The Light at the End of the Tunnel

In these days after the elections, there's very little to be optimistic about. Benjamin Netanyahu is on the threshold of signing up the right wing parties to his coalition. For a start, it looks as if a narrow right wing coalition will be the beginning of a government that will lead nowhere. Ehud Barak, the Labor Party leader, is finding every reason to join the coalition amidst opposition from his party members. This government will not be imaginative in finding a way to get the peace process back on track. Two states for two peoples will not be part of this future government's policy.

Apart from this, the Foreign Minister-designate, Avigdor Lieberman, will be undergoing a criminal investigation for money laundering, corruption and bribery. This person should not be standing for any cabinet position until his name is cleared from any criminal investigation. It seems that Israel is joining the other banana republics' "Exclusive Club" of corrupt parliamentarians. Why is the Israeli public not protesting? Is it because he received much support that gives him legitimacy despite the heavy suspicions against him? The fact that he has been under police investigation for nine years and no charges have been laid against him illustrates police inefficiency.

This could result in Israel becoming isolated in a similar way to apartheid South Africa of the 1960'and 70's. An outspoken anti-Arab racist being nominated as Foreign Minister to represent Israel to the world will not serve Israel's rather tarnished image positively.

Apart from that, the religious parties will once again be part of a macabre mix of party political hacks of the right wing persuasion. More tax-payer's money will be squandered in keeping this right wing coalition together.

Another fact has been revealed that has shocked many of us. Although this may come as no real surprise, reports coming from the Israeli Army spokesman are accurate but there is concern for what is not revealed. Some reports of unprovoked killings of innocent civilians in the Gaza War of December - January.

According to a Haaretz report of 19th March 2009, IDF killed civilians in Gaza under loose rules of engagement. This is according to testimony that was given by soldiers who participated in the Cast Lead operation.

Israel has always regarded its army as being the most humane and moral in the world. Reports of human rights abuses as well as unjustified killings of a suffering civilian population in Gaza are starting to flow into the Israeli press. Somehow there seems to be a total blackout or censure of information about the Israeli Army treatment of Gaza citizens. When reports of abuse and ill treatment of Gaza's population come from Israeli soldiers involved in Operation Cast Lead, there is very little reason to doubt their credibility. After all they have nothing to gain from spilling the beans on Israeli Army. Also reports came from the Israel Press which cannot be seen as hostile to Israel.

The reports of abuse and killings by the "moral and humane Israeli Army" will shatter many myths as to what the Israeli Army spokesman would like us to believe. Too many innocent civilians have been killed and wanton destruction of property for Israel Army investigators to ignore.

These reports should not detract from the fact that an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shaliit, is being held captive by Hamas under duress. He is denied visits as well as basic human rights. There is no communication between him and his family. His family has not been informed as to his whereabouts. Hamas does not represent a country. This group is not bound by international law in the care of prisoners-of-war.

Palestinian prisoners in captivity in Israel for heinous terrorist acts have better conditions than Shalit. They are allowed family visits and have opportunities to study at open universities. While their prison conditions may not be 5 stars, they are cared for far better than Shalit and have more rights.

Hamas is an inhuman bestial organization of terrorists who do not care for their own Palestinian people that they claim to represent. They tolerate zero opposition to their world view and even kill Palestinians who disagree with them. The damage they do to the Palestinian cause is far greater than the damage they do to Israel. While Hamas remains in power in Gaza, Palestinian suffering will never cease.

Hamas terror against Israel in the form of Qassam rocket launches remains sporadic in the south. This illustrates the fact that the Gaza War achieved very little apart from killing many innocent people uninvolved in terrorist activity. These facts are becoming known from Israeli soldiers' reports as mentioned earlier in this article.

It has been reported in Haaretz 20th March 2009 that the police will allow far-rightists to march in Umm al Fahm on Tuesday 25th March. The two right wing activists, Baruch Marzel and Ittamar Ben Gvir are notorious for their anti-Arab racist views as well as their extreme pro-occupation views, will be organizing the march. This is provocative and will achieve nothing but more hate. Why were they given permission for this? It is disgusting! Is this democracy to provoke race hatred? If neo-Nazi groups were given permission by the police overseas to stage a demonstration against Jews in a Jewish neighborhood, the Jewish community would protest in no uncertain terms and rightly so. This anti-Arab demonstration in Umm al-Fahm should be banned because it will be a racist provocation.

The East Jerusalem Palestinians organized a Palestinian Culture Festival in Jerusalem and this was banned by the police. Surely we are witnessing double standards here. At the same time the police gave permission for a right wing anti-Arab demonstration as mentioned before in this article in Umm al Fahm, while Palestinians are banned from holding cultural festivals in East Jerusalem.