Botswana National Front: "We do not want a repeat of last year's "Flotilla incident"!"

Reproducing a statement of the BNF, the main opposition party in Botswana:

29-06-11
Press Release

The Botswana National Front (BNF) would like to identify itself with the efforts of believers in Human rights and the struggle for emancipation of the Palestinians who have seen it fit to mobilise humanitarian support for them. The New Peace Flotilla to Gaza will not only deliver the much needed humanitarian aid, but will also draw world attention to the plight of the Palestinians and expose the inconsistencies of the World when it comes to Israel and Palestine. Hopeful this will bring the liberation of Palestine closer.

As it is right now, 10 vessels from different countries boarded by people of different nationalities, some of whom are Jewish, are currently on the way to Gaza. The Israeli government continues to illegally occupy Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem. The people living in these areas have been subjected to so much abuse and have no Human Rights.

We should remember that in 2008/9, Israeli Defence Force assault of Gaza which the Amnesty International dubbed, "22 days of death and destruction" left over 1400 dead. Of these, 326 were children under the age of 16. 112 were their mothers, said a UN Fact Finding Mission. Schools, hospitals, power installations and other badly needed infrastructure were badly damaged. The Israeli army used missiles, cluster bombs, rockets, banned white phosphorus, tank shells and machine guns against unarmed civilian population, save for a few stone throwing youths.

Just last year, Israel shot and killed 26 children whose sin was to scavenge for construction material from the war ruins. Unemployment figures within Palestine stand at a staggering 45%. Medical supplies and medicines have almost run out.

The Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is illegal, has turned the Palestinians into a group of holed up abused people. This is leaving bad scars on the minds, souls and bodies of the Palestinians. It breeds hatred and war.

The Geneva Convention on Human Rights allows a blockade if it is against an enemy during wartime and is used to secure borders and the population. What we are seeing in Gaza is a blockade that seeks to punish a civilian population of 1.6million unarmed people by a heavily armed expansionist regime that kills as and when it wants to. A state that receives billions of US$ annually in the form of US aid. A state that commits so many atrocities but is never punished.

There is no doubt that there has been incidents of firing of home made missiles from Palestinian territory to the nearest point in Israel, Sderat. This was done by some who were venting their anger at the illegal settlements and their treatment at the hands of the ruthless and barbaric Israeli state. Most of the missiles landed harmlessly except for one or two instances where there has been death.

The killings on innocent people,the type of fire power and the length of the operation by far surpasses what Muammar Qaddafi has been accused of by the ICC. Why the Israeli leaders have not been brought before the ICC up to now shows that this Court was set up for certain individuals and to achieve "certain" goals. This therefore makes it compulsory for the international bodies like the UN to be transformed so that they can serve us fairly and democratically.

UN Security Council Resolution 1860, adopted on January 2009, calls for "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of Humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical treatment." International Humanitarian organisations doing work in Gaza say that this has not been fulfilled.

On 31st May 2010, in what got to be known as "Flotilla raid", the Israeli Forces, on International waters, attacked and confiscated 10, 000 tons of Humanitarian aid destined for Gaza which were on six ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla".

The BNF position regarding the resolution of the Middle East crisis has not changed; Israel should abide by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967 which called on it to withdraw to the 1967 borders and for all the countries in the Middle East, including Israel to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats of force.

It is our hope that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government will make its voice heard and put pressure on its friend and close ally, Israel to ensure safe and unhindered passage of the much needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. We do not want a repeat of last year's Flotilla incident! Israel should not attack the Second Flotilla! The people of Gaza need the aid! Away with Israeli blockade of Gaza!

Moeti Mohwasa
BNF Information and Publicity Secretary.
+267-72256959

Gaza Left Front manifests support for Tunisian people

A bit late to report this, but on January 19 a solidarity rally for the struggles of the Tunisian people was held in Gaza City, organized by the Left Front (PFLP, DFLP, PPP). Full report in Arabic in al-Hourriah.

