No More Shyness: AUB Normalizing with the ’Israeli’ Enemy!

Marwa Osman

Treason is not a perspective.  Treason is an act of betraying one’s country by waging war against it or by consciously or purposely acting to aid its enemies.  It is a crime defined in every state’s constitution and is punishable by death in many countries. Why should it be any different in Lebanon?

Well, it is not but as we all know by now, Lebanon is a special country in nearly every aspect of life.  Whether it is a social, political or a military scandal, we tend to have multiple views around it and bicker until a new scandal starts to trend.  This time however, I chose to write about it to make sure legal action is taken against the American University of Beirut [AUB].

It is not acceptable for a university within the Lebanese borders from whomever it is funded by to break the law blatantly and without any remorse while the Lebanese judiciary system sits and watches.

The screenshot you see below this Op-Ed’s title is that of an email sent to AUB students by the career center of AUB. The career center is a department within AUB and its role is to secure jobs for AUB graduate students and internships of AUB undergraduate students.

As clearly stated in the email, the job offer sent by the AUB career center is in a company called “Check Point Software Technologies.”  Now, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. is an “Israeli” multinational provider of software and combined hardware and software products for IT security, including network security, endpoint security, mobile security, data security, and security management.  Its headquarters are in Tel Aviv, “Israel” [occupied Palestine] and San Carlos, California, USA as shown in the table below which can be easily found with a little research. The company was founded by “Israeli” nationals Gil Shwed, Shlomo Kramer and Marius Nacht in 1993.

One can see this screenshot and ask why is AUB doing this?  What motive do the people urging the students to take on such job offers bear in mind? It is quite simple to be honest; it is for the end goal of normalization with Lebanon’s enemy,
“Israel”. The same “Israel” that has carpet-bombed Beirut the capital of Lebanon, its suburbs, its southern districts, and the entire country’s infrastruction several times over the past 40 years.  Apparently, what AUB still does not fathom is that normalization with the enemy is a crime.

Whether those running AUB acknowledge normalization as a crime or not is not the case and should not be the case.  The case is simply AUB broke the law by offering this job because it is giving its students the chance to travel and work in
“Israel” while “travel, accommodation and training expenses are covered by the company.”  Hence, it is not only encouraging normalization; it is tempting students to do it by securing full payment coverage as they go for it and betray their country.

We already know that AUB most probably will try to dodge this crime by saying the job offer is not for Lebanese students rather for foreign ones.  However, what AUB seemingly refuses to acknowledge is that its campus falls on Lebanese territories and hence is within the jurisdiction of the Lebanese law and any crime committed shall be dealt with by Lebanese authorities.

Letting this one go this time, will permeate further violations of the Lebanese law by the same university of by other institutions operating inside Lebanon under the pretext of “it’s not for Lebanese students,” or “it slipped our minds” or “we are sorry, it won’t happen again.”

By exposing such behavior, we as Lebanese trust the Lebanese authorities will take the right legal actions against those who have committed this crime. I will not hide the fact that this also makes me concerned a lot for the future of my children’s education in this country if such acts of normalization are not dealt with swiftly and firmly.  AUB is indeed a very prestigious and esteemed university at the level of the quality of education and knowledge it provides, but it seems those running it need a reminder that it is operating on Lebanese soil to provide education and knowledge to “Lebanese” students first before any other foreign student.

AUB already had several head turning decisions like that of terminating the job of Palestinian American professor Steven Salaita for no apparent reason other than stimulation a few Zionists back in the US and “Israel” for offering him a job to begin with.  Another incident worth mentioning is when AUB banned independent political analyst Dr. Mohammad Marandi from participating in a BBC debate that was scheduled to take place on March 8, 2018 on AUB campus on the basis that he is “Iranian”. That was a decision made by the American University of Beirut, which hails itself as a sanctuary of freethinking in the Middle East and claims to provide a platform for freedom of speech.

Similarly, this new decision to offer such a job that seeks to normalize ties with Lebanon’s number one enemy was also made by the American University of Beirut which supposedly encourages in the about section of its website the “freedom of thought[…] personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.” Maybe AUB’s board of trustees should reinstate the university’s mission if those employed in it have set their minds to include “normalization” within the university’s vision for their current and future students.

Source: Al-Ahed news

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against Palestinians (09 – 15 August 2018)

PCHR Weekly Report 

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 09 – 15 August, 2018.

Israeli warplanes fired 60 missiles targeting many areas in the Gaza Strip; a Pregnant woman and her baby were killed, and 25 other civilians, including 4 children and 4 women, were wounded.

Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against Palestinian protestors in the Gaza Strip. 3 Palestinian civilians, including a volunteer paramedic, were killed, while a civilian succumbed to his pervious wounds. 157 Palestinian civilians, including 27 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 2 paramedics, were wounded; 11 of them sustained serious wounds.

Shooting:

Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized within the activities of the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed for the 20^th week in a row peaceful demonstrations along the eastern and northern Gaza Strip border area. During the reporting period in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including a 9-month pregnant woman, while another civilian succumbed to his previous wounds. Moreover, the Israeli forces wounded 182 civilians, including 31 children, 6 women, 2 journalists, and 2 paramedics. Eleven of those wounded sustained serious wounds. 157 of the wounded persons, including 27 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 2 paramedics, were injured while participating in Return and Breaking Siege March, while the rest of the wounded persons were injured during launching airstrikes.  In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 6 civilians, including 2 children. All of those wounded sustained wounds during the incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, Enas Suleiman Ahmed Abu Khammash (23), a 9-month pregnant, and her child Bayan Mohammed Kamel Abu Khammash (a year and a half) were killed after a missile fell over thier house in Wadi al- Salqa village in the center of the Gaza Strip. Enas’s husband Mohamed Abu Khammash, who sustained shrapnel wounds throughout his body, rented the house.

On 10 August 2018, Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians, including a paramedic, after opening fire at thousands of Palestinian civilians participated in Return and Breaking Siege March, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Two of the above-mentioned civilians were killed on the same day while the 3^rd one succumbed to wounds he sustained at next day dawn.

In the same context, medical sources announced the death of Wesam Yusuf Abdullah Hejazi (30), from Khan Younis, while he was at an ambulance in the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing. Wesam succumbed to wounds he sustained during his participation in the Return demonstration, east of the city. Wesam was wounded on 14 May 2018,  after being hit with a live bullet to the head by the Israeli forces while targeting thousands of participants, who were near the border fence with Israel, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah village.

During the reporting period, while using the excessive force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, the Israeli forces wounded 157 Palestinian civilians, including 27 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 4 paramedics. Eleven of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Injuries in the Gaza Strip during this Week

Governorate	Injuries
	Total	Children	Women	Journalists	Paramedics	Critical Injuries
Northern Gaza Strip	35	10	2	0	1	4
Gaza City	50	2	0	0	0	0
Central Gaza Strip	13	2	0	0	0	1
Khan Younis	36	4	0	0	3	3
Rafah	23	9	0	2	0	3
Total	157	27	2	2	4	11

As part of targeting the border areas, on 10 August 2018, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza strip fired an artillery shell at a residential house, southeast of al-Buraij, in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, the house was partially damaged, but no casualties were reported.

On 15 August 2018, Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian farmers while they were working in their lands. As a result, the farmers were forced to leave their lands fearing for their lives, but no casualties were reported.

As part of the airstrikes, on 04 August 2018, Israeli warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes at military sites belonging to the Palestinian resistance groups, civilian targets and open lands, in which 60 missiles were fired.  As a result, 25 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and 4 women, sustained shrapnel wounds, in addition to the injury of dozens of civilians due to scattering the glasses. The Israeli bombing resulted in the destruction of the Sa’ed al-Mishal Cultural Centre located on ‘Aydiyia Street in Southern al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.  The 400-sqaure-meter building was comprised of 5 floors, which includes the Egyptian community’s office. The Israeli warplanes directly launched 3 airstrikes at the abovementioned building, causing material damage to nearby houses and shops.

As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, pointing out to the ongoing Israeli policy of targeting their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 5 shooting incidents at the fishermen, including 4 in the northern Gaza Strip and 1 in the centre of the Gaza Strip. During these attacks, Israeli naval forces arrested 5 fishermen from the same family.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 6 civilians, including 2 children. All of them were wounded during the incursions.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 53 Palestinians, including 3 children and 2 women, in the West Bank.  Meanwhile, 18 other civilians, including 10 women, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Among those arrested were a journalist ‘Ali Dar ‘Ali (35), who works as a reporter at Palestine Channel. ‘Ali was arrested from his house in Barham village, northwest of Ramallah.

Israeli Forces Continued their Measures to Create a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem

As part of demolishing houses and civilian facilities, on 15 August 2018, the Israeli Municipality demolished a residential building comprised of 2 under-construction apartments belonging to Nader Nsaer Abu Riyalah in al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The Israeli Municipality fixed a demolition order to the building 2 weeks ago, so his lawyer headed to the municipality to freeze the order and license the building. The Israeli bulldozers suddenly demolished the building.

As part of confiscating lands in favor of settlement projects, Israeli Municipality staff moved into Silwan village, south of Occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They fixed notices to confiscate dozens of dunums in Wadi al-Rababah and al-‘Abbassya neighborhoods and attached numbered maps with them showing the parts that are meant to be confiscated under the pretext of “gardening free lands”. Wadi Hilweh information center in Silwan issued a statement refuting the Israeli Municipality’s claims. The statement said that the notices, which were fixed by the Israeli Municipality staff, threaten dozens of dunums of Silwan village in Wadi Rababahb, Wadi Hilweh, Be’r Ayoub and al-Nabi Dawood neighborhoods. All the lands belong to the inhabitants of Silwan, who have all documents and ownership papers, and some other lands belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Wadi Hilweh information center refuted the Israeli Municipality’s claim that those plots of lands are empty.

As part of Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

As part of demolishing crimes, on 09 August 2018, Israeli forces demolished a shop belonging to ‘Ali al-Shaiekh Khalil (45) in Marj Na’jah village, north of Jericho. ‘Ali said that he was shocked by the Israeli forces raiding his shop and then demolishing it without allowing him to vacate its contents. It should be noted that the shop was built on an area of 40 square meters and used for selling foodstuffs.

