Netanyahu
The peace process soap opera continues! The two sides are exchanging letters! Haaretz:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to send a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in which he will call on him to return to the negotiating table promptly and without preconditions.
A senior Israeli official said the letter would be a response to a similar communiqué Abbas plans to relay to Netanyahu in the upcoming days.
How can a person not be incredibly cynical about the Israelis. Really? Reuters:
The Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers will meet later this month, officials said on Wednesday, but the rare talks may only sharpen differences that have brought peace negotiations to a standstill….
More than 800 [settler homes] are planned for an area called Har Homa, whose expansion would effectively block off East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their future capital, from the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, said Lior Amihai, spokesman for the Peace Now group.
Americans ought to reflect that the destruction of the two-state solution in the United States in 1854– the solution being, you can have slavery if you just keep it south of Nebraska; no that wasn’t good enough for the slave power–the destruction of that “solution” resulted in Lincoln stirring from his provincial slumbers in Springfield, IL, Emerson and Thoreau’s conversion from nonviolent resistance to endorsing violent resistance, John Brown’s terrorism in Kansas and murderous raid on Virginia, and a massive bloodletting. And Israel thinks its defiance of a historical international consensus will have no consequences?
Why should the Israelis be blamed for not stopping construction of settlements in Occupied Territory in almost 20 years since their obligation at Oslo to do so. Their continuing war crimes [ Geneva article 49.6] are ignored by the International Community, no scrub that, they are rewarded, increased subsidies and weapons systems from the US, enhanced trade agreements with the EU, and to top it all almost for free, 6 submarines from Germany capable of carrying nuclear weapons, whats not to like about committing war crimes on a daily basis, why abide by the Law, thats for mugs like the PA, who have meticulously followed Oslo. They should have realised 20 years ago that an agreement is only as good as its first breach, on the plus side for the PA, is all those fat salaries and VIP passes. Their complaints to the Policeman [The UNSC veto] having been ignored, now they can go straight to the court [ICC] if only they could get their act together.
“And Israel thinks its defiance of a historical international consensus will have no consequences?”
Yes, they do and, horrifyingly, they may be right.
Speed is their friend and they know it.
Once “the deed” is done, the game change’s in their favor.
No more arguments about expanding settlements.
They’re already counting it a “win,” which happens when you cheat.
I’m not so sure they’re wrong …at least in this generation.
delegitimization day, 2050
an international holiday that celebrates the emancipation in 2012 of the palestinian people after 60+ years under the boot of u.s.-backed zionist settlers who had stolen their homeland.
official program:
role call of martyrs (names of the last 25 martyrs are read)
(moderator) – “and for what did they die?”
(the assembled) – “they died that there be no colonizations* no more, nowhere,
never and no excuses accepted, especially any that pertain to ancient ‘dead’ writings.”
(moderator) – “and exactly what was delegitimization about?”
(the assembled) – “liberty, justice and equality.”
(moderator) – “in palestine?”
(the assembled) – “palestine initially and soon everywhere else”
(moderator) – “and ever since what sort of world?”
(the assembled) – “of, for and by the people.”
*military, neo-, whatsoever
Have always been fascinated about what people choose to do once they have power.
While awareness based on facts has grown over the last 10 years the situation on the ground has progressively gotten worse.
The Politics of Palestine
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/the-politics-of-palestine_b_1409760.html
Zogby writes
“Just this month, the Israeli government flaunted its own legal system refusing to close down an illegal “outpost” that had been built on Palestinian-owned land. And even when they did evacuate a home in Hebron that had been seized by extremist settlers in an act of provocation, the prime minister sought to inoculate himself from criticism by announcing that he would begin construction of hundreds of new housing units between Bethlehem and Jerusalem — two cities that had once had a synergistic relationship, but have now been effectively severed one from another. Add to this the recent report that appeared in Ha’aretz revealing that Israel’s Civil Administration has been “secretly setting aside” an additional 10 percent of the West Bank for settlement expansion, and it becomes increasingly difficult to even imagine how and where one would establish a Palestinian state.
