Can you look at this map and say Israel does not systemically appropriate land?

War Crimes: Israeli government documents show deliberate policy to keep Gazans at near-starvation levels


by Saed Bannoura

In 2007, when Israel began its full siege on Gaza, Dov Weisglass, adviser to then Prime-Minister Ehud Olmert, stated clearly, “The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” The documents now released contain equations used by the Israeli government to calculate the exact amounts of food, fuel and other necessities needed to do exactly that.

The documents are even more disturbing, say human rights activists, when one considers the fact that close to half of the people of Gaza are children under the age of eighteen. This means that Israel has deliberately forced the undernourishment of hundreds of thousands of children in direct violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

This release of documents also severely undermines Israel's oft-made claim that the siege is "for security reasons", as it documents a deliberate and systematic policy of collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza.

Gisha's director said, in relation to the release of documents, "Israel banned glucose for biscuits and the fuel needed for regular supply of electricity – paralyzing normal life in Gaza and impairing the moral character of the State of Israel. I am sorry to say that major elements of this policy are still in place."

In its statement accompanying the release of the documents, Gisha wrote:

The documents reveal that the state approved "a policy of deliberate reduction" for basic goods in the Gaza Strip (section h.4, page 5*). Thus, for example, Israel restricted the supply of fuel needed for the power plant, disrupting the supply of electricity and water. The state set a "lower warning line" (section g.2, page 5) to give advance warning of expected shortages in a particular item, but at the same time approved ignoring that warning, if the good in question was subject to a policy of "deliberate reduction". Moreover, the state set an "upper red line" above which even basic humanitarian items could be blocked, even if they were in demand (section g.1, page 5). The state claimed in a cover letter to Gisha that in practice, it had not authorized reduction of "basic goods" below the "lower warning line", but it did not define what these "basic goods" were.

Commentator Richard Silverstein wrote: "In reviewing the list of permitted items for import, you come to realize that these are the only items allowed. In other words, if an item is not on the list, it’s prohibited. So, for example, here is the list of permitted spices: Black pepper, soup powder, hyssop, sesame. cinnamon, anise, babuna (chamomile), sage. Sorry, cumin, basil, bay leaf, allspice, carraway, cardamon, chiles, chives, cilantro, cloves, garlic, sesame, tamarind, thyme, oregano, cayenne. Not on the list. You're not a spice Palestinians need according to some IDF dunderhead. And tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, toys, glassware, paint, and shoes? You can forget about them too. Luxuries all, or else security threats."

Despite the disturbing nature of the documents, which show a calculated policy of deliberate undernourishment of an entire population, no major media organizations have reported the story.

The full text of the released documents, and the original Freedom of Information Act request filed by Gisha, can be found on Gisha's website. See below for the Gisha Report

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21799

Despite the disturbing nature of the documents, which show a calculated policy of deliberate undernourishment of an entire population, no major media organizations have reported the story.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21799

That's because they know that the story is anti-Semitic propaganda.

Gisha is an Israeli not-for-profit organization, founded in 2005, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents. Gisha promotes rights guaranteed by international and Israeli law.

Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military has developed a complex system of rules and sanctions to control the movement of the 3.4 million Palestinians who live there. The restrictions violate the fundamental right of Palestinians to freedom of movement. As a result, additional basic rights are violated, including the right to life, the right to access medical care, the right to education, the right to livelihood, the right to family unity and the right to freedom of religion.

Gisha, whose name means both "access" and "approach," uses legal assistance and public advocacy to protect the rights of Palestinian residents. Because freedom of movement is a precondition for exercising other basic rights, Gisha’s work has a multiplier effect in helping residents of the occupied territories access education, jobs, family members and medical care.

As part of its legal work, Gisha represents individuals and organizations in Israeli administrative proceedings and courts. Gisha’s legal activity is based on Israeli law, international human rights and humanitarian law.

As part of its advocacy work, Gisha reaches out to members of the public and opinion-makers using publications in various media, in order to promote awareness and sensitivity for human rights in the occupied territories. Gisha also advocates directly before decision-makers to promote policies that respect human rights.

Gisha is operated by a professional staff and guided by a board that includes legal academics and practitioners, women and men, Arabs and Jews, who have helped shape Israeli human rights law through their advocacy and writings.

Gisha is registered in Israel as an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization. Gisha is generously supported by donations from Israel and abroad.

http://www.gisha.org/index.php?intLanguage=2&intSiteSN=137&OldMenu=113&intItemId=107

Funny that you had to resort to the least credible site on the internet....

Because terrorism is typically taken to mean the targeting of civilians by covert attackers.

This event was the firing of smoke munitions to obscure troop movements on a battlefield.

Even with some of the more esoteric and outlandish definitions of terrorism, it is pretty hard to see how "firing smoke munitions to prevent the enemy from seeing you on the battlefield" would count as terrorism.

oralloy wrote:

Because terrorism is typically taken to mean the targeting of civilians by covert attackers.

This event was the firing of smoke munitions to obscure troop movements on a battlefield.

Even with some of the more esoteric and outlandish definitions of terrorism, it is pretty hard to see how "firing smoke munitions to prevent the enemy from seeing you on the battlefield" would count as terrorism.

1. It is possible to make smoke without using phosphorus ordnance.

2. Dropping shells into a UN aid supply compound could in no way be an accident.

3. If I took my family to a place of comparative safety while there was a military attack going on, and the attackers started shooting incendiary shells at us, I'd be pretty terrified. I submit you would, too.

JTT, It's useless to provide factual information on Israel

even when Jews are against what Israelis do on the illegal takeover of Palestinian lands.

They call us anti-Semite as if has any derogatory meaning;

it's really funny with Jews use that term when they are the real anti-Semites

who would treat other humans with disdain and disregard for their equal rights and humanity.

JTT, It's useless to provide factual information on Israel

With this latest gambit, the United States is trying to rescue a policy that is not worth rescuing. Rather than heading back to the region to offer up this package, Obama needs to head back to the drawing board.

What role did Israel play in the collapse of the World Towers? Israeli agents were caught redhanded with explosives in their van/truck and waving joyously on the rooftops. Arab garbs were found in their possesion and Israelis were conspicuously absent in their Tower offices during the attacks of the Towers. The GWB Defense Department were full of Jews Like Richard Pearle, Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith.

What role did Israel play in the collapse of the World Towers? Israeli agents were caught redhanded with explosives in their van/truck and waving joyously on the rooftops. Arab garbs were found in their possesion and Israelis were conspicuously absent in their Tower offices during the attacks of the Towers. The GWB Defense Department were full of Jews Like Richard Pearle, Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith.

What role did Israel play in the collapse of the World Towers? Israeli agents were caught redhanded with explosives in their van/truck and waving joyously on the rooftops.

Where is the evidence for this?

What role did Israel play in the collapse of the World Towers? Israeli agents were caught redhanded with explosives in their van/truck and waving joyously on the rooftops. Arab garbs were found in their possesion and Israelis were conspicuously absent in their Tower offices during the attacks of the Towers. The GWB Defense Department were full of Jews Like Richard Pearle, Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith.