Thinking loud.........
I couldn't gloss over the fact that the International Community's uncharacteristic strong/stern stance on Israel lