Wednesday, July 19, 2006

U.S.-Backed Israeli Policies Pursuing “End of Palestine”

The Middle East has been dominating the news lately, and it’s a very sad state of affairs. There is a personal element to it, for Andrea and I, because a friend of Andrea’s was working in the area, at a refugee camp, and had to be evacuated when the violence started. Andrea’s friend made it out, but she was the lucky one—the refugee camp was demolished, and the orphanage where she worked has been destroyed.

If you live in North America, you have probably been overwhelmed with media coverage in which Israel is “defending itself” against the “terrorist states”. As reported in the Globe and Mail, Canada and the U.S. seem to be alone in championing Israel; most other countries around the world condemn both sides in the conflict, but also single out Israel as being excessive in its actions. Unfortunately, the way the media is controlled by the conservatives—both in the States and in Canada, although probably to a greater extent in America—it’s difficult to have a proper discussion about Israel’s role in all of this.

I read a very good interview, between Democracy Now, Noam Chomsky, and Mouin Rabbani. I also read a good editorial on The Nation, on a resolution the U.S. House of Representatives is drafting.

In any event, I’m trying not to vent my spleen with this post. I’m just urging you to read the interview—and the editorial—and maybe get a more full perspective of what’s happening “over there”.

Where real people are dying, and the U.S. and Canada are supporting Israel in its actions, regardless of their cost. (Yes, that was a bit of a venting of the spleen.)

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