Al old friend, I can't converse with you directly because I've been warned that I will be banned if I go tit for tat with you as far as insults go. I did report you for you latest, most vicious insults but there seems to be a double standard in place. So good luck.
Following the violent interception of a flotilla to Gaza in May, Israel announced the easing of some restrictions on imports, and, in December, on exports. It is still too early to evaluate implementation of these decisions and their effects, but it is clear that these decisions do not overturn the policy of collective punishment of the 1.5 million residents of Gaza. The limited opening of Rafah Crossing by Egypt since June also does not free Israel of its obligation to enable movement between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israel continues its siege on the Gaza Strip, which began in 2007. As a result, until June 2010, 95 percent of the factories and workshops in Gaza had closed and the agricultural sector was severely damaged, which led to unemployment of 40 percent. The siege has also prevented reconstruction of thousands of homes destroyed in Operation Cast Lead. As a result of the continuing damage to the water system in Gaza, at least 95 percent of the water drawn from the system is not potable, as of August 2010. Israel continues to restrict access to land 1,500 meters from the Gaza perimeter fence, including by use of live gunfire. According to UN figures, limits of Palestinian access to these areas, which constitute some 17% of the Gaza Strip and are primarily agricultural areas, harms some 7.5% of the Gaza population who are dependent on the these areas for agriculture, housing or education
They have extremely sophisticated missiles that can be guided to a moving car and they choose to use other weapons or decide to drop a bomb on a house knowing that there were women and children inside. These are very, very clear breaches of international law."
Israeli military actions prompted an unusual public rebuke from the International Red Cross after the army moved a Palestinian family into a building and shelled it, killing 30. The surviving children clung to the bodies of their dead mothers for four days while the army blocked rescuers from reaching the wounded.
Human Rights Watch has called on the UN security council to set up a commission of inquiry into alleged war crimes.
Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have separately written to the country's attorney general demanding he investigate the allegations.
But critics remain sceptical that any such inquiry will take place, given that Israel has previously blocked similar attempts with the backing of the US.
Amnesty International says hitting residential streets with shells that send blast and shrapnel over a wide area constitutes "prima facie evidence of war crimes".
John Ging, head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, said: "It's about accountability the issue of the appropriateness of the force used, the proportionality of the force used and the whole issue of duty of care of civilians.
"We don't want to join any chorus of passing judgment but there should be an investigation of any and every incident where there are concerns there might have been violations in international law."
The Israeli military are accused of:
• Using powerful shells in civilian areas which the army knew would cause large numbers of innocent casualties;
• Using banned weapons such as phosphorus bombs;
• Holding Palestinian families as human shields;
• Attacking medical facilities, including the killing of 12 ambulance men in marked vehicles;
• Killing large numbers of police who had no military role.
Israel is facing growing demands from senior UN officials and human rights groups for an international war crimes investigation in Gaza over allegations such as the "reckless and indiscriminate" shelling of residential areas and use of Palestinian families as human shields by soldiers.
With the death toll from the 17-day Israeli assault on Gaza climbing above 1300, pressure is increasing for an independent inquiry into specific incidents, such as the shelling of a UN school turned refugee centre where about 40 people died, as well as the question of whether the military tactics used by Israel systematically breached humanitarian law.
The UN's senior human rights body approved a resolution yesterday condemning the Israeli offensive for "massive violations of human rights". A senior UN source said the body's humanitarian agencies were compiling evidence of war crimes and passing it on to the "highest levels" to be used as seen fit.
Some human rights activists allege that the Israeli leadership gave an order to keep military casualties low no matter what cost to civilians. That strategy has directly contributed to one of the bloodiest Israeli assaults on the Palestinian territories, they say.
Well again, at the risk of redundancy, thats not exactly what I had in mind.
You see this tiny little guy might be a big fish in a very small pond when it comes to down and out, drop the gloves, fighting the tiny guy just isn't up to it. Sure, they can slap around some of the little guys right next to him, particularly the ones with out any guns or knives at all but when it came to a fair fight they would cut an run befor most of the other guys took their teeth out you see. I mean, sure they could sneek up on one of the other guys unsuspectingly and shoot them in the head and run. But when the real chip would fall they'd be off like a prom dress.
