help in anyway possible

God Bless
Peace

Unseen Gaza

Well I know that the "War" that Israel raged for 3 weeks has come to a ceasefire, but we must not let the humanitarian, and war, crimes go unaccounted for. Anyway one of the ways that Israel have tried to get away with their unlawful acts, was to ban international reporters from entering the Gaza Strip under the disguise of "Security".

Now my first problem with this is that Israel have absoluely no right to stop anyone enter Gaza, as they have no right to stop Palestinians from leaving and reentering.

My second problem is that this stopped the western world from recieving facts,information and footage of what was really going on. Everything had to be reported from rumours they tried to extract from Gazan reporters. Any way this showed aired during the week. I have hosted the first part, but there are six parts on YouTube.



Part Two can be found here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod2ycln0AQ

Please watch. I won't tell you to enjoy.

God Bless
Peace