UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel for ‘grave violations’ of human rights.
UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel for ‘grave violations’ of human rights.
The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Israel today for “grave violations” of human rights of the people of Gaza. The adopted resolution drafted by Arab, Asian, and African countries also called for the urgent dispatch of an international mission to investigate Israeli behavior in the Gaza Strip, and called on Israel to cooperate with it by immediately ending its attacks and withdrawing its military forces from Gaza:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stressed to told the Council on Friday that international human rights law must apply in all circumstances and at all times, and strongly urged the parties to the conflict “to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to collect, care for and evacuate the wounded and to protect and respect health workers, hospitals, and medical units and ambulances.
“Accountability must be ensured for violations of international law,” she said.
The resolution also called for an end to “launching of the crude rockets against Israeli civilians that resulted in the loss of 4 civilian lives” but noted that Israeli attacks had brought some 900 Palestinian deaths and injured around 4,000. Canada cast the only negative vote for the non-binding resolution, which received the support of 33 of the Council’s 47 members, while 13 countries abstained.
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Finally, someone putting the blame for this fiasco where it belongs. I’m so sick of people blaming Gaza for this incident.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:09 amUN Human Rights Council condemns Israel for ‘grave violations’ of human rights.»
– - File away that headline for use 50, 100, 200, 300, etc., years from now.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:17 amI remember a time, not long ago, that our country’s elected officials weren’t quite as eager to openly support grave violitions of human rights.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am“United States ought to push for since before the fighting started.”
Pushing that peace under Obama, an AIPAC neocon.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:19 amI know it doesn’t fit the narrative, and granted it is the Jerusalem Post but this article
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231424929369&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
does ascribe some interesting quotes to Egyptians, Iranians and Syrians that you might find surprising.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am666lattes Says:
I remember a time, not long ago, that our country’s elected officials weren’t quite as eager to openly support grave violitions of human rights.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am
________
Really?
When was that?
Was it when the Clinton administration was allowing the Indonesian military to slaughter Timorese? Was it when we were supporting Apartheid in South Africa? Was it when we were overthrowing elected leaders in Chile and Guatemala and Iran and replacing them with neoliberalists?
Just curious…
January 12th, 2009 at 11:21 amIsraeli reservists enter war
January 12th, 2009 at 11:22 amInternational Herald Tribune – 25 minutes ago
AP ASHKELON, Israel: Thousands of Israeli reservists began moving into the Gaza Strip on Monday, signaling that Israel was ready to escalate its campaign and possibly enter a new and more punishing phase of its 2-week-old war against Palestinian …
If the Jews are God’s chosen people then who the hell is God?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:24 amhttp://www.btselem.org/English/
B’TSELEM – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories was established in 1989 by a group of prominent academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members. It endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:26 am——-
I’m trying to find current info on the status of the Israeli Refuseniks. I understand at least a quarter of them have been arrested since they organized. Please post any new info.
Israel says their defending the lost of 3 people and 7 soldiers as they use Cluster Bombs and now Fire Bombs to kill 800 Palentine people 1/3 children and injure 3,000. Pictures show Israel soldiers on the ground as they found 12 small children 3 teenagers who’s house was bombed. The Soldiers told the kids to go in a UN safe house as they directed them to safty, only the soldiers had the house targetted for a bomb. 6 hours later a Foreign reporter was helping dig the kids bodies from the rocks. Israel said they would look into it later. Now Israel is dropping fire bombs will burn people to death as was shown with one little 7 year old girl and many adults in the hospital who will die too. Israel and the US Media are doing their best to push all this on Palestine even saying Israel doen’t kill children. Israel is no longer seen for the victims they once were or even the Religious up right people they claim to be.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:27 amWe have witnessed the real Israel and it’s a horror and pure Evil as this isn’t a War it’s a Holocaust Massacre led by Israel/Bush/Abbas of the Fatah Party all for total control of land.
Keltoi Says:
does ascribe some interesting quotes to Egyptians, Iranians and Syrians that you might find surprising.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am
________
No, it ascribes some interesting and not surprising quotes to an Egyptian political analyst and an Iranian political analyst and a Syrian political analyst. This is like taking a quote by George Will or Juan Williams and claiming that it’s an official statement of U.S. policy.
That said, it’s not surprising nor a “change in narrative” that Iran and regional Arab governments use the plight of the Palestinian people for their own political advantage, and indeed use Hamas as a tool for self-serving goals. We know that.
