Amidst frosty relations between Washington and Tel Aviv, the Saudi foreign minister says Washington should cut off its aid to Tel Aviv should it continue its occupation of Arab land.
In an interview with Newsweek magazine to be published on June 15, Prince Saud al-Faisal said that Washington would be held 'responsible' for Israel's actions if its unquestionable support for Tel Aviv continues.
"If you give aid to someone and they indiscriminately occupy other people's lands, you bear some responsibility."
Al-Faisal added that the US support was the main bargaining chip in the Middle East peace process and should be used to restore peace in the region.
"The United States has the means to persuade the Israelis to work for a peaceful settlement. It needs to tell them that if it is going to continue to help them, they must be reasonable and make reasonable concessions."
He said Arab states could only consider relations with Israel as an incentive, adding that the normalization of ties would not be realized unless Tel Aviv retreated from occupied land.
"If we put that [normalization] before the return of Arab land we are giving away the only bargaining chip in the hands of Arab countries," the foreign minister said.
PCHR prepares 936 lawsuits against Israel for war crimes in Gaza
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), based in Gaza, stated that Palestinian lawyers have prepared 936 lawsuits against the Israeli army for committing war crimes against the Palestinians during the Israeli war on Gaza.
Some of the documented incidents are about children who were shot by the army at close range, entire families killed after being buried under the ruble of their homes, incidents regarding women burnt by Israel’s white phosphorus shells, and several other violations.
The Der Spiegel stated that the PCHR is trying to have the cases submitted to the National Court in Madrid.
The Israeli army and Israel’s leadership claim that the so-called internal investigation Israel carried out revealed that the army did not intentionally harm Palestinian civilians during the war which began on December 27, 2008, and ended in January 18, 2009. link
"HOPE" convoy delegation meets the Government officials and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya in the Government Buildings.
From the Shifah hospital we travelled to the remains of the parliament building destroyed by the Israelis during the invasion. Here we were greeted by a number of MP’s
CLICK TO ENLARGE As the Israelis bombed the building, we were greeted in a tent attached to the buildings remains which was dedicated to a minister who was assassinated by the Israelis during the invasion. We were also told of the numbers of elected MP’s including the Speaker of the parliament, who were rounded up and taken to Israeli gaols at the same time.
CLICK TO ENLARGE That evening our group was invited to meet the cabinet and we were joined by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, his first public appearance in the Government Buildings since the Israeli invasion. The delegation was given gifts of thanks from the Government for delivering aid to the people of Palestine.
Italian Senator Fernando Rossi, the Delegation Leader prepares to recieve gift from Prime Minister Ismail Haniya CLICK TO ENLARGE Below, the Prime Minister signs Palestinian scarves for the delegation. Each scarf was signed and stamped with the Palestinian stamp. CLICK TO ENLARGE Convoy Organiser recieves his scarf from the Prime Minister Prime Minister Ismail Haniya welcomed us on behalf of the Gazan people and expressed his hope that we would attest to what we had seen and heard and intervene with our governments to get them to support the removal of the blockade.The following report is from the Italian website translated by Google
Haniyah praised the host delegation, composed of European parliamentarians and personalities from different European countries, and added that the international mission confirmed that the Palestinian people "are not alone and that this siege will be broken."
He expressed his gratitude to the delegation, saying that you have followed the path from the beginning, and expressed confidence in the possibility that the parliamentary and political work to bring the Israeli leaders before a tribunal for war crimes.
The delegation, in turn, praised the good host, confirming the solidarity with the Palestinian people and respect for election results.
Parliamentarians have also criticized the inclusion of Hamas among the international terrorist organizations from various European countries, including Italy, adding that it turned to revoke such an inclusion in the black-list drawn up by the U.S. and Israel.
The delegation condemned the policy of occupation and crimes against the people of Gaza, in particular the recent attack and the unjust siege, confirming the right to support the Palestinian people and free elections.link Irish Report resumes below:
Sinn Fein's Gerry MacLochlainn, the convoy deputy leader, recieves his gifts from the Prime Minister below:
Haniya then explained his movement’s desire for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine and that he had made it clear that his government would honour treaties and was committed to a realistic settlement recognising realities on the ground. He was committed to achieving Palestinian reconciliation and was approaching the ongoing talks with a serious commitment to achieving a positive outcome.
Gerry MacLochlainn of Sinn Fein, said "Ireland’s common experiences with the Palestinian people, sharing a common history of invasion and domination by foreign powers and referring to Britain’s negative role in both our countries. Ireland has an almost unique position in Europe having been a colony and so we have a deep and abiding empathy with other nations suffering under foreign aggression and domination."
"As an Irish Republican and representing the Republican people of Ireland I express my support for Palestine’s right to freedom, equality and justice in this world and pledge Sinn Fein support to the Palestinian nation until not just this siege is broken but Palestine itself is free. I am confident in that victory and look forward to celebrating that freedom with you at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem."ENDS
You're gonna love this one;-) There I was, about to enjoy my Friday evening, when suddenly I see this article about Illegal Israeli Settlers angered and outraged at Obama for wanting them thrown off Palestinian land. So, what do these "below average intelligence" inbred settlers do to "get back" at Obama? Why, they come up with a brilliant plan, an unbelievable plan, and a strategy that will definitely put the big "O" in his place! What is this plan you may ask? Why, they are building "Obama Huts"note: you may want to re read that, just to be sure you are not hallucinating, but I assure you, you are not.