On the same day, engineers and surveyors belonging to the Israeli authorities started to place signs and markers for a number of places in Khelet al-Daliya in the center of Nahaleen village, west of Bethlehem, in order to link the area with the settlement street No. (60). This street is wrapped around ‘Arqoub 4 villages to reach “Betar Illit” settlemen, which is established on Khelet al-Daliya lands. The four villages that have border links with each other are part of the so-called Arqoub villages, with a total population of 20,000.

On 14 August 2018, Israeli forces demolished an under-construction-house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ali al-Dabwani (35) in Dir Dabwan village, east of Ramallah. The house was completely demolished without any warning under the pretext of non-licensing.The 2-story-house was built on an area of 250 square meters 5 months ago and was overlooking at “Migron” settlement, which was established on the lands of Barqa village, adjacent to Deir Dabwan village.

Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:

Israeli forces continued its excessive use of lethal force for the 20^th consecutive Friday against peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The demonstrations were named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege.” The demonstrations were also in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to move the U.S. Embassy to it. The demonstrations were as follows during the reporting period:

Gaza Strip:

• At approximately 16:00 on Friday 10 August 2018, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampment established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of young men approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, flew kites, set fire to tires, and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The Israeli soldiers fired live bullets at them. Two tanks stationed adjacent to the demonstrators’ gatherings and heavily opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at them every now and then at the demonstrators and around them. the clashes continued until approximately 20:00. As a result, Abdullah Sabri ‘Atiyah al-Qutati (22), a volunteer paramedic at the  Pulse of Life Youth Team, was killed. At approximately 18:00, al-Qutati was hit with a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. Al-Qutati was on duty along with his colleagues, who were present among the demonstrators, to rescue the wounded civilians. It should be noted that the paramedics, who were wearing the distinctive uniforms that emphasizes the nature of their work, work with a distance of 30 meters away from the border fence. Al-Qutati immediately died after his arrival at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, at approximately 19:00 on the same day. Paramedic  Ra’ed al-Sharif said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he was standing next to Abdullah al-Qutati on a distance of 15 meters away from the barbed wire, which is about 50-100 meters into the west of the main border fence. Moreover, ‘Ali Sa’ed ‘Ali al-‘Aloul (55) was killed after being hit with a live bullet that penetrated his chest at approximately 17:50. Al-‘Aloul died after an hour and half of his arrival at Gaza European Hospital. The clashes further resulted in the injury of 23 civilians, including 9 children and 2 journalists with live bullets and its shrapnel. The wounded journalists were identified as:

1. Mahmoud Bassam Ahmed al-Jamal (24), a freelance journalist, was hit with a live bullet shrapnel to the left ear
2. ‘Ala’a Abdul Fattah Ibrahim al-Namlah (35), a reporter at al-Quds Network, was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.

The wounded civilians were taken to the medical point in the Return demonstrations and then transferred Abu Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah and Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis. Doctors classified 3 civilians’ injuries as serious. In addition, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures after tear gas canisters were heavily fired by the soldiers stationed along the border fence and by drones hovering over the protesters. An ambulance also was hit with a live bullet to the left door, which led to breaking its window. At approximately 03:30 on Saturday, 11 August 2018, medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in khan Younis announced the death of Ahmed Jamal Suleiman Abu Louli (31) succumbing to his wounds  after being hit with 3 live bullets to the pelvis. Ahmed underwent a surgery that continued for 5 hours as he received 30 blood units. Ahmed then stayed at the ICU until his death was announced.

• Around the same time, hundreds of civilians swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the 20^th consecutive Friday titled “Freedom and Live.” The activities included raising flags, chanting national slogans, setting fire to tires and flying kites. Though the demonstrations were fully peaceful, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 48 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. Thirty eight of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel, 10 were hit with tear gas canisters.

• Around the same time, hundreds of civilians swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, 400 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. Dozens of them approached the border fence, set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The Israeli forces fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. The clashes continued until approximately 20:30 on the same day. As a result,13 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. Eleven of them were hit with live bullets and 2 were hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were taken via ambulances belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors classified their injuries between minor and moderate.

• Around the same time, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampment, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis, to participate in the demonstrations established by the Supreme National Authority for “the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege”. They chanted national slogans and flew kites and balloons as hundreds of them, including women and children, approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and set fire. A number of them attempted to throw stones at Israeli forces. The Israeli tanks stationed adjacent to the demonstrators’ gathering and heavily opened fire every now and then at the  participants in order to disperse them. The Israeli snipers further deliberately and selectively targeted the participants in the back rows, who were about 200 meters away from the border fence The shooting continued until 20:00 on the evening. They also fired tear gas canisters at them. he clashes continued until approximately 20:00 on the same day. As a result, 36 civilians, including 4 children and 3 paramedics, were wounded. Twenty three of them were hit with live bullets and 7 others were hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred to Gaza European  and Algerian Hospitals in Khan Younis. Doctors classified 3 civilians’ injuries as serious.

