By Ramzy Baroud
Z Network

Former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan,  clearly had an unpleasant experience at the world’s largest international institution [which he left last month].

In an interview published in the Israeli newspaper Maariv on Aug. 20, the disgruntled envoy said that “the U.N. building should be closed and wiped off from the face of the earth.”

Whether Erdan has made this realization or not, his aggressive statement indicates that his four-year career as Israel’s top U.N. diplomat was a failure. 

In the interview, Erdan expressed his wish to become the head of Likud, the right-wing party of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Erdan’s violent language could be his way of appealing to the right and far-right constituencies that feed on such violence. 

However, there is more to Erdan’s hatred for the U.N. than the mere frustration of a disappointed diplomat. 

Israel has had a long and troubled history with the United Nations and other U.N.-linked institutions. According to Israel’s political discourse, the U.N. is an “anti-Semitic” organization, a label Israelis often invoke when their country is subjected to the slightest criticism. 

Israel’s relationship with the U.N. is particularly odd because Israel was created by a U.N. decision, itself a direct outcome of U.N. political intrigues and Western pressure. 

On Nov. 29, 1947, the U.N. passed resolution 181, calling for the division of historic Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. It assigned most of the land, 56 percent, to the Jewish population, then a minority, and the rest to the Palestinian Arab natives.  

Shortly after, Jewish Zionist leadership began a military campaign that conquered most of Palestine and ethnically cleansed most of its original population. 

Israel was admitted as a full U.N. member on May 11, 1949, while native Palestinians remain stateless. 

Though Israel’s admission to the international body was conditioned on the acceptance of Resolutions 181 and 194 – on the status of Jerusalem and the right of return of Palestinian refugees – Israel was spared punishment for these and other resolutions, thanks to strong backing from Washington and other Western powers.

In June 1967, the rest of historic Palestine was conquered. Again, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were ethnically cleansed and, ever since, the remaining Palestinians have lived under a draconian system of military occupation, apartheid, siege and a constant state of war.  

The ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip is the culmination of all the injustices inflicted on the Palestinian people throughout the decades. The war did not start on Oct. 7, 2023, nor will it end when a ceasefire is finally declared. 

Aside from the Balfour Declaration, where Britain pledged to construct a Jewish state in historic Palestine in November 1917, U.N. Resolution 181, which allowed the establishment of Israel, could arguably be considered the genesis of all Palestinian suffering. 

Throughout this bloody, unjust history, the U.N. neither penalized Israel nor granted Palestinians their long overdue justice. It even failed to implement or enforce any of its subsequent resolutions recognizing the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 

[Related: Suspending Israel From the UN]

Yet, Palestinians continue to resort to the U.N., since it is their only international platform that could constantly remind Israel, and the world, that Tel Aviv is an occupying power and that international and humanitarian laws must apply to Palestinians as an occupied nation.  

[For instance, the General Assembly in 2012 voted to make Palestine an Observer State of the U.N., allowing it to join the International Criminal Court and various U.N. agencies.] 

These reminders were made frequently in the past, at the U.N. General Assembly and even at the Security Council, always to the displeasure of Israel and its Western benefactors, mainly the United States. 

The last solid legal position was articulated through an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19. After the testimonies and interventions made by at least 52 countries and countless experts, the ICJ resolved that “Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful, along with the associated settlement regime, annexation and use of natural resources.”

Although the U.N. [largely because of the U.S. veto] has not made any difference in forcing Israel to end its occupation, dismantle illegal settlements or respect the basic human rights of Palestinians, the international institution remains a source of frustration for Israel. 

Since its establishment on the ruins of Palestinian homes, Israel has worked to change the status of Palestine and Palestinian refugees, and constantly challenged the very term “occupation.” It has done its utmost to rewrite history, illegally annexed Palestinian and Arab land, and built illegal settlements as if permanent “facts on the ground.”

In 2017, it looked as if Israel was succeeding in its quest to cancel the Palestinian cause altogether when Washington recognized Israel’s fraudulent claims to Occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Yet, the world did not follow suit, as demonstrated in the ICJ’s recent legal ruling. 

