Comments for CMEC.org.uk http://cmec.org.uk Conservative Middle East Council Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:49:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Muslim Brotherhood clashes with Army over Egypt’s Constitution by Esakiraja http://cmec.org.uk/blog/egyptianconstitution/#comment-1485 Esakiraja Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:49:52 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1989#comment-1485 The main point is of course is that Egypt in ptiurcalar has been frustrated in its attempts to modernize. the chinese buddhist monk Taixu undertook a thorough modernization of buddhist education, coining a new term for it.But china was independent, Egypt ruled by Britain, was not able to pull it off.It would take some time to explain the reality of the social and gender relations in Egypt, but suffice it to say the main division is class, Egypt is class ridden to an horrific extent, you remember that scene in the Yackoubian Building, where the guy goes for a job with the police and the key question is what does your father do, ah a janitor the lowest job available, they laugh and dismiss him.Egyptians are very politically aware, and were like most 3rd world people a generation ago very socialist and this remains, but the terrible situation of feminists and others caught between huminatarian interventionists and no nothing proscriptive scholars is getting worse by the minute.Lets just look at the role of political islam.The muslims are of course well aware that fundamentalist islam is always associated with imperial penetration, the wahhabis were exterminated, twice, by the sublime porte and found shelter in the deobandi madrassa's of british india, before being reintroduced to the region, with brit support.This merry band of brothers being flown all over, bosnia, iraq etc, by the American government, were deployed in Iraq, not to fight against the occupation but to effect a sectarian war, which they did, didnt they. The utter nonsense about the sunni/shia divide is deeply unconvincing to us, except as gulf propaganda. If clinton was the first black president, bush was the first gulf potentate president so perfectly does reprise the act of the emirs and sultans. Americas fundie allies are terrifyingly brutal, favouring acts of astonishing cruelty, i watched so many beheading videos over the course of the last few years, quite a few from our noble allies in Libya, i think i am ready to be a fully islamophobic anti-arab racist, i can only imagine how it must seem to euro-americans, they are like grinning demons, on youtube you can watch the extraordinarily brave and dignified moutassim ghaddafi dismiss them contemptuously before his murder. Political islam is a disaster for us, true, but its dynamics are quite complex, it is obscurantism in the service of empire, in egypt class consciousness is intense, and those fighting for social justice find themselves caught between no nothing regressive islamists' and humanitarian interventionists, to repeat myself, Imperial powers just love the fundies, Afghani, Abduh, Rida, Kawakibi et al were responding to the limitations of wahhabism and other revivalist movements by advancing the idea that modern science and other innovations should be made generally available to the arabs through education, and many of the Ulema adopted a kind of simple positivism and faith in science.Frankly the islamic parties have little to offer us but Islam in the service of neo-liberalism is a gift to the empire, i have not been impressed by the arab spring', for various reasons, suffice it to say that saudi is the regional model favoured by the American regime and we will no doubt conform. The vice president of the FJP, the brothers political party is a copt, rafiq habib, associated with the wassatiya trend, i think its doomed but we may need to go through a period of faux islamism before a socialist trend reasserts itself.The arabs are exhausted, resistance is being stymied, and any attempt at independence is being thwarted by total destruction of the states, social space etc, our world is turning in to gaza, the hauteur of outsiders is frankly misplaced, we have many resources that could effect a social transformation, idiot islamism is not one of them however, but not all islamists are stupid or regressive. Here mutassim tells the adherents of american islam' to go to hell before they murder him. and Abdul Bassit recites al balad much favoured by socialistic and humanistic muslims, i first heard humanistic used as pejorative by an israeli rabbi, during a dialogue meeting it non-plussed me and i wrote an article for the FT called secular christian muslim' about it, when i used to give a damn and could express myself clearly those days are gone because what is there to say any more, now it will be war. Incidentally it really is worth checking out Smadar Levy about right wing arab jews in Israel, and the impasse we all face now.we do realize that our sorrows are about to get even worse, the getting of wisdom is a bloody business, and we are very dumb at the moment. The main point is of course is that Egypt in ptiurcalar has been frustrated in its attempts to modernize. the chinese buddhist monk Taixu undertook a thorough modernization of buddhist education, coining a new term for it.But china was independent, Egypt ruled by Britain, was not able to pull it off.It would take some time to explain the reality of the social and gender relations in Egypt, but suffice it to say the main division is class, Egypt is class ridden to an horrific extent, you remember that scene in the Yackoubian Building, where the guy goes for a job with the police and the key question is what does your father do, ah a janitor the lowest job available, they laugh and dismiss him.Egyptians are very politically aware, and were like most 3rd world people a generation ago very socialist and this remains, but the terrible situation of feminists and others caught between huminatarian interventionists and no nothing proscriptive scholars is getting worse by the minute.Lets just look at the role of political islam.The muslims are of course well aware that fundamentalist islam is always associated with imperial penetration, the wahhabis were exterminated, twice, by the sublime porte and found shelter in the deobandi madrassa’s of british india, before being reintroduced to the region, with brit support.This merry band of brothers being flown all over, bosnia, iraq etc, by the American government, were deployed in Iraq, not to fight against the occupation but to effect a sectarian war, which they did, didnt they. The utter nonsense about the sunni/shia divide is deeply unconvincing to us, except as gulf propaganda. If clinton was the first black president, bush was the first gulf potentate president so perfectly does reprise the act of the emirs and sultans. Americas fundie allies are terrifyingly brutal, favouring acts of astonishing cruelty, i watched so many beheading videos over the course of the last few years, quite a few from our noble allies in Libya, i think i am ready to be a fully islamophobic anti-arab racist, i can only imagine how it must seem to euro-americans, they are like grinning demons, on youtube you can watch the extraordinarily brave and dignified moutassim ghaddafi dismiss them contemptuously before his murder. Political islam is a disaster for us, true, but its dynamics are quite complex, it is obscurantism in the service of empire, in egypt class consciousness is intense, and those fighting for social justice find themselves caught between no nothing regressive islamists’ and humanitarian interventionists, to repeat myself, Imperial powers just love the fundies, Afghani, Abduh, Rida, Kawakibi et al were responding to the limitations of wahhabism and other revivalist movements by advancing the idea that modern science and other innovations should be made generally available to the arabs through education, and many of the Ulema adopted a kind of simple positivism and faith in science.Frankly the islamic parties have little to offer us but Islam in the service of neo-liberalism is a gift to the empire, i have not been impressed by the arab spring’, for various reasons, suffice it to say that saudi is the regional model favoured by the American regime and we will no doubt conform. The vice president of the FJP, the brothers political party is a copt, rafiq habib, associated with the wassatiya trend, i think its doomed but we may need to go through a period of faux islamism before a socialist trend reasserts itself.The arabs are exhausted, resistance is being stymied, and any attempt at independence is being thwarted by total destruction of the states, social space etc, our world is turning in to gaza, the hauteur of outsiders is frankly misplaced, we have many resources that could effect a social transformation, idiot islamism is not one of them however, but not all islamists are stupid or regressive. Here mutassim tells the adherents of american islam’ to go to hell before they murder him. and Abdul Bassit recites al balad much favoured by socialistic and humanistic muslims, i first heard humanistic used as pejorative by an israeli rabbi, during a dialogue meeting it non-plussed me and i wrote an article for the FT called secular christian muslim’ about it, when i used to give a damn and could express myself clearly those days are gone because what is there to say any more, now it will be war. Incidentally it really is worth checking out Smadar Levy about right wing arab jews in Israel, and the impasse we all face now.we do realize that our sorrows are about to get even worse, the getting of wisdom is a bloody business, and we are very dumb at the moment.

]]> Comment on Alistair Burt’s speech at Middle East Association by Euti http://cmec.org.uk/blog/burtmeaspeech/#comment-1476 Euti Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:34:36 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1993#comment-1476 I do not believe there is aytihnng we or any other outside nation can do to truly affect the changes in any other country. Think about it. Since WWII no place have we sent our young men and women to fight have we truly made a difference. In fact none of these places truly wanted us there, and by that I mean the people on the street, not the politcians and leaders. And no where have we won, even in Iraq. The only place we have been with any real legitimacy since WWII is Afghanistan and instead of completed our mission there were turned away to invade another nation for personal political reasons. No, we have no business trying to force our will on another nation. If we disagree with that nations government then put sanctions in place. Do not invade even by request. Too many of our young men and women have been sent to die for poitcal agendas under the guise of national interest. I do not believe there is aytihnng we or any other outside nation can do to truly affect the changes in any other country. Think about it. Since WWII no place have we sent our young men and women to fight have we truly made a difference. In fact none of these places truly wanted us there, and by that I mean the people on the street, not the politcians and leaders. And no where have we won, even in Iraq. The only place we have been with any real legitimacy since WWII is Afghanistan and instead of completed our mission there were turned away to invade another nation for personal political reasons. No, we have no business trying to force our will on another nation. If we disagree with that nations government then put sanctions in place. Do not invade even by request. Too many of our young men and women have been sent to die for poitcal agendas under the guise of national interest.