This types of manifestations are almost always overlooked by Western media. Notably, Zionist advocates generally argue that Arab attention to Palestine is unilateral (and hipocritical). The Jasmine Revolution (or Bread Revolution, whatever you call it) has proven that assessment to be utterly incorrect. The Arab people are deeply concerned by the region as a whole, and when an popular ouburst occurs like in Tunisia all democratic forces of the region respond to it.

News links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan

500 civil resisters from 17 Asian countries will join the caravan from India and march through 18 Asian cities of Pakistan , Iran , and Turkey to break the siege of Gaza through the sea route in December 2010

The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan is being organised by the Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine, an alliance of peoples' organisations, social movements, trade unions, and civil society institutions of Asia . This struggle is broad-based, varied and multi-dimensional. It is humanitarian and for peace, freedom and human dignity. It is against occupation, imperialism, apartheid, Zionism and all forms of discrimination including religious discrimination.

The Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine extends solidarity to the courageous people of Palestine in their struggle, resistance, and intifada against the Zionist Israeli occupation and affirms its commitment to Palestinian Self-Determination; Ending the Occupation; Equal Rights for All within historic Palestine; the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees; and the Establishment of a Sovereign, Independent and Democratic state of Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital.

The Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine commits to build the solidarity of Asian people for the freedom of Palestine , provide materials, resources, and volunteers to support the struggle of the people of Palestine and oppose our own governments' decisions and actions that give economic, financial, military and diplomatic support to Israel and allow it to behave with impunity.

India Lifeline to Gaza, which is a constituent of the Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine will have a conference and a large flag off programme in New Delhi on 2nd December 2010. The Caravan will carry relief material for the people of Gaza . The Asia to Gaza Caravan will cross into Pakistan via the Wagah border where members of the Pakistan Solidarity for Gaza will join the Caravan onwards to Iran . In every country and city that the caravan travels through, public meetings will be organised as more activists and participants join the caravan.

TENTATIVE CARAVAN SCHEDULE

1 December
Participants from East and South East Asia reach New Delhi , India

2 - 3 December
Flag off from New Delhi
and travel to Wagah border, India-Pakistan Border

4 December
Reach Lahore , Pakistan

5 - 7 December
Lahore to Karachi/Quetta, Pakistan

08 December
Karachi/Quetta, Pakistan to Zahedan , Iran

9 - 14 December
Zahedan, Iran to Tabriz , Iran

15 - 17 December
Tabriz, Iran to Eskandarun , Turkey

18 - 19 December
Eskandarun, Turkey to Damascus , Syria

20 - 21 December
Damascus, Syria to Amman Jordan

22 - 23 December
Amman, Jordan to Beirut Lebanon

24 - 26 December
Beirut back to Turkey

26 December
We Sail for Gaza ( Palestine )


Peaceful Resistance

The civil resisters have resolved to resist the Israeli sea siege in a peaceful manner and following the example of civil resisters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela as well as the long tradition of peaceful resistance from all ethical and religious traditions. The civil resisters are willing to be convicted for their peaceful resistance.


India Lifeline to Gaza
This process has been initiated by Indian people’s movements, social movements, trade unions, civil society organisations and multi-faith and ecumenical organisations. In the two months prior to departure of the Asia to Gaza caravan there will be multi-city programmes in solidarity of the people of Gaza and Palestine . Film festivals of Palestinian films and films of resistance, music concerts, photo exhibits, and theatre productions are being organised by the supporters of the people of Gaza and Palestine .


Palestinian Film Festival: Celebrating Cultures of Resistance

A week-long film festival screening Palestinian films and documentaries is being planned across several cities of India in the last week of October (tentatively 23-30 October). Several other initiatives such as solidarity concerts, theatrical performances, photo exhibits, panel discussions and seminars will also be planned in the days leading up to the flag-off of the Caravan.