As far as the United Nations is concerned, Israel remains an occupying power, bound to international laws and norms. 

Though for Palestinians, such facts remain devoid of practical meaning, for Israel, the U.N. position is a major obstacle in the face of its blatant settler colonial project. And this is why Erdan wants the U.N. “wiped off from the face of the earth.” 

Even if the angry Israeli diplomat gets his wish, nothing will alter this historic truth: Israel will remain a colonial regime, and Palestine will continue to resist, till justice is finally restored.   

Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a widely published and translated author, an internationally syndicated columnist and editor of PalestineChronicle.com. His latest book is The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story (Pluto Press, 2018). He earned a Ph.D. in Palestine Studies from the University of Exeter (2015), and was a non-resident scholar at Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, UCSB. Visit his website.

This article is from Common Dreams 

https://consortiumnews.com/2024/09/04/the-brutal-wish-of-a-failed-israeli-diplomat/

READ FROM TOP

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

Israel’s new ‘Pasha of Gaza’
Tel Aviv’s appointment of a high-ranking military official to manage Gaza’s civilian affairs is a strategic Israeli bid to craft a post-conflict reality and sidestep a ceasefire agreement.

BY Ibrahim Al-Madhoun

As part of a long-term strategy to exert greater control over Gaza, last week, the Israeli occupation army appointed Elad Goren as the first “head of the humanitarian-civil effort in the Gaza Strip.” This new role, focused on administering civilian affairs in Gaza, raises important questions about Tel Aviv’s intentions and its vision for the future of the decimated and besieged enclave. 

Goren’s appointment comes as the brutal war on Gaza, entering its 11th month, has not only tested the resilience of the occupation military but also led to significant and ongoing repercussions on the ground.

Managing the crisis Israel created 

The creation of this new position within the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit represents a notable shift in Israel’s approach to Gaza, indicating a movement toward more direct management of civilian affairs in the strip.

This decision is part of a broader strategy by the Israeli occupation to tighten its grip on Gaza while attempting to reshape the political dynamics to reduce the influence of Hamas. A similar divide-and-rule strategy has been employed in the West Bank to sow discord between the governing Palestinian Authority (PA) and the resistance factions there. 

Goren’s role encompasses managing humanitarian aid, overseeing the operation of border crossings, restoring infrastructure destroyed by the Israelis, and coordinating with international aid organizations. Additionally, his appointment is seen as part of the occupation state’s efforts to establish a new framework for managing the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza’s critical access point to the outside world, already under a stringent Israeli blockade.

According to the occupation army, the new role will “deal with the integration and implementation of the humanitarian effort in the Gaza Strip and the coordination with the international community, in a way that will allow the implementation of the humanitarian effort while upholding the security interests of the State of Israel.”

Strategic dimensions of installing Goren 

Rather than addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in the strip that comes courtesy of the occupation army’s brutal 10-month military assault on the strip, Goren’s appointment should be seen as a strategic move by Israel to solidify its presence and influence in Gaza. 

By placing a high-ranking military official (Goren was promoted to brigadier general) in charge of civilian affairs, Israel signals its intent to maintain direct control over Gaza’s administration, potentially transforming the region into a zone of indirect military governance “for years to come.” 

This move aligns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s broader strategy to weaken Hamas and foster an alternative governance structure more amenable to Israeli interests. However, this approach is not without challenges. 

The complexities of managing Gaza’s traumatized and displaced Palestinian population, coupled with growing international scrutiny and pressure, will complicate Tel Aviv’s efforts to assert its control. Additionally, the persistent resistance from Palestinian factions and their regional allies remains a formidable barrier to any attempt to alter the status quo.

Resisting plans to govern Gaza 

Indeed, the multi-front conflict has taken its toll on the Israeli military, which has faced significant losses in confrontations with Palestinian resistance groups and engagements in the north with Hezbollah. This attrition highlights Israel’s difficulty in achieving its stated military objectives, with further escalation likely following the recent spate of high-profile assassinations. Palestinian resistance movements could capitalize on Israel’s troop attrition to bolster their capabilities and counter Tel Aviv’s plans for permanent control over Gaza. 