]]> Comment on Kwasi Kwarteng MP co-authors “Egypt 2011: Revolution and Transition” by Kuba http://cmec.org.uk/2012/02/kwasi-kwarteng-mp-egypt-2011-revolution-and-transition/#comment-1468 Kuba Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:00:11 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?p=1870#comment-1468 Having your homes, shops, and churches bernud, can't get a job-if there were any- because muslims won't hire Christians, children kidnapped and raped all with the police refusing to do anything is not a conspiracy by Christians. Their reaction is about survival. 100,000 left? That leaves 8 million who can't leave. Read your history of islam. Christians are worried about dying at the hands of state sanctioned mobs. Having your homes, shops, and churches bernud, can’t get a job-if there were any- because muslims won’t hire Christians, children kidnapped and raped all with the police refusing to do anything is not a conspiracy by Christians. Their reaction is about survival. 100,000 left? That leaves 8 million who can’t leave. Read your history of islam. Christians are worried about dying at the hands of state sanctioned mobs.

]]> Comment on Syria: No End in Sight by Sanam http://cmec.org.uk/blog/syria-no-end-in-sight/#comment-1196 Sanam Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:45:22 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1889#comment-1196 Clearly, the years 2000-01 were a turning point for the US in the Middle East. An Israeli-Palestinian mteelestnt in 2000 would almost certainly have led to an Israeli-Syrian agreement and a warming or normalization of relations between Syria and the US. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, and as a result Iran is by no means isolated in the region. The opportunity 9/11 presented to reach out to Iran was neglected (indeed, spurned) by the Bush administration; instead we got the Iraq invasion and a pie-in-the-sky program to democratize the Arab world. Given Palestinian and Syrian accords with Israel, an Iraq invasion probably would have dropped off the neocon's list of priorities.In any case we have witnessed a series of disasters beginning with the collapse of the Clinton-brokered peace plan of 2000. An Israeli-Palestinian mteelestnt seems impossible of achievement, Syria is oriented toward Tehran (and won't Iraq follow the same line as US troops leave?), and Islamism seems to be gaining strength in Turkey (what's with the Turkish Army these days?). Yet we are bull-neadedly moving toward conmfrontation with the Islamic Republic over the nuclear issue. Are we going to base our future policy in the region on the Israeli and Saudi connections, plus a US military presence in the Gulf? Seems a recipe for conflict and, quite possibly, a big disaster to me. How is America strengthened by such a policy? Why do most policy-makers fail to perceive our true interests? Clearly, the years 2000-01 were a turning point for the US in the Middle East. An Israeli-Palestinian mteelestnt in 2000 would almost certainly have led to an Israeli-Syrian agreement and a warming or normalization of relations between Syria and the US. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, and as a result Iran is by no means isolated in the region. The opportunity 9/11 presented to reach out to Iran was neglected (indeed, spurned) by the Bush administration; instead we got the Iraq invasion and a pie-in-the-sky program to democratize the Arab world. Given Palestinian and Syrian accords with Israel, an Iraq invasion probably would have dropped off the neocon’s list of priorities.In any case we have witnessed a series of disasters beginning with the collapse of the Clinton-brokered peace plan of 2000. An Israeli-Palestinian mteelestnt seems impossible of achievement, Syria is oriented toward Tehran (and won’t Iraq follow the same line as US troops leave?), and Islamism seems to be gaining strength in Turkey (what’s with the Turkish Army these days?). Yet we are bull-neadedly moving toward conmfrontation with the Islamic Republic over the nuclear issue. Are we going to base our future policy in the region on the Israeli and Saudi connections, plus a US military presence in the Gulf? Seems a recipe for conflict and, quite possibly, a big disaster to me. How is America strengthened by such a policy? Why do most policy-makers fail to perceive our true interests?

]]> Comment on How can we save Syria? by Jannat http://cmec.org.uk/blog/how-can-we-save-syria/#comment-1192 Jannat Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:19:26 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1843#comment-1192 Anonymous,I fear you'll have a hard time challenging yinthnag by calling yourself "anonymous." If I may encourage you to use your first name so I could keep track of who's who, that would be most helpful. I have no way of knowing which "anonymous" commentator you are otherwise.I wonder why you feel the need to psychoanalyze me. I'm quite sure there are many wonderful Arabs. I've never suggested that Arabs are all the same. In fact, I have several dear friends who are Arabs, Middle Eastern, Druze, etc. As for Jews being pro-Israel-- the bulk are, especially in Israel. That's merely a reality largely ingrained in a quest for human survival. Would you expect an Israeli to want to see the destruction of their nation-state that they built from swamp and dirt?I find it questionable that you're so offended I'm pointing to the inhumane treatment Jews suffered under Syria's regime. Should I ignore that to appease anonymous commentators such as yourself? Should I deny my heritage to appease your distaste for Israel?Peace is mirage if you expect the bulk of Israeli Jewry to hide what they went through under Arab nationalist regimes. I haven't an ounce of European blood. So when anti-Zionists and/or anti-Semities tell me to go back to Europe, I can only conclude that they don't know the realities of what Mizrahi Jewry faced in their native lands or that they are hateful. I hope it's the former-- as ignorance, through education, can be corrected. With best regards,Reut R. Cohen Anonymous,I fear you’ll have a hard time challenging yinthnag by calling yourself “anonymous.” If I may encourage you to use your first name so I could keep track of who’s who, that would be most helpful. I have no way of knowing which “anonymous” commentator you are otherwise.I wonder why you feel the need to psychoanalyze me. I’m quite sure there are many wonderful Arabs. I’ve never suggested that Arabs are all the same. In fact, I have several dear friends who are Arabs, Middle Eastern, Druze, etc. As for Jews being pro-Israel– the bulk are, especially in Israel. That’s merely a reality largely ingrained in a quest for human survival. Would you expect an Israeli to want to see the destruction of their nation-state that they built from swamp and dirt?I find it questionable that you’re so offended I’m pointing to the inhumane treatment Jews suffered under Syria’s regime. Should I ignore that to appease anonymous commentators such as yourself? Should I deny my heritage to appease your distaste for Israel?Peace is mirage if you expect the bulk of Israeli Jewry to hide what they went through under Arab nationalist regimes. I haven’t an ounce of European blood. So when anti-Zionists and/or anti-Semities tell me to go back to Europe, I can only conclude that they don’t know the realities of what Mizrahi Jewry faced in their native lands or that they are hateful. I hope it’s the former– as ignorance, through education, can be corrected. With best regards,Reut R. Cohen

]]> Comment on Kwasi Kwarteng MP co-authors “Egypt 2011: Revolution and Transition” by Jim http://cmec.org.uk/2012/02/kwasi-kwarteng-mp-egypt-2011-revolution-and-transition/#comment-1191 Jim Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:18:59 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?p=1870#comment-1191 The OTHER Revolution in EgyptThe next few months and years will be ciraictl to Egypt's future. There may well be free and democratic elections as promised by the military. But will the Egyptian people be taken in by their own homegrown version of Oblabla, the phony politician promising phony change with great charisma and brilliant oratory, only to turn around once in power to make sure that there is NO significant challenge to the status quo?What nevertheless gives me hope for Egypt is that there is ANOTHER revolution afoot, not a political one, but a religious one, which has so far received little media attention in the West, but which could lead to a major and long overdue reform of traditional Islam. This is the equivalent of, say, if Christians in America began to take to heart the original message of Rabbi Jesus on social justice and the pathological greed of the rich ( Woe unto the rich! Luke 6:24) and toppling the mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:52). More and more Christians agree that such a return to the heart of Christ's teachings is just as long overdue as is the renewal of Islam and Judaism.To quote from Samir Khalil Samir's January 26 article, Egyptian Imams and intellectuals: Renewing Islam towards modernity : Rome (AsiaNews) Rethinking fraternisation between the sexes; opening the doors to women right up to the Presidency of the Republic, guaranteeing the right of Christians to have access to positions of prestige (even the presidency), purifying and reinterpreting the sayings of the Prophet (the Hadith) ; bringing people to God through wisdom and thanksgiving and not with threats these are just some of the truly revolutionary proposals that a group of professors, theologians and Egyptian imams are putting to their communities. The attempt to modernize the lives of Muslims, to put a halt to (and even stop) the fundamentalist influences that come from Saudi Arabia. The group of scholars holds the renewal of Islamic teaching at heart, as well as a relationship of harmony with Christians.A score of intellectuals and theologians of Al Azhar have issued a text of enormous importance, entitled Document for the renewal of religious discourse. The text was posted on the Internet on 24 January at 18:27, on the website of the weekly magazine Yawm al-Se2bi ( The Seventh Day ). The importance of the document also derives from its signatories, all noted scholars and profoundly committed Muslims. Best of luck to this courageous group in their quest to renew the teachings of their faith and may they inspire men and women of other faiths to do the same! The OTHER Revolution in EgyptThe next few months and years will be ciraictl to Egypt’s future. There may well be free and democratic elections as promised by the military. But will the Egyptian people be taken in by their own homegrown version of Oblabla, the phony politician promising phony change with great charisma and brilliant oratory, only to turn around once in power to make sure that there is NO significant challenge to the status quo?What nevertheless gives me hope for Egypt is that there is ANOTHER revolution afoot, not a political one, but a religious one, which has so far received little media attention in the West, but which could lead to a major and long overdue reform of traditional Islam. This is the equivalent of, say, if Christians in America began to take to heart the original message of Rabbi Jesus on social justice and the pathological greed of the rich ( Woe unto the rich! Luke 6:24) and toppling the mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:52). More and more Christians agree that such a return to the heart of Christ’s teachings is just as long overdue as is the renewal of Islam and Judaism.To quote from Samir Khalil Samir’s January 26 article, Egyptian Imams and intellectuals: Renewing Islam towards modernity : Rome (AsiaNews) Rethinking fraternisation between the sexes; opening the doors to women right up to the Presidency of the Republic, guaranteeing the right of Christians to have access to positions of prestige (even the presidency), purifying and reinterpreting the sayings of the Prophet (the Hadith) ; bringing people to God through wisdom and thanksgiving and not with threats these are just some of the truly revolutionary proposals that a group of professors, theologians and Egyptian imams are putting to their communities. The attempt to modernize the lives of Muslims, to put a halt to (and even stop) the fundamentalist influences that come from Saudi Arabia. The group of scholars holds the renewal of Islamic teaching at heart, as well as a relationship of harmony with Christians.A score of intellectuals and theologians of Al Azhar have issued a text of enormous importance, entitled Document for the renewal of religious discourse. The text was posted on the Internet on 24 January at 18:27, on the website of the weekly magazine Yawm al-Se2bi ( The Seventh Day ). The importance of the document also derives from its signatories, all noted scholars and profoundly committed Muslims. Best of luck to this courageous group in their quest to renew the teachings of their faith and may they inspire men and women of other faiths to do the same!

