The Obama-Biden worldview with Eric Margolis, Phyllis Bennis and Paul Heinbecker Part4
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Babies + Guns + Jesus + War Hero + Alaskan Nationalism = Victory!
Click on cartoon by Steve Bell to enlarge.
Israel and Egypt, Partners in a War Crime: Israel traps UK journalist in Gaza
Press TV
"Israel has trapped ex-British prime minister Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth in Gaza, arguing she entered the region illegally.
The British journalist was among the other 43 peace activists who made a voyage and entered Gaza aboard two protest boats in defiance of the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli officials have denied her exit from the Palestinian territory, saying she and the rest of the campaigners aboard did not enter Gaza legally. "Her request presented at the end of last week was rejected because anyone who does not enter officially cannot leave officially," said Gil Kari, spokesman for the Israeli military office in charge of liaison with Gaza.
The British journalist first made the exit request on August 29 to leave the Palestinian territory through Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, but her request was rejected.
Her attempts to leave the impoverished region through Egyptian border were also in vain after the Egyptian authorities rejected her request.
"I'd actually like to say 'thank you very much' to the Israeli authorities at Erez for giving me this fantastic chance to feel just exactly what it is like to be inside what is effectively the world's largest internment camp, where individuals who should have the right to travel under international law are withheld in a 40 kilometer by 10 kilometer camp," Booth told the BBC.
Most of the activists who had sailed to Gaza aboard two boats through international waters on August 23 returned to Cyprus five days later, although some, including Booth remained in the Palestinian territory. The two boats returned to Cyprus a few days later, leaving behind 11 activists to carry out humanitarian work. Two others also tried to leave with Booth at the weekend but were prevented from doing so.
During their voyage, the Israeli regime tried to confront the campaigners through scrambling the boats' communication systems."
"Israel has trapped ex-British prime minister Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth in Gaza, arguing she entered the region illegally.
The British journalist was among the other 43 peace activists who made a voyage and entered Gaza aboard two protest boats in defiance of the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli officials have denied her exit from the Palestinian territory, saying she and the rest of the campaigners aboard did not enter Gaza legally. "Her request presented at the end of last week was rejected because anyone who does not enter officially cannot leave officially," said Gil Kari, spokesman for the Israeli military office in charge of liaison with Gaza.
The British journalist first made the exit request on August 29 to leave the Palestinian territory through Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, but her request was rejected.
Her attempts to leave the impoverished region through Egyptian border were also in vain after the Egyptian authorities rejected her request.
"I'd actually like to say 'thank you very much' to the Israeli authorities at Erez for giving me this fantastic chance to feel just exactly what it is like to be inside what is effectively the world's largest internment camp, where individuals who should have the right to travel under international law are withheld in a 40 kilometer by 10 kilometer camp," Booth told the BBC.
Most of the activists who had sailed to Gaza aboard two boats through international waters on August 23 returned to Cyprus five days later, although some, including Booth remained in the Palestinian territory. The two boats returned to Cyprus a few days later, leaving behind 11 activists to carry out humanitarian work. Two others also tried to leave with Booth at the weekend but were prevented from doing so.
During their voyage, the Israeli regime tried to confront the campaigners through scrambling the boats' communication systems."
Also Please See Al-Manar on this Story:
Blair Sister-in-Law Denied Land Exit from Gaza
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Video: Who Would Jesus Bomb? Just Ask Palin!
Palin: Our Leaders Are Sending Our Troops to Iraq ‘On a Task From God’
"It hasn’t been easy to find anything about Sarah Palin’s positions on foreign policy issues, but this clip from a speech to her church gives a clue:
“Pray for our military. He [Palin's son] is going to be deployed in September to Iraq – pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right for this country – that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that’s what he have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan and that it is God’s plan.” (about 6 min into the clip)"
"It hasn’t been easy to find anything about Sarah Palin’s positions on foreign policy issues, but this clip from a speech to her church gives a clue:
“Pray for our military. He [Palin's son] is going to be deployed in September to Iraq – pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right for this country – that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that’s what he have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan and that it is God’s plan.” (about 6 min into the clip)"
US-Iraqi agreement: leaked
By Raed Jarrar
"I read about a leaked copy of the US-Iraqi agreement a few days ago when a radio station in Iraq mentioned some of its details, then it was mentioned in some Arab newspapers like Al-Qabas and Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. A couple of days ago, one Iraqi website (linked to an Iraqi armed resistance group) published the leaked draft on their web page for less than a couple of days before their website went offline. (Thankfully, I downloaded the 21 pages agreement and saved them before their server went down).
I spent this weekend translating it, and just finished now. you can read the 27 articles August 6th draft by clicking here or here or here. The title of this draft is "Agreement regarding the activities and presence of U.S. forces, and its withdrawal from Iraq", but this is the same agreement that is referred to as a "status of forces agreement" or "SOFA" or framework or whatever. It's the result of months of negotiations after Bush and Al-Maliki signed the "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" by the end of last year.
This leaked draft is a treasure of information. It's the first time any document related to this topic is made public. It shows how weak the Iraqi negotiations team is (it is really pathetic to read their "suggestions" on how to fix the disaster of an agreement).
There are many outrageous articles in the agreement that violates Iraq's sovereignty and independence, and gives the U.S. occupation authorities unprecedented rights and privileges, but what has draw my attention the most (so far) are three major points:
1- the agreement does not discuss anything about a complete US withdrawal from Iraq. Instead, it talks about withdrawing "combat troops" without defining what is the difference between combat troops and other troops. It is very clear that the US is planning to stay indefinitely in permanent bases in Iraq (or as the agreement calls them: "installations and areas agreed upon") where the U.S. will continue training and supporting Iraqis armed forces for the foreseeable future.
2- the agreement goes into effect when the two executive branches exchange "memos", instead of waiting for Iraqi parliament's ratification. This is really dangerous, and it is shocking because both the Iraqi and U.S. executive branches have been assuring the Iraqi parliament that no agreement will go into effect without being ratified by Iraq's MPs.
3- this agreement is the blueprint for keeping other occupation armies (aka Multi-national forces) in Iraq on the long run. This explains the silence regarding what will happed to other occupiers (like the U.K. forces) after the expiration of the UN mandate at the end of this year.
It is really disturbing to read how the U.S. government is still going down the same path of intervention and domination in Iraq.
This agreement will not be accepted by the Iraqi people and their elected representatives in the Iraqi parliament, and if the U.S. and Iraqi executive branches try to consider it valid anyway it will lead to more violence in Iraq."
"I read about a leaked copy of the US-Iraqi agreement a few days ago when a radio station in Iraq mentioned some of its details, then it was mentioned in some Arab newspapers like Al-Qabas and Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. A couple of days ago, one Iraqi website (linked to an Iraqi armed resistance group) published the leaked draft on their web page for less than a couple of days before their website went offline. (Thankfully, I downloaded the 21 pages agreement and saved them before their server went down).
I spent this weekend translating it, and just finished now. you can read the 27 articles August 6th draft by clicking here or here or here. The title of this draft is "Agreement regarding the activities and presence of U.S. forces, and its withdrawal from Iraq", but this is the same agreement that is referred to as a "status of forces agreement" or "SOFA" or framework or whatever. It's the result of months of negotiations after Bush and Al-Maliki signed the "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" by the end of last year.
This leaked draft is a treasure of information. It's the first time any document related to this topic is made public. It shows how weak the Iraqi negotiations team is (it is really pathetic to read their "suggestions" on how to fix the disaster of an agreement).
There are many outrageous articles in the agreement that violates Iraq's sovereignty and independence, and gives the U.S. occupation authorities unprecedented rights and privileges, but what has draw my attention the most (so far) are three major points:
1- the agreement does not discuss anything about a complete US withdrawal from Iraq. Instead, it talks about withdrawing "combat troops" without defining what is the difference between combat troops and other troops. It is very clear that the US is planning to stay indefinitely in permanent bases in Iraq (or as the agreement calls them: "installations and areas agreed upon") where the U.S. will continue training and supporting Iraqis armed forces for the foreseeable future.
2- the agreement goes into effect when the two executive branches exchange "memos", instead of waiting for Iraqi parliament's ratification. This is really dangerous, and it is shocking because both the Iraqi and U.S. executive branches have been assuring the Iraqi parliament that no agreement will go into effect without being ratified by Iraq's MPs.
3- this agreement is the blueprint for keeping other occupation armies (aka Multi-national forces) in Iraq on the long run. This explains the silence regarding what will happed to other occupiers (like the U.K. forces) after the expiration of the UN mandate at the end of this year.
It is really disturbing to read how the U.S. government is still going down the same path of intervention and domination in Iraq.
This agreement will not be accepted by the Iraqi people and their elected representatives in the Iraqi parliament, and if the U.S. and Iraqi executive branches try to consider it valid anyway it will lead to more violence in Iraq."
Biden and Israel
"I am a Zionist. You Don't Have to be a Jew to be a Zionist!"
By ROBERT WEITZEL
CounterPunch
"“If I were a Jew, I would be a Zionist. I am a Zionist. You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.”
- Senator Joseph Biden
Considering the last eight years and the current (viable) options, I’ll admit to wanting Barak Obama in the White House in January. Undoubtedly, more people around the world will have a better chance of surviving the next four years with his finger on—or rather off—the button. However . . .
For all of Obama’s campaign promises of “change,” his choice of Joseph Biden as his running mate sends a clear signal to Israel’s lobby in Washington and its right-wing government in Jerusalem that for the next four years there will be no change in the United States’ unconditional support or its annual $6 billion in direct and indirect aid.
Predictably, neither will there be a change in the hopelessness and the impotent rage of the Arabs suffering under a U.S.-supported Zionist ideology in Palestine...... "
By ROBERT WEITZEL
CounterPunch
"“If I were a Jew, I would be a Zionist. I am a Zionist. You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.”
- Senator Joseph Biden
Considering the last eight years and the current (viable) options, I’ll admit to wanting Barak Obama in the White House in January. Undoubtedly, more people around the world will have a better chance of surviving the next four years with his finger on—or rather off—the button. However . . .
For all of Obama’s campaign promises of “change,” his choice of Joseph Biden as his running mate sends a clear signal to Israel’s lobby in Washington and its right-wing government in Jerusalem that for the next four years there will be no change in the United States’ unconditional support or its annual $6 billion in direct and indirect aid.
Predictably, neither will there be a change in the hopelessness and the impotent rage of the Arabs suffering under a U.S.-supported Zionist ideology in Palestine...... "
Palestinian Village Faces Army Reign of Terror
Film of Soldiers' Atrocity Incurs Heavy Price
By JONATHAN COOK
CounterPunch
"The window through which Salam Amira, 16, filmed the moment when an Israeli soldier shot from close range a handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian detainee has a large hole at its centre with cracks running in every direction.
“Since my video was shown, the soldiers shoot at our house all the time,” she said. The shattered and cracked windows at the front of the building confirm her story. “When we leave the windows open, they fire tear gas inside too.”
Her home looks out over the Israeli road block guarding the only entrance to the village of Nilin, located just inside the West Bank midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv......
Salah Hawaja, a protest organiser, said: “When we started our demonstrations, maybe 50 soldiers showed up. Now there are hundreds stationed permanently around us. Israel is treating us like a major war zone, even though we are using non-violence.
“The people of Nilin have accepted that the best strategy to stop Israel’s plans to steal our land and leave us inside a ghetto is non-violence,” said Mr Hawaja.“We need to show the world who is the occupier and who the occupied. Israel understands how threatening this is, which is why it is using so much force against us.”
A fund has been established to help the Amira family. Donations can be sent to: Amira Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 1335, Kfar Saba, Israel 44113, made out to “Matte Hacoalitsia”. Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal: http://tinyurl.com/6fekjc"
By JONATHAN COOK
CounterPunch
"The window through which Salam Amira, 16, filmed the moment when an Israeli soldier shot from close range a handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian detainee has a large hole at its centre with cracks running in every direction.
“Since my video was shown, the soldiers shoot at our house all the time,” she said. The shattered and cracked windows at the front of the building confirm her story. “When we leave the windows open, they fire tear gas inside too.”
Her home looks out over the Israeli road block guarding the only entrance to the village of Nilin, located just inside the West Bank midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv......
Salah Hawaja, a protest organiser, said: “When we started our demonstrations, maybe 50 soldiers showed up. Now there are hundreds stationed permanently around us. Israel is treating us like a major war zone, even though we are using non-violence.
“The people of Nilin have accepted that the best strategy to stop Israel’s plans to steal our land and leave us inside a ghetto is non-violence,” said Mr Hawaja.“We need to show the world who is the occupier and who the occupied. Israel understands how threatening this is, which is why it is using so much force against us.”
A fund has been established to help the Amira family. Donations can be sent to: Amira Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 1335, Kfar Saba, Israel 44113, made out to “Matte Hacoalitsia”. Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal: http://tinyurl.com/6fekjc"
Arrested journalists at RNC protest freed
Press TV
"Three journalists including Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman have been released after being arrested covering anti-war protests at the RNC. (See Video of the arrest four posts down)
Goodman was arrested while questioning police about forceful tactics used to arrest two of her colleagues, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. Kaddous was reportedly slammed against a wall leaving him scratched and bruised while Salazar was pinned to the ground while shouting "I'm press, I'm press!"
Ramsey County police say Goodman's two colleagues were arrested on "suspicion of rioting" while Goodman herself has already been charged with obstructing a legal process and interference with a "peace officer".
Democracy Now! has released a statement condemning the charges as "false and an attempt at intimidation" of journalists. "Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities' law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists," the statement read.
The first amendment of the US constitution protects the freedom of speech and freedom of the press but tough crackdowns on protesters at last week's Democratic National Convention and this week in St. Paul have cast doubts on the right to peaceful protest in the United States. During the demonstration in question, law enforcement officers reportedly used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force against protesters and journalists. Several dozen demonstrators were arrested, as well as a photographer for the Associated Press.
The arrests followed armed police raids over the weekend on groups planning anti-war protests outside the Republican convention, which is due to end on Thursday. Police used battering rams to break down doors, brandished weapons, cuffed occupants and forced them to the floor.
The Ramsey County Sheriff department issued a press release saying that five arrests were made on charges of "probable cause conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit civil disorder and conspiracy to damage property." Police have presented items they alleged were to be used by protestors against convention attendees such as "weaponized urine", which turned out to be bath water reserved for flushing toilets and a bicycle tyre which police said could be used as a catapult.
Minneapolis lawyer Bruce Nester who represents one of those arrested in the weekend raids said the police actions were intended to send a clear message. "It's okay to write a letter, vote, but don't go out in the street, don't organize public activities, because, do you want us bursting into your house, do you want to be associated with people who are getting arrested?" "
Iraq's McCain
From Missing Links
"I failed to call attention to the most interesting of all the Friday sermons, that of SupremeCouncil politician and preacher Jalaleddin AlSaghir. He too leads off with recognition of the suffering of the people as a result of lack of essential services like electricity and fuel, but unlike those who focus on government corruption and incompetence, Saghir says these are all secondary issues. He says the core problem is the failure to promote government de-centralization and the private sector......
"I failed to call attention to the most interesting of all the Friday sermons, that of SupremeCouncil politician and preacher Jalaleddin AlSaghir. He too leads off with recognition of the suffering of the people as a result of lack of essential services like electricity and fuel, but unlike those who focus on government corruption and incompetence, Saghir says these are all secondary issues. He says the core problem is the failure to promote government de-centralization and the private sector......
Under the rubric of decentralization, AlSaghir includes economic privatization, calling in particular for privatization of the electric-power sector in Iraq, a solution he says would solve the problem of generation and distribution of electricity in Iraq within a year....."
War in Ossetia: "Wag the Dog"
Was an independent Ossetia inevitable after Kosovo or is it an US election ruse gone wrong
From the Vineyard of The Saker
By Eric Walberg
".....It’s quite possible that this ratcheting up of tensions in the Caucasus is intentional. It clinched the Polish missile deal in a hurry and put Russia in a bad light, giving succour to those planning to make the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline the key link in a network bypassing Russia. But the Georgian pipeline was shut down by BP during the recent conflict, and it is far from clear that spin doctors and tweaking the Russian bear’s nose will bring the US any closer to cutting Russia down to size. What this episode and Putin’s steely evaluation did was to further expose the poison at the heart of American politics and confirm the world’s suspicions that Russia is not afraid to stand up for itself."
From the Vineyard of The Saker
By Eric Walberg
".....It’s quite possible that this ratcheting up of tensions in the Caucasus is intentional. It clinched the Polish missile deal in a hurry and put Russia in a bad light, giving succour to those planning to make the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline the key link in a network bypassing Russia. But the Georgian pipeline was shut down by BP during the recent conflict, and it is far from clear that spin doctors and tweaking the Russian bear’s nose will bring the US any closer to cutting Russia down to size. What this episode and Putin’s steely evaluation did was to further expose the poison at the heart of American politics and confirm the world’s suspicions that Russia is not afraid to stand up for itself."
Video: Amy Goodman Arrested at RNC
"Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department. Charged with conspiracy to riot. Footage from Rick Rowley and Brandon Jourdan. "
Hamas leader Meshal 'leaves Syria for Sudan'
"Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai reported Tuesday that Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal has left Damascus to live in Sudan at Syria's request, in a move stemming from Syria's desire to advance indirect peace talks with Israel.
The paper quoted Palestinian sources stating that the move was part of a secret deal between Meshal and the Syrian authorities. Meshal has been based in Damascus since his expulsion from Jordan some ten years ago. Israeli sources believe that the move signals a serious desire on Syria's part to advance the negotiations.
Israel and Syria announced in May that they were holding indirect peace talks under Turkish auspices. Since then, senior officials in Jerusalem have stated that Syria has carried out a number of measures that reflect that it is taking talks with Israel seriously. One of Israel's key demands in the negotiations is that Syria break off its contacts with Palestinian militants groups, in particular Meshal's Hamas. "
Update:
Hamas has categorically denied this report. Here is the Arabic version of the denial; no English version exists yet.
"حماس" تنفي مغادرة مشعل من سورية للإقامة في السودان
"دمشق – المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام
نفت حركة المقاومة الإسلامية "حماس" النبأ الذي تناقلته بعض وسائل الإعلام حول مغادرة خالد مشعل رئيس المكتب السياسي للحركة الأراضي السورية للإقامة في السودان.
وقالت الحركة في تصريح صحفي صادر عن مكتبها الإعلامي في دمشق اليوم الثلاثاء (2/9)، وتلقى "المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام" نسخة منه: " إن الحركة تنفي جملة وتفصيلاً هذه الأنباء العارية عن الصحة، وتدعو وسائل الإعلام إلى تحّري الصدق في أخبارها".
ورأت الحركة في بيانها أنه "كان من المفترض على وسائل الإعلام، حفاظاً على مهنيتها ومصداقيتها، أن تتصل بمسؤولي الحركة، وتسأل عن صحة الخبر المنسوب إلى مصادر فلسطينية مجهولة"."
English Version:
Hamas denies Mishaal's departure from Syria to the Sudan
Why Iraqi 'Client' Blocked US Long-Term Presence
By Gareth Porter
".....Instead, Maliki launched his own operation in Basra that was planned to last only a few days. Then, in a move that appears to have been prearranged with Suleimani, Iraqi officials were dispatched to Iran to get Suleimani's help in mediating a peace agreement with Sadr.
The result was a Sadrist retreat from Basra, even though Iraqi security forces had not been able to cope with the Mahdi Army resistance. That headed off a major U.S. troop presence in the Shi'ite south and strengthened Maliki's position in negotiations with Washington.
The Basra agreement set the stage for the subsequent accord between Maliki and Sadr, again reached with Iranian mediation, for a cease-fire in Sadr City on May 12. The agreement prevented the U.S. command from getting the large-scale U.S. campaign in Sadr City for which it had been pushing for more than a year.
The carefully calculating Sadr had been convinced to trade short-term military success for the prospect of a U.S. military retreat. [Comment: Sadr did not make that choice; he was ordered by Iran to support Maliki. Iran continues to play a complex game that primarily benefits Iran (by strengthening its leverage) and not Iraq.]
Maliki began pushing for "significant changes" in the SOFA only after the May agreement, but he was only returning to the position he had embraced two years earlier......."
".....Instead, Maliki launched his own operation in Basra that was planned to last only a few days. Then, in a move that appears to have been prearranged with Suleimani, Iraqi officials were dispatched to Iran to get Suleimani's help in mediating a peace agreement with Sadr.
The result was a Sadrist retreat from Basra, even though Iraqi security forces had not been able to cope with the Mahdi Army resistance. That headed off a major U.S. troop presence in the Shi'ite south and strengthened Maliki's position in negotiations with Washington.
The Basra agreement set the stage for the subsequent accord between Maliki and Sadr, again reached with Iranian mediation, for a cease-fire in Sadr City on May 12. The agreement prevented the U.S. command from getting the large-scale U.S. campaign in Sadr City for which it had been pushing for more than a year.
The carefully calculating Sadr had been convinced to trade short-term military success for the prospect of a U.S. military retreat. [Comment: Sadr did not make that choice; he was ordered by Iran to support Maliki. Iran continues to play a complex game that primarily benefits Iran (by strengthening its leverage) and not Iraq.]
Maliki began pushing for "significant changes" in the SOFA only after the May agreement, but he was only returning to the position he had embraced two years earlier......."
White House strategy is to help McCain win in November
By Patrick Cockburn
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
".....Much of what the White House is now doing is done to help the Republicans in the presidential election. The aim is to give the impression that Iraq has finally come right for the US and victory is finally in its grasp. The surge is promoted as the strategy by which the tide was turned and it is true that the Sunni uprising against the US occupation has largely ended.
But it has done so for reasons that have little to do with the surge or American actions of any kind. Crucial to the success of the government against the Mahdi Army has been the support of Iran. It is they who arranged for the Shia militiamen to go home.
It takes real cheek for Mr Bush to claim yesterday that "Anbar is no longer lost to al-Qa'ida" since during the last presidential election in 2004, he was claiming that the media was exaggerating the success of the insurgents."
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
".....Much of what the White House is now doing is done to help the Republicans in the presidential election. The aim is to give the impression that Iraq has finally come right for the US and victory is finally in its grasp. The surge is promoted as the strategy by which the tide was turned and it is true that the Sunni uprising against the US occupation has largely ended.
