War in The Middle East

[Anonymouse]

Re: War in The Middle East

I have cleaned up this thread and deleted and/or edited alot of inappropriate, off-topic, irrelevant and insulting and personal-attack posts. Please keep the coherence of the thread aligned with the topic. This thread is not about Jewish "evilness" or their role in the Armenian genocide or bolshevism or what have you, nor is it about personal insults. Keep the thread troll free and coherent or it will be closed.

Thanks.

[Deadsy]

Re: War in The Middle East

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYhGYZxl-f8

[Mizzike]

Re: War in The Middle East

I'll check it out.

Moving on.

-----------------

Gaza clinics destroyed by raids

By Donald Macintyre


Israeli warplanes have attacked two fully equipped medical clinics in Gaza, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, the Christian organisations which fund them reported yesterday. The Catholic relief group Caritas said its clinic in the al-Meghazi area of Gaza had been "completely destroyed" by a missile on Friday, and that 20 nearby homes had been damaged. Because local families had already fled their homes, no one was hurt, Caritas said, but equipment worth $10,000 (£6,700) was lost.


Twenty-fours later, another clinic funded by Christian Aid was also demolished in an air strike; it followed a telephone warning to the building's owners to leave within 15 minutes. Janet Symes, Christian Aid's head of Middle East Region, said the clinic had "standing room" only for mothers bringing their children for check-ups when she visited it last year. She added: "Now the whole clinic lies in ruins."

Little more than a sixth of the 1,200 Egyptian hospital beds being reserved for injured Palestinians have been filled, despite estimates that more than 4,000 have been wounded. With a World Health Organisation report saying that Gaza City's Shifa Hospital remains "overwhelmed", the dangers of evacuating patients through southern Gaza have severely reduced the flow of patients to hospitals in Egypt. The Red Cross has decided to keep its evacuations under review after one of its lorries was shot at by Israeli troops.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...s-1332022.html

[crusader1492]

Re: War in The Middle East

Same old song and dance...Israel threatens to recognize the Armenian Genocide in order to keep Turkey in line over their criticism concerning the Gaza massacres

Angered by Turkish Criticism over Gaza,
Israel May Recognize Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Enraged by the abrasive tone of Turkey’s condemnation of Israel’s attack on Gaza, Israeli officials and Turkish analysts are now raising the possibility that Tel Aviv may retaliate either by recognizing the Armenian Genocide or refusing to help Turkey to lobby against a congressional resolution on the genocide.

This unexpected turn of events was in response to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan’s continued harsh criticisms, accusing Israel of “perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to self-destruction. Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents.” Erdogan qualified Israel’s attack on Gaza as “savagery” and a “crime against humanity.” He also refused to take calls from Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and rejected a request by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to visit Ankara.

Israel initially downplayed the hostile comments emanating from Turkey. The Jerusalem-based DEBKAfile reported that “a deep crisis in Turkish-Israel relations appears to be the first strategic casualty of Israel’s offensive to suppress Hamas’ rocket campaign.” An Israeli Foreign Ministry official told Turkey’s ambassador to Israel that such harsh words were “unacceptable” among friendly nations. Another Israeli official added: “It would be necessary to evaluate the damage to the relationship that these [Erdogan’s] comments have caused.”

In a January 5 editorial, the Jerusalem Post escalated the level of Israeli displeasure by questioning Turkey’s credibility on passing judgment on other countries: “On balance, we're not convinced that Turkey has earned the right to lecture Israelis about human rights. While world attention focuses on Gaza, Turkish jets have bombed Kurdish positions in northern Iraq. Over the years, tens of thousands of people have been killed as the radical PKK pursues its campaign for autonomy from Turkey. Kurdish civilians in Iraq complain regularly that Ankara's air force has struck civilian areas where there is no PKK activity. The next Israeli government should weigh whether Israel can accept as a mediator a country that speaks, albeit elliptically, of our destruction. Meanwhile, if Turkey persists in its one-sided, anti-Israel rhetoric, the Foreign Ministry might consider recalling our ambassador in Ankara for consultations.”