Defiant Israeli settlers build 'Obama huts' in West Bank
Defiant Israeli settlers build illegal settlements in the West Bank and erect 'Obama huts' to express their disdain for the U.S. president and his positions on settlement expansion.
See? I told you I wasn't making this stuff up.....But wait, it gets a whole lot better....
A group of defiant Israeli settlers have built a number of illegal structures in the West Bank and are showcasing what they have termed 'Obama huts' in reaction to President Obama's position against Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land.
In a direct challenge to the Obama administration and to the greater peace initiative between Israel and Palestine, rogue settlers on Friday have converged on an outpost named Oz Yehonatan and built a wooden structure and labeled it the 'Obama hut.'
But wait, there's more... So, as you may have guessed, there goes my Friday night, because of course, I can't simply ignore THIS one! I mean, the sheer ramifications of just the premise of an actual "Obama Hut" existing, sent my mind racing...........see below:
So many questions...Would it be a tall hut on skinny legs like Obama's legs? Or would it be a round topped hut like his roundy head? Oh, what would it be?????? I personally imagined the two “O Hut” versions below. Here are the finished products:
Version #1 a skinny legged spacious "O Hut" built to exacting standards for the discerning settler. And if that one is not to your liking, here is the new round headed "O Hut" again, built to exacting specifications, just like the original. And what else did the Zionist cockroach settlers who built the “O Huts” have to say about Obama’s wish for Peace with Palestinians?
"It's all illusions. With these savages, there was never peace, there is no peace and there will not be peace," Hebron-Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior told The Jerusalem Post. "It's not because we don't want it, but because they are enemies of peace. We just have to hope that our entire country is cleared of terrorists, their supporters, their backers and their camels. They should all be sent to Saudi Arabia." link
Wow, Obama touched a nerve, Israel is having a meltdown and I'm enjoying watching the fallout....Oh and I’m certain those huts will force Obama and America into submission, thanks for the laugh Israel, you people clearly need to get a life………..preferably on another planet. http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/
http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/ Another one shot, another one dead, another day under Israeli occupation.
Just for one minute, Imagine if, during the end of the Bush Administration, American police officers, or American Soldiers, came upon a large group of people protesting against the Iraq war. Easy to imagine, it happened hundreds of times. And what if a small handful of those protesters, let's say five or six out of 200, threw a stone at the Riot Squad. Then, what if the Police Officers just opened fire on the entire group of American civilians protesting, killing several of them. It happened once in American history, at Kent State during the Viet Nam war. But never again!
However, this is exactly what Israel does on a daily basis for a great number of years. They commit state sanctioned murder, they murder people who are only armed with tiny stones against tanks, armoured cars and military rifles. And, Israel wonders why people hate them? More below:
RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 5 (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man on Friday in a confrontation with stone-throwing protesters in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.
Medics said Aqel Srour, 35, was hit in the chest by a live bullet and another protester was wounded when soldiers fired at protesters in Nilin, a village near the city of Ramallah.
Srour died minutes later, Mohammed Shahwan, a doctor on the ambulance called to the scene, told Reuters.
An Israeli military spokesman said troops had opened fire when protesters threw stones at them in the village, but would not confirm whether the troops had used live ammunition. link
And I would like to take this opportunity to remind you, it is not just Palestinians they shoot, they shoot Americans as well. Pictured below is Tristan Anderson, before and after becoming acquainted with IDF forces.
Watch Tristan get shot by Israeli murderers:
Michael Sfard, an Israeli human rights lawyer, who has filed a formal demand for an official investigation, said that of some 120 criminal investigations brought against security force members since the beginning of the intifada, there had only been one conviction – against the Arab-Israeli soldier who shot British peace activist Tom Hurndall dead in Gaza.
Nobody was brought to trial in two other cases involving the deaths of foreign nationals. They were Rachel Corrie, who like Mr Hurndall was an International Solidarity Movement volunteer. The Israeli military has not accepted responsibility for her death. In the case of British film-maker James Miller, Israeli authorities made a substantial cash payment to his family this year, which came nearly six years after his death.
The Israeli military said that on the day Mr Anderson was shot, some 400 rioters, “some masked”, had thrown “a massive number of rocks” at their forces.
So, "rocks" and "masks" are considered deadly to soldiers of the 4th largest army in the world, with rifles and tanks. Makes prefect sense, only in Israel, where they murder for sport and never are held accountable for their crimes, even against Americans, Britians or any other country. They are immune, because they are poor little Israel.
Written by http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/ We had another meeting with UNWRA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) and delivered some £40,000 worth of software to their school for the visually impaired.
Delegation arrives at the school to deliver aid and software: CLICK TO ENLARGE
Headmistress of school receives the delegation and accepts the aid: CLICK TO ENLARGE The staff at this school explained how this software will allow blind people to use computers and help children with visual impairment attend school and possibly even transfer into mainstream schools and go on to live as complete lives as possible.
