I'm sorry. I have tried not to talk about this - not because I might upset people who may disagree with me, but because I don't want to ruin my day/s by getting angry. I have to talk about it though, even though it may provoke arguments amongst us peace-loving/seeking people.
Trump. He opens the new American Embassy in Jerusalem on the very 70th anniversary of the founding of the Israeli State. People begged him to defer for fear of how this would foment even more violence at what was already predicted to be a very violent date, but he seems to need the support in his own country from Evangelist Christians, never mind the Jews.
As also predicted, the Palestinian demonstrators gathered on their side of the fence - the only side available to them - and the IDF shot them in their thousands - THROUGH the fence as they stood.
Of course they were carrying wire-cutters, and of course some of them threw stones or petrol bombs at the well-defended Israeli forces, but to shoot them with live ammunition as a first option was an unforgivable thing to do without first resorting to water-cannon or rubber bullets as any other civilised country's army would do when faced with such a small threat. Of course HAMMAS people were there - never mind what you think of them (and I don't think much) they are the only legitimate representatives of ordinary Palestinian people. Some of those ordinary Palestinians were children - shot in the back.
The Israeli government feel they are unassailable because they now have the unconditional backing of the USA. They think that they can get away with murder. Perhaps they will.
Trump has been pressing for the Nobel Peace prize, not that he needs the cash.
Isn't this what Hamas wanted? They led it and then called them back and they all disappeared back and did as they were told. Hamas had achieved what they wanted.
ReplyDeleteIf so, so what? That is not the point. The Palestinians are fucking desperate because of the seige. Whatever you think about HAMAS would you condone the IDF in this case?
DeleteIsrael defends its borders against Hamas led, Iran funded, terrorists who are marching on Israel. Those who are innocent people should stay at home.
DeleteWhich home are you talking about? The one they were kicked out of 70 years ago by us Brits, or the one which has the sea on one side and a fence on the other, with no infrastructure left that can cope with 2000 protesters shot in one day, because medical supplies are controlled by people who hate them as much as they are hated themselves?
DeleteI think they have had enough of staying at home. I said the other day that Israel has a perfect right to defend its people and borders, but this has NOTHING to do with that, and if you think it has, then you must love Trump even more than I thought you did.
What I said had nothing to do with Trump. The deal we did 70 years ago was wrong and so was Bal four. Peace comes from 2 sides and that includes Hamas.
DeleteAre you being deliberately obtuse? This post is ALL to do with Trump and not much to do with your comments about the past.
DeleteNo, I was giving you my opinion about what happened.
DeleteWell this post is to do with yesterday and how it was made possible by Trump's struggle to maintain power at any cost.
DeleteThere will always be an excuse and Hamas will always exploit it. It is true that some filmed on stretchers were getting up once out of sight of the camera and running back into the crowd.
DeleteIf they did get off the stretchers and run back to the shooting, then they are even braver than I thought. Hamas will always be the excuse for the IDF too. It is a complete stalemate.
DeleteIsrael lost my support years ago. Not Israelis but their government. Banning shipments of cocoa to Palestinians? Every little small thing they can do to lord over the Palestinians. They treat the Palestinians like animals with support from our government. Apartheid is alive and well in Palestine. They deserve their land and to be treated with respect.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few good Israeli friends. I think I -as far as possible as an outsider - understand their insecurity as a nation, but the only way to get through the territorial dilemma is by talking, and Trump has just destroyed any possibility of talks for the foreseeable future. Only paranoid people treat their historic neighbours as Israel treats the Arabs, but there has been too much history to side with one or the other. Trump is despicable.
DeletePeople like you frighten me Donna Baker,people who believe in false propaganda,We'll manage without your support.
DeleteNo one shot children in the back. There are a lot of distortions of the truth in your post.