End the Siege of Gaza ¢ Freedom to Palestine ¢ Boycott Israel


Endorsed by:

Organisations

All India Students Association (AISA)

Aman Bharat

Asha Parivar

Awami Bharat

Bahujan Sewak Sangh

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)

Bharat Bachao Andolan

Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha

Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur)

Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (Mazdoor Karyakarta Committee)

CPI(ML)

CPI-ML (New Democracy)

Forum against Oppression of Women

Free Gaza - India

Global Gandhi Forum

Indian Isladhi Movement

India Palestine People’s Solidarity Forum

Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU )

INHURED International ( Nepal )

Insaaniyat

Intercultural Resources

Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Hind

Jamat-e-Islami-Hind

Loknaad

Mazdoor Ekta Manch

Muslim Intellectual Forum

Muslim Political Council of India

National Association of Peoples Movements (NAPM)

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)

New Socialist Initiative (NSI)

New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)

Palestine Solidarity Movement

People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)

Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch

Programme against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI)

Progressive Students Union (PSU)

Republican Panther

Saheli Women’s Resource Centre

Sarva Seva Sangh

Solidarity Youth Movement

South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA)

South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT)

Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO)

Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI)

Vidyarthi Bharti

Yuva Koshish

All India Majlis-i-Mushawarrat


Individuals:

Achin Vanaik

Agdish Nagarkar

Amol Madame

Anand Grover

Anand Patwardhan

Anand Swaroop Verma

Anil Chaudhary

Arif Kapadia

Ashish Kothari

Asif Khan

Aslam Ghazi

Bajrang Sonawane

Brig. Sudhir Sawant

Chetna Birje

Ghazala Azad

Ihtishaam Ansari

Jai Sen

Javed Naqvi

Kabir Arora

Kalyani Menon-Sen, New Delhi

Khalid Riaz

Mukta Srivastava

Mukul Sinha

Mulniwasi Mala

Munawwar Azad

Munawwar Khan

Qurratulain Sundus

Reshma Jagtap

Ritu Menon

Rohini Hensman

Salman Usmani

Sandeep Pandey

Sanjay Shinde

Savyasaachi

Sayeed Khan

Sayeeda Hameed

Shabnam Hashmi

Shahid Siddiqui

Sheikh Muhammad Hussain

Shyam Sonar

Sudhir Dhawale

Sumi Saikia

Syed Iftikhar Ahed

Tusha Mittal

Varsha V V

Vasanthi Raman

Vilas Gaikwad

Winnie Thomas

Yawar Ali Qazi


Indian Coordination Committee:

1. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor, Milli Gazette / Majlis-i-Mushawarrat
2. Ashim Roy, National Trade Union Initiative and Member, Asian Coordination Committee
3. Feroze Mithiborwala, India Palestine People's Solidarity Forum and Member, Asian Coordination Committee
4. Com. Ramachandran, CPI-ML
5. Shahid Siddiqui, Editor, Nai Duniya and Ex-MP
6. Dr. Sunilam, Kisan Sangarsh Samiti and Ex-MLA
7. Com. Sanjay Singhvi, Trade Union Centre of India
8. Mujtaba Farooq, Jamat-i-Islami-i-Hind
9. Com. Tapas Ranjan Saha, CPIML-Liberation
10. Niaz Faruqi, Jamiatul-Ulema-i-Hind
11. Dr. Tasleem Rehmani, Muslim Political Council of India
12. Dr. Mrigank, CPI-ML-New Democracy
13. Com. Vasudevan, Blue Star Union
14. Com. Ravi Joshi, Indian Federation of Trade Unions
15. Com. Thomas Matthew, Bahujan Vampanth
16. Sandeep Pandey, National Alliance of People's Movements
17. Bhim Singh, Bahujan Sevak Sangh
18. Com. Aslam Sheikh, All India Students Association
19. Kishore Jagtap, Mahatma Phule-Dr. Ambedkar Vichar Manch
20. Shah Nawaz, Students Islamic Organization
21. Gauhar Iqbal, Palestine Solidarity Movement

Quote of the month

I'm sorry, but if you rappel onto someone's ship from a helicopter, nothing you subsequently do can be called "self defense". #flotilla

source

Foton från gårdagens manifestation i Stockholm | Photos from yesterday's manifestation in Stockholm

Nyhetslänkar: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Gaza Solidarity Rally in Malmö

A manifestation, commemorating the 2009 Gaza massacre, was held this Saturday in Malmö, southern Sweden. One speaker, member of parliament Marianne Berg, called for boycott of Israel. Newslink in Sydsvenskan.

War Criminal Ehud Olmert faces protests at University of Chicago

Link to ABC video

Good job by the activists at UoC. Do also notice the simultaneous rally of pro-Israeli racist nutjobs (at 01:49-02:10). What's the point of covering your face, if the full name is published anyway?

22 sömnlösa nätter - ny bok om Gazamassakern 2009!

Tjugotvå sömnlösa nätter - en antologi om kriget i Gaza, redigerad av Thaher Pelaseyed, finns ute för fölsäljning nu. Boken inkluderar texter av Naomi Klein, Uri Avnery, Mahmoud Darwish, Catrin Ormestad, Hans Linde, Per Gahrton, Mattias Gardell, Ulf Bjereld, Lama Abu-Iseifan, Fatheia Mousa, Haidar Eid, Klas Sandberg, Olof Holmgren, Salwa Taluli, m.fl..

Nedan en lanseringvideo för boken:


På Bokmässan i Göteborg finns boken att köpa hos ABF (monter B09:19), Palestinagrupperna (H02:32) och Internationella torgets centrala bokshop (H-hallen).

Följ lanseringen också lanseringen av boken på twitter (det går också använda hashtaggen #22nätter).
Nyhetslänkar om Palestina: 1, 2, 3
Bloggat: Redudans, Bröder, Anna Wester, Frasse, PGS

UNRWA Commissioner-General: Curriculum in Gaza is based on human rights

Maan has an article, in which the UNRWA Commissioner-General responds to the letter sent by the Refugee Popular Committees regarding the Gaza school curriculum. An excerpt;

During a news conference at the Gaza harbor Abu Zayd said, “I can refute allegations that UN school curriculum includes anything about the Holocaust. Anyone can have a look at the school books. Really we focus on human rights in curriculum.”

She went on to say, “Last year was the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we found that the Palestinians were deprived of many rights.” The human rights curriculum also teaches some history, she said.

Abu Zayd explained that the curriculum for these schools was written in the regional UN office in the Gaza Strip, and that it is revised by a group of editors from Palestine and from abroad.

The UN official was responding to accusations from refugee camp committees in Gaza that UNRWA was teaching a version of history to Palestinian students that "confirms the Holocaust and raises sympathy for Jews."

"Dr. Mads" tillbaka i Gaza

Norska Dagbladet har en artikel om Dr. Mads Gilberts besök i Gaza, där han gör återbesök hos några av de patienter han räddade livet på under Gazamassakern 2009.

Håll också ögonen öppna för Gilberts och Erik Fosses bok, Øyne i Gaza. Hoppas den kommer på svenska snart.

Felaktigheter om Gaza i dagens DN

I dagens DN finns en artikel med titlen "Hamas dömer ut Förintelsehistoria". I dess ingress står

Islamiströrelsen Hamas är upprörd över uppgifter om att FN sägs vilja undervisa Gazas barn om Förintelsen, "en av sionisterna påhittad lögn".

Påståendet stämmer inte, vilket vi kan se efter ha läst Jerusalem Post och Maan. Det rör sig om ett brev från Flyktingarnas folkkommittéer, en enligt JPost till Hamas närstående organisation. Det är alltså inte Hamas som politiskt parti som uttalat sig. Tvärtom, Hamas officiella talesman i Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri klargör att rörelsen inte vill gå in i en diskussion om Förintelsens historiska vara eller icke-vara. Han tillägger dock (citerar på engelska i JPost): "Regardless of the controversy, we oppose forcing the issue of the so-called Holocaust onto the syllabus, because it aims to reinforce acceptance of the occupation of Palestinian land."