A Demonstration of the equipment was given by the head mistress. She explained how important the word done by the School was to the many blind people who attend.
Israel is trying every thing to avoid allowing the truth to come out. Below is a depiction of the answer Richard Goldstone and his UN War Crimes investigation team received from Israel when they were asked about their war crimes: Never mind though, the Investigation will go ahead without cooperation from the criminals. Richard Goldstone, the Jewish Judge from South Africa was on the tele yesterday and did a very good interview I thought. He stated that Israel has refused them entry into the country and also has refused to allow anyone to speak to the UN committee. Goldstone seemed annoyed and said that the investigation will go forward, that his team takes their work very seriously. They will investigate inside Gaza, then there will be an opportunity for the Israelis or anyone else to come forward and speak to the committee at the UN, a neutral place. He did not have any nice words for Israel, neither does anyone else in the world. They are merely criminals of the worst kind running from the law. No better than common murderers, crooks, thieves and liars. Justice will be served for the thousands of innocents in Palestine, the schools, the hospitals, the siege, the white phosphorous..........the list is endless, just like the Israelis racist behaviour. It knows no boundaries. Report below:
UN hearings to be held on Gaza war crimes A UN team investigating possible war crimes in Gaza says it will hold public hearings with victims of the conflict in Gaza and Geneva later this month.
The team has spent the week interviewing witnesses and visiting sites damaged in Israel's three-week offensive, which ended on 18 January.
Richard Goldstone, who is heading the team, said it had hoped to hold hearings in Israel and the West Bank.
But Israel has refused to co-operate in the inquiry, accusing it of bias.
Anything Israel does not like is "Biased" or is based on the ever favorite, over used, phony term of "Anti-Semitism" Well, not this time Israel, people are no longer afraid to speak out on your crimes. Since they've used that term ad nauseum, what's left? Nothing is left, people see through Israel now. Israel's pattern of hiding behind the "Holocaust" and the "anti-semitism" label to both commit crimes and then to avoid paying for them.
Mr Goldstone said his 15-member team had visited 40 sites in Gaza and spoken to some 70 witnesses and relatives of victims. It had hoped to visit southern Israeli towns hit by Palestinian rocket fire, but was not allowed access.
This shoots a hole right into Israel's false claim that HAMAS rocket fire into Israel will not be addressed. Israel is blocking this team so that they can then say that the team did not investigate towns hit by HAMAS rocket fire in Israel.
Mr Goldstone said he hoped Israel's refusal to co-operate would not weaken the report, due for publication in September.
"If we haven't dealt with facts that Israel would like us to deal with, I think we can hardly be blamed for that," he added, according to news agency AP.
More on this below:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has requested more than $11m (£7m) compensation from Israel for damage to UN property in Gaza, after he accused Israel of targeting known civilian shelters and providing untrue statements to justify actions in which civilians were killed. The report found Israel to blame in six out of nine incidents when death or injury were caused to people sheltering at UN property and UN buildings were damaged.
The Israeli military has said that its troops fought lawfully, although errors did take place, such as the deaths of 21 people in a wrongly targeted house. A fact-finding team commissioned by the Arab League said there was sufficient evidence for the Israeli military to be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and that "the Israeli political leadership was also responsible for such crimes".
It also said Palestinian militants were guilty of war crimes in their use of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. link
Yesterday we all voted in the European Election here in Ireland. Although the results are not to be known until Monday due to the fact that some countries are still voting, a nasty surprise emerged late last night. It was announced that the Dutch Racist Anti-Muslim party called..........wait for it........."Freedom Party" is expected to have huge wins, possibly taking up to 6 seats out of 25 in the Netherlands. So given that Obama will be pushing for the Zionist settlements to come down, perhaps the settlers may want to look at Holland for their new home, according to the election results they will fit right in.........what a disgrace.
Hard-right Dutch maverick Geert Wilders ahead in EU polls Anti-Islam politician's party could take six seats in European parliament
Geert Wilders, Holland's anti-immigrant, Muslim-baiting maverick, appeared to be heading for a triumph in his first European election tonight, with polls and surveys indicating that he could win the ballot in the Netherlands.
The Dutch, as well as the British, kicked off four days of elections to the European parliament across the EU's 27 countries. Wilders cast an optimistic vote in The Hague and declared that Turkey could not join the EU "in a million years".
A detailed poll-tracking survey, predict09.eu, run by political scientists at the London School of Economics and Trinity College Dublin, indicated that Wilder's Freedom party could take 21% of the vote and six of the Netherlands' 25 seats in Brussels and Strasbourg, ahead of the traditionally governing parties, the Christian Democrats and the Labour party, which are currently in coalition.
Wilders wants the European parliament abolished, and Bulgaria and Romania kicked out of the EU. The virulence of his anti-Islam and anti-immigrant activities saw him barred from entering Britain this year and the Dutch authorities are prosecuting him for discrimination.
The poll trackers predicted six seats for Wilders, compared with a projection of three a month ago. Opinion poll support for the tall, bleach-haired populist has doubled this year, while his video film Fitna stirred outrage with its graphic depiction of Islam as synonymous with violence and terrorism.
Voter confusion, apathy, and anger are likely to cause both a low turnout and a wave of anti-incumbent protest voting that will hit the mainstream parties and benefit extremists on the far right and the hard left, according to analysts. That appeared to be part of the picture in the Netherlands yesterday.
The parliament will still be dominated, however, by the two big groupings of the centre-right and centre-left, with the Christian Democrats of the European People's party mustering around 260 seats transnationally to the European Socialists' (social democrats) 200, according to the LSE team.
The new parliament has 49 fewer seats than the outgoing assembly, and outright anti-Europeans and eurosceptics are expected to increase their presence to around 100 seats. link
Yes, AND they are calling for another 9-11 on America
Gee, and I thought I'd have to wait until tomorrow for the insane reactions to come from "Nazi-Zio-ville." I was about to go to bed, like an impatient kid on Christmas eve, giddy at the thought of the coming meltdown in the morning news. But hey, it's already started, so here we go. Of course I am speaking about Obama's speech in Cairo. I'll talk tomorrow about my opinion of the speech and the political implications tomorrow. But for now, I want to report that Israel is hearing voices that aren't there. Yes, you heard it here first, they are psychotic again.........Shhhhhh, "It" was mentioned in the speech.....the big "H" OMG!!! "It" was mentioned in Obama's speech AND he dared to use the words "Palestinian" and "Homeland" in the SAME sentence! SOUND THE ANTI-SEMITE ALERT!!! And, according to the psychotic Israelis, they heard something entirely different than the rest of the normal world.
Obama talked about the big "H" the "Holocaust" , and after that he said "it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people - Muslims and Christians - have suffered in pursuit of a homeland."
And of course, in the Nazi Racist Zionist ears inside Israel, they heard THIS version: "Obama shockingly equated the destruction of European Jewry to the suffering Arabs brought upon themselves when they declared war on the nascent state of Israel"
And if pulling out the "Zionist Holy Grail and sympathy getter", I mean the "Holocaust", is not enough, then go for the jugular and invoked "9-11" see here:"And if he still won't get it then, the Muslims will teach him a painful lesson that his predecessor learned on September 11."
Yeah, scare America and Obama with visions of evil Muslims, that's the ticket, sure that'll work...........NO CHANCE, we're wise to your racist ways Israel, nice try though. I hope Obama has a food taster, and I hope Obama has the US govt watching mossad, just incase they decide to attempt to fabricate another 9-11 and blame it on muslims. I digress....
So yeah, this was definitely worth staying up late for. Now I can go to bed, feeling all warm and fuzzy in the thought that somewhere in Israel there are millions of Zionists being hit in the face with a healthy dose of "Reality" Listen, can you hear that? It's the sound of Zionists getting SMACKED in the face with "reality" Smack! Music to my ears.....article below:
Right shocked by Obama's comparison of Palestinians' plight to Holocaust
Ministers and MKs on the Right expressed outrage on Thursday at US President Barrack Obama's comparison of the suffering of the Palestinians to what Jews endured in the Holocaust.
In his Cairo speech, immediately after talking about the Holocaust, Obama said that "on the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people - Muslims and Christians - have suffered in pursuit of a homeland."
"Obama shockingly equated the destruction of European Jewry to the suffering Arabs brought upon themselves when they declared war on the nascent state of Israel," National Union MK Arye Eldad said. "If he doesn't understand the difference, perhaps he will when he visits the Buchenwald concentration camp [on Friday]. And if he still won't get it then, the Muslims will teach him a painful lesson that his predecessor learned on September 11." (see how racist they are?)
Diaspora Affairs and Public Relations Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) blamed Obama's comparison between the Holocaust and the Palestinians' plight on previous Israeli governments for accepting the Palestinian narrative. He singled out Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, who he said emphasized Palestinian interests over Israel's as foreign minister. (Israeli meltdown coming to a theater near you!)
Eldad's National Union colleague, MK Michael Ben-Ari, compared Obama to Pharoah and said that just as the Jewish people overcame one, the Jewish state would overcome the other. (Ooooh, the threats are coming fast and loose now, Yup, it's gonna be "handbags at dawn")
Likud MK Danny Dannon wrote a letter to members of Congress criticizing Obama for his "new and disturbing trend of intensifying pressure on Israel," and asking them to join him in highlighting the dangers of Obama's policies (be still my heart! forget "handbags at dawn" it's gonna be more like "thunderdome" two men in, one man out)
While Netanyahu asked his ministers not to attack Obama after the speech, some refused to remain silent.
"Obama ignored the fact that the Palestinians have not abandoned terror," Habayit Hayehudi chairman Daniel Herschkowitz said during a tour of settlements south of Hebron. "The government of Israel is not America's lackey. (Well now, we'll soon see who is the lacky and who is not, when the US begins cutting off the money that funds your racist state. Hey, guess what? When you're not the lead dog, the view is always the same. So ya may want to get used the the view from behind now)
The relations with the Americans are based on friendship and not submission, and therefore Israel must tell Obama that stopping natural growth in the settlements is a red line." (Oh well.............)
By contrast, Kadima MK Ze'ev Boim used the opportunity to both laud the speech and criticize the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
"Obama's speech is further proof that Netanyahu did not properly gauge the policies of the United States," he said. "The policies of the president on the Palestinian issue are identical to those of Kadima, and it is unfortunate that Netanyahu is unable to accept the idea of two states for two peoples for narrow political reasons." (LOLOL the more moderate rats smell trouble and are scurrying to kiss some Obama ass LOL Ooooh we want to be your lackey, can we start now please LOLOL)
Labor rebel MK Eitan Cabel also had words of praise for the president and condemnation for the prime minister.
"The president's words made it very clear that in Washington they are unwilling to turn a blind eye," he said. "Time is working against us, and the Israelis' interest in not being a serial rejector means accepting two states for two peoples and stopping construction of settlements." (You tell em!)
United Arab List MK Ahmed Tibi said that while he agreed with the speech, there was "no Israeli partner to implement" it. (Not yet, but when the money is cut off then we will see if Israel blinks. Or, Hre's a better Idea.....The US could stop being Israels proxy on the UN security council, now THERE'S a thought!!)
Outside of the Knesset, reactions were also mixed. Aliza Herbst, spokeswoman for the Ofra settlement in Samaria, said that modern history has shown that the Muslim world was at war with the West. Obama's vision of peace sounded nice but was not realistic, she said. (Racist dirt bag cockroach settler)
"Hussein Obama chose to adopt the lying versions of the Arabs, which were always stated persistently and brazenly, over the Jewish truth, which is stated in a weak and stuttering voice," the settlers said in a statement. (Paranoia setting in now. They are realising they may need to call the moving company in the not too distant future LOL)
It was time for Netanyahu to join the ranks of Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, "arise as a proud Jewish leader and declare that he rejects with repugnance the rewritten history that Obama attempted to dictate today," they said. (Um, Ok, but that'll cost you 3 Billion a year, sound good to ya now? That's what you milk off the US taxpayer annually. Net-And-Yahoo won't wanna kiss that goodbye so fast. Better call the movers.)
A Shvahkim Panorama poll broadcast on Israel Radio a few hours ahead of the speech found that 47.1 percent of Israelis believed that Obama preferred the interests of Arab countries over Israel's. Those who disagreed with that statement numbered 28.9%, and 21.7% said they did not know. link
Nice try, but my guess is sadly that a country like Canada, who's government cannot even allow a British Politician in to speak about Palestine, certainly won't have the guts to carry through with this lawsuit. Nope, the Jewish Lobby runs Canada like it runs the US. I say this case will be tossed out in no time. Still, people should note the name of this pro-Zionist firm and boycott them.
Montreal firms building settlements in West Bank want civil suit dismissed
MONTREAL — A lawyer for Montreal developers being sued under Canadian war-crimes legislation will attempt to get the case dismissed when it goes before a Quebec court later this month.
The West Bank town of Bilin filed a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court last July seeking $2 million in damages from Green Mount International Inc. and Green Park International Inc.
Bilin, a Palestinian village of 1,700 west of Ramallah, wants the court to stop the Montreal companies' construction projects and prevent them from marketing their homes to Israelis.
Ronald Levy, a lawyer for the two companies, said Thursday he wouldn't discuss the case because it is before the courts. He did confirm that a series of motions will be presented during hearings scheduled for late June.
The outcome of those motions will determine whether the case proceeds.
Lawyers for the companies are expected to argue Canada is not a proper forum to hear the case. An Israeli court has already rejected Bilin's claims.(SURPRISE!!!)
Emily Schaeffer, an Israeli lawyer acting for the village, says Israeli courts have never recognized that building settlements breaks any international humanitarian laws. She believes the Canadian courts are the only place to argue this claim.
"The claims we're bringing cannot be heard in the Israeli courts - they are what are called non-justiciable issues," Schaeffer said in an interview on the steps of the Montreal courthouse Thursday.
"Israel is not willing to listen to an argument that it has violated international law by building settlements. It considers settlements a political discussion not up for a legal debate."
The lawsuit uses the 2000 Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act to appeal to international and Canadian laws which prohibit foreign powers from settling civilians in territory acquired through war.
The legislation also applies to those who aid foreign nations, Schaeffer said.
Israeli courts have said the land being used for the development is state land and, as such, means Israel has acquired title and property rights.
Lawyers for the villagers see things differently.
"What we're saying is international law doesn't recognize Israel's law in the occupied territories," said Schaeffer, who will assist Canadian lawyer Mark Arnold in making the village's case.
Israel has had a sizable military presence in the West Bank since the end of the 1967 war and has been accused of being an occupying power.
An estimated 40,000 settlers live on land that Bilin and other neighbouring villages claim belong to them. Schaeffer said approximately 42 buildings have been constructed on land belonging specifically to Bilin, housing about 1,000 families.
She says 16 of those buildings have been constructed by the two Canadian firms.
Schaeffer says that pre-1967, extensive documentation shows the land was under the municipal control of Bilin with private pieces connected to specific families.
Green Mount International and Green Park International are both registered to the same Montreal-area woman, according to Quebec's registry of companies.
But very little is known about the companies and Levy declined to say who owns them.