It doesn’t change the basic fact that Gazans have been living under oppressive military occupation for more than four decades.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:28 amSince Israel ignored the UN Security Council’s Resolution, can we invade them?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:28 amYou’ll just say anything won’t you?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:29 am#7 hussein toasterhead Says:
January 12th, 2009 at 11:29 amIt seems that the white hat we love to see ourselves in might be an illusion. We have supported some pretty terrible leaders and then seem so surprised when it backfires on us.
Well they learned from the best,unfortunately it`s our very own highly esteemed NEOCONS who could careless about any one that isn`t white and wealthy.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:33 amFunny how the one Middle Eastern country the U.S. government really supports is filled with mostly white people…
January 12th, 2009 at 11:34 amFred Says: You’ll just say anything won’t you?
Basically. Doesn’t matter if it’s true, just as long as it’s bitterly negative all the time… Funny how people like this never offer alternatives, just complaints.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:35 amIsrael is committing genocide, pure and simple.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:37 amAs Dick Cheney says……..”So”.
¶ AIO
January 12th, 2009 at 11:40 amit looks like the old ‘eye for an eye’ thing has finally worked.
We have a lot of blind people. Too bad someone gave them guns.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:41 amCanada cast the only negative vote for the non-binding resolution…
WTF, dudes?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:43 amGazan exiles aghast at Israeli assault
By Wafa Amr
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Gazans living in the occupied West Bank and around the world sit glued to television news channels, often grabbing the phone to check on family and friends caught up in Israel’s 17-day-old war on Hamas militants.
Alert for any word on air strikes or tank fire near the homes of their loved ones, the exiles need constant reassurance on their fate — more than 900 Palestinians have been killed and 3,600 wounded, many of them civilians, since the war began.
Israel has lost 10 soldiers in the Gaza Strip offensive, as well as three civilians killed by Hamas rocket fire.
Some exiles have their own bones to pick with Hamas, which seized Gaza from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s forces in 2007, or with Abbas himself, but all are furious at Israel.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:45 am[...]
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSLB264011
I think it’s safe to assume he’s just a troll who says reasonable things occasionally so we read his posts. It would be nice if TP had a feature so we could more easily ignore this stuff.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:47 amDear God,
Please protect the defenseless Palestinian refugees.
Amen
January 12th, 2009 at 11:48 amAnd that’s why you defend him, right, troll?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:48 amGee Fred and unbelievable, I’d hate for you to read, or heaven forbid, do some research and link posting:
Dennis Ross to be Obama’s Special Adviser for Middle East and Iran-reported by Bloomberg, FT, and Haaretz
Dennis Ross is a Project for the New American Century guy.
He’s also a trust adviser of the Scooter Libby Defense fund.
Ross co-founded the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a group sponsored by AIPAC, the American-Israel lobbying group. The Institute’s advisory board is heavily populated with NeoCons.
Y’all can wave your progressive flag for Dennis, but I won’t.
Even Time & HuffPo called his choice a pull to past failed efforts.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:49 amPeople who research Judaism discover it’s a form of sewage.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:50 amGee Fred and unbelievable, I’d hate for you to read, or heaven forbid, do some research and link posting:
Dennis Ross to be Obama’s Special Adviser for Middle East and Iran-reported by Bloomberg, FT, and Haaretz
Dennis Ross is a Project for the New American Century guy.
He’s also a trust adviser of the Scooter Libby Defense fund.
Ross co-founded the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a group sponsored by AIPAC, the American-Israel lobbying group. The Institute’s advisory board is heavily populated with NeoCons.
Y’all can wave your progressive flag for Dennis, but I won’t.
Even Time & HuffPo called his choice a pull to past failed efforts.
My post with embedded links in “awaiting moderation”. I’m hoping this will go through.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:51 amrepublicanSScareme Says:
People who research Judaism discover it’s a form of sewage.
Mr. Farrakhan???
January 12th, 2009 at 11:52 amAll I can say is thank you UN.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:53 amIsrael/Jews are just as evil as chimpy’s US.
It appears Israel/Jews will elect people into office who want to annihilate the Palestinians. And this isn’t called terror?
Hamas was elected, using chimpy’s “purple finger” democracy technique (one person, one vote.) How are the Palestinians suppose to protect themselves.
It looks like Israel/Jews will ignore the UN and keep on killing civilians.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:53 amThe anger brothers should do some research before calling names.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:54 amWhy the insults. You act like you have the inside track, that you know everything and we are a bunch of backwoods hicks. We’re not.
