NOVANEWS
Dear Fiends,
This evening’s message contains 6 items, all from our domestic press. I haven’t had a chance yet to check out the international media. But even if I’ve missed something, the 6 below cover grounds that are worth reporting.
Item 1 is about new proposed Israeli legislation, which seeks to deny human rights groups that cooperated with the Goldstone commission from having National Service volunteers. I had intended to ask several of these organizations what percentage of National Service volunteers make up their teams. But the truth is, even if none do, the issue at stake is political (as the editorial that comes after the report states), and the intention is to besmirch the human rights organizations that do so much to inform us of violations and also act to prevent them. This legislation is another right-wing move on the way to fascism!
Item 2 is a Haaretz editorial on the same subject, which opposes the proposed legislation.
In item 3 Merav Michaeli demands from Netanyahu to tell us “what yes?” after all the ‘nos.’ We need to know, she insists. We, the Israeli people, repress our fears, our feelings. For this to end we have to know what ‘yes’ Netanyahu has in mind for us. The trouble is, as Merav Michael implies, that he has no ‘yes,’ only ‘no.’
Akiva Eldar in item 4 (“With Netanyahu, the world is always against us”)
likewise criticizes Netanyahu. But he also criticizes the Palestinians for hedging about going to the UN to ask it to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. My feeling is that this is a tactic on their part to put the onus of no talks on Netanyahu. Palestinians have said that they are ready to talk. Netanyahu has hedged with his demands, first and foremost that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and secondly that all of Jerusalem be in Israel. Netanyahu knows full well that these are demands that the Palestinians cannot and will not accept. So it is smart of them, I think, to say we prefer talks to going to the UN. They know before hand that the chances for deliberation with Netanyahu and his crew are nil.
Item 5 claims that anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism are on the rise in Italy, but also confounds anti-Israel with anti-Jewish feeling. It might very well be true that both exist. I would not be surprised to learn that Israel’s conduct is the leading cause of sentiments as anti-Semitism as well as anti-Zionism and anti-Israel attitudes.
Item 6 takes pains to tell us that the 2nd flotilla will be coming without weapons, but with many people from different countries, and the reasons for coming. The propaganda that Israelis get about the flotilla, about Gaza are lies about Gaza not needing humanitarian aid, that the situation is so improved (that’s why there is a desperate lack of medical supplies in Gaza!), etc etc etc. The flotilla could be made of angels but Israelis would still believe that the aim is provocation, pure and simple. Thank goodness for people willing to stand up for right, for justice, and to face the consequences.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed that there will be no more murders on this upcoming flotilla, please. If you can do more, for instance convincing your governments to place sanctions on Israel if it acts brutally to the flotilla, please do.
Thanks,
Dorothy
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