Schaeffer is embarking on a cross-Canada tour trying to raise awareness about Bilin. She is supposed to be joined by Mohammed Al-Khatib of Bilin, but he hasn't yet been granted a visa.(And my bet says that Canada won't give him one either, As the Zionists control Canadas borders)
"The question is just whether Canadian courts will take on this kind of case given its political, controversial nature," she said. linky link
Then ask yourself this question: Does he deserve to die because Israel will not open the border to allow him outside so he can be helped? Look at him, he did nothing to Israel. His only crime was to be born a Palestinian in an occupied country. His only crime is to be born next to a rogue state that practices ethnic cleansing and views all Palestinians as expendable. And he is a Palestinian, therefore this is his crime, and for that, he must die like 400 other Palestinian children. All of whom have died at the hands of Israel since December 2008.
Convoy Report:
Our final visit was the most horrific for me, as I saw both sides of humanity in the starkest contrast. Just 200 m from the Israeli border we visited the main rehabilitation hospital which seeks to treat patients suffering from coma or serious disabling conditions.
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This man in the neck brace and wheelchair is a headmaster of a school in Gaza, rather, that was what he used to be, before Israel came to town. He suffered a back injury and as the hospitals are functioning without many supplies and proper medications, there was a surgical complication and he is now a quadriplegic and may now die. He may stand a chance if he can be allowed outside Gaza for treatment. Although he will never regain the use of his limbs, his life possibly could be saved, if only he could get out for help, if only. But Israel will not allow him help. This is only one case of a great many more.
I saw patients with incredible courage facing almost impossible conditions, doctors and nurses struggling to treat patients without the most basic materials in absolutely appalling conditions.
This hospital, just 200m from the Israeli border, was itself shelled by Israeli troops despite being clearly marked as a hospital, and under constant Israeli surveillance.
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One of the wards I stood in – a huge hole in the external wall and above the bed where were a patient was lying. A rocket had been fired directly into an occupied ward in an operational hospital.
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But this was not the first time this hospital was attacked by Israel. It has been a pattern. I looked at the next ward where two nurses were killed carrying a post operative patient when the rocket came through the wall and killed them all. Their photos are kept above the nurses station in remembrance.(Pictured below)
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In December 2008 during the most recent invasion, the Israelis again hit the hospital. This time they shelled the newly completed wing (below) that was only due to open in January 2009, a mere 30 days later – destroying it before a single patient could avail of its facilities. Now they have to start all over again, all the specialized equipment is destroyed.
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HE IS WAITING TO DIE
Then I met a young boy of about 10 years who had been dragged from the rubble of his home where all of his family had been killed. I held this young boy in my arms, as my heart ached for his tragedy and loss. He had only just come out of a coma, but only to some extent, and he still had massive chest and body injuries. I spoke to him as I held him, stroking his head as I spoke to him. I thought for a moment that I saw a small flicker in his eyes, I looked again for some sign of response, I saw none.
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If you notice the plastic splints on his little deformed arms, even those are not allowed in by the Israelis. The splints you see on this boy have been recycled, cut and reshaped as much as humanly possible, look closely at them. This is how it is in Gaza hospitals, you have to watch people suffer and die because Israel is allowed to impose a blockade. As such, this trauma hospital did not have the material required to treat him and due to the Israeli siege, he was not allowed out of Gaza for treatment elsewhere. The doctor said to me as I stroked his face – “We cannot do anymore – he is waiting to die”.
Next we visited the area where critically brain injured children are treated using various stimulation. All of the new equipment was lost when the new unit that was schedule to open was shelled by Israel. What you see in the photo below is all they have left to treat children with. A handful of regular toys, no specialized equipment, this is a disgrace.
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This blockade is a crime against humanity and the world cannot stand by and allow this to go on. We have to send as much medical aid as we can to Gaza, and Egypt has to co-operate with the aid convoys in order to alleviate the suffering there. But more than that, we have to force the Israeli’s to lift the blockade and allow the people of Gaza to import its needs and allow its people to travel in out of their homeland.
The "Hope for Gaza convoy" delivered some "hope" but people need more than "hope."
The next diary #5 in this series will be the visit to the UN school for the blind. Where the convoy delivered thousands of dollars worth of special software to help the blind with computer skills and learning. Check back tomorrow for that diary and others. UPDATE JANUARY 201O: we are just back from Gaza and met with the little boys Doctor for an update on his condition which can be found at the end of this post HERE
We next visited, Khan Younis, a town south of Gaza city. Here we visited Nasser Hospital, the main one for the south of Gaza Strip to deliver more medical materials.
Convoy Delegation tours hospital with Doctor, Pictured below are Italian Senator Fernando Rossi and Monia Benini and others: CLICK TO ENLARGE
Monia Benini delivers water purification device from Italy CLICK TO ENLARGE
Here we saw advanced medical equipment that cannot be used because the Israelis will not allow spare parts in to bring them back online. We saw patients receiving dialysis who could only get 2 hours sessions at a time which was not enough to clean their systems and so they never felt well and did not benefit as they should.
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The doctor said to me “It is the best we can do we have to share the access but we need to give them 4 hour sessions at least – we are only slowing the poison”.
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So, these people have to live their lives being permanently poisoned with toxins, because the dialysis machines cannot be repaired, Israel will not allow the parts into Gaza.