Your research is flawed and slanted and bears an agenda. simple.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:55 amWe don’t support W’s actions. What makes you think Israelis and Jews are all happy with their leaders actions? Did W stop his insanity because we’ve all been complaining?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:57 amBecause you don’t like one of Obama’s appointments we should all persecute him. You’ve posted this same info on Ross about 20 times already. You’ve turned into a spamming troll and I wouldn’t waste a minute researching anything you put up.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:59 amShayne Says:
Because you don’t like one of Obama’s appointments we should all persecute him.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:59 am
_________
No, but we should be concerned about it, and make our voices heard if the Obama approach to Middle East peace turns out to be just as one-sided as previous U.S. approaches to Middle East peace.
I don’t expect Obama to appoint someone who takes my personal view – the one-state solution I propose is not a politically popular one, to be sure. But someone a bit more fair to both sides would be a much better choice. I’d love to see someone like Jimmy Carter or Rashid Khalidi as a special adviser, but I’m realistic enough to know that that’s not going to happen.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:03 pmShelled family recounts Gaza horror:
Ahmed Samouni, who was left for days amidst the dead bodies of his mother and four brothers, witnessed what many are calling a massacre.
The horror that the 16-year-old has seen is hard for him to put into words, but the effects are written all over his face.
“It was the third missile I remember. The other ones had killed my elder brother and injured people, they kept bleeding. But the third missile, that killed them all,” he said in between sobs.
“My brother was bleeding so much and right in front of my eyes he died. My other brother Ismail, he also bled to death.
“My mum and my youngest brother, they are gone. Four brothers and my mother, dead. May God give them peace.”
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200911265248490862.html
January 12th, 2009 at 12:04 pmKeltoi@5
You are right. It’s bias.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pmDumb Fox the Average Golfer Says:
Canada cast the only negative vote for the non-binding resolution…
WTF, dudes?
That is odd. Remember though, that Canada has a Nearocon Conservative government. Maybe the guy thought a negative vote on a non-binding resolution was in fact a double negative!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pmtoasterhead, I don’t like Ross in the position either but stateofthedivision complains about everything Obama does. I guess he’d have been happier if McCain had won and we were going to bomb, bomb, bombing Iran.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:08 pmlivelongandprosper Says:
That is odd. Remember though, that Canada has a Nearocon Conservative government.
_____________
Actually, they were about to can their PM’s butt before Christmas, if I recall correctly, but he struck first and dissolved Parliament before they could vote.
Strange situation… you could just SEE the little thought bubble over Botch’s head at the time…
“Jeebus… why didn’t I think of that? Hey, Dick…”
January 12th, 2009 at 12:11 pmWhy, Jimmy Carter helped broker peace all over the world under Clinton.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pmShayne, you support the Zoo, which I also like. That blog happens to share my concern over Gaza. Have you upchucked on Zooey yet?
I never said “persecute Obama, those are your words. I expect a progressive website to report on unprogressive things. Then people can engage or debate. Hopefully better than this reply to a post with links from Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Haaretz (yes TP used this source today), PNAC, NT Sun, WINEP, Time & HuffPo.
“Your research is flawed and slanted and bears an agenda.”
Fred, TP needs better enforcers. As before, I ignore your posts and would be happy for you to do likewise.
My aim is to share information. What you do with it is your business. When you call names, I reserve the right to respond.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:14 pmYou have the right to respond ok but you can’t make shit up. When did I call you names?
January 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pmstateofthedivision, my response to you wasn’t in defense of Israel, it is because you want to blame and/or predict what will happen when Obama becomes president. These appointees work for him he doesn’t work for them. Maybe he knows something we don’t know. But no, I’m sure you have much more inside info than he does.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:21 pmFred, I called him a troll because he acts like a troll. As I said he’s posted that info on Dennis Ross about 20 times already. That’s just spamming after a while.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:22 pmwhat’s amazing to me is that TP is carrying this story at all…
when judd was editor, you did not see ANY stories critical of israel…
remember?
thank you, faiz.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:23 pmShayne, I say what I think. I don’t care what names you call me.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:28 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
livelongandprosper Says:
That is odd. Remember though, that Canada has a Nearocon Conservative government.
_____________
Actually, they were about to can their PM’s butt before Christmas, if I recall correctly, but he struck first and dissolved Parliament before they could vote.
Firstly, the Conservative government is a minority government. Secondly, Canada has more than two parties which means that a party can be the ruling party with a minority. Thirdly, if the other parties don’t like what the minority government it doing they can hold a non-confidence vote. If the minority government loses the non-confidence vote then we have another election. Fourthly, to hell with my numbering system.
