We Americans Are Sick and Tired of Israel

As I browsed through the heavily propaganda laden MSNBC web site, which is known as an Israeli mouthpiece, I noticed Newsweek released an article today declaring that the last time Israel was isolated it committed some pretty crazy acts. My take on the whole article was that if Israel isn’t treated with kid gloves, in other words, if Israel isn’t treated differently than we treat the rest of the world who commits outrageous acts, then they will commit more outrageous attacks and it will be our fault for isolating Israel.

Now, Iran has been isolated for awhile. They have decided to pursue nuclear weapons, counter to what the world had requested, or at least to enrich uranium to a level higher than necessary for power production, and do we treat them with kid gloves or give them special treatment, because we know that when Iran is isolated, they do some pretty crazy stuff too.

In further reading the article, it goes on the explain how Israel buddied up to the apartheid regime in South Africa, a common brother in a minority running a country where the majority is not of your race or religion. Beyond shared tactics, the Israeli’s pumped a billion dollars into the apartheid regime that eventually fell.

In an attempt to scare the populace, the author claims that Israel has the money and desire to align themselves with a rogue regime and with their desire to attack Iran, it could prove to be disastrous. Tell me again, how a war between Israel and Iran, with the US on the sidelines, stands to hurt anyone but Israel. The author is obviously trying to manipulate the reader to believe that if we think that Iran is a rogue regime, piss off Israel and see what you get.

That is hardly the reasoning a sane person uses to establish diplomatic ties between two countries. The same outrageous behavior we condemn and criticize every Muslim nation in the world for enacting, we now give carte blanche to Israel to appease them and not act like a lunatic, pariah state. Isn’t this where we say that the crazy people are running the insane asylum?

Granted, Obama has done nothing to endear himself to any side in this conflict. That is what happens when you have to straddle a fence, because what is right, is not what is putting money in your campaign coffers. I mean, if we could get as many wealthy Arabs funding campaigns in the US as we have Jews, then the Arabs would have a much greater say in what happens, but as we know, Obama is owned by the Israeli lobbies, like much of the US government, and therefore he can not do what is right, he is stuck doing what is politically prudent. As such, he aggravates the Israeli’s because unlike Bush, he actually had the audacity to stand up to Netanyahu on the settlement issue, which prompted right wing protests in Israel calling Obama everything from the “N” word to a Muslim extremists.

Of course, Obama irritates the Muslim world, because even though he actually stood ground on the settlement issue, he eventually backed off enough to give Netanyahu and escape route without losing face. In addition, Obama continues to call Israel an ally to the end, regardless of their actions, when allies should be determined specifically on their actions, not on how much money they put in the bank for you.

For over 60 years the US has provided coverage for Israel for every action from Sabra and Shatilla, to Beit Hanoun, from the Gaza beach massacre to the Operation Cast Lead massacre. From Rachel Corrie being run over by a bulldozer to British journalist Thomas Hurndell being shot by snipers, from children in Gaza being used as sniper targets to 12 year old Dua abd al Qader, who was shot in the head because she was playing too close to the wall. This not only angers the Muslim community, I am an American born citizen in America, and I can only see rage when I think of those things. Especially the last, with Dua Abd al Qader, who was shot while I was there, and as a reporter, I was the one to report it, to announce it on Palestinian radio. It was hard to not hear my voice quiver with sadness and ire. It is hard not to think crazy thoughts myself when I rethink that day.

The Israeli propaganda machine is running full speed after this latest incident and they have called in their boys from all over the US to start the rumor and innuendo mill so that they can start to manipulate the American opinion on this latest attack. Unfortunately, Israel has overplayed the propaganda card, and even Americans no longer believe what is written in their own papers. Americans are now smart enough to check the BBC, (news.bbc.co.uk) and other international papers, where we know, that our government and the Israeli media conglomerate in the US, has not put their dirty little hands on articles and redacted anything that is negative about Israel.

