By FRANKLIN LAMB - January 8, 2009

In the minds of some of his colleagues, and a law student reporter at the Harvard Law Record, Professor Alan Dershowitz's unique views of Israel's obligations under international law are reflected in the "private legal memoranda" that he churns out from time to time in his moonlighting job as "Counsel to the Government of Israel". In this role...Harvard's Nutty Professor advises Israel "how to appear to be acting legally to the eyes of the American public".

By LAWRENCE DAVIDSON - Counterpunch

What turns out to be the new aspect of this tale is the collusion of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority in this aggression toward the Palestinians of Gaza. It would seem that Fatah's leadership has actually decided to ally with the enemy that seeks to ethnically cleanse them. They remind this writer of the Jews who served the Nazis as policemen in the ghettos of German controlled Europe during World War II...The behavior of Fatah means that this organization and its leaders are almost certainly doomed.

The Quartet's complicity in Israeli war crimes.

By Justin Podur - January 06, 2009

...Israel is not even allowing Palestinians to leave, so displacement is not the goal, at least for the time being. On the other hand, when body counts rise into the thousands or tens of thousands, Israel might then allow the Palestinians to flee further massacres, and be lauded for its generousness by the international community.

by Gary Leupp - January 5th, 2009

The political party Hamas was elected to power in January 2006 with 44% of the vote to Fatah’s 41%, receiving 76 of 132 parliamentary seats, in the first democratic election held in the Palestinian territories. This was not what Washington wanted.

By MIKE WHITNEY - January 6, 2009

In a rare moment of honesty, the New York Times divulged the real motive behind the bombardment and invasion of Gaza. In [an] article...Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said, "We need to reach a situation in which we do not allow Hamas to govern. That is the most important thing. If the war ends in a draw, as expected, and Israel refrains from reoccupying Gaza, Hamas will gain diplomatic recognition...No matter what you call it, Hamas will obtain legitimacy.”

By NEVE GORDON - Counterpunch

There is something extremely cynical about how Israel explains its use of humanitarian assistance, and yet such unadulterated explanations actually help uncover an important facet of postmodern warfare. Not unlike raising animals for slaughter on a farm, the Israeli government maintains that it is providing Palestinians with assistance so that it can have a free hand in attacking them. And just as Israel provides basic foodstuff to Palestinians while it continues shooting them, it informs Palestinians--by phone, no less--that they must evacuate their homes before F-16 fighter jets begin bombing them.

"[The Canadian Union of Public Employees] condemns all acts of violence in the Middle East, including the Hamas rockets being launched into Israel and the Israeli offensive...To date, [the Canadian] government has stated publically [its] support for the Israeli people to protect themselves from attack. This is a woefully inadequate and frankly shameful response on behalf of Canadians."

5 January 2009

We are calling on the world to stop Israeli violence and not allow the continuation of the brutal occupation. We call on the world to Condemn and not become an accomplice in Israel`s crimes.

By Dan Freeman-Maloy - January 06, 2009

Closely attuned to the diplomatic requirements of warfare against civilians, Israeli spokespeople will no doubt find a way to explain not only why the Palestinian/Israeli death toll in this "conflict" maintains its staggering balance of 100/1, but also the "pinpoint" nature of Israeli naval bombardment, artillery shelling and cluster bombing of the densely populated Gaza Ghetto...

By Uri Avnery - January 05, 2009

For years, the Israeli occupation authorities favored the Islamic movement in the occupied territories. All other political activities were rigorously suppressed, but their activities in the mosques were permitted. The calculation was simple: at the time, the PLO was considered the main enemy, Yasser Arafat was the current Satan. The Islamic movement was preaching against the PLO and Arafat, and was therefore viewed as an ally.

By Stephen Zunes - January 05, 2009

No one in the mainstream media or government is willing to acknowledge America's sordid role interfering in Palestinian politics...The United States bears much of the blame for the ongoing bloodshed in the Gaza Strip and nearby parts of Israel. Indeed, were it not for misguided Israeli and American policies, Hamas would not be in control of the territory in the first place.

"...[M]uch of labor officialdom in [the United States] — often without the knowledge or consent of union members — has a longstanding complicity with Israeli Apartheid that dates to before 1948...In April 2002, while Israel butchered Palestinian refugees at Jenin in the West Bank, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney was a featured speaker at a belligerent 'National Solidarity Rally for Israel.'"

By BRIAN CLOUGHLEY - January 5, 2009

There is little doubt that the bias towards Israel will continue in the legislature and administration of the United States of America, no matter what Obama might really think, and no matter how many Palestinian children the Zionists have slaughtered. The Israelis are behaving like genocidal filth, but those who stay silent about their atrocities are not far behind in the gutter stakes.

3rd VANCOUVER RALLY TO END THE SIEGE ON GAZA & PROTEST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES!

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Saturday Jan 10 @ 1 pm
Vancouver Art Gallery
For info email vancouver.gazaprotest@gmail.com
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