Anywho, only the Governor General can dissolve parliament and that can be done after a non-confidence vote or at the request of the Prime Minister (perhaps other times but whatever). In this case Harper, the PM, was going to loose a non-confidence vote – without much of a doubt. He delayed the vote in time to convince the Governor General to dissolve parliament until late January at which time there will be another non-confidence vote. This bought Harper time to come up with a proper “Wholly Shit our Economy is Tied to the US Economy” budget that all, or at least a majority, of the parties can agree with.
It’s complicated by the fact that one of the “National” parties actually only represents Quebec, which likes to talk about separating. It’s far different than your system and I think it has worked out well for us. The parties do evolve (except the Bloq party from Quebec) with the times. A few years ago the Conservatives were split into two parties. This didn’t work for them. Now the Liberals, New Democrates and Green parties seem to be splitting the right vote. One day they will get together, at least I hope before the Conservatives gain a majority government – then were screwed.
Canadian politics, for the most part, lacks the drama of American politics and of course Canada’s part on the world stage is largely as peacemaker and cheerleader and not near as influential as American politics.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:32 pmYou and the rest of the information diseminators would love that but it aint going to happen.
If you are unreasonable in what you say, you can expect to be called on it.
Toasterhead qualified his statements by saying that if and when Obama does the things you accuse him of then we will all be on board. Until then, you are just speculating and using it to condemn a man who hasn’t done a damned thing official yet.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pmThank you Faiz, TP and all poster’s…..If you all will put your memory hat’s on, I was banned from TP for week’s for posting for Lebanon and against Israel’s attack’s..Fast forward to today..Hundred’s of innocent men, women and precious children have been murdered at Israel’s hand’s with our money and military supplie’s..Fact…Next, our congress with the exception of a few voted to continue this genocide…
Instead of spending my time on the thread’s I am sending out letter’s to representative’s all over the country to stop this madness…Stop funding Israel, no more military aid…Chastize and threaten to boot these people out of office that are allowing and pramoting this evil….A note to Obama would also be a good thing, as you all remember he said before we elected him he backed Israel 100%…My worst nightmare has happened, now instead of fighting on the thread’s how about fighting for Peace…Pssst.Do something……P.B. & J..
January 12th, 2009 at 12:41 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Shayne, I say what I think. I don’t care what names you call me.
No Shayne says what she thinks, you whine when someone says what they think about your posts. Its not a one way street, if you post, expect to defend what you posted. You cannot add what you think or your opinion and claim it as fact without someone calling you on it.
If you cannot defend your crap without whining, I suggest you just stop posting.
And Shayne is correct, reposting the same crap over an over again makes you look like a troll.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pmrepublicanSScareme Says:
People who research Judaism discover it’s a form of sewage.
Get back to Stormfront where you belong. Your kind don’t get to discuss genocide at all.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pmkaty Says: what’s amazing to me is that TP is carrying this story at all…
when judd was editor, you did not see ANY stories critical of israel…
remember?
thank you, faiz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There aren’t many news outlets remaining where you can find the truth. Think Progress and Al Jazeera are two that I frequent. Bart Cop (political news mixed with humor and rage) is another.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:47 pmLike Israel gives a shit what anyone thinks. Israel is confident that they have paid off all the right people and can act with impunity.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:47 pmI post seven links and Fred calls me unreasonable?
Wayne, I’d like TP to have a weekend placeholder for off topic news. I’d also like them to report on unprogressive appointments.
I have a soapbox, three of them. I quit having my name as a link after being called a spammer.
TP has been a nice support during the end of Bush’s horrific eight years in office. Progressives need to keep pushing. If my posts offend you, my apology.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pmWitch1
I don’t support Israels actions and am doing all I can to make sure Obama knows it. I won’t list my activities but rest assured that blogging is not all I do about this.
My issue with state is beyond just the Israel/Palestine issue. He has condemned Obama for just about everything and this was just good ammo for him to continue his attacks.
Peace witch, good to read ya.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pmGood for the United Nations. Unfortunately, the terrorist state of Israel, protected at all costs by the United States, will continue to kill people with impunity and nothing at all will change.
Next story
January 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pmFred Says:
——————————————————————————–
stateofthedivision Says:
Pushing that peace under Obama, an AIPAC neocon.
You’ll just say anything won’t you?
