Gilad Atzmon's Blog, page 39
July 16, 2014
Gaza: Hamas and the ceasefire that wasn't
By Mohammed Omer
#GazaUnderAttack
Hamas almost immediately distanced itself from a ceasefire proposal that didn't meet any of its aims - or come through the right channels
When rumors began spreading late on Monday about a possible Hamas-Israel ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Ismail Haniyeh - the top Hamas leader in Gaza - appeared on a pre-recorded TV interview from an unknown location to address Palestinians.
In the video, Haniyeh's message was clear - he wanted to reassure Gazans that he and Hamas were unwilling to compromise on the innocent blood spilled in Gaza during the last nine days.
“It is not possible for any party to bypass the conditions set by Palestinian Resistance to implement a period of calm” he said in the clip.
FAQ on Failed Effort to Arrange Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas
Experts
Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University, former advisor to Palestinian negotiators, and author of Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East (2013) and The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood (2006).
Mouin Rabbani, Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies, Policy Advisor to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, and a contributing editor with Middle East Report and the ezine Jadaliyya. Former Senior Middle East Analyst with the International Crisis Group.
Noura Erakat, Human rights attorney and member of the Legal Support Network for the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Refugee and Residency Rights, and co-editor of the ezine Jadaliyya.
FAQ
Q - Why do you think Hamas didn't accept the terms of the ceasefire?
RK - "Hamas has insisted that there be a lasting resolution of the basic problem of Israel's siege of Gaza, as was promised as part of the 2012 cease-fire, but never implemented in spite of Israel's recognition that Hamas scrupulously maintained the cease-fire until quite recently. The Egyptian proposal makes lifting of the siege conditional on Israel's approval, which means never."
MR - "Hamas, and with it other Palestinian organizations such as Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, have indicated that they were not consulted on the Egyptian cease-fire proposal, and that it has not been formally presented to them but rather released to the media after its terms were agreed with Israel.
"In terms of the proposal's contents, what these organizations and many Palestinians object to is that it simply restores a 2012 ceasefire agreement that Israel has systematically violated and does not provide any guarantees such violations would cease. These violations consist not only of periodic armed Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, but also Israel's refusal to respect clauses on the rights of fishermen in Gaza's territorial waters and farmers in land close to the Gaza/Israel boundary.
"Hamas has additionally stated that it would not accept an agreement that does not provide for the immediate re-release of Palestinian prisoners who were released by Israel in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange with Israel, but re-arrested by Israel in the last month.
"More broadly, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations are averse to returning to an untenable status quo, which lasts only until Israel once again decides to launch a major assault on the Gaza Strip, and which does not include concrete steps towards lifting the ongoing and prolonged blockade of the Gaza Strip.
"There is widespread Palestinian suspicion that Egypt, which has shown nothing but unremitting hostility towards Hamas since the current regime seized power in July 2013, released a proposal it ensured would be acceptable to Israel but rejected by the Palestinians, in order to help Israel legitimize an escalation of attacks against the Gaza Strip. It is likely to have done so in close cooperation with its new best friend, Tony Blair, and other advocates of Israeli power in the Arab world and internationally."
July 15, 2014
Who is Major General Qassem Suleimani ?
Who is Major General Qassem Suleimani ?
… by Hamed Ghashghavi, Tehran
[ VT Editors Note: Hamed brings us a rare look into one of Iran's top military commanders, who often are censored from Western Press to avoid any analogies between our own George Washington, heaven forbid. While the two generals were not co-religionists, they shared a passionate desire to not have their people exploited by overseas commerical and military powers. I personally was not aware of General Suleimani so we are happy share this from the son of an Iranian veteran from the eight year war with the US backed Saddam and Iraq... Jim W. Dean ]
__________________________________
The name of this Iranian Commander is not unknown to many who study the Middle-East situation, but these days during the battle against the evil soldiers and unhuman Takfiris in Iraq, his name has been mentioned on some mainstream media like Fox News, Washington Post, CBS News, and the Guardian.
What I would like to illuminate our readers is the career of this great man whose Pentagon high level officials are afraid to hear the name.
He is the commander of the Qods Force, a division of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which conducts special operations outside Iran. Their name comes from the Arabic name for Jerusalem Al-Quds. Qods Force was created in the 1990s.
According to Western intelligence scources, General Sulaimani has played a major role in the arrangement of post-Saddam Iraq plus the Western imposed war on the Syrian people. He had earlier helped the Afghans to resist to the American colonization there. His efforts have also been very effective in strengthening the resistance structure of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
So inside and outside of Iran among those who know a little about the realities on the ground no one can deny his significant role in the struggle against the Israeli and U.S. forces.
The Supreme Leader of the Iranian revolution who delivers the messages of condolence or congratulation only for the very important cases, nine months ago gave a condolence message for death of General Sulaimani’s mother in which he said: “Your act in the favor of Islam and Muslims may be very useful for your mother, God bless her soul.”
