EU must hold Israel to its agreements: Open letter to the EU in The Guardian
Despite the EU’s call for a ceasefire, the brutal Israeli bombing of Gaza continues (Reports, 3 January). Nonetheless, the EU is preparing to upgrade its existing agreement to give Israel even more privileged access to European institutions. In December, the council of ministers voted to support this upgrade, ignoring the fact that Israel was in breach of an “essential element” of the earlier agreement. This required states to respect “human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this agreement”. The proposed upgrade is even weaker and includes no obligations on Israel in respect of its illegal settlements, the illegal wall, and its repeated breaches of international human rights and international humanitarian law. In view of the horrific events of the past days, we call on: 1) The UK government to revoke its support for any new agreements with Israel and for this to be communicated forthwith to the Czech presidency of the EU in advance of its meeting with the commission, and to the EU council of ministers 2) The European parliament to refuse to endorse any extension of existing agreements and to use its influence to prevent any upgrades of EU benefits to Israel until it abides by its international legal and humanitarian obligations.
List of signatories on the link above.
An open letter to Mr. Jiri Potuznik:
I have written Mr. Potuznik another letter! Let us see what he comes up with this time! Foe acacuracy’s sake, I have copied verbatim our friendly conversation to date, colouring the different emails for clarity.
Jan 5, 2009
Dear Mr. Potuznik,
Many thanks for your message below. I note however, that you have not resigned, and continue to represent the EU, which seems to me a travesty. I have some personal questions to pose to you:
1. How could your statement have been a mistake, when the whole world knew what was going on? Are there no papers in Prague, or no television? 2. How could you, as the spokesperson of the Current EU presidency, be so cut off from the news, to think that destroying Gaza was ‘defensive action’? 3. As I am someone whose whole family was murdered by the Nazis, because no one cared or did anything about it, I want to ask you what you have learnt from the Holocaust as a Czech, a human being, and a journalist? Was the the Soviet attack on Prague a ‘defensive action’? I remember that this is exactly what the Soviets said when their tanks entered Prague! What have you learnt from that little episode? 4. Now that you have apologised (but not resigned!) you have still not found it possible to condemn, in no uncertain terms, this ongoing war crime, worse than Prague 1968 and even Guernica. Why? How many Palestinians do you, or the EU, need to lie dead and mutilated before you will admit that those are war crimes of the worst kind, and do something to stop them? Will you ever stop Israel, or is allowed, alone amongst nations, to do anything it chooses? 5. Lastly, but not least – the EU has decided to upgrade its links with Israel, despite the fact that Israel has broken every law, international convention and UK resolutions which deal with occupied territories, for the last 40 years. Are you not ashamed, that at the time Israel is, again, committing massive war crimes, the EU finds it necessary and justifiable to reward this criminal behaviour with improved links with the leaders who have actioned those crimes?
I hope you will find the decency to answer this letter, as you have answered my last one, below.
Yours,
Haim Bresheeth
On 04/01/2009 16:26, “jiri potuznik” <jiri.potuznik@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Mr. Haim Bresheeth,
let me deeply and personally apologize to You – my mystake and misunderestanding was not the support of any murdering. Information I have recieved but have not confirmed was the opposit. That is my shame, not the bad intention. I proposed my resignation anyway.
Best whishes
Jiri F. Potuznik
2009/1/4 Haim Bresheeth <Haim@haimbresheeth.com> Dear Mr. Jiri F. Potuznik,
I am shocked and disgusted as a human being and an EU citizen, I am now represented by a rogue regime in Prague, little better than the Israeli government, in that it supports its war crimes by calling them ‘defensive’. I call on you to resign forthwith – you are not fit to represent anyone, let alone the presidency of Europe. In the few days that your country held this important office, you have shamed both the office itself and the EU. As someone who supported the Prague Spring in 1968, I find this even more bizarre, as the last thing Europe now needs, is a presidency supporting the continued murder of hundreds of civilians, the indiscriminate bombing of cities and towns, and further support to the Israeli regime, by calling its actions ‘defensive’.
Shame on you! Resign now!
Prof. Haim Bresheeth Citizen of the UK and Israel
More clips you will not see on CNN or BBC
Below is a link to video footage of the most disturbing type. It is probably more accurate than anything I have seen in representing the hell Gaza has become for human beings under the Israeli fire and the mass-murder machine. Be aware it is graphically accurately disturbing. Please send as widely as possible, especially to Israelis, Americans and Brits – the villains of the piece!
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1075591885761&ref=share
Inside Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital: BBC – essential viewing!
Medical staff in Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital are working to cope with dwindling supplies and a steady stream of wounded patients as Israel presses on with its offensive against Palestinian militant groups. BBC producer, Rushdi Abu Alouf, visited the hospital and spoke to Norwegian doctor, Mads Gilbert.