• At approximately 16:30, hundreds of Palestinian swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. The protestors raised Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans and set fire to tires. Dozens of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The Israeli forces deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes continued until approximately 20:30 on the same day. As a result, 33 civilians, including 9 children, 2 women, and a paramedic, were wounded. Twenty nine of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel  and 4 were hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to PRCS, Medical Services, and the Ministry of Health to the Indonesian and al-‘Awda Hospitals. Doctors classified 4 civilians’ injuries as serious. The wounded paramedic identified as Khalid Hasan Ibrahim Ayoub (56), a paramedic at the Civil Defense from Beit Lahia, was hit with a tear gas canister to the back.

• At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 11 August 2018, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, opened fire at a group of civilians participating in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with live bullets to the lower limbs.

• At approximately 16:25 on Sunday, 12 August 2018, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a number of civilians participating in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities. As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded.

Civilian Succumbed to his Wounds:

• At approximately 22:30 on Sunday, 12 August 2018, medical sources announced the death of Wesam Yusuf Abdullah Hejazi (30), from Khan Younis, while he was in an ambulance in the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing. Wesam succumbed to wounds he sustained during his participation in the Return demonstration, east of the city. According to PCHR’s fieldworker, Wesam died at an ambulance in the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing. Wesam returned to the Gaza Strip after a failed attempt to send him to Turkey for medical treatment. Wesam’s family said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Wesam, who is married and has a child, was wounded on 14 May 2018,  after being hit with a live bullet to the head by the Israeli forces while targeting thousands of participants, who were near the border fence with Israel, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah village. During the demonstrations that were organized on 14 May 2018, tents were established for one day. Israeli forces used excessive lethal force killing 16 civilians and causing injuries to dozens of civilians. Many civilians sustained serious injuries, including Hejazi, who was hit with a live bullet to the head. Doctors classified his injury as serious and he entered into a comma in the ICU section at Gaza European Hospital. Wesam also underwent several surgeries, during which he stayed unconscious. The family mentioned that on 01 August 2018, Wesam obtained a medical referral to travel to Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment in Egypt, so that he would then be transferred to Turkey due to prior coordination. However, hospitals in Egypt refused to receive Wesam for his serious health condition. The family was then forced to admit him to Al-Sefarat Hospital in Cairo, which is a special hospital, until the travel procedures complete in Turkey. However, Wesam could not travel due to the refusal of the Egyptian Airline to transfer him. Therefore, the family was forced to bring Wesam Back to the Gaza Strip. He arrived at approximately 17:00  on Saturday, at the Egyptian Hall and stayed there until approximately 22:30 on the same day and his death was announced inside the crossing.

West Bank:

• At approximately 13:40 on Friday, 10 August 2018, a group of Palestinian civilians moved from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, to the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of the entrance to “Kedumim” The protestors chanted national slogans demanding to end the occupation, condemning the decisions to demolish Khan al-Ahmer Bedouin Community and deporting the inhabitants, and condemning the Israeli forces’ crimes against Palestinian protestors along the eastern border of the Gaza Strip within “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” activities. Several representatives of national factions in the northern West bank and a number of foreign and Israeli activists  participated in the demonstration. The Israeli forces dispersed the demonstrators by firing live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 50-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the chest. The Israeli forces also detained a PRCS ambulance in addition to other vehicles near the demonstration area. The soldiers used these vehicles as shields to hide behind them. they also prevented journalist Ja’far Ishtiyah from recording the incidents.

House Demolitions and Notices:

• On Wednesday, 15 August 2018, the Israeli Municipality demolished a residential building comprised of 2 under-construction apartments belonging to Nader Nsaer Abu Riyalah in al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mohamed Abu al-Humus, Member of the Follow-up Committee in al- ‘Issawiyia village, said that Israeli forces accompanied with bulldozers and Israeli Municipality staff moved into al- ‘Issawiyia village and completely surrounded the schools’ street. After that, the Israeli forces demolished the building, which was comprised of 2 apartments and belongs to Nader Abu Riyalah and his mother. He added that the building was built a year ago and it was sheltering his family, which includes many persons with disabilities. He pointed out that the Israeli Municipality fixed a demolition order to the building 2 weeks ago, so his lawyer headed to the municipality to freeze the order and license the building. The Israeli bulldozers suddenly demolished the building.

Confiscating Lands in Favor of Settlement Projects

• On Saturday morning, 11 August 2018, Israeli Municipality staff moved into Silwan village, south of Occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They fixed notices to confiscate dozens of dunums in Wadi al-Rababah and al-‘Abbassya neighborhoods and attached numbered maps with them showing the parts that are meant to be confiscated under the pretext of “gardening free lands”. The notices that were fixed included: “the Israeli Municipality chief wants to use his powers according to paragraph (2) of the law of local authorities (temporary use of an empty plot of land) in 1987. The Israeli Municipality claimed that the gardening activities include ” planting trees, installing a network and irrigation channel, making geotechnical strips, developing landscapes, arranging roads for walking, and Installing seating areas.”

