Monday, November 30, 2020

Why should Japanese consider nuclear bombing as needed?!

One day, I attended a meeting at the Tokyo university in Japan. My topic of speech was not political but something happened that made me to react. A well known PhD student who was also a faculty member was talking about the nuclear bombing of Japan.


They commemorate the victims but nobody has the right to say a word against America. Nobody has even the right to question who did the bombing. Just commemorating, that's all..

We can not judge!

Then I asked: Who did the bombings so that you commemorate the victims? Do you consider it as a good event or oppression..?
He officially replied: "Yes America did it, but indeed it must have been needed to be done and we can not judge."

Little Boy Bomb!

This is how they are fooled. Rather saying that: "they mass murdered a whole nation; 400.000 innocent people, in a moment and turned them to dust! using a bomb called 'Little Boy'" "Never say who did it!" They say: They never condemn America in none of their commemorations. This is how USA has taken over the Japan... Read more in the above video.
explosion of the atom bomb Hiroshima, Japan
I'm back after 10 years ;)

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Do Americans trust in US media ?

The following is the transcript of Press TV's discussion with Co-Director of International Action Center Sara Flounders, British Journalist Richard Millett and the western regional coordinator of “Act Now to Stop War and End Racism” (ANSWER) Coalition, Richard Becker on Israel's declining popularity in the US.



Press TV: The proportion of Americans who think Israel is committed to peace has dropped sharply since December 2007.

Just a few weeks after the Annapolis peace conference, 66 percent of respondents said the coalition headed by the then-prime minister Ehud Olmert was committed to peace. Now, in July 2010, in the latest figures that have been reported, it is less than half of Americans -- 49 percent.

In your view, what are the main reasons for this decline?

Millett: I think we have got to be careful with this poll because, the Israel Project [Organization] hasn't actually released this poll yet, it has only been reported by Ha'aretz, and we do not know the samples, we don't know who has been asked in the samples, and how big the sample is. It was polled by Stanley Greenberg who is a left wing democratic pollster. So, that would have a bearing on the result.

Now, taking these results at face value, having said all that; yes, if it is true, then only 39 percent are favoring [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu over [former Israeli prime minister] Ehud Olmert at 66 percent. I think that Ehud Olmert went much further in his time with trying to -- as you spoke about the Annapolis peace process -- go towards peace, and starting it up.

It was not successful, it ended in a terrible Gaza War, and the Israelis voted in Netanyahu; there was a swing to the right. At the moment, I think the Israelis are more interested in security, there is an interest in peace, but security is at the top of the list. I think it has just been announced today by the Americans, that they are going to announce, a timetable for direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians as opposed to these proximity talks that are taking place.

Press TV: How important is American public opinion specifically, when it comes to US-Israeli relations and when it comes to how Israel is conducting itself in the Middle East as a whole?

Flounders: Well, of course, Israel could not exist one day, one hour, without the billions and billions of dollars that the US pumps into Israel militarily and economically. And the political and diplomatic support that it is giving unstintingly and the enormous support from US corporations and the US military industry, which can turn over these weapons, paid for by US tax dollars.

But the support for Israel is actually probably much lower than these polls from Ha'aretz. If they did a poll of college campuses in the US, or young people in the US today, the figures would be much, much lower. If they did it among those who are actively engaged in political movements of course, the support for Israel is completely collapsing because of the crimes that Israel has committed, that the world knows, against the Palestinian people.

So, that basis of support will continue to erode and that is despite the role of the US media to always give enormously favorable coverage to Israel and always to link the Palestinian people -- and especially the population of Gaza, totally surrounded and besieged, but to always link this population -- with terrorism.

So, the unequal coverage of the US media nevertheless is no longer able to sell Israel in a favorable light to a population here that is in desperate need of jobs, health care, that sees schools closing. There is more conscious opposition to giving billions -- a blank check-- to Israel.

Press TV: During the Gaza war at the turn of 2009, in England for example, there were many protests against the BBC's coverage. We didn't see that kind of protesting in America. Therefore is it surprising to see that so few Americans actually trust American media outlets, TV, news and newspapers?

Millet: Well, this wasn't a war on Gaza, this was a war on Hamas, this was a war against a terrorist organization that fired 7-8 thousand rockets into southern Israel and the rockets were getting closer to Tel Aviv, so this wasn't a war against the Palestinian people, this was a war against Hamas, specifically.

America and Americans generally identify with Israel. The amount of support that America gives to Israel washes its face and America gets back a lot of intelligence, [America] tests a lot of its equipment, unfortunately, in the heat of battle, which Israel has to do.

These statistics, you talk about 49 percent say that there is no need to support Israel, 51 percent therefore say they do need to support Israel. Now, what does 'need for support mean? It is a very ambiguous term -- to need to support.

If you go back at past recent polls, you are looking at 67 percent actually support Israel. And there is a huge swathe of support across most of America, not on the Liberal side but you have got the Christian Evangelical. There are 50-70 million Christian Evangelicals who are staunch supports of Israel in America and this is something that is not going to change.

And we have got to remember that this economic aid that you talk about is also given in billions to the Palestinian people, to Saudi Arabia, to Egypt -- well not necessarily to Saudi Arabia, it is obviously a rich country, but there is support there we are seeing the same sort of support given to Egypt. So you can't just look at Israel in isolation and specifically the Palestinians are supported very much as well.

I think I agree with you in the economic times, like we are seeing at the moment, is something I don't blame the Americans questioning where this money is going to.

Becker: That is an Israeli government point of view being represented there. I think what Richard Millet is saying is really the propaganda line of the Israeli government in regards to what happened, particularly what happened in Gaza, where the casualty ratio was 100:1.

It (the Gaza War) was a war against the entire population, which is the way that all of the Israeli wars have been carried out; with no regard whatsoever for the Palestinian population or the civilian population in other Arab countries. And then you hear from the Israeli officials a line that they are the most moral… that they are "the most moral army in the world."

This is sheer, big lie, propaganda and what happened there in Gaza and what has been left out of Mr. Millets presentation is the economic strangulation…the bombings, the targeted assassinations that went on year after year after year. And all we hear from him (Millet) is about what caused the war was the missiles that were fired from inside Gaza.