Undoubtedly, Israel has crossed the line, and the world knows it. The question is, is the US going to continue to ignore what Israel is doing, regardless of the damage it does to the US, regardless of how it targets the US, regardless of how it makes US citizens targets around the world, regardless of how it makes US business targets overseas, regardless of how it hurts the US to continue to support Israel, or…

Is the United States actually going to stand up and say, we have reached the end of the siege on Gaza, we are no longer going to allow Israel to treat the Palestinian population as less than human. We are no longer going to allow indiscriminate arrests of Palestinians without due cause or process. We are no longer going to allow the detention of Palestinians without due cause or process. We are no longer going to issue Israel a blank check to close roads, build roadblocks, and restrict the flow of the Palestinians. We are going to make Israel treat the Palestinians with dignity and respect, the type of dignity and respect that we Americans demand on a daily basis, the type of dignity and respect that Palestinians have to beg for and are denied.

America is paying lip service to what is right in the Middle East and Americans are getting tired of putting our children on the line to fight Iraq for Israel, we are tired of putting our children on the line to threaten Iran for Israel. We are tired of taking our tax dollars, when many of us are barely making ends meet and provide those dollars to Israel so they can violate international law, and thumb their noses at the world, because they have the backing of the world’s superpower. We are tired of reading in the papers, day after day, about more Israeli attacks, more people killed by Israel, we are tired of reading about how Israel stole passports and killed a man in Dubai, we are tired of reading about civilians being killed by a heavy handed, brutal violent regime, and stamping “Made in the US” on these actions.

Quite frankly, we Americans are sick and tired of Israel.

No More, No More, Boycott Israeli products.

No more. No more. That is what I told myself this morning. When I realized the extent and horror of what the Israeli government had authorized against an unarmed, convoy of peace activists, is tantamount, clearly surpassing the 1970 Kent State riot shooting in the US, which in conjunction with Watergate brought down then President Nixon. In talking with James Reston, aide to Frost and main player in crafting the interview that brought us “I am not a criminal”, it was clear that the Kent State shootings played heavily on his mind and was a driving factor in bringing down that president. In a presentation that he did, in which I assisted him with on the A/V side, he added a slide picture of the shootings in conjunction with Neil Young’s popular song “Ohio”, relating to that shooting. Clearly, the imagery and the music, brought the message forward about just how inhumane shooting innocent civilians can be.

I have written literally thousands of articles, went to the occupied territories and did humanitarian aid work, I have lobbied, protested and screamed at the top of my lungs, but I just haven’t found that magical word, that magical phrase that hits home with my fellow Americans that these are people, first and foremost, people who like ourselves have very little to say about what their government does. They have as much control over Hamas as I do over Obama and his support for Israel. I know the frustration of the people, but like the Serbian people who stood on bridges with targets on their shirts challenging the United States Air Force, what are they supposed to do, show love for their captors, for the people who have caged them inside walls, from individuals who support those people who commit these crimes against these people.

After this last attack on an Aid Ship heading for Gaza, Israel expanded its war against the Palestinians to now include 32 nations represented in that flotilla. And as Turkish Prime Minister Erdoggan stands up against Israel, the silence from other countries represented in that flotilla is deafening. I think Nicaragua is one of the only other countries who has withdrawn their ambassador, not Egypt, not any of the other countries in the world who have relations with Israel. It is sad to think that Nicaragua is leading the world in doing what is right, but from my point of view, I only know I have a much deeper respect of the Nicaraguan government than my country would like me to have.

So, no more, no more, what does that mean? Well, I have been an avid proponent of the Palestinian peoples for almost a decade now. I became supportive of them because I had the chance to sponsor a Muslim child in the occupied territories and that led me to research and understand a lot more. The trip I took 4 years ago cemented it in my mind, what is happening there is wrong and why is my government supporting it. As I said earlier, I have tried everything I can think of to changed the situation except what everyone else has suggested and I have always thought as a waste of time. In addition, I like a lot of the things I am going to have to give up, but I think the time has come.

Boycott Israel. That is what I am talking about. And I don’t mean don’t do major business with and Israeli company, I mean not supporting anyone who supports the Zionist regime in charge in Israel. I am the first to admit that if I need a tube of caulk or a good price on wood, I am going to Home Depot, no more, no more. When my girlfriend wants that new Estee Lauder perfume, no more, no more. I love my soft drinks and my Coke products, but for my friends in Palestine, no more, no more, and actually, it is probably better for my health.

So no more, no more, means no more supporting any Israeli products no matter how much I enjoy them, knowing how much suffering is going on in Palestine and I am supporting the companies that support a Zionist regime. Will they miss my money, probably not, but with this blog, I am hoping that I can convince a number of you to join me. If you feel as though this was an unjust act, even if you think Israel is correct in its blockade, but crossed the line on this. If you are Jewish and you feel the Israeli government is not listening to your desire to have peace with the Palestinians, or if you are like me, an American who has seen more bad things with his own eyes against the Palestinians that I don’t need another reason to boycott, join me. Lets change the world, one product at a time.

I have included some of these products in this blog and a link to the website that has its own reasoning for why you should join.

KIMBERLY-CLARK 
In 1998 Mr. Robert P. Van der Merwe, chairman of Kimberly-Clark Europe received the Jubilee Award by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is the highest tribute ever awarded by the "State of Israel" in recognition of those individuals and organizations, that through their investments and trade relationships, have done the most to strengthen the Israeli economy.
COCA-COLA 
From 1966 onward Coca-Cola has been a staunch supporter of Israel. Recently the Government of Israel Economic Mission honored Coca-Cola at the Israel Trade Award Dinner for its continued support of Israel for the last 30 years and for refusing to abide by the Arab League boycott of Israel.
NESTLE 
Swiss food giant Nestle will set up a global research and development center for snack foods next year in Sderot, a town in Israel's Negev desert, the Maariv newspaper reported on Sunday. Nestle owns 50.1 percent of Israeli food maker Osem Investments and the two together produce snack foods at a plant in Sderot.
INTEL 
Intel is one of the biggest supporters of Israel. Their very first development center outside the US was opened in Haifa in 1974. Since then they have continued pouring investment in to Israel. By year 2000 they employed over 4000 Israelis. Exports from their Lachish-Qiryat Gat plant in israel total $3 million a day at peak capacity - approximately $ 1 billion a year. The Intel plant at "Qiryat Gat" is built on land Israel confiscated from the Palestinian villages of Iraq al Manshiya. Iraq al Manshiya was a village of 2000 people living in 300 houses with two mosques and one school. The original Palestinian inhabitants were terrorized out of the village and then the whole village was razed to the ground to prepare the way for the new Israeli settlement of Qiryat Gat. Today the remaining population from Iraq al Manshiya is still not allowed to return.
SARA LEE 
In 1998, Mr. Lucien Nessim of Sara Lee Personal Products received the Jubilee Award by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is the highest tribute ever awarded by the "State of Israel" in recognition of those individuals and organizations, that through their investments and trade relationships, have done the most to strengthen the Israeli economy
DISNEY 
The Disney Company is owned by Jewish Mogul Michael Eisner. He owns a vast media empire that includes the ABC television network, numerous news dailies, national magazines, Hollywood film companies and a large number of radio stations. One radio station in Los Angeles, KABC 790 AM recently broadcast comments by Jewess Gloria Alred to the effect that the Islamic prisoners at Guantanamo should be tortured by having their "balls" extracted with pliers in order to make them talk. The news and commentaries made through Michael Eisner's media octopus are extremely Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian.

Click on the blog title to take you to the a website that lists more labels and products to boycott.

Shalom, Shukran and thank you and please join me in no more, no more!!!

