Dramatic situation in Middle East

by provetza Fri Jul 14, 2006 18:41

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by iosaf Fri Jul 14, 2006 19:42

showing areas attacked both sides of the frontier, the UN demarcation line, the refugee routes and where Jesus went fishing & walked on water.

Someday there will be an interpretive centre when everyone lives in peace-.

Your kids will like others of the EU be able to entertain and educate themselves for a few hours on the "virtual walk on water world" exhibit in Galilee's sea area whilst you sunbathe languidly on the shores of Susita after a spot hill walking in the Golan.

But before this idyllic solution and obvious economic progress may be made, many lives will have to be lost.
Some people say this is just a part of it, & we've got to fulfill the book.

(download map to enlarge image)

Eastern Mediterranean Sea Nazareth to Beirut road map

by hmmm Fri Jul 14, 2006 21:41

In fact - the elections celebrated in the occupied territories, Lebanon and Iraq in the period 2005-2006 are amongst the observed for fairness ever held in world-history. Even their participation astounds Western (be they EU or US) observers. Ireland has never had such an election.

So....
Does all this freedom lead to a new partition of Lebanon?
Does it justify a new occupation by Israel of its troublesome frontier until the people there stop denying Israel's right to exist?
Does that justify the work of Hamas to get elected, which for the first time in the Islamic world saw women in and out of hijab campaign for votes, go door to door, get elected?
How big does the apartheid state have to be until half of the world's ethnic or religious jews understand they got zionism wrong - and want an orange or olive grove where the rich christian tourists go?
Will this brave new bible land have a wall around it?
Or can they just say sorry??? - "we do believe you exist - you are the master - we will arrest the terrorist minority within a minority today as soon as you put the electricity back on & we can find them, sure they all look alike - you know how it is."

bottom line is :-
Identify who really is playing with the civilians on both sides of a map, and who really wants war - & who wins by one side losing.
At the moment civilians are losing. Thats modern warfare = Get yourself to a protest.

by Golly Bar Fri Jul 14, 2006 22:34

This Israeli action was completly OTT. They killed 60 Lebanese civilians and what gives them the right to hold an entire country to blockade with their military forces? Israel committed another act of butchery in the Gaza strip simultaneously. How many more enemies are the Israeli's going to make? I personally see Israel as the foremost threat to world peace. Sure they have a right to defend themselves (within international law).

by ChrisP.Bacon Sat Jul 15, 2006 19:42 Gitdail at yahoo dot ie

GollyBar. I agree and disagree with what you said.

Sure, the Lebanese and Palestinian people do deserve our sympathy for what they are enduring now, but Israel also should be allowed to protect it's armed forces and civilians in their own territory. While terrorist groups are elected into power in these regions whose aim it is to see Israel taken from the map, even though funnily enough they do say that Israel does not exist in their eyes anyway, there could never be peace. And remember that this has all kicked off because of Israeli hostages were taken. If a robber walks into a bank and says that he wants a friend or family member released from jail or he will kill these hostages, what do you think the Gardai are going to tell him... Sure I will personally sign the pardon for your friend who is responsible for taking the lives of Irish citizens and belonging to a terrorist group that is fully intent on ending my life? No bloody way.

Terrorism was only half way for this state of the Republic of Ireland to come into existence, worldwide public pressure of rightousness was the other way we secured our freedom from an imperial foreign power. What person could ever tell the father of an israeli child that died over a Hezbollah rocket being fired into Israel that their killer would be released because an Israeli soldier was taken hostage? I thought we gave up the notion of "and eye for an eye" long ago, but terrorism, especially state sponsored terrorism such as the Hezzies and Iran, don't understand anything but that notion. I would wager money that even if Israel was to stand down its armed forces and return to their borders and not fire a single bullet or shell for one full month, Hezbollah would still persist in their terrorist actions. Even today at an emergency summit of the Arab nations in Cairo, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, the UAE and the Palestinian Authority all agree that Hezbollah actions will set the region back years, only Syria supports the actions of these terrorists. Terrorism Gollybar, does not understand International Law. All it understands is the rule of the gun, the rule of killing. How can any countrys armed forces legitimately deal with these kinds of threats when the states they are in are in open support of them? When Syria and Iran back down, stop supplying these people with new recruits, weapons and money, and the terrorism is gone, I believe then there will be peace, but as long as madmen hold Israel hostage by the power of the gun and misguided morals, there will never be peace. Remember and research the causes of the Six day war, you will see why Israel has a right to protect itself then....

by Golly Bar Sat Jul 15, 2006 19:51

ChrisP.Bacon,

You have a somewhat, funny way of simplistically trying to indirectly pardon Israel for what it is currently doing to the Palestinians/Lebanese. Sure every country has a right to defend itself but over-retaliating to an attack undermines the Government from which the group originates from. Bombing civilian infrastructure and killing lebanese civilians will only strengthen peoples ressolve against that oppressor. Are you trying to say that Israels bombing of Beirut Airport was a legitimite target rather than a civilian one?

by ung? Sat Jul 15, 2006 20:00

Before we talk about "other states" "being behind" the actions of "terrorist hezbollah".
We have to remember Lebanon is an independent democratic state, it is by no means a state that sponsors terror. It has been welcomed to the community of nations in the last year and held up by teh whole spectrum of Western governments including the USA as an example of "emergent democracy".

Its government is presently powerless to stop actions from Hezbollah who are concentrated in its southern province. Most of the attacks by Israel on Lebanon have so far not been in the southern province. The map is only a few comments up the page. Israel is attacking civilians not Hezbollah.
Israel has destroyed Lebanon's infrastructure in less than half a week. Why?
To pressure the innocent Lebanese civilians to stop Hezbollah?
or to de facto re-occupy southern Lebanon?

This is war. short and very simple and a war in which civilians are being actively targetted and killed.

I reject any comparisons to the 6 day war. In fact most analysts have already stopped short of calling this a regional war. It won't go that far. I reject any thinking person negating the sovreign independent democratic state of Lebanon's right to peace. I condemn any state which in revenge action for the capture of 2 soldiers - destroys airports, bridges, electricity infrastructure, Telecommunication systems, kills over 60 civilians, fires on civilian convoys, ensures over 1000 foreign (EU) workers are withdrawn, and still continues to "talk about turning the clock back 20 years". Do people not get this? Israel is breaking international law. It has declared war not just on the southern province but the all of the Lebanese people and to be quite blunt the 16 Irish citizens air lifted out yesterday as well. Or does anyone think if an Irishman or Irishwoman had been killed by the IDF/IAF it would have been "understandable" if those 2 soldiers were released???
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5180202.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5182564.stm

by Anthony Sat Jul 15, 2006 20:42

People have the right to defend themselves but to apply your bank hostage analogy: If the the guards were the Israeli state, they'd round up and shoot everyone that happened to live on the street or village where the robber came from. The Israeli state indiscriminately terrorises Palestinian and Lebanese civilians far more than other organisation and either instigates the violence or retaliates far in excess of strikes against it or its citizens. It cares little or not at all about the the numbers of innocent civilians being killed, maimed or deprived of such essentials as hospitals, schools, water, electricity by its attacks. In actuality, the Israeli state is the biggest terrorist organisation in the area.

You're correct in your assertion that such terrorist organisations pay little heed to International Law. Witness how UN resolutions have been ignored over the past decades. It's easy to ignore such international agreements when the state that sponsors Israeli force happens to be much more powerful that Syria or Iran - or any other state in the world.