In a BBC interview, the former British prime minister , who now acts as an international peace envoy for the Middle East , said he was optimistic that a breakthrough could still be achieved.
A recent visit to the region had left him with the impression that there was 'the prospect of putting together something,' said Blair.
'I still think it is possible - I would even go so far, but then I'm always on the optimistic side of the spectrum, as to say likely - that we can put that back together again in the coming weeks,' he said.
But he dismissed the notion that a separate Palestinian state could be declared without Israeli agreement.
'I don't think anything that is done unilaterally is ever as good as anything that is done by agreement, and frankly it won't work unless it is done by agreement, ultimately,' Blair said.
'Essentially, what we have got to do over the next few weeks - and I think it is measured in weeks and not months - is first of all give shape to the negotiation,' he added. Asked what would happen if there was no breakthrough in the next few weeks, Blair, who acts as envoy for the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia, responded: 'If it doesn't happen, then we really are stuck.'
As I stated, I see Jews as naturally gifted intellectuals. And with this gift one would expect benevolence.
Its like the guy (Jew) who took part in the invention of the dialysis machine (and later the Segway) Sure this was an important tool in the treatment of kidney failure. But did this guy donate his invention to society?
No.
This guy insists on a perk from each and every dialysis session that occurs.''
How noble is that?
I grew up loving everything! Slowly the facade began to melt away.
Peace Love and Understanding.
These are things I believe in.
These are things I see being side-stepped.
Nothing ever happened to sour me on Israel.
Just what I read in the news.
"Palestinian girl, 17, drives bomb laden truck up to Israeli checkpoint and detonates,..
I try and see the dynamics of this "act"
Why would a country so gifted be so cruel?
Why would one religion profess to be "the" religion.
If Christians believe Jesus WAS the messiah SO WHAT!
Because the Jew has been persecuted throughout the ages now
they adopt a policy of "never again", sure, so would I
but at the same time wouldn't a few of the elders of the
group get together and study WHY this happens.
Is it not the solipsistic attitude Zionism projects?
Sure it's ok to forge passport documents of other countries!
These folks think that if you call someone names they'll back down. As if your position is insignificant, petty, ... Just call them a name and "poof" all the elements of their position is proven wrong!
Thats how it was in ,..oh,..Second Grade.
This is cyberland. Words are your tools.
When you resort to name calling it just makes you look foolish.
SilverBirch: I harbor no hatred. Not to Jews. Blacks. Asian. I even like Canadians.
I did not get a full answer to my question of Jewish Philosophy.
Do Jewish parents instill in their children a belief that Jews are intellectually superior. And are "other than" Jewish people thought of as "lesser than" ?
Plain and simple question.
Thank you for your insight. I may sound anti-Zionist but all I am is curious.
Curious. Curious as to why Gods Chosen People would, after years and years of oppression, when they finally come "home". And are again welcomed to "international community" to they project such a vicious stature to the world.
Disproportional Reprisals.
ie. the Gaza offensive
Collective Punishment
Israel control the water supply for the entire region
How much is alocated for Israeli use?
How much for Palestinian use?
(Recogize a pattern?)
I don't hate.
I have compassion. Compassion for the growers of the fig tree.
The fig tree is a symbol of Peace. Is it not?
When I read that IDF bulldozers raise a Palestinian Farm and annex their land to build a settlement, this is a curiousity.
Theoligic supremacy.
Back to my original question.
Do you teach your son that being Jewish is, superior?
Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:53 AM EST : Colonisation of Palestine (acceptable or unacceptable) SilverBirch: In typical condesending rhetoric again we see more flim flam dodging of the issues.
What about targeted assinations.
Does Israel forget what happened when they assinated Arafat?
The Arabs took out Sharon!
Do they think the hit in Dubai is going to go unanswered?
...
just a "poke in the ribs" right? He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword
Wed Jan 6, 2010 2:05 AM EST : Does Isreal truly want peace.
Is it not a paradox that the same people that have suffered such collective punishment as the Israeli's now have exacted that same measure on the Palistinians?
SilverBirch Forum Posts (3,158)
Palestinian Statehood at Last
Al old friend, I can't converse with you directly because I've been warned that I will be banned if I go tit for tat with you as far as insults go. I did report you for you latest, most vicious insults but there seems to be a double standard in place. So good luck.