This was not a war against just one group, this was a war against the entire Palestinian population, a continuation of a war against the entire Palestinian population which has been going on now for more than sixty years and has resulted in the dispossession of the Palestinians, a dispossession that continues on the West Bank day after day.

Press TV: Mr. Millet, what we did see, whether you want to call it the Gaza War or as you say 'the war against Hamas,' or an offensive against Hamas, what we did see was public opinion across the world, including in America, we saw more protests than we have ever seen against any action by Israel, whether legitimate or not, we saw protests across Europe, we saw protests in America. It does seem that people increasingly believe that Israel's actions were not legitimate, they were not called for, that is something we are seeing reflected in these polls.

Millet: Well, I don't blame people coming up to protest. I mean what we saw during the attack, the war that took place in Gaza was horrific. You know, we were seeing on our televisions screens. But there was a reason why Israel had to go do what it did and this was because of the Hamas attack on Israel and in last five years, no one mentioned it, whilst these rocket attacks were taking place and coming into Israel. And there are reasons unfortunately why wars take place and Israel specifically targeted Hamas.

Flounders: Well, this is exactly why Israel is increasingly isolated today. In every sense it is exactly this line that is the reason that Israel is really the focus of such outrage and anger by people all over the world and increasingly here in the US. And it is also the reason why the US media is losing its credibility. It is standing its hold on its population here because the media pushes, twenty-four hours a day seven days a week US support for wars, whether it is in Iraq or Afghanistan or its support [for] Israel.

And increasingly the population here, facing real problems of a growing steady unemployment, of school closings, of a health crisis, is not buying it. And it really means that, as these polls show the growing institutions of the US today have less hold, less credibility with the average person because they only promote war and they only promote divisions. It is actually very encouraging that 50 percent of the media can see through this. That is really heartening if you really think about it, in a media that promotes war all the time.

Press TV: Mr. Millet touched upon the Christian Evangelical community in America, a huge community, a very powerful lobby as well. They have always been very supportive of Israel and it is very interesting that we are actually seeing statistics here that there are large proportion of American society that do support Israel, those proportions are much higher than those for example who trust the media.

Therefore where is this coming from, this trust, because many people say the media plays a big role in these lies or delusions?

Flounders: Yes, exactly, this is exactly true. The media plays a big role in promoting, whether it is the Tea Party or publicizing all across the country that disgusting Evangelical organization in Florida, calling for September 11 Burn the Quran Day. What an outrage, the protests in New York City against the building of a mosque and an Islamic center in lower Manhattan, near the World Trade Center, and now the response is coming overwhelmingly to these right wing bigoted hate groups that are promoted by the media. There is a whole growing coalition responding to the demonstrations and the protest plan on September 11 saying 'no lets end the hate and stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, stand against war and stand against the promotion of war.'

And so that kind of resistance, that kind of resistance on a big scale is going to be felt more and more among people who do not buy the lies from the US media and consciously seek a way to make their voice heard.

Press TV: Mr. Becker, with so few people trusting the media it would seem that many people are still influenced by it because you do see its impact, whether we are talking about the Tea Party movement even if it is Burn the Quran Day on September 11. What is the difference now between the people who actually trust in the media and the people who are impacted by it and whose thinking is influenced by what the American media says?

Becker: Well, I think one thing that needs to be pointed out is that even the people who are getting a lot of their media information, news information and the internet are getting it from the mainstream sources… so the mainstream media, the corporate media, the pro-Pentagon, pro-militarist media is still the dominant force among the media.

But what has happened and what is a big difference is that now people have access to many other forms of media and I think this is very clear. More and more are turning to other explanations to what is going on in the world and in the country. And that is a very encouraging development.

But still, it is very true that in the mainstream media, whether you read an Associated Press story on the newspaper or you read it online and that is just giving one example among many, the assurance that the United States is reaping its policies of aggression, of war, of militarism, of support for the state of Israel and for its other policies around the world, the idea that is conveyed in the media, in those media reports is still the same.

But we can see that that media is being chipped away at in a very serious way and that there is a mobilization of the people, like at the time of 2009 war against Gaza, there were thousands of protests inside the United States against the genocidal Israeli attack on Gaza.

Press TV: Mr. Millet, in essence what we are talking about then, is a widening of the scope of media that is available and that there are different points of view coming through.

Does the American media in particular reflect enough of these different points of view as one of the problems, that is, it doesn't do that. For example it talks much about Hamas, and its militancy sense and then says that they are a terrorist organization and it never does provide the other side of the story, which whether one agrees on or not, does exist.

Millet: Well, I think you get very critical newspapers in America about Israel, The New York Times and The Washington Post. But you know, to a certain extent, newspapers reflect the constituency in their readers and to go back to what I was saying, there is an identification with what is going on in the Middle East, support for Israel, support for what is happening in Afghanistan and so I think there is wide support still for Israel, whatever we have said before, my two colleagues talking on this program [Flounders, Becker] might not like it but it is a fact and as you said it yourself , there is huge Christian Evangelical support…

Flounders: Well, the US media and the institutions that support Israel are in every way losing their hold on the population in the US. So, US Corporate Rule is more and more dependent on military solutions; wars all over the world hundreds of bases, much stepped up political repression at home.

The largest prison population in the world is right now in the US; along with secret detentions and round ups and kidnappings, all of this is a sign that the media as a form of persuasion, is losing its hold, and US Corporate Rule is based more on political and military repression and that makes them extremely vulnerable because there is no government in the world and Israel should recognize this, that they are losing the support right here (in the US) because people increasingly stand with and sympathize with the Palestinian people. And they are also not willing to see Muslim people around the world so relentlessly targeted in the most bigoted and racist ways which happen in the media all the time, that is why the media is losing its support.

Refrence: PressTV

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Iran's Satellite Safir-2 Omid (Videos Pics News)


Iran reacts to attacks on sat launch
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:34:10 GMT


Tehran dismisses concerns over its recent launch of a domestic satellite, saying its space advancement serves no military purpose.

"This is a scientific and technical achievement and has no military aim," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters on Wednesday.


On Tuesday, Iran placed its Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian) satellite into orbit by Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2, ushering in an era of independence in its space program in commemoration of the Islamic Revolution's 30th anniversary.


Qashqavi says the Omid satellite does not serve military purposes.

Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid has an elliptical orbit of a minimum of 250 kilometers (156 miles) and maximum 400 kilometers.

The lightweight telecommunications satellite is equipped with remote sensing, satellite telemetry and geographic information system technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.

Omid is a research satellite that has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for one to three months, Omid will return to earth, returning with data that will help Iranian experts send an operational satellite into space.

While the successful satellite placement was celebrated as an important achievement in Iran, world powers immediately set alarm bells ringing over the issue.

France, Germany, Britain and the United States have all claimed that the move is cause for "great concern".

Western reaction to the satellite launch came just ahead of Wednesday's scheduled meeting in Germany of senior diplomats from the P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- which will discuss Iran's nuclear program.

"Developing a space launch vehicle that ... could put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," said US State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, has taken a softer tone on Iran.


Speaking after a meeting with British Foreign Minister David Miliband in Washington, Clinton said, "It is clear that... Iran has an opportunity to step up and become a productive member of the international community."

"As President Obama said, we are reaching out a hand [to Iran] but the fist has to unclench," she continued.

Iran has become the 8th country to have put a domestically-built satellite into orbit. Tehran also plans to send its first astronaut into space by 2021.

The Iranian aerospace achievement comes as the country has been subject to sanctions for nearly 30 years. The sanctions cut Iran's access to a long list of goods, including spare parts for passenger planes and even various medicines.


SF/JG/AA


Related News:


Iran puts sat into orbit for 1st time

Iran defends Sat launch amid West ire
Iran space breakthrough ruffles feathers in US

Omid satellite orbits earth 23 times









Kharazmi awarded for Iran space triumph

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:50:14 GMT


Two Iranian officials have won awards at the International Kharazmi Festival as Tehran takes its space program to the next level.

The award was bestowed to Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar and Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi for their help in the promotion of the aerospace industry, Press TV correspondent Gisoo Misha Ahmadi reported.



Iran's Safir-2 rocket carried the Omid satellite into orbit earlier on Tuesday.

Press TV received confirmation earlier on Tuesday that the first domestic Iranian satellite Omid had been placed into orbit via two homemade carrier rockets.

The completion of the semi-domestic research satellite Mesbah is another recent achievement of Iranian aerospace experts.

Mesbah, which is ready for launch into outer space, has been equipped with a store and forward communications receiver that can gather information from various parts of the planet and transmits it back to earth.

696 domestic and 156 foreign projects from 42 countries participated in the international event and competed for the prestigious Kharazmi award.

Named after a famous Iranian mathematician, Kharazmi awards were presented for 25 domestic and 13 foreign scientific projects.

Iran hopes to take great leaps in space technology in the coming decade with plans to send an astronaut into space by 2021.

NAT/AA


Leader congratulates Iran on Omid sat

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:05:23 GMT


The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has congratulated the Iranian nation on the launch of the country's first domestic research satellite.

In a Tuesday letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei praised Iranian scientists for their diligence, saying, “This achievement testifies to the hope the revolution has brought for the Iranian nation.”





Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei





Iran placed its first domestic research satellite into orbit via two carrier rockets early on Tuesday.

Omid - meaning 'Hope' in Persian - was sent into space by Iran's domestically built satellite carrier Safir 2. Safir 2 is an upgraded model of carrier Safir 1.


President Ahmadinejad in a congratulatory message to the Iranian nation said, “The efforts of the children of Iran have made possible putting the Omid satellite into orbit... May this be a step toward... justice and peace.”

The Omid research satellite has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment.

AR/HGH





Iran defends Sat launch amid West ire

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:19:28 GMT


Iran has dismissed Western concerns over the launch of its domestically-made satellite, insisting the breakthrough is one of peaceful nature.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday that Iran's space-related achievements are in line with the country's legal needs and requirements.

“Satellites are essential in gathering information on environmental, technological, agricultural, climatic, and economic developments,” the Iranian official said.






Iran has
successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit





“It is interesting how some countries believe they alone are entitled to space-related achievements,” he continued, adding that all countries have the right to reap the benefits of scientific breakthroughs.

Mottaki asserted that there is no reason for concern, because Iran has proved that aggression has no place in its military doctrine over the past century.

“In the past 100 years, Iran has proved its commitment to world peace and has never instigated an assault against any country by any means,” said Mottaki.

Iran's data-processing 'Omid' satellite was sent into space on Tuesday, in commemoration of the Islamic Revolution's 30th anniversary.

Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid has an elliptical orbit of minimum of 250 kilometers (156 miles) and maximum 400 kilometers.

While the satellite's successful takeoff was celebrated as an important achievement in Iran's aerospace industry, it was immediately met with Western scrutiny and skepticism.

France, Germany, Britain and the United States have all claimed that the move is cause for “great concern”.

"Developing a space launch vehicle that ... could put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," said State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood.

Iran is the 9th country to put a domestically-built satellite into orbit since the Soviet Union launched the first in 1957.

Iran's achievement comes as the country has been under Western sanctions for nearly 30 years. The sanctions deprive Iran from a long list of goods including spare parts of passenger planes and even different kinds of medicine.

SBB/DT

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Iranian's New Satellite: Iran puts Sat into Orbit


Iran puts sat into orbit for 1st time

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:32:42 GMT

Iran has placed a domestic research satellite into orbit for the first time, ushering in an era of independence in its space program.

Press TV has received confirmation that the first domestic Iranian satellite has been placed into orbit via two carrier rockets.





Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian) was sent into space by the Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2 early on Tuesday, Press TV correspondent Saman Kojouri reported from the launching site. Safir 2 is an upgraded model of carrier
Safir 1.


Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid will transmit information to and from earth while orbiting the planet 15 times per day.

The lightweight telecommunications satellite is equipped with remote sensing, satellite telemetry and geographic information system technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.

Omid is a research satellite that has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for one to three months, Omid will return to earth, returning with data that will help Iranian experts send an operational satellite into space.

Omid carries experimental satellite control devices, communications equipment and power supply systems to a distance of 250 to 350 kilometers from the earth's atmosphere.





The Safir 2 satellite carrier before the launch on February 3


The launch of Omid comes amid celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In a Tuesday message, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated the nation on the new aerospace achievement.

"Dear people of Iran, your children have sent Iran's first domestic satellite into orbit... May this be a step toward... justice and peace," he said. "Iran's official presence in space has been added to the pages of history."

In August 2007, Tehran announced plans to carry out the domestic satellite launch after testing its first domestically-produced satellite carrier Safir 1.


Head of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, Reza Taqipour, told Press TV that Iran has plans to put a series of satellites into orbit by 2010 that will improve national disaster management programs and the country's telecommunications network.

Omid is the third Iranian-made satellite to be sent into space. Russia launched Iran's first satellite in 2005. Three years later, another satellite, which had been jointly designed by Iran, China and Thailand, was also sent into orbit. So far, only eight countries have launched domestically-made satellites into orbit.


The recent completion of the semi-domestic research satellite Mesbah is another success added to the accomplishments of Iranian aerospace experts.

Mesbah, which is ready for launch into outer space, has been equipped with a store and forward communications receiver that gathers information from various parts of the planet and then forwards the transmission.

Iranian scientists have also finished designing a satellite called Besharat, which is to be launched in a joint effort with the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Tehran also plans to send its first astronaut to space by 2021.

MJ/JG/AA

Related News :





Iran gears up for first satellite launch

Iran to conquer space within 10 years


Iran launches satellite carrier into space

Safir 1 'a new peak' for Iran




Iran gears up for first satellite launch


Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:51:23 GMT

Iranian scientists prepare for a new stage of the space program, with only weeks remaining before the country's first satellite launch.

Iran first announced plans to carry out a domestic satellite launch in September 2007 after testing its first domestically-produced satellite carrier, Safir 1.





Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad receives overview of the Omid satellite, February 4, 2008


At that time, the Head of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, Reza Taqipour, told Press TV that the launch of the Safir 1 was the first step toward sending the Iranian-made telecommunications satellite, Omid (Hope) into orbit.

In recent comments, however, Taqipour pointed to a more accurate deadline, announcing that Omid is just weeks away from launch.

"The satellite will be launched into space by the end of the year [the Iranian calendar year that ends on March 20], that is if no complications or changes in schedule occur," Taqipour told ISNA.

Omid is a research satellite that has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for one to three months, Omid will return to earth, bringing back data with it that will help Iranian experts send an operational satellite into space.








Head of Iran's Aerospace Organization Reza Taqipour


Omid will carry experimental satellite control devices, communications and digital equipment, and power supply systems, to a distance of around 250 to 350 kilometers from the earth's atmosphere.

Completion of the semi-domestic research satellite, Meshbah, is another recent achievement of Iran's aerospace experts.

Mesbah, which is ready for launch into outer space, has been equipped with a store and forward communications receiver that can gather information from various parts of the planet and then transmit it back to a certain position.

According to Taqipour, Iranian scientists have also finished designing a satellite called Besharat, which is to be launched in a joint effort with the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Taqipour said that the Aerospace Organization would soon send the details of the design to OIC countries to receive their suggestions and find out exactly to what extent each state plans to participate in the project.

Iran hopes to take great leaps in space technology in the coming decade, with plans to send an astronaut into space by 2021.

MJ/JG/DT




Iran to conquer space within 10 years


Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:08:18 GMT





The head of Iran's Aerospace Organization says the country has plans to send its first astronaut to space within the next decade.

Reza Taqipour, head of the organization, said Wednesday that the date for the first Iranian spaceman's trip to outer space would be set within the next six to twelve months.









Iran's satellite carrier, Safir 1


Iran, according to Taqipour, seeks to become the first country in the region to acquire space technology by the year 2021 - which is equivalent to the year 1400 in Iranian Calendar.

The report comes after Iran on Sunday successfully test-launched its first homemade satellite carrier, Safir 1, capable of putting lightweight satellites into low earth orbit.

The launch of Safir 1 tested remote sensing, satellite telemetry, and geographic information system (GIS) technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.

Taqipour added that Iran plans to put its first satellite, nicknamed Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian), into orbit within the next twelve months.

MD/HGH/MMN

Friday, January 23, 2009

23 proofs of Israel's defeat in the 23-day war


23 proofs of Israel's defeat in the 23-day war
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:40:32 GMT

By Sami al-Habib, Press TV


Israel began its Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008, an almost three-week long bloodbath which killed or wounded thousands of civilians.

Taking into consideration the lessons the regime learned from its defeat in the
summer 2006 war against the Lebanese Hezbollah, Tel Aviv avoided setting out any specific objectives for its military operation in a bid to enable it to claim victory after the conflict ended.

The Israeli military initially presumed that it could settle its old score with
Hamas and crush the movement in a matter of days. Relying on the support of some Arab states which viewed Hamas's defeat as a blow to Iran, the regime, therefore, took the opportunity provided by the transitional period in the White House and escalated its bombing campaign into a full-blown ground offensive to kill Hamas leaders once and for all.




People rally in support of Hamas in Gaza after the war.

The plan, however, blew up in the face of its masterminds; everything spiraled out of control and the Israeli Army found itself stuck in a quagmire. Subsequently, the leaders of the Kadima Party who were on the brink of political bankruptcy and had resorted to the plan to save themselves ahead of the general elections, had to hastily find a way to clean up the mess.

They unilaterally declared a truce to break the deadlock while disguising their
military failure as a humanitarian act.

However, Israeli military and political officials interestingly are still boasting
about a decisive victory over Hamas. The reality on the ground proves the opposite;
it indicates a defeat more humiliating than what the regime suffered in the 33-day war.

Israel was ,without doubt, the loser because:

1- From the military perspective, "the most powerful" army in the Middle East which faced only a militia group hardly advanced into the Gaza Strip's urban areas. It faced fierce resistance and realized that the price of any military victory would be too high.

2- At the beginning of the operation, Israel announced that the operation was aimed at preventing rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups against Israeli towns. Palestinians, however, continued striking Israeli targets, even in the last hours of the war.

3- Hamas extended the range of its rockets and managed to hit targets as far away as 60 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. In fact, the Israeli operation helped Hamas boost its military might.

4- In the course of killing civilians, the Israeli regime set up a factory for producing living time bombs which will jeopardize the security situation for Israel. Civilian casualties in any conflict always radicalize members of bereaved families. Following the massacre of civilians in Gaza, it is more likely that those Palestinians who adopted a nonviolent approach to resist the Israeli occupation, will now turn to military tactics. Keep in mind that many of them have noting to lose.

5- Israel hastily signed an agreement with the US-a third party which was not directly involved in the war-to prevent "the arm smuggling" into the Gaza Strip. The deal envisaged measures to prevent Hamas from rearming, going so far as to for example seek US assistance in policing sea routes to Gaza and providing Egypt with the equipment to destroy smuggling tunnels along its border with the coastal sliver. This was however nothing but a propaganda tactic to persuade public opinion that the war had had some achievements. Shin Bet's announcement that Hamas will be able to rearm within a few months supports this notion. The Israeli media has also revealed that Washington has given no guarantees to Tel Aviv that Hamas would not be rearmed.


6- Hamas has vowed to restore its arsenals, dealing a blow to Israeli officials
who claim that the movement has been "punished" and it knows that it cannot continue its armed campaign against Israel.

7- No high-ranking Hamas leader, except Said Siyam, was killed in the Israeli operation.
In fact, it is estimated that out of more than thousands of victims of the Israeli
offensive, only 95 people were Hamas members and most of them were killed on the first day of the attack when Hamas was caught off guard due to alleged betrayal of some Arab states.

8- Israel's defeat by a small group has shattered the image of an invincible army
that overpowered the army of several Arab nations in 1967. It would not be surprising if Israel's arch foes were encouraged to settle their old score with the regime after its recent defeat. No matter what you have in your arsenals, you are considered the loser if you have been defeated in your enemy's mind. Israel seems to have entered the spiral of decline.

9- From the political perspective, Israel's situation is not any better than the
one in the military arena. For the first time, two Israeli ambassadors were expelled, a big diplomatic humiliation for Tel Aviv.

10- The indiscriminate killing of civilians including women and children drew international condemnation to the point that the US, which always vetoes UN Security Council resolutions against Israel, was neutralized and gave in to mounting international pressure when the council voted on a binding resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.


11- Israel's strategy of decreasing Hamas's popularity through putting pressure
on the Gazans has obviously backfired. The Islamic movement emerged more popular than ever before after the war, because any group or person who deals a blow to Israel will be praised as a hero in the eyes of Arab nations. We witnessed the phenomenon during the 33-day war which made Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah the most popular Arab leader in the Islamic world.

12- Following the Gaza war, Mahmoud Abbas's political life came to an end. Now, Abbas who was reportedly preparing himself for returning to Gaza after the Hamas government was toppled, has to desperately beg to political brokers to find a place for him in the political future of Palestine. If Abbas loses in the Palestinian Authority general elections - a strong possibility given the situation after the Gaza war- Israel will lose its partner for peace talks.

13- Kadima's hopes for victory in the upcoming elections have been dashed. In other words, right-wing parties like the Likud and people like Israel Beitenu's and Shas's hawks will come to power, fanatics who do not even believe in peace. Israel should brace itself for days during which there would be no hope for a political solution to the current conflict.

14- The Gaza war managed another sort of uncalled for achievement for Israel: it
united all Muslims and anti-Israeli parties across the world! The world has never
witnessed such massive anti-Israeli rallies.

15- Hamas has set a good example for others. A small group managed to defeat

the most powerful army in the Middle East. It would not be surprising if someday, we see Israel struggling to survive in a battle with a host of small or big groups
and organizations which adopt military resistance as their approach.

16- The Israelis have realized that their leaders are unable to protect them; there is no safe place inside the occupied territories. It means that Israel's worst nightmare is coming true: a dramatic rise in the rate of negative immigration followed by major demographical impacts. It could shake the foundation of the Israeli regime through changing the Jewish people to a minority group in occupied Palestine. The apprehensions about this issue have so far prompted the regime to deny Palestinian refugees the right to return to their land.

17- After the war, the world is recognizing Hamas as a major player whose role can no longer be ignored and it cannot be excluded from any political process in the Middle East.

18- Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called the war "Forqan", a Quranic word meaning
what separates good and evil. The outcome of the war weakened those Arab states who had adopted a pro-Israeli stance. On the other hand, it also highlighted the significance of the role of pro-resistance countries including Iran and Syria. Therefore, the balance of power has changed with regards to Israel's interests.

19- Kadima leaders made a fool of themselves and showed that they lack the qualifications required to lead the regime. Kadima, which was set up by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end the regime's political deadlock, committed a political suicide by attacking Gaza.

20- The war also weakened the political base of those leaders of Islamic countries who are close to Israel. They have to face their people. The process has already started as we have witnessed demonstrations in some countries in which political or social protests are rare.

21- Despite nonstop bombing of the Gaza Strip by unconventional weapons, Gazans kept their high morale, a fact reported by Western journalists. There were no long queues of people at border crossings wanting to flee to a safe place. Inside Israeli towns, scores of people were treated for "shock" everyday. In other words, Israel has also lost the psychological war.

22- The war unfortunately fueled anti-Semitic sentiments across the world. Although attacks on Jews or their property under any pretext are certainly condemned, the fact indicates that Israel, despite paying lip service to the world Jewry, never considers the interests of the Jewish. Tel Aviv even turned down a request by 11 prominent leaders of the British Jewish community who asked the regime to stop its offensive for the sake of their security.

23- There are and will be groups which will open legal cases against Israel in international courts for its war crimes in Gaza. If Hamas had been destroyed, Israeli leaders might have been able to claim that it had been worth paying such a heavy price. But without achieving anything , how can they justify their acts which have drawn a wave of international condemnation?

The Gaza war has certainly changed the status quo against Israel. History seems
to repeat itself; the situation is the same as that of the days after the end of
the 33-Day War except for one thing: this time, the regime has no excuse to justify its defeat; there was no inexperienced defense minister leading the war.