It'd be a positive step if people moved past the "an eye for an eye" cycle of revenge that just leads to further bloodshed but in the case of the Israeli state, it would be a step forward if they limited themselves accordingly. Unfortunately, the Israeli state relies on the power of the gun and its willingness to use if with no moral scruples and with greater severity than anyone else. If they actually kept to an "eye for an eye" there'd be far less violence being inflicted on innocent civilians. Rather than responding by indiscriminately bombing the houses and infrastructure of Lebanon, they'd have merely kidnapped two members of Hezbollah in their recent retaliation.

by martin Sun Jul 16, 2006 03:56

Its easy for us to sit here in our safe secure little island and critisise israel for its military tactics but we dont have rockets raining down on our cities on an hourly basis or have a history of suicide bombers blowing themselves up on our school buses and our shops so its easy for us to get on our high horse and preach to israel how they should behave when we have no idea what they have to go through.

by ung Sun Jul 16, 2006 04:50

If that's too difficult for you to answer, then how many times has the terrorist group in the minority of the southern province (really far away from where Israel is bombing civilians) rained down rockets on Israel?

I'll make it easy. Since the middle of last week, Hezbollah have fired more rockets than at any stage in the last 5 years. They have totalled a little less than 200 and killed at least 2 israeli adults.
Whereas :-
Israel has now killed over 70 Lebanese civilians, 14of whom were kids and wiped several billion euros off the economic infrastructure of the country. & they did that on "an hourly basis" and it doesn't look like they're stopping. & do you think they phoned up Ireland's embassy and gave them warning that our citizens were (like several other million innocents) going to be in the line of fire?

Israel has invaded Lebanon & destroyed years of peaceful normality and economic progress.
no-one can justify that. Nothing justifies that. Are we to move from thinking "its ok to bomb a country to smithereens to topple a dictator (sadam) to install an emergent democracy" to " its ok to bomb an emergent democracy into smithereens to make a handful of terrorists release their hostages"?

Think about it. Where do you think civilisation goes?

by Bryan Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:01

Martin,
Who created that athmosphere in the first place? The answer is simple; the occupying force, thats who. The Palestinians are going through much more than what Israel is going through. Remember, Israeli actions inside the West Bank and Gaza are also considered terrorist activities because they always target civilians as well as infrastructure. Just what gives Israel the right to hold not one, but two countries to a standstill? 160 Lebanese civilians have now died because of Israeli bombardement, all but 13 of them were civilians. Not a terrorist act?

by Condemn The Beligerents Mr AHERN Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:10

Your partnership with the war-mongers in the United States through the use of Shannon Airport as a pitstop for war-planes.

They say that "if you are not with us, you are against us".

You facilitate war through cowardice.

Mr Bush has said that Israel "Must do what it needs to protect its borders".

Your alliance with the beligerents is sickening and tragic. You have refused to condemn this war.

Your silence on the matter of illegal war is an abuse of the principle of Irish neutrality.

NOT IN MY NAME.

by Condemn The Beligerents MR Ahern Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:27

*Through silence and overt collusion is not acceptable.*

NOT IN MY NAME.

by MichaelY - iawm Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:49

Lebanon's militant political group Hezbollah (Party of God) has recently become a global brand name. But for all of us in the West, the anti-war movement -- and particularly for those who must deal with the group -- the overarching question is, "What's the brand?"

The notes below are an initial salvo for a discussion among anti-war activists and Palestinian and Lebanese comrades with whom the IAWM has been working recently. All serious contributions are welcome.

For starters, the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and the European Parliament all designate Hezbollah as a ‘terrorist’ organisation. The U.S. government blames Hezbollah for a litany of acts that nearly defined Middle East terrorism in the mid-'80s, including: the Beirut truck bombings in October 1983 that killed 241 U.S. Marines; the April 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut which killed 63 people, a second bombing of the U.S. Embassy that killed 22 people in September 1984; and the 1985 hijacking of Rome-to-Athens TWA Flight 847 in which a US diver was killed.
Hezbollah, from its end, denies involvement in any of these attacks.
The U.S. also claims the group carried out a series of kidnappings of Westerners from 1982-92, including the torture and killings of CIA Station Chief William Buckley, the U.S. Army Colonel William Higgins; and the abductions of American journalist Terry Anderson and the Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy, Terry Waite.