But it has done so for reasons that have little to do with the surge or American actions of any kind. Crucial to the success of the government against the Mahdi Army has been the support of Iran. It is they who arranged for the Shia militiamen to go home.
It takes real cheek for Mr Bush to claim yesterday that "Anbar is no longer lost to al-Qa'ida" since during the last presidential election in 2004, he was claiming that the media was exaggerating the success of the insurgents."
Monday, September 1, 2008
Jeff Halper in Gaza: "We are the oppressors"
Rami Almeghari, The Electronic Intifada, 1 September 2008
"In an interview with The Electronic Intifada, Jeff Halper, the Israeli-American director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, discussed the ongoing Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and the Free Gaza Movement (FGM). Halper was one of 46 members to take part in FGM's action to challenge Israel 14-month siege on Gaza.
Halper discussed all of this with EI correspondent Rami Almeghari in the occupied Gaza Strip, just hours before he reentered Israel through the Erez crossing, where he was detained and placed in custody by the Israeli army.
The Electronic Intifada: Now that you are in Gaza, would you please comment on the Israeli siege and the international embargo on the Gaza Strip?
Jeff Halper: The international community, through the UN, imposed economic sanctions on Gaza, which is an illegal act in international law, showing the poverty and the failure of the international system. That's why if you [want] justice, if you have to end the siege, end the occupation, end sanctions, the people have to do it, because the governments will not do it and the UN won't do it because it is controlled by governments......"
"In an interview with The Electronic Intifada, Jeff Halper, the Israeli-American director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, discussed the ongoing Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and the Free Gaza Movement (FGM). Halper was one of 46 members to take part in FGM's action to challenge Israel 14-month siege on Gaza.
Halper discussed all of this with EI correspondent Rami Almeghari in the occupied Gaza Strip, just hours before he reentered Israel through the Erez crossing, where he was detained and placed in custody by the Israeli army.
The Electronic Intifada: Now that you are in Gaza, would you please comment on the Israeli siege and the international embargo on the Gaza Strip?
Jeff Halper: The international community, through the UN, imposed economic sanctions on Gaza, which is an illegal act in international law, showing the poverty and the failure of the international system. That's why if you [want] justice, if you have to end the siege, end the occupation, end sanctions, the people have to do it, because the governments will not do it and the UN won't do it because it is controlled by governments......"
الخلاص في حل السلطتين
A Great Editorial (Arabic) by Abdul Bari Atwan
الخلاص في حل السلطتين
عبد الباري عطوان
"......
اولمرت المتهم بالفساد والمستقيل من زعامة حزبه، تصرف مع الرئيس الفلسطيني كما لو انه رئيس مجلس بلدي تابع له، يؤنبه على بعض تصرفاته، ويقدم له قائمة من المحظورات عليه الالتزام بها وعدم خرقها. الرئيس عباس، ومثلما تسرب من اخبار على ألسنة مرافقيه الذين حضروا الاجتماع، لم يعارض هذا التصنيف بدليل انه قدم تفسيرات، وتبريرات، لدرء اللوم عن نفسه، عندما قال موضحاً ان قنطار هو الذي اندس بين الحشد وتقدم اليه مصافحاً دون علمه أو دعوته.
.......
لو كنت مكان السيد عباس، والحمد لله اني لم ولن أكون، لما قدمت اي تبريرات او تفسيرات، بل لما سمحت لهذا القاتل الفاسد أو غيره، ان يوجه مثل هذا العتب الاستنكاري مطلقاً، لان اولمرت ما زال، وسيظل، عدواً للشعب الفلسطيني، والامة العربية، ومجرم حرب يرأس حكومة تتبنى العدوان، وتحتل أراضي عربية، وترتكب مجازر في حق الابرياء، وتتوسع في الاستيطان، وتعتقل أكثر من عشرة آلاف اسير خلف القضبان.
ولعل الاهانة الأكبر التي وجهها اولمرت للرئيس الفلسطيني في اللقاء المذكور هي محاولة اقناعه بقبول تسوية جزئية، تستثني القدس المحتلة، وبقية قضايا المرحلة النهائية، مثل حق العودة والمستوطنات والحدود والمياه، وهي المقترحات التي رفضها الرئيس الفلسطيني مثلما اكد الدكتور صائب عريقات رئيس هيئة شؤون المفاوضات.
الرئيس عباس سيتوجه إلى واشنطن في الأيام القليلة المقبلة للقاء الرئيس جورج بوش الابن، ونتوقع ان يتعرض لضغوط أكبر لقبول المقترحات المهينة نفسها أو بعضها من أجل انقاذ ماء وجه ادارة أمريكية غارقة في الهزائم في العراق وافغانستان واخيراً جورجيا، حتى ان عدداً كبيرا من حلفائها الاوروبيين باتوا يبتعدون عنها وسياساتها الخارجية الفاشلة، ونخشى ان يضعف الرئيس عباس امامها ويقبل بها أو ببعضها.
وحتى لا يقع في 'المصيدة الأمريكية' الأقوى لا بد من تحرك فلسطيني وعربي فاعل، وسريع، للتأكيد على فشل الرهان على المفاوضات وسقوط حل الدولتين، والتحذير من التفريط بأي من الثوابت الفلسطينية التاريخية، والتأكيد على أن طرفي المعادلة الفلسطينية في رام الله وغزة قد فشلا في تحقيق أي تقدم ملموس للشعب الفلسطيني وقضيته، وانشغلا بأمور حياتية ثانوية بعيداً عن الأهداف العليا والسامية.
