Gaza

[aeolium]

The writer of that article is so scrupulous that he omits to mention the non-Hamas Palestinians who have nowhere to go.

Sarah Montague on this morning's Toady shut a Hamas spokesperson up, telling him to stop talking about the past and address the future, conveniently forgetting (for the BBC's umpteenth time) that the present there is the past unsorted.

Yes, what I've noticed in much of the media is the way the Israeli line that the Palestinians are really responsible for their own deaths has been swallowed so extensively.

The closest analogy I can come to is this one: a large number of people are penned into a small enclave or block of flats by a besieging militia which uses all measures to ensure that the siege may not be lifted. In desperation to overcome the deprivation caused by shortage of foodstuffs, clean water, medical supplies, electricity, any kind of freedom of movement as a result of the siege, the imprisoned use whatever feeble weapons come to hand to break out. The besiegers respond with overwhelming force, destroying many rooms and killing many of those inside. They then justify their action by saying that if only the residents had remained non-violent they would not have brought this destruction on themselves.

PS: This article indicates that there may be a problem with conventional "balanced" coverage in this kind of dispute.

[amateur51]

What do YOU think then ?

Is THIS

https://archive.today/RPf3M#selection-1087.420-1095.38

What is needed ?

The first four responses to this are encouraging.

[amateur51]

Yes, what I've noticed in much of the media is the way the Israeli line that the Palestinians are really responsible for their own deaths has been swallowed so extensively.

The closest analogy I can come to is this one: a large number of people are penned into a small enclave or block of flats by a besieging militia which uses all measures to ensure that the siege may not be lifted. In desperation to overcome the deprivation caused by shortage of foodstuffs, clean water, medical supplies, electricity, any kind of freedom of movement as a result of the siege, the imprisoned use whatever feeble weapons come to hand to break out. The besiegers respond with overwhelming force, destroying many rooms and killing many of those inside. They then justify their action by saying that if only the residents had remained non-violent they would not have brought this destruction on themselves.

It's almost as though the words ghetto and pogrom have completely lost their associated meaning in Isrrael.

[johnb]

The first four responses to this are encouraging.

That that link appears to be cached (i.e. no longer current). The Times of Israel removed the blog post on Friday, within hours of it being posted, explaining that it was "both damnable and ignorant, blatantly breached The Times of Israel’s editorial guidelines".

http://www.timesofisrael.com/times-of-israel-removes-an-unacceptable-blog-post/

[MrGongGong]

That that link appears to be cached (i.e. no longer current). The Times of Israel removed the blog post on Friday, within hours of it being posted, explaining that it was "both damnable and ignorant, blatantly breached The Times of Israel’s editorial guidelines".

http://www.timesofisrael.com/times-o...ble-blog-post/

Indeed

Now people of a "conspiratorial" disposition might attribute reasons to why that happened.

[amateur51]

Indeed

Now people of a "conspiratorial" disposition might attribute reasons to why that happened.

Well it's all still available to me on that link :alarmedwotsit:

[Ferretfancy]

It's a little off thread, but may I lighten the mood just a little? On the way to the Proms yesterday on a No. 9 bus, I found myself sitting next to a young man who was wearing his headphones as standard. At the same time he was scanning through a text and reciting under his breath. When he had finished, I asked him " Excuse me, are those Friday prayers ? " He laughed, and said " Oh no! I'm an Afghan rapper ! "

Apparently he was practising for a big Afghan festival in Hyde Park this weekend, and was going over the words for his performance. A big crowd is expected, because Afghanistan's megastar singer will be there with lots of other favourite acts.

London is a wonderful city.

[amateur51]

It's a little off thread, but may I lighten the mood just a little? On the way to the Proms yesterday on a No. 9 bus, I found myself sitting next to a young man who was wearing his headphones as standard. At the same time he was scanning through a text and reciting under his breath. When he had finished, I asked him " Excuse me, are those Friday prayers ? " He laughed, and said " Oh no! I'm an Afghan rapper ! "

Apparently he was practising for a big Afghan festival in Hyde Park this weekend, and was going over the words for his performance. A big crowd is expected, because Afghanistan's megastar singer will be there with lots of other favourite acts.

London is a wonderful city.

Great story Ferret.

London is indeed a wonderful city.

[MrGongGong]

Great story Ferret.

London is indeed a wonderful city.

Indeed
Musicians instead of politicians might have more idea of how people can co-exist

[jean]

What do YOU think then ?

I think that if everything you have said about Israel - from a simplistic view of the nature of its inception to the intemperate views of one of its citizens a few days ago - were all there was to be said, there would be no possible argument for Israel to continue to exist.

But it's not everything.

Musicians instead of politicians might have more idea of how people can co-exist

Yes, I so agree. Here's one:

...The first resolution that has to be achieved is a joint agreement on the fact that there is no military solution. Only then can one begin discussing the question of justice for the Palestinians, which is long overdue, and of security for Israel, which it rightfully requires. We Palestinians feel that we need to receive a just solution. Our quest is fundamentally one for justice and for the rights given to every people on Earth: autonomy, self-determination, liberty, and all that comes with it. We Israelis need an acknowledgement of our right to live on the same piece of land. The division of the land can only come after both sides have not only accepted but understood that we can live together side by side, most definitely not back to back....

[MrGongGong]

I never claimed that what I said was "all" at all

And I'd trust Daniel before any of the evil b******s in politics any day

[kea]

Interesting how the commenters call Danny a "blind supporter of Israel" for not acknowledging that the two sides are morally and politically unequal.

Meanwhile in Israel...

[MrGongGong]

Meanwhile

This

http://www.thejc.com/judaism/judaism-features/120846/the-ethical-defence-israels-actions-gaza

Is maybe part of the problem rather than the solution ?

[aeolium]

This is not a "balanced" commentary but rather a heartfelt cry:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/rape-gaza-201473114415929540.html

The video of the dawn attack, incidentally, gives some idea of what the Gazan population are facing, painful though it is to watch.

And this gives an idea of why the Palestinians can expect little help from Arab governments in the region:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/08/gaza-saudi-egypt-20148295742128666.html

[amateur51]

This is not a "balanced" commentary but rather a heartfelt cry:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/rape-gaza-201473114415929540.html

The video of the dawn attack, incidentally, gives some idea of what the Gazan population are facing, painful though it is to watch.

And this gives an idea of why the Palestinians can expect little help from Arab governments in the region:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opi...742128666.html

Powerful posts aeolium. Here is the to-my-ears always powerful Hanan Ashrawi turning the 'Israel's right to defend itself' argument on its head and making more sense than many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqzCWJEqjjI