Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2009, page 74
Publishers' Page
Terror on the High Seas.
On June 30, the Israeli navy hijacked a civilian relief boat carrying humanitarian relief to the besieged Gaza Strip (see story p. 20). Apparently it doesn’t take much to threaten the nuclear-armed international outlaw. But Israel does not stand—or attack—alone. Thanks to the U.S. Congress, which has awarded Israel $2.55 billion in military aid for the current fiscal year—and a $555 million advance on its 2010 subsidy—its belligerent actions are in no small part...
Funded by American Taxpayers.
But wait, there’s more! On the very day Israel was commandeering the Spirit of Humanity in international waters, the U.S. re-approved $3.8 billion in loan guarantees to the Jewish state. The remaining balance of a $9 billion package approved in 2002, the guarantees are contingent not on Israel abiding by international or humanitarian law, but to its government meeting certain fiscal targets. At least...
Those Targets Don’t Bleed.
Americans who rely on the mainstream media for their knowledge, however, would scarcely know either event had taken place. Nor would they learn of a report released July 1 by the International Committee of the Red Cross warning that the 1.5 million people living in Gaza are “trapped in despair” as a result of Israel´s continuous blockade since it ended its vicious 22-day attack. And where is the U.S. equivalent of Haaretz’s Amira Hass, who reported on June 29 that guards at a privately managed West Bank checkpoint are not allowing Palestinians to pass through if they are carrying with them...
“Too Much Food.”
Instead The Washington Post, purveyor of such nattering neocons as Robert Kagan, William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer (and others whose names begin with a different letter), on July 2 ran an op-ed by former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton calling for the expeditious bombing of Iran. As the protracted run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq proved...
These Guys Don’t Give Up.
We Applaud President Obama...
For not succumbing to pressure to attack Iran verbally (for starters). His insistence on not interfering with the country’s contested election results (see story p. 11) and resulting demonstrations not only was appropriate, but showed his understanding of the results of past U.S. meddling. While Americans may have short memories, much of the rest of the world does not.
The World Was Watching...
The dramatic events unfold on the streets of Tehran, and the U.S. media devoted hours to covering the showdown between Iranian protesters and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. New technology made it possible for Iranians to send videos of the police crackdown and Twitter accounts of the latest developments. We couldn’t help but compare the media interest in Iran with that of a far more brutal crackdown just months earlier. As a Gush Shalom ad published in the June 26 Haaretz put it:
Crocodile’s Tears
Those who oppress
Millions of Palestinians
For 42 years—
Rave about the freedom fighters
—in Iran.
Those who rejected the results
Of the Palestinian elections—
Are shocked by the thwarting
Of the people’s will
—in Iran.
Those who shoot and kill
Palestinian demonstrators
In Wadi Ara, Bilin and Nialin—
Shudder at the sight of
The police shooting protesters
—in Iran.
One vs. 11,000.
For all its military might and vaunted intelligence service, Israel has been unable to rescue Gilad Shalit, the IDF soldier captured and held in Gaza for the past three years. But Israel is perfectly happy to imprison more than 11,000 Palestinians, including women, children and elected legislators. According to the Palestinian Ministry for Prisoner Affairs, since 2000 Israel has arrested more than 6,500 children, mostly for throwing rocks. It now holds 389 political prisoners aged 18 and under. Palestinian prisoners—many held without being charged or tried, much less convicted—have been denied family visits, at times for years, and access to reading material, and now may be prevented from taking high school matriculation exams, which determine university eligibility.
Out of the Frying Pan...
On the day U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi cities, an American soldier serving in eastern Afghanistan was captured by the Taliban. This represented the first capture of a U.S. soldier since June 2006, when two troops were taken and killed south of Baghdad. Surely this is not...
Change We Can Believe In.
Think Before You Donate.
Our first annual donation appeal of 2009 is on its way to Washington Report readers. Like the rest of the world, this publication is pushing for a real change in U.S. policies in the Middle East. As you consider your contribution to the Washington Report, please reflect on what you can do to help accomplish this change. One generous booklover chose three informative books that he believes will educate policymakers (see p. 6), and funded the purchase and mailing costs. We’d like to send members of Congress the new book by James Scott, Attack on the Liberty (see the review by Liberty survivor James Ennes on p. 68 of the July Washington Report), along with a letter calling for an honest investigation into the Israeli attack and the subsequent 32-year cover-up. Or you may prefer to help edify your neighbor, co-worker, or in-law with summer reading from the AET Book Club or a subscription to the Washington Report. Please help us reach more readers. All you champions for human rights, together we can...
