Israel using Holocaust guilt to continue Gaza op, says British Jewish MP
A British lawmaker declared Thursday that Israel was taking advantage of the guilt many non-Jews feel over the Holocaust to ruthlessly press ahead with its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
Gerald Kaufman, a governing Labour Party legislator, sharply criticized Israel in a House of Commons debate on Gaza, arguing that the Jewish state has exploited ( Read more... )
This bit "Cessation of rocket attacks upon communities in Israel," pissed me off muchly.
I'd be interested to hear what you have to say as in my mind, it's so not over even though the news says zilch.
January 26th 2009
Dear Ms Richardson
"Thank you for your letter about the current dreadful situation in Gaza.
I entirely share your view that the military actions in Gaza of the Israeli Government are unacceptable. I strongly support the position taken by the British Government and others in seeking a ceasefire and cessation of all military action as soon as possible. I am delighted that this has now been achieved and appears to be accepted by both Israel and Hamas.
This is of course only a very short-term stopgap and a longer-term approach is needed.
In my view this has to comprise:-
• Acceptance by HAMAS, the President of Iran and others in the region that the State of Israel should continue to exist. This is in my view a necessary precondition of any successful establishment of peace in the region.
• Cessation of rocket attacks upon communities in Israel, and closing the tunnels through which arms are transported into Gaza
• Re-establishment of the ceasefire which HAMAS, for reasons which are still not clear to me, decided to end.
• Cessation by Israel of its blockade of Gaza and opening up means of travel into and out of Gaza for people and goods, particularly food and other essential supplies.
• Cessation by Israel of the building of new settlements and moves to close some of those which have already been established.
• Commitment by Israel to resolving these matters by diplomatic and peaceful, rather than military, methods.
I remain of the view that the so-called 'two state' solution is the only one which has any long-term chance of success, remote though this view seems now, and that a more united Palestinian representation is probably a necessary condition for success, difficult though that is to see.
I believe that those campaigners who see this issue only as a matter of unacceptable Israeli behaviour, true though that sometimes is, miss a very important point. Leaders of the Palestinian people, very much including HAMAS, need to demonstrate by their own actions and words that they are committed to peace and stability in the region. That unfortunately has been lacking and I believe that in the past the Palestinian leadership has discarded major opportunities for peace.
In general overall terms I believe that the position of the British government on these matters is broadly right and in general they therefore have my support.
Throughout the last year I have made these points in discussion with many in the region and elsewhere, including in Damascus at a meeting with President Assad and on Syrian television.
I will continue to make these points and I do not intend to associate myself with the vociferous campaign of one side of this discussion."
Yours sincerely
Charles Clarke MP
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I'm sure we are on some kind of database. lol. I will be because I email directly to people in Gaza and the West Bank and plague the Israeli government with letters, calls and emails. ;0)
Thanks for sharing your letter. Here is what I think of his reply....
I entirely share your view that the military actions in Gaza of the Israeli Government are unacceptable. I strongly support the position taken by the British Government and others in seeking a ceasefire and cessation of all military action as soon as possible. I am delighted that this has now been achieved and appears to be accepted by both Israel and Hamas.
It's laughable that he should support the British government because they did pish. Brown uttered the same old same old and let Israel commit genocide. As for ceasefire, Israel has bombed Gaza just about daily ever since the so called ceasefire began.
This is of course only a very short-term stopgap and a longer-term approach is needed.
Well yes and it's gone on now for six decades so it needs some strong action from the west, particularlyly Britain because of its role in starting it.
In my view this has to comprise:-
• Acceptance by HAMAS, the President of Iran and others in the region that the State of Israel should continue to exist. This is in my view a necessary precondition of any successful establishment of peace in the region.
I absolutely disagree because they have offered a de-facto recognition and it is always ignored. No one in their shoes would fully recognise a foreign people's right to invade Palestina and steal if from it's rightful people. To do so would grant Israel the legitimacy to entirely wipe Palestinians off the map.
• Cessation of rocket attacks upon communities in Israel, and closing the tunnels through which arms are transported into Gaza.
No way, not until Israel stops stealing land, bulldozing homes, starving Gazans, building the apartheid wall, imprisoning Pals without charge, targeted killings and dozens more crimes. If Palestinians stopped resistance the world would look away and Israel would use the chance to wipe them all out.
• Re-establishment of the ceasefire which HAMAS, for reasons which are still not clear to me, decided to end.
Just bursted a vein or too. Do these people just not bother checking the facts? Israel broke the ceasefire in November by killing several Palestinians in a bombing raid. Not that Israel ever abided by the ceasefire by opening the borders and allowing in aid or by ending their almost daily assault of Gazan fishing boats.
