The Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, says this ground invasion by the Israeli military is to achieve "peace and tranquility" for the immigrant Jews who continue to settle at government insistence in confiscated lands next to the Gaza strip where the previous inhabitants are concentrated in a series of camps, the border wire of which is made unapproachable because the Israelis have created a no-man's land where they shoot at anyone and everything that moves. These Palestinians are blockaded and terrorised by the Israeli forces. Now all that is not enough, they have to drive ground forces in to rampage and vandalise and destroy and displace and kill - perhaps to besiege Gaza City itself.
Because they lost the Lebanon War they launched two years ago? Because there's an election next month? Because with American diplomatic cover and Western acquiescence they can continue the Zionist colonial enterprise - necessarily at the expense of the Palestinian Arabs.
How many Sowetos and Sharpvilles must we witness to take action against a hostile, predatory, expansionist, unilateralist, colonial-style, nuclear-armed race-state that is controlled by political parties whose doctrines are both fundamentally racist and based on the teachings of hopelessly bigoted religious hard-liners - a race-state whose crux of survival is the elimination or subjugation of an enemy race from an undefined or God-given area? And those regimes are not made any less illegitimate because they have contrived their own ethnically-pre-determined gerrymandered immigration/citizenship/voting scheme either.
A personal response may be to not buy anything that says "Made in Israel" - not that NZ receives that much in the way of Israeli products. It would mean a lot more if the government put on sanctions, but this is NZ - a white country tied to the US and the UK. The Labour government didn't do anything, why would a National party (esp. with a Jewish PM)? They won't - if the US turned around and bit them then NZ would - that's the only way anything substantial could ever be accomplished. The US would have to switch sides or abandon the Israelis.
Even the diplomatic rebukes are tepid to the point of silence. As the Greens pointed out our Foreign Minister, Muzza, and the lazy, hopeless donkeys at MFAT couldn't even put any comments - or anything at all - on the Minister of Foreign Affairs website - Locke's rant triggering, finally, an official document:
Pathetic. And it proves Locke right. Look what Muzza said in his press statement - his last press statement (as of this afternoon) and also the last one since December 23rd and also - obviously - the first and only one to mention anything about the Gaza situation. Here's what Muzza asks us to believe:Mr McCully said the criticism from Green Party spokesman Keith Locke that the government has not released a press statement on the Gaza conflict was "pure sophistry."
No, it's purely correct. The existence of this - Muzza's own press release - and the above image which shows the website of his press releases demonstrates quite clearly that the Minister is lying. The next paragraph that attempts to draw comparisons between off-the-cuff remarks to journalists and a formal announcement is absurd and only emphasises the magnitude of the failed deception. Like maybe he writes these things himself.
So, OK Muzza is a liar, so what? We all know this. So here's what he has to say - something he has put on the record officially (something he can be more readily held accountable for) only because Keith Locke forced him too by shaming him. Without that there would be no official record of NZ's position on this crisis (because lazy, hopeless, incompetent MFAT has nothing on its website I mean nothing. Fuck they are hopeless donkeys.). So, at the end of his press release, here's what Muzza has to say, on our behalf as New Zealand's Foreign Minister, concerning the Gaza situation:
"The New Zealand government is not prepared to choose sides in the conflict in the manner that Mr Locke suggests. Both sides need to step back from the brink. Israel must cease attacks on Palestinian targets and Hamas must cease the flow of mortar bombs and rockets into Israel.
"One-eyed and angry assertions like those from Mr Locke will bring us no closer to a solution, nor will they save innocent lives, " Mr McCully said.
As a statement from a Foreign Minister - any FM - that is pathetic. The fact he issued no press releases at all until this one proves that he does not take this seriously. Gaza, schmaza, eh Muzza? The fact the only official record that exists of the Foreign Ministry response is a four sentence retort to a domestic politician - two of the sentences directly attack the opposition MP. The Israelis have killed over 400 people now. The Israeli cabinet sanctioned the complete destruction of the Palestinian parliament FFS, and all Muzza can say is:
"Both sides need to step back from the brink. Israel must cease attacks on Palestinian targets and Hamas must cease the flow of mortar bombs and rockets into Israel."