Wadi Hilweh information center in Silwan issued a statement refuting the Israeli Municipality’s claims. The statement said that the notices, which were fixed by the Israeli Municipality staff, threaten dozens of dunums of Silwan village in Wadi Rababahb, Wadi Hilweh, Be’r Ayoub and al-Nabi Dawood neighborhoods. All the lands belong to the inhabitants of Silwan, who have all documents and ownership papers, and some other lands belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Wadi Hilweh information center refuted the Israeli Municipality’s claim that those plots of lands are empty and explained that all the lands are planted with olive trees, fig and berries for decades. The statement pointed out that the Israeli authorities have prevented the residents from planting new trees for years, in addition to arresting and threatening them by the “Nature Authority” when they work to improve the infrastructure in their lands. Israeli bulldozers also level lands and demolish the facilities established on the lands, especially in the areas of Wadi al-Rababah, where the authorities consider them as “public parks”.

Wadi Hilweh information center added in its statement that the Israeli Municipality claims that the confiscation order for gardening purposes will be temporary, for 5 years. The center explained that the Israeli authorities, whether the Municipality, or the Nature Authority, or the Antiquities Authority, seize the lands of Silwan village in various ways, especially that the lands included in the notices are considered as the most targeted lands in the village in favor settlement projects. Excavation works were conducted on Silwan village’s lands in order to establish a pedestrian bridge, which will link al-Thawri neighborhood and al-Nabi Dawood area, passing through Wadi al-Rababah Valley. In addition, construction works were conducted in the area to build a restaurant and paths for settlers and tourists, in addition to excavating and placing بavasts , in addition to exavacaists , in addition to exavacating and placing phantom graves fake graves. Moreover, the owner families of the lands, threatened by confiscation, emphasized that they deserve more than the Israeli authorities to plant and lay chains and irrigation channels in their lands but the Israeli authorities prevent and chase them if they do any work in their lands, even if they clean them.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

 Israeli forces’ attacks

• At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 9 August 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with a force of the Israeli Civil Administration and a military bulldozer moved into Marj Na’ja village, north of Jericho. They surrounded a commercial shop for selling foodstuffs belonging to ‘Ali al-Shiekh Khalil (45) and demolished it under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Ali said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces moved into the village, closed the main entrance to the village, imposed a siege on the area, and demolished his shop without a prior warning. He added that he was shocked by the Israeli forces raiding his shop and then demolishing it without allowing him to vacate its contents. It should be noted that the shop was built on an area of 40 square meters and used for selling

• On Thursday morning, 9 August 2018, engineers and surveyors belonging to the Israeli authorities started to place signs and markers for a number of places in Khelet al-Daliya in the center of Nahaleen village, west of Bethlehem, in order to link the area with the settlement street No. (60). This street is wrapped around ‘Arqoub 4 villages to reach “Betar Illit” settlemen, which is established on Khelet al-Daliya lands. Hassan Braija, Representative of the Wall and Settlement Committee, said that Israeli forces are seeking to turn Bateer, Wadi Fukin, Nahaleen and Housan villages, south of Bethlehem, into dwellings under the Israeli control, isolated from Bethlehem.  The four villages that have border links with each other are part of the so-called Arqoub villages, with a total population of 20,000. It was mentioned above that the Israeli forces placed signs and markers in Khelet al-Daliya area in the center of Nahaleen village, in order to link the area with the settlement street No. (60), which is wrapped around ‘Arqoub’s 4 villages, to reach “Betar Illit” settlement. After that, they will work to expand it to reach the road between Nahalin and Housan, opening and closing it for Israeli settlers only. In addition to that, expanding this street to include the street that connects Bateer and al-Khader villages together, after confiscating large areas of the lands.

Braija pointed out that there are at least 3 plans announced by the Israeli forces and they started implementing them at a cost of NIS 185 million. One of those plans is to excavate a tunnel from Jerusalem borders to reach “Beitar Illit” and “Eli Azar” settlements and to make Beir ‘Ouna site a part of Beit Jala city in the center of the road mentioned above. Moreover, they are working to build a railway parallel to that road to make the settlements established in the west of Bethlehem, one of its targets and to be linked with the railway between Haifa and Tal Aviv. In addition, they are working to double the number of Israeli settlers in the settlement of “Beitar Illit” from 60,000 to 120,000 in the next five years.

• At approximately 17:00, on Tuesday 14 August 2018, an Israeli force backed by a military vehicle and a bulldozer and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Deir Dabwan village, east of Ramallah. They surrounded an under-construction-house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ali al-Dabwani (35) and completely demolished it without any warning under the pretext of non-licensing.

Mohammed al-Dabwani said to PCHR’s field worker that the Israeli forces moved into the village on Monday evening and stationed in the center of the village. They surrounded his house from all directions and completely demolished it under the pretext of non-licensing. He added that he was surprised with a phone call from his neighbor informing him about demolishing his house. After that, he arrived to the area in which his house was built. The Israeli forces did not allow him to approach the house until they completely demolished it. He also said that he hasn’t received any construction violation before. The 2-story-house was built on an area of 250 square meters 5 months ago and was overlooking at “Migron” settlement, which was established on the lands of Barqa village, adjacent to Deir Dabwan village.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967.  PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005.  PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law.  Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

1. PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
2. PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
3. PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
4. PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
5. PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
6. PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
7. PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
8. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
9. PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
10. PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
11. PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
12. PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
13. PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
14. PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.

Fully detailed document available at the official website for the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR).

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From Sayyed Nasrallah to Axis of Resistance: Equations of Strategic Superiority!

