When Israeli officials are pressed to justify the fact that Israel has prevented the reconstruction of thousands of homes it destroyed during the war on Gaza, they say that if construction materials were allowed into Gaza, these would be commandeered by Hamas and used to fortify its bunkers.
In an interview Khalid Meshaal, the Hamas political bureau chief in Damascus, gave with Charlie Rose this week, the Hamas leader directly addressed this issue.
Meshaal’s message to the Obama administration and to the American people was this:
It’s time to end this embargo on Gaza, because it’s immoral, unethical and it failed in achieving its political objectives. And it is the right of the Palestinian people in Gaza to live like all other people without any embargo, because Gaza today is the biggest prison in the world and in history.
You know that Israel in the last war destroyed tens of thousands of houses, hospitals and universities, and it is the responsibility of the international community and especially of the United States of America to reconstruct what [has] been destroyed by Israel in Gaza. And we do not have it as a condition that this construction operation to be done through Hamas. No. As I told [Russia's] President Medvedev, the international community can develop an international mechanism that is independent to introduce the construction materials into Gaza and to supervise the rebuilding, reconstruction of the houses and schools destroyed by Israel. Because our mission is to service our people. We want the Palestinian people in Gaza to live simply in houses in winter and in summer. And this is the responsibility of the international community. Unfortunately, some Palestinian leaderships lie to the Americans and to the Europeans when saying that Hamas has it as a condition to supervise the reconstruction. We do not have this as a condition. We tell the whole world, come to Gaza. Reconstruct the destroyed houses.
I think what the Israelis say is that the materials might be used for bunkers or weapons.
This is the pernicious “might” that excuses all Israeli crimes, because “the Arabs” might fire rockets or develop nukes or do some undefinable act that might somehow harm a Jew. And to prevent this, any measures, all measures are necessary.
From the mouth itself: Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that after a security check, permitted humanitarian aid confiscated from the boats will be transferred to Gaza through authorized channels. However, Israel would not transfer items it has banned from Gaza under its blockade rules.
“As I told [Russia's] President Medvedev, the international community can develop an international mechanism that is independent to introduce the construction materials into Gaza and to supervise the rebuilding, reconstruction of the houses and schools destroyed by Israel. ”
They should go ahead and do this. Accomplish this already.
The dangers are political. Meshal offers no condition for changing the relationship of Hamas to Israel fundamentally, except again to temporarily leave each other alone.
I was disappointed that Charlie Rose did not ask Meshal to clarify what he means by the right of return.
That question seems to be the elephant in the room, the question to be avoided, apparently for fear of fundamental division if actually clarified.
That absence of path of reconciliation remain, and is a very big obstacle to Israeli response.
It should still remove from the occupation of the West Bank, but it should not let up on its self-defense nor tolerate rocket fire from Gaza.
Reconciliation requires truth, the prime example being SA and the T&R commission. When you’re ready for truth then you’ll be ready for reconcilation.
Did you read the Mbeki essay? It was very good. I forgot exactly which post it is referred.
The political factors that Mbeki described as contributing to the success of the resistance movement in South Africa are only partially existent in Israel/Palestine, if that.
The T&R commission occurred after the fundamental reconciliation.
I have little respect for Mbeki after his refusal to condemn the actions of Zimbabwe. His credentials for knowing between right and wrong were severely dented by this, in my view. That, and the fact that he thought AIDs didn’t exist.
You have continuously asked there to be a clear inspection mechanism to make sure construction materials can not be used to build weapons. Meshaal is offering this yet you’re still unhappy.
Everyone knows what the right of return means. I even explained it to you explicitly (there’s only one logical meaning). It’s not possible to clarify it any further.
Meshaal can not offer any change in the relationship between Hamas and Israel seeing as it is Israel that refuses to negotiate with it. You know that, I know that and he knows it. Hamas has offered to stop rocket fire and prevent others from doing so (but only in return for an end to the siege), and has pledged to abide by any peace resolution the Palestinian people agree to. There is nothing more you can ask from Hamas.
Sorry, it should say ‘the actions of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe’
In an earlier comment you stated that you had got past the ‘oh shit what have we done ‘ moment. The Pavlovian response of first finding a reason why the reconcilition you so desire can’t happen and then the misleading juxtaposition of the timeline of events ‘ The T&R commission occurred after the fundamental reconciliation ‘ with the fundmental requirement of Truth being part of that process of reconciliation and not some optional extra added later. I don’t think you have been through that moment, if you had, you would have no fear of Truth, if you had, there would be nowhere you would be afraid to look,
when you’ve been there you’ll understand.
It’s actually very liberating, straight thinking is more efficient due to the wastage inherent in a knotted thought process.
Its possible for Meshal to clarify. He was so evasive in the interview.
“You have continuously asked there to be a clear inspection mechanism to make sure construction materials can not be used to build weapons. Meshaal is offering this yet you’re still unhappy.”
You didn’t read my post, did you?
RE: “When Israeli officials are pressed to justify the fact that Israel has prevented the reconstruction of thousands of homes it destroyed during the war on Gaza…” – Woodward
ISRAEL:
Do you think your better off alone?
