Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan

This year the Ramadan Fast and Rosh Hashanah fall over the same period. Ramadan preceded Rosh Hashanah and ends on Rosh Hashanah.

For both Jews and Moslems it is the season of introspection and a period of resolutions and betterment as well as purification of one's being.

The message coming from both the Jewish and Moslem perspective should be one of reconciliation and an end to hostilities and hate. Islam has many similarities to Judaism and shares similar values. The dietary laws of Islam are derived from Judaism with some differences. It is a great tragedy that the two peoples whose destinies are so closely linked are unable to make peace.

Family relationships are important to both faiths as well as relations with immediate neighbours

The significance of the message of peace and goodwill that are the basis of both Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah are very often overlooked by both peoples. Each side justifies its hostility towards the other and even finds justification for that hostility.

Unfortunately, there are those who misinterpret Islam and find justification for the most heinous terrorist acts in the name of Islam. There is Al Qaeda that has carried mega-terrorist acts over the years as well as splinter groups affiliated to that notorious terrorist organization.

The US has just commemorated the 11th September World Trade Centre tragedy. Since then there have been numerous acts of terror directed against "the infidels”, non-Moslems, irrespective of their race colour, or creed, just because they represent Western cultures which are anathema to Al Qaeda and their ilk.

Splinter terrorist organizations affiliated to Al Qaeda are still in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to attack and kill innocent people, who in their eyes represent Israeli interests or US.

It is not based or even connected with the Israeli occupation but rather a total disdain for the West generally. Proof of this is not hard to find. What is the connection between the Madrid bombings, London bombings or the Fiji bombings with the Palestinians?

On the Israeli side, there are also hard core extremists who have established illegal settlements in occupied territories and have received support from the Israeli Government over the years.

As the Jewish New Year commences and Ramadan exits with the celebration of Id El Fitr, let us both, Jews and Moslems, work together to rebuild a new Middle East - a Middle East that will cease to be an area of hostility. This is the message of both Islam and Judaism.

Let our resolutions be those of the paths of peace ensuring a bright future for all the peoples of the Middle East.

Let us put an end to violence and cease justification for violence no matter from whichever side it comes.

In this spirit of brotherhood, coexistence, an end to the occupation, achievement of justice and peace, we wish both Jews and Moslems - Shana Tovah and Ramadan Mubarak.

Sand in the Eyes

The US under President Obama has demanded a freeze in building settlements in the occupied West Bank. This was done in order to create an atmosphere for peace negotiations and the building of confidence between Israel and the Palestinians.

One must bear in mind that if there is no settlement freeze it means that Israel desires to continue the occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands. Nobody builds houses with the intention of demolishing them afterwards.

However, Israel's Government decided that it would authorize the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements before the building freeze of six to nine months takes place, if at all.

Surely the right wing government of Israel is behaving in an irresponsible manner. Netanyahu is not interested in settlement freezes as his priority is to please the Feiglins and Bogey Ya'alons in his party in the hope of preventing his coalition from splitting.

It seems as if the Netanyahu government is throwing sand in the eyes of the world. The US has convinced the Arab world that in exchange for a settlement freeze they would offer confidence-building measures to Israel such as opening of trade offices; overfly rights of Israeli planes heading for Asia and even the encouraging of tourism between Israel and the Arab states. Surely these steps should be considered a price worth paying rather than building settlements in the occupied West Bank for marginal right wing gains detrimental to Israel's peace interests and its standing in the world.

If is obvious that if Israel does not abide by Obama's insistence on a settlement freeze, Israel's relationship with the US will suffer.

According to a Haaretz report (7th Sept 2009), the US has said that many Arab states have pledged to make gestures to Israel, including normalization, if there is a settlement freeze.

The continued building and expansion of settlements in the West Bank will illustrate that Israel intends to remain an occupying power in the West Bank. Ehud Barak, Israel's Defense Minister, has signed permits to construct 500 new houses in West Bank settlements and will issue more permits following that. It is clear that Israel is involved in a race against time. Netanyahu knows that the more they can build on Palestinian land, the less they will return for the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Many West Bank settlements were approved while under construction. In fact they were in existence before approval.Ehud Barak, the Defense Minister, is no less to blame for this situation. His Labor Party is part of the right wing coalition and a senior participant in right wing settler motivated decisions on land grabs from the Palestinians.

Benjamin Netanyahu made the decision on illegal housing units to be built on six settlements. The intention is to keep these settlements even after a future agreement with the Palestinians is reached.

This will strengthen the extremists such as Hamas and weaken the Fatah controlled Palestinians Authority in the West Bank. It will further illustrate that Israel is not interested in negotiations for a peace agreement and thus play into their hands.

According to a survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Survey and Policy Research found that support for President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah over Hamas and its leader, Ismail Haniyeh is growing in both the West Bank and Gaza. It will be a great pity if this trend is halted because of Israel's illegal settlement policies.

It is difficult to understand the logic behind the desire not to freeze settlements in the West Bank. Israel has much to gain in world stature if it performs these simple gestures to show its willingness to end the conflict and move towards the creation of a Palestinian state.

Israel's rulers are not interested in freezing settlements or ceasing to establish new settlements. They will pay superficial lip service to it while at the same time the business of prolonging the occupation will go on unabated. Surely this illustrates a policy of deception!

