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[Spearhead Research]

The Gaza Strike

Spearhead Analysis---31.12

Israel’s massive multiple air strikes are in line with its policy of seeking a military solution to what is essentially a political conflict. Such efforts have never succeeded in resolving the issue---Ireland is a case in point---but they have always escalated violence and inflicted horrendous suffering on innocent civilians caught in the conflict. By causing casualties on a massive scale Israel has raised the bar on the scale and magnitude of the conflict scenario.

It is inevitable that there will be retaliation and just as inevitably counter retaliation in what promises to become an unending cycle of violence. The Hamas government was never really accepted---neither by the US nor by the Israelis. This accounts for the muted US response.

Even though the Israeli attack was deliberately timed to be in the twilight zone between the Bush to Obama transition there is very little doubt that together with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan the Israel-Palestine conflict will top the agenda for Obama. The new US President is being presented with a conflict zone that now comprises the Greater Middle East and Greater South and West Asia---all the way to Central Asia.

The longer the delay in bringing about and implementing a cease fire the more the deaths and greater the suffering. Diplomacy must take over as soon as possible if the two state solution idea is to remain alive. This should be followed by a political processs

Already the fingers are pointing at US neglect of the Arab-Israeli problem as the reason for the Hamas rocket attacks that led to the disproportionate response by Israel. Arab states have also called for an immediate cease fire as the first step towards a de-escalation process. More strikes can create serious difficulties and and increase the chances of a complete reversal of the gains made. Egypt and Jordan---the two Arab countries that have relations with Israel will be under considerable pressure. Reportedly a cleric in Iran is signing up volunteers for fighting Israel.

A cease fire must come about immediately to save hundreds and perhaps thousands from death.

www.spearheadresearch.org


More information on Gaza conflict:

"The historical record of Israel's dealings with Gaza sheds light on its strategic aims in the current conflict there, says Avi Shlaim.

The only way to make sense of Israel's senseless war in Gaza is through understanding the historical context. The establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948 involved a monumental injustice to the Palestinians. British officials were aware at the time of the grave injustice perpetrated by one-sided American support for the Israelis. On 2 June 1948, Sir John Troutbeck wrote to foreign secretary Ernest Bevin that the Americans were responsible for the creation of a gangster state headed by "an utterly unscrupulous set of leaders". I used to think that this judgment is too harsh; but Israel's vicious assault on the people of Gaza, and the George W Bush administration's complicity in this assault, have reopened the question. "

Read More:
http://www.spearheadresearch.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1335#1335

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[Fatima Rizvi]

Source: http://streetknowledge.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/obama-remains-mum-on-middle-east-flare-up/

Barack Obama remained silent over the violence in Gaza as Israel today threatened to continue its attacks for weeks.

Instead, the President-elect is continuing his 12-day Christmas holiday in Hawaii and was seen enjoying a round of golf.

He joined a group of friends at a private club near his £6million rented, beach-front holiday home yesterday.



Shh: Mr Obama, who is staying silent on the Israeli attacks, asks the crowd to be quiet as he finishes his putt

Meanwhile, 9,000 miles away in the Middle East, Israel today rejected any truce with Hamas and said it was ready for ‘long weeks of action’ in the Gaza Strip.



Observers said that at least ten people were killed and another 40 injured as up to 16 bombs were dropped by Israeli warplanes during early morning attacks.
The targets included the offices of Hamas prime minister Ismael Haniyeh, police stations and Gaza’s treasury and foreign ministry buildings.

Palestinian officials say more than 385 people have been killed since Saturday. Four Israelis have died in rocket fire.

Sites linked to Hamas’ military wing Izzadin Kazzam were also hit, including the home of the Gaza division commander.

The death toll so far in Gaza is estimated at 320, with five Israeli fatalities, and hundreds of injuries.



Grief: Palestinian mourners carry the body of four-year-old Haya Hamdan in Gaza

World leaders, including Gordon Brown and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, have called for an immediate ceasefire.

Mr Ban even said that Israel’s attacks on Gaza amounted to an ‘excessive use of force’.

But Mr Obama has made the decision to leave all comments to outgoing President George Bush, who has so far chosen only to attack Hamas.

On the golf course, his security team even turned away a letter from pro-Palestinian campaigners urging him to help stop the four-day-old violence.

Pensioner Robert Steiver, 65, of Honolulu, said he was disappointed that the President-elect was not echoing the condemnation of other world leaders.

He told the Honolulu Advertiser: ‘I don’t think he’s taking a vacation, he’s preparing to be the next president.

‘I’m deathly afraid he’ll continue the failed policies of the Bush administration. I’ve been suffering with the Palestinians for years.’



A rocket fired today by militants from the Gaza Strip towards an Israeli target. The repeated rocket attacks on Israel are the reason for the current assault on Gaza



Palestinians look at destroyed houses after an Israeli air strike in Rafah, Gaza

Earlier this week, his chief adviser David Axelrod said that Mr Obama ‘recognises the special relationship between the United States and Israel’.