Moreover, Israel struggles to gain international support for its actions in Gaza, further complicated by mounting domestic unrest from the Netanyahu government’s refusal to negotiate a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would remove Israeli troops from the territory.

As such, Palestinian resistance should focus on international advocacy, highlighting Israeli violations and galvanizing global opinion to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel to exit the strip entirely. Strengthening national unity among Palestinian factions is also crucial; a unified front is vital to effectively counter Israel’s efforts to fragment Palestinian society and weaken the resistance.

Several scenarios could emerge following the latest steps by the occupation state toward its post-war plans for Gaza. If diplomatic efforts fail or no ceasefire agreement is reached, Gaza could experience increased military confrontations as Israel seeks to impose new realities and governance. 

In such a case, Palestinian resistance would need to escalate military operations and enhance coordination among the factions to effectively counter Israeli strategies.

Alternatively, if Palestinian resistance successfully mobilizes international opinion, heightened diplomatic pressure could force Israel to halt its military plans in Gaza. This scenario might lead to a ceasefire backed by international guarantees, preventing Israel from reverting to its previous policies. 

Political strategy with armed pressure  

However, the ongoing conflict and blockade could exacerbate Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, posing new setbacks for the resistance in terms of meeting the population’s basic needs. Addressing this crisis would require close cooperation with international organizations to mitigate the impact on civilians.

Elad Goren’s appointment as head of the “humanitarian-civil” effort in Gaza is a clear indication of Israel’s strategic intent to tighten its control over the strip and undermine the resistance. More likely than not, this move will be met with increased Palestinian resistance, as we have seen in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors. 

It is crucial for the resistance to continue strengthening its operational capacity while intensifying diplomatic efforts to thwart any Israeli attempts to impose a new order in Gaza. Fostering national unity and maintaining popular support among Palestinians is essential to confronting these threats. 

Ultimately, the Palestinian resistance remains a key factor in scuttling Israeli plans to permanently occupy and govern Gaza. No settlement or military strategy will succeed as long as Palestinians remain fully committed to their land and rights.

https://thecradle.co/articles/israels-new-pasha-of-gaza

READ FROM TOP

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

Our World gets worse and worse, reflected in inhumane, racist, behaviour. And what for us – Australians – is really bad is that we, as represented by our political leaders, and our media, are totally complicit in genocide

We can start with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and its advisory opinion of 19 July. Certain truths are recognized by that judgment. They are:

• Palestine is comprised of the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, (the OPT)
• Israel is illegally occupying Palestine
• Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal and must be dismantled
• The occupation is denying the right of Palestinians to self-determination
• Palestinians have the right to resist illegal occupation, and
• Israel has no right of self-defence against the people whose territory it is allegedly occupying.

None of the above can be challenged. And certain things follow. One is that in exercising its right to resist the illegal occupation, Palestinians are entitled, as a part of their right to self-determination, indeed to exist, to accept assistance offered by other countries, allies, which assistance may be in the form of arms. This is hardly unusual. By way of example, Israel chooses to accept assistance from its allies, viz. the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, etc. And take Ukraine – President Zelensky demands such assistance from all and sundry. When it comes to Palestine, however, it is the Iranian devil – always. Iran is always presented as some sort of monster, rather than a responsible member of the UN, paying heed to what the ICJ has advised.

How does all this fit with the recent operations by Israel in the West Bank? Israel says it is targeting ‘militants’, or in some instances, ‘terrorists’, in the West Bank. But hello! – if Palestinians have the right to resist an illegal occupation, they are certainly not terrorists, and whilst ‘militants’ is a more acceptable term, it would be better to use the accurate description – ‘freedom-fighters’.

But what right has Israel to be there in the first place? It has no right!

So we come back to the ICJ and its advisory opinion. How is it possible for the West to simply ignore it, as it is doing? The US carries on about a ‘rules based international order’, and our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary parrot the phrase. If the ICJ is not a prominent cog in that order, if not the most prominent cog, it is hard to know what it is.  How is it possible for our media to ignore it? Whenever our media comments upon Israeli conduct in the West Bank, it never – never – adds that Israel has no right to be there, that it only does so as an illegal occupier.

The ICJ called for the end of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. It outlined Israel’s obligations to restitute Palestinian lands occupied in 1967, evacuation of all settlers from the OPT, and dismantling of settlements, whilst providing full reparation for any damage caused. The Court asserted the obligations of all States to work to bring an end to the occupation, to not recognize Israel’s illegal presence or actions in the OPT and, to abstain from any form of diplomatic relations, economic dealings, or trade dealing with Israel whilst it persists in the occupation.

What can be said to have been done in compliance? Israel of course does not recognize the judgment. It does not recognize Palestine’s right to exist. Netanyahu issued a statement in response to the Court ruling in which he claimed that one cannot be in occupation of one’s own homeland. As recently as 4 August Finance Minister Smotrich announced a military order to allocate 148 acres of land for a new settlement west of Bethlehem. This is but one of many actions recently taken to prevent the viability of a Palestinian state. But it gets worse. One Israeli group is now demanding Israeli civilian settlements in southern Lebanon, south of the Litani river. Israel is in complete denial.

So far as the US is concerned, next to nothing has been done in compliance. Indeed, US state and local governments continue to invest billions of dollars in Israel Bonds, an investment vehicle that directly supports the Israeli government. Tax deductible US dollars flow to settler organizations. Tankers of American jet fuel primarily used for military aircraft continue to be shipped to Israel from Texas. All that of course is in addition to all the arms shipped.  As for the possible future, we have Vice-President Harris, when asked what she would do re Gaza, emphasizing her “unwavering commitment to Israel’s defence and its ability to defend itself”. No change of policy was adverted to.

So far as the UK is concerned, we have almost next to nothing. There has been an assertion that some arms shipments have been ended. But on the other hand, the UK government has recently announced that it is seeking to strengthen trade ties with Israel.

Numerous other countries including Brazil and Italy persist in supplying Israel with crude oil. In addition, of course, much assistance is given by international companies. In the fossil-fuel category we have BP, Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Shell and Total. Those companies have varied interests and operate through numerous countries. Denmark continues to export weapons to Israel.

So far as Australia is concerned, we have done next to nothing!

As for the rest of the world, we do have some positives. The Netherlands has an arms embargo in place. Turkey has put in place an economic sanction. Ireland and Norway have indicated an intention to comply with the ICJ ruling. Canada has imposed sanctions on the most prominent West Bank settlement organization, Amana, and other settlement movements. No doubt many non-Western countries are acting responsibly.

How do you as a responsible Australian feel about Australia’s response? What do you want to happen? Start by demanding that Australia end the delegitimisation of the ICJ. Then demand full and formal recognition of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Then demand an end to business as usual, i.e. trade, with Israel.

https://johnmenadue.com/we-are-avoiding-the-truths-set-out-on-gaza-by-the-international-court-of-justice/

READ FROM TOP

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

Students and professors of the Instituto Superior de Diseños (ISDI), inaugurated an exhibition of posters related to Palestine, its culture, identity and the genocide by Israel to which they are subjected.

RELATED:

Israeli Aviation Continues to Wreak Havoc on Civilians in Gaza

The works mix the colors of the Palestinian flag with lines that intersect to become kufiyas, faces of children, women or doves of peace.

According to the vice-dean of ISDI, “Ernesto Fernández, this initiative is a cry for peace, a call to the essence of the human being, a voice on behalf of children without a voice, because Palestine hurts and from that pain is born creation and love”.

One of the exhibitors, Sofia Chico, explained that the exhibition seeks to make visible and condemn the genocide of “Israel” against Palestine. “The least we can do as communicators and human beings is not to stop talking about it,” he explained.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/cuban-design-students-open-art-exposition-supporting-palestine/

READ FROM TOP

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

WE ALREADY HAVE MENTIONED THIS MANY TIMES BUT IT STILL DESERVES TO BE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN... THE IDF GUNSHIPS KILLED MOST OF THE ISRAELIS ON OCTOBER 7....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxXYMva1Qx4

Winter of discontent + Hannibal Directive written in Israeli blood + Freed Sarah Wilkinson + Netanyahu’s trembling hand on the trigger

READ FROM TOP

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.