After more lives will be lost in another intifada for the sake of selling out to the illegal settlers (many of whom are religious fanatic zealots), it may be left to future generations of both Israelis and Palestinians to sort out the mess.

Israel's current leadership wants peace while at the same time carrying on the building of settlements at the cost of usurping Palestinian lands. This is unacceptable and immoral!

Throwing sand in the eyes of the US and the EU is going to lower Israel's status and credibility in the world. A settlement freeze will be given approval for world consumption while in practice it will not occur.

The message of the building permits

The government of Israel Is full of Tricksters and swindlers Who do not dream Of making peace – That is the clear message To all those in the world Who still entertained Any doubts. The 450 building permits Will not, of course, Satisfy the settlers Who have never enough. Gush Shalom

Ad in Haaretz, Sep. 11, 2009

Racism in Israel

The new school term has commenced with the end of the sizzling summer holidays. Most kids are returning to their lessons. A sizeable number in Petah Tikva will not be returning to school. They are the Ethiopian children. The reason - their skin colour! They have been banned from the private religious orthodox schools.

Despite threats by the Ministry of Education to halt funds to these schools for their blatant racism, no solution has been found. Presumably these religious schools stick to the Tanachic ruling that black people (Hamites) are destined to be slaves in the literal sense because of the curse of Ham, one of the sons of Noah. In other words, they are not recognized as Jews because of their skin colour and their origin as one of the tribes of Cush. There is no other explanation.

It is a shame that Israel has many streams of education. The ultra-Orthodox stream is private with subsidies coming from the state. Their education is narrow and does not really equip students for competing in the secular world with the most basic skills. Their graduates are the perpetual Yeshiva students condemned to a life bordering on poverty and existence from charities in their quest for perpetual study.

Surely an attempt should be made to enroll the Ethiopian children into secular schools rather than partisan religious schools who do not want them in any case. Who says that Ethiopians must go to racist religious schools whose human values are poor if not non-existent?

Racism in society is despicable and ought to be condemned. Israel is losing its values. It starts with hatred of Arabs and those who do not conform to “Zionist” values. The racist society then turns inward and seeks out those who have physical features that are different (skin colour) even including Jews of Ethiopian origin.

The education standards in schools have dropped in Israel. No doubt it will drop even further as private religious stream education becomes more prevalent. This continues and will continue as the Netanyahu government sells out to ultra-Orthodox bigotry in education. It is translated into money to keep their unholy alliance with the ultra-Orthodox Torah Judaism and Shas Parties. This perpetuates the racial hatred of those not identifying themselves with ultra-Orthodox thinking.

A society that loses its values in education becomes less tolerant to those who are different. The government should adopt an education policy that is translated into encouraging unity amongst the people. This means schools that integrate all its pupils, irrespective of race colour or creed should be given increased subsidies from the state. Arab and Jewish kids should receive the same education in the same schools. When it comes to religious instruction, the various religious groups could attend classes within the school framework conducted by their respective religious leaders who are members of the school staff.

This would encourage a common patriotic identity irrespective of race, colour or creed. It would also increase tolerance between pupils of different faiths. Racial as well as religious prejudice would be minimized substantially.

Problematic subjects such as the Zionist narrative of the history of Israel and the Arab narrative of the Naqba (catastrophe) could be taught on an equal basis to both Arab and Jewish pupils with sensitivity for the feelings of both sides and the lessons that both sides receive from the various narratives. If this would be done professionally it would create a common patriotism that both Jews and Arabs can share from a very young age. It would also save a lot of state money which is squandered on sectarian schools catering for various religious groups with values that are chauvinistic at best and downright racist at worst as witnessed in various ultra-Orthodox schools in Petah Tikva against Ethiopian pupils.

It is not only in the sphere of education that racism occurs but also in state attitudes towards foreign workers. Care-givers from the Philippines, agricultural workers, domestic workers and those in the building trade are hounded by the Oz Unit of the police force after their permits have expired. These people have been exploited; many have had their personal freedom curtailed while working here.

The exploitation is a result of the need to employ people to do jobs that Israelis are not prepared to do. In the “good old days”, Palestinian workers used to do all the menial cheap labour. Since the intifada this has ceased and reliance is now on foreign workers for a short period under contract.

It may be argued that exploitation of foreign workers is not necessarily racism. This is true up to a point, however, one cannot avoid asking the question that had the workers been Jewish, the Law of Return would apply and expulsion would not be considered an option once their contract has expired. Foreign workers interact with the population of the country in which they live even bonding with Israelis. There have even been cases of intermarriage. This, of course, creates problems with the Rabbinate and the situation of either “convert or leave” is created.

The Israeli Bogieman

There is nothing odd about Vice-Premier and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon's speech. He criticized the Peace Now movement and the so-called "elitists" (whoever they are) calling them the "viruses" of Israeli society. He spoke at a meeting of the abominable Likud's Jewish Leadership Movement Faction of extremist right winger Moshe Feiglin.

Ya'alon has said what Netanyahu and his coalition think but never dared to say in public. Netanyahu has somehow adopted a policy of expediency albeit grudgingly. On the one hand he cannot go against Obama which is today the US. On the other hand he has to satisfy his right wing coalition partners. He cannot shoot off his mouth the way Ya'alon can.

It is strange though that Ya'alon, the ex Chief of Staff, has now formed an alliance with right wing extremists, like Moshe Feiglin, who supported the refusal of carrying out army commands that contradicted their right wing ideology. Many of Feiglin's followers were arrested in the past for obstructing traffic in violent demonstrations against the disengagement policies of the previous government.

Another inconsistency in a similar vein is Ya'alon's support for rebuilding Homesh which was evacuated by the army in August 2005. Those who put up stiff resistance were the settlers and their right wing rabbis who goaded soldiers to disobey army orders. While Ya'alon was chief -of-staff he viewed disobeying army orders in a grave light. Now he supports the re-establishment of evacuated settlements even though that is illegal. He is now courting the right wing extremists of the Moshe Feiglin ilk who support those that break the law by establishing illegal outposts.

If a vice-premier can make statements in pseudo-fascist circles demonizing a group of people that support peace by calling them” viruses and elitist", he is laying the groundwork for the possibility of delegitimizing those on the left who seek peace with Israel's Palestinian neighbors. Israel has no shortage of right wing fascists of the Yigal Amir mode (PM Rabin's assassin).

A right wing fanatic could take the law into his own hand and the consequences could end in tragedy. We do not have much to be proud these days. Israel has a right wing government consisting of a strange mixture of Knesset members with extreme right wing views including Barak’s Labor Party which has capitulated to the right and compromised on their ideology. It is matter of time before a stage is reached when a clash with President Obama will be unavoidable.

Ya'alon sounds arrogant and bold when he says that Israel need not be afraid of the US. What he may not realize is that without US support, Israel would not be able to remain a viable state. The US is Israel's best friend - even under the Obama administration!

What about the case of the beating of Palestinians on June 8 2008 in a field near the settlement of Sussia? Tamam Nawaja, 57, her husband Khalil, 70, and their relative Amran were herding their flocks near their encampment about 3 Km from Sussia. Three young men, residents of the area came up to them and told them to leave. They refused and as a result 4 masked men arrived on the scene and began beating them with clubs. (See report).

Settlers who carry out this kind of violence against innocent Palestinian shepherds are patriots according to the Ya'alon definition. It is the peacemakers and the left who are the viruses of Israel and who knows - a danger to Israel's existence!

Right wing settler thugs are by innuendo the true heroes according to the "bogieman". Obviously the establishment feels the same way as the case against the settler thugs who attacked the Palestinian shepherds was closed.

It must have been tough for Netanyahu to reprimand his friend, Ya'alon. Both share a very similar ideology as the latter stated on more than one occasion. Netanyahu has his red line when it comes to appeasing his coalition partners. He will not cross the Rubicon while President Obama is breathing down his neck over the settler freeze issue.

At the same time Netanyahu is ignoring the establishment of new settlements. (See Bypassing the Settlement Freeze - Semi Annual Report)

Israel will probably adopt an ambiguous policy of temporary freezing of settlements to satisfy the US while at the same time it will continue to build in the occupied territories in the guise of "national growth".

Today the Saudi Plan of 2002 seems to be a reasonable starting point for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The establishment of settlements in the occupied territories is the greatest obstacle to a peaceful solution. Times have changed and there is willingness amongst the moderate Arab states to recognize Israel and establish normal relations with it. This will only be achieved if Israel ceases its expansionist settler policies in the occupied West Bank.

The Netanyahu coalition with vice-premier Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon, FM Avigdor Lieberman and the Moshe Feiglin gang in the Knesset are not catalysts for achieving peace.

The Return of Gilad Shalit

The issue of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who remains in Hamas captivity, is painful. It is a tragedy to his parents and his close family. It is also a tragedy for Israel's soldiers who know that under captivity they stand a chance of abandonment. The concealing of information concerning his wellbeing is a criminal act unforgivable by any standards.

He has been held by Hamas for over 3 years now and the negotiations for his release have achieved nothing. There are Palestinians who say that there is so much concern over Gilad Shalit but no concern over the Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

First, the Palestinian prisoners are not held incommunicado and they have visiting rights including contact with their families. Many prisoners have been involved in violence as well as murder of innocent people which they themselves regard as an essential part of their just struggle against the occupation.

Gilad Shalit has had no contact with his family. Nobody knows his place of captivity, or the condition of his health. This is not the case with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. The prisons where they are being held is known as well as the right to receive visitors has not been curtailed.

The negotiations for Gilad's release are tough and the bargaining for the release of Palestinian prisoners, including those imprisoned for murder, have not achieved any results. While imprisonment is no vacation it is less harsh than what Gilad Shalit and his family are being subjected for reasons already mentioned.

The price for Gilad's release is very high and there is a question mark as to whether he will be released eventually. It does create a moral dilemma as to whether thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of murder, ought to be released in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

The answer to this is a two-edged sword, but for Shalit's family no price is too high for Gilad's release.

The Hamas hate for Israel is so great and their desire for Israel's destruction no less so, makes any form of negotiations an impossible mission.

However, despite these insurmountable difficulties, Gilad must never be abandoned to his fate. Even the release of prisoners "with blood on their hands" is not too great a price to bring Gilad home.

Another well known prisoner who should be released in exchange for Gilad Shalit is Marwan Barghoutti. We are aware that he was condemned for the organization of the murder of 4 Israelis and 1 foreigner. Barghoutti has great influence amongst his people. He has been elected to third place in the recent Fatah elections.

Some Knesset members such as Benjamin Ben Eliezer and Prof Avishay Braverman support his release despite his heavy prison sentence.
The release of Palestinian prisoners including those accused of terrorism and murder as well as Marwan Barghoutti must be seriously considered as an exchange for Gilad Shalit's release. There is no other option. A military option is a far greater risk and is unrealistic.

The only other alternative is to abandon Gilad Shalit to his fate which is unacceptable! The moral repercussions to IDF soldiers serving are great. They will get the feeling that under certain circumstances they will be abandoned by Israel if they are kidnapped by Hamas.

The release of Shalit is essential and the price for his release is painful but will not be a security risk for Israel or a danger to its existence. It would strengthen the moderates in the Palestinian camp and could weaken Hamas.

Demonization in Israel

The intense and cruel summer with its merciless sun is upon the people of Israel. Israel, being part of the Middle East, also shares the same intolerable heat with its neighbors. Things seem to be more intense here. Behavioral patterns of many people deteriorate and tolerance levels between people lowers.

Something is rotten in the State of Israel. It is common practice to demonize the Palestinian People irrespective of whether they are associated with a terrorist group or not. Generalizations are common place. These stereotypes are held with a passion. The problem is that those who generalize against another people are not immune from generalizations towards their own.

In Jerusalem, the wrath of the ultra-Orthodox was leashed against the car park being opened on the Sabbath in the city center. Garbage cans were set on fire. Street lamps were smashed and those who "desecrate the Sabbath" were stoned. This has been going on for weeks now. Is this the "United Jerusalem” Israel portrays to the world? Jerusalem is a divided city - divided between Palestinians and Israelis as well as between Ultra-Orthodox and secular Israelis. Surely the time is ripe to accept this and recognize Jerusalem as the capital of two states, Israel and Palestine! The Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) must decide whether they are part of Israel or Palestine. The extremists amongst them are against Israel and do not accept Israel's jurisdiction over them.

Any attempt to "unite" Jerusalem is futile! A two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine deserves support. There is no third way.

Some elements in Israeli society are developing disturbing patterns of violence and intolerance to those who are different.

The attitude towards migrant workers is shocking if not inhuman. It all began with the legalizing of contract labor from overseas. Many unscrupulous contractors enlist foreign workers by enticing them to come to Israel to work under contract. This is done by emissaries who go to countries where the economic situation is poor and many people are looking for a way out. The Philippines, Thailand, Nigeria, and India are a few examples. These workers replace Palestinian workers who are unable to get permits to enter Israel to work. On arrival, the reality is far different to what was promised. Many contracted workers have their passports confiscated by their contractors and are housed in overcrowded inhuman conditions. The salaries they receive are poor. Many of these workers are employed as care givers for the elderly, agricultural workers, building laborers and other jobs that Israelis are not prepared to do.

When their contract expires, many remain in Israel illegally. They are hounded by the immigration police who imprison them under inhuman conditions until deportation to their countries of origin. Some of these workers are married and have children born in Israel. These children are Israelis, know only Hebrew, and attend Israeli schools. They live in intense fear of deportation and their parents are on the run in fear of being discovered by the immigration police known as the Oz Unit. To date no solution has been found to legalize these people's status in Israel. A three month reprieve has been given in order to find a solution.

The authorities consider the migrant workers a threat to Israeli job seekers. The truth is that they are no threat. They seek jobs that Israelis are not prepared to do. This is why contractors enlisted them to work in Israel. They did this by stealth.

Mobsters initiating gang wars leave a trail of blood because of targeted killings for revenge. Unfortunately innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire. Recently there was a tragic attack on a lesbian and homosexual support center in the center of Tel Aviv. The perpetrator shot and killed 2 people and wounded 15 others. The police to date have not found the killers. The motive for the killings is unknown. Speculations are countless. There is one theory that could hold water. Homosexuals and lesbians are considered bestial and are much maligned by the religious extremists including their mentors well represented in the Knesset and their "rabbinical sages" who pull the strings in decision making at a national level. They must share the blame for the atmosphere leading to these brutal killings. They have virtually outlawed the right of homosexuals to lead their lives according to their choice. One need not overstretch one's imagination to realize that a religious extremist could take it open himself to murder homosexuals for their sexual preferences as they have committed a sin worthy of capital punishment according to his mentor's interpretation of the Torah.

On the Palestinian track, there is an uneasy calm on Israel’s borders. No progress has been made for finding a solution to the conflict. Hamas has ceased its violence against Israel. Is this the lull before the storm? Violence could begin at the slightest provocation.

Are There Signs of Moderation in Hamas?

These days it is quiet on the Israeli-Gaza border. There has been a cessation of rocket fire into Israeli towns in the south. Is it because of the lull before the storm or is it because Hamas is changing its tactics? Maybe it is neither or a mixture of both. The war in Gaza has had some effect on the tactics of the Hamas rulers in Gaza.

