No Happy New Year in Palestine
East Jerusalem-- New Year's Day
I wake up with a news hangover. Israeli jets are pounding Gaza for the sixth continuous day, and the IDF continues to build up its forces along the border in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Olmert promises that more is on the way, yet Hamas remains defiant and has not lost its ability to launch rocket attacks on Israeli towns and cities. Angry Arabs demonstrate in Arab capitals, while Arab League members only blow more hot air. Mahmoud Abbas addresses the Palestinian people...no one listens. Leader of Hezbollah, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, says that the resistance (Hamas) is already triumphing and Israel is doomed to failure despite its massive offensive on the Gaza Strip "because of resistance and steadfastness, because of rejecting compromises or surrender." The number of dead in Gaza reaches 400.
The UN
Members of the UN Security Council have ended an emergency meeting searching for the proper wording of a draft resolution. I don't know if I should laugh or cry; when did UN resolutions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict make a difference- 181, 194, 242, 338 to name a few? Here in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns and villages, there are plenty of words members of the UNSC may want to borrow for their useless resolution: death, horror, and destruction. My New Year's resolution is not to pay attention to UN resolutions.
A Tale of Two Cities
In West Jerusalem, Israelis celebrated New Year's Eve with abandon. The rain did not stop partygoers from crowding cafés, hotels, and nightclubs. Throngs of young Israelis danced to electronica, modern Israeli rock and American pop. In East Jerusalem, celebrations to ring in the New Year were largely canceled. Most people stayed at home glued in front of television screens watching news reports and lamenting the future. Israel might claim Jerusalem as its eternal capital, but it remains a divided city.
Mahmoud Abbas
Whether Israel accomplishes its objectives in Gaza or not, one thing is certain; the "all-out war on Gaza" will certainly finish Mahmoud Abbas. Since blaming rival faction Hamas for provoking the Israeli attacks, Abbas has been accused of colluding with Israel over the operations on Gaza. His message to Israel that he "would not hesitate to put negotiations to an end" is mocked in the Palestinian street. I have yet to meet someone who has something good to say about Abbas.
The War of Information
For those who have been following my ordeal with Beit Agron, the Israeli Government Press Office, I'm finally issued my "visiting journalist credentials" after additional security checks. I now do not have to practice underground journalism. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has launched a massive public relations campaign to justify its air offensive on Gaza. Israeli officials are well rehearsed in delivering their talking points to an attentive pool of foreign journalists.
"Israel's aim is to stop missile attacks from Gaza" and "Hamas broke the "hudna" (ceasefire)." An Israeli press spokesman quoted Obama when he visited Sderot and said "If somebody was sending rockets into my house, where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that."
Arab media has been giving wall to wall coverage of the events in Gaza. Viewers watch in despair and mutter and curse while they clench their teeth. Images of the dead, many of them children, destroyed mosques and women wailing play in a loop. Angry pundits and guests denounce inept Arab leaders. Mobs setting the Israeli flag on fire. A call for mass demonstrations after this Friday's prayers echoes on several satellite networks. The Israeli government dispatches riot police at the entrances of the Old City. Tomorrow will be another bloody day.
"Go back to America and tell your government what your weapons are doing to us" an old acquaintance tells me angrily.
Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Palestine could have a quality of life for its people similar to a Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, ... the quality of life similar to the Germany nation, and doing so after only a generation or two. The reason why the Palestinian people live the way they do is because of the mentality of many of the goofy thinking posters here at Huffington. What a bunch of losers, and losing attitudes being spouted on this forum. Palestine will always be another Albania, a North Korea, a Cuba because the Palestinian people and those who support them have negative attitudes towards life. Such crackpot thoughts from many of the posters here at Huffington, none will serve to rectify the problems in that region of the world.
@SEQUOIABISON
{{{{{
It is not Egypt that is occupying Gaza it is the Israelis who have pushed the Palestinians out of their own country, Palestine/Israel and have kept their foot on their throat, through blockades and incursions like unlawful settlements and turning off their electricity at will.
{{{{
You DO realize that Egypt "occupied" Gaze for almost 67 years, right??
}}}}
Allow the Palestinians their Independence the way we granted the Terrorist Israelis their Independence after they bombed the King David Hotel and killed soldiers of the British occupying force and many innocent civilians, 91 deaths and numerous injuries.
{{{{
You DO realize that the King David Hotel was, by virtue of housing the British Military HQ, a legitimate military target, right???
}}}}}
Oh but I forgot, the Israelis killing innocent civilians were Freedom Fighters not Terrorists, A Rose by any other name.....
{{{{{
You DO realize that just killing innocent civilians does not constitute terrorism, right??
