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Intifada Palestine
Dec 29 2011
Israel: Rogue State or at the Height of Brinkmanship?
by Amjad Yamein / Intifada-Palestine.com
Amman, Jordon - Last night, Israel conducted two air strikes within
hours and opened fire at Palestinians, killing three and injuring ten,
in the second aerial attack against Gaza in the last Month.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz
categorically stated that preparations for another offensive on Gaza
is underway, calling Cast Lead, Israel's 2008 war on Gaza that killed
1,417 Palestinians, including 926 civilians, an `excellent' operation.
Gantz said that another offensive must be initiated by Israel and must
be `swift and painful,' and explained `[IDF] will attack when the
conditions are right.'
The statement comes to top Last week's events, which witnessed an
escalation in EU criticism of Israel's policies towards its Arab
population, West Bank military occupation, settler's violence, and
protests against segregation/discrimination. On the other hand, Israel
relations with the rest of the world is not getting any better, with
increasing speculations about a war with China-backed Iran and a spike
in tension with Turkey.
Yesterday, The Independent revealed that a confidential 27-page paper
prepared by European diplomats charted a wide range of indicators
showing that Israeli Arabs suffer `economic disparities ... unequal
access to land and housing ... discriminatory draft legislation and a
political climate in which discriminatory rhetoric and practice go
unsanctioned.'
The draft warned that Israel's treatment of its Arab community `will
reinforce those who seek to `delegitimize' Israel and damage [its]
international standing.'
Donald McIntyre of the Independent wrote, `A detailed list of
recommendations for the EU itself - including active lobbying against
discriminatory laws, allocating more European scholarships to Arab
students, encouraging European high-tech companies to invest in Arab
areas, and fostering the teaching of Arabic and co-existence projects
in schools - are understood to have been dropped from the paper after
objections mainly from the Netherlands. The draft affirms that
Israel's treatment of its minorities within its borders should be seen
by the international community as a `core issue, not second tier to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'
On Monday, the Israeli parliamentary committee held a discussion on
recognizing genocide in Armenia, in a move likely to further strain
already tense relations with Turkey. Haaretz's editorial called on the
government not to politicize the Armenian genocide, and claimed that
the reason they did not was because of `fear over the loss of the
concept of `Holocaust' as an exclusive Jewish `property.' The
editorial further stated that `Morality or identification with the
Armenian holocaust were secondary issues that occasionally made their
way into the public debate.'
Last week, European members of Security Council condemn Israeli
settlements and settler violence. Britain, France, Germany, and
Portugal, all UN Security Council current members from the European
Union, released a statement deeming the settlements in West Bank and
East Jerusalem illegal.
The statement said that they were `dismayed' by Israel's persistent
construction of settlements, and called on the Israeli government to
reverse actions, which they said had jeopardized peace negotiations.
They said that, `The viability of the Palestinian state that we want
to see and the two-state solution that is essential for Israel's
long-term security are threatened by the systematic and deliberate
expansion of settlements.'
The statement was put forward after closed-door discussion by the
15-country Security Council on the situation in the Middle East. It
condemned Israeli settlers' violence against the Palestinians,
including the burning of the Nebi Akasha mosque in Jerusalem and the
Burqa mosque in the West Bank.
The statement came as a response to the unveiled tenders for the
construction of 1,028 new illegal settler units in the East Jerusalem
and the West Bank. Tel Aviv occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank
in 1967, and later annexed them in a move not recognized by the
international community.
Back in February, USA veto thwarted UN resolution condemning
settlements. The draft was brought forth by Palestinian Authority
leadership against Israeli settlements to the UNSC, despite pressure
from the U.S. to withdraw it.
Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni said that the government is
`starting a war with its biggest friends in Europe.'
Israel has angered even Tanzania who slammed Israeli Defense Minister
Ehud Barak, saying that he `chose to belittle Tanzania and even
compare it to a country that does not exist.'
With what seems to be the verge of a war with Iran, Israel openly
calling for actions against the Persian country, an increasing tension
between Israel and Turkey, and fallout even with its biggest allies in
Europe, the USA seems to be the only major country Israel did not
anger. (Who, also, allegedly opposes the settlements but rather the
issue is tackled by negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians).
The question remains of whether Israel is excreting the height of its
brinkmanship for political gain, or is a rogue state counting on the
world's good side not to do anything against its actions?
