June 07, 2015

Israeli premier criticizes world's 'silence' on Gaza rockets.


An Israeli farmer inspects the site were a rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip last night landed in his sunflower field, near the coastal city of Ashkelon, southern Israel, Sunday, June 7, 2015, June 7, 2015. The Israeli military has carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip in response to the rocket attack from the Hamas-ruled territory. There were no reported casualties from the strike early Sunday, which came on the heels of the third rocket attack from Gaza in the past two weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday criticized what he described as the world's "silence" over recent rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, drawing a quick response from his country's closest ally, the U.S.

Netanyahu, speaking at his weekly Cabinet meeting, said he hadn't heard anyone condemn three rocket attacks from Gaza over the past two weeks. The rockets caused no damage, nor any injuries. "It will be interesting to see if this silence continues when we use all our strength in exercising our right to defend ourselves," Netanyahu said. "It should be clear: the hypocrisy that is sweeping the world will not chain our hands from defending the citizens of Israel."

In Germany, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said U.S. officials had spent "a lot of time talking about this" during Israel's recent war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "This is not the first time that I've stood at a podium like this and strongly condemned rocket attacks by extremists in Gaza against innocent Israeli citizens," Earnest said. "Clearly, the United States stands with the nation of Israel as they defend their nation and their people from these attacks."

Netanyahu's comments come amid strained relations with U.S. President Barack Obama. Early Sunday, the Israeli military carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip in response to the latest rocket attack from the Hamas-ruled territory. There was no immediate damage or injuries caused by the strike.

A local jihadi organization that supports the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the recent rocket attacks. The group, in struggle with Hamas, has said its recent attacks are in retaliation for a Hamas crackdown.

Israel considers Hamas responsible for any attacks that originate from Gaza, and announced Sunday that its crossings into Gaza will be shut down in response to the latest incident.

Netanyahu is a dangerous madman.

U.S. Founder Thomas Paine said:

"Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice." Thomas Paine

This seems to have inspired Barry Goldwater to say:

But in Netanyahu's case, his ultra-radicalism seems to be at least a potential net detriment to Israel.

Earlier this AM I got news that a newly released study indicates a formal peace between Israelis and Palestinians would result in $Billions in increase revenues to both sides.

Netanyahu is preventing that.

Yeah right,that's why Arafat and Abbas both didn't accept when a State was within their Grasp!
Why didn't Arafat accept in 2000,instead starting the Intifada he had prepared even before going to the Conference?
How come Arafat didn't create a State in the Westbank when it was under Jordanian Rule,but instead created the PLO in '64 to "liberate" Palestine!
What Palestine?
The Westbank was already liberated by Jordan in '49!
So what "Palestine" was Arafat talking about?

Theres a few mad people and groups over there but I'm not sure the state of Israel is one of them.

Should they just sit and do nothing when rockets are fired at them.

Somehow I can't imagine the UK or the States just turning a blind eye if they were being attacked, can you.

What Arafat did or didn't in Y2K has no veto over what Netanyahu does in June 2015.

Netanyahu has no little incentive for peace, and perceives his options more powerful to avoid serious efforts to find peace.

Why?

- The human misery Israel inflicts on Palestinians is oppressive.

- Israel is gobbling up Palestinian territory as fast at they can build their illegal settlements on it. Compliance with a comprehensive peace treaty with Palestine would put that to an end.
But Netanyahu wants Israel's territory to continue to expand; thus, no serious effort toward peace; Arafat notwithstanding.

- I think you realize Netanyahu was chomping at the bit to go to war against Iran. Obama has done peace in the Middle East a gargantuan favor to prevent that war.

- Netanyahu is a loose cannon. And his over hostility against the U.S. president only confirms this. Netanyahu is not working in the best interests of Israel.

more likely that your Obama is a loose Cannon!
all over the Deck!

You seem to have a problem telling the good guys from the bad guys.

Agreed!

Although he has a point about the world silence on latest rocket attacks, this attempt by IS to undermine HAMAS should NOT give reason for Israel to inflict death on civilian population.

It should be pretty clear by the 11th hour election promise of not allowing the creation of a Palestinian state under his term, he should not be the leader of Israel IMO

In making this pledge, Netanyahu reversed previous commitments to the United Nations and the U.S. Congress.

Anyone who supports this man is indirectly complicit in war crimes.

Up yours Satanyahoo!

So it might seem, to the casual observer.

Not true.
But in a mismatch so severe that IDF (Israeli troops) fire at Palestinians with the most modern American arms, and Palestinians return fire throwing rocks; that should give you an idea of the mismatch.

Would you blame the Jews for the Holocaust?
Would you blame the aboriginal Americans for confining themselves to a tiny fraction of their former lands, called "reservations" where they live lives of poverty and deprivation?

It is the opposite.
I've made my disgust and contempt for the atrocities being perpetrated by Muslims explicitly clear in this forum.
I favor Israel over Palestine.

But in that current clash, it is clear:
- It is Israel, not Palestine that the U.S. shovels $Billions to.
- Our favorite is beyond doubt.

And this keeps us stuck in a rut a child could find our way out of.

It is literally this simple.
We can NOT bring peace to Israel without also bringing peace to Palestine.

Anyone that wants peace for Israel as I do, MUST also want peace for Palestine.

It's that simple.

And Netanyahu is clearly opposed to it.
Before the New Year, Secretary of State Kerry spent quite a bit of time and what President Bush (younger) called "political capital" in an effort to make progress at that peace table.
Netanyahu did just barely enough to deny his critics the opportunity to say Netanyahu wasn't serious, did not make an effort comparable to that made by the Palestinians, or the U.S.

J1,
As the post time-stamps show, I was composing while you were posting.

If I may:

If what the Palestinians are doing is not an insurgency; the same kind of thing we'd do in the U.S. if a wealthy, powerful China came to Des Moines and and started building settlements there; you think I wouldn't throw rocks, and fire home-made missiles at them to get them out of there?

Is it, or is it not an insurgency?

It's a very good example of him clutching to power at any cost.

PS
I did not make a previous point clear.

It's not about me passing moral judgement.

It's simply pragmatism. It's the one that wields overwhelming power that bears the responsibility.
In this case, it is Israel that wields the power.

And Israel already has air supremacy with our F-16s.
And now it wants even more advanced fighter jets.
Why?

What would happen if Israel gave up all their weapons?

Hitler's ambition would be substantially advanced.