Michale...
Israel was created to provide a safe haven to Jewish victims of Nazi Germany. Sixty years later and it is not any safer for Jews to live in Israel than in Europe. Why? Is it because you cannot feel safe and secure when you colonize others homeland?
We Americans colonized "other's homeland".
I feel perfectly safe from terrorist attacks by native Americans.
You are trying to equate two subsets that have nothing in common.
Michale...
You hate the Palestinians and you're trying to justify your hatred.
It looks like Lebanon all over again. Israel can deliver the first blow from the airbut unable to win the war. In 1967 it defeated Arab Armies in 6 days, in 2006 it lost against against Hezbollah even after 30 daya of bombardment and now it's been a week and Hamas can still launch missiles. All what's Israel doing is creating more hatred!
Umm, yeah, sometimes labels fit:
On Tuesday, Ha-mas legislators marked the Chris_tmas season by passing a Shari'a criminal code for the Pale-stinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.
Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Ha-mas wanted to make sure that Chris-tians didn't feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at J_wish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Ha_mas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christ-ians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.
Ummm, yeah, sometimes labels fit:
On Tuesday, Ha-mas legislators marked the Chris_tmas season by passing a Shari'a criminal code for the Pale-stinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.
Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Ha-mas wanted to make sure that Chris-tians didn't feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at J_wish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Ha_mas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christ-ians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.
@SouthpawSass
}}}}
One man's terrorist is another man's nationalist. There are two sides Michale, but you're only willing to see one side of it.
{{{{{
That is one of the BIGGEST pieces of BS of ALL the pieces of BS there are in the world.
A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. NOTHING justifies terrorism.
There is NOTHING noble in a terrorist. There is nothing about freedom or anything else in a terrorist.
ANYONE that resorts to terrorism immediately loses all legitimacy, consideration or compassion.
NOTHING justifies terrorism.
Michale...
Israel is the biggest terrorist organization in the world.
And yet, you cannot point to ONE terrorist act committed by Israel..
Your opinion is noted, but not relevant without accompanying facts or evidence.
If you do have any facts or evidence to present, please start off with exactly how you define terrorism.
Michale...
Unless the Palistinians get a lobby the equivalent to AIPAC in the US, our political leaders won't give a hoot.
Hamas has been labeled in this country - anything Hamas is terrorist or militant. Are they? That's all I really hear or read. If Hamas should do anything, it should get it's PR straight in the United States.
As for the Palestinians, I see their desperation as I did the desperation in Northern Ireland. When a Palestinian gets slaughtered, he's a militant and the soldier who killed him is an honorable soldier of Israel. When a Belfast man got butchered, he was a terrorist and the man who killed him was an honorable soldier in the Queen's army.
We're big on labels here in this country - good guys versus bad guys. If were told over and over someone is a bad guy, chances are we Americans won't dig any deeper.
Yeah, ummm, they are bad guys:
On Tuesday, Ha-mas legislators marked the Chris_tmas season by passing a Shari'a criminal code for the Pale-stinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.
Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Ha-mas wanted to make sure that Chris-tians didn't feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at J_wish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Ha_mas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christ-ians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.
Ummm, yeah, sometimes labels fit:
On Tuesday, Ha-mas legislators marked the Chris_tmas season by passing a Shari'a criminal code for the Pale-stinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.
Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Ha-mas wanted to make sure that Chris-tians didn't feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at J_wish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Ha_mas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christ-ians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.
To paraphrase H.L. Mencken , " Americans like to delve deeply into the surface of things."
Most Americans will never get beyond "good guys vs bad guys." It takes a little effort to uncover the truth.
And sadly if one doesn't take the time to learn and understand, one remains ignorant. We Americans for the most part are ignorant of anything beyond what is written beyond the headlines.
It's interesting that such an informative article has such a confusing headline. "Palestine?" What is Palestine? If there were a country named Palestine, perhaps Palestinians could have a happy new year.
Historic Palestine is the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. There are 2.5 M Palestinians living in the West Bank, 1.5 in Israel, 1.5 in Gaza. Actually they will be the majority of the population by 2010. For them this is Palestine though most of it occupied by Israel.
Right, so what can we call Palestine now? It's not a country, so what is it? Is it the Palestinian people, who currently have no well-defined homeland?
I am astonished that Israel the most imperialistic nation in the region is actually winning the propaganda war, making it seem like the oppressed Palestinians, who have no Tanks or Jet Fighters or Helicopters, are at fault for trying to fight their way out of occupation.
The Israelis have their foot on the throat of the Palestinian refugees that were forced to flee Palestine/Israel and when the Palestinians try to struggle free from the harsh tyrannical treatment of their jailers they are quickly and forcefully crushed, using American munitions to keep them from breaking out of their jail.