The war had weakened Hamas considerably. More than 1 400 Palestinians were killed including at least 900 civilians, and over 5000 wounded in the offensive. Some 3 000 homes were destroyed as well as many government buildings, schools, universities, mosques, hospitals and factories.

In retrospect, a pointless war achieved nothing as far as the Gaza Palestinians are concerned. For Israel, it has heralded a temporary cessation of Hamas hostilities and an unofficial cease-fire. No matter how many investigations are carried out, there is evidence that serious war crimes were carried out by both Israelis and Palestinians. However, much of the blame is due to Hamas's intense missile firing into Israel resulting in severe damage, injury and deaths to Israeli citizens living in towns relatively close to the Gaza border.

Another factor is the unrest in Iran which is involved in suppressing the uprising of its own citizens against President Ahmadinajad who, by proxy, is Hamas's “godfather”. Iran has been involved in supplying weapons to Hamas. Now the emphasis is on solving internal problems rather than focusing on arming Hamas for its terrorist activities against Israel's population in the southern towns.

Hamas has been weakened by Israeli military actions against it as well as the difficulties of weapons smuggling via tunnels linking Gaza with Egypt.

Khaled Mashal, the Hamas leader, who resides in Damascus, has also had the wind taken out of his sails by the civil unrest in Iran. The movement of Syria towards the US and its desire to improve its relations with the US will steer Syria away from Iran. The consequences of this are still uncertain as far as Hamas is concerned.

Perhaps this could result in Hamas moderating its tactics towards Israel without losing face by giving up the "armed struggle" against Israel as their leadership puts it. As the situation stands now, PM Ismail Haniyeh of Gaza has stated that Hamas will not oppose the two-state solution. Surely we are a step closer to Hamas recognition of Israel even though we are still very far from this.
Hamas, in its desperation, has issued a decree that woman attorneys who appear in court must dress modestly and wear the hijab to cover their faces in public. The people of Gaza are mainly secular and this decree will drive many Gaza Palestinians against Hamas. Hamas will not tolerate opposition to its policies. It is not a democratic movement by any stretch of the imagination nor is it a movement fighting for Palestinian human rights or personal freedoms. It survives on hate, clericalism and dogmas.

The serious dispute between Hamas and Fatah does not help much either.
One must also remember that Israel was instrumental in strengthening Hamas against Fatah in the early years of Hamas's establishment.

The intense poverty, unemployment and lack of progress in the economic spheres have taken its toll on the Palestinians in Gaza. The Palestinian People are beginning to realize that Hamas is no godsend. The hopelessness of the Palestinians somehow is grist to the mill of Hamas's survival. While the situation in Gaza remains bad, no foreign aid will be forthcoming. This could also result in Hamas moderating its stand towards Israel in the end although this may not be so evident at this stage.

On the other hand, it could be resorting more towards Islamic fanaticism in desperation as its power in Gaza shows a decline, an example of which is its attitude towards woman attorneys as mentioned earlier in this article.

It also remains to be seen how the unrest in Iran will affect the relationship of the brutal Ahmadinajad regime on Hamas rule in Gaza. If Ahmadinajad is deposed and a more liberal regime replaces this dictator it could move Hamas towards a more moderate and pragmatic position vis a vis Israel. The moment Hamas loses its support from extremist Islamist regimes this could result in drastic changes which would affect the region of conflict positively.

Inconsistency in Israel's Settlement Policy

There seems to be a certain inconsistency in what the Israeli government tells the world about settlements in the occupied territories and what occurs on the ground.

While PM Binyamin Netanyahu reacted to President Obama's Cairo Speech by giving ambiguous support to the two-state solution, we all know that he does not intend to do anything to remove illegal settlements. His Bar Ilan University speech was so full of conditions for a two-state solution that would render it an impossible goal. It is obvious that the Palestinian leadership would never accept these conditions.

Meanwhile the demolitions of Palestinian buildings continue. On 13th July 2009, bulldozers entered Bet Hanina next to the community centre. Demolitions of homes have occurred in Ras Elamud and Isawia. A home was destroyed. This has resulted in seven family members now being rendered homeless. Has the Israeli government frozen settlements and ceased demolition of homes? Facts on the ground seem to verify that the demolitions of Palestinian homes are continuing. The excuse given is that these homes were built illegally (or without permits). What about illegal settlements built in the occupied territories? These settlements are illegal according to international law, but Israeli law has declared them legal.

There is also strong evidence that freezing of settlements is not the order of the day. It is business as usual in the occupied territories. The construction of new homes and settlements expansion continue unabated. What the Israeli government tells the US and what they do in practice are two different things altogether. Many settlements built in the occupied territories are on stolen Palestinian lands.

The basis of the right wing government is to create a new situation on the ground. It is obvious that the expansion of existing settlements and the creation of new settlements on stolen Palestinian lands will ensure that a Palestinian state alongside Israel will never be attained.

The arrogance of the Israeli government of not recognizing the Palestinian right to an independent state is a fact because of the settlement activity compounded by demolitions of Palestinian homes.

The scenarios are all the same. Zionist right wing extremists start the ball rolling by causing damage to Palestinian agricultural lands. This is done by uprooting Palestinian owned olive trees. As if this is not enough, they continue to cause damage to Palestinian property. They are a cancer in Israeli society that has tacit support from the right wing coalition partners. The Israeli authorities are very lenient and many of those responsible for the damage are not even punished.

