Israel is paying for Gaza war with Turkey and Egypt crises
During that fateful Hanukkah, the Israel Defense Forces attacked failing to see that war on their televisions as people saw it in Istanbul and Cairo.
During Hanukkah 2008, Israel attacked Gaza in Operation Cast Lead. Now it is eating the bitter fruit of that operation, which was the turning point in the attitude of the world and the region toward Israel and its belligerent and violent policies. The shock waves take time to arrive, but now they are coming, and they are big. Every day has new dangers. Some are the result of Israel's actions, its aggression, its euphoria, its arrogance and carelessness. The outcome: The only two countries that ever accepted it in the region, Turkey and Egypt, are burning their relations with Israel. The first was via a government decision, the second that of an angry mob.
During that fateful Hanukkah, the Israel Defense Forces attacked Gaza and its defenseless population. Israelis did not see that war on their televisions as people saw it in Istanbul and Cairo. Here they made do with an army of pundits who reported fighting in Gaza when there was almost none. Here they hid from us most of the horrific pictures that were broadcast elsewhere in the world - including, of course, Istanbul and Cairo. At the time, they only counted the numbers of the (many) Palestinian dead and the numbers of the (few) Israelis, and therefore the operation was seen as a colossal military, diplomatic and even moral success.
But it was a resounding failure. What is happening now in Egypt and Turkey must be added to the balance of Operation Cast Lead. Not that it's all because of Cast Lead. Hatred for Israel flared before it, but Cast Lead was the turning point when a good deal of the world reversed its attitude toward Israel.
Not that everything was Israel's fault, but its governments - both former and current - have done too little to lower the flames and a great deal to raise them. Yes to settlements and no to peace arrangements; no to apologies and yes to a light trigger finger for Sinai and the Mavi Marmara. As British journalist Robert Fisk put it so well on Saturday: "Israel thinks too little and shoots too much."
The decline in relations with Turkey doubtless began following Operation Cast Lead. The attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo came at first following the killing of the five Egyptian soldiers by Israel last month, but was spurred by Israel's deteriorating ties with Turkey. Last week it was clear that if Turkey is all but cutting its relations with Israel, Egypt cannot stand by and do nothing.
In the new Egypt the street speaks, and the street had its violent and unequivocal say over the weekend. This is the street that had practically nothing against Israel during the Tahrir uprising in the spring, but after the killing of the five soldiers, Israel's lack of apology for doing so and the Turkish fiasco, it is coming out against Israel now.
The street saw the brutal scenes from Operation Cast Lead not shown in Israel, and they became enemies, more than ever. Then came the attack on the Mavi Marmara, a miniature version of Operation Cast Lead.
The former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, the current defense minister, Ehud Barak, and the former foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, should be held accountable for the diplomatic destruction they brought on Israel.
A very dangerous fire broke out in the shabby office building where, until Friday, Israel had its embassy. That is black news. The original sin: Operation Cast Lead.
* * *
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 6:02 PM
Italy grinds to a halt as 3 million strike against austerity plan
By Nick Pisa and Oliver Pickup
Italy ground to a halt today as a general strike brought thousands –
if not millions – on to the street in protest at a belt-tightening
€45billion (£39.5bn) austerity package.
The strike was organised by the Italian General Confederation of
Labour (CGIL), the country's biggest trade union, and saw disruption to
flights, buses, trains as well as hospitals, schools, post offices and
other government services.
Demonstrations were held in several cities across the country with
extra police being drafted in to stop any potential disorder but there
were still sporadic outbursts with eight officers hurt by fireworks.
Thousands of strikers took to the streets of Turin yesterday to protest against
the austerity plans mooted by the Italian government
Workers march in front of the Colosseum as they take part in a demonstration
organised by the left-wing General Confederation of Italian Workers
(CGIL) against the government's economic austerity measures, in central
Rome
The general-secretary of the CGIL, Susanna Camusso, addresses protesters at the Colosseum in Rome
CIGL officials said that three million people had taken part in the
strike – which also affected the Amanda Knox appeal trial in Perugia as
jury members using public transport were held up.
The strike was supported by British trade union Unison chief Dave
Prentis who sent a letter backing the action, expressing the
'solidarity' of his members with 'Italian workers'.
Mr Prentis added that politicians across Europe were in a 'vicious
circle that was increasing as opposed to reducing public debt because of austerity cuts.
Under-pressure: Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, shown speaking last month, is widely
unpopular in Italy now - and his austerity plans are hated
What we and European trade unions are proposing as a way out of the
crisis is growth – that's why we wish the best of luck to our colleagues in CGIL in their fight.'
Italy, the third largest economy in the Eurozone, is teetering on the edge of a Greek-style financial crisis with a debt approaching £1trillion – 120 per cent of GDP.
The under-pressure prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has insisted
the best way to tackle the crisis is with the tough austerity package
which will see cuts in education, health and pay freezes.
But the proposed package has also been hit by backstabbing from
within his coalition as supposed allies protest at some of the cuts and
to appease them they are scrapped.
Initially there had been plans to move three national bank holidays
to Sundays to keep productivity going but this was dropped following a
national outcry.
Susanna Camusso, head of CGIL, said: 'When you are on the edge of the abyss, you have to take a step backwards.
'This is a general strike against a budget measure which is totally
unjustified and as we have seen in the past few hours totally
irresponsible.'
Protesters who gathered in central Rome unfurled a banner that said:
'Change the austerity package to give a future to the country – more
growth, more employment, more development.'
One of the most affected areas was Rome airport which saw hundreds of flights cancelled and long queues at airline information desks as passengers tried to find out how to get away.
Millions of Italians are holding a day-long strike against the government's latest austerity measures
Workers march and hold flags during a demonstration organised by the CGIL against the government's economic austerity measures
People take part in a protest of the Italian USB union and against the plans to chop ¿45bn from the economy
Ryanair said that 200 of its flights were cancelled across the
country as a result of the strike with pilots and crew joining the
walkout as well as ground staff and some air traffic controllers.
Trains and buses were also hit and traffic, which is chaotic at the
best of times in Italy, was made even worse as people used cars to get
to work or take children to school.
Production was also affected at Fiat plants across the country with
25 per cent of the workforce taking part and newspapers were also hit
with presses stopping printing.
Italian markets which have suffered huge losses over the last few
days were also significantly down as well with the Milan stock exchange
showing a drop of more than 2 per cent.
http://redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/italy-grinds-to-a-halt-as-3-million-strike-against-austerity-plan/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscribe@egroups.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscribe@egroups.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Digest: <mailto:laamn-digest@egroups.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help: <mailto:laamn-owner@egroups.com?subject=laamn>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post: <mailto:laamn@egroups.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3893 - Release Date: 09/12/11
No comments:
Post a Comment