This blog explores the contemporary political and cultural trends from a distinct perspective
Why Israel cannot afford to be recalcitrant
Published on June 5, 2010 By Bahu Virupaksha In Current Events

Israel enjoys a high degree of goodwill in many parts of the world and even professional critics of Israel have found much to admire in the manner in which the State of Israel conducts its no nonsense foreigh policy. The world opinion be damnned. As long of USA is not overly critical Israel does not seem to care. The lastest outrage committed on the high sea seems to have taken even the Obama Administration by surprise and Hilary Clinton has joined the rest of the world in condemning Islaer's action in using military might against a flottila carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The world has come to recognise that the economic blokade imposed by Israel is causing untold misery to the people of the Palestenianterritory. If by following this policy Israel hopes to undermine the support base of the HAMAS, the policy is claerly not succeeding. In fact the blokade has only increased the level of public acceptability of HAMAS. The economic blokade has failed in its expressly stated purpose but has succeeeded in imposing collective punishment on the people of Gaza for electing the Hamas.

Israel has used unacceptable level of force in dealing with the flotilla carrying, afterall hum,anitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The boat did not carry any military equipment or even machinery. It only carried tents, balnkets, medicines, school text books, toys, food aand relief material. Israel could have allowed the passage of ther aid flotilla insteasd of brutally attacking and causing the death of 10 aid workers. Video footage shows the Israeli paratroopers rapelling on to the deck of the vessels and opening fire. Israel's claim that they were atrtcked first carries no convixction as the aid flitilla was on international waters when the incedent happened. I do agree that Israel has a very difficult security environment and aslo recluctanly have to conced that the security wall, often called apartheid wall has given security to the civilians as there have been far fewer suicide bombings now than before. By saying this we should not be encouraging Israel with its hard straecraft, though it is enviably successful.

The War launched against the residents of Gaza in 2008-2009 resulted, for the first time in the 65 year history of Israel in a withdrawl without achieving any major strategic objrective. The rockets attacks have stopped but for how long remains open to question. The degradation of the Hamas and its military capability has clearly not been achieved. Under these circumstances Israel could have been more circumspect.

There is yet another issue causing international disquiet. This is to do with Israel's nuclear programme. The Barack Obama administration is obsessed over Iran's nuclear material even though Iran has complied will all its obligations under the NPT to which Iran is a signatory. The nulear matwerial exchange agreement signed with Turkey and other countries effectively puts Iran's spent fuel under international scrutiny. Israel on the other hand in not a signatory to the NPT and has been carrying out a covert nuclear amrs program for the past 3 to 4 decades in a facilty in the NEGEV desert.The revelations of Mordechai Vanunu the Israeli expert has proved to the whole world the existence of the nuclear program. US experts believe that Israel possesses around 100 warheads just a screw driver away from deployment. Under these circumstances peace in the Middle East will look a dismal prospect.

Israel must respond to the consistent US call for a return to the Road Map and the process agreed with the quartet.

 

 


Comments (Page 1)
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on Jun 05, 2010

Israel must respond to the consistent US call for a return to the Road Map and the process agreed with the quartet.

 

When has these Road Maps to peace worked?  The only way that it will work is if the PA admits that Israel is allowed to exist.  When has giving land for peace worked?  In psychology, they have a saying 'past behavior predicts future behavior.' With PA's past behavior you can expect the same as well as Israel's response to it.

 

You said that the flotilla was for humanitarian purposes then why did it not go through the channels set up for humanitarian aid.  I've been and lived in Gaza DOES get a lot of aid.   North Korea has a blockade, why not go there?  Sudan needs foreign add more than Gaza does, so why does no one give a flip about Sudan.  Forget about George Clonney (spelling?), he only was concern for Sudan for about 5 minutes.

 

on Jun 05, 2010

Sudan needs foreign add more than Gaza does, so why does no one give a flip about Sudan.

The situation in Darfur and Gaza are not comparable.

on Jun 05, 2010

 The world has come to recognise that the economic blockade imposed by Israel is causing untold misery to the people of the Palestenianterritory. 

One of Hamas' greatest problems is that too many Gazans are using facebook.

Untold misery with Internet access is one of the more ironic achievements of the early 21st century.

