UN official calls Israel 'Apartheid'

William9:

Because "In the past, Egyptian authorities have prevented scores of activists, mainly from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, from delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. The Brotherhood has historical and ideological ties with Hamas, but is considering threatening to the Egyptian government."1

Egypt has been playing the role of mediator, in order to bring about reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and claims it is taking an even-handed approach to the conflict.

But Syria says Egypt is not being an honest broker and is biased against Hamas.

Such accusations are not necessarily unfounded, Prof. Walid Kazziha, a political scientist from the American University in Cairo, said.

Egypt has a stronger relationship with Fatah than with Hamas, especially since Hamas is on the Egyptian border in the Gaza Strip and poses more of a threat to Egypt, Kazziha told The Media Line.2

The ongoing conflict concerning Israel plays in the background of the larger geopolitical movements which, in my opinion, is also supported and maintained by the West to prevent a regional superpower to blossom.

1 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3642089,00.html
2 http://newsblaze.com/story/20081209092916zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Would appreciate links to articles on this, thanks!

IMHO I really think Israel aws allowed to exist for:

1. Get the Jews and Zionists out of the back of Europeans
2. Geopolitics. Drive a wedge in one of the former Ottoman territory to easily strike the environs and prevent reunification.

Historically, the Ottomans / Caliphates were feared that her resurrection, or something close to it, isn't at all in the West's interest. In the past, it was control of vital trading routes (reason why the West had to look for an alternative), now it's oil AND trading routes (like the Suez and other pipelines).

I don't really see any reason for the West to stop supporting their little wedge there no matter what people say. Israel, like the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 13th century, will only cease to exist once financial support for it wanes.

@silverbird...wow, this guy knows his stuff. I don't particularly agree with all his opinions, like Israel has no right to exist...I believe it does, but I am totally against the Zionism mentality and the occupation of Palestine. Israel has and continues to break International laws as well as humanitarian laws. To treat people like this is beyond imagination in light of what happened during ww2. I believe Israels actions will be stopped in its tracks very soon since much is being brought out, thanks much in part to the Internet and proliferation of cameras into Palestine as well as humanitarian workers, to document the true story.

There needs to be compromise over this territory. Every single day it blows my mind to think of how much blood is being shed, how much violence and hatred seeps into the sands of a land people consider holy. Is this what your god wants? Separation, death, war? *sigh*

Jimmy Carter redux and he had his ass handed to him for being honest.

In all the land in all the world they choose to kill each other over the biggest hunk of worthless real estate there is.

Both the Jews and the Palestinians have the right to live in and govern their own state. Labeling them will not quicken the process.

all everyone wants - israeli, palestinian, whoever - is a place to call home. it's that simple. why can't it happen?

Right. Why has the UN waited this long? The nation of Israel has committed so many crimes against humanity. I debated the Israeli peace policies in 2006 and I was appalled from the literature that I read.. and that was two years ago.

Isrealis are not occupying Palestinian land (no such thing) Palestinians are occupying isreali lands. If you come to my house you better believe I'm going to do everything I possibly can to stop you from hurting me or my family. The U.S. should get out of the U.N. and get the U.N. out of the U.S.

it is...

http://sabbah.biz/mt/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/isra...
Image...

Israel claims to have ended the occupation in Gaza, but is this really true? "Israel is asserting control over Gaza's territorial waters. This is one of the factors of it continuing to be an Occupying Power in Gaza", says Huwaida Arraf who was on each of the first three Free Gaza voyages.

She received her Juris Doctor from the American University in Washington D.C. and until recently was teaching Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Al Quds University in Jerusalem.

"Despite its high profile pullout of illegal settlements and military presence from Gaza in August-September 2005, Israel maintains 'effective control' over the Gaza Strip and therefore remains an occupying force with certain obligations," says Arraf. An occupying force has a duty to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population, as well as maintain hospitals and other medical services, "to the fullest extent of the means available to it" (Gevena Convention IV, arts. 55, 56). This includes protecting civilian hospitals, medical personnel, and the wounded and sick. "In addition, a fundamental principle of International Humanitarian Law, as well as of the domestic laws of civilized nations, is that collective punishment against a civilian population is forbidden (Geneva Convention IV, art. 33).

Israel is trying to convince the world that its siege of Gaza is a legitimate military tactic used by one state against a hostile/enemy entity. However, this is not the case. As an occupying power, Israel is responsible for the well-being of the occupied population and therefore its siege is not legitimate.

It is a collective punishment, strictly prohibited by Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and quite possibly, a war crime."

That's like saying no individuals should have locks on their doors because it's prejudicial against thieves and murderers. But I'll go along with it if the UN will tell the truth and call itself an anti-american organization.