The mammography machines are inoperative because parts have failed and replacements are not allowed in by the Israeli blockade. The CT scanner’s tube is operating at twice its recommended life and they are hoping and praying every time they use that it will last a little bit longer. When it fails – there will be no scanner unless the Israeli siege is lifted.
Doctor pictured with Fernando Rossi and Gerry MacLochlainn. Photo taken looking through the scanner. This scanner will stop working any moment now. Once that happens there will be no way to treat people. This is a criminal act by Israel.
We then continued our tour followed by an award ceremony for a very special Doctor, also we were each presented with a special Palestinian scarf as a "Thank You" from the Doctors and the Hospital Staff for bringing much needed aid to the suffering people.
Photos of Awards Ceremony and Scarf Presentation:
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While the aid we delivered was very much needed, it is truly only a drop in the bucket. We finished with a press conference, pictured below:
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End of Nasser Hospital Diary. I should have HOPE DIARY #4 up later today where the convoy visited the main Rehabilitation Trauma center. This is truly a heart breaking story and will have many photos. This hospital was bombed by the Israelis, not once, but twice! A young boy waits to die because he cannot get treatment, thanks to the siege on Gaza. Another war crime.
The AIPAC owned Rats are having a MELTDOWN.................
This is hysterical. All the little furry little money lined AIPAC owned Democrats are scurrying around like trapped rats, worried the money will stop lining their pockets from AIPAC if they don't somehow manage to get Obama under control regarding the rogue state of Israel. And of course you have the Zionist ones like Weiner the wanker, and Steny Hoyer, with his Republican Zio-Pal side kick Eric Cantor, and the other 327 mouthpieces of AIPAC and Israel within the US government. The article below covers the ugly withdrawal symptoms, but they just don't "get it" yet. Obama is not doing this because he suddenly discovered a great love for the Palestinians. Nope, he's doing it because it suits American interests.
Democrats rebuff Obama's Israel comments
WASHINGTON (AFP) — On the eve of President Barack Obama's key address to Muslims as part of a Middle East tour, the US leader faced growing pressure from fellow Democrats in Congress over his tough stance on Israel.
"I think the president went beyond where I think it was appropriate for us to go in dealing with another democracy," said Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner.(Weiner the Wanker)
"Any conversations about settlements, which are perfectly reasonable, have to be coupled with a sincere effort on the part of the Palestinians."
Um, listen "Weiner" they don't need a sincere effort, they are dying at the hands of your Zionist state's illegal siege, which, I may remind you, is an act of war. The "sincere" effort needs to come from the Nazi's running Israel now. And they can start by giving back the land they stole.
In a rare public spat between Israel and its staunchest ally, the Obama administration has repeatedly demanded that Israel halt all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a largely right-wing cabinet, has so far refused and insisted on Israel's right to "natural growth" in the settlements, a euphemism for additional construction to accommodate population growth.
Weiner (the Wanker) told a news conference he agreed with Netanyahu's stance.
"To say that a family that introduces a new child to their house can't build a wing onto their home, I think goes beyond what I think should be US policy," Weiner said.
Is this guy serious, or is he trying to audition for the Comedy Club? Cuz I'm not laughin, well actually I AM laughing at the meltdown of the Zionist owned American politicians. Seriously, what gives Israel the right to bring fellow nazi zionists from all over the world to live in Israel, encourage them to breed like rabbits, then use that as an excuse to steal land from other countries. And then when Palestinians and Lebanese react to the stealing of THEIR land, Israel bombs them into the stone age. Yeah, continuing to support that serves American interests really well................not.Hasbara continues:
"We have to be careful not to cross the line where it sounds like we are exerting the overwhelming pressure that we have at our disposal on our rather isolated ally ... The concern that we have is that that line has been approached by President Obama."
Oh, get the hankies out, can you hear the violins in the background now? It's the greatest tragedy, poor little Israel, always the perpetual victim, mi arse. I say cross the line Obama and do it now!
Weiner (the Wanker) was also seconded by other(AIPAC owned) Democrats, who enjoy broad (pockets and wallets from AIPAC) majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The administration's stance "was a decisive change of American policy and prior American-Israeli agreements" of the past 20 years, said Shelley Berkley,(another AIPAC owned Politician) a Nevada Democrat.
"We are very, very concerned that the statements were made so publicly to such a close and strong ally as the state of Israel."(Ok, how much does she get for that statement one wonders?)
New York Congressman Joseph Crowley (another AIPAC owned congressman)said he was "very careful in questioning another democracy and the decisions that they make that would impose on their sovereignty."(Ooooooh, pulling out all the stops now, talking with big important words like "sovereignty" Woooo Hoooo.......)
Israel, he added, "has demonstrated over and over again her willingness to work towards a lasting peace within the Middle East."(Sorry, but what world does he live in. Oh yeah, the world where AIPAC owns congress, that world!) link
These AIPAC owned Congressmen are like BF skinners rats, they've been conditioned with money by Israel for far too long. Time to be de-programed. But Again, be clear on why Obama is so focused on resolving the Israeli mess. Israel is past it's sell by date and Obama must realise this. For America to forge new relationships with the Arab world, and especially Iran, will help America in a great many ways, including financial ways, security, assistance in areas that Israel just can't deliver on. e.g. Taliban and Al Qaeda. yup, Israel is pretty worthless in the big picture. Toodles to the racist murdering rogue statelet, and hello to a new world order that does not include Israel. For whatever reason, Palestine will benefit.