Remains of mosque hit in air strike: BBC -excellent video clip
Israel has turned down calls for an immediate ceasefire in its offensive in the Gaza Strip as casualties continue to pour into Gaza’s over-stretched hospitals. The ground operation was preceded by a campaign of aerial bombardment which Israel said was aimed at stopping militants from firing rockets into Israel. BBC producer Rushdi Abu Alouf has visited the remains of a mosque in Gaza which was hit.
Obviously they realised something is still taking place…
BBC: No more news on Gaza! The BBC publishes the same page as yesterday – obviously nothing important has happened!
You have to see it to believe it. The height of British hypocrisy, surely. Watch here for no news from Gaza.
NY Times: No News from Gaza! Obviously the new trend of Anglo-American Newspeak is to say nothing.
Thank you NY Times for lying again, this time by closing your eyes! Watch here for nil news from Gaza!
Die-in Protest for Palestine in Manchester, UK: YouTube marvelous clip!
More Pictures you will not see on the BBC and CNN!: Tony Greenstein’s Blog
Thousands flee guns and shells as Israel tightens grip on Gaza: The Guardian
• Gaza City surrounded as territory is effectively divided • Palestinian death toll rises by over 40 and Israeli soldier killed • Hamas continues attacks with 30 rockets launched over border
Eighty-nine children and 30 women amongst Gaza’s confirmed dead Press release, Al Mezan, 5 January 2009, in Electronic Intifada
On the 10th day of its aggression on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has seriously escalated its military operations, targeting mostly civilian targets, particularly homes. Air strikes and artillery shells hit tens of homes. IOF also targeted medical facilities and ambulances. A Civil Defense team was hit as it tried to fight a fire following the bombardment of a clinic.
Scared but steadfast in Gaza; Rami Almeghari writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, Electronic Intifada
As Israel’s relentless bombardment of the occupied Gaza Strip raged on for an eighth day, The Electronic Intifada correspondent Rami Almeghari, via Skype, described how people were coping early Sunday evening in Gaza: My family is from Karatiya village a few kilometers away from the Gaza Strip in what is now called Israel. Karatiya is one of the 450 towns in historical Palestine that were cleansed by Zionist militias in 1948, displacing my family along with hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians.
Resisting to protect our own; Safa Joudeh writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, Electronic Intifada
The evening of 3 January, we realized that if there was any truth to Israeli war minister Ehud Barak’s words, it’s that this invasion will be a long one. At approximately 9:15pm local time Israeli forces entered the Strip from three locations. From the east of Gaza City and the northern towns of Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya, tanks rolled into the Palestinian residential areas while Israeli F-16s created a cover from the sky. At the same time, Israeli tanks and infantry troops entered Rafah from the southeast, while tanks shelling and artillery fire rained on the Mintar area of Gaza City. Israeli warships were simultaneously barraging Gaza City from the sea. The entire Strip was surrounded and being heavily pounded by Israeli missiles and artillery fire.
Israel’s blonde bombshells and real bombs in Gaza; Yosefa Loshitzky: The Electronic Intifada
I am not sure that most people understand the meaning of the name “Operation Cast Lead” chosen by Israel for its murderous and criminal attack on Gaza. The name is borrowed from a Hebrew nursery rhyme which was (and may still be) very popular among Israeli children in the 1950s. In this song, a father promises to his child a special Hannukah gift: “a cast lead sevivon.” Sevivon, in Hebrew (A dreidel in Yiddish) is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Somebody, in the Israeli army, who apparently feels nostalgic about his childhood, decided that if Israeli kids would enjoy a sevivon cast from lead there is no reason why Palestinian children would not appreciate it too. After all Operation Cast Lead is not the first (and unfortunately, will not be the last) of Israel’s cruel war games.
Israeli troops trade heavy fire with Hamas gunmen in northern Gaza: Ha’aretz
Israel Defense Forces infantry units engaged in heavy exchanges of fire with armed Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip Monday evening. The IDF unleashed massive artillery fire to provide cover for soldiers who are penetrating deeper into the coastal territory.
Sarkozy tells Peres: IDF Gaza operation does not strengthen Abbas: Ha’aretz
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told President Shimon Peres on Monday that the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip does not strengthen the hand of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and that all parties ought to agree to a temporary lull in the fighting so as to allow humanitarian supplies to reach the population in Gaza.
Wounded Gaza family lay bleeding for 20 hours; By Amira Hass: Ha’aretz
Three hours after the Israel Defense Forces began their ground operation in the Gaza Strip, at about 10:30 P.M. Saturday night, a shell or missile hit the house owned by Hussein al A’aiedy and his brothers. Twenty-one people live in the isolated house, located in an agricultural area east of Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. Five of them were wounded in the strike: Two women in their eighties (his mother and aunt), his 14-year-old son, his 13-year-old niece and his 10-year-old nephew.