Israel occupied Palestinian territories because of the Six Day War in June 1967. The Israeli government ruling at the time and successive governments after that legalized the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories. After encouraging Israelis to settle on usurped Palestinian lands they tell the world that they do not wish to rule another people. De facto, this is what they are doing! One does not settle occupied territory if the intention is to return this territory to the Palestinians.

If one were to look at a map of the West Bank (which is the area of the possible Palestinian State), there are areas of Palestinian population with Israeli settlements in between. How can a Palestinian state be established while hostile Israeli settlements traverse their agricultural lands, many of which were occupied illegally. It is obvious that the establishment of a Palestinian state under these conditions is impossible without serious removal of illegal settlements.

Contrary to the thinking of most Israelis, President Obama is good for Israel. He is mending US relations with the Arab states and adopting a more even handed policy in the Middle East. His attitude towards Israeli settlements in the occupied territories is against the policies of the Netanyahu coalition of right wingers with the wimpish Labour Party part of it. It remains to be seen how the Israeli government will avoid a collision with the US. President Obama is taking a more active stand in his attitude towards achieving peace between Israel and its neighbors. His predecessor, President Bush did very little to achieve peace.

One thing is certain, if there is no withdrawal from the occupied territories including dismantling of settlements, there will never be peace. Of course there will be Israelis who will say that there was unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and the result was rocket fire into Israeli towns such as Sderot, Ashkelon and neighboring towns. The problem is that the moment there are unilateral actions there are no peace agreements. Had there been an orderly transfer of power to a responsible Palestinian government committed to peace, law and order, the situation would be different.

Israel must share the blame for the creation of Hamas which is an extension of the extremist Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood. Prior to the Oslo Accords, Israel adopted a "divide and rule" policy towards Hamas. The government in the late 1980s supported Hamas in order to weaken the PLO. It boomeranged in the end.

According to United Press International,

Israel and Hamas may currently be locked in deadly combat, but, according to several current and former U.S. intelligence officials, beginning in the late 1970s, Tel Aviv gave direct and indirect financial aid to Hamas over a period of years.

Israel wanted to radicalize the dispute by molding Hamas into a fundamentalist militant crusade to ape the Khomeini revolution in Iran. So much so that Israel groomed potential Hamas leaders, pressuring Israeli authorities to give them licenses to set up food kitchens, clinics, schools, and day-care centers, to create a governing structure alternative to Arafat's Fatah. These were known as Village Leagues - and provided future Hamas operatives with a political and governmental foothold. This began in 1978 when Prime Minister Menachem Begin, himself a former terrorist leader, approved an application from Sheik Ahmad Yassin to license the Islamic Association, which would later produce a military wing, Hamas, in 1987. The Israeli Likud party propped up Yassin because they both had the same agenda, to destabilize Arafat’s Fatah.

The Annual Israeli Exodus

The oppressive summer in Israel is here. The cruel sun shielded by the humidity clouds seems to signal those who have the means to leave the country for cooler horizons beyond Israel's borders.

School holidays have begun and with it the boredom of the school children. Those children who have nothing to do, turn to vandalism - damaging public facilities, drinking alcoholic beverages, and even resorting to violence.

The more fortunate go on family holidays overseas on package deals or family visits. The annual temporary exodus has begun in earnest.

The results of this annual exodus are plain for all to see. It is the annual nightmare for family pets. In many cases, the purchase of a pet is a form of status symbol until the novelty wears off. Those who leave the cities or large towns in order to purchase homes in community settlements do so in their desire to improve their quality of life. A garden, dog, cat or both comes with the "improved quality of life". This is the dream of many married couples with young children.

At the time of purchasing a pet, no thought is given for the moment the family decides to go on vacation. In many cases the care of the pet becomes the responsibility of young children who are the ones that pressure the parents into purchasing a pet. It does not take long for the family to tire of the pet and the responsibility for its care. When this happens the scenario is horrifying. The dog remains chained in the garden without food or water. In the summer heat of Israel, it does not take long for the dog to dehydrate. I have witnessed this in the settlement where I live and have brought it to the attention of the owners who do not seem to care. The above link applies no less to what happens to pets in Israel than anywhere else even though it is not an Israeli link.

In some cases, if the pet is a bitch and gives birth to puppies, then the scenario becomes tragic and macabre. If homes are not found for puppies soon the puppies are abandoned. A common practice is the placing of the puppies in a carton in the middle of the main road in the hope that a car would ride over them!

Another tactic of abandonment is the release of pets onto a kibbutz and leaving it to the kibbutz members to find a solution. Thus the holiday makers can enjoy their sojourn overseas without a worry. Sometimes dogs and cats are abandoned in wide open spaces far from their owner's homes to ensure that they never return.

The amazing cruelty that is committed towards household pets by abandoning them in the desperation to spend a holiday overseas is horrifying and tragic. This practice is more widespread than one would like to believe. One can judge a society by the way it treats its animals.

There are facilities in Israel for the care of pets while the owners are overseas. Unfortunately many people feel that the expense involved is not justifiable. However going overseas and arranging boarding kennels for their pets seems to be beyond their budget. This does not include the amount of money spent going on holiday of course.

