Nothing So Far

Why have I not been writing for the past few weeks?
This might be the question that all of the people that come and visit this blog on a dailybasis ask themselves. I also ask myself this. At first I thought that I was getting bored with my blog and just in general, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and all politics. But then I found the real answer on the Arabic and Israeli newsites:
Nothing new is going on or happening. It's all the same crap that you get from political leaders. All they do is talk, talk and talk a bit more. Threats are being thrown in every direction from every Middle Eastern country and Western countries as well. The United Nations had come up with a countless number of resolutions in the past 60 years concerning Israel, yet Israel did not follow and will not follow, yet it is still a member of the United Nations. This, I do not understand.
And just like Israel didn't follow the UN resolutions, I'm sure it will not follow the United States guidelines on creating a Palestinian state, unless action is taken. For the past three or more weeks, all I see on Haaretz or al Jazeera is talk and statements being said by a world leader. Netanyahu: a Palestinian state is not in our best interest. Obama: let me be clear, we fully back up the Two State solution. Hamas: we are not willing to recognize the Jewish state, and much, much more. I honestly got bored about writing the same topic over and over again. These leaders are not taking action. They're sitting in their elegant offices or at their podiums issuing statements that at first cause a reaction and by the next day they are forgotten.
Now you know why I did not write and why there is no use of me writing until something actually happens. For the past three months, I have written articles revealing the true nature of the occupation and the terrifying details, and I will continue if I read and educate myself more. But please do not think that I am closing this blog down or that I just forgot about it. Come by and check it daily and I promise you, I'll start writing once I find a good subject.
If you have any suggestions, please tell me in your comments or in the cbox. Thank you for being loyal to the Damascene Breeze.

Obama Changes Tactics on Israel

President Obama has just recently finished a tour of Europe and it ended in Turkey where he delivered a speech in front of the Turkish parlaimant. The visit to Turkey was very successful, and the people were very excited and recieved Obama in the best way. This visit was a sign as to improve relations between Turkey and the United States.

However, President Obama also talked a lot about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stressed the fact that the United States fully supports the Two State Solution, which was a response to Israel's foreign minister when he said that the Israeli government was not bound by the Annapolis convention. The only way to end this conflict, or at least try to end it is the two state solution, and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Without that, this conflict will go nowhere he said.

Obama has also breifed his congressmen of a predicted confrontation with Netanyahu's rightist government about this. I am extremely happy that the President and the whole United States came to its senses and is doing what is right. What Obama has said, of a confrontation with the new Israeli government means that if the two state solution is not to be fulfilled and Netanyahu's government supporting it, then the United States may have to use different tactics with its strongest ally in the Middle East. I hope they stop sending financial aid and military aid to Israel if they oppose this.

I hope this is a start of a new era for the United States as well, to improve its image in the Middle East. The visit to Turkey was a huge success and I hope Obama visits all the capitals of the Middle East, like Damascus, Amman, and Beirut.

President Obama is also scheduled to visit Jerusalem and the West Bank in June. We might see a lot of change in the summer, and possibly the establishment of Palestine.

The Golan is #1 On Syrian Agenda

The Golan Heights, an area in southwestern Syria, currenlty occupied by Israel since 1967 is a very strategic point. Because of the elevation, both countries are in need of this geograhpic location. The Golan Heights overlooks all of Israel, and Syria. So we could understand why the two countries want it. But the Golan Heights righfully belongs to the Syrian Arab Republic, and is occupied territory. Israel doesn't even want to give it back even with a peace process. Netanyahu and all the previous governments of Israel have promised Bashar al Assad full withdrawl of the Israelis from the Golan Heights and the full return to Syria. However, now the real plan is uncovered. Israel does not want to withdraw, and it never will withdraw from the Golan Heights, peace treaty or no. So just today, the Syrian President, Bashar al Assad responded in a regional newspaper.

He said that the "enemy" does not want peace, and there is no other alternative but full resistance, which means war. He said that sooner or later, the Golan will be liberated. And I agree with him fully. Israel has occupied territories from four countries, and has ethnically cleansed a nation. Yet the international community and the United Nations is still silent on this aspect. Israel has occupied the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, but has returned it in a peace treaty. It occupied part of Jordan and the West Bank which was annexed by Jordan. It also occupied southern Lebanon, until Hezbollah forced them out. And right now the Golan. So I don't understand why the Israeli government cannot return the Golan Heights under a peace treaty just like with Egypt and President Sadat. No other alternative is left for the Syrian government but force, just like the Israeli-Lebanese model. Hezbollah forced out the Israelis from southern Lebanon and just like them, Syria may force Israel out of the Golan.

But now we come back to the same mindsets of the Israelis. They say that the Golan is rightfully theirs and it belongs to Israel, and it is part of the Holy Land historically. Everyone is tired of their rhetoric. Anyway, Assad's full words are that with Peace or War, the Golan will be liberated and that he is ready to hold peace talks with any Israeli government, even Netanyahu's, but the only condition is the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Golan.