فإذا كان هناك اجماع فلسطيني على ان المفاوضات والمراهنين عليها وصلوا إلى طريق مسدود، واهدروا وقتاً ثميناً في عملية سلمية وهمية وعبثية، فان من قبلوا بتهدئة مسمومة، وتخلوا عن المقاومة، ولو مؤقتاًَ، وهم الذين يتطلعون إلى الشهادة كهدف مقدس، لم يقدموا البديل الأنجع في وقت يبحث فيه الشعب الفلسطيني عن هذه البدائل. علينا أن نعترف بان جميع مكونات الهوية الوطنية الفلسطينية قد ضُربت، وان السلطة الفلسطينية التي جاءت ثمرة خطة اسرائيلية أمريكية محكمة، لعبت دوراً كبيراً في تفكيك هذه الهوية، وتحويل الشعب الفلسطيني من شعب مناضل من اجل استعادة حقوقه المشروعة، يحظى بالتفاف العالم بأسره حوله، الى شعب متسول، يبحث عن الراتب، في آخر الشهر بعد ان اصبح اسيراً له، لا يستطيع العيش بدونه.
سلطة رام الله تتسول الرواتب، وسلطة غزة تتسول فتح المعابر، ولو جزئياً، لادخال كميات من الطعام والوقود والأدوية، أي اننا نعود كشعب الى مرحلة ما قبل عام 1967، أي نعيش على مساعدات وكالة الغوث، التي تكاد تبقينا على حافة الحياة في مخيمات اللجوء والقهر دون اي كرامة وطنية، ننتظر كرم الدول المانحة، وحفنات دقيقها، وأرزها، وتمرها، وملابسها البالية.
ومثلما كانت قوات الامم المتحدة تتمركز في قطاع غزة لمراقبة الهدنة، بين العرب والاسرائيليين، هناك من يخرج علينا باقتراح غريب ومفاجئ بارسال قوات عربية، بقيادة مصرية، الى القطاع للفصل بين الفلسطينيين انفسهم اولاً، ثم بينهم وبين الاسرائيليين ثانياً، أي ان القوات العربية، بدلاً من ان تدخل الى غزة محررة (بكسر الميم)، مثلما كان يأمل الفلسطينيون المحاصرون المجوعون، تذهب الى القطاع محايدة بقبعات زرقاء، مثلها مثل القوات الكندية والهندية والبرازيلية والنرويجية، سابقاً. أي ان التاريخ يعيد نفسه ولكن بصورة اكثر سوءاً.
السيد احمد ابو الغيط وزير الخارجية المصري وصاحب نظرية كسر الاقدام يستحسن الفكرة هذه ويتحمس لها ويعتبرها 'جذابة' الأمر الذي يدفعنا الى توجيه سؤال بسيط له وهو: كيف سيرسل هذه القوات الى القطاع ورئيسه، لا يستطيع زيادة عدد القوات المصرية جندياً واحداً في سيناء، رغم توسلاته للاسرائيليين، واكثر من مرة، من اجل هذا الغرض؟ وتقديمه خدمات غير مسبوقة لحماية امنها سواء بقتل المتسللين الأفارقة عبر حدودها طلباً للجوء او تدمير العشرات من انفاق رفح على الحدود المستخدمة في تهريب الطعام ولقمة الخبز للمحاصرين.
المراجعة الفلسطينية الشاملة من قبل السلطتين في رام الله وغزة، ومن كل ابناء الشعب الفلسطيني للخروج من حالة الشلل الحالية التي تعيش في ظلها القضية المركزية الاولى، باتت حتمية وملحة، فاستمرار الاوضاع على وتيرتها الراهنة، في ظل الرهان على اوهام، والتضحية بالثوابت الوطنية من اجل راتب، او قارورة غاز، امر خطير علاوة على كونه معيبا، ويشكل اهانة للتاريخ الفلسطيني الحافل بالتضحيات والبطولات.
فالحوارات الفلسطينية التي تستضيفها القاهرة حالياً، هي محاولة لإطالة بقاء حالة الشلل الحالية هذه لأطول وقت ممكن، وبما يخدم اسرائيل التي تستغلها لالتهام الارض، وتهويد القدس، وتكريس الاحتلال، وتمزيق الهوية النضالية والجهادية الفلسطينية.
المطلوب الآن حوار فلسطيني - فلسطيني مستقل يتركز حول كيفية الخروج من هذا المأزق، ويكون عنوانه حل السلطتين في قطاع غزة ورام الله، وايقاف مسلسل التسول والتوسل الفلسطيني الحالي، بأسرع وقت ممكن، والعودة الى المربع الأول الذي نسيناه جميعاً، وهو مربع المقاومة والتحرير بكل الطرق والوسائل.
الرئيس عباس الذي راهن على المفاوضات، وحل الدولتين، منذ اشرافه على مفاوضات اوسلو يجب ان يعترف علناً بفشل رهانه هذا، وان يبادر مثل كل الزعماء الشجعان الى حل السلطة التي يتزعمها، وان يبادر بالاستقالة من كل مناصبه الحالية، فهكذا فعل ويفعل جميع الزعماء السياسيين عندما يفشل مشروعهم، والفلسطينيون ليسوا استثناء.
نعترف وبأسف اننا لا نرى اي مؤشر لأي تحرك في هذا الاتجاه، بل نقرأ 'فتاوى قانونية' تشرّع تمديد بقائه في السلطة، رغم الفشل الحالي الواضح للعيان، بعد انتهاء فترة رئاسته القانونية في كانون الثاني (يناير) المقبل. فوعاظ السلاطين المستفيدون من هذه السلطة جاهزون بفتاواهم لتحويل الفشل الى نجاح، و'رش سكر على الموت' مثلما يقول المثل الشعبي.
