Gaza, I despair.

Beautiful images.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202608/medium-cpxk08-1000028297.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202608/medium-fwkbzv-1000028292.jpg

Here is some of the art on library walls and a book of children's art.

Whose 'rules' are they following?
Not the rules of international law.

Today's Haaretz (I get the daily emails)

"Israel’s contentious West Bank tender issued secretly, against protocol

The Israeli government's tender for some 1,200 housing units in the West Bank's E1 area, widely condemned by Israel's allies for posing a threat to the eventual establishment of a future Palestinian state, was issued in violation of required legal procedures

Under Israeli law, a ministry or government authority involved in an undertaking must notify the State Prosecutor's Office, which would represent it in any legal proceedings against it. Despite this, the tender for the E1 area was published without the knowledge of the State Prosecutor's Office.

According to a court petition by anti-occupation groups demanding the tender's suspension, lawyers from the State Prosecutor's Office had not notified them of the tender, as they had committed to, because they themselves were not informed by the state that it was due to be published

"This conduct indicates that it was intended to prevent the intervention of the honourable court and to create facts on the ground prior to the election being held at the end of October," the petition stated.

The Housing Ministry, which issued the tender, said in response that "the matter is in a pending legal proceeding, and therefore [it] is inappropriate to address media reports. The ministry will comply with the court's decisions."

So - another one slips in, illegal even under Israeli law 😡

(the colouring on the heart of course represents hope, a return to a real not grey life)

Yes, there is some amazing art coming out of Gaza. I'm posting a pic my cousin put on Facebook by a well known artist in the area. Good for that library. 👍

At my library there an exhibition of children's art from Gaza. Bringing art to children. And a book.

Pondering

You see, I grew up so incredibly aware, thanks to my parents, who helped resettle some Jewish immigrants after WW2 of the horrors inflicted on Jewish people and other "not us, not acceptable" minorities. So strong, so vivid, my very political parents, all the history I knew...

In Israel's early days I was very aware of the commune movement and interested in their ideals. I was not aware of those from the beginning who were determined to take over the whole of the area, although their voices were out there, they were not heard?

Why really should any peoples actually be "better" morally due to their suffering? It's an idealistic view after all.

It does indeed still make some people determined -and we still hear their voices "what happened to us should not happen to any human being"

But the worst is happening. and maybe because of my initial feelings and understanding of the horrors under Hitler, it upsets me maybe the most despite appalling events in other parts of the world.

It is beginning to be obscene.

Foxie48, completely agree but why, oh why can't Israel realise this themselves? That they are just making future generations of Israelis more unsafe?To me it just seems so completely obvious.

I think it gets forgotten that when people are oppressed with no other option, they will turn to terrorism. Mandela was a terrorist, he founded the military wing of the ANC but we don't see him in that light now because most of think of his battle against apartheid was completely justified. I am not in any way condoning the atrocities of 7/10 by Hamas in Israel, just pointing out that you don't stop terrorism by violence or oppression, you just create more terrorists.

I also think it's worth considering who the UK government will listen to: unlikely, the EKO, more likely UK ones, most of all harass our MP's especially those of us with LP contacts. (make things uncomfy for them,

(along of course with stopping connections with Palantir as a matter of urgency...thats the big US firm and ? and should we let them near any more of our health system))

I have done as much research into EKO as I can and do not trust it. Some shady areas imo…..and its international natures and to me lack of specific UK connections I genuinely have my suspicions, and its also only via Facebook

and consider these UK and well known alternatives

Oxfam

www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-oxfam/end-uk-arms-sales-to-israel/

Or the Greenpeace one
action.greenpeace.org.uk/arms-embargo-now?source=FB&subsource=NBPEREPEFB43QE&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=UK+Arms+Embargo+Petition++PE+20240516&fbclid=IwY2xjawT2oQFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMGZMWFQwTnR0S2FkREdDOUZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAsFx-F4E0O8rnDYLsID0f98G2TN-AX_8wRYU6h2MGUbgkUxnWfp7yBsAy8g_aem__ptm2hFgiq7za8skHQ2sUg

And maybe the most significant one in addition as it specifically asks supermarkets to stop buying settlement goods is this

Change.org one….the co-op has already stopped so it looks good.

www.change.org/p/stop-uk-supermarkets-from-supporting-illegal-israeli-settlements

These are not Facebook of course but if you want to check out a key organisation (on FB)
www.facebook.com/palestinesolidarityuk/

And dont forget Amnesty, becoming very involved, google, not Facebook.

Saw that petition on Facebook.
There might be a chance, with the new PM.

