78 people died at Glencoe and we still sing about it over three hundred years later. Over 700 have been massacred so far in Gaza, 80% of them innocent civilians. The UN Human Rights Commissioner has made the very obvious, the unarguable, point that there is prima facie evidence of war crimes by Israel. These include the killing of four young boys playing football on the beach at Gaza, and the use of industrial nail bombs in civilian areas.
Yet the UK refused to support even having an investigation. Please note this was not a vote to condemn Israel, or to declare war crimes. It was a vote to have an investigation.
I am ashamed to belong to the UK. Just as having served the UK for twenty years and having worked my way up to be a proud British Ambassador, I became so ashamed at our complicity in torture and extraordinary rendition, I had to resign.
I want to be part of a country of which I am not ashamed
Now imagine that board with Scotland on it and a green light next to it.
This is the British Foreign Secretary. He declares that Israel “has a right to defend itself” and that for the UN to investigate Israeli war crimes is “unhelpful”.
This man does not represent me, or anything about me. Nor, emphatically, does that flag behind him.
“It’s a travesty of justice; it’s a travesty of fairness; it’s a travesty of common sense; it’s a travesty of truth,” Netanyahu said.
His remarks came after the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) launched a commission on Wednesday to investigate Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/24/372612/netanyahu-slams-un-plan-to-probe-israel/
Kempe
24 Jul, 2014 – 4:27 pm
“I thought to abstain meant not expressing an opinion either way rather than opposing.”
You thought wrong Kempe.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
(Desmond Tutu)
Can the EU avoid complicity by actually doing somenting?
“To this day, the international community has not done enough to stop Israeli settlements. European countries have profoundly criticised them while continuing to co-operate fully with Israel, economically, politically and militarily. As a result, Israel does not pay any price for seriously violating international law. On the contrary, Europe also pays for much of the humanitarian damage of the occupation, making it even easier for Israel to maintain.
A year ago, the EU made a small step in the right direction: guidelines were issued prohibiting EU institutions to fund or to finance research organisations and activities in the settlements. Twenty European countries have published formal warnings to their citizens and companies regarding trade and financial relations with the settlements.
And yet, these measures do not seriously challenge Israeli policy in occupied Palestine. Europe could do much better as illustrated by its response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. It took the EU a few weeks – not years – to make its stance against Russian actions crystal clear. Just this week the EU has taken a further bold step in suspending the funding of new public-sector projects”
http://www.juancole.com/2014/07/sakharov-laureate-palestinians.html
Jews acting like Nazis, ISIS acting like Israelis……what kind of genuine ‘help’ can the worldwide community provide?
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/23/purged-by-isis-iraq-christians-appeal-to-world-for-help/
“Assyrian Christians, including Chaldean and Syriac Catholics, Syriac Orthodox and followers of the Assyrian Church of the East have roots in present day Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran that stretch back to the time of Jesus Christ. While they have long been a minority and have faced persecution in the past, they had never been driven completely from their homes as has happened in Mosul under ISIS. When the terror group ordered all to convert to Islam, pay a religious tax or face execution, many chose another option: flight.
“By 12 noon on Saturday, the Christians — all of them — left the city,” Yousif Habash, an Iraqi-born bishop of the Syriac Catholic Church, told FoxNews.com.
Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, included 60,000 Christians in 2003. By last month, the number had dwindled to just 35,000. It now stands at zero, according to Ignatius Yousef Younan III, patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church.”
Shame on Israel. Shame on the Jews.
Shame on them for not seeing the juxtaposition.
” If you are neutral in situations of injustice, ”
The intent is for the commission to determine if any injustices have been done. It might seem like an open and shut case but that demonstrates the bias and assumption of guilt the abstaining countries claimed not to have wanted in the draft.
Turbolol
Regardless of obfuscations of the zionist scum the world will remember; their war crimes, and crimes against humanity, as Pinochet was reduced to a blubbering idiot, so shall those rabid racists zionists shall be, when they are held accountable too. (yeah he was left free to pretend he was suffering from dementia! the fall of the butchers is always silent)
Those bent on stomping on any investigations in the hope of destruction of evidence of their crimes, forget that world has witnessed the inhumanity and appalling barbarous genocide of the zionist scum.