Finally, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Majalli Whbee angrily lashed back at the Prime Minister of Turkey. Several Turkish media outlets quoted Whbee as stating: “Erdogan says that genocide is taking place in Gaza. We [Israel] will then recognize the Armenian related events as genocide.” Whbee, a member of the Israeli Knesset and a close confidante of Prime Minister Olmert, issued the following warning to Turkey: “We, as Israel, hope that Prime Minister Erdogan’s statements will not damage our relations. But, if Turkey does not behave fairly, this will have its consequences.”

While it is unlikely that Israel would reverse its long-standing refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, it may decide not to accommodate future Turkish requests to have American xxxish organizations to lobby against a congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

Commentator Yigal Schleifer explained in his EurasiaNet article that Erdogan may “find himself walking a tightrope when it comes to distancing Turkey from Israel. Ankara has long depended on Israel to act as a conduit to Washington and to American xxxish organizations who have frequently acted as a kind of surrogate lobby for Turkey in Washington. In the past, xxxish organizations have been instrumental in helping Turkey block efforts to introduce resolutions in Congress recognizing the Armenian genocide of 1915. ‘There is real anger with Erdogan on Capitol Hill and among people who follow Turkey in Washington,’ says a Washington-based consultant who closely monitors Turkish affairs. ‘Nobody is threatening anything right now, or knows if there are going to be repercussions, but this is going to have an effect.’ Adds the consultant: ‘There is a sense that Erdogan has used up a lot of good will.’”

The Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet, in a January 9 editorial, tried to downplay the consequences of the Turkish anger at Israel, by stating that the latter hopes “the xxxish lobby in the United States…will ensure, through its clout on issues such as preventing Armenian genocide bills, that Turkey falls in line…. It is suggested that if Turkey does not fall in line, that same lobby will punish her by refusing to help on this score, or even by ensuring that such bills pass.”

Turkish columnist Barcin Yinanc described in Hurriyet the absurd situation Turkish leaders will find themselves in a couple of months: “When April comes, I can imagine the [Turkish] government instructing its Ambassador to Israel to mobilize the Israeli government to stop the Armenian initiatives in the U.S. Congress. I can hear some Israelis telling the Turkish Ambassador to go talk to Hamas to lobby the Congress. Erdogan’s harsh statements against Israel have certainly not gone unnoticed in Israel…. I am sure the Israeli government as well as the xxxish lobby in America will not forget these statements.”

Turkish leaders may wish to remember that the last time they irritated a prominent xxxish-American congressman, he retaliated by supporting congressional action on the Armenian Genocide. Cong. Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and a staunch opponent of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, surprised everyone in 2005 when he voted in favor of a congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide in the House International Relations Committee. Lantos disclosed that he was backing the Armenian resolution in order to teach the Turks a lesson for not supporting the U.S. on the eve of the Iraqi War.

In the coming days, Turkey’s relations with Israel may further deteriorate as Turkish politicians, journalists, and leaders of non-governmental organizations urge Erdogan to go beyond mere words and expel Israel’s Ambassador from Ankara, recall Turkey’s Ambassador from Tel Aviv, cancel all military and economic agreements with Israel, and ban overflights by Israeli pilots in Turkish airspace. Erdogan may resort to such punitive actions in order to appease widespread anti-Israel anger by large segments of the Turkish public prior to local elections which are critical for his ruling political party.

[crusader1492]

Re: War in The Middle East

Armenia must stay neutral in relation to Gaza events
Certainly, Israel should defend its citizens against rocket attacks and suicide-bombers but it can defeat Hamas only through political means.
13.01.2009 GMT+04:00
It so happened that we had to step into the year of 2009 with another Palestinian-Israeli war. The operation “Cast Lead” launched on 27 December 2008 has already taken about one thousand Palestinian lives. It would be naпve to judge the war only from the viewpoint of the coming elections in Israel or from the standpoint of the possible threat to the xxxish Government from Iran. It can be said that military operations in Gaza were predetermined the moment eviction of the xxxs began. If we also take into consideration the incessant bombardments by the Hamas movement against the remaining xxxish settlements in Gaza, it can be said for sure that neither the Israeli Prime-Minister, whoever he might be, nor the Foreign Minister could change the forthcoming events.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Another question is how adequate Tsahal’s actions are. It is possible that Israel hasn’t reached its goal, and hardly can it reach it until the Palestinian Government stops relying on Hamas. However, there is a delicate point here – Hamas is not a totally terrorist grouping as is it considered by many people, but a social-political movement that won the Palestinian elections in 2006. It proved to be a strong blow against Israel and a shock for the Administration of US President George Bush. Ideological views of the movement, no matter how distasteful this might be to Israel and to the West, are shared by a considerable part of the Arabic population, from Morocco to Iraq. As some observers believe, each day of the conflict increases the political influence of Hamas, consolidates its followers in other countries and its main sponsor Iran.

“Iran gives Hamas enthusiastic support but discreetly. It is trying to position itself as the regional superpower, while also trying to generate maximum leverage before expected talks with the incoming Obama Administration. To achieve those goals, though, Iran needs Hamas to declare at least a moral victory in its war with Israel. Then, Israel and Washington’s Arab allies would be weakened, and without Iran’s having to get involved in battle”, The New York Times reports.

Iran’s position in the war is quite explicable like that of Turkey’s. In spite of the «friendship» with Israel, Ankara spoke in support of the Palestinians and many people were surprised at this open demarche against Tel-Aviv. However, one needn’t be surprised. Turkey’s move was quite predictable and pretty characteristic of Turkish foreign policy that positions itself as the leader of Turkic world and as the regional power. In this respect Turkey cannot simply support the “Cast Lead”. The other day the Arabic paper Al-hayat published in London reported that Hamas leadership might agree on billeting Turkish troops on the Sinai Peninsula. The suggestion was voiced by Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan who has lately visited Damascus and talked with Head of Hamas Political Office Haled Mashal

Egypt is determined to contribute to the armistice too. However, Hamas is sure that the Egyptian initiative has no chances, as Egypt suggests cease-fire but does not promise withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza Strip. According to the peace treaty signed in 1979 between Israel and Egypt the territory of the Sinai Peninsula was to be a demilitarized zone. The treaty was denounced by the Government of Ariel Sharon. But under new conditions Egypt got a chance to billet huge military units along the border of Gaza Strip under the pretence of struggling against smuggling of weapon. In fact, however, the Egyptian army restrained flows of refugees from Gaza Strip to the Sinai Peninsula.

Certainly, Israel should defend its citizens against rocket attacks and suicide-bombers but it can defeat Hamas only through political means. Palestinians, who do not traditionally have a passion for religious fundamentalism, should be convinced of the necessity to choose more moderate leaders, for instance from the secular Movement “Fath”. Otherwise they will have to make up with the existence of Hamas.

Meanwhile, the world community has split into two rather clear-cut parts: one supports Israel and, however strange it may seem, their number is not so large; the other one is the Islamic population of Europe and the USA, a well-organized union of people that are excellent at arranging protest actions. If we also take into account the «traditional» anti-Semitism, Israel simply has no right to cease the military operations at least for its own protection. That is why Israel is now getting ready for the third stage of anti-terrorist operations in Gaza Strip. According to the data of Israeli reconnaissance units, at least 300 activists of Hamas have been killed in the operation. Majority of them were specialized in producing rockets and bombarding the Israeli territory. The number of Palestinians killed is over 850. The Israeli side has suffered losses too. So far diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict have produced no result. Israel is determined to enlarge the battle-front in Gaza Strip, despite the pressure of international community demanding an immediate cease-fire in connection with the serious humanitarian situation and death of peaceful population.

There is also the UN Resolution calling to an armistice. But like all the UN resolutions, this one does not and cannot solve anything either. Unfortunately the end to the Israeli-Palestinian war is not yet in view. Neither the RF nor the USA can influence it, let alone the EU that is trying to play its own game in the Near East. The position of Europe is quite clear – most of the emigrants from Palestine and generally from the Islamic Near East live in Western Europe.

