* The present global political conditions will weaken traditional Israeli support abroad – except for the United States
* Puts unstable Palestine government in disarray
* Israel's action will creates more terrorism – not less
* Without a controversial long military occupation Israel's actions does not accomplish mission and objectives
* Israel and Hamas' actions undermines diplomacy
* Both Israel and Hamas' behavior infringe on human rights, political sovereignty (if officials are arrested like in previous Israeli raids)
* Moderate Palestinians support for radicals will become more pronounced because of anguish and need for security against Israel, which appears more malevolent than ever
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) the Israeli government has characterized the Gaza Strip as "hostile territory." The Israeli government reasons that by cutting off vital resources and inflicting collective punishment on Palestinians living in Gaza it won't increase support for terrorists opposed to Israel. But the million dollar question is this: Why do they think Gaza has grown so hostile? Could it be in part as a result of Israel's horrendous policy towards the Palestinian territories? Yes, Hamas has brought Gaza to a new low, but why should ordinary Palestinians pay such a high price?
Moreover, Israel's actions fly in the face of international law. Under international law, Israel is considered an occupying power in Gaza, even though it has removed its troops and settlers over the years. Denying civilians access to the necessities of life is considered collective punishment and a violation of international law under both the Hague and Geneva conventions. Yet one understands Israel's dilemma: it has to protect its people and deter and prevent any form of aggression that violates its borders. The easy way out would be to simply attack the Gaza Strip with the knowledge that Hamas has no way of repelling a ground invasion and occupation. In essence it is like shooting fish in a barrel – only it is not fish in the Gaza Barrel but real people 99% of them innocent of any aggression against Israel.
Hamas also needs to look at the damage it's doing to its own people, innocent Israelis, as well as its own political standing. If it ever wants legitimacy, it needs to recognize Israel. This can come through third party negotiations since Israel does not want, like it's Big United States Brother, to speak to terrorist organizations that both has designated as such. The United States has not been an honest, objective or impartial broker of the peace process and its blind, myopic and unwavering support for Israel has caused many moderate Arab leaders to be suspicious of its actions. The United States must know that principled criticism of a friend is what genuine honesty is about.
The United States political leadership must know that there are published reports in Israel that this new round of bombings has been in the works for over six months. And further that Israel only agreed to the cease fire to give its military time to reorganize after the disaster in South Lebanon. Moreover, it was not Hamas who broke the ceasefire but its rocket attacks were in response to a November 4, 2008 military attack by Israel in which six Hamas leaders were killed.
Thus, the present military operation has been launched by Israel not as an act of self-defense to relatively primitive Hamas "home-made" rockets but in pursuit of definite geopolitical aims and in response to its own internal political and social contradictions. The Public Relations attack portrays Israel as the holy and righteous defender and innocent, non-aggressive victim against a band of lethal terrorists lobbing rockets and killing innocent people. The western media, with very few exceptions, have failed to analyze, examine or present truthfully and objectively the situation on the ground for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic.
All have glossed over or failed to report the true nature of a brutal Israeli blockage that has left the Gaza Strip's 1.5 million people impoverished, hungry, without medical supplies, drinking water, electricity and other necessities of life. While glorifying the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and glowingly speaking about "God's chosen people" the United States and western media conveniently forget that the cease fire failed in its objective to alleviate the desperate living conditions of people in the Gaza Strip, because, as the ultimate controller, Israel simply tightened the noose around the Gaza Strip.
Finally, the Fox 5s, CNN, MSNBC et al never mention just how 1.5 million people became trapped in a little narrow strip of land making it one of the most densely populated places on earth for the past 60 years daily facing kidnappings, expulsions, summary executions, bulldozing of their homes, killing of innocent civilians, and having their lives controlled by an occupying force that can visit untold misery on them simply by closing its borders.
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