For Trapped Gazans, Few Options for Safety; Reyham Abdel Kareem: The Washington Post
As Israeli forces attacked Gaza by land, sea and air, residents living in the congested coastal strip faced a fateful question: Flee the shelling and shooting, or hole up inside their homes and hope for the best? The five-member al-Jarou family decided to make a break for it around midday Sunday. They abandoned their home in the Shaaf neighborhood east of Gaza City and dashed by car to a relative’s house a mile and a half away, thinking it would be safer, according to interviews with family members and neighbors.
Israel tightens grip on Gaza, fights off ceasefire pressure: Agence France Presse
GAZA CITY (AFP) — Israeli warplanes carried out intensive raids on Hamas targets on Monday as ground troops surrounded Gaza’s main city, while Israel faced mounting diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire. The senior Hamas leader in Gaza promised “victory is coming” for the Islamist group, but Israel’s defence minister said “we have hit Hamas hard” while insisting the operation to halt Hamas rocket attacks would continue.
Daily Report from Gaza: Prof. Abdelwahad at Al Azhar University of Gaza
Today was a ground offensive. Israeli tanks took control of more land. Israeli aircrafts raided on 30 targets in Gaza Strip. I am concerned about the civilians who could not stay in their homes whether in the eastern part of Zietoun neighborhood or elsewhere. Zaitoun is an agricultural area and farmers living there. Hundreds of them could flee to inside the densely populated residential area of Zietoun neighborhood. Many civilians died in the bombing of areas at the edges of Gaza city. Electricity and water are still major problems for all Gazans. I am still operating a generator to be able to write those messages in minutes! Mobile phones are paralyzed and land telephones are static or distorted and other times, it is clear! An air raid nearby minutes back; we do not know where it was but it was so frightening. They hit a nearby building! Its three building away from me; there are casualties! Israeli aircrafts are throwing down lighting bombs or perhaps it they are lights for military purposes. Israel intercepted Al-Aqsa satellite channel several times. They broadcasted anti-Hamas material. I will be back if could! Today, Shifa hospital announced 39 civilians dead including 16 children and 7 women! The official death toll has increased to more than 540 dead, plus 2600 people injured! Health situation is unbearable and horrendous. Civilians are confused where to escape! In Gaza – Shejaiah (thickly populated neighborhood), a pregnant woman and her four daughters died in an artillery shelling. My children are more nervous and anxious after the raid that targeted a neighboring building. I am trying to talk to them and cool them down as much as possible. The thing is that aircrafts, helicopter, unmanned planes, add to it the artillery and tanks shelling do not leave a space for us to relax or ease our tension!
Israel rains fire on Gaza with phosphorus shells: TimesOnLine
Israel is believed to be using controversial white phosphorus shells to screen its assault on the heavily populated Gaza Strip yesterday. The weapon, used by British and US forces in Iraq, can cause horrific burns but is not illegal if used as a smokescreen.
White phosphorus added to Israeli fire: Press TV
srael is using controversial white phosphorus shells to push forward with a ground offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip. White phosphorus, classified as ‘chemical weapon’ by the US intelligence, can cause horrific burns and severe injuries in anyone exposed to the element released from artillery shells.
10-day-old Israeli offensive claims 555: Press TV
The Palestinian death toll has hit 555, after another 50 people including 12 kids were killed in the latest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. At least 2,700 people have also been wounded since Israeli Operation Cast Lead launched against the coastal region on December 27, Muawiya Hassanein, the head of the territory’s emergency services told AFP Monday.
Depleted uranium found in Gaza victims: Press TV
Medics tell Press TV they have found traces of depleted uranium in some Gaza residents wounded in Israel’s ground offensive on the strip. Norwegian medics told Press TV correspondent Akram al-Sattari that some of the victims who have been wounded since Israel began its attacks on the Gaza Strip on December 27 have traces of depleted uranium in their bodies.
Roseanne Barr: Israel is a ‘Nazi state’: JewishWorld.lpost.com
Former television star Roseanne Barr has denounced Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, labeling Israel a “Nazi state.”
Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens: BBC News, Jerusalem
By Heather Sharp Aid agencies say the already fragile humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated dramatically since Israel began its military offensive.
The lies of Mr. Brown
Brown is appeasing domestic horror at the Israeli massacre in Gaza by calling for a ceasefire. Meanwhile British diplomats on the United Nations Security Council are under direct instructions to offer “tacit support” to United States’ efforts to block a ceasefire.
I have been told this directly by a former colleague in the UK Mission to the United Nations. http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/01/gordon_brown_is.html Professor Richard Seaford Amory Building University of Exeter
For truth from Gaza, don’t trust western media! Go to Gaza Siege: http://gazasiege.org/
Casualties rise in Gaza offensive: BBC
Casualties have been pouring into over-stretched hospitals in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses on with its offensive against Palestinian militant groups.