People of the Middle East do not have a great reputation for kindness to animals. Israel is also part of the wider Middle East family with similar characteristics when it comes to treating its animal population. Fortunately, in Israel various non-profitable societies are staffed by dedicated people (many of them are volunteers) who care for strays and abandoned pets. They operate on shoe string budgets which are inadequate for the incredible task that they have in hand. Another organization is Chai –on-line where one can report mistreatment and abuse of animals

The Israeli government does not subsidize societies devoted to prevent cruelty to animals nor is there any education of children in that direction. There are a number of animal shelters in Israel crying out for donations. Their work is so important and not enough emphasis is given on their importance.

A society that is not sufficiently aware of cruelty to its pets cannot be viewed as a humane society. This applies to Palestinians no less than Israelis. The punishment meted out to perpetrators of cruelty is far too lenient and education of the younger generation on avoiding cruelty to animals is inadequate.

Another horrible practice is the ceremony of Kapporot carried out prior to Yom Kippur. While this is not the purpose of my article, it does deserve mention. It is the ritual slaughter of chickens. The religious and secular argument revolving the ritual has been going on for quite some time. In the ritual, a chicken is held at the shoulder blade and swung around a person's head three times, supposedly transferring the sins of the person to the chicken. The chicken is then slaughtered and given to a needy family.

Many may ask what does this have to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to which my blog is dedicated. There is no clear cut answer. Cruelty to animals unfortunately is very common place in Palestinian society as well. I would say that the situation for animals in Palestinian territories is far worse. There are no facilities at all for stray animals there and torture of animals is very common place in Palestinian street. Donkeys are often used as beasts of burden in Palestine. Many are so ill-treated and whipped until they die. The load on the donkey cart is heavy and the poor donkey is constantly whipped in the searing heat until they collapse! The scenario is horrifying. Nevertheless this does not let Israelis off the hook when it comes to animal care. Cruelty to animals is inexcusable!

The Iranian Revolution & the Palestinians

Ahmadinajad has voted for himself many times in many ways.

It seems that the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Basij (paramilitary, plainclothes vigilantes - is the main force used to quell the anti-government protests) and various security forces have gained the upper hand and quelled the Iranian uprising for the time being. An uneasy calm has been achieved and it can only be a temporary respite from the unrest.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad may have proved his mettle for now, but the winds of change in Iran will blow again. It is more than forged election results although this may have been the catalyst. News coming out of Iran is scanty as foreign journalists have been expelled and a news blackout has been declared.

Fortunately news of cruelty and abuse of power is getting through the heavy censorship, thanks to internet software such as You Tube, Flickr and Twitter. Much of the news is authentic and does give a picture of what is going on in strife-ridden Iran. The scene of the killing of a 27 year old lady, Neda Agha Soltan, by a Basij sniper's bullet in front of the camera viewed by the whole world, was horrifying. She became a symbol of the uprising overnight - perhaps even a martyr. Martyrdom is much revered in Shiite Islam.

The evil Ahmadinajad regime can only fall when the Iranian Police and Army desert and join the uprising. While the forces remain loyal to Ahmadinajad, the uprising will fail in its objective. The opposition candidate for president Mir Hussein Moussavi, is a figurehead and his influence will weaken. After all, he is no democrat nor is his ideology very different from Ahmadinajad.

While the uprising of the Iranian people has gained worldwide support, it does not seem that there will be any attempt to counter the violent repression by the Iranian vigilantes loyal to Ahmadinajad.
How does this affect the Palestinians? Ahmadinajad has been calling for Israel's destruction in the hope of getting Palestinian support for his grand scheme of domination of the Middle East. He has given money to terrorist organizations operating in the occupied territories in order to gain influence.

Ahmadinajad does not care for the Palestinians; he only cares for his megalomanic self. He uses them and for now he will probably climb down from his perch and be more involved in internal issues of his country. His power base despite his success in quelling the demonstrations is weakened and the Ayatollahs of Qom are showing signs of internal divisions. This is where his power base lies.

Ahmadinajad's support of Hamas and other terror organizations in the occupied territories will weaken as his hands are full in oppressing the uprising. Perhaps this could be seen as Iran's intifada. It would be in Palestinian interests not to kow-tow to the Ahmadinajad regime.

Ahmadinajad is a dictator and he will tolerate no opposition to his regime. He would force a Shiite style Islam on the Palestinians if given the chance.

It would be prudent for the Palestinians not to support Ahmadinajad for the reasons mentioned. It is not even a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Ahmadinajad is the enemy of Israel, Palestinians and the Arab World! Perhaps the Palestinians do not realize it, but they are due for a rude awakening one day.

In order to weaken Ahmadinajad the free world should apply sanctions on Iran in the same spirit as they did to apartheid South Africa. They should isolate Iran and recall their ambassadors until Ahmadinajad falls.The revenues from oil finance the Ahmadinajad regime. A total embargo on Iran's oil supplies would bring Ahmadinajad to his knees. The sooner this is done, the better for all.

CROCODILE’S TEARS

Those who oppress Millions of Palestinians For 42 years – Rave about the freedom fighters - in Iran. Those who rejected the results Of the Palestinian elections – Are shocked by the thwarting Of the people’s will - in Iran. Those who shoot and kill Palestinian demonstrators In Wadi Ara, Bilin and Nialin – Shudder at the sight of The police shooting protesters - in Iran.