Hezbollah is a complex organization. In a 2003 report, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group wrote:
"Fully penetrating Hezbollah's decision-making process is almost impossible. The movement enjoys a highly effective regime of internal discipline and concealment."

In addition to its militia, Hezbollah has a full-scale multimedia operation including a media relations department and an extremely savvy media wing. It publishes a monthly magazine called Qubth Ut Alla, (The Fist of God) and runs a TV Network called Al-Manar (The Lighthouse) and a radio station al-Nour (The Light). Both of these were bombed by Israeli warplanes over the last week. It is noteworthy to study what the ITIC at CSS says about Hezbollah’s media activity
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S) http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/10_04/fyop.htm

The Hezbollah organization places a great deal of importance on the campaign over the public mind, viewing it as a key component in its struggle against Israel. The organization operates an extensive network of propaganda that spans magazines, a TV station, a radio station and Internet websites. Hezbollah makes widespread use of communication infrastructures in order to disseminate its vision, doctrine and messages to diverse target audiences in Lebanon, the Middle East, and elsewhere across the globe.

Foremost among the means of propaganda used by the organization is the Al-Manar TV station, broadcasting worldwide from Lebanon via a multi-national satellite system. Hezbollah attributes major importance to television broadcasting. It can be safely established, in fact, that Hezbollah—owing to generous financial support from Iran —is the world’s number one terrorist organization when it comes to its ability to make such extensive and diverse use of a TV station under its control.

Another US based neo-con organisation, the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, http://fdd.typepad.com/fdd/2006/07/hezbollahs_alma.html, has just celebrated the Israeli attack of al-Manar facilities as follows:

“Hezbollah uses al-Manar to recruit terrorists, incite violent attacks, conduct operational surveillance, raise funding and communicate with its forces,” said Mark Dubowitz, chief operating officer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Israel has every right to defend itself. This attack was meant to cripple Hezbollah’s communications at a time when it holds two Israeli soldiers hostage and is indiscriminately attacking Israeli civilians.”
At the same time, Hezbollah also maintains a very effective programme of charitable and community support work, including building schools and hospitals for the Shia community in Lebanon.

Interestingly for many, although Hezbollah defines itself through opposition to Israel and the US, it has also condemned the 9/11 attacks and spoken out against some of the beheadings by insurgents in Iraq. Made up of Shia Muslims, Hezbollah says it has no connection to Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda (dominated by Wahabist Sunnis who consider Shias heretics).
Defining his organisation, Director of Foreign Media Hussein Naboulsi tries to clarify some of the enigma that is Hezbollah in the following manner:

It's a political, religious party created as a reaction to Israel's invasion [of Lebanon] in 1982. Politically it's represented in both cabinet and parliament, and considered by all to be a legitimate party. But if you're against Israel, the U.S. administration labels you as they want." Many in Lebanon, especially among the majority Shia community (an estimated 40% of the population) consider Hezbollah a resistance movement. Some even regard Hezbollah as liberators that forced Israel to retreat from southern Lebanon in 2000.

"This organization should be considered the most patriotic in Lebanon," says Naboulsi. "We fought the Israelis and forced them to leave. Hezbollah sacrificed 1,800 martyrs and thousands of wounded soldiers for the sake of this country --for the sake of dignity and honour of this country."

Because of that perception, Hezbollah is the only faction in the country allowed to keep weapons, ostensibly as a buffer against Israeli incursions. Naboulsi says the militia has earned the right to be armed.

"Fighting the Israelis is not a picnic; it's blood spilled. It's not a reward in a festival," he says, "No one can take that mission unless he has faith -- extreme faith and loyalty to this country."
Hezbollah is also deep into several phases of another mission: that of becoming a credible and viable political entity in the fractious sphere of Lebanese politics. The first time it got involved in the political process was in 1992, winning 12 seats in the 128-seat parliament. But in an alliance with the Shia Amal party, it nearly doubled those numbers in the 2005 general election, taking 23 seats. Hezbollah also holds cabinet posts when it cast its lot with the current alliance of parties forming the Lebanese government.

by redjade Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:56

''This is unequivocally a war of choice.