Fred, go read the text of Obama’s speech before the Knesset a few weeks back. He is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Israel Lobby. So is our soon-to-be Secretary of State.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:54 pmgetplaning Says:
gw bush said he was going to be a uniter
gw bush said he was going to return integrity to the white house
What people say and what they do are not necessarily the same.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:00 pmBack at ya Fred. Please don’t take anything I wrote as critical of your post’s.It was not my intent…It was a general thought directed to all that spend a lot of time posting…If every one spent one less hour here or on any thread’s and demanded Peace I think our world would improve greately….Still looking at Iraq and all the live’s lost there…In my life time there has only been tiny bit’s of time where there was Peace…67 year’s of being told to dive under desk’s, keep the black lined drape’s closed and supporting war’s is 67 year’s to many….Relegion and war’s are profit minded and need to be slowed down…Just my thought’s…Blessings to you all, I’m recouperating and leaving the thread’s till another day..
January 12th, 2009 at 1:01 pmIsrael is using the US for it’s crimes. Now Cluster bombs and Fire bombs are used on woman and children. If this isn’t a War Crime what is. With so many Jewish people in Executive positions in the Media we’re told lies and fake stories. But pictures tell the truth of dead kids and some burned to death whil Israel says 3 Jews died so all of Palestine have to pay. One Jewish death is worth killing every Palestine person. I wonder as Americans watched 9/11 what would the US do if we saw in the US the same type of Holocaust Massacre her in the USA? Israel will has and will use the US until Americans wake up. Israel has planted cells in everyone walk of professions and even in the US Govenment. As our Law Makers see hundreds of Palestine children murdered they voted to continue the killing until every singe Palestine person is dead. Remember it was Palestine land that Israel got permission to settle on part of it in 1948, now Israel is using the bible’s Gensis to say God gave them the land and because Americans are clueless they believe it. Who gave the United States to us was that in the bible too. Israel was smart as they used money to buy into getting control just ask Madoff he used the blueprint and will go free why because he’s Jewish of course.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pmJackie Says:
But pictures tell the truth of dead kids and some burned to death whil Israel says 3 Jews died so all of Palestine have to pay.
Well, Joe the Plumber agrees that such pictures shouldn’t exist. Of course, that’s because he doesn’t want anyone taking them.
.
Jackie Says:
Israel was smart as they used money to buy into getting control just ask Madoff he used the blueprint and will go free why because he’s Jewish of course.
That’s old anti-semitic “they used money / he’s Jewish” slander. Complain about Israel and their actions – please do – but complaining about Judaism and Jewish people is just unvarnished bigotry, and it weakens the rest of your argument. You should be aware that there’s a difference between Judaism and the nation of Israel. You should also be aware that the world is not secretly controlled by all Jewish people.
Madoff ain’t going anywhere. Besides, a large portion of the people he ripped off were Jewish charities and agencies anyways.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pmHere Jackie, It’s about israel, not Jews:
Jewish Organisations Call for End to Gaza Bombings
January 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pmrepublicanSScareme Says:
People who research Judaism discover it’s a form of sewage.
Apologies for replying to the same comment twice, but I just realized which two letters are capitalized in rSm’s username. I had previously assumed it was a typo.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:37 pmCanada cast the only negative vote for the non-binding resolution…
This is so wrong & so shameful– but not surprising given that our PM, Harper, is a Bush/Republican clone.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:01 pmWhile Israel’s actions are inexcusable so are the America’s actions in Iraq. There were no acts of terrorism in Iraq before we invaded. And while our military has acted honorable we cannot say the same of Blackwater thugs. Should we all be judged the same way we’re judging all Jews just because some are conservative and believe the same things Bush and Cheney do. It is conservatives that come here defending Israel’s actions not Jews. We understand that most Muslims aren’t terrorist but we want to label all Jews as war mongers. The majority of Jews in this country are liberal and do not believe in AIPAC’s agenda.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pmMy god, Israel will PAY for what they have done.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pmThey already are. Tina Brown of The Daily Beast said today that anti-Israel sentiments are flourishing alarmingly throughout Europe. You reap what you sow.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pmShayne@33 Says:
Game of Life Says:
Israel/Jews are just as evil as chimpy’s US
We don’t support W’s actions. What makes you think Israelis and Jews are all happy with their leaders actions? Did W stop his insanity because we’ve all been complaining?
Because I don’t hear the Israel/Jew outcry for the situation. All I hear is more bombing and more threats. The US has a very vocal voice in condemning chimpy.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:35 pmReally, I never hear anything on television about anti-war sentiments by the American people. In fact I’ve seen marches that never even get mention on television. How would we know if the conservatrons in the Israeli government are letting us know how the citizens feel. And are those citizens being fed the same level of propaganda that were here.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:38 pmGame of Life, Fred has a link above to Jewish organizations calling for an end to the violence. Just because we don’t see it on the news doesn’t mean it isn’t happening any more.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:41 pmI would like to see a dramatic change in US policy toward Israel regarding her occupation of Palestine, as well as our refusal to acknowledge the plight of the Palestinian people.
