LA PLAYA | MondoweissMondoweiss

historian, author, TV reporter. Born in Panama, educated in Spain, now living in England. Dual national: US/UK. Christian. Supporter of Palestinian rights: discovered Mondoweiss in July/August 2014; supporter of open news coverage of Israel/Palestine.

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SIZE MATTERS. What's the geographic difference between Iran and Israel? Iran - which has not invaded/attacked another country in 200 years --is slightly larger than the US state of Alaska. Israel is the size of New Jersey. But then, Zionist Israel may have expansion plans and needs more $$$ military hardware. Cough up, American taxpayers...

On Which nation spends more on its military: Iran or Israel?

I was also at the London demonstration: to express solidarity with Palestine, and protest Netanyahu, the 'Gauleiter of Gaza,' who murdered thousands - including 500 children - last year. I would estimate the crowds at the Downing Street demonstration to be 2,000 for Palestine, with about 400 Zionists/Likud supporters showing up, and kept corralled in their own patch by police. I would rate the UK police as firm but fair. Considering it was a Wednesday (workweek) morning, it was a good turnout for Palestine. I also signed the UK petition: encourage our MPs to debate this in the House of Commons. Good to note that other Mondoweiss commentators/readers were there!

On Update: UK petition calling for Netanyahu to be arrested for war crimes reaches 100,000 signatures

While US congress people are dancing in Israel to the tune of their Likud paymasters, things are changing in Europe: Today, August 13, 2015: Paris: major pro-palestinian rights protest planned today over Paris Plage (beach) 'celebration' of Tel Aviv beach. (As one commentator remarked, with the heavy police presence now expected, it will be just like an Israeli beach resort). London: A government petition calling for the arrest of Netanyahu for war crimes goes viral. Only UK citizens can sign petition, which currently has over 45,000 signatures. Netanyahu expected in London next month. UK citizens seek justice for the 2,00 victims of the Gaza Massacre last summer, and hold Netanyahu responsible.

On Dear Freshmen Members of the House of Representatives

I get the same boilerplate letters from my Senators and Reps. Always the same la-la-la about US and Israel joined at the hip, our best ally, America's best friend, and generally concluding with the standard 'what are you, an anti-semite?' Listen to me, US Senators and US Representatives. I am not an anti-semite, but a concerned American citizen who backs justice for the Palestinians, and strongly objects to my tax money being sent to the government of Israel to kill hundreds of Palestinian children. My only encouraging news so far: one brave Senator from my state DID NOT attend the Congressional love-in for Netanyahu earlier this year. This Senator replied to my protesting email with thoughtful consideration; he supported an American president rather than a foreign politician. My other Senator replied to my email with the standard hasbara boilerplate, and she was there for Netanyahu, yo-yoing up and down for the standing ovations with the rest of the bought-and-paid-for US congress audience.

On The case for US government sanctions on Israel

Excellent, thought-provoking Q&A. I greatly admire the courage of Jewish activists who oppose the status quo in Israel. I'm an American citizen; I deeply loathe my US taxes bankrolling the Israeli regime's military horrors unleashed against their captive Palestinians. For me, personally, the Gaza massacre of last summer was the last straw. I've gone from years of watching the Israel/Palestine situation from the sidelines, thinking 'this situation is wrong,' to becoming more involved. I see a parallel with the 19th century US abolitionists who confronted the American slaveowners (religious slaveowners who claimed "slavery is God's will - it's in the Bible," slaveowners who controlled the US Congress, and slaveowners who warped the US legal system to bolster their claims to do as they wished with another human being). Viva Mondoweiss - the liberating internet "Underground Railroad" channelling the right to change!