The Gaza war dealt the last blow to the Israeli regime and its end result is the
start of a battle within the regime which will put its very existence at risk.


Those who make a mistake once may be considered as inexperienced but those who repeat their mistakes are certainly judged as being "incompetent and insane". Shall we expect another Winograd report?


23 bằng chứng về Israel's defeat in the 23-ngày ch...
23 доказ Ізраїлю перемогти в 23-денний війни
23 bevis på Israels nederlag i 23-dagars krig
23 prueba de la derrota de Israel en los 23 días d...
23 Dokazilo o izraelskem poraz v 23-dnevno vojno
23 dôkaz Izrael porážke v 23-dennej vojny
23 доказ о Израелу пораз у 23-дан рата
23 доказательство Израиля победить в 23-дневной во...
23 dovada de Israelului înfrângere în cele 23 de z...
23 provas de Israel da derrota nos 23 dias de guer...
23 bevis på Israels tap i 23-dagers krigen
23 įrodymo Izraelio pralaimėjimas 23 dienų karas
23 pierādījums Izraēlas izslēgšanas ir 23 dienu ka...
23 - 하루 전쟁에서 이스라엘의 패배의 23 증거
23日間の戦争でイスラエルの敗北の23プルーフ
23 la prova di Israele la sconfitta nella guerra d...
23 bukti dari kekalahan Israel dalam perang 23-har...
के 23 दिन के युद्ध में इजरायल की हार के 23 सबूत
23 הוכחת התבוסה של ישראל בתוך 23 יום מלחמה
23 αποδείξεις της ήττας του Ισραήλ στον πόλεμο 23 ...
23 Belege für die Israel die Niederlage in den 23-...
23 épreuves de la défaite d'Israël dans les 23 jou...
23 todisteet Israelin tappion 23 päivän sota
23 proofs ng Israel ang pagkatalo sa 23-araw na di...
23 bewijzen van Israël de nederlaag in de 23-daags...
23 korrekturer af Israels nederlag i de 23-dages k...
23 důkazů Izrael porážce ve 23-denní války
23 dokaza o Izraelu poraz u 23-dan rata
23證明以色列的失敗, 23天的戰爭
23证明以色列的失败, 23天的战争
23 proves de la derrota d'Israel en els 23 dies de...
23 доказателствата за Израел победи в 23-дневен во...
23 الأدلة على هزيمة اسرائيل في 23 يوما من الحرب

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Palestine :Gaza :News ,Pictures ,Videos ,War





Israeli troops meet pull-out ultimatum
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:07:44 GMT

Israel has completed its troop pullout from Gaza within the one-week deadline
Hamas had given Tel Aviv for its full withdrawal.


An Israeli army spokesman said on Wednesday that Israeli forces have withdrawn
from the Gaza Strip.





"The last soldier left the Gaza Strip this morning," the spokesman said.
"However, the army remains deployed all around the Gaza Strip to meet any
eventuality."

The spokesman did not give further details about the withdrawal.

Israeli troops began pulling out of Gaza on Sunday evening amid world
condemnation of Israeli crimes against the Palestinians.

Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday, after which Hamas responded
positively by giving Tel Aviv a one-week ultimatum to withdraw all its forces
from the area and end its 18-month blockade of the coastal enclave.

The Israel Air Force nevertheless confirmed on Tuesday that it had staged new
attacks in the Gaza Strip, despite its ceasefire.

While Tel Aviv has met the troop withdrawal part of the ultimatum, Press TV
correspondents on the ground in Gaza have revealed that Israel ships blockading
the Palestinian territory continue to shell residential areas in the strip.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya on Sunday declared the Israeli pull-out request as a
"great victory" for all Palestinians, saying Tel Aviv had failed to achieve its
objectives.

The democratically-elected Palestinian official warned that Israel must also end
its 18-month blockade on the coastal region.

At least 1,340 Palestinians have been killed and 5,320 others have been wounded
in the recent Israeli operations. At least 1,100 of those killed were civilians.


Israel has put the number of its soldiers killed at 13.

Hamas, however, says it has killed at least 80 Israeli soldiers.

MSH/AA


Related News :




UN demands end to Gaza blockade

Ban calls for probe into attack on UN in Gaza

Hamas documented Israeli war crimes




UN demands end to Gaza blockade

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:17:31 GMT


The UN humanitarian chief says it is "absolutely critical" for Israel to open
all border crossings to the Gaza Strip immediately.


John Holmes said on Tuesday that to rebuild the war-ravaged Gaza, it is
"absolutely critical" that Israel reverse the ban it has enforced since Hamas
came to power in 2007 and that it allows cement, pipes and other building
materials to enter the Palestinian territory.




UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes (L)



He stressed that his top priority will be to get all Gaza border crossings
opened as soon as possible "otherwise, the reconstruction effort won't get off
first base."

The humanitarian official added that the residents of Gaza are also in a dire
need of food and fuel.

Holmes, who is expected to arrive in the occupied territories on Wednesday, told
a news conference that he would also press Israeli authorities to allow aid
workers from international organizations into Gaza.

According to the UN official, hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian
aid will be needed immediately to help the nearly 1.5 million Gazans in the
strip; billions of dollars will be required to rebuild its shattered buildings
and infrastructure.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Tuesday that Israel would not open
the border crossings into Gaza without progress on the issue of Israeli soldier
Gilad Shalit, who had been captured by Hamas fighters in June 2006.

Hamas has demanded that Israel open the coastal strip's borders. The European
Union has also called for the opening of the crossings in order to secure a
lasting ceasefire around the territory.

Mussa Abu Marzuq, a senior Hamas official in exile, has commented on the issue
of the temporary ceasefire, suggesting that clashes may continue unless Israel
ends its 18-month blockade on the strip.

"We in the Palestinian resistance movements announce a ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip and demand that enemy forces withdraw in a week and open all the border
crossings to permit the entry of humanitarian aid and basic goods," he said on
Tuesday.

Israel waged war on Gaza on December 27. At least 1,340 Gazans were killed and
at least 5,320 others were injured in the ensuing hostilities.