Gush Shalom Ad published in Haaretz, June 26, 2009

The Anticipated Netanyahu Speech was a Damp Squid

There was great anticipation of the speech that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was to deliver. It was Netanyahu's antidote to President Obama's speech delivered at Cairo University.

Obama expressed his opposition to the building and expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank and the US support for the two-state solution. Netanyahu decided not to clash with Obama on that issue and accepted grudgingly the two-state solution with severe limitations.

Obama had put the thumbscrews on Netanyahu. It is as if he said: "Accept the two-state solution or else bear the consequences". The result was a "hiccupping acceptance" with severe limitations ensuring that the two-state solution will never be accepted by the Palestinians. This means maintaining the status quo in true Netanyahu style.

It is significant to note that the venue chosen for his speech was Bar Ilan University - the institute of right wing ideology. In this right wing environment he felt confident. Most of his audience was Likud supporters and all he did was preach to the converted. He made a very Zionistic speech - a patriotic call - and an attempt to patch up his differences with the Obama Administration on the two-state solution and settlement expansion. At the same time he wanted to satisfy his right-wing coalition partners.

The limitations imposed on the Palestinians will set the clock back for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Netanyahu also stated that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Surely this is unnecessary! Is it not sufficient to recognize Israel's right to exist in security within recognized borders?

Israel is a state of all its citizens and demographically has a Jewish majority. It is a matter of semantics. The emphasis of Israel being recognized as a Jewish state is a source of contention with the Palestinians as the innuendo is viewed by them as an attempt at "ethnic cleansing" to ensure that Israel will become free of Arabs. This is how the moderate Palestinian leadership thinks. The settlement expansion in the occupied territories somehow reinforces that view. After all, every meter of illegal settlement in the occupied territories means a meter less for the size of a future Palestinian state and thus to its viability. What is the point of emphasizing in true patriotic fashion the obvious? Is it an attempt at demagoguery so typical of the Zionist right wing in order to cloud the real issues so important for peace?

The speech received a lukewarm reception by President Obama. He stated that Netanyahu did not go far enough. The Palestinians and the Arab states rejected it outright. The US Administration's pressure on Netanyahu to get him to accept a two-state solution was partially successful. The severe limitations imposed on the establishment of a Palestinian State is so severe that with all due respect, it could never be achieved as it is unacceptable by the Palestinians.

There are those Israeli pundits who maintain that Israel is doing all the compromising while the Palestinians are giving nothing in return to end the conflict. The Palestinians feel Israel has occupied their lands and created the refugee problem. It goes back to 1948 and then again in June 1967. They therefore feel that an injustice has been done to them and they do not need to make compromises apart from carrying out their battle for an independent Palestinian state which is threatened by occupation and expansion of settlements on the West Bank.

A real security problem has to be dealt with in Israel. Israelis fear that a Palestinian state could become a reservoir for terror activity against Israel. The possibility of a Hamas take over as in the case of Gaza cannot be ruled out. Hamas is well known for its hard-line ideology against Israel. It refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and they do not wish to negotiate with Israel. A Hamas take over in the West Bank could become a nightmare for Israel and the Palestinians as well, judging what happened in Gaza. There is also the chance that Hezbollah and Iran would gain further influence in the West Bank as a result. These are genuine fears that cannot be overlooked. Iran and its Hezbollah ally could include Syria as well. This is another reason why Netanyahu is not prepared to cede any land to the Palestinians apart from traditional ideological reasons.

The right wing coalition partners are not even prepared to accept the two state solution. They believe that the solution to the conflict is the repatriation of Palestinian refugees in Jordan. They believe that Jordan is Palestine and that is where the solution must be found. It has nothing to do with Israel's security at all. Even if there was no terror threat, the right wing, which includes the religious Zionists, believes that they have every right to settle the West Bank, or Greater Israel in their eyes. This includes the building of settlements, stealing Palestinian lands and destroying Palestinian property wherever they can for settlement activity. Even by the wildest stretch of the imagination this has nothing to do with the security of Israel.
The only way to achieve peace with security for both Israel and the Palestinians is to discuss all issues openly. There should not be talk of a limited, demilitarized Palestinian state as a precondition. The solution to the refugee problem, division of Jerusalem into a Palestinian and an Israeli canton so that it could be considered the capital of both Israel and Palestine taking into consideration the population concentration there. Of course there should be cessation of violence on both sides as well as recognition of both sides to each others right to exist in security, peace and dignity.

There was no hint of even discussing these issues in Netanyahu's speech. This is what makes his speech manipulative, insincere and a ploy to satisfy his right wing coalition partners.

Netanyahu was hoping that the violence in Iran because of severe election fraud and its threat to the notorious Ahmadinajad leadership could ease US pressure on Israel. It remains to be seen if this will be a factor. To date this does not appear to be the case.

None of their business

Netanyahu demands that The Palestinians Recognize Israel as The “State of the Jewish People”. In Oslo, the Palestinians Have already recognized The sovereign State of Israel. All other definitions Are our own affair. Until this very day We have not succeeded Even to decide Who is a Jew. How does that concern The Palestinians? Gush Shalom

Ad in Haaretz, June 19, 2009