Suggestions for a context for Israel/US actions: Netanyahu sees himself as the emanation of Ariel Sharon with whom he was closely acquainted. Also, one needs to be very much aware of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon in 1982. Hundreds of Palestinians had been forced out of their homes by violence from the Irgun and Hagannah, ter…
Suggestions for a context for Israel/US actions: Netanyahu sees himself as the emanation of Ariel Sharon with whom he was closely acquainted. Also, one needs to be very much aware of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon in 1982. Hundreds of Palestinians had been forced out of their homes by violence from the Irgun and Hagannah, terrorists who bombed the King David Hotel, killing much of the British civilian and military leadership. They had become the Israeli army and infolded the Lebanese Phalangists into their cadre. US made an offer via Philip Habib that if Palestinian armed, militants would leave these refugee camps, that US would guarantee the safety of the medics, wounded and ill, women, children, elderly. Shortly, after the agreement was executed and armed Palestinians departed, the US abruptly withdrew from Lebanon and the Phalangists, aided and directed by the Israel army, massacred all those in the camps, destroying medical facilities, medics, the injured, wounded and ill as well as every elder woman, child and infant. Pictures of this massacre can easily be found on line and they are horrific. Sharon and Menachem Begin were "informed" but refused to stop it. Reagan refused to assign any accountability to Israel. Habib was awarded the medal of freedom for his efforts. Israel was thus assigned absolute and total impunity for any and all violent actions toward Palestinians. US has consistently played a strong and consistent role, especially in the UN/Security Council in enforcing that impunity. Any semblance of international law is/has been held in abeyance as regards Israeli violence for nearly 50 years; why would Netanyahu expect any change, particularly from the US who has provided extensive armament not only for the current destruction of Gaza, but for many earlier episodes, alluded to as "mowing the lawn" as Israeli planes strafe Gaza. The current atrocities and massacres in Gaza are seen as well within Israel's permit by US/UK/EU foreign policy, despite protestations of horror at the carnage which plays out daily in appalling videos on social media. Witkof is simply playing out Habib's earlier role - Hamas and Palestinians, however, have not forgotten the many treacheries of years past, knowing that neither Israel nor the US are agreement capable in these areas.
Such comprehensive knowledge such as yours and Martin's deserve a deal of respect. I am well left behind in these areas...almost thankfully if you understand my meaning. A lot of us are simply compassionate enough to lend our emotional voices, now, at present. In my case I had distanced myself from all politics and as much "news" as possible..no TV...an inability to listen to radio that increased with deafness, plus a lifelong resentment of authority. I used sit in my modest school staring at the shiny, near threadbare trousers of my teachers...who I now pity in retrospect, poor sods...wondering WHY they could send me into detention(rare) or scold me whatsoever...in fact I was a "stealth" rebel giving everyone little or no excuse to be in a position to "punish" me. Still am. But I always stood up against bullies. Still do! But what I wanted to relate in response to your long enlightenment, which I wholeheartedly accept, is that in the past conflicts which you have delineated so eloquently, there wasn't the social media...the means via mobile phone to reveal the atrocities etc; but saying that I appreciate that such "news" from the main players would be heavily censored or erased as happens now...except for the texting or filming that can't be totally controlled...yet! Perhaps these days more people with their hearts in the right place can be reached. Hope so. By the by..I don't have a mobile phone as it is like an ID card...I like to live as privately as possible in this modern era...I like to sit naked in a stream on the heath and THEY and nobody else knows that I am there! All the best.
Suggestions for a context for Israel/US actions: Netanyahu sees himself as the emanation of Ariel Sharon with whom he was closely acquainted. Also, one needs to be very much aware of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon in 1982. Hundreds of Palestinians had been forced out of their homes by violence from the Irgun and Hagannah, terrorists who bombed the King David Hotel, killing much of the British civilian and military leadership. They had become the Israeli army and infolded the Lebanese Phalangists into their cadre. US made an offer via Philip Habib that if Palestinian armed, militants would leave these refugee camps, that US would guarantee the safety of the medics, wounded and ill, women, children, elderly. Shortly, after the agreement was executed and armed Palestinians departed, the US abruptly withdrew from Lebanon and the Phalangists, aided and directed by the Israel army, massacred all those in the camps, destroying medical facilities, medics, the injured, wounded and ill as well as every elder woman, child and infant. Pictures of this massacre can easily be found on line and they are horrific. Sharon and Menachem Begin were "informed" but refused to stop it. Reagan refused to assign any accountability to Israel. Habib was awarded the medal of freedom for his efforts. Israel was thus assigned absolute and total impunity for any and all violent actions toward Palestinians. US has consistently played a strong and consistent role, especially in the UN/Security Council in enforcing that impunity. Any semblance of international law is/has been held in abeyance as regards Israeli violence for nearly 50 years; why would Netanyahu expect any change, particularly from the US who has provided extensive armament not only for the current destruction of Gaza, but for many earlier episodes, alluded to as "mowing the lawn" as Israeli planes strafe Gaza. The current atrocities and massacres in Gaza are seen as well within Israel's permit by US/UK/EU foreign policy, despite protestations of horror at the carnage which plays out daily in appalling videos on social media. Witkof is simply playing out Habib's earlier role - Hamas and Palestinians, however, have not forgotten the many treacheries of years past, knowing that neither Israel nor the US are agreement capable in these areas.
Such comprehensive knowledge such as yours and Martin's deserve a deal of respect. I am well left behind in these areas...almost thankfully if you understand my meaning. A lot of us are simply compassionate enough to lend our emotional voices, now, at present. In my case I had distanced myself from all politics and as much "news" as possible..no TV...an inability to listen to radio that increased with deafness, plus a lifelong resentment of authority. I used sit in my modest school staring at the shiny, near threadbare trousers of my teachers...who I now pity in retrospect, poor sods...wondering WHY they could send me into detention(rare) or scold me whatsoever...in fact I was a "stealth" rebel giving everyone little or no excuse to be in a position to "punish" me. Still am. But I always stood up against bullies. Still do! But what I wanted to relate in response to your long enlightenment, which I wholeheartedly accept, is that in the past conflicts which you have delineated so eloquently, there wasn't the social media...the means via mobile phone to reveal the atrocities etc; but saying that I appreciate that such "news" from the main players would be heavily censored or erased as happens now...except for the texting or filming that can't be totally controlled...yet! Perhaps these days more people with their hearts in the right place can be reached. Hope so. By the by..I don't have a mobile phone as it is like an ID card...I like to live as privately as possible in this modern era...I like to sit naked in a stream on the heath and THEY and nobody else knows that I am there! All the best.