Tweet
Carrots for Israel, sanctions for Iran
For a country the size of Wales, a population smaller than London and in existence for less than 63 years, Israel brings upon itself a hugely disproportionate amount of attention, usually associated with a long list of atrocities, crimes against humanity and defiance of international law. Armed to the teeth with extensive US aid and Western help, it has built a massive military superiority in creating the most explosive region of the world. In addition, it is aided and abetted by the protection of an unequalled network of apologists that not only attempt to rewrite history but also to ensure that Israel is immune from criticism let alone any accountability.
The latest atrocity committed by Israel was the carnage aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters in which at least nine humanitarian aid workers were killed, most shot at point blank range. It follows the massacre of over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza 18 months ago and the assassination of a Hamas official in Dubai in January when forged western passports were used.
In response to the flotilla attack, the British Government only went as far as deploring the loss of life but resisted condemning Israel and the illegality of its action. The Foreign Office initially avoided mentioning any concern about the welfare of 37 British nationals among the passengers and offered little consular assistance. The emphasis of Foreign Secretary, William Hague, for Britons was simply not to travel to Gaza. In contrast, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Michael Martins criticised the way Israel attempted to deport Irish nationals, who he said were “kidnapped from international waters” and demanded that they all be immediately released “unconditionally.”
The reaction by Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Milband, was little better, although he expressed concern for the British nationals and chided Hague saying he should be deploring Israel’s denial of consular access not just saying he was disappointed. But there were similar diplomatic niceties in both choosing to condemn the loss of innocent civilian lives rather than the culprit. The hypocrisy of Miliband was in pressing the Government on why it had not called for a UN investigation when he like Hague refused to accept last year’s Goldstone report that evidenced the extent of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. According to former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Sir Gerald Kaufman, the inquiry calls are just “distractions that impede action” against Israel. “It makes no difference whether the inquiry into the attack on the flotilla is conducted internally by Israel or internationally. Even an international inquiry would not change Israeli policy. The Goldstone inquiry into Operation Cast Lead had no influence at all, and Goldstone was vilified as a Jewish anti-Semite and a self-hating Jew,” he said.
As a public service broadcaster, the BBC did nothing to advance its own image by repeatedly presenting Israel’s version of events through its spokesman and preferring to largely ignore the fact that the flotilla was a humanitarian mission to provide aid and break an illegal siege on Gaza. None of the organisers or families were interviewed to add a human dimension in much the same way as the BBC refused to air an aid appeal after last year’s Gaza massacre. There was also no focus on British victims, rather it was the victims who were portrayed as the perpetrators. It can only be embarrassing for its journalists how much the BBC has cowed to the influence of the Israeli lobby. In the face of Israel’s media onslaught it was left to returning Britons to relate the horrors of the latest atrocities.
“If any other country had behaved as Israel is behaving towards the Palestinians in the occupied territories, international action would have been taken long ago,” Kaufman added in a stinging attack on British policy. A comparison can be drawn to the outrage expressed when Iran intercepted British sailors who strayed into its waters last year even though not a single bullet was fired. Indeed, the weak response also contrasted with the latest round of Security Council sanctions being imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme. As Kaufman pointed out, regardless of Iran’s image, it does not possess any nuclear weapons nor has it ever invaded another country. “Israel does possess nuclear weapons; it is said to have 200 warheads. It has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and it recently refused to attend President Obama's conference on nuclear weapons divestment. Israel has invaded Lebanon three times. It facilitated the Sabra and Shatila massacres. It also conducted Operation Cast Lead, the Gaza blockade and the attack on the Gaza flotilla,” he said.
The tragedy is that it has taken the brutal killings of humanitarian activists for the world to turn its attention on Israel’s three-year illegal siege of Gaza, which continues in defiance of the UN and international law. What has never been addressed is the status of Gaza, which Israel has designated as a ‘hostile entity’ and treated as the world’s largest prison while the international community merely looks on. Nothing has happened to the billions pledged to international funds for reconstruction last year. Instead Israel is now offering a few more crumbs to its gallery of world applause by slightly easing the blockade rather than removing it. Under the terms, it must also be asked why countries are supporting Gaza being denied any material faintly resembling anything that can be used for the defence of 1.5 million population, while Israel escapes any scrutiny about its massive arsenals that are only too commonly unleashed against innocent civilians.
Thirteen Britons, who were in the flotilla, met with the Foreign Under Secretary of State, Alistair Burt, last Thursday to brief him on their experiences and requested him to ask Israel Government to return their personal belongings including mobile phones, watches, laptops, cameras, which the Israelis took from them during their kidnapping. Israelis kept passports of three Britons which they have not yet returned. Chair of Friends of Al Aqsa, Ismail Patel, speaking after the meeting outside the Foreign Office, criticised the way the British Government reacted to the treatment meted out by the Israelis on the Britons. They had very little Counsel support under captivity. He said they were not happy with the Government’s support of the Israeli inquiry to the atrocities. They are demanding an independent international inquiry. The Britons have threatened that, “If we cannot convince the Government to change its mind, we will use the civil courts to force an international inquiry.”
Any punitive action remains highly unlikely with Israel opposed to forlorn hopes of a two-state solution in its perpetual state of war in which Palestinians are deliberately misrepresented as terrorists. So much for US President Barack Obama entering the scene and riding his white horse that too prematurely earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. He appears not to even be prepared to stop the building of illegal Israeli settlements let alone follow the example of George Bush senior imposing sanctions that forced Yitzhak Shamir to participate in international talks in Madrid. Without any international movement, it is being left to activists to take up the mantle of justice.
But Israel without a conscience is immune to world opinion, like the majority of Western leaders.