Do you think your better off alone?
Do you think your better off alone?
Do you think your better off alone?
Do you think your better off alone?
Do you think your better off alone?
Oooh
Talk to me
Oooh
Talk to me
Oooh
Talk to me
Talk to me
Alice Deejay, Better Off Alone (Extended Mix) [06:03] – link to youtube.com
RE: “Do you think your better off alone?”
SHOULD BE: Do you think you’re better off alone?
(You know how those lyrics websites are. “Those kids!” And I am an abysmal proofreader.)
link to lyricsfreak.com
I was also disappointed that Charlie Rose didn’t ask him why he felt that Hamas deserved the recognition of a US interface, when they are solely a political party or a militia?
How is it possible for the US to treat Hamas as if it was a state?
The same reason why the US has no qualms recognising Sinn Fein. Its double standards when it came to Irish nationalism and Palestinian nationalism, is outrageous.
don’t point out double standards to witty… they interfere with his zionist ideals…
Either you don’t understand the difference between a government and a political party, or you are obfuscating.
Who exactly is calling for recognition of Hamas as a ‘state’? It isn’t a ‘state’ and I can’t recall ever hearing anyone claim that it is. It is a movement with both an armed wing and a political party. It is irrelevant whether you define the Gazan government as a state, a city-state, a municipality, etc.
What does ‘deserving’ have to do with “the recognition of a US interface?” Speaking to foreign leaders confers no recognition that they are leaders of a state, it just confers recognition that they have power to influence for good or ill the achievement of our goals and the satisfaction of our interests. Communication with representatives of the US government isn’t some kind of ‘treat’ to be withheld for naughty behavior, it’s something done when it is our interests to do so, or would be if there were no Israel Lobby.
Who is the sole representative of the Palestinian people?
It confuses that question.
Israelis use American aid to fortify its military commanders’ bunkers. American weapons are used to kill Palestinian children. No nation, and not even the UN, does anything to stop it. It really is up to Americans to pressure their rulers to stop subsidizing Israeli military aggression.
ain’t gonna happen without a lot of work… part of the usa is zionist without having the slightest idea of the impact of their ideology on those that have to live in israel… being a zionist now equates with being a racist supporting apartheid israel.. this is what these zionists are supporting regardless of there liberal pretensions otherwise..
I have this nagging thought that Israel will never of it’s own accord allow the reconstruction of Gaza since gas/oil deposits have been found off the Gaza coast.
I thought the British Gas Group (BG Group) has already the contract to develop and sell the gas.
so who gets the royalties?
I don’t know. Let’s find out.
here is a clue. i think this has much to do with gaza israel conflict
link to globalresearch.ca;”Who Owns the Gas Fields
The issue of sovereignty over Gaza’s gas fields is crucial. From a legal standpoint, the gas reserves belong to Palestine.
The death of Yasser Arafat, the election of the Hamas government and the ruin of the Palestinian Authority have enabled Israel to establish de facto control over Gaza’s offshore gas reserves.
British Gas (BG Group) has been dealing with the Tel Aviv government. In turn, the Hamas government has been bypassed in regards to exploration and development rights over the gas fields.
The election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001 was a major turning point. Palestine’s sovereignty over the offshore gas fields was challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court. Sharon stated unequivocally that “Israel would never buy gas from Palestine” intimating that Gaza’s offshore gas reserves belong to Israel.
In 2003, Ariel Sharon, vetoed an initial deal, which would allow British Gas to supply Israel with natural gas from Gaza’s offshore wells. (The Independent, August 19, 2003)
The election victory of Hamas in 2006 was conducive to the demise of the Palestinian Authority, which became confined to the West Bank, under the proxy regime of Mahmoud Abbas.
In 2006, British Gas “was close to signing a deal to pump the gas to Egypt.” (Times, May, 23, 2007). According to reports, British Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened on behalf of Israel with a view to shunting the agreement with Egypt.
The following year, in May 2007, the Israeli Cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “to buy gas from the Palestinian Authority.” The proposed contract was for $4 billion, with profits of the order of $2 billion of which one billion was to go the Palestinians.
Tel Aviv, however, had no intention on sharing the revenues with Palestine. An Israeli team of negotiators was set up by the Israeli Cabinet to thrash out a deal with the BG Group, bypassing both the Hamas government and the Palestinian Authority:>>”
I’m wondering how much Israel will have to spend to defend gas extraction infrastructure. Drilling platforms and pipelines will be sitting duck targets for whoever Israel attacks next, and the more the Israel economy becomes dependent upon them the more vulnerable they will be.
… just an OT reminder: follow the humanitarian convoy at WitnessGaza.com
Well that was enjoyable – fifty minutes of Meshaal in dim lighting having his words translated in heavily broken English and placed just barely above Meshaals in volume.
They couldn’t be trying to make this as unpleasant as possible to watch could they? I’m interested as hell in this and I turned off after ten minutes.
But I saw enough of Charlie’s “how can we trust you?” narrative to get the gist.