As for the attitude of Armenia, in our opinion she must stay strictly neutral at least because there is rather a large Armenian Diaspora living there and in case of indiscreet moves by the Armenian Government they will be the first to get the blow. We all still remember the meeting between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization Yasser Arafat in 2000, after which the xxxish lobby began to oppose the Armenian one especially in the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Arthur Sasounian, publisher and editor of The California Courier, infuriated at Turkey’s criticism on the war in Gaza, Israel might recognize the Armenian Genocide. “There is little possibility that Israel might change its recent position of denying the Armenian Genocide, but the xxxish lobby in the USA may not meet Turkey’s expectations on opposing the Congress resolutions on the Genocide. The xxxish lobby used to serve as a means for blocking such resolutions,” Sasounian writes.

Karine Ter-Sahakyan

[Mizzike]

Re: War in The Middle East

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z6vMAoFwf4&feature=channel_page

[Federate]

Re: War in The Middle East

Bravo Evo (Avo? ) Morales!
------------------------------------------------
Bolivia cuts Israel ties over Gaza

Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, says he is breaking off ties with Israel in protest against its war in Gaza, which has left more than 1,000 Palestinians dead.

Morales said on Wednesday that he would seek to get top Israeli officials, including Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, charged with "genocide" in the International Criminal Court.

The Bolivian president also dismissed the United Nations and its "Insecurity Council" for its "lukewarm" response to the crisis and said the general assembly should hold an emergency session to condemn the invasion.

"Considering these grave attacks against ... humanity, Bolivia will stop having diplomatic relations with Israel," Morales told diplomats in the Bolivian capital, La Paz.

He also said that Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, should be stripped of
his Nobel Peace Prize for failing to stop the invasion.

Palestinian 'holocaust'

Morales's move follows the decision by his ally Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, to expel Israel's ambassador in the country because of the offensive, calling it a "holocaust".

Morales expelled the US ambassador from Bolivia in September after accusing him of encouraging violent protests against his government.

Chavez did the same not long afterwards in "solidarity" with Morales.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have now died in Israel's offensive in Gaza, around 40 per cent of whom were civilians, aid agencies and Palestinian medics say.

Thirteen Israelis have also died, four from rocket fire from Gaza.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/01/200911415461671162.html

[Armenian]

Re: War in The Middle East

For those unfamiliar with the Palestinian conflict this is an excellent documentary.

Palestine is Still the Issue: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...93416473&hl=en

[Federate]

Re: War in The Middle East

And right after Bolivia...
-------------------------------------
Venezuela breaks off Israel ties


Venezuela has joined Bolivia in severing ties with Israel in protest against its war in the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 1,000 Palestinians dead.

"Venezuela ... has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Israel given the inhumane persecution of the Palestinian people," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, decided to expel Israel's ambassador and embassy staff last week because of the offensive, calling the Israeli onslaught a "holocaust".

Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia and a close ally of Chavez, said that he would seek to get senior Israeli officials, including Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, charged with "genocide" in the International Criminal Court.

'Insecurity Council'

The Bolivian president also dismissed the United Nations and its "Insecurity Council" for its "lukewarm" response to the crisis and said the general assembly should hold an emergency session to condemn the invasion.

"Considering these grave attacks against ... humanity, Bolivia will stop having diplomatic relations with Israel," Morales told diplomats in the Bolivian capital, La Paz.

He also said that Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, should be stripped of
his Nobel Peace Prize for failing to stop the invasion.

At least 1,033 Palestinians have now died in Israel's offensive in Gaza, around 40 per cent of whom were civilians, aid agencies and Palestinian medics say.

Roberto Nelkenbaum, the Israeli consul in La Paz, told the Reuters news agency that he was "surprised and sad" after hearing Morales's comments in local media.

He said that the two countries have had good diplomatic relations for more than 50 years.

Thirteen Israelis have also died since the assault began, four from rocket fire from Gaza.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/01/200911536357502.html

[Krazy]

Re: War in The Middle East

Venezuela breaks off Israel ties

and because of this a road has been named after Hugo Chavez in Lebanon (in the town of el-Birreh 85 km north of Beirut).

The funny thing is that some Arab nations are not thinking about breaking their diplomatic relations with Israel while non-Arabs are doing it.