This from my latest in the National:
There were no winners in the Gaza war that Israel launched a year ago today, but no shortage of losers. And failure to address its underlying causes – the economic siege through which Israel, Egypt and the US hope to force Hamas from power, and that organisation’s ability to respond by firing rockets into Israel – means that far from anyone learning the lessons of the brutal folly that was Operation Cast Lead, a repeat may be imminent.
Although it killed up to 1,400 Palestinians and left tens of thousands homeless while losing only 10 of its own men (four to “friendly fire”), one of the world’s most powerful armies failed to achieve its main objective – to destroy Hamas’s military and political infrastructure…
…But a year later, Hamas remains in uncontested control of the territory, and not only retains the capacity to fire rockets into Israel, but has forced Israel to consider releasing 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captive soldier Gilad Shalit. Operation Cast Lead also cost Israel dearly on the political and diplomatic front. Its senior officials have to think twice before visiting a number of western countries for fear of arrest on war crimes charges, and that even allies such as the US and Britain have urged Israel to investigate the war crimes allegations raised by Judge Richard Goldstone underscores just how sharply the operation tilted international public opinion against Israel. The European Union is now talking of recognising Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders, underscoring an impatience with the Israelis unknown during the Ariel Sharon era…
…Tempting as it may be to see the possible Shalit swap as a sign that Israel and Hamas are finally learning to engage and seek a more stable coexistence, that would be a mistake. Having failed to defeat Hamas and then been forced (by Israeli public opinion demanding the soldier’s safe return) to free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners is a bitter pill for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In the minds of Israel’s hawks, the country’s vaunted “deterrence” would require that Hamas be made to pay a heavy price for forcing the prisoner exchange on Israel. Giving Hamas a second victory by lifting the siege may be too much for them to countenance.
So it ought to surprise no one if, in the weeks and months ahead, there is an increase in Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, while efforts to end the blockade are stymied, ultimately provoking Hamas to hit back with its own rocket strikes – opening another round of fighting.
Pingback: Rootless Cosmopolitan – By Tony Karon » Blog Archive » Bracing for … | Holy lands tours - holyland
It’s always tit for tat with Israel and the Palestinians. They decimated them last December; is this what they will try again to see if they can drag the U.S. into another war situation like they did in Iraq? Israel wants to anialate the Palestinian people, that has always been their goal.
Gaza 2009: We Will Never Forget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9mkRiGbgZg
“But a year later, Hamas remains in uncontested control of the territory, and not only retains the capacity to fire rockets into Israel
Rocket fire reduced from 2000 per year in 2008 to 116 per year since the end of operation cast lead. Total failure for Israel.
You are bonkers if you think Israel is going to start bombing Gaza for Gilad Shilat.
Gaza newspaper documents the “brutal siege”
http://www.paltoday.com/arabic/News-64161.html&hl=en&langpair=auto%7Cen&tbb=1&ie=windows-1256
Definitely Israel who will initiate a new confrontation.
Gaza militants fire Grad rocket into Netivot
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1139142.html
Tony Karon is a self-hating Jew, an anti-Zionist and an anti-Semite, perfect for Time magazine. I’m probably talking to an empty room because it looks like very few people read this fool’s hatred and garbage. No wonder Time’s paid circulation keeps dropping and is limited to the leftists.
We love a bit of Tony Karon in NZ – the usual media sources are fairly limited in what they can and do report compared with experiences of journalists on the ground so it’s good to get a broad oversight of things.
Reading Stan’s rebuttal tells me Tony’s on to something. “Not true to his ‘race'”? We’ve heard that before…
oooo very bad 🙁 why whyy???
Well I just found this blog. I will be back again, and again. I will also direct some of my friends here. Glad to see that there is a sane voice in the wilderness.
Everyone will note the acquiescence of the US and UK to Israel’s murder of the leader of Hamas recently. Hamas – the party of the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. They (US & UK) ignore the crime of murder in the first degree – and carry on about the illegal use of UK passports for the operation.
TO FIX ALL OF THIS – go to ‘YouTube’ search keyword – TVOTW888. “British Election – 2010” – in 4 parts. View sequentially – of course.
THEN – go to “Bring ‘Em On” – in 11 parts.
THEN – email, Facebook and Twitter everyone and anyone you know with the above ‘YouTube’ keyword link.
THEN – give your unqualified support to – The Global Fund
The Zionist owned & controlled mass media refuse to provide the TRUTH & the TRUE FACTS to the people of the world as to the crimes of the Blair/Brown/Bush Neo Cons. This media is complicit in everything they have done.
ONLY YOU – by giving your support to The Global Fund can stop it – and see justice done – AND TO STOP THE KILLING!!!
For my Love they are my adversaries…. this has now been fulfiled. Pslam 109:4
Not only Gaza, but also Isaiah 17: is in the near future.
I also suffer from panic attacks and i can manage it by deep and slow breathing. i also practice meditation.. .
Your views are in accordance with my own for the most component.
The usual media sources are fairly limited in what they can and do report compared with experiences of journalists on the ground so it’s good to get a broad oversight of things.
Somebody essentially assist to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the research you made to make this actual publish amazing. Magnificent activity!
Everyone will note the acquiescence of the US and UK to Israel’s murder of the leader of Hamas recently. Hamas – the party of the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. They (US & UK) ignore the crime of murder in the first degree – and carry on about the illegal use of UK passports for the operation.
?uhhh êtes vous certain de ce que vous nous affirmez ??
My web site – clip adulte gratuit
?ollement captivant : selon moii ce post intéresserait un ami
Also visit myy blog – bonne salope
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you have
hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that too few folks are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy that I found this in my search for something
concerning this.
webpage (Terence)
Bat?kent di? klini?i tüm di? alanlar?nda hizmet vermektedir.
If you desire to take a good deal from this article then you have to apply such methods to your won web site.|
You’re a really valuable site; could not make it without ya!
NFL 17 http://www.terrificpets.com/forum/363908.asp