(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . So what is wrong with a ceasefire in Gaza? [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-26 It’s been awhile since I have posted anything here. I am not good at responding to comments, and I get far too angry at some of the back and forth. But I have been lurking here for years and do financially support the site. It is my go-to place for news. I also subscribe to the NYTimes, so as to have some idea of what the MSM is blathering about. But the situation in the Middle East weighs heavily on me. For years I have thought both this country, the US, and Israel value Israeli lives more than those of Palestinians. And I have thought that we, the US, reflexively backup the Israeli position. We are not a fair arbiter in these affairs,although we have claimed to be. I see us doing the same again today. This is one of the times that I do believe that Biden is NOT playing fair. (Generally I have been pleasantly surprised by his leadership...I label myself as a Progressive …. some Centrists would call me an extremist.) The fact that we are not calling for a ceasefire as Israel bombs Gaza to smithereens does not sit well with me. We do not call the Israelis to account when they commit pogroms against the West Bank Palestinians. I do believe Hamas committed truly heinous acts against the Israelis. However, I find it offensive when the Oct 7th attack is labeled ‘unprovoked.’That tells me how little the violations committed against the Palestinians register in this country. The occupation itself violates international law. The Israelis killed Rachel Corrie when she tried to save a Palestinian house. That registered in this country because she was an American defending Palestinian rights. Andyet the bulldozer blithely rolled over her. The NYTimes claimed that PM Netanyahu himself supported Hamas. I do believe that he thought the extremist and blood-thirsty Hamas served his nefarious purpose of undermining Palestinian rights. And Hamas played right into his hands. To him, the terror committed by Hamas justifies the Israeli attempt to visit a second Nakba on the Palestinians: to ethnically cleanse them from all of historic kingdoms of Judea and of Israel. Usually in this country, we claim we should back Israel as the ONLY democracy in the Middle East. However, Israel does NOT include everyone equally in their citizenry. Those of Jewish heritage are accorded premier status, while Palestinians are not. In other words, an apartheid state. Additionally,Israelis have done everything possible to upend a peaceful transition. A West Bank Israeli settler assassinated PM Rabin for championing and bringing forth the Oslo Accords. (And yes, a Muslim assassinated Anwar Sadat for making peace with Israel.) Also, AIPAC helped birth several state laws to undermine the BDS (Boycott, Divest,Sanctions) movement here in the US, a peaceful attempt to support and highlight the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Every attempt by Palestinians to promote their rights peacefully is undermined. I realize that Yasser Arafat left a long shadow. For years he encouraged suicide bombers and for years denied Israel’s right to exist. But he did relent and signed the Oslo Accords and finally did acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. The shoe is now on the other foot, as Israel fails to recognize Palestinian rights.Israel now visits a Holocaust on Palestinians in its bombing campaign. A ceasefire is so offensive to the Israelis that the their UN ambassador calls for the resignation of UN Secretary General Guterres for suggesting that the Oct. 7th attack may have been provoked. Specifically saying that acts “did not happen in a vacuum.” I fully agree with him and am appalled at Israeli intransigence. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/26/2201665/-So-what-is-wrong-with-a-ceasefire-in-Gaza?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/