 

The situation in Darfur and Gaza are not comparable.

I just happened to compare them:

http://web.me.com/ajbrehm/Home/Blog/Entries/2010/6/5_The_Blockade.html

 

on Jun 05, 2010

The rockets attacks have stopped

They have?

 

on Jun 05, 2010

Israel must respond to the consistent US call for a return to the Road Map

The PLO decided to withdraw from the "Road Map", not Israel.

Why not ask the PLO to "respond"?

on Jun 05, 2010

It's all very simple... the world loves a winner, yet can't wait to see them toppled. It's human nature. Look at the Tiger Woods incident. The media that praises his ability, couldn't wait to put him through the meat grinder. It's the same with the US and Israel. Other countries hold their hand out to the US and flip it the bird with the other. The world was proud of Israel, surrounded by enemies and holding its own, now they are upset when their defend themselves. What has really changed? Nothing. Win, but not too long. Even if it means rooting for the villain.

on Jun 05, 2010

The world has come to recognise that the economic blockade imposed by Israel is causing untold misery to the people of the Palestenianterritory.

Why do you blockade?  Sorry Bahu, but that is a stupid statement.

I will also relate a comment I heard from a liberal on the radio recently.  If Palestinians lay down their arms, no more war.  If Israel lays down its arms, no more Israel.  The choice is clear.  If it was your very existence at stake, you would have a different viewpoint. 

on Jun 05, 2010

The world was proud of Israel, surrounded by enemies and holding its own,

That was never how Israel was seen in Europe.

on Jun 05, 2010

That was never how Israel was seen in Europe.

I'm speaking in generalities of course. The teachers I had at the time (Six Days war and Yom Kippur war) seemed to support Israel, do you think the teachers in US schools today advocate Israel self-defense? Some perhaps, but I'd be willing to say the sympathies today trend more toward the "poor" Palestinians.

on Jun 05, 2010

I'm speaking in generalities of course. The teachers I had at the time (Six Days war and Yom Kippur war) seemed to support Israel, do you think the teachers in US schools today advocate Israel self-defense?

Most of the world didn't and don't know where Israel is.

What you say is true for the US only.

Israel remains popular among non-Arab and non-Turkish peoples in the ME (I have never met an Iranian who didn't hate the Iranian regime and liked Israel*) and most black Africans, especially in the Sudan.

 

Some perhaps, but I'd be willing to say the sympathies today trend more toward the "poor" Palestinians.

Certainly not toward the Kurds or black Africans.

 

on Jun 07, 2010

Ah, yes.  Another sanctimonious homicide-bomber apologist prescribing what Israel 'must' do.   The only surprise is that it took you so long to post it, Bahu.

on Jun 08, 2010

Turkish Kurds (i.e. Kurds ruled by Turkey) come out in support of Israel:

http://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/turkey%e2%80%99s-terrorist-bias-part-1/

http://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/comparing-kurds-and-palestinians/

I have had a Kurdish flag in my living room for years. Even when Israel supported Turkey in the war against the (Syrian-supported) Kurdish terrorist organisation PKK I supported Kurdistan.

What the current times should teach us is that Arab and Turkish claims to ruling the entire middle-east have nothing to do with peace.

 

on Jun 08, 2010

Leauki
Turkish Kurds (i.e. Kurds ruled by Turkey) come out in support of Israel:

http://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/turkey%e2%80%99s-terrorist-bias-part-1/

http://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/comparing-kurds-and-palestinians/

I have had a Kurdish flag in my living room for years. Even when Israel supported Turkey in the war against the (Syrian-supported) Kurdish terrorist organisation PKK I supported Kurdistan.

What the current times should teach us is that Arab and Turkish claims to ruling the entire middle-east have nothing to do with peace.

 

Leauki, as you can attest to this. In Iraqi, the Northern Kurd population polices themselves very very well.  Unlike the other parts which have problems.  I do think this is why Turkey was getting aggressive.  In a way, to show support to radical Islamic groups, yes Turkey does have a disdain for Kurds.

on Jun 08, 2010

If any group should get their own country its the Kurds.  Again look at Iraqi, they're not rioting or bombing or demanding their own country.  They're preparing and showing that they should have one.  Thoughts? Agreed?  Disagreed?

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