Amnesty International says illegal detentions and torture have become commonplace in both Hamas-controlled Gaza and Fatah's West Bank stronghold.
It notes that the situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply since June when Hamas seized control by force. The UK-based group is calling for an independent investigation.
According to Amnesty, arbitrary detentions and the torture of opposition supporters have become widespread in the Gaza Strip where there have also been attacks on demonstrators and journalists covering such incidents.
But the report says human rights abuses are being committed in the West Bank too, by government security forces under the control of President Mahmoud Abbas against Hamas supporters.
No one really wants these abuses to continue but neither does anyone need another holocaust.
Despite Condi’s best efforts to destabilize Israel, it seems that Israel might not be under immediate threat yet:
UN Security Council Resolution 1559 orders the disbanding of Hizballah, in Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteEarly in Sept, 2007, the US army undertook to establish within six months, four Lebanese commando brigades trained to secure the regime against any foreign or domestic threat and be professional enough to take on the Iranian-backed Hizballah militia.
Nawaf Mussawi, one of the leaders of the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite movement, has threatened: “We will treat US soldiers in Lebanon like an army of occupation.”
It would also appear that for the first time since President Ronald Reagan pulled all US forces out of Lebanon, an American government is planning to build a number of military bases in the country around the hub of a big air base at Kleiat in the north, facing the Syrian border.
Hizbullah has 25,000 fully trained and armed militia in Lebanon, reportedly far superior to any in Iraq.
Iran will resist, via it's many proxies, any US moves in this area, even to the extent of sunni vs shia civil war, as in Iraq.
Lebanese chief of staff Gen. Michel Suleiman recently denied the existence of such US plans. However, on Monday, Oct. 22, the pro-Syrian Lebanese paper Al-Safir ran a story covering the American future establishment of military bases in Lebanon.
Marry the US moves with Tehran and Damascus being extremely pro-active in Lebanese military and political affairs, and you have a tinder dry powder keg. Then add in the much delayed Lebanese elections, now scheduled for Nov 12th, due to Syrian inspired assassinations of pro-western politicians, and the mixture becomes toxic.
I agree with the implied assumption that the US is turning cool on its relations with Israel, this has been apparent for a few years now, but whether, when the chips are down, this is for real, or whether it is a bargaining position, is hard to tell.
I strongly disagree with the proposition that Israel is not under immediate threat.
Quite where the US assumption of equivalence between the state of Israel, and the, cough, err, ahem, "civilisation" of "Palestinians"
which of itself is a contradiction of terms, derives from, I cannot even imagine. This is a prime example of a body of bio-mass totally incapable of even imagining statehood, whatever their aspirations.
The eternal regret must be that the Arab states never allowed in those moved by them years ago, and the existence of the serial murderer arafat, who actually was not even a "Palestinian". He was an Egyptian born militant who hijacked an entire people in order to become a (probable billionaire) and to fight the West using others blood!
I'm not sure you are right about this James. All that Rice has done is said that Israel should engage in peace talks with the Palestinians- which given the occupation from 1967 and the expulsion of 1948 is appropriate. I can't quite see what the objection is to this.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for Arafat he was born in Egypt- yup to Palestinian parents- but then again calling him Palestinian is like calling Shimon Peres Polish because he was born there. Sorry bit silly.
Condi is not heralding in the end of Israel, she is reiterating current Israeli policy. Israel is facing a demographic crisis within its own boarders, they need a separate Palestinian state to address this issue. Once formed it will give the Israelis the chance to expel a major proportion of its Arab population to the new Palestinian state.
ReplyDeleteOh, Gacchi,
ReplyDeleteNit picking again.
Doesn't nationhood follow place of birth where you are?
Why do you insist on looking a fool?
Millions of Israelis weren't born there, it was/is a resettlement/race thing.
What, and where, is the historical nation of "palestinians" for example? Which countries bordered Israel before the big dust-up, and who were the nations who told the populace to stand aside, - ermm, could they be the very nations who still hold their, ermm, "brothers" in refugee camps?? A people who over the years have become so brutalised by their stupid leaders, and Arab intransigence, that now Israel, the nation they turned their back on originally, is now expected to take them into their own population??
The archaeological evidence for the existence of semitic populations in this area is everywhere. Unfortunately religion reared its baleful presence, and as always the shit hits the fan.
I told you once before to grow a brain. James didn't agree, and removed it. Seems you didn't take my advice!
Wolfie.
ReplyDeleteSeems the Israelis have the same problem we will have in a few years.
Where do you reckon the refugee camps will hold the white minority? :-)
You underestimate the Anglo-Saxon spirit.
ReplyDeleteWolfie,
ReplyDeleteThe Anglo Saxons have yet to be convinced that there is a problem.
And that is the problem.
There's so little time....
Interesting to see how the marches go this weekend.
You near?
I'm hundreds of miles away.
Just thinking out loud here.
ReplyDeleteThe DNA profile doesn't begin to describe the person, for all practical uses beyond ID.
It's the way the genes express certain enzymes that is the tricky bit.
It may be useful if someone with a techie bent could keep an eye on the specifications of the RFID chips being trialled up and down the country.
Do any of your vast readership audience fit the bill, James?
Reading here with great interest.
ReplyDeleteVast readership? Took a mighty tumble this week. Don't think people like the heavy stuff.
Personal attacks - Tiberius is a friend of mine and though I welcome debate and don't even mind how heated it gets, the instant it gets personal, even mild ad hominem like "you fool", I give notice that I'll delete the comment.
I think someone like Wolfie and certainly myself - it's water off a duck's back but there are sensitive readers at this blog too.
I'm afraid I deleted one of the comments by Anon and now it's clear I'll have to run a post on the reasons.
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeletegentleman,
language reveals a lot. That is why I do focus on just this very sentence of Mr "Anonymous":
"This is a prime example of a body of bio-mass totally incapable of even imagining statehood, whatever their aspirations."
Do I need to emphazise?!
Just to make sure: "[...]a body of bio-mass [...]"
Sir, whoever you are, by these words you disguise your character.
In case you wish to deem me (also) a nitpicking fool: Sean Jeating is the heteronym for(of?) Hans-Reinhard Jessen.
And what's your name?
Come on, sir, courage!
[And in case you are the same "Anonymous" who recently left two messages on my blog ("Shit happens"): You have done a disservice to yourself.
. . .
James, sorry "to open my vizor" on your blog. :)
You're welcome, Sean.
ReplyDeleteAh, I see what you meant in the post on comments now. Agree with you, James.
ReplyDeleteDo you think there can ever be a solution in the ME? There is so much hate that I despair.