And we must know that the Supreme Leader chooses his words carefully even for such a message that can be simple in our eyes. In Iran there are many young guys who are ready to give their lives for the Supreme Leader and their country particulary at the time of the imposed wars by the US and the EU on Syria, Ukraine, Iraq and the continuing “all options are on the table” theats to Russia and Iran.
Once Again, Israel is Defeated
By Gilad Atzmon
As the Israeli Cabinet announced earlier today that it accepted the Egyptian cease-fire offer, Palestinian freedom fighters in Gaza continued firing rockets targeting the whole of Israel.
The situation is clear. Israel is desperate for a break in the violence. In spite of its endless ‘bravado,’ and military might, Israel lacks the military capacity and the courage to encounter Palestinian resistance on the ground. The Israeli elite recognizes that the military can’t resolve the problem, if anything, its extensive use would diminish Israeli manoeuvrability on the international front.
Hamas, on the other hand, has won its biggest military, political and ideological victory to date - it has managed to deliver some elementary messages to all of Israeli society:
You are living on our Palestinian stolen land, our Right to Return is elementary and is not negotiable. You Israelis do not belong here, you never did, and you had better consider your options immediately.
Hamas has also managed to dismantle the BDS / Jewish Lefty’s desperate and blatantly deceitful attempt to present the conflict as an issue over the ‘1967 occupation.’ The range and targets of Palestinian missiles deliver a clear message to both Israelis and their controlled opposition agents within the Left. Palestine is a stretch of land between the river and the sea. In other words, no more empty talk on ‘conflict resolutions.’ It is either Israel or Palestine. And today it seems Palestine it will be.
July 14, 2014
Collective punishment and the right to self-defence – Gaza Context
By PT Editor
http://paltelegraph.com/collective-punishment-right-self-defence-gaza-context/
Two weeks ago at the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council, states and NGOs discussed the human rights situation in Palestine, condemning the Israeli aggression that had ensued in the oPt following the disappearance of three Jewish-Israeli settler teenagers in the West Bank. The states present for this discussion along with several NGOs who spoke about the current situation in the oPt urged the President and members of the Council to take immediate action to ensure that Israel upheld its obligations as a member of the Council and end the collective punishment of the Palestinian population. Yet a fortnight later, Gaza is being pounded by missiles from Israel as part of ‘Operation Protective Edge’, the military occupation launched by Israel five days ago which it claims is to defeat Hamas and other Palestinian fighters. In reality however the attacks have targeted the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. Over the last few days these attacks have escalated and intensified showing no signs of slowing down. The Israeli army has stated that it is making preparations for a ground attack.
July 13, 2014
Hundreds trapped in synagogue as Paris protest turns violent
http://www.timesofisrael.com/clashes-in-paris-as-thousands-march-against-israel-offensive/
Thousands gather in Paris to demonstrate against Gaza operation, hurling stones at house of worship
PARIS — Clashes erupted in Paris on Sunday as thousands of people protested against Israel and in support of residents in the Gaza Strip, where a six-day conflict has left 166 Palestinians dead.
Pearl Jam vs. The Jewish State (must watch)
In front of tens of thousands of music lovers, Pearl Jam's lead singer Eddie Vedder told the truth about Israel. In a concert at Milton Keynes Bowl in England on Friday the famed American rocker said.
“They’re looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn’t belong to them. They should get the f---out, and mind their own f---ing business…“We don’t want to give them our money. We don’t want to give them our taxes to drop bombs on children.”
Indeed a reason to be cheerful especially when you witness the ecstatic reaction of the massive crowd.
Seemingly, the Israelis are upset. The Jerusalem Post reported today that Ben Red, a rock disc jockey for Israel Radio’s music station, denounced Vedder.
“Eddie Vedder, your true face is finally being revealed,” Red wrote. “You are invited not to come here. I personally do not want to see you, and I will erase the Facebook page calling on bringing [Pearl Jam] to Israel, but not before I expose who you really are.”
Seemingly Ben Red doesn’t approve an American subject’s right to oppose USA taxpayers’ money being spent on a criminal state.
Once Again Jews and Trains
[image error]
Israel Ynet published this photo earlier today ...is not time ripe to make peace?
Israeli Navy Seals Landing fails in northern Gaza Strip
http://paltelegraph.com/israeli-navy-seals-landing-fails-in-northern-gaza-strip/
By PT Editor
Al Qassam brigades, the military wing of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), countered an attempt to land a special Israeli force northern Gaza City near Sodania beach.
Media resources said that Qassam brigades discovered the attempt and immediately clashed with the Israeli soldiers. Resources have reported that an Israeli soldier was killed during the clash and they are waiting for confirmation.
It is worth mentioning that Gaza Strip undergoes a barbaric military operation called “Protective Edge” launched 6 days ago by the Israeli army under the pretext of stopping Hamas rockets, and revenging for the kidnap and killing of 3 Zionist settlers in June 2014.