******
Amjad Yamein is an independent writer and journalist based in Amman, Jordan
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/12/israel-rogue-state-or-at-the-height-of-brinkmanship/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 29 2011
Israel: Rogue State or at the Height of Brinkmanship?
by Amjad Yamein / Intifada-Palestine.com
Amman, Jordon - Last night, Israel conducted two air strikes within
hours and opened fire at Palestinians, killing three and injuring ten,
in the second aerial attack against Gaza in the last Month.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz
categorically stated that preparations for another offensive on Gaza
is underway, calling Cast Lead, Israel's 2008 war on Gaza that killed
1,417 Palestinians, including 926 civilians, an `excellent' operation.
Gantz said that another offensive must be initiated by Israel and must
be `swift and painful,' and explained `[IDF] will attack when the
conditions are right.'
The statement comes to top Last week's events, which witnessed an
escalation in EU criticism of Israel's policies towards its Arab
population, West Bank military occupation, settler's violence, and
protests against segregation/discrimination. On the other hand, Israel
relations with the rest of the world is not getting any better, with
increasing speculations about a war with China-backed Iran and a spike
in tension with Turkey.
Yesterday, The Independent revealed that a confidential 27-page paper
prepared by European diplomats charted a wide range of indicators
showing that Israeli Arabs suffer `economic disparities ... unequal
access to land and housing ... discriminatory draft legislation and a
political climate in which discriminatory rhetoric and practice go
unsanctioned.'
The draft warned that Israel's treatment of its Arab community `will
reinforce those who seek to `delegitimize' Israel and damage [its]
international standing.'
Donald McIntyre of the Independent wrote, `A detailed list of
recommendations for the EU itself - including active lobbying against
discriminatory laws, allocating more European scholarships to Arab
students, encouraging European high-tech companies to invest in Arab
areas, and fostering the teaching of Arabic and co-existence projects
in schools - are understood to have been dropped from the paper after
objections mainly from the Netherlands. The draft affirms that
Israel's treatment of its minorities within its borders should be seen
by the international community as a `core issue, not second tier to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'
On Monday, the Israeli parliamentary committee held a discussion on
recognizing genocide in Armenia, in a move likely to further strain
already tense relations with Turkey. Haaretz's editorial called on the
government not to politicize the Armenian genocide, and claimed that
the reason they did not was because of `fear over the loss of the
concept of `Holocaust' as an exclusive Jewish `property.' The
editorial further stated that `Morality or identification with the
Armenian holocaust were secondary issues that occasionally made their
way into the public debate.'
Last week, European members of Security Council condemn Israeli
settlements and settler violence. Britain, France, Germany, and
Portugal, all UN Security Council current members from the European
Union, released a statement deeming the settlements in West Bank and
East Jerusalem illegal.
The statement said that they were `dismayed' by Israel's persistent
construction of settlements, and called on the Israeli government to
reverse actions, which they said had jeopardized peace negotiations.
They said that, `The viability of the Palestinian state that we want
to see and the two-state solution that is essential for Israel's
long-term security are threatened by the systematic and deliberate
expansion of settlements.'
The statement was put forward after closed-door discussion by the
15-country Security Council on the situation in the Middle East. It
condemned Israeli settlers' violence against the Palestinians,
including the burning of the Nebi Akasha mosque in Jerusalem and the
Burqa mosque in the West Bank.
The statement came as a response to the unveiled tenders for the
construction of 1,028 new illegal settler units in the East Jerusalem
and the West Bank. Tel Aviv occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank
in 1967, and later annexed them in a move not recognized by the
international community.
Back in February, USA veto thwarted UN resolution condemning
settlements. The draft was brought forth by Palestinian Authority
leadership against Israeli settlements to the UNSC, despite pressure
from the U.S. to withdraw it.
Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni said that the government is
`starting a war with its biggest friends in Europe.'
Israel has angered even Tanzania who slammed Israeli Defense Minister
Ehud Barak, saying that he `chose to belittle Tanzania and even
compare it to a country that does not exist.'
With what seems to be the verge of a war with Iran, Israel openly
calling for actions against the Persian country, an increasing tension
between Israel and Turkey, and fallout even with its biggest allies in
Europe, the USA seems to be the only major country Israel did not
anger. (Who, also, allegedly opposes the settlements but rather the
issue is tackled by negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians).
The question remains of whether Israel is excreting the height of its
brinkmanship for political gain, or is a rogue state counting on the
world's good side not to do anything against its actions?
******
Amjad Yamein is an independent writer and journalist based in Amman, Jordan
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/12/israel-rogue-state-or-at-the-height-of-brinkmanship/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress