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It's been nearly two weeks now since the Israeli killer machine went on a rampage in Gaza.
- By Joseph Marques, Sub-Editor
- Published: 23:38 January 8, 2009
It's been nearly two weeks now since the Israeli killer machine went on a rampage in Gaza. After its aerial bombardments, the Jewish state launched a ground attack on civilian sites in the besieged Palestinian territory. More than 700 Palestinians were murdered in cold blood and nearly 3,000 injured by the savage Israeli war on Gaza. Despite the death and destruction, the silence of Western leaders and those of Arab and Muslim countries, is surprising. What is a matter of concern, however, is the growing call for a vendetta and revenge in the Arab streets. Even liberal commentators and analysts have taken a hardline view on the latest Israeli atrocities. And their numbers are growing. The cry to not forget and forgive the Israeli crime is echoed now throughout the world, even in many secular countries. Such a reaction shows that the tide is turning against Israel and its ally the US. If it grows into a flood, peace will evade the region. The shift in public opinion and the repercussions of the Israeli war on Gaza were pondered, analysed and commented on. We present excerpts of editorials from the regional and international press.
Commenting on the ground attack launched by Israel in Gaza, Saudi Arabia's Arab News termed it "Act two of the Gaza slaughter".
Criticising the silence of the West, and in particular the US, to the Israeli massacre of innocent Palestinians on the pretext of Hamas's breach of ceasefire, it stated that nobody bothers to think about the terms of the ceasefire violated by Israel. "One condition was that Israel would lift the penalising blockade it imposed on the Gaza Strip. Nobody bothers to ask how it is that Israel can impose such a blockade. Israel can collectively punish Gaza by imposing a blockade for electing a government not to its liking, only because the Gaza Strip happens to be under the occupation of the Jewish state despite the "disengagement" of Israeli troops. So the core issue is occupation, though US President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would not admit it. The core issue is a Nazi-like occupation, not Hamas, not one or two crude rockets falling on Sderot," it said.
Exposing the real motive of Israel's war on Gaza and the implications it will have on the region, it said: "The ground invasion may silence Hamas' weapons to some extent and for some time, but never the Palestinian voice. More and more Palestinians in the West Bank now realise that Israel's fight against Hamas is part of a broader war against the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza. If the West does not realise this and take some corrective action immediately, the West Bank may very soon go the Gaza way with much more tragic consequences."
Pointing out the high number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Jordan Times noted that no military objective justifies indiscriminate killing. Not even Israel's!
It called for effective international intervention, which it said was desperately needed. "Killing 40 people sheltering in a school, or tens of worshippers praying in a mosque is no attack on 'military' objectives. It is a heinous crime, genocide, pure and simple."
It warned Israel that its reckless military offensives will haunt it for decades to come. "There can be no peace in the region as long as Israel refuses to reach real peace with the Arab world on the basis of international legitimacy." Moreover, it said: "Time is not on the side of Israel, as it seems to believe. It missed many opportunities for peace in the past and unless it changes its siege and belligerent mentality, peace will elude it forever."
A similar view was expressed by Qatar's Gulf Times which said that Gaza's children will come to haunt Israel. "Whether Israel was provoked by Hamas or not is not the question here as most pro-Israeli 'experts' would like the world to believe. The nature of the aggression suggests that it has more to do with domestic Israeli politics where every party competes to be seen as more efficient and ruthless in dealing with the Hamas 'terrorists'.
At the same time, it also took a dig at the Arab world for not doing enough to rein in Israel. "The Arab world, meanwhile, seems to have no clue about what to do next. It's an all-too familiar story," it added.
As the clamour for Arab unity grows, Lebanon's Daily Star echoed the sentiments of Lebanese MP Walid Junblatt who first called for a unity of the Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah.
"Rhetorical signals have begun to indicate that the Israeli assault is serving as a crucible for rival Palestinian political forces, both in Palestine and here in Lebanon, but it will take more than words to forge a new era of unity. It will take a general recognition on both sides that they are in this together: If Hamas 'loses' in Gaza, Fatah loses, too, as do all Palestinians - and anyone else interested in a just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The differences between the two groups are profound, but they pale in comparison to the broad gulf separating the rights of the Palestinian people and Israeli policies designed to bludgeon them into submission," it said.
Japan's The Asahi Shimbun termed the international community "completely impotent to make an effective response to the situation" and said that the United Nations Security Council has been unable to adopt even a statement, let alone a resolution, to call for an immediate ceasefire. 'That's because of opposition from the United States, which backs Israel," it remarked.
Jamaica's Gleaner stated that it would not be possible for Israel to bomb an ideology. "What ought to be the enduring lesson of the last 60 years of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that it is near impossible to bomb an idea into oblivion and that the infliction of collective punishment is hardly ever successful in winning political goals."
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