Mohammad Ali Jafar

What has been taking place in Syria for the last 7 years “is another July war with the same objectives” and “soon we will emerge victorious from this major war in our region.” With these words, Hezbollah’s Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah summed up the substance of the conflict, linking the July War to the war raging in the region, especially the Syrian conflict. This linkage is sufficient when reflecting about the magnitude of the stakes laid out by the planners during the July 2006 war. The stakes were no smaller than those in the Syrian war. But the “Israeli” failure in 2006 was a prelude to the failure of the largest American project in the region with the Syrian war today being one of its consequences.

On Wednesday, Sayyed Nasrallah redrew the successful equations of the axis of resistance, placing them within their precise content and in their strategic context. Sayyed started from the accumulating number of victories by this axis, including the victory in August 2006. But it was within the context of past and ongoing victories. Sayyed intentionally put matters into a context in which the equations are linked, showing the strengths that the resistance enjoys today. What are the highlights of these points? And why should things be based on them?

Yesterday Sayyed laid down a number of rules starting from facts that have become indispensible in the calculations of the different parties. This is what gave Sayyed’s speech realism and power since it is a fundamental part of the discourse of the axis of resistance. The speech expressed several points that are in themselves pivotal to the resistance today and the enemies’ weaknesses. The most prominent are the following:

First: Tel Aviv failed to build a security belt on the Palestinian border along the Golan Heights. This means Tel Aviv did not emerge with any victories, even a direct geo-military victory. This situation is worse for the entity than it was before the war on Syria.

Second: the American project and the “Israeli” army lost all their strategic gambles as a result of the war in Syria, including betting on political allies to betting on terrorist groups militarily. This resulted in new political and military equations.

Third: the enemy picks options against regional players, depending on their weakness while at the same time recognizing the decline of their own strength. This can be added to the accumulated failures of the enemies, which are demonstrated by targeting civilians in the war on Yemen, attempting to impose the deal of the century and fabricating an economic war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Four: The strength of the axis of resistance in the battle was always steadfastness, regardless of the nature of the battle (soft or actual war), which contributed to the victories in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. This is what the enemy lacks. And because this axis won in previous battles, it will inevitably win in the current battle.

These are some of the strengths Sayyed highlighted. So, how can they be linked to the reality of the current conflict?

There is no doubt that the current reality is fraught with challenges that are often the most prominent concerns. But to read the reality accurately, there is a need to highlight the positive variables, their content within the conflict and their strategic impact on it. Yesterday, Sayyed laid the groundwork for this, putting the axis of resistance on the path that will inevitably end with victory. Why?

First, the war in Syria formed the ideal model for military, political and security cooperation between Washington and its Western and Arab allies. The West’s plan links this crowd with betting on results and the ability to dedicate international strategic equations in favor of the Western project of hegemony and restoring it after its failed wars. Thus, the result was that this model also failed, which is ideal.

Second, the defeat has become engraved in the minds of the “Israelis” as well as those in Washington and the West. The way “Israeli” army leaders and officials speak today about the reality of the current conflict recognizes the failure and defeat after the July 2006 war. Western intellectuals and thinkers who focus on a world of post Western hegemony agree with them.

Thirdly, the region is faced with a new reality in which other non-circumstantial equations are drawn. They are structural equations the effects of which will stretch into the coming years. The influence of present-day Russia did not exist before the Syrian war. For its part, the Islamic Republic of Iran oversees regional policies as a new godfather that understands the scope of the balances and interests of the parties. The gradual implications of the new regional and international balances are crystallizing. Thus, the economic war on Iran comes within this context, while the economic war on Turkey is directly related to accounts of economic geography.

Between the present and the future, Sayyed Nasrallah yesterday drew the power equations that have become the centerpiece of the resistance. His speech linked the history of victories with the current realities and charted future paths. Sayyed wanted to produce new material for the media that transcends the political characterization and focuses on the practical effects of the equations. Sayyed wanted the world to know that the reality of strength has become a fact!

Source: Al-Ahed News

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Iran’s reply: no war and no negotiations

The Saker

August 17, 2018

[This analysis was written for the Unz Review]

We can all thank God for the fact that the AngloZionists did not launch a war on the DPRK, that no Ukronazi attack on the Donbass took place during the World Cup in Russia and that the leaders of the Empire have apparently have given up on their plans to launch a reconquista of Syria.  However, each of these retreats from their hysterical rhetoric has only made the Neocons more frustrated and determined to show the planet that they are still The Hegemon who cannot be disobeyed with impunity. As I wrote after the failed US cruise missile strike on Syria this spring, “each click brings us closer to the bang“.  In the immortal words of Michael Ledeen, “Every ten years or so, the United States needs to pick up some small crappy little country and throw it against the wall, just to show the world we mean business“.  The obvious problem is that there are no “small crappy little countries” left out there, and that those who are currently the object of the Empire’s ire are neither small nor crappy.