DeleteI hope there will be an independent inquiry about what really happened to verify this. There is undoubtably some 14 and 15 year old boys shot by the IDF whether in the back or not. Some people are saying that Hamas actually paid people to go to the fence and get shot. True or false? I just cannot see any justification for shooting 2700 people demonstrating from their side of the fence. A young woman went to help an injured young man and was told to move away. She didn't and was shot in the stomach. True or false? Journalists with PRESS written on their jackets were also shot. True or false?
DeleteDuring the height of Apartheid in South Africa, most white South Africans would say that we in the rest of the world did not understand the situation, so should keep quiet about it. We have eyes, and can see the crimes committed by both Hamas and the IDF. Why should we denounce one and not the other?
DeleteYael, I know enough to see what is happening over there, and with our support to the tune of billions of dollars. Your government wouldn't be the way it is without our support. I do apologize if you are offended, because I truly blame the government, not the citizens. Just as I also blame our government.
DeleteThe government is elected by the citizens. Netanyahu is not a dictator.
DeleteThere are no free gifts Donna Baker,if we get something we probably give something too.Arrogance and patronizing is the last thing i expected from someone who is sorry.
DeleteSending his daughter and the husband to attend the opening was particularly strange. Ivanka is not a diplomat, ffs. This is an example of crass nepotism.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he was scared for his own safety. This is the man who said he would like to think he would rush into the school building where the gunman was shooting kids.
DeleteThe Evangelicals are crowing with delight at the opening of the Embassy, I know because I've heard it from them firsthand. No mention of the horrible violence that was the result. Trump really IS dispicable, and so are his supporters.
ReplyDeleteThe move to take total control of Jerusalem as the sacred centre of the Holy Lands has a very similar feel to it as the original Crusades. Both sides branding each other as infidels. Everyone used to get on very well with each other not that long ago - Christians, Jews and Moslems.
DeleteIf I'm not mistaken, wasn't that when the Moors were in charge?
DeleteProbably. When did the Moors take on Mohammed as the main prophet? About 1300 years ago?
DeleteA very sad ending to unnecessary rioting. I do wish the Palestinians would find themselves a 'peaceful' leader, and stop following the edicts of Hamas. There is no greater propaganda for Hamas than deaths and maiming. It has to be said; they encourage it.
ReplyDeleteAt least Yasser Arafat was willing to talk to people. I think that he was killed by Hamas. The only way that Palestinians can rid themselves of Hamas is to allow them access to the world to hold two-way discussions and elections with independent observers, but after yesterday that prospect has been all but removed and Trump played a big part in that regression. They didn't even have enough bandages to treat the 2700 people shot at the fence.
DeleteArafat was a thief. He and his wife filtered away millions into Swiss accounts. The poor people of Gaza desperately need someone who will spend money on the people rather than on constant fighting and hatred. It'll happen one day, but don't hold your breath.
DeleteWhy is it that desperate people are ripped-off all over the world? All the charitable donations given to help the ordinary Syrians rebuild their lives and homes has been stolen by a few crooks. It is the financial equivalent of paedophiles getting themselves jobs to be close to vulnerable children.
DeleteSorry, I meant Iraqis. The Syrians are still waiting to be fleeced to death.
DeleteYet more death and destruction - when will it all end?
ReplyDeleteGod knows.
DeleteI agree with you. I don't normally comment. And certainly not politically, but it is good to read sensible opinions. It seems there are no saints or sinners, but a lot of human frailties on the part of the leaders in these cases. It's the ordinary people who suffer most at the expense of the politician's buffoonery/egomania.
ReplyDeleteAs Trump himself might say, there are good guys and bad guys everywhere. Trouble is that the good guys very rarely crave power for altruistic reasons, and if they get some, the bad guys kill them.
DeleteHello everyone reading this message I'm here to ask for your assistance in helping those poor kids out there. I want to feed 5,000 (five thousand kids) in Africans this Christmas and I want to also send them back to school and I'm asking for your help to make this possible. No amount is too small or big $50, $100 any amount will be appreciated. Contact email via: (charitydonation8@gmail.com) thanks.
ReplyDelete