Det hela visar sig snabbt vara en vattenglasstorm. Folkkommittérnas brev till UNRWA bygger på ett obekräftat rykte att UNRWA skulle ändra i läroplanen. UNRWA själva förnekar att så är fallet. Men i svenska medier tar man varje fragment i akt som kan blåsas upp för att sälja historien "Islamister-är-Förintelseförnekande-nazister" (likt mycket av medierapporteringen om Iran).

Men detta är inte första gången frågan om Förintelseundervisning i Palestina kommer upp till diskussion. Jag tycker man kan sälja följande:

1) Själva diskussionen tydliggör maktförhållandena i Palestinakonflikten. Palestinierna under ockupation får västerländsk historieskrivning vare sig de vill eller inte, samtidigt som man i Israel går åminnehållandet av Nakba (folkmordet och fördrivningen av palestinierna) till ett brott.

2) Bland vissa västerländska debattörer finns en extrem naivitet inför situationen i Gaza. Jag minns att i samband med lanseringen av "Om detta må ni berätta" i Sverige kom någon på den briljanta idéen att distribuera arabiska översättningar i palestiniska flyktingläger. Någonstans finns en tro att om bara Gazaborna får kännedom om Förintelsen, så kommer dom typ kapitulera. Det är synnerligen naivt, att inte inse att Gazabornas frustration (och därur motståndskamp) baseras på reella materiella förhållanden.

3) Palestinierna borde egentligen inte vara rädda för att diskutera och studera Förintelsen (vilket de inte heller är, palestinier överlag har ganska god koll på historia). Tvärtom så är kunskap om Förintelsen en viktig resurs för att argumentera för palestiniernas sak. Det är samma människosyn som möjliggör terrorn mot Gazas befolkning som en gång i tiden användes för att legitimera nazismens förbrytelser. Svaret måste vara att gång på gång återberopa människovärdet och internationell humantär rätt.

Göteborgsummah dissar det borgerliga blocket

Statsvetaren Magnus Hagevi har kommit ut med en ny bok, Politisk opinion och religiositet i Västra Götaland. En sammanfattande beskrivning ges i ett inlägg i GP, där Hagevi bl.a. menar att endast 4% av västsvenska muslimer sympatiserar med något borgerligt parti.

Tyvärr verkar material basera sig på enkäter från 2000 och 2002, och isåfall går t.ex. inte utläsa något om opinionen efter Gazamassakern 2009 (där politiker från samtliga borgerliga partier agerade urskuldade övergrepp och i flera fall aktivt påhejade massakern). Vidare menar Hagevi, åtminstone i GP-artikeln, att det inte finns klassaspekter som förklarar västsvenska muslimers väljarbeteende. Det är i min mening ett felaktigt antagande, då klass inte bara kan förstås i termer av nuvarande inkomstnivå.

Nyhetslänk: Dagen2

Att svälja kameler

Senaste mediestormen i Sverige om Palestinafrågan är de israeliska attackerna mot publiceringen av en artikel i Aftonbladet. Intressant är att den israeliska regeringens angrepp inte riktar sig mot den tidning som publicerat artikel, utan mot den svenska pressfriheten som sådan. Israeliska regeringen efterfrågar, i inte helt implicita termer, en censurordning för att hindra att kritik mot dess egna övergrepp sprids internationellt.

Svenska ambassadören i Tel Aviv, Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier, fördömer artikel i starka ordalag, och anser sig dela israelers 'bestörtning' över dess publicering.