Having now shown several times that for all its hysterical barking the Empire has to back down when the opponent does not cower away in fear, the Empire is now in desperate need to prove it’s “uniqueness” and (racial?) superiority.   The obvious target of the AngloZionist wrath is Iran.  In fact, Iran has been in the cross-hairs of the Empire ever since the people of Iran dared to show the AngloZionists to the door and, even worse, succeed in creating their own, national and Islamic democracy.  To punish Iran, the US, the USSR, France and all the other “democratic” countries unleashed their puppet (Saddam Hussein) and gave him full military support, and yet the Iranians still prevailed, albeit at a terrible cost.  That Iranian ability to prevail in the most terrible circumstances is also the most likely explanation for why there has not been an overt attack on Iran for the past four decades (there have, of course, there has been plenty of covert attacks during all these years).

I won’t list all the recent AngloZionist threats against Iran – we all know about them.  The bottom line is this: the US, Israel and the KSA are, yet again, working hand in hand to set the stage for a major war under what we could call the “Skripal-case rules of evidence” aka “highly likely“.  And yet,  in spite of all this saber-rattling, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has summed up Iran’s stance in the following words “there will be no war and no negotiations“.

First, let’s first look at Iranian rationale for “no negotiations”

The obvious: “no negotiations”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been very clear in his explanations for why negotiating with the USA makes no sense.  On his Twitter account he wrote:

The Iranian Supreme Leader even posted a special graphic summary to summarize and explain the Iranian position:

Finally, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his fundamental approach towards the AngloZionist Empire:

The contrast between the kindergarten-level low-IQ bumbling hot air and threats coming out of the White House and the words of Ali Khamenei could not be greater, especially if we compare the words the two leaders decided to post all in caps;

Trump: To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!

Khamenei: THERE WILL BE NO WAR, NOR WILL WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE U.S..

Notice first that in his typical ignorance, Trump fails to realize that Hassan Rouhani is only the President of Iran and that threatening him makes absolutely no sense since he does not make national security decisions, which is the function of the Supreme Leader.  Had Trump taken the time to at the very least check with Wikipedia he would have understood that the Iranian President “carries out the decrees, and answers to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country’s head of state“.  It is no wonder that Trump’s infantile threats instantly turned into an Internet meme!

In contrast, Khamenei did not even bother to address Trump by name but, instead, announced his strategy to the whole world.

Trump’s ALL IN CAPS meme

Of course, issuing  ALL IN CAPS threats just to be treated with utter contempt by the people you are trying to hard to bully and having your words become a cause of laughter on the Internet will only further enrage Trump and his supporters.  When you are desperately trying to show the world how tough and scary you are, there is nothing more humiliating as being treated like some stupid kid.  Therein also lies the biggest danger: such derision could force Trump and the Neocons who run him to do something desperate to prove to the word that their “red button” is still bigger than everybody else’s.

It is important to note here that making negotiations impossible is something the Trump administration seems to have adopted as a policy.  This is best illustrated by the conditions attached to the latest sanctions against Russia which, essentially, demand that Russia admit poisoning the Skripals.  In fact, all the western demands towards Russia (admitting that Russia is guilty for the Skripal case, that Russia shot down MH-17, that Russia hand over Crimea to the Ukronazis, etc.) are carefully crafted to make absolutely sure that Russia will not negotiate.  The sames, of course, goes for the ridiculous Pompeo demands towards the DPRK (including handing over to the USA 60 to 70 percent of its nukes within six to eight months; no wonder the North Koreans denounced a “gangster-like” attitude) or the latest US grandstanding towards Turkey.  Sadly, but the Neocon run media has successfully imposed the notion that negotiations are either a sign of weakness, or treason, or both.  Thus to be “patriotic” and “strong” no US official can afford to be caught red-handed negotiating with the enemy of the day.

Under these conditions, why would anybody want to negotiate with the US?

Frankly, the “no negotiations” approach makes perfectly good sense, and while the Iranians are the only ones who have openly said so, the Russians have hinted to the same on many occasions (see their words about the US being “non-agreement capable” or about US diplomats confusing Austria and Australia).  To any objective observer it should by now be completely obvious by now that a) the US cannot negotiate (due to intellectual, cultural and political limitations) and b) the US has no desire to negotiate.  This is, of course, a highly undesirable and dangerous situation, but it would only make things worse to pretend that civilized negotiations with the USA are possible.

So, if both sides agree on “no negotiations”, what about war?

The not so obvious: No war?

This is where Ali Khamenei’s stance is more puzzling, at least to me: when he says that there will be no war, does he mean that the US threats are not credible or does he mean that Iran has the means to deter a US attack?  His words make it sound like he is quite certain that there will be no war.  How can he be so sure?  I am especially amazed by the apparent Iranian confidence that the AngloZionists will not attack them when I compare it with the obvious Russian policy of actively preparing for war since at least 2014 (also see here, here, here, here, here and here).  Of course, Iran has been preparing for war with the USA since almost 40 years now whereas the Russians only woke up to reality comparatively recently.  I see several potential explanations for Ali Khamenei’s statement (there might be more, of course):

• Political: Iran is trying to demonstrate that it will do everything possible to avoid a war so that if a war should break out, it would be absolutely clear to everybody that Iran did not want it, Iran did not trigger it and the responsibility for the consequences fall entirely and solely upon the US and Israel.
• Deception: Iran knows that a war is coming but is trying to pretend like it won’t to better conceal the war preparations and lure the Empire into a sense of complacency resulting into an ineffective/costly attack.
• Intelligence: the Iranians might have intelligence indicating to them that all the US threats are just hot air spewed in order to appease the Israel Lobby and to look “patriotic” in preparation for the upcoming elections this Fall.
• Miscalculation: the Iranians might underestimate the level of hubris, arrogance and stupidity of the US leadership and mistakenly conclude that since an attack on Iran makes no sense and the US cannot “win”, such an attack will therefore not happen.