That would indicate he doesn't understand the situation (in such a way that suits Israel) and this press release - the first on the Gaza situation since it erupted a week ago - suggests rather strongly that he (and his hopeless, donkey of a department) don't care either (in such a way that suits Israel). If only. But it's a bit more obvious than that, isn't it. Even describing "Palestinian targets" is a deliberate sanitisation of Israel's actions - because he then says "mortar bombs and rockets" when describing Hamas. It's a very short statement and so it is easy to examine.
By failing to acknowledge the situation on the ground, the threat Israel is to the security of the Gaza population, the results of its attacks and so on the NZ government is covering for Israel. How disgraceful.
[UPDATE: 4:10PM.
Muzza comments on terrorism in Mumbai, but not on terrorism in Gaza. OK. Muzza doesn't even want to have any information on this. He doesn't seem to want to know if any New Zealanders are caught up in this situation. He certainly never mentioned anything about information. Can't have that bothering the successor to Winston Peters. Anything goes. The US decides what the information is. The Israelis blew up the Palestinian parliament - quite deliberately - and Muzza says nothing. We'll deal with it all after the dust has settled I suppose - like how we dealt with Rwanda when we had our turn at chairing the UN Security Council. We all know how that turned out. That's MFAT leadership right there: 800,000+ dead Africans. We so, like, ya know, punch above our weight, don't we, in the world, eh. Don't we just. What's a few thou in dead Arabs between white countries, eh?
As for even physically publishing a statement on it, let alone bothering to be told what to think by the Yanks, there is a need to retain at least one public servant to operate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the holidays. Seems a bit silly to bring it up, but it looks like it does need to be pointed out. Although I dare say that Derek, the day shift security guard, could probably have more influence in the Gaza situation than the non-existent MFAT staff do if he could log on to on a computer and use the phone. Nevertheless, donkeys with MA's though they may be, we can't have the Foreign Minister's department entirely on holiday, especially when Muzza's brain was last sighted drifting out of the Pauanui Marina after being used as a ball in a drunken game of beach rugby.
-- UPDATE ENDS]
ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUGHT AGAINST FRANCO AND THE FASCISTS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR.COMING TO GAZA TIM?
ReplyDeleteMaking an issue of John Key being Jewish, Classy...
ReplyDelete"...controlled by political parties whose doctrines are both fundamentally racist and based on the teachings of hopelessly bigoted religious hard-liners - a race-state whose crux of survival is the elimination or subjugation of an enemy race from an undefined or God-given area?"
ReplyDeleteThat's Hamas all over - I presume you *are* talking about Hamas here?
Interesting post on kiwipolitico.com on the National foreign policy team. Does not instill confidence in them.
ReplyDelete"ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUGHT AGAINST FRANCO AND THE FASCISTS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR.COMING TO GAZA TIM?"
ReplyDeleteLOL Of course not, bloggers are uninterested in anything other than verbal theatrics.
TJCO - "Making an issue of John Key being Jewish, Classy..."
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Tim made enough of an issue with John Key being Jewish, nor was there enough talk during the election run-up that mentioned this fact.
Here's a little ditty from the Jerusalem Post that I googled - where they mention and praise Key, and there is a short interview.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1215331163962
You might like to cut 'n paste this into your browser to see how our smirking faced Zionist PM suckles up to his masters. Now knowing this fact no one should be surprised at the lack of response from a National Government to the ongoing Israeli Genocide of the Palestinian People.
Nice one Sam, coming out as a closet nazi is a great career move.