Tre saker kan noteras. Ambassadörskan Borssin-Bonnier hävdar att artikeln 'är lika chockerande och förfärlig för oss svenskar som den är för israeliska medborgare'. Jag har läst artikeln, och kan inte påstå att jag skulle varken särskilt chockad eller förfärad över att Aftonbladet publicerat den.

För det andra; I samband med Muhammad-karikatyrerna, där starkt islamofobiska motiv förekom, så valde svenska regeringen att i alla lägen försvara rätten att publicera materialet i Danmark, utan att i någon gång diskutera huruvida materialet skulle vara rasistiskt eller främja rasistiska stereotyper. Det är antagligen skillnad på folk och folk, i svenska regeringens diskurs.

För det tredje; Det är intressant att svenska ambassaden väljer att ta i starkare ordalag mot publiceringen av en artikel i Aftonbladet, än massakern på 1,400+ palestinier i Gaza. Det säger något om vilka värderingar som råder i ambassaden och i svensk utrikespolitik överlag. Det säger också något om varför ambassaden i Tel Aviv borde stängas.

Bloggtips: Svensson har ett inlägg med en mer övergripande beskrivning av affären. Andra bloggar; Spånbinge, Per, Andrea Doria2, Lisa, Ship to Gaza Malmö, Motbilder

Palestinagrupperna kommenterar Breaking the Silences rapport

Se kommentar på PGS blogg.

שומרי משפט - רבנים לזכויות אדם

gazawar.co.il

Gilbert: Israel angrep civila

Från norska TV2, läs hela artikeln där

"- Dette kommer ikke overraskende på meg. Soldatene i Breaking the Silence fortjener ros. De tar en enorm personlig risiko ved å fortelle om dette. Samtidig viser det at det er splittelse i det israelske folket, og at ikke alle støtter overgrepene som ble gjort på Gazastripen, sier legen Mads Gilbert som jobbet på Shifa-sykehuset på Gazastripen under krigen.

- Materialet i rapporten fra Breaking the Silence og Amnesty-rapporten bekrefter det vi sa den gang, at Israels angrep var rettet mot sivile. Vi har tidligere sagt at mellom 80 og 90 prosent av dem som kom inn på Shifa-sykehuset var sivile. Angrepene var av ekstrem brutalitet. Vi var vitne til enkelthendelser hvor kvinner og barn var blitt drept i rene massakrer, sier Gilbert.

Gilbert mener Israels president Shimon Perez selv langt på vei har innrømmet at angrepene var rettet mot sivile.

- Perez sa til Jerusalem Post 14. januar at 90 prosent av bombene traff der de skulle. Når så mange sivile blir drept i angrep hvor de har truffet 90 prosent av målene, viser det bare at det var de sivile, også kvinner og barn, som var målet for angrepet, sier han.

Gilbert mener bevisene er klare på at Israel har begått krigsforbrytelser, og at regjeringen som styrte under krigen bør stilles for krigsforbryterdomstolen Haag. Spesielt gjelder dette statsminister Ehud Barak og forsvarsminister Tzipi Livni.

- Dette var en straffeekspedisjon der soldatene gikk løs på sivile, noe som selvfølgelig er strengt ulovlig. Det gjør dem til krigsforbrytere i henhold til Geneve-konvensjonen."

Artikel i ETC
Dagen, VL
Bloggat: Esbati

Silence broken

News links: Aftonbladet, Dagbladet, VG, Público, Vanguardia23, Politiken , Telegraaf, TV2, SR, Dagen, Focus, iOnline2, Vårt Land

From the website of Breaking the Silence;

"You feel like an infantile little kid with a magnifying glass looking at ants, burning them."

Fifty-four testimonies of Israeli combat soldiers who participated in Operation Cast Lead reveal gaps between the reports given by the army following January’s events; the needless destruction of houses; firing phosphorous in populated areas and an atmosphere that encouraged shooting anywhere.

Half a year after Operation Cast Lead, the organization "Breaking the Silence" is announcing the release of a new booklet today (Wed. 7/15) that includes numerous testimonies by soldiers who participated in the operation. The testimonies expose significant gaps between the official stances of the Israeli military and events on the ground.