Holmes said that the UN is trying to intensify humanitarian efforts in Gaza,
adding that while some trucks and fuel supplies are getting in, the amount of
aid remains small and "very inadequate".

"We need more food, wheat grain in particular both for the humanitarian food
distribution and for local bakeries,'' Holmes said.

FTP/JG/AA



Related News :

Israeli human rights groups call for Gaza probe

Ban calls for probe into attack on UN in Gaza

Report: Gaza situation highly critical


Israeli human rights groups call for Gaza probe

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:57:33 GMT


Several Israeli human rights groups call on Tel Aviv to set up an independent
investigation into the violations of the rules of war in Gaza.


In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, eight Israeli human rights groups
demanded that the government investigate the army's killing and wounding of
thousands of civilians during "Operation Cast Lead", which lasted for 22 days.




People walk by the rubble of houses destroyed during the Israeli army operations in Gaza City.


They urged prosecutor general Menachem Mazuz, who is also the government's legal adviser, to investigate the army's "terrifying" act, in which a number of children and women were killed.

The statement quoted Palestinian Health Ministry figures listing more than 1,300 people dead, including 460 children and about 100 women. Another 5,300 were wounded - 1,855 of them children and 795 women.

"The rules of war seem to have been held in total contempt, forcing Israel to
open an independent inquiry immediately," the joint statement said, according to a Middle East Online report.

The human rights groups include B'tselem, the main Israeli rights body covering
the occupied territories, Doctors for Human Rights, There is Justice, and the
Public Committee against Torture.

FTP/HGL


Ban calls for probe into attack on UN in Gaza

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:26:03 GMT



Ban Ki-moon has said that the destruction of UN-run buildings and schools in
Gaza during Israel's 22-day war on Hamas is totally unacceptable.


The United Nations secretary general expressed his anger at seeing the
devastation during his tour of Gaza on Tuesday, saying that those who opened
fire on the building should be held accountable.

The UN chief was speaking to reporters outside the still-smoldering main UN
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound in Gaza City, which was hit by Israeli
shells last Thursday, setting fire to the building and to the food aid stored
inside.





Ban Ki-moon speaks to journalists in Gaza City in front of the still smouldering UN building destroyed by Israeli fire


Other UN buildings were also hit during the fighting, and a number of
Palestinian refugees allowed by the UN to take shelter inside its schools were
killed.

Ban said, “It is an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack on the United
Nations."

There must be a full investigation, a full explanation "to make sure it never
happens again. There should be accountability through a proper judiciary
system,” Times Online quoted him as saying.

Israel agreed to a ceasefire on Sunday, after reducing a sixth of the buildings
in the overcrowded territory to rubble. About 1,340 Gazans were kiled and 5,320
wounded, including 1,855 children and 795 women.

Ban told reporters that he was shocked and alarmed at the destruction incurred,
adding, although "I have seen only a fraction of the destruction." He also
condemned the "excessive" use of force by Israel and rocket salvoes fired by
Hamas.

UN officials had rejected claims by Israel that its troops responded to shooting
from gunmen at the facility.

Ban, who is the most senior international official to visit Gaza since Hamas
came to power in 2007, called for Palestinian reconciliation and said that the
UN would work with any united Palestinian government to rebuild the Gaza Strip.


While Ban Ki-moon was visiting Gaza, Hamas held a rally outside the compound
calling for international recognition of its Gaza-based government.





A Palestinian father and son inspect their destroyed house in the southern part of Gaza City, Tuesday, Jan. 20.


Meanwhile, Gaza residents who fled the fighting were continuing to return
to the rubble of what used to be their homes, picking through debris and trying
to salvage belongings.

In a tragic postscript to the conflict, two Palestinian children playing with an
unexploded Israeli shell were killed when it detonated, Hamas officials said.


FTP/HGL




Israeli officer arrested for saying no to Gaza war

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:08:55 GMT




An Israeli military officer has been arrested for refusing to kill
Palestinians in the three-week offensive against Gaza.


Israel arrested Noam Livne in his home in Tel Aviv on Monday.

Livne cited ethical reasons for his objection to the war against civilians,
saying that the army's top brass would not accept his reasons.




The 22-day onslaught against civilians devasted the Gaza Strip.




This is the second time that Livne disobeyed the army. In 2001, he refused to go
to war and was sent to prison.

"This will be the second time that I am being brought in," he told Vita
magazine a few hours before his arrest.

"It happened before, eight years ago, when I said 'no' for the first time," he
added.

Tel Aviv launched a ruthless military campaign against the Gaza Strip on
December 27 with the aim of eliminating Hamas, the democratically-elected ruling
party of the coastal region.

At least 1,340 Palestinians were killed and 5,320 others were wounded during the
conflict, according to Press TV correspondents in Gaza.

AGB/HGL


Related News :

Israeli warplanes attack Gaza

Hamas: Israel suffered humiliating defeat

'Israeli troops come under fire in Gaza'
















Israeli troops meet pull-out ultimatum

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:07:44 GMT
Israel has completed its troop pullout from Gaza within the one-week deadline Hamas had given Tel Aviv for its full withdrawal.



UN demands end to Gaza blockade
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:17:31 GMT
The UN humanitarian chief says it is "absolutely critical" for Israel to open all border crossings to the Gaza Strip immediately.



Israeli human rights groups call for Gaza probe

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:57:33 GMT
Several Israeli human rights groups call on Tel Aviv to set up an independent investigation into the violations of the rules of war in Gaza.



Ban calls for probe into attack on UN in Gaza

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:26:03 GMT
Ban Ki-moon has said that the destruction of UN-run buildings and schools in Gaza during Israel's 22-day war on Hamas is totally unacceptable.



Israeli officer arrested for saying no to Gaza war

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:08:55 GMT
An Israeli military officer has been arrested for refusing to kill Palestinians in the three-week offensive against Gaza.



'Israeli nukes threaten world'
Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:31:47 GMT
An Iranian diplomat says the Israeli crimes committed against Gazans should alarm the world about the threat of Israel's nuclear arsenal.



Israeli warplanes attack Gaza

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:10:15 GMT
Israeli warplanes have carried out another strike on the Gaza Strip after Tel Aviv and Hamas separately announced ceasefire in the region.