Basically they murdered Palestinians for using tunnels that they had to use because Israel was starving them to death. There is no proof that the tunnels had brought in as much as a single bullet came through those tunnels, and even if they did why shouldn't they arm themselves against those brutal bastards?
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This I do agree with but it would have to be overseen because Israel don't ever do what they say they will do.
• Cessation by Israel of the building of new settlements and moves to close some of those which have already been established.
Oh dear me. All settlement must stop. All Israelis must leave Palestinian land and go back to Israel. They have no right to be there and there will never be peace while they occupy Palestinian land.
• Commitment by Israel to resolving these matters by diplomatic and peaceful, rather than military, methods.
Obviously I agree but someone is going to have to stop Israel because they are out of control.
I remain of the view that the so-called 'two state' solution is the only one which has any long-term chance of success, remote though this view seems now, and that a more united Palestinian representation is probably a necessary condition for success, difficult though that is to see.
I don't see how a two state solution can work now thanks to Israel and so it should be one state called Palestine and with equal rights for all the inhabitants.
It shouldn't ever be a Jewish State because that negates the rights of all non-Jews who live there and who come from families who lived there before most Jewish Israelis arrived in Palestine.
I believe that those campaigners who see this issue only as a matter of unacceptable Israeli behaviour, true though that sometimes is, miss a very important point. Leaders of the Palestinian people, very much including HAMAS, need to demonstrate by their own actions and words that they are committed to peace and stability in the region. That unfortunately has been lacking and I believe that in the past the Palestinian leadership has discarded major opportunities for peace.
This is a tired and deeply flawed argument because Israel have always prevented peace not Palestinians. Israel don't want peace because they want the whole of biblical Greater Israel and they can only have that through force. Also they know that Israel has no right to exist and without war they would have had to admit that they have no right to that land many years ago.
In general overall terms I believe that the position of the British government on these matters is broadly right and in general they therefore have my support.
This belief shows he is clueless because the British government has proven that they prefer to allow Israel to continue occupation and genocide than pressing them to make peace.
Throughout the last year I have made these points in discussion with many in the region and elsewhere, including in Damascus at a meeting with President Assad and on Syrian television.
I'm sure the Syrians loved him. *sarcasm* They are also waiting for the return of stolen land.
I will continue to make these points and I do not intend to associate myself with the vociferous campaign of one side of this discussion.
Of course not but then why does he so clearly support Israel? Blah!
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Basically a massive THANK YOU for both parts and I'm wondering how I can take this further.
I am not sure what TV you can get, but last night's Panorama was very good - you could see that it was all carefully edited but there was quite a telling moment where Dr Izzeldeen Abuelaish went to talk to an Israeli couple.. the husband was a bit non-commital abou the Israeli shelling.. but when the woman opened her mouth - an American accent full of hate came out. I have many American friends and they are all lovely and unique but these type of Americans just terrify me.
Apprently teh Isreali army were shelling Hamas positions *nod* *nod* and that the chikldren who were killed where human shields *nod* *nod* and that doing your homework in your Dad's house obviously constituted a human shield held captive by Hamas. Jeremy Bowen made the Israeli politicians look like idiots from my POV. Yet it is obvious not all Israelis think like that! Viz. the newscaster friend of Dr Abuelaish. God help in these elections - if the far right get in?
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I've also been wondering about how I can take things further with various people in positions of power but it is very difficult for several reason. It seems to me that some people tow a line that they either believe or pretend to agree with for the sake of their careers.
It is very diffucult to get either of the above to change their minds or to admit the truth. I know I have tried so very hard before. I think the only way is to make them understand that if they continue their support for Israel whether the suppport is absolute or self preserving that they will lose their position. Those put in power can be removed by the people and so the only way is to show them that the people will not vote for them unless they change. Not an easy task in a world full of apathy.
We can pick up most of your channels as long as there aren't any storms and then they usually go off completely. I'll have to see if it is repeated or on You Tube.
Some of the very worse Israeli Jews are from America. The lunatic fringe of violent settlers in Hebron are mostly New Yorkers although conversely a great many of New York liberal Jews protested loudly against what happened in Gaza.
As for the woman she is what Yaacov refers to as a 'pull chord zionist', meaning that they are like the toys that say pre-installed sentences when a chord is pulled. It just amazes me how anyone can sit in Israel knowing full well the country belongs to Palestinians and yet they justify genocide as though they have a right over any other people on the planet.
It's hard to believe the far right isn't already in power so I can't imagine what could happen next. :0(
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