Communist Party of Israel Condemns Deadly Attacks on Gaza & Calls for International Mobilization

[IndianaGreen]

Democrats won't buck their benefactors among the Israel Lobby, so let's hear it from the peace forces within Israel, and their allies in USA:

http://www.maki.org.il/
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From: Communist Party of Israel Saturday, December 27, 2008
www.maki.org.il mailto:[e-mail]

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The Communist Party of Israel Condemns Deadly Attacks on Gaza and Calls for International Mobilization

The Communist Party of Israel and Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) condemns today's deadly attack by the Israeli Air Force on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the killing of over 150 Palestinians. The CPI calls on Communist and Workers parties and social movements throughout the world to mobilize against these Israeli war crimes and demands that the international community implement sanctions against Israel and indict Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and other Israeli political and military leadership for these blatant war crimes, committed as part of Israel's election process.

Today's Israel's military attack is part of the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip. Israel is exploiting the last moments of the Bush administration to implement the deadly but ineffective imperialist policy of utilizing military force to effect political change. Demonstrations against the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip are planned for the Israeli major cities, and demonstrations will be conducted tonight in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nazareth. Yesterday (Friday), hundreds demonstrators attended a rally in central Tel Aviv to protest the expected Israeli military operation to Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza. The rally was organized by the Coalition against the Gaza Siege and Hadash (Democratic Peace and Equality Front - Communist Party of Israel).

"I suggest that we go the other direction," said Hadash Knesset Member Dov Khenin, a leading member of the Communist Party of Israel. "Our power is our tragedy. One powerful blow will not bring the end. They will respond with rockets and eventually we'll embark on an all-out war. Going in the other direction means reinforcing the lull, securing a ceasefire, and lifting the siege that only serves to unite the population around Hamas."

"A genuine peace process will be engaged in vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas," he said. "What's tragic here is that it's possible. We just need the desire."

Khenin added that it is "essential to secure a prisoner swap that would include Gilad Shalit." When asked why fewer Israelis object the war in Gaza, he said: "People lost their hope. They realize that what's happening is bad, yet they think there's no other option. Yet we are not destined to be the victim of history." Another rally participant, the former MK Tamar Gozansky, said: "Two years ago we protested at the same site, before the Second Lebanon War. We were ostracized and referred to as traitors. Yet several months later, all the people who made fun of us carried their own signs to Rabin Square and protested against Olmert's policy. I really hope that we won't have yet another reason to say: 'We told you so.'" In an earlier statement, MK Khenin said: "A comprehensive war in Gaza is dangerous and unnecessary and will put the lives of thousands of Gazans and westernNegev residents at risk"." War is not the solution to the Kassam rocket problem," he continued. "There is another way: a real truce agreement. Not just a cease-fire, but also ending the Gaza blockade and easing the extreme suffering of a million-and-a-half people."

*End*

Communist Party of Indiana CPUSA

[MADem]

1. How many seats do they have in the Knesset? nt

[oberliner]

2. Hadash has 3 of the 120 seats in the Knesset nt

[IndianaGreen]

3. Here is the breakdown of current Knesset

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Historic%20Events/Knesset%20Election%20Results

Thanks for your input.

[oberliner]

7. Your information is outdated and no longer correct

It doesn't even list Kadima as having any seats.

Currently, Kadima has 29 seats, Labor 19, and Likud 12.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Try this, same number of seats

Election Results in March 2006:

Party Seats
Kadima 29
Labour 20
Shas 12
Likud 12
Israel Beitenu 11
NU/NRP 9
Gil(Pensioners) 7
Torah Judaism 6
Meretz 5
United Arab List 3
Hadash 3
Balad 3

http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1767

[oberliner]

10. And the current gov't coaltion is: Kadima, Labor, Shas, Pensioners nt

[IndianaGreen]

11. Not for long. Livni failed to form coalition on the eve of Olmert going to jail.

I think that Kadima trying to out-Likud Likud on Gaza is crass electoral politics on the backs of the Gazans.

I expect them to attack Lebanon as well.

[oberliner]

12. You think Livni would defeat Netanyahu in elections?

Also, what makes you think an attack on Lebanon is imminent?

[IndianaGreen]

13. News reports of Israeli jets flying over Lebanese air space

Livni was fidgety during the Olmert press conference, which makes me think she has doubts as to the success of the Gaza attacks, just as she had reservations about the attack on Lebanon.

Polls are showing a slight swing in favour of Kadima. Bibi might be able to put a government together with more ease than Kadima, no matter how the elections turn out.

[IndianaGreen]

5. We only have Bernie Sanders in the Senate, yet he is better than the whole lot of them

oberliner replied to your specific question, and I provided link to MFA page showing Knesset breakdown.

[oberliner]

9. self-delete

[Kurska]

4. Wouldn't Meretz also be considered a israeli communist party?

Or does the Indiana Communist party not believe them to be one?

I think Meretz just might be labor zionism though.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Meretz is very progressive leftist party

They are not Marxist-Leninists, but so what? They are for peace and against militarism.

[Kurska]

16. Not to go off on a tangent, but do you only consider Marxist-leninsts to be communists?

How about Trotskists, Maoist or even Stalinist?

[IndianaGreen]

17. No, I don't!

I also consider anarchists to be legitimate defenders of freedom and true democracy.

[Kurska]

21. Good, the factional splits in the fold of radical leftism always gets on my nerves

Isn't every movement that marches beneath a red banner (Or if you want a black one) a movement that if acting as the manifestation of the people's will, the people's will? Regardless of which kind of scholar enlightened you to the idea.

[IndianaGreen]

22. The Left needs to set aside historical differences and unite in common goal

A peace activist colleague of mine attended a meeting in another city, and out of the 12 people there, 9 represented different organizations at odds with one another. This is unacceptable in the current condition.

[Kurska]

23. I'd be inclined to agree, the left has this weird fixation on dividing against itself

Left wing movements may be home to free thinkers who make their own paths, but when that path includes walking over each other something needs to change.

[rundownman]

14. Thank you!

I really hope an international peacekeepng force can enter israel and secure some lasting peace... this member of the israeli parliment could even help direct their operations since he seems to 'get it'.

Israeli aggression must be stopped and only an international peacekeeping force can do that.

[Kurska]

15. You're suggesting invading a nuclear power?

Are you daft? No offence, but are you aware Israel has one of the best trained most professional militaries on earth? Even in a conventional fight it would take the full force of a nation like france or russia to even go toe to toe with the IAF and the IDF. I really doubt the chance of a "International" Peace keeping force given that almost every single international peace keeping force to date has been a laughable half motivated poorly equiped jumble.

That is provided you could convince the nations of the world israel needs to be invaded and news flash, you couldn't.

Your very idea just reeks of ignorance of the situation.

[rundownman]

18. No "invade" is a simplistic word

I am talking about a multi-ethnic, multi-national peacekeeping operation headed perhapse by the UN or something like NATO. The force would need to be large and have "teeth" as well as a UN resolution with some "teeth" itself.

Perhapse as many as 200-300K soldiers would need to be involved not counting air operations.

Its goals should be to establish no fly zones to the north and south of Israel and around gaza in order to prevent deleberate Israeli air strikes on civilian populations.

The israeli army is indeed highly advanced as you said, and this is part of the problem because Israel is not responsible enough to have an army as advanced as they do. Also Israel appears to be able to do whatever it wants without fear of reprisal or condemnation from the international community.

The peacekeeping operation needs also to occupy gaza in order to prevent further bombardment of israel since hamas is incapable of arresting the attackers.

Also the peacekeepers should have as a goal oversight or outright control over israel's illegal nuclear program since israel has thus far not allowed inspectors into their nuclear sites (though they do demand iran to allow inspectors in).

If israel does not allow the peacekeeping operation then the operation may need to enter a short conflict period which when over the entrenched israeli operatives benefiting from the attacks on gaza can be held accountable.

[Kurska]

19. I'm just going to tell you right now, that is a complete pipe dream.

You'd never be able to impose the international will (Provided it could even be found, it couldn't) on a nuclear armed state with a world class military. Israel won't give up it's status as a sovereign nation, any attempt to do that would lead to a complete mobilisation and utilisation of the entire vastness of the IDF and IAF. I would really feel bad for any two bit international force that tries to go up against that.

Regardless, this idea wouldn't even get out of the gate because there isn't a single modern nation out there who has the desire to end the current conflict with external military force, not even Iran is that eager to go to war.

[rundownman]

20. Thats why negotiations are needed

The resolution could be passed and then enter negotiations with the IDF and Israel to allow peacefull entry of the international peacekeeping force.

The IDF could be part of the force to an extent..

who knows i'm not the one doing the negotiations.

However, I do seriously see this coming into affect eventually. Israel was created by the UN and can be entered by UN forces.

[Kurska]

24. You're a crazy man, you want challenge one of the most powerful and defensive nation in the

world to stand off. This will NEVER happen.

[rundownman]

25. I think you overestimate Israel's strength

sure they are strong but they are small and *I* don't want to do anything like that, *I* want the international community to treat israel as they should be treated.

They are throwing a temper tantrum and instead of being harmless are killing people.

Maybe we need a new organisation formed out of the UN that could establish a powerfull army that is capable of dealing with powerfull nations who act out in an evil manner not just the small nations that can be bullied.

The world needs this kind of force. unless of course you are for more powerfull nations bullying smaller ones. In which case I can understand your hatefull position.

[IndianaGreen]

26. They won the war in Lebanon, didn't they?

Another victory coming up in Gaza!

:sarcasm:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. There is nothing in International Law or the UN that supports your concept

Not going to be either. No small or intermediate nation on earth would support such legal structures. Not sure you get get the big ones to sign on either. That means it would have to be an international hostile assault which would never be attempted against a nuclear power. You are better off considering alchemy based transmutation or perpetual motion machines. those are more likely than anything you propose.

You also seem to be continually forgetting that if the attacks stop from Gaza, Israel will stand down. No need for much of anything else.

Israel is the most free and open nation in the region. Its the only truly democratic one there as well. To somehow claim they can not be trusted says worse about any of the other nations in the area.

[IndianaGreen]

28. CPUSA Denounces Israeli Attacks In Gaza

CPUSA Denounces Israeli Attacks In Gaza

The Communist Party of the USA (CPUSA) emphatically denounces the Israeli attacks in Gaza, which have left several hundred dead and unknown numbers wounded. The attacks have been carried out with a total disregard for the safety of children, women, old people and other noncombatants and are the latest phase in a brutal campaign to strangle the people of Gaza by blockading them and denying them access to basic necessities. The pretext stated by the Israeli government, namely the resumption of the Hamas rocket attacks, is far out of proportion to the damage being inflicted on innocent people by the IDF bombings. What is more, the Israeli government has telegraphed plans to continue the bombings and follow them up with an invasion by ground forces.

The Communist Party of Israel has suggested that the current Israeli attacks are a demagogic move related to the current electoral campaign in that country, as well as perhaps being intended to present the incoming Obama administration with a fait accompli, making it more difficult for Obama to adopt a new approach to the Israel-Palestine issue. The CPUSA denounces the Bush administration for the verbal and material support it is rendering to the Israeli agression. We demand an immediate end to the Israeli attacks, and we endorse the call of the Communist Party of Israel for sanctions on that country and on its leaders. We call on the incoming Obama administration to make a radical change in US policy on the Israel-Palestine issue, and to pressure the Israeli government to return to honest negotiations toward a two-state solution.

National Committee, Communist Party USA

Communist Party of Indiana CPUSA

[aranthus]

29. Do you expect serious people to care what the Israeli Communists think? n/t

[IndianaGreen]

30. Sure, they are more credible than the psychos running Israel's government

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#28427276