Israel: Obama's Master

Gaza. That word evokes so many feelings from so many people, on both sides of the spectrum, that it has become more important a piece of ground than New York City. Only in New York City, terrorism led to the failing of 7 buildings and the lives of 3000+ people. A tragedy by all accounts. But let us relate this to Gaza.

Gaza has had virtually every government building destroyed. Israel even destroyed the UN buildings. Granted they paid the UN for them, but they haven’t been rebuilt, and therefore no longer provide services, exactly what Israel wants. No one, any where should be allowed to provide any support to any person in the Gaza strip. Plain, straight up, that is what the Gaza blockade is. Virtually every building in Gaza is not suitable for habitation yet they are not allowed any supplies to rebuild.

As far as civilian losses, several Israeli massacres can account for the 3000+ dead in Gaza alone. Not to include those civilians killed while Israel was carrying out its ongoing incursions, not to count the people who are dying of starvation daily, not to mention those who die on the border, because they can’t cross and get medical treatment. This to me is a tragedy and this to me is terrorism. And to me, it is a far worse act than Al Qaeda exacted on the US. Israel makes Al Qaeda look like a pre-school for terrorists. If you followed the Dubai murder, that will show you the number of people, the type of people and how the Israeli government operates. If we don’t like you, you are dead, our big brother Obama told us it was ok. Did we ever find out where that other passport came from, you know, the one they wont tell us what country it came from, my guess, the US.

When we can upturn the world with our military and kill millions of people over what happened in New York, what does that say about the people of Gaza. For every 3000 Palestinians killed there were a million Israeli’s killed, then we would have a fair playing surface. But that is not the case, and more and more Palestinians and civilians are dying the fewer Israeli’s are dying. That could say that it is working, but all it is saying is that the Palestinians have chosen a new path of resistance, however, Israel can not lose it’s violent response even to peaceful protests.

I think the world has a new tragedy on it’s hands. Someway or other, Obama will deflect himself from this, even though it was from his own lips that we were going to start anew with the Muslim community. Oh that is right, the Muslim community that Israel tells them it is ok to negotiate with. That is right, we were never going to negotiate with Iran, yet we did, why does Hamas scare Obama so much? They don’t, but Obama has been paid by the Israeli lobby to isolate Hamas and our cowardly President who started out with a lot of talk, has taken to the bully pulpit like his predecessor and his main supporter, Israel. Not only that, but Obama is a coward, unable to fight his battles with anything other than a foul mouthed Jew who is his main confidant. Could that say more. The Jews put your minority butt in the White House and we can take it out, that is what Israel believes and I believe they have Obama on a short leash. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we hoped Obama was different, but he is not. As soon as the Jewish lobby waved the Presidency and the money under his nose, he was a good boy and followed along two steps back and to the left like we knew he would.

What does it take to bring to the ears of the President the truth of Palestine? Not that he doesn’t already know, but what could make it mean something to him? What is more powerful than the Israeli lobby, because every American knows that what the Israeli’s are doing, have been doing and continue to plan on doing, is immoral, unjust and wrong.

Unfortunately, until we can determine the answers to those previous questions, we can most assuredly be certain that nothing will change. As long as Obama continues to believe that Israel can do no wrong, as long as Obama is bought and paid for by the Israeli lobby, until we can have the American media tell the truth about what happens in the occupied territories, it won’t change. I would love to have the ear of the President for about 15 minutes on this subject. Having researched this subject, been to Palestine, continued to be actively involved, I believe I could make him see different.

I believe Obama knows the truth, yet is too scared to pursue it. He knows Israel spit in his face on the settlement issue, that Obama looked like a fool, that he is now excluding himself from this process, because he doesn’t have the fortitude or the testicles to stand up to Israel, it’s lobbies, and its ownership of the Senate. This job would take a real man, who we thought we got when we elected Obama, but not the case. Just another American President who knows where the money comes from and knowing how to walk two steps back and to the left and call Israel “Master”.