Israel’s defiance of 69 UN Security Council resolutions concerning Palestine and the continual expansion of illegal settlements is at the core of the conflict as it stands. Moreover, the Palestinian people are living in a virtual concentration camp and we, as a nation, have a humanitarian crises of epic proportions on our hands.
The world is waiting…
January 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pmYou should be aware that there’s a difference between Judaism and the nation of Israel.
Tell me the difference because Israel’s flag has the Star of David on it.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pmGame of Life Says:
Tell me the difference because Israel’s flag has the Star of David on it.
One is a nation, and the other one is a religion.
nation:
religion
The nation in question has a mandated state religion, and it borrows some of the religion’s symbols, but that doesn’t make the nation the religion, nor does it make the religion the nation.
Glad to be of help.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:19 pmFrom Wikipedia (sources checked):
“On 29 November 2006, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan criticised the Human Rights Council for “disproportionate focus on violations by Israel” while neglecting other parts of the world such as Darfur, which had what he termed “graver” crises.
Annan reiterated this position in his formal address on 8 December 2006 (International Human Rights Day). Annan argued that the Commission should not have a “disproportionate focus on violations by Israel. Not that Israel should be given a free pass. Absolutely not. But the Council should give the same attention to grave violations committed by other states as well.”
On 20 June 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement that read: “The Secretary-General is disappointed at the council’s decision to single out only one specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of human rights violations throughout the world.”[citation needed] The European Union, Canada and the United States were also critical of the Council’s focus on Israeli violations.”
So, the UNHRC has essentially a standing condemnation of Israel.
Let’s go through the list of other nations or regions with grievious human rights problems:
Iran
Darfur
N. Korea
Pakistan
Any condemnation of those countries? No.
Any condemnation of Hamas terror attacks within Israel? No. Not one word.
Seems pretty one-sided to me. Which means that the UNHRC is hardly neutral or impartial.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pm“McWars Says:
My god, Israel will PAY for what they have done.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pm Add Karma Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
Shayne Says:
They already are. Tina Brown of The Daily Beast said today that anti-Israel sentiments are flourishing alarmingly throughout Europe. You reap what you sow.”
Nope. What we are seeing is the ugly face of Islamofascism all over the place. And every time there is a conflict in the middle east, these same demos happen.
Or do you condemn protesters saying that jews should go to the ovens? For if you do, then you are advocating what the germans did in WWII. Are you really sure you want to be on that side?
January 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pmtypo: “Or do you condemn protesters saying that jews should go to the ovens? For if you do, then you are advocating what the germans did in WWII. Are you really sure you want to be on that side?”
Should read as:
“Or do you support protesters saying that jews should go to the ovens? For if you do, then you are advocating what the germans did in WWII. Are you really sure you want to be on that side?”
January 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pmCorrection: “Or do you condemn protesters saying that jews should go to the ovens? For if you do, then you are advocating what the germans did in WWII. Are you really sure you want to be on that side?”
should read as:
“Or do you support protesters saying that jews should go to the ovens? For if you do, then you are advocating what the germans did in WWII. Are you really sure you want to be on that side?”
Was a typo.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:57 pmIsrael is a democracy that:
1. Uses .22 caliber weapons and ammo to disperse peaceful protesters
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054269.html
2. Bans Arab parties from running in their upcoming election
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054867.html
January 12th, 2009 at 6:19 pmbonncaruso Says:
The term IslamoFascism is stupid and meaningless. It is pure propaganda and simpleminded foolishness. You have made decent points. The bottom line is it is ISRAEL that has occupied and illegally built settlements on occupied Arab territory that is at the bottom of this issue and not the other way around. There arent any white hats here. Both sides use excessive force against civilians. The whole tragedy needs to end. That will NOT happen until the US begins to be even handed on the issue and condemn the attrocities on both sides
January 12th, 2009 at 8:12 pmEugeneDebs Says:
Both sides use excessive force against civilians. The whole tragedy needs to end. That will NOT happen until the US begins to be even handed on the issue and condemn the attrocities on both sides
Clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap…
January 12th, 2009 at 10:42 pmThe U.N.’s position AGAINST Israel is news because? I’d like to see how we’d fare at the republican national convention. You think that we would be praised or condemned for our opinions of Bush and his administration? The U.N. is against every law abiding and decent people. they are FOR every despot and dictator around the world. It is why I don’t care what the U.N. has to say about anything. In fact, I stopped contributing to UNICEF because of it. I now donate to Christian charities which do a better job anyway.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:11 amElBruce, what is happening to you? You used to be very bright and provocative in your commentaries. Israel TARGETS civilians? Really? Pathetic. I just watched video of Israeli troopers going through Gaza and killing folks shooting at them with AK’s. Funny thing is, there were all of these civilians running around. None of them were being targeted. Are you a left wing ideologue Bruce? Anti-semitic, racist, fearmongerer, is that you Bruce? I don’t believe that.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:15 am“EugeneDebs Says:
The term IslamoFascism is stupid and meaningless. It is pure propaganda and simpleminded foolishness. You have made decent points. The bottom line is it is ISRAEL that has occupied and illegally built settlements on occupied Arab territory that is at the bottom of this issue and not the other way around. There arent any white hats here. Both sides use excessive force against civilians. The whole tragedy needs to end. That will NOT happen until the US begins to be even handed on the issue and condemn the attrocities on both sides”
Eugene.