It is not just the current hard-line Israeli government that is at fault, since all of these policies have been at work without interruption for the past 45 years. And there is no hope for change in sight. Polls show that in any future election, Israeli voters would elect a government that would pursue policies that are much the same, if not worse.”
Stephen Walt was also focused on this yesterday:
Staying up to date on Israel-Palestine
Posted By Stephen M. Walt Friday, April 6, 2012
http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/
“You might read Isabel Kershner’s New York Times piece on the eviction of an Israeli settler family from an illegal outpost in Hebron. The kicker, of course, is that the removal of one settler family was accompanied by an announcement that the Netanyahu government had authorized construction of 800 new homes in Har Homa and Givat Zeev, and intended “to seek the necessary permits to retroactively legalize three other West Bank settler outposts that went up without authorization.” And lest you be confused about the Netanyahu government’s intentions, here’s what Netanyahu himself had to say about it (my emphasis):
“The principle that has guided me is to strengthen Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Today, I instructed that the status of three communities — Bruchim, Sansana, and Rechalim — be provided for. I also asked Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to see to it that the Ulpana hill in Beit El not be evacuated. This is the principle that has guided us. We are strengthening Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and we are strengthening the Jewish community in Hebron, the City of the Patriarchs. But there is one principle that we uphold. We do everything according to the law and we will continue to do so.”
So Netanyahu’s aim is clear: keeping control of the West Bank forever. And the reference to “doing everything according to the law” is revealing, because “law” here means the law of the occupation, which is the same law that has allowed a half a million Israelis to move onto the territories conquered in 1967 over the past forty years. “
RE: “More than 800 [settler homes] are planned for an area called Har Homa, whose expansion would effectively block off East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their future capital, from the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, said Lior Amihai, spokesman for the Peace Now group.” ~ Reuters
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LIKUDNIK/BE(I)TARIM/REVISIONIST ISRAEL, WATCH THESE TWO ITEMS:
• ITEM ONE – Nietzsche and the Nazis, 2006, PG, 166 minutes
[A LECTURE] Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party drew upon the works of famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to justify their World War II atrocities and quest for power. In this documentary, professor Stephen Hicks explores Nietzsche’s teachings and determines whether the Nazis correctly interpreted their meaning. History buffs and philosophy enthusiasts alike will appreciate the thorough examination Hicks conducts of this controversial topic.
Netflix Availability: Streaming and DVD
NETFLIX LISTING – http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Nietzsche_and_the_Nazis/70064793
ALSO ON YouTube IN TWO PARTS:
Nietzsche and the Nazis 1 of 2 (VIDEO, 1:11:24) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkq3Hn0x14I
Nietzsche and the Nazis 2 of 2 (VIDEO, 1:34:52) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdzmLdKNAik
• DISCOVERY: ITEM TWO – Italian Fascism in Color, 2007, NR, 100 minutes
Using period letters, secret memos, rare archival footage and expert interviews, this documentary traces the rise of Mussolini’s fascist Italian government after World War I to its violent downfall in the throes of World War II. This penetrating exploration of Il Duce’s rule reveals why his efficient administration was initially admired across the globe as well as the reasons his growing allegiance with Nazi Germany sealed his fate.
Netflix Availability: Streaming and DVD
NETFLIX LISTING – http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Italian_Fascism_in_Color/70076529
ALL BUT THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OR SO IS ALSO ON YouTube:
The Rise of Italian Fascism
Part 1 – missing
Part 2 – missing
Part 3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcmzIEJim60
Part 4 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgowV_TyMUk
Part 5 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFrWi6sT-j4
Fascism In Color, Mussolini In Power
Parts 1 thru 5 – http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+raslikmuzik+Fascism+In+Color+-+Mussolini+In+Power&oq=+raslikmuzik+Fascism+In+Color+-+Mussolini+In+Power&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_nf=1&gs_l=youtube-psuggest-reduced.12…9599.18411.0.26578.3.3.0.0.0.0.57.158.3.3.0.