One day, Israel says it is ready to withdraw from the Golan, the next day, they say peace can only be exchanged to peace.

Lieberman: Israel Is Not Bound to Annapolis

The foreign minister of the newly sworn in Benjamin Netanyahu has just made a statement today that Israel shall not be bound by the Annapolis Convention that was held in 2007. Israel is changing its peace plans currently. The Annapolis Convention was held to re-ignite the peace process, and it called for a two state solution. However, Leiberman is rejecting the whole idea, and saying that Israel is not commited and will not follow the policies of the Annapolis convention. I don't understand right now how the Americans can think that the Palestinians are the ones that do not want peace. Everyone is sick of the Israelis' mindsets and I know that they think all of Historic Palestine belongs to them. But right now it's 2009, not 3000 years ago when there used to be Israelite Kingdoms in the area. What I am trying to say is that they have to share the land. However, no the Foreign Minster of Israel "surprises" us and says that the Two state solution is not on their agenda. Of course it isn't and it has never been. The only thing that changed is that someone was brave enough to say it. Now that the whole thing is in the world's face, and on the table for the United Nations to see, they have to start pressuring the Jewish state to pursue peace. All we are getting right now are promises from Netanyahu that there will be peace, and he never even mentioned a Palestinian state. All he mentioned was that the Palestinians will rule themselves, but not to the extent where Israel is threatened. That tells you everything you need to know. Israel does not want a Palestinian state prospering alongside it, because it is afraid for its life. This is prepostrous though. They want to continue their occupation of the West Bank and Gaza yet they still wnat peace to be established. And when the Palestinians do not accept, then the world puts the blame on them saying that they don't want peace and are moving away. Israel sets the rules, and the Palestinians have to follow. It's ridiculous, that's all I can say.

Prime Minister Netanyahu Pressured

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressured by the European Union to endorse and support a two state solution, calling for a Palestinian state to be established in pre-1967 borders, and East Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinian leaders call for an immediate stop of the settlement building, however Netanyahu is a strong supporter of settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu stated that improving the occupation, in means of economy would be far better than ending the occupation itself.

What is new then? Nothing is the answer. Nothing is new. For the past decades the Palestinians have been trying to reach peace with Israel, yet Israel is always setting the standards and the "rules" of this peace agreement. How can peace be established without justice. And I still don't understand in what way the two state solution will be viable and will work? I'm sure no Palestinian would want their state to be small fragments surrounded by Israeli soil. Who would anyway? Could that even be called a state?

Netanyahu also promised to work towards "peace" but I don't know what peace is in their eyes. How can peace be built without a base of justice? He doesn't even want to discuss the status of Jerusalem or the borders, all he wants to do is "improve the Palestinian economy". This is ridiculous because no economy can prosper under the strict and horrendous occupation, which includes checkpoints, the apartheid wall, the curfews, the IDF presence, and etc. In my opinion, this is another way that the Israeli government wants to show the world that is willing to discuss peace. Well thank you Israel, we really appreciate it.

Adding to the Israeli peace proccess, the Israeli government wants to control all aspects of this new Palestinian state, that may form, including borders, airspace, water, harbors, electricity, and such. Right now, while I sit here and right this, it is getting more prepostrous in my eyes. How can anyone see it otherwise?

Life in the West Bank: An Introduction

In many articles I have stressed the point of the Israeli occupation being unbearable. But as many times as I write it, I cannot give this point justice. Writing it is one thing and experiencing it is a another, however thank God I've never experienced it. The most important thing right understand is that the West Bank is not wholly Palestinian. It is in ownership, but not in population. This piece of land, west of the Jordan River, is cut up into many fragments. The reason being the Israeli military presence, and the Jewish settler population. These are both illegal, along with the rest of the aspects of occupation. Yet Israel is the only colonial power left in the whole world. Why does it occupy this piece of land? The answer to this question is that it captured it in the 1967 War, yet it would have given it up for a peace process. The Israeli government, however, is not willing to withdraw, because it thinks that this is their rightful claim, and to occupy is the only answer currently. They want to keep sending in settlers, and building settlement upon settlement on confiscated property from the Palestinians. Yet the world tends to ignore this, because Israel is going through with its plans to make it seem to the international community that nothing new is happening.

Yet every single day, something new is happening. This includes the constant settlement building, and checkpoints to the smallest details, which the world tends to ignore, such as the daily harassment of the Jewish settlers to Palestinians. These details are multiplying, and are spreading like an infection. Soon the whole West Bank, will not be under military occupation, but will be annexed to Israel, and the Palestinians will still be denied citizenship, or they will expel the Palestinians as they did in 1948 and will be rid of the "demographic problem".

There are many small aspects that should be brought to the world's attention concerning this occupation, and in the articles to come, all of this will be revealed, and then you can judge.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Unchanged

You look ahead: blue skies, blue seas, and destruction. Utter destruction. That is the case in Gaza. All around you there is destruction and chaos. Children in the streets playing. The sewage line is in the civilian streets. Elderly people sit on the ground and pray to God to help them get out of this catostrophe.
It is in all means a catostrophe, nothing else. The recent Gaza Offensive, Cast Lead, as it was called by the Israeli Government and IDF destroyed what little infrastucture Gaza had. On top of all of that, Israel blames Hamas for bringing it on itself. The United States, and most of the European Union believes so too, yet the truth is in the eyes of every Gazan, that made it through the hellish three weeks, alive. Since the catostrophe, as I will refer to it, nothing has changed. The United Nations even said so. Nothing will change anyway if these ridiculous blockades are not lifted. 80% of the people in Gaza rely on relief agencies such as UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works agency for Palestinian refugees) for their survival, just survival, which means food and water. How is any humanitarian aid going to get through to Gaza if all the borders are closed most of the time, and there is simply not enough time for all the UN trucks to pass in. Israel has these borders closed, and is even denying the presence of a humanitarian aid! What a lie, a filthy lie, to deny anything ever happening to these people. I don't know what's going to happen now, but I'm sure the United Nations won't get anything done. What has it done throughout all of these occupations? It sets hundreds of resolutions, yet all of these are ignored by the State of Israel which thinks it is above International Law. I'm going to have a hard time believing that anything will change now, even if the United Nations is aware of what is happening. Maybe it'll pass yet another resolution, like the countless ones before it, and just like the countless ones before it, it will be jotted down in their historical archives, ignored and tucked away.

Settler Withdrawal from Gaza: Why It Happened

In a very well thought out move, Israel siginified to the world that it was a democratic state and is not willing to occupy captured territories from 1967. In 2005, the Israeli government withdrew its settler population from the Gaza Stip, which was about 5,000 people. By doing this, the Gaza strip was left tot he Palestinians to govern. The international society looks at this as a step leading up to a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, however it is very far from that.
With the Gaza Strip free of all Jewish and Israeli settlers and safe in Israel, the Israeli government transformed Gaza: the heavily and densely populated civilian area ino its own military "laboratory". No obstacles remain in the face of this government, because the Palestinians can hardly be regarded as humans, or living things in their eyes. Palestinians meant nothing to Israel, only a waste of space.
With the transformation of Gaza into this laboratory, Israel can test all of its latest technologies on the civilian population. It created horrors on this little piece of land, horrors that ended in chaos, poverty, death, and destruction. Along with the constant "experiments" Israel has also put a blockade on Gaza that will result in a humanitarian crisis that Israel and the United States would deny fully (but that will be a whole different article).
The most important thing to know now, is that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, did not mean peace or friendliness. It meant that they wanted their population to be safe, and to bestow upon the 1.5 million Palestinians terror that will end in many consequences. At the same time they refuse to them the basic necissties of living, such as food, and clean water, and such. This whole withdrawal triggered a number of events, such as the recent Gaza offensive, Cast Lead.
The Israeli Government should not hide behind the excuse of withdrawal and an end to the occupation in Gaza because that is a lie. Nothing justifies the horrors that these people are experiencing and these are war crimes! In articles to come, I will reveal the day to day terrorizing events the Palestinians endured.

IDF Admits War Crimes in Gaza

For the past couple of days, Ha'aretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, has been publishing first hand accounts from IDF soldiers in the Gaza offensive. These accounts reveal the war crimes that have been committed and the injustice that the Palestinians in Gaza had to suffer in that three-week long offensive.
I thought it was about time the Israelis started to reveal this treachery. For example, several papers have been retrieved from Palestinian homes, that were written by IDF commanders, ordering their troops to shoot at civilians, and rescue workers (from the Red Crescent and others). The Palestinians were either left inside their homes, waiting for rescue, or were dead because the IDF were preventing their evacuation. And to justify the evidence found in the homes of various Gazans is an IDF reserve officer that did not take part in the operation. He says that this note may have been written by a low-level commander.
Ha'aretz also admits that brutality of the Gaza offensive. IDF soldiers storming into houses, expelling the residents, and using the Palestinian house as means of safety and for shooting positions. Another article that was published a couple of days ago in Ha'aretz also stated that the IDF commanders ordered their soldiers to shoot at anyone in their way. The soldiers had to obey and they did as they were told. A Palestinian woman and her children was exiting her house so she could find a safe haven. The IDF soldier told her to go right, yet she didn't understand and went left. The cost of that small mistake was her life and the lives of her children.
The treachery of this offensive was known to many, but finally the Israelis are admitting to it. These troops of no humanity in them. They are heartless and that is the reason they were able to kill so much innocent civilians.