[....]

The war we declared on Lebanon has already exacted from us, and of course from Lebanon, too, a heavy price. Did anyone give any thought to the question whether it should be paid?

Everyone knows how this war begins, but does anyone know how it ends? Heavy casualties in the Israeli rear? A war with Syria? A general war? Is it all worth it? Look what a new rookie government can do in such a short time.

Behind the operations in Lebanon and Gaza is the same foolish idea about pressure on the population leading to political changes that Israel wants. In the history of the Israeli-Arab conflict, that concept has only led us from one disaster to the next. We "cleansed" southern Lebanon of Palestinians in 1982, and what did we get? Hezbollahstan instead of Fatahland.''

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738739.html

About: Haaretz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haaretz

by Kevin Wingfield - Irish Anti War Movement Mon Jul 17, 2006 16:27 info at irishantiwar dot org

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT:

* CONDEMNS ISRAELI STATE TERRORISM

* SUSPECTS ISRAELI AGGRESSION IS PART OF US/ISRAEL PLAN TO ESCALATE WARMONGERING AGAINST IRAN AND SYRIA

* ORGANISES PROTEST AT JEB BUSH VISIT FRIDAY

The Irish Anti War Movement condemned Israeli state terrorism today following Israel’s assault on Lebanon.which began on 12 July.

As in Gaza, Israel is holding the whole civilian Lebanese population hostage following the capture and abduction of two Israeli soldiers..

At least 150 Lebanese civilians have been killed and many more injured in indiscriminate bombing on neighbourhoods and villages. Civil infrastructure has been deliberately destroyed including the international airport, roads, bridges, power facilities and television stations. Hospitals are crammed with the injured and are running short of medicines and supplies.

Israel continues to refuse to negotiate reciprocal prisoner releases with either Hamas or Hezbollah.

Israel holds nearly 10,000 Palestinian prisoners, including about 1,000 women and children as well as a smaller number of Lebanese.

These are 10,000 hostages held by Israel, while the Zionist state and its allies are more concerned with the three Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah

Israel along with US president George W Bush has charged that Iran and Syria are responsible for the crisis.

The IAWM argues that the current crisis was triggered by the refusal of Israel and its allies to accept the democratic election result in the Palestine Authority which brought Hamas to power. Continued Israeli action against Hamas including the killing of some of its political leaders and the blockading of the West Bank, led to the response of Hamas in taking an Israeli soldier prisoner. Despite the willingness of the Hamas led government to negotiate over prisoners and even implicitly recognise Israel and seek peace, the Israeli government undertook assassinations and abductions of Hamas parliamentarians and ministers and launched a murderous attack on the population of Gaza, which continues unabated.

The suspicion is that the US and Israel are orchestrating this crisis to pave the way for attacks on Iran and/or Syria with the aim of “regime change”.

This is consistent with the declared aims of those around Bush in the US administration. Jeb Bush, the president’s brother and governor of Florida, is one of the architects of the Project for a New American Century — the manifesto of the neo-cons around President Bush. It calls for the use of US power to reshape the oil-rich Middle East in favour of US interests.

The PNAC Report of 2000 states: 'The United States has for decades sought to play a more permanent role in Gulf regional security. While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein.'

The demonising of Iran in the context of rising tension over its nuclear programme and its support for resistance in Iraq are indications that powerful voices in Washington have plans to inflict on Iran the devastation inflicted on Iraq.