]]> Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Missy http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-902 Missy Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-902 If annyhitg, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in. If annyhitg, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in.

]]> Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Edward Abington http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-731 Edward Abington Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:33:17 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-731 Former US Consul General in Jerusalem 1993-1997 and former advisor to the Palestinian Authority, 2000-2006. Former US Consul General in Jerusalem 1993-1997 and former advisor to the Palestinian Authority, 2000-2006.

]]> Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Edward Abington http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-730 Edward Abington Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:23:04 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-730 If anything, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement. The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood. The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington's role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game. I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in. If anything, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.

The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.

The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.

I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in.

]]> Comment on The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins MEP visits Gaza by Anne Candlina http://cmec.org.uk/blog/the-rt-hon-sir-robert-atkins-mep-visits-gaza/#comment-585 Anne Candlina Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:21:26 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1713#comment-585 Well done for publicising and condemning the horrible plight of the Gazans, brought about deliberately by Israel. Why did you capitulate to the Board of Deputy for British Jews who are always on the hunt for anyone who criticises Israel? What you said was correct - "Diaspora Jews" (an incorrect phrase because there was no diaspora) are responsible, to some extent for what happens in Israel. BofDBJ's lobbied the government to change the law on universal jurisdiction so that the likes of Barak and Tzipi Livni can't get arrested for war crimes. They lobbied for the UK to abstain from the UN vote for Palestinian membership. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks spoke at the Chabad Conference in Brooklyn this year, praising the name of war-monger Rebbe Schneerson who can be seen on Youtube commending the Mayor of Ariel for stealing Palestine land, telling him to double it and not give an inch back to Palestine, invoking a fear of Iran. How can Sacks support a man like this and yet hypocritically say that Jews have no responsibility for what Israel does? They did not comment on the horrific content of your report -just sidetracked the issues by humiliating you into an apology which was actually not needed. Well done for publicising and condemning the horrible plight of the Gazans, brought about deliberately by Israel. Why did you capitulate to the Board of Deputy for British Jews who are always on the hunt for anyone who criticises Israel? What you said was correct – “Diaspora Jews” (an incorrect phrase because there was no diaspora) are responsible, to some extent for what happens in Israel. BofDBJ’s lobbied the government to change the law on universal jurisdiction so that the likes of Barak and Tzipi Livni can’t get arrested for war crimes. They lobbied for the UK to abstain from the UN vote for Palestinian membership. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks spoke at the Chabad Conference in Brooklyn this year, praising the name of war-monger Rebbe Schneerson who can be seen on Youtube commending the Mayor of Ariel for stealing Palestine land, telling him to double it and not give an inch back to Palestine, invoking a fear of Iran. How can Sacks support a man like this and yet hypocritically say that Jews have no responsibility for what Israel does? They did not comment on the horrific content of your report -just sidetracked the issues by humiliating you into an apology which was actually not needed.

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