Link

action.eko.org/a/ban-illegal-settlement-goods-and-halt-all-arms-exports-to-israel-now-1?akid=160561.13882467.5UJH4C&dnr=0&rd=1&source=fwd&t=12

Wyllow3

And people ask - what creates terrorism? Or Palestinian violence -

I mean, who would condemn us in the UK of we had to defend our very means of living, by creeping takeover...... people would not just stand back and let it happen!

You can sign this. Tried to copy link.

West Bank, armed Israeli settlers are tearing down walls and besieging Palestinian families in their own homes. Dozens of people have been killed, including young children, and families are living in constant terror.

But we have a real chance to intervene.

Behind closed doors, the UK government is preparing to announce new policies that could ban goods from these illegal settlements and halt deadly F-35 arms exports.

But the pro-Israel lobby has deep pockets and close ties with Westminster, and will use both to derail Burnham's ban. A massive public petition right now will give Prime Minister Andy Burnham the political cover he needs to withstand lobbyist pressure and make this historic ban a reality.

Tell Prime Minister Andy Burnham: Ban illegal settlement goods and halt all arms exports to Israel now!

And people ask - what creates terrorism? Or Palestinian violence -

I mean, who would condemn us in the UK of we had to defend our very means of living, by creeping takeover...... people would not just stand back and let it happen!

I was so upset just by the awful tales of settlement in the West Bank last night BBC I player had some videos - the huge chunks of land, previously declared off limits by the Israeli regime, just taken, and the violence of young settlers towards a population of mostly peaceful farmers as well as backed by IDF.

I want to hear more from our government against this.

The UK, Canada and Australia have condemned Israel for refusing criminal probe into aid worker killings in Gaza.
The Netanyahu regime is toxic.

They have never said they want an Islamic state. Arab yes, because most (even the Christians) are arab.
What they want is a state.
Israel's been recognised by the UN since 1949 & was recognised by the US within minutes of being founded. Palestine has never been recognised as a state by western nations or the UN. In practice, when Israel settles on Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, the UN condemns it but does nothing to enforce. & because Palestine has no representation, it's reliant on other Arab nations to keep complaining that Israel is breaching international law, & lately with US hegemony & US Israelophilic, they fear repercussions if they speak out for Palestine.
It's a mess. there is fault on both sides but Netanyahu is the worst, most inhumane & intransigent premier Israels ever had.

"Israel has always been multicultural but the Arabs have never accepted that, they have always claimed the state for themselves and attacked the Jews many times
Even today that's what they want, an Arab Islamic state not a secular state where all religions are tolerated." David

Prior to the huge rise in Jewish migration to Palestine, Arabs (who were Muslims and Christian) lived quite peacefully with Jews who lived there. Arabs became increasingly concerned about being displaced by the increase in Jewish migration duting the 20's, 30's and 40's and in deed they were right to worry as they have been displaced.
When Israel was created in 1948, its Declaration of Independence promised equal social and political rights to all inhabitants regardless of religion. In practice, while Arab citizens were granted formal legal and voting rights, they faced severe restrictions, military rule, and systemic inequalities from the beginning. tbh I'm not surprised they were angry.

Samwam

"David"
They were wrong, Israel wont give up until Hamas has gone whether Netenyahu is there or not, because Hamas vows to destroy Israel"

Isreal is destroying Palestinian civilians including children and destroying Gaza and the West Bank for a greater Israel.

He doesn't care about Hamas.

Hamas agreed to negotiate, but Netanyahu won't ever negotiate wont keep his word.
The Palistinians want peace equal rights equality.

Isreal must accept it cannot be just one race, dominance over Palestinians. For peace sake.

Hamas refused to disarm in return for Israel to withdraw, they dont want to be seen to loose power.

Israel has always been multicultural but the Arabs have never accepted that, they have always claimed the state for themselves and attacked the Jews many times
Even today that's what they want, an Arab Islamic state not a secular state where all religions are tolerated.

"David"
They were wrong, Israel wont give up until Hamas has gone whether Netenyahu is there or not, because Hamas vows to destroy Israel"

Isreal is destroying Palestinian civilians including children and destroying Gaza and the West Bank for a greater Israel.

He doesn't care about Hamas.

Hamas agreed to negotiate, but Netanyahu won't ever negotiate wont keep his word.
The Palistinians want peace equal rights equality.

Isreal must accept it cannot be just one race, dominance over Palestinians. For peace sake.

He is using the same phrases about the Palestinians as the Nazi’s did about the Jews. - that they are not human etc.

At his recent birthday, his cake was made to look like gallows - which are being constructed for Palestinian deaths in Israeli prisons.

Can they get any worse?

Whitewavemark2

Ben-Gvir is imo the most evil person on this earth.

Also Smotrich who vowed to "cleanse" Gaza of all Palestinians.

Ben-Gvir is imo the most evil person on this earth.