I am thoroughly ashamed of Bush and company for allowing this massacre to continue, hopefully Obama will not allow our tax dollars to contribute to the barbaric treatment of our fellow human beings.
Americans,
If the same percentage of Americans had been killed as Gazans have been we would have over 100.000 dead.
This is the destruction we finance for Israel.
Its time to put our money where are beliefs are. If you are horrified by what Israel is doing with our annual 3 billion in military aid, F-16s, Apaches and bunker busters, research the boycott, divestment and sanction movement against Israel for its apartheid and policies and now, outright murder, INHO.
If we didn't subsidize Israel's wars with our tax dollars and consumer dollars, peace would have been made long ago.
You can make a difference. If you listen to the talking points of FM Livni's PR barrage and compare them to the propaganda we heard/hear around the Iraq invasion/o
Remember there is an election coming up in Israel in February. Wars are so handy for consolidating the public.
Mr. Dajani, thank you for your report.
Israel is surrounded by countries & kingdoms that call for its total destructio
one a little nervous, don't you think stardust? Have you ever thought about the millions
of dollars worth of bombs, guns, and explosives other countries furnish Hamas?? Why don't you
call for that to stop?
Anyone who backs the use of terrorism has no validity to speak on this subject..p
Give me a break...Is
Do you REALLY think that American taxpayers do not have the right to investigate how American dollars & armaments are being employed by the Israeli politicals? I also think we need to question why our Congress allocates such vast American resources to another country that (although it professes to love peace) clearly acts against itself in that regard!
what do they supply them rocks?
While there is a growing number of Americans who are shocked about the huge losses of life in Gaza, our Congressional leaders (Pelosi et al) once again are lining up to make comments in support of the Israeli onslaught, or they remain silent in the face of the carnage. I consider this to be shameful. Please continue to voice your protest as well as indicate how Americans can join in the divestment & sanction movement.
I agree--contact Washington and say enough!
To all that think it's OK for Hamas to lob rockets/mortars into Israel...
What would you think about Israel lobbing rockets /mortars into the Gaza
Strip without caring where they land?? would that be OK??
PaIestine is the occupied Iand. Remember?
If you are referring to Gaza, you are wrong... Israel left Gaza in 2005.. Gaza, by all rights, is Egypt's problem, not Israels.
If you mean the country of Israel then I guess you also must mean that the USA is an "occupied land" as well, right??
Michale...
@Sis3563
}}}}}
Israel can stop the rocket attacks in an instant simply by conceding that Palestine has a right to exist and by stopping the blind air strikes on innocent civilians.
{{{{{
Newsflash for you. Israel has already acknowledged that right. And Israel is not making "blind air strikes on innocent civilians.
}}}}
If Israel were to do that, Hamas would stand down.
{{{{
Assumes facts not in evidence.
}}}}
I can't believe there is ANYONE out there who supports the Zionist agenda against the Palestinian people.
{{{{{
The "Zionist agenda" is against terrorists. Not the Palestinian people.
}}}}
Two sides to every story, palestiner
{{{{
Sorry, but you are wrong.. There are not 2 sides to terrorism.
Michale...
"There are not 2 sides to terrorism.
One man's terrorist is another man's nationalist. There are two sides Michale, but you're only willing to see one side of it.
Hamas is a terrorist organization made up of thugs that hide behind their women, children and old men. They seek shelter in schools, hospitals, churches and mosques; all the while raining down rockets into Israel and claiming they are being misunderstood. It's time that right thinking people around the world condemn the bloody, terror tactics of Hamas and their ilk..For anyone to say that Hamas is in the right is an afront to all of mankind. It's time to wake up to these insane mad men that affect our everyday lives in so many ways; it's time they were sent to face their maker.
Get real. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas on earth. To the Israeli's, gunning down Hamas is like shooting fish in a barrel. What would you do if you were Hamas? Would you go to a convenient headquarters or location, known to Israel so that you could be massacred? According to your logic, Hamas fighters should make it easier for Israel to kill them, that way they won't be terrorists, they will just be stupid. I think George Patton said it best:
"You don't win a war by dying for your country. You win a war by making the other expletive die for his."
I bet the Hamas fighters could say the same thing about Israel that you say about Hamas. They could say that the Israelis are cowards, that hide behind the separation barrier, and that their too timid to meat the Hamas fighters man to man. Instead they blast them to pieces, safely, in a fighter jet.
Do you see where this argument goes? Nowhere. Fair treatment and real diplomacy are the ways to solve this problem, not more senseless destruction and killing.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