الشعب الفلسطيني الذي قدم آلاف الشهداء والأسرى يجب ان يتحرك، لإنقاذ نفسه وهويته، وقضيته، من المستنقع العفن وتقليص الخسائر بأسرع ما يمكن، والعودة الى الطريق الصحيح الذي سارت عليه جميع الشعوب الأخرى، واقالة كل من اوصله الى هذا الوضع البائس المخجل والمعيب."
الخلاص في حل السلطتين
عبد الباري عطوان
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اولمرت المتهم بالفساد والمستقيل من زعامة حزبه، تصرف مع الرئيس الفلسطيني كما لو انه رئيس مجلس بلدي تابع له، يؤنبه على بعض تصرفاته، ويقدم له قائمة من المحظورات عليه الالتزام بها وعدم خرقها. الرئيس عباس، ومثلما تسرب من اخبار على ألسنة مرافقيه الذين حضروا الاجتماع، لم يعارض هذا التصنيف بدليل انه قدم تفسيرات، وتبريرات، لدرء اللوم عن نفسه، عندما قال موضحاً ان قنطار هو الذي اندس بين الحشد وتقدم اليه مصافحاً دون علمه أو دعوته.
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لو كنت مكان السيد عباس، والحمد لله اني لم ولن أكون، لما قدمت اي تبريرات او تفسيرات، بل لما سمحت لهذا القاتل الفاسد أو غيره، ان يوجه مثل هذا العتب الاستنكاري مطلقاً، لان اولمرت ما زال، وسيظل، عدواً للشعب الفلسطيني، والامة العربية، ومجرم حرب يرأس حكومة تتبنى العدوان، وتحتل أراضي عربية، وترتكب مجازر في حق الابرياء، وتتوسع في الاستيطان، وتعتقل أكثر من عشرة آلاف اسير خلف القضبان.
ولعل الاهانة الأكبر التي وجهها اولمرت للرئيس الفلسطيني في اللقاء المذكور هي محاولة اقناعه بقبول تسوية جزئية، تستثني القدس المحتلة، وبقية قضايا المرحلة النهائية، مثل حق العودة والمستوطنات والحدود والمياه، وهي المقترحات التي رفضها الرئيس الفلسطيني مثلما اكد الدكتور صائب عريقات رئيس هيئة شؤون المفاوضات.
الرئيس عباس سيتوجه إلى واشنطن في الأيام القليلة المقبلة للقاء الرئيس جورج بوش الابن، ونتوقع ان يتعرض لضغوط أكبر لقبول المقترحات المهينة نفسها أو بعضها من أجل انقاذ ماء وجه ادارة أمريكية غارقة في الهزائم في العراق وافغانستان واخيراً جورجيا، حتى ان عدداً كبيرا من حلفائها الاوروبيين باتوا يبتعدون عنها وسياساتها الخارجية الفاشلة، ونخشى ان يضعف الرئيس عباس امامها ويقبل بها أو ببعضها.
وحتى لا يقع في 'المصيدة الأمريكية' الأقوى لا بد من تحرك فلسطيني وعربي فاعل، وسريع، للتأكيد على فشل الرهان على المفاوضات وسقوط حل الدولتين، والتحذير من التفريط بأي من الثوابت الفلسطينية التاريخية، والتأكيد على أن طرفي المعادلة الفلسطينية في رام الله وغزة قد فشلا في تحقيق أي تقدم ملموس للشعب الفلسطيني وقضيته، وانشغلا بأمور حياتية ثانوية بعيداً عن الأهداف العليا والسامية.
فإذا كان هناك اجماع فلسطيني على ان المفاوضات والمراهنين عليها وصلوا إلى طريق مسدود، واهدروا وقتاً ثميناً في عملية سلمية وهمية وعبثية، فان من قبلوا بتهدئة مسمومة، وتخلوا عن المقاومة، ولو مؤقتاًَ، وهم الذين يتطلعون إلى الشهادة كهدف مقدس، لم يقدموا البديل الأنجع في وقت يبحث فيه الشعب الفلسطيني عن هذه البدائل. علينا أن نعترف بان جميع مكونات الهوية الوطنية الفلسطينية قد ضُربت، وان السلطة الفلسطينية التي جاءت ثمرة خطة اسرائيلية أمريكية محكمة، لعبت دوراً كبيراً في تفكيك هذه الهوية، وتحويل الشعب الفلسطيني من شعب مناضل من اجل استعادة حقوقه المشروعة، يحظى بالتفاف العالم بأسره حوله، الى شعب متسول، يبحث عن الراتب، في آخر الشهر بعد ان اصبح اسيراً له، لا يستطيع العيش بدونه.
سلطة رام الله تتسول الرواتب، وسلطة غزة تتسول فتح المعابر، ولو جزئياً، لادخال كميات من الطعام والوقود والأدوية، أي اننا نعود كشعب الى مرحلة ما قبل عام 1967، أي نعيش على مساعدات وكالة الغوث، التي تكاد تبقينا على حافة الحياة في مخيمات اللجوء والقهر دون اي كرامة وطنية، ننتظر كرم الدول المانحة، وحفنات دقيقها، وأرزها، وتمرها، وملابسها البالية.
ومثلما كانت قوات الامم المتحدة تتمركز في قطاع غزة لمراقبة الهدنة، بين العرب والاسرائيليين، هناك من يخرج علينا باقتراح غريب ومفاجئ بارسال قوات عربية، بقيادة مصرية، الى القطاع للفصل بين الفلسطينيين انفسهم اولاً، ثم بينهم وبين الاسرائيليين ثانياً، أي ان القوات العربية، بدلاً من ان تدخل الى غزة محررة (بكسر الميم)، مثلما كان يأمل الفلسطينيون المحاصرون المجوعون، تذهب الى القطاع محايدة بقبعات زرقاء، مثلها مثل القوات الكندية والهندية والبرازيلية والنرويجية، سابقاً. أي ان التاريخ يعيد نفسه ولكن بصورة اكثر سوءاً.