For a country the size of Wales, a population smaller than London and in existence for less than 63 years, Israel brings upon itself a hugely disproportionate amount of attention, usually associated with a long list of atrocities, crimes against humanity and defiance of international law. Armed to the teeth with extensive US aid and Western help, it has built a massive military superiority in creating the most explosive region of the world. In addition, it is aided and abetted by the protection of an unequalled network of apologists that not only attempt to rewrite history but also to ensure that Israel is immune from criticism let alone any accountability.
The latest atrocity committed by Israel was the carnage aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters in which at least nine humanitarian aid workers were killed, most shot at point blank range. It follows the massacre of over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza 18 months ago and the assassination of a Hamas official in Dubai in January when forged western passports were used.
In response to the flotilla attack, the British Government only went as far as deploring the loss of life but resisted condemning Israel and the illegality of its action. The Foreign Office initially avoided mentioning any concern about the welfare of 37 British nationals among the passengers and offered little consular assistance. The emphasis of Foreign Secretary, William Hague, for Britons was simply not to travel to Gaza. In contrast, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Michael Martins criticised the way Israel attempted to deport Irish nationals, who he said were “kidnapped from international waters” and demanded that they all be immediately released “unconditionally.”
The reaction by Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Milband, was little better, although he expressed concern for the British nationals and chided Hague saying he should be deploring Israel’s denial of consular access not just saying he was disappointed. But there were similar diplomatic niceties in both choosing to condemn the loss of innocent civilian lives rather than the culprit. The hypocrisy of Miliband was in pressing the Government on why it had not called for a UN investigation when he like Hague refused to accept last year’s Goldstone report that evidenced the extent of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. According to former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Sir Gerald Kaufman, the inquiry calls are just “distractions that impede action” against Israel. “It makes no difference whether the inquiry into the attack on the flotilla is conducted internally by Israel or internationally. Even an international inquiry would not change Israeli policy. The Goldstone inquiry into Operation Cast Lead had no influence at all, and Goldstone was vilified as a Jewish anti-Semite and a self-hating Jew,” he said.
As a public service broadcaster, the BBC did nothing to advance its own image by repeatedly presenting Israel’s version of events through its spokesman and preferring to largely ignore the fact that the flotilla was a humanitarian mission to provide aid and break an illegal siege on Gaza. None of the organisers or families were interviewed to add a human dimension in much the same way as the BBC refused to air an aid appeal after last year’s Gaza massacre. There was also no focus on British victims, rather it was the victims who were portrayed as the perpetrators. It can only be embarrassing for its journalists how much the BBC has cowed to the influence of the Israeli lobby. In the face of Israel’s media onslaught it was left to returning Britons to relate the horrors of the latest atrocities.
“If any other country had behaved as Israel is behaving towards the Palestinians in the occupied territories, international action would have been taken long ago,” Kaufman added in a stinging attack on British policy. A comparison can be drawn to the outrage expressed when Iran intercepted British sailors who strayed into its waters last year even though not a single bullet was fired. Indeed, the weak response also contrasted with the latest round of Security Council sanctions being imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme. As Kaufman pointed out, regardless of Iran’s image, it does not possess any nuclear weapons nor has it ever invaded another country. “Israel does possess nuclear weapons; it is said to have 200 warheads. It has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and it recently refused to attend President Obama's conference on nuclear weapons divestment. Israel has invaded Lebanon three times. It facilitated the Sabra and Shatila massacres. It also conducted Operation Cast Lead, the Gaza blockade and the attack on the Gaza flotilla,” he said.
The tragedy is that it has taken the brutal killings of humanitarian activists for the world to turn its attention on Israel’s three-year illegal siege of Gaza, which continues in defiance of the UN and international law. What has never been addressed is the status of Gaza, which Israel has designated as a ‘hostile entity’ and treated as the world’s largest prison while the international community merely looks on. Nothing has happened to the billions pledged to international funds for reconstruction last year. Instead Israel is now offering a few more crumbs to its gallery of world applause by slightly easing the blockade rather than removing it. Under the terms, it must also be asked why countries are supporting Gaza being denied any material faintly resembling anything that can be used for the defence of 1.5 million population, while Israel escapes any scrutiny about its massive arsenals that are only too commonly unleashed against innocent civilians.
Thirteen Britons, who were in the flotilla, met with the Foreign Under Secretary of State, Alistair Burt, last Thursday to brief him on their experiences and requested him to ask Israel Government to return their personal belongings including mobile phones, watches, laptops, cameras, which the Israelis took from them during their kidnapping. Israelis kept passports of three Britons which they have not yet returned. Chair of Friends of Al Aqsa, Ismail Patel, speaking after the meeting outside the Foreign Office, criticised the way the British Government reacted to the treatment meted out by the Israelis on the Britons. They had very little Counsel support under captivity. He said they were not happy with the Government’s support of the Israeli inquiry to the atrocities. They are demanding an independent international inquiry. The Britons have threatened that, “If we cannot convince the Government to change its mind, we will use the civil courts to force an international inquiry.”
Any punitive action remains highly unlikely with Israel opposed to forlorn hopes of a two-state solution in its perpetual state of war in which Palestinians are deliberately misrepresented as terrorists. So much for US President Barack Obama entering the scene and riding his white horse that too prematurely earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. He appears not to even be prepared to stop the building of illegal Israeli settlements let alone follow the example of George Bush senior imposing sanctions that forced Yitzhak Shamir to participate in international talks in Madrid. Without any international movement, it is being left to activists to take up the mantle of justice.
But Israel without a conscience is immune to world opinion, like the majority of Western leaders.