Saturday 27 December 2008: That date will now go down in history as one of the bloodiest in the sixty year conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as Israel launches airstrikes into the Gaza Strip killing some 225 people, mostly civilians. Don't mean the understate the point, but do you think this has gone far enough?
Having lived in the UK twice in the past few years, I can say that the British media are not cheerleaders of Israel as are the Americans and even the Australian media.
Both Jews and the secular Israeli's are now seriously questioning the terrorism perpetuated by the state of Israel, and beginning to name it for what it is. Jews seem to be fairly well taboo to criticise - but how about enough is enough on this one? Stories of border crossings? Cutting water, electricity, services, roads and medical supplies to Palestinians on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over such a long period of time?
Of course, Hamas, perhaps the Mid Easts ONLY properly democratically elected government, is being painted as the bogey man: Here is Gordon Brown last night "I understand the Israeli government's sense of obligation to its population. Israel needs to meet its humanitarian obligations, act in a way to further the long-term vision of a two-state solution, and do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties."
No sympathy for the KIDS and CIVILIANS killed.
The American response ' "[America] urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza... " Again, no condemnation of the murdering of kids and civilians.
Time to dust of my copy of Edward Said's Orientalism again I think. The human Palestinian face will not be shown on the news tonight - except for a decontextualised wailing which further seeks to 'Other' this suffering group of people.
By the way, I would bet my balls in the 225 dead that very very few were Hamas operatives.
I guess those crazy Israeli military generals will consider the whole exercise close enough for jazz, while their American backers stand back. Silent.
Brad
Having lived in the UK twice in the past few years, I can say that the British media are not cheerleaders of Israel as are the Americans and even the Australian media.
Both Jews and the secular Israeli's are now seriously questioning the terrorism perpetuated by the state of Israel, and beginning to name it for what it is. Jews seem to be fairly well taboo to criticise - but how about enough is enough on this one? Stories of border crossings? Cutting water, electricity, services, roads and medical supplies to Palestinians on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over such a long period of time?
Of course, Hamas, perhaps the Mid Easts ONLY properly democratically elected government, is being painted as the bogey man: Here is Gordon Brown last night "I understand the Israeli government's sense of obligation to its population. Israel needs to meet its humanitarian obligations, act in a way to further the long-term vision of a two-state solution, and do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties."
No sympathy for the KIDS and CIVILIANS killed.
The American response ' "[America] urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza... " Again, no condemnation of the murdering of kids and civilians.
Time to dust of my copy of Edward Said's Orientalism again I think. The human Palestinian face will not be shown on the news tonight - except for a decontextualised wailing which further seeks to 'Other' this suffering group of people.
By the way, I would bet my balls in the 225 dead that very very few were Hamas operatives.
I guess those crazy Israeli military generals will consider the whole exercise close enough for jazz, while their American backers stand back. Silent.
Brad