Jeb Bush is addressing a business lunch in Dublin this week. The Irish Anti War Movement is holding a protest between 12 noon and 2pm on Friday 21st at the Conrad Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace to protest at this warmonger’s presence in Ireland

by Paul R - . Mon Jul 17, 2006 17:04 tarbhmaith at imagine dot ie

See the site below for info on how Israel treats its non jewish citizens. Then ask yourself is it any wonder that they have no compulsion in killing so many citizens of other nations.
http://www.geocities.com/alabasters_archive/jewish_hist....html

"The State of Israel officially discriminates in favour of Jews and against non-Jews in many domains of life, of which I regard three as being most important: residency rights, the right to work and the right to equality before the law. Discrimination in residency is based on the fact that about 92 per cent of Israel's land is the property of the state and is administered by the Israel Land Authority according to regulations issued by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), and affiliate of the World Zionist Organization. In its regulations the JNF denies the right to reside, to open a business, and often to work, to anyone who is not Jewish, only because he is not Jewish. At the same time, Jews are not prohibited from taking residence or opening businesses anywhere in Israel. If applied in another state against the Jews, such discriminatory practice would instantly and justifiably be labelled antisemitism and would no doubt spark massive public protests. When applied by Israel as a part of its 'Jewish ideology', they are usually studiously ignored or excused when rarely mentioned."

For me Israel does not adhere to any concept of religious equality that one would normally associate with a liberal representative democracy.

Hence it is a real pain in the ass to constantly observe ignorant (deliberatly of course, as most people are not that stupid) analysis of the Palistinian situation which equates any and all criticism of Israeli actions as racist and sectarian. All such reactions are designed to inhibit the discourse and worse to create an atmosphere whereby a national bully such as Israel and the US can continue their imperialistic and deeply antihumanistic programmes/wars unfettered by any moral code.

Nearly 60 years of middle eastern wars in an area the size of Munster and they still have not learnt anything from their own history. The answer is security and more security, and all their previous military options have only increased their sense of insecurity, doubly compounded by the recent loss of military superiority (ironically caused by their neo con friends in the top echelons of the executive and their illegal war in Iraq) of their best friends U.S. of Amerikkka, a buddy in their own self image. THEY ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO GO FOR IRAN to show how little they learn from their mistakes and all for Leon Uris' "plucky " Israel

Too many people believe that power only comes from the barrel of the gun. Israel/US can not negotiate with terrorists except when they decide it is right to swap prisoners.

When will the EU start to use its soft power more effectively. This is the time when the US's power is decreasing at an accelerated rate as a result of their messed up Iraqi adventure. Latin America is pushing the boundaries vis a vis the US, hopefully this will be pushed to its logical conclusion in the next few years, why does the EU not utilise this opportunity as well. Unless those in power in the EU believe that the US is somewhat right and they are happy that the US and not them are in the firing line.

It is hard not to be angry at the continuing illegal actions of either Israel or the US

by Bryan Mon Jul 17, 2006 21:29

Israel is a terrorist regime. It gets its kicks on the savage murdering of its Palestinian neighbour as part of its attempts to cleanse Palestine free from its indigeneous people. This has never suceeded and will never suceed either. I'm just happy Ireland is supportive of the Palestinian peoples right to have an independent Palestinian state.

Boycott Israeli goods.

by Ali H. Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:34

The EU is Israel's largest export market and accounted for a €4BN trade surplus in favour of Israel in 2004. The latest EU-Israel trade agreement includes provisions for political dialogue with the Palestinians and Israels other neighbours.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/countri...n.htm

With the latest Israeli devastation and wanton distruction of Lebanese and Palestinian infrastructure and consequent effects including the death of over 200 Lebanese Israel is clearly in breach of the trade agreement and it should be suspended forthwith pending the cessation of Israeli attacks and compensation by the Israelis for the damage and death infilicted on the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.

Suspending trade would rapidly bring the Israeli dog to heel and show them that if they want to be regarded as part of the "civilised" world they must behave accordingly!

In the meantime boycott all Israeli produce and request that your local supermarket/supplier stock equivalent products from a civilised country.