This post is #2 in the "Hope Convoy" Diaries. It covers the convoy delivering aid to Shifah hospital in Gaza. Diary #3 tomorrow will be Khan Younis Nasser hospital, dialysis unit and rehab center with photos showing the damage Israel inflicted directly on this hospital, a clear war crime!
The first stop was Shifah Hospital in Gaza where the majority of the aid was delivered to.
Our first morning started with a visit to Shifah Hospital, the largest in Gaza. Here we met the senior doctors and medical staff who explained the reality of the blockade imposed by Israel, which leaves them with inadequate medicine, equipment or even basic disposables, such as needles and paper.
Huge crowd gathers at hospital to welcome convoy and photograph the aid being delivered: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Swedish vehicle delivering aid: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The doctors at each hospital were eager to get their hands on the ambulances, drugs, disposables, wheelchairs and dialysis machine that we had brought from so many caring countries in Europe.
Denmark: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Holland and Norway delivering aid: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Gerry MacLochlainn, the deputy leader of the convoy joined the convoy leader and Italian Senator Fernando Rossi at the press conference in the hospital grounds. Hundreds of people pressed around us and it was clear that the aid was only a drop in the ocean compared to what was required.
Shifah Hospital Press conference: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The fact that Europeans cared enough to collect this aid, and many travelled with the aid to Gaza, was a real boost to their morale. As each day they face the reality of a never ending 2 1/2/ year siege that denies them even the very cement required to rebuild their homes, hospitals or schools destroyed during the Israeli invasion.
I have included a slide show below of all the photos from the Shifah Hospital aid delivery, there are about 20 or so. YOu can use the controls to stop the slideshow at any point, or go forwrad or backwards. If you, or your organisation see a photo here or in the slide show that you would like, leave me a comment here and I'll get one to you.
NOTE: The next HOPE Diary #3 will be posted tomorrow. This will be Khan younis Nasser Hospital. Where the convoy delivered more aid, toured the Dialysis unit, trauma and rehab area (this is very sad) and also toured the area in the hospital that had been attacked by Israel, clearly a war crime as you can see Israel from the windows of the hospital. This is a disgrace!
I just found these two videos on YouTube first one was made be some younger members of the convoy who went around videoing different people in the convoy. It is not an official video, but I thought people might be interested in seeing it anyway. There are a few decent parts in the video when they are interviewing different people on the convoy. I enjoyed when Italian Senator Fernando Rossi was interviewed where he said he is a pacifist but needs to think militarily, also the Irish bits from the Sinn Fein rep were very good as well.
The second video is an interview with Gerry MacLochlainn Sinn Fein and appears to be a recent interview after he returned to Ireland. The interviewer is an eejit, but MacLochlainn said some good political stuff in that interview, he explains and describes the situation in Gaza and the Israeli actions. Also gives a good insight into the people of Gaza and makes reference to the Irish peace process that only began to work when ALL political parties were brought into the process, e.g. Sinn Fein. Prior attempts were made by the British to create a peace process by negotiating only with certain parties, those attempts all failed. It was not until the US government pressured British to talk to Sinn Fein until things began to move forward. He also tells about meeting with HAMAS in Gaza.
Today begins a series of diaries on the HOPE Convoys recent trip to deliver aid to Gaza. This one will be followed with a post showing the convoy delivering the aid to the various hospitals inside Gaza. I hope to have that one up later today, so feel free to check back. click to enlarge any photo below:
Once we crossed the border, we were greeted by crowds of cheering people lining the roads of Gaza, from Rafah all the way to Gaza City.
Despite the fact that it was very late at night by the time we had been allowed to cross the border and get on the road to Gaza City. People were turning out to welcome the aid and the convoy members who had been permitted to cross by the Egyptian authorities. Below is a photograph of the first person we saw after crossing the border. He ran ahead of the others to greet us, give us flowers and take our photograph while we took a photograph of him!
But we had no idea yet of the scale of desperate need that we would be confronted with, or the cruelty of those who inflict this blockade on innocent men, women and children. Even witholding access to medical treatment as a weapon against innocent people.
The next 4 days would be both exhilarating and devastating. As we all struggled with the emotions of relief at getting the medical aid inside, followed by sheer horror at the scale of the destruction. The cruel ongoing suffering endured by innocent men, women and children, in what has to be described as the world’s largest prison.click to enlarge any photo below:
Below are just some of the photos of daily life in Gaza. More photos will be posted in other diaries as I have to break them up into smaller groups there are that many. click to enlarge any photo below:
The above photo reminds me very much of the North of Ireland. If you look at the header graphic for this blog, you will see murals people have painted here, both for the Irish struggle and the Palestinian struggle for freedom. We have murals everywhere here and many tourists come to see the more famous ones. Gaza was much the same, murals depicting their struggle on streets and walls.
IRISH SHIP TO GAZA WAS SABOTAGED BY ISRAEL. OUR SHIP WILL SAIL AFTER REPAIRS IN THE AUTUMN. WE SAIL UNTIL GAZA IS FREE!! PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US PAY FOR REPAIRS