ReplyDeleteIt is reasonable - given the almost official silence from the NZ government - to make the observation that our Prime Minister is Jewish and that Jews are less likely to criticise Israel. (eg. David Farrar on his blog has never condemned the Israelis, he only keeps saying that it is "sad" that Israel feels it has to escalate). Fran O'Sullivan in the NZ Herald has written on this issue too - I only mentioned it in passing because I don't actually regard it as a major issue the way some others have. However I do note the above Jerusalem Post article linked to by Samclemenz (thanks):
ReplyDeleteSpeaking to The Jerusalem Post this week, Key, who turns 47 on August 9, said he was "not a deeply religious person," but still saw himself as part of the Jewish community, and had an interest in Israel because of his heritage.
"If I become prime minister, I would like to visit... I am definitely keen to go," Key said. It would be his first trip to the Jewish state.
"New Zealand has a warm relationship with Israel," he said, adding that "there is quite a lot of synergy" between the two countries, citing their small size.
[...]
"I have been involved in fund-raising for Hadassah [Medical Organization in Israel], and we had a celebration for the 60th anniversary of Israel," Key said.
Blah, blah, blah. The guy has never even visited Israel though has he? No, he hasn't. The report says he "has an interest" in Israel - I think it is pretty weak. With mega millions and a Jewish ancestory and he still hasn't visited Israel!? Very weak. But once again, it would be naive not to acknowledge that sympathies in this situation are obvious, but it would be silly to overstate them.
- If, if, if. If Israel hadn't been so aggressive over the last 60 years there would probably be no Hamas. There are Israeli political parties that want to see all the Arabs expelled - these are the sorts of extremists that Hamas faces on the other side.
ReplyDeleteYou do realise that Hamas is a Muslim extremist group, dont you, this the existence of Hamas has little to do with the last 60 years and everything to do with the great Prophets teaching of ~1,500 years ago commanding his followers (who you have sided with BTW) to wipeout or subjugate everyone who isnt Muslim (oh the irony you fool, what will you say on your blog when they come for you?). You do research an issue properly dont you?
Even if the Israeli political parties wanting to expel Arabs came to power, expel Arabs they may, when Hamas comes to power, they start actively trying to EXTERMINATE EVERY SINGLE JEW because their religion demands it. See any difference dimwit?
- The bombing of Dresden was a war crime - since you want an example.
Oh the typical reposnse of a not too bright leftie trying to dodge the real question....if Dresden was a war crime then those who comitted it should be brought to justice, no disagreement there from me. But now have a go at answering the real question you knew I was asking all along....Allied bomber drops bombs on a Nazi tank factory in Germany, resulting explosion of said factory kills some local 'innocent' villagers...would these 'innocent' casualties enrage you to the point you call for the whole war effort to be stopped, or would you acknowledge that all life lost is tragedy, but the greater goal of defeating your mortal enemy means that these casulaties are unavoidable?
Maybe the drug induced mist in your brain has cleared a little to allow you to maybe start seeing the other side of the coin a little? The Israelis are trying to defeat an enemy who has been actively engaging them (even you have to agree this fact). There will be civilian casualites, babies and children even, all tragic, however would you realy allow Hamas to gain in strength and allow them to get closer to their goal of EXTERMINATING EVERY SINGLE JEW? I sure hope not, as this is what they would do given the means, Israel have the means yet chose to target Hamas, and regretably have killed civilians. There is a bigger picture here, open your eyes lest history judge you as yet another Neville Chamberlain...
Anon 5:16PM
ReplyDeleteAnd your goal is what? Containing the Arab population of displaced refugees (from their land you forcibly occupied) in a ghetto which you can choke while you try and cut a deal with some corrupt and manipulated Fatah government that would cement in the West Bank wall. The Israelis have given the West Bank administration all the credibility of Vichy.
"There will be civilian casualites, babies and children even, all tragic, however would you realy allow Hamas to gain in strength and allow them to get closer to their goal of EXTERMINATING EVERY SINGLE JEW? I sure hope not, as this is what they would do given the means, Israel have the means yet chose to target Hamas, and regretably have killed civilians. There is a bigger picture here, open your eyes lest history judge you as yet another Neville Chamberlain..."
The world has a policy, the West, Europe, Russia, China, the Commonwealth, every country has a policy of appeasement towards the US-Israeli Axis. So that's appeasement. Every single one of us - our governments - is Neville Chamberlain. Even Iran sits their impotently, not fearing military wrath, so much as damage to their trade.
Believing that peace treaties will work when each attempt to negotiate one is manipulated by the US - the US that does nothing while the Jewish State builds an encroaching medieval wall into the dismembered proto-Arab Sate - is fantasyland, pure fantasyland. The Jewish State keeps building and reinforcing their settlements in the occupied territories - changing the facts on the ground - and the US allows it. The world allows it. No-one ain't stoppin' 'em that's for sure. So on and on they go - they do it because they can get away with it. They've been well appeased.
The Yanks and the Israelis are down to some of the last tricks left in the book because what they are doing is totally unjustifiable. Israel is a member of the UN and the Palestinians are not - that is their line now I've heard on TV a few times already. That just makes it worse of course because they have no equivalent voice. Trying to drive them into the sea. The shame of it. They can't even get a vote on the floor of the UN Security Council because the Americans are blocking any cease-fire call. They want the Israelis to "clean up."
The Americans want the cycle of retaliation to increase - they are countenancing the escalation of a "war" upon refugee populations in that beseiged ghetto. They want Israel to attack a series of refugee camps. They say nothing when the Israelis bomb their parliament. What further evidence is necessary to state that the activity of the IDF is "terrorism" - even if the method is via the American taxpayer and their weaponry. The US is the wing man for Israeli state terrorism.
You've got to give them a reason to change their opinion of you, Mr Jewish man living in the land of Israel-Palestine. Because at the moment you're acting like a total arsehole who exhibits a pattern of being a total arsehole and not unsurprisingly you are getting a reaction from people to whom you have acted as a total arsehole and to that you have just decided to be even more of an arsehole. That's the situation.
As for the usual Israeli red herring arguments that we will no doubt see replicated in blogs and so forth as Israel's cyber battalions hit the web on their re-education camapign, two:
1. The taunt of "they'll kill us all" itself is extremist is it not? That is the cry of the terror militias that formed the IDF as much as it is the cry of the Islamic militias formed as resistance to those Jewish militias I suppose. If that's the motivation and doctrine you need to justify what you are doing then think again. The radicalisation is commensurate with the Israeli pressure. And you don't take that argument seriously either, so I won't.
2. The "Muslim" issue. You would be just as barking if it was a hard-line secular splinter of Fatah that had taken over Gaza instead of the Muslim Hamas. Israel has about half the Hamas caucus of MPs hostage inside Israel.
Israel should do these things, but will not:
WIthdraw from Gaza immediately.
Cease-fire thereafter.
Lift the Gaza blockade.
Allow the UN to control all the occupied territories not in PA control.
Withdraw from the settlements on the West Bank.
Decommission their nukes under IAEA supervision.
Demolish the West Bank wall...
Take your pick there's a lot of things that could be negotiated other than a prisoner exchange. You owe more in creativity to 500+ victims than a prisoner exchange.
But Israel not cannot, but will not because they want to pre-determine the substantive outcome of any agreement - and the Palestinian party can never be expected to negotiate under those terms when the Israelis finally decide they've massacred enough people and start making unilateral demands at the cease-fire negotiations. Changing facts on the ground to disadvantage the already subjugated is what Israel does. It isn't just merely "sad" (as David Farrar would have you swallow - implying it was in some way necessary or justified), it's wrong and it is wicked.
But what about tomorrow:
You can't pick and choose who the other peace partner is. They have to talk to each other eventually. It will have to be through intermediaries right now, but they have to start working the cease-fire terms out soon because their type of negotiation is killing a lot of innocents unnecessarily. Skip to the negotiation bit.
Tim
ReplyDeleteNice reasoned reply, strangely devoid of hyperbole and expletives. Thanks for explaining your position much more lucidly, how nice to have a proper debate addressing the issues, I'd say you'll get more readers if you posted that sort of content than the usual emotive drivel that only polarises people.
But back to the issue....we are not Neville Chamberlains, as your so-called "US-Israeli Axis" (which is an insult to decency calling it an Axis BTW) is not intent on taking the rest of us on militarily. We are not proclaiming peace on our time whilst your "Axis" plots to take us all over. The Muslim extremist however, are doing PRECISELY this. And will continue to do this ad infinitum.
Your reasoned plan would work in my view if the Hamas side reacted as those of us in the West react. However, I just dont think you understand how different a mindset the Muslim extremist has to us. Their religion demands they subjugate non-Muslims, and if they cant do that, then kill us, all of us, including me, including you (yet you support them, again, the irony of the blind left). They will keep coming until they themselves are dead, and in the case of suicide bombers will seek death actively. They are different, they think differently, act differently, but most importantly, do not play by the same 'rules' that you would wish them too cosied up here in little old safe NZ. Different rules, you need to understand THEIR rules, to understand how this will play out.
Thanks for the debate, Im out of this one now though, busy few weeks ahead, no time left for blog commenting...
PS. please save yourself from accusing me of racsim for proclaiming them different, its a call I have heard only too often and if you knew my background would be as hollow as calling Marthin Luther King a racist.
Nice reasoned reply, strangely devoid of hyperbole and expletives. Thanks for explaining your position much more lucidly, how nice to have a proper debate addressing the issues, I'd say you'll get more readers if you posted that sort of content than the usual emotive drivel that only polarises people.
ReplyDeleteWhere as your patronizing dribble will get the usual send off it deserves Anon.
Anon writes -"You do realise that Hamas is a Muslim extremist group, dont you, this the existence of Hamas has little to do with the last 60 years and everything to do with the great Prophets teaching of ~1,500 years ago commanding his followers (who you have sided with BTW) to wipeout or subjugate everyone who isnt Muslim (oh the irony you fool, what will you say on your blog when they come for you?). You do research an issue properly dont you?"---------------------------------
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (fitting name) Do YOU realize that Hamas is the duly elected Party representing the Palestinian People? And that the "Tag" Muslim Extremist was added by Israel to try and justify it's ongoing attempts to expand their foothold on another "Legal" Soverign State's Territory through a branding technique that was introduced to the world by the U.S. with the supposed "War on Terror"??
Do you also realize that as a Governing body, "Hamas" has a responsibility to provide security for their Citizen's within their Soverign Territory as ANY other Sovereign country does?
Do you realize that Hamas calls their Army "Hamas", and that the same bullshit-branding technique Israel uses as it's justification hold true with Israel and the "IDF"? How does the Hamas Military differ from the IDF - Anon in your branding them Extremist's? That is i suppose other than the benevolent donations of Armament's of High Technology Weaponry of Destruction donated to them by their Red, White and Blue Pal's!
So basically, what you're saying is Palestine has no right to defend itself against an aggressive neighbour who is intent on expanding it's territory at the expense of all the Palestinian People's existence, and are not allowed to democaritcally elect a governing Party that accept the responsibility for security and choose to call themselves Hamas - which means "Terrist" in some unknown alien language that only you and a select few other global expansionist Country's know about?
And what about this statement that calls for the extermination of all Non-Jew's in your Talmud? - What relationship might this have with your insinuation of the Muslim Prophets calling for the extinction of the Jew's who were Centuries away from even being present in PALESTINE?
I guess if you say so it must all be right huh? I don't think so!
I think that the Israeli's are coming to the realization that there time is up, and if they slow or stop the Genocide they might have to face the reality of their waning mortality in the region after 60 years of being the planted - "Western-wedge". If the U.S. blinked for just one second, you would in fact be wiped from the books of History.
There is a great degree of difference, you must admit, in technical terms between Actionary, and Re-Actionary in case you have forgotten it!
MORE THAN WORDS...
ReplyDelete