I will of course leave it to you, but I find the term islamofascism to be technically very close to the phenomenon we are seeing today, especially considering that HAMAS just loves to give the Hitler salute every time a camera is trained on it. Where others may use the term as a pejorative against Islam, I contend (in a very cut and dried manner) that this definition fits the current mold.
Fascism: (definition)Fascism is an authoritarian nationalist ideology focused on solving economic, political, and social problems that its supporters see as causing national decline or decadence. Fascist governments typically seek to prepare a nation for armed conflict with other nations, to defend itself or to expand its state to allow for the growth of a nation. Fascists aim to create a single-party state in which the government is led by a dictator who seeks unity by requiring individuals to subordinate self-interest to the collective interest of of the nation, race or creed.
Fascist movements commonly oppose: class conflict, communism, conservatism, democracy, individualism, internationalism, laissez-faire capitalism, liberalism, and pacifism. In addition to explicit opposition to these ideologies and systems, fascist governments permanently forbid and suppress all criticism and opposition to the government and the fascist movement.
———————–
In answer to your entry, which was polite, for which I thank you – I agree 100% that Israel at one time built settlements that should have not been built. However, after Israel gave up GAZA and Hamas moved in, HAMAS is not firing rockets at settlements elsewhere. It is firing rockets at Israel proper. Probably helpful to remember this point. I will also remind that there were horrible terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens, real and very bloody pogroms, BEFORE any settlements were built, either in Gaza or the West Bank. What would therefore be the excuse for these barbaric acts? Third, what we are seeing in Gaza is a war, a war that Hamas began by provoking Israel over 2 years with well over 4,400 rocket attacks, attacks which are growing in severity and in range. Israel has, after a long period of patience, responded. War is war and in war, people die. But I wish to encourage you to not immediately lay the blame at Israel’s feet for the current battle. HAMAS clearly had the choice to either fire rockets or not fire them. And HAMAS’ doing will only strengthen the hawks in Israel who will (and perhaps justifiably) point the finger and say: ’see, we told you this would happen if we give Gaza back.’
So, I respectfully submit that people should be careful about words like “holocaust” and “atrocities” and similar terms and should really know what those words mean before using them. Even this very day, in street fighting in Gaza, we clearly see unedited video where the IDF is fighting terrorists and also PROTECTING civilians (a number of whom are more likely than not also terrorists in plain clothes, a favored tactic of HAMAS) at the same time. I know of no power in history which has took such caution to spare the civilian population in a war zone of any more suffering than that which is unaviodable.
But I agree with you that Israel should never have built those settlements in the first place. However, the settlements in Gaza are gone? So, why is HAMAS firing? Well, it is firing because it wants war and it wanted this war right at the most critical and politically instable juncture in time between US presidents, namely the lame-duck month before a new president will be sworn-in. The timing of this on HAMAS’ part is not lost on me.
But I thank you for the polite post and the implicit willingness to listen to a dissenting view. Those participating in a number of anti-Israel demos across the world have not demonstrated this same willingness, this should be noted.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:55 amAccording the palestinian authorities, 900 palestinians have died in the current war, one half of them civilians. For the benefit of the doubt, I will say 500 instead of 450. Gaza has 1.5 million inhabitants.
500 / 1,500,000 = 0.033% of the population, or one third of one tenth of one percent of the population.
This hardly qualifies as holocaust or atrocity.
The allies bombed Hamburg in 1943 and 1944. In 1943, 45,000 germans civilians died in one night. Hamburg had a little less than 1,000,000 population at the time. No one called this an atrocity at the time.
Statistically, more of the population of GAZA will die of natural causes in just one day than died since war broke out, a war started by HAMAS.
Those are the cold, hard numbers: 0.033%
January 13th, 2009 at 12:04 pmAnd remember, I am using the statistics that the palestinian authorities themselves are releasing, so the statistical probability that their numbers have been, ääh, enhanced, is great.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pmCorrection:
“Statistically, more of the population of GAZA will die of natural causes in just one day than died since war broke out, a war started by HAMAS.”
should read as:
“Statistically, more of the population of GAZA will die daily of natural causes, accidents and internal fighting than from the war with Israel.”
January 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pmTo be very exact:
the death rate in Gaza strip under normal conditions is:
0.353% (CIA Worldfactbook), or 3.53 deaths per thousand within the calendar year.
Again, the current civilian death statistic from the war is:
500 / 1,500,000 = 0.0333%
Ratio: 0.353 / 0.0333 = 10.61 to 1.
This means that the normal death rate for the GAZA strip is 10.61 times higher than the casualties resulting from the war with Israel.
Those are the statistics.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pmbonncaruso Says:
You were reasonable and I always try to be reasonable to those who are. Disagreement is a fact of life there is no reason for me to get angry you dont think the same way as I do. No Fascism and Islamic fundamentalism are nothing alike. Where is the nationalism? Where is the strong leader fixation? Check the 14 tenets of Fascism and they have virtually NO connection to Islamic fundamentlaism. They are two seperate and completely different types of evil. The term is nothing but a propagandistic way to slander Islam itself by connecting it to Fascism.
Your poinst arent WRONG but they are one sided. First from the beggining fanatic zionist settlers were bombing Arab busses. The violence from the BEGINING came from both sides would could swap attrocity stories all day. Israel forcing down a CIVILIAN AIRLINER to get hostages to trade for Mossad agents CAUGHT committing sabotage in Syria was in the 50’s we all know about the Tunis bombings and Sabra and Shatilla and Kibya also in the 50’s. The bottom line is that Israeli terrorists were the most violent in the WORLD when THEY were fighting for a homeland. Remember the SS Patria? The bombings of the Cairo to Haifa railroad? The bombing of the King David and Semiramis Hotels? The assasinations of Lord Moyne and Folke Burnadotte? Did that mean they were animals or beyond reason or that Britian should have just wiped them out or treated the militarily the way Israel is treating the Palestinians? Sure they gave back Gaza AFTER the bulldozed all the olive and orange groves then blockaded it and basically turned it into the worlds largest prison camp and CONTINUED to shoot mortars into Gaza and send helicopters to shoot missiles at targets. Again the attrocities have ALWAYs gone both ways. It is time to get past that. Talking about this being justified by that which is justified by this and that is a worthless argument. Its time to talk about WHAT can be done to end the madness. That is clear. Israel needs to take the international consensus seriously and negotaite a peace that brings a sense of justice and dignity to the Palestinians and the Palestinians need to finally stop missing every opportunity to miss every opportunity.
January 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pmDrew you are a liar and a fool and a complete moron. Of COURSE they target civilians. They shot a missile to kill a blind parapalegic and seven other people who happened to be close to him. They destroyed an entire apartment building to get ONE guy they wanted and killed nineteen including nine children. Amira Haas wrote IN Ha’aretz, that Israeli snipers were instructed to TARGET CHILDERN. Grow up your rightwing talking points do NOT define reality and neither do your delusional fantasies.
January 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pmStory from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/7828884.stm
Published: 2009/01/14 16:07:09 GMT
Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip have passed 1,000, medical sources in Gaza say, as diplomatic efforts continue to reach a ceasefire.
Nearly a third of the dead are reported to be children and nearly 5,000 people have been injured.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said 1,010 people have died in the conflict which started 19 days ago.
More than 300 of the dead are said to be children and about 4,700 people in Gaza have been injured.
Thirteen Israelis have been killed, including three civilians and one soldier from rockets fired from Gaza and nine soldiers killed in fighting in Gaza.
It is impossible to independently confirm casualty figures as Israel has refused to allow international journalists to enter Gaza.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:27 amNo major news outlet in US and Canada is reporting on this systematic annihilation of civilians in GAZA, I guess it’s not sexy to report on women and children being butchered by US provided cluster bombs and white phosphorous. The headline in NYT reads today “Bin Laden Urges Holy War Over Gaza” which basically implies Gazans in bed with the menace Bin laden and therefore, they deserve what they are getting… nice PR stunt by the pro-Israeli US media.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:39 amPeople like olbermann and Maddow @ MSNBC get so up and arm about torture and Gitmo, yet not a mere pip about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. How can you have faith in anything anymore?