Many are of the opinion that the Israeli Defense League (IDL) is attacking Gaza at this time for two main political reasons. 1) The presidential transition period in the U.S. -- Israel is uncertain about what new policies an Obama administration will implement. After all, in January the UN Human Rights Council demanded "that Israel lift its siege of Gaza and condemned its "grave" human rights violations." And about this 3 day bombardment of Gaza: the UN has condemned Israel's "excessive use of force" as have the many nations, Muslim, Hindu and Christian. Protesters have taken to the streets to condemn the bombing in Arab and European capitals. 2) Since new elections are scheduled in Israel for February, this is a chance for the incumbent party to sable rattle in order to shore up their political position. The assault occurred at a time of political uncertainty in Israel, with elections scheduled for February to choose a successor to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is stepping down in the wake of corruption charges. Likud party leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who leads in recent polls, has accused the government, led by the Labor Party, and the centrist Kadima party, led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, of not doing enough to act against Hamas.The hospitals and emergency services are overwhelmed with the dead and injured in Gaza. The toll in destroyed lives so far is for Palestinians. The continuing genocidal occupation of Palestine is an international crisis that needs to be addressed immediately by Obama. The IDL is counting on Obama's silence. Silence in this instance is acquiescence. Israel's stated goal is to "destroy Hamas," and they are bent on achieving this goal by any means necessary. The Bush administration has stated unquestioned support of Israel as it has in the pass, so it is up to Obama to stop the violence and to call for peace. Barack Obama must let the world know how he will deal with this dangerous and pregnant turning point in the Arab/Israeli conflict. It is unacceptable for him to defer to Bush and allow the slaughter to continue. |
Update 12.29.08 9:34 p.m.:
Came across a quote from Obama which is indicative of his continuing the same policies as Bush. And as I just read from a Robert Fisk article "somewhere to the east – in a cave? a basement? on a mountainside? – a well-known man in a turban smiles."
In the campaign, Mr. Obama made statements that sounded similar to those issued by the Bush administration on Saturday."There's No Change Like Small Change, and that's Like No Change, at all..."
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Mr. Obama said in July. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”>