Hamas: Israel suffered humiliating defeat

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:14:37 GMT
A top Hamas leader has termed Operation Cast Lead as a humiliating defeat for Israel, saying Tel Aviv failed to reach any of its goals.



'Israeli troops come under fire in Gaza'

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:21:10 GMT
Palestinian fighters have opened fire on Israeli troops who remain in the Gaza Strip despite a Hamas ultimatum for their complete pull-out.



Report: Gaza situation highly critical
Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:40:44 GMT
A Press TV correspondent on the ground in Gaza has described the humanitarian situation in the under-siege Palestinian territory.



Hamas documented Israeli war crimes

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:24:09 GMT
A senior Hamas member has announced that the movement has documented irrefutable proof of Israeli war crimes inside the Gaza Strip.



Arabs fail to reach consensus on Gaza
Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:50:25 GMT
Arab countries have failed to reach an agreement over the Gaza Strip following a three-week long Israeli offensive against the region.



Israel 'can be tried for war crimes'

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:03:49 GMT Human rights group Amnesty International accuses Israel of war crimes, saying its use of white phosphorus shells in Gaza was indiscriminate.



Obama feels for us Israelis: Netanyahu

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:16:52 GMT
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says Barack Obama is silent on the issue of Gaza because of his understanding of the "distress" of Israelis.



IAEA urged to probe Israeli ammo

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:48:31 GMT
Arab nations have called on the IAEA to launch an investigation into reports that Israel used depleted uranium ammunitions against Gaza.



Israeli students call Barak 'murderer'

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:12:46 GMT
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has cancelled his visit to a university in Tel Aviv after being called a 'murderer' by the students.



'Abbas spies passed intelligence to Israelis'

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:29:20 GMT
Prominent Hamas figure Salah al-Bardaweel accuses Mahmoud Abbas of direct involvement in the Gaza war through his spies in the region.



Livni makes light of Gaza civilian casualty

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:26:09 GMT
Israel's foreign minister has sought to justify the high number of casualties in Gaza by calling it a normal "product of circumstance".



'Israeli pullout, a favor to Obama'
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:49:23 GMT Israeli troops
will not remain in the Gaza Strip at the cost of Tel Aviv's relations with Washington,
Israeli officials say.



Hamas vows to rearm after Gaza war
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:16:05 GMT Hamas has vowed
to rearm in the Gaza Strip despite Israel's military campaign aimed at diminishing
the movement's military power.



'Vague Israeli hope shattered in Gaza'
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:18:10 GMT
Israel failed to weaken the Hamas movement in Gaza during its military aggression against the impoverished strip, a report says.



Blair: Gaza ceasefire fragile
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:25:34 GMT
Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair has described a ceasefire that ended a three-week Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip as 'fragile'.



Only 'national unity' can save Gaza, says Abbas

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:06:07 GMT
The acting PA chief says the future of Gaza is pending the formations of a national unity government between Hamas and Fatah movements.



Israel recruits bloggers for Gaza aftermath

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:20:56 GMT
Israel's Immigrant Absorption Ministry says it is recruiting an "army of bloggers" in the aftermath of the military operation in Gaza.



OIC appeals for humanitarian aid to Gaza

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:54:01 GMT
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has appealed to its member-states to raise fund for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.



Half of Gazan children need mental care

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:46:08 GMT
Mental health disorders are one of the largest -- and least acknowledged -- health problems threatening the besieged children in Gaza.



95 Palestinian fighters killed in Gaza war

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:07:18 GMT
A Palestinian human rights group has revealed that only 95 resistance fighters were killed in the 23-day Israeli offensive into Gaza.



230 int'l lawyers taking Israel to the Hague

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:09:04 GMT
Around 230 international lawyers are set to file a lawsuit at the international Criminal Court against Israeli war crimes against Gaza.



Israeli war damages 20,000 houses

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:04:50 GMT
The Palestinian Central Bureau Statistics says the Israeli onslaught on Gaza has cost the Palestinian economy at least $1.6 billion.



Kuwait Summit should use oil against Israel

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:43:50 GMT Mauritanian political groups have called on Arab states to expel Israeli envoys and use oil as a 'weapon' against the new US administration.



UN official: Israel violated truce term

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:24:52 GMT
A top UN official has accused Israel of failing to honor its commitment to open Gaza border crossings before the bloody Gaza offensive.



Hamas: We defended Gaza with hand-made weapons

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:48:18 GMT
The Hamas military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, says the Israeli regime waged a holocaust against the civilians in the Gaza Strip.



100 bodies pulled out from rubble in Gaza

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:30:55 GMT
At least 100 bodies are pulled out from Gaza's rubble after Israel was forced to agree to a ceasefire and starts pulling out its forces from Gaza.



Olmert seeks immediate withdrawal

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:17:22 GMT
Israel confirms that it wants to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip as soon as possible following a one-week ultimatum by Hamas.



Hamas beats drums of Palestinian 'victory'

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:41:38 GMT
Senior Hamas official Ismail Haniya explains why the Israeli offensive into Gaza was a failure for Tel Aviv and a victory for Palestinians.



Time to create a Palestinian state?

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:12:56 GMT
As a fragile cease-fire starts in Gaza, the French President and German Chancellor claim that it is time for the creation of a Palestinian state.



Shin Bet: Army far from achievement

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:04:50 GMT
Israel's security chief has conceded that a three-week-long offensive against the Gaza Strip has failed to prevent Hamas from rearming.



Israel confirms retreating from Gaza

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:24:31 GMT
The Israeli army has confirmed that it is gradually withdrawing its troops from Gaza after pounding the impoverished strip for 22 days.



UK urges Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:37:46 GMT
The UK premier has called for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza, after Hamas gave a one-week ultimatum to Tel Aviv.



Israeli forces retreat from Gaza city

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:02:07 GMT
Israeli troops have reportedly left key positions in Gaza City after Hamas set a one-week deadline for their complete pull-out from the strip.

Why should Japanese consider nuclear bombing as needed?!

One day, I attended a meeting at the Tokyo university in Japan. My topic of speech was not political but something happened that made me to ...