But despite trying to stay quiet, Mr Obama - who was wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, khaki shorts, white and brown golf shoes, and a red baseball cap – still couldn’t avoid any drama.

He was greeted by applause when he walked up to the 18th green - and then, motioning for them to be quiet by putting a finger to his lips, finished with a 20-yard putt.

‘That was pretty good, right?’ he said to more cheers as he went to meet his fans.

It was Mr Obama’s third visit to the Mid Pacific Country Club course in Kalilua while on holiday.

But he may not be able to remain tight-lipped about Gaza for too long.



Protesters demonstrate in front of the Israeli embassy in Vienna

As well as air strikes, Israel has also massed tanks, artillery and soldiers on the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible ground assault on the territory, with its defence minister warning that the country is engaged in a ‘war to the bitter end’ against Hamas and its allied militant supporters.

Israel’s deputy defence minister Matan Vilnai said today that his country was prepared for a prolonged struggle to protect its citizens from the repeated missile attacks which have been launched from Gaza over recent months.

‘The army is prepared for a long operation,’ he said. ‘We have made preparations for some long weeks of action.’



Anguish: An Israeli woman in Sderot screams after Hamas rockets hit houses

Hamas said that its squads had fired 43 home-made rockets, 17 longer-range Grads and six mortar shells at Israel; other militant groups have also fired rockets at Israel.

Further details have emerged of earlier attacks by Israel against Hamas targets.

A grainy video taken by an Israeli drone plane showed several men loading a pick-up truck with what the Israeli military said were medium-range Grad rockets.

Moments later, a big explosion from an Israeli missile strike envelops the image.

In another air assault, an Islamic Jihad commander was killed walking near his house, said Abu Hamza, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad’s military wing.

[Fatima Rizvi]

Obama remains mum on Palestine

If the letter posted on January 22 2008 to the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Zalmay Khalizad, by then Senator Barak Obama is referenced we can expect little change in the Obama administration’s policies in regard to Palestine.


Obama's letter to Zalmay Khalilzad

Concerning Hamas in a practically identical situation a year ago US President-elect wrote: “I urge you to ensure that the Security Council issue no statement and pass no resolution on this matter that does not fully condemn the rocket assault Hamas has been conducting on civilians in southern Israel for over two years…The Security Council should clearly and unequivocally condemn the rocket attacks against Israel and make clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against such actions. If it cannot bring itself to make these common sense points, I urge you to ensure that it does not speak at all.”

It would seem that Obama intends to remain mum on the issue of the current Hamas response to the Israeli air strikes too, as he has as yet evaded making public statement on the grounds of there being only one US president at a time. However, he has spoken on the problems the US economy faces and pertinently, the Mumbai attacks, which provides an indication of the direction his foreign policy is likely to take come the future US president’s swearing in on January 20. More revealing of this was his refusal to even acknowledge the small group who had gathered to lodge protest when his motorcade drove by in Hawaii.

During the run-up to his election Obama had made no bones about Israel being the US’s closest ally, though he did see to mention he would push for the two-state solution. But an equitable distribution of land is not anticipated and, with that, there is small chance of the future US administration being more successful in settling the dispute than any of its predecessors even if the political will were to exist.

[jaykay]

Israel has topped ten days of air strikes on Gaza with a deliberate premeditated air-land attack on the Palestinians in Gaza. Despite appeals for a cease fire rom leaders around the world the Israeli attack continues. So far over 500 Palestinians have been killed, many more injured and these figures include women and children. The UNSC failed to pass a resolution because the US did not want a resolution---President Bush has backed the Israeli action. Gaza is now strangulated with the hapless people facing untold hardships.
What message will the Israeli action send? Will it lead to nuclear proliferation as more countries decide that a nuclear capability is the only defence against aggression by superior forces? Will it set a precedent for such action by other countries? Will it deter or will it engender hatred and determination? Similar action against the Hizbollah in Lebanon did not improve the situation---the environment deteriorated. Iraq and Afghanistan have also not led to any positive results so far.

[Junaid Raza]

Israel should now get ready for massive civilian and military causalities in its own territory. Islamic extremists will be seen in full action within few days and bloodshed will be enormous.

Nuclear proliferation will definitely increase due to Israel's barbaric slaughter of innocent children, women and men in the Gaza. Even if the Muslim world does not unite against Israel openly, under the table support to extremist organizations will increase significantly.

USA is an equal partner in this genocide and its diplomatic, financial and military support and backing is the main reason for Israel's current aggression. If Mr Bush asks again why the world hates Americans so much, he should get another shoe on his face. Mr Obama will probably follow Mr Bush's policy... which would mean that things will get messy in the coming days.

Other countries like India which is a newly adopted child of USA might try to flex its muscles but in this case response to any aggression would be very strong. So probably India will hold back for few more years.