We all have come across the keyboard apology brigade and we know the extent of tacit acceptance of murder, land theft, war crimes. We shall remember!
Ben Has Obama had anything to say especially about today’s atrocity which I think is the most cruel so far? If he stood up to the Jewish lobby and turned off the tap which spews out taxpayers’ dollars by the billion, Israel would collapse like a soufflé.
~~~
This is an interview with Ilan Pappé – today’s date.
http://zcomm.org/znetarticle/making-sense-of-gaza-an-interview-with-ilan-pappe/
About him http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilan_Papp%C3%A9
‘Now imagine that board with Scotland on it and a green light next to it.’
Craig- as Ron/Phil/Geoffrey et al have pointed out this is pure wishful thinking on your part.
BTW I’ve just seen Jon Snow on C4 attempt at interview with with an Israeli spokesman about the attack on the UN school. The spokesman tried to muddy the waters by saying that Hamas mortars aimed at Israeli tanks may have ‘fallen short’.
Even in the unlikely event that this is true, surely if you have hundreds of foreign tanks rampaging around your country you have ‘the right to defend yourself’- a right Israeli spokesmen have claimed for themselves again and again in recent weeks.
Passerby – I agree about the signs, but the timing of these matters like financial markets is not easily predicted. My point was that when there is a vacuum we tend to fall not rise.
George Gurdjieff in one of the more easily read chapters of Belezebub’s Tales wrote
“I never yet met that idiot who, accustomed to shuffle in a pair of old shoes, would feel comfortable in smart new ones” –
that at least the old ruling class usually have the habit of ruling, whereas those newly attained to power lack even the automatic ability to rule.
I accept that those now in power also lack even the automatic ability to rule.
Jesus said: “Be a passer by.
Mary;
Obama is busy with fund-raisers for the mid-terms this Fall. I’m sure he will have some sort of platitude to offer at a Presser.
‘massacre’ mostly impacting children
…Jon Snow on C4 attempt at interview with with an Israeli spokesman about the attack on the UN school. The spokesman tried to muddy the waters by saying that Hamas mortars aimed at Israeli tanks may have ‘fallen short’.
Just heard Regev depositing that one on R4. Wonder what Israeli tanks were doing in the vicinity of the centre? Defending Israel, naturally. And it’s hard to see from the images* so far available what possible use the round in question would have been against a tank. There isn’t a big crater, and the blast seems to have been symmetrical.
*claimed images. Site cleaned completely, leaving only impact area visible.
http://www.trust.org/item/20140724164058-svcjf/?source=search
And note:
…..military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said the military had urged the U.N. and the Red Cross to evacuate the school for three days leading up to the incident.
The U.N. said it was trying to do just that when the school was hit. Agency spokesman Chris Gunness said the U.N. had asked the Israeli military for a lull in fighting to allow for the school’s evacuation but did not hear back. Why not?
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/gaza-fighting-rages-amid-cease-fire-efforts-24690044
ON IT today….http://internationaltimes.it/messages-from-gaza/
Germany calls the shots in the EU, not the UK, and its history means it will never question Israel, no matter what the circumstances. Germany and the USA have the economic might to get their way on whatever they want, and they would make sure an independent Scotland fell into line, just as they do with the UK.
Mary
You include in your denunciation of Baroness Amos the observation “No time for marriage or children.”
_____________________
Are you critical of people who are unmarried and without children in general, or just in the case of Baroness Amos?
***************
And while you’re replying, perhaps you could just tell us whether you were married to a widower or divorcee and whether you have your own children or just step-children?
Ron
“I like the idea of a proud Scotland voting in favour of an investigation and maybe generally being on the right side. Problem is, what evidence does anyone have that the new Scottish state won’t simply fall in line with prevailing views? Note all the EU members voted as one (excuse me if I missed something, but that’s how it looked to me).”
____________________________
I fear that you’re correct: there is coordination between EU Member States before UN votes.
To be noted that an independent Scotland would wish to remain a member of the EU.
“Germany calls the shots in the EU,”
I see that now. How does the proscribed competition articles jibe with that? France and London don’t seem happy.
Yes
“I sometimes wonder whether anti-Zionists might apply en masse for citizenship of countries which do not stand idly by letting the ‘elephant in the dining room’ murder one Arab child every three days for 15 years and get their disgusting puppets to insist that they “have a right to defend themselves”. Countries such as Bolivia, Veneuzela, and of course Palestine itself.”
______________________
I really do think you’re into something qith your suggestion.
And look forward to hearing from the Eminences whether they have given, or will give, serious consideration to that suggestion as far as they themselves are concerned. Mary? Ba’al? MJ? Anyone else?
Ben.
24 Jul, 2014 – 5:56 pm on Ceasefire-My Arse thread.
“…Maybe now that their ox is being gored…”
It seems, while our Government representatives kepp their eyes shut tight and absrain from investigating the high explosive, industrial scale massacre ongoing in Gaza, at least Navi Pillay is stirring at last…
“…the actions of one party do not absolve the other party of the need to respect its obligations under international law….
Civilian homes are not legitimate targets, unless they are being used for, or contribute to, military purposes at the time in question.”
Also Kyung-wha Kang, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs referring to attacks on medical facilities and staff…
…“such action is completely unacceptable and is a flagrant violation of international law…”
Time for a return to the Geneva Convention?
Here are a few key points for slow learners.
“Sey elements of the Hague and Geneva Conventions
Unlawful Targets
The attack of noncombatants and protected
property is illegal.
Lawful Targets
Combatants- a combatant is any one engaging in hostilities in an armed conflict on behalf of a party to the conflict.
Military Objectives- A combatant, a dependent place, and those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use, make an effective contribution to military action.
Incidental Injury and Collateral Damage- Unavoidable and unplanned damage to civilian personnel and property incurred while attacking a military objective.
NONCOMBATANTS
CIVILIANS
WOUNDED AND SICK
HORS DE COMBAT
PRISONERS OF WAR
PARACHUTISTS OF DISABLED AIRCRAFT
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
CHAPLAINS
JOURNALISTS
Please take note Kempe.
Oops!
Key elements…
Craig
“But why you think that where Craig Murray lives has any impact on the viability of a Scottish state I cannot tell.”
____________________
Abe Rene, in his post at 10h07, makes no mention of the “viability” of a Scottish state, whether in relation to where you live or otherwise.
sofia; Lots of words issued from the Mountain, but when will Moses smash the tablets? 🙂
Seriously. Is the UN a paper tiger?
BINGO! Quartet Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair has surfaced! In Vietnam….
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Prime-Minister-receives-Former-British-PM-Tony-Blair/20147/53146.vnplus
Advising is so lucrative. Tony is expected, at least by a Seychellois source*, to be in China from the 25th. Don’t talk about the oil rigs, Tony. Bill Clinton will also be there. China banned his wife’s book recently.
*dated 16th. A later report on the 19th omits his name.
Won’t you join another discussion, sofia?
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/07/23/blacklisted/#comments
Craig
“But I believe that the departure of Scotland will be a massive kick to the English political system, that makes people realise change is possible. Those in England who want more than a choice between four neo-con parties I believe stand to gain from the vigorous shaking of the kaleidoscope that Scottish independence will give.”
___________________
I had no idea that Alec Salmond was such a kind person.
Although what you believe may (or may not) happen, you are surely not suggesting that this is one of the motivations for, or objectives of, Scottish independence?
Come to think of it, you could also argue that if Scotland and the Scottish were such humane, reasonable and honest entities, they would do better to remain as part of the UK and thereby influence UK policies in the direction you would like?
A little bit like the various pro-EU people who say that it is only from within the EU that the UK can influence the direction of EU policies?
At least 15 killed by Israeli shelling of Gaza school; toll exceeds 760
Unpleasant anti-Hamas propaganda included in tonight’s episode of The Honourable Woman. I have not seen any previous in the series.
The script is full of leading words like terrorists…scuttling around in their cellars..
we do not deal with Hamas….these people…. etc etc
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/jul/23/honourable-woman-great-show-dated-opening-credits
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bwqzv
Hugo Blick Writer/Producer/Director
Abi Bach Producer
Harry Bannerman
“It’s rather like Poland in that regard, whose prime function is to ensure there is no unity between Russia and Europe.”
_____________________
An interesting thought, Harry.
Would you say that this is just a modern function or did it also apply to pre-partition Poland? Or also to pre-WW2 Poland?
Abi Bach (producer, or ‘investor) is shown as an Anglo/Israeli, Mary.