Personally, every time I think of a possible US attack on Iran I think of the Israeli attack on Lebanon in 2006 which happened in spite of the fact that it was plainly visible to everybody that the Israelis were waltzing straight into a conflict which they could not win and which, in fact, resulted into one of the most abjects defeats in military history.  Conversely, while Hezbollah did win a truly historical victory, it also remains a fact that Hezbollah leaders did not expect the Israelis to launch a full-scale ground offensive.  Finally, history is full of examples of wars which were started in spite of all objective factors indicating that they would end up in disaster.

It seems to me that in purely military terms (not in political ones!) Israel could be seen as a stand-in for the USA and Hezbollah as a stand-in for Iran and that the outcome of any future US-Iranian war will be very similar to the outcome of the war in 2006, albeit on a much larger (and bloodier) scale.  I am confident that the folks in the Pentagon realize that, but what about their Neocon bosses – do they even care about Iranian or, for that matter, US casualties?  I highly doubt it: all they care about is their power and messianic ideology.

If it weren’t for it’s nuclear arsenal, the USA could be dismissed as a particularly obnoxious country lead by ignorant leaders with bloated and mostly ineffective armed forces.  Alas, the US nuclear arsenal is very real (and still very capable) and we know that top-level US Neocons have already considered using tactical nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state’s conventional force in the past.  In a twisted way, this makes sense: if you are a megalomaniac infused with a sense of messianic superiority then international or even civilizational norms of behavior are of no interest (or even relevance) to you.  Listening to US Presidents, pretty much all of them (but especially Obama and Trump) it is pretty clear that these folks consider themselves to be the Kulturträger and the Herrenvolk of the 21st century and their messianism is in no way less delusional than the one of their Nazi predecessors (or, for that matter, the one of the Popes of the past 1000 years).  And why would the people who nuked two Japanese cities under the (entirely fallacious) pretext of “shortening the war” (almost a humanitarian operation!) not do the same thing in Iran?

Of sure, they probably realize that using nukes will result in a massive political backlash, but they are confident that no matter what happens in the end, they will always be able to say “screw you!” to the rest of the planet.  After all, this is something which Israel and the USA have been doing with almost total inpunity for decades already – why would they stop now?  As for the fact that the Persian people have been dealing with all kinds of invaders since no less than 2500 years will not stop the AngloZionists from trying to crush them.  After all, having laid waste to a country which many see as the cradle of civilization, Iraq, why not do the same thing to Iran?  Iraq, Iran – what’s the difference, they are all just “sand niggers” and our red button is bigger than theirs, right?

Standing up to Shaytân-e Bozorg (almost alone?)

It would be a big mistake to dismiss the USA because of its incapable military or moral bankruptcy.  The truth is that in terms of aggregate national power, the USA still remains the most powerful country on the planet (even if we don’t include nuclear weapons).  Anyone doubting that needs to look how how the currencies of the countries the US is singles out for attack suddenly began slipping: the Russian ruble (which has since bounced back), the Iranian rial, the Venezuelan bolivar, the Turkish lira, etc.) or how little time it took Trump to bring the (admittedly spineless) Europeans to heel.  As for Russia, for all her military might, she remains only a semi-sovereign country in which the pro-US/pro-Israeli “Atlantic Integrationists” continue to try to sabotage (often successfully) everything Putin and his supporters are doing.  I would not place big hopes in China either, especially considering the lack of meaningful Chinese action in Syria where Russia and Iran did all the heavy lifting.  Sadly, but the only ally Iran can truly count on is Hezbollah.  And while Hezbollah is considered a “non-state actor”, it has a formidable capability to strike at the USA’s colonial masters, especially in terms of missiles.  This will not protect Iran, but it could serve as a very real deterrent to the Israelis, especially since Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah he has made it clear that Hezbollah more than capable of taking on Israel.  For the time being, the Israelis are already preparing for a re-match against Hezbollah and they are massing forces in the north to prepare for a war against Hezbollah.

Does that look to you like there will be no war against Iran?

I hope so.  But to me it very much looks like an attack is pretty much inevitable.  I have been predicting such an attack since 2007 and, so far, I have been completely wrong (and thank God for that!).  The very first article I ever wrote for my blog was entitled “Where the Empire meets to plan the next war” ended with the following words:

So count with yet another imperial war of aggression, a barrel of crude at over 100$ and oil shortages, rocketing inflation, job losses, a stagnant real estate market and stock exchange, and a national debt and government deficit which would make even Reagan proud. And plenty of dead Americans (nevermind the Iranians, right?).  But don’t worry: there will still be a huge supply of Chinese-made US flags to wave!

And yet, 11 years later, the AngloZionist attack which looked so imminent in 2007 has not happened yet.  Could it be that this time again an attack on Iran can be avoided?  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears to be very confident that it will not happen.  I am not so sure, but I fervently hope that he is right.

The Saker

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