السيد احمد ابو الغيط وزير الخارجية المصري وصاحب نظرية كسر الاقدام يستحسن الفكرة هذه ويتحمس لها ويعتبرها 'جذابة' الأمر الذي يدفعنا الى توجيه سؤال بسيط له وهو: كيف سيرسل هذه القوات الى القطاع ورئيسه، لا يستطيع زيادة عدد القوات المصرية جندياً واحداً في سيناء، رغم توسلاته للاسرائيليين، واكثر من مرة، من اجل هذا الغرض؟ وتقديمه خدمات غير مسبوقة لحماية امنها سواء بقتل المتسللين الأفارقة عبر حدودها طلباً للجوء او تدمير العشرات من انفاق رفح على الحدود المستخدمة في تهريب الطعام ولقمة الخبز للمحاصرين.
المراجعة الفلسطينية الشاملة من قبل السلطتين في رام الله وغزة، ومن كل ابناء الشعب الفلسطيني للخروج من حالة الشلل الحالية التي تعيش في ظلها القضية المركزية الاولى، باتت حتمية وملحة، فاستمرار الاوضاع على وتيرتها الراهنة، في ظل الرهان على اوهام، والتضحية بالثوابت الوطنية من اجل راتب، او قارورة غاز، امر خطير علاوة على كونه معيبا، ويشكل اهانة للتاريخ الفلسطيني الحافل بالتضحيات والبطولات.
فالحوارات الفلسطينية التي تستضيفها القاهرة حالياً، هي محاولة لإطالة بقاء حالة الشلل الحالية هذه لأطول وقت ممكن، وبما يخدم اسرائيل التي تستغلها لالتهام الارض، وتهويد القدس، وتكريس الاحتلال، وتمزيق الهوية النضالية والجهادية الفلسطينية.
المطلوب الآن حوار فلسطيني - فلسطيني مستقل يتركز حول كيفية الخروج من هذا المأزق، ويكون عنوانه حل السلطتين في قطاع غزة ورام الله، وايقاف مسلسل التسول والتوسل الفلسطيني الحالي، بأسرع وقت ممكن، والعودة الى المربع الأول الذي نسيناه جميعاً، وهو مربع المقاومة والتحرير بكل الطرق والوسائل.
الرئيس عباس الذي راهن على المفاوضات، وحل الدولتين، منذ اشرافه على مفاوضات اوسلو يجب ان يعترف علناً بفشل رهانه هذا، وان يبادر مثل كل الزعماء الشجعان الى حل السلطة التي يتزعمها، وان يبادر بالاستقالة من كل مناصبه الحالية، فهكذا فعل ويفعل جميع الزعماء السياسيين عندما يفشل مشروعهم، والفلسطينيون ليسوا استثناء.
نعترف وبأسف اننا لا نرى اي مؤشر لأي تحرك في هذا الاتجاه، بل نقرأ 'فتاوى قانونية' تشرّع تمديد بقائه في السلطة، رغم الفشل الحالي الواضح للعيان، بعد انتهاء فترة رئاسته القانونية في كانون الثاني (يناير) المقبل. فوعاظ السلاطين المستفيدون من هذه السلطة جاهزون بفتاواهم لتحويل الفشل الى نجاح، و'رش سكر على الموت' مثلما يقول المثل الشعبي.
الشعب الفلسطيني الذي قدم آلاف الشهداء والأسرى يجب ان يتحرك، لإنقاذ نفسه وهويته، وقضيته، من المستنقع العفن وتقليص الخسائر بأسرع ما يمكن، والعودة الى الطريق الصحيح الذي سارت عليه جميع الشعوب الأخرى، واقالة كل من اوصله الى هذا الوضع البائس المخجل والمعيب."
Egypt-Israel gas deal taken to court
Contributed by Lucia in Spain
"An Egyptian court is reviewing a petition by a group of lawyers to halt Egypt's natural gas exports to Israel, one of the attorneys said Monday.
Lawyer Ibrahim Yousri said the petitioners want to stop the deal because it involves below market gas prices of only US$1.5 per British thermal unit, a measure of energy. The market price is almost nine times higher and Yousri said Egypt has been losing about US$9 million a day over it.
"If this not theft what else could it be," Yousri told The Associated Press. "Egyptians are in a dire need of every penny, so why does the government squander these resources?"
According to Yousri, Judge Ahmed el-Shazli on Monday asked the petitioners to present documents supporting their case and adjourned the hearings till October 17.
Egypt began pumping gas to Israel in February, following an energy deal under which Cairo-based East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) is to sell 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas annually to state-run Israel Electric Corporation for the next 15 years......."
"An Egyptian court is reviewing a petition by a group of lawyers to halt Egypt's natural gas exports to Israel, one of the attorneys said Monday.
Lawyer Ibrahim Yousri said the petitioners want to stop the deal because it involves below market gas prices of only US$1.5 per British thermal unit, a measure of energy. The market price is almost nine times higher and Yousri said Egypt has been losing about US$9 million a day over it.
"If this not theft what else could it be," Yousri told The Associated Press. "Egyptians are in a dire need of every penny, so why does the government squander these resources?"
According to Yousri, Judge Ahmed el-Shazli on Monday asked the petitioners to present documents supporting their case and adjourned the hearings till October 17.
Egypt began pumping gas to Israel in February, following an energy deal under which Cairo-based East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) is to sell 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas annually to state-run Israel Electric Corporation for the next 15 years......."
Ramadan Mubarak (Karim)
To all of our Muslim friends and readers, on the occasion of the start of the month of Ramadan.
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