Among the 54 testimonies are stories revealing the use of "accepted practices," the destruction of hundreds of houses and mosques for no military purpose, the firing of phosphorous gas in the direction of populated areas, the killing of innocent victims with small arms, the destruction of private property, and most of all, a permissive atmosphere in the command structure that enabled soldiers to act without moral restrictions. The booklet compiles the testimonies of about 30 reserve and regular combat soldiers from various units that participated in the fighting. The testimonies demonstrate that the soldiers were not given directives stating the goal of the operation and, as one soldier testifies, "there was not much said about the issue of innocent civilians."

Many soldiers said that they fought without seeing "the enemy before their eyes." "You feel like an infantile little kid with a magnifying glass looking at ants, burning them," one of the soldiers testified that "a 20-year-old kid should not have to do these kinds of things to other people."

"The testimonies prove that the immoral way the war was carried out was due to the systems in place and not the individual soldier," said Mikhael Mankin from "Breaking the Silence." What was proven yesterday is that through the IDF the exception becomes the norm, and this requires a deep and reflective discussion. This is an urgent call to Israel's society and leadership to take a sober look at the foolishness of our policies."

Blogs: annarkia

Om mänskliga sköldar

I samband med Gazamassakern gick en grupp svenska läkare ut med ett upprop till stöd för israeliska krigsförbrytelser (uppropet i sin helhet, med undertecknare, kan läsas här). I uttalanden gjordes ett stort nummer av hasbara-myten om att Hamas skulle använt Gazabor som mänskliga sköldar.

Nu har fler och fler rapporter kommit ut, t.ex. från Amnesty International och Breaking the Silence, om att israeliska soldater vid flertal tillfällen använde civila palestinier som mänskliga sköldar, enligt DN har israeliska soldater tvingat civila "in i byggnader före soldaterna för att dra på sig eventuell eld." I en tidigare DN-artikel skrivs att "Däremot anklagar Amnesty Israel för att ha använt civila, bland dem barn, som mänskliga sköldar i Gaza genom att tvinga dem att stanna kvar i husen när soldaternas intog militärpositioner."

Kommer nu undertecknarna, som sades sig vara så upprörda över användadet av mänskliga sköldar, offentlig fördöma den israeliska arméns agerande?
Bloggat: Roya

En påminnelse

I samband med Gazamassakern hävdade Fredrik Malm, riksdagsledamot (FP),

– Jag tvivlar på att Israel bombar annat än militära anläggningar.

Idag har de två stora morgontidningarna artiklar om uppgifterna om vitnessmål från israeliska soldater om övergreppen i Gaza. Från DN;

"– Jag har tjänstgjort i Gaza och på Västbanken under svåra förhållanden, fortsätter Amir, men jag har aldrig hört maken till de instruktioner vi fick denna gång. Budskapet var att vi kunde skjuta hur som helst mot vad som helst utan att bekymra oss om följderna. Står ett hus i vägen? Ned med det! En bil? Kör över den! Ser ni någon så utgå från att det är en fiende."

Från SvD;

"Soldaterna berättar bland annat att civila palestinier tvingades gå in i misstänkta byggnader framför israeliska soldater, som mänskliga sköldar. Det förekom till och med att en soldat vilade sitt gevär på en palestiniers axel när de gick in i ett hus.

Vittnena upprepar också anklagelserna om att vit fosfor sköts på gatorna i Gaza, vilket Israel har förnekat."

Bloggat: Anna Wester, Röda Malmö, Svensson, jj.n, Början av 2000-talet, Ung Vänster, Vänstervind
Artikel i HD, Ystads Allehanda

'Proud to stand with Palestine' -- The Flame and Green Left Weekly respond to anti-Arab attack by Murdoch press

Read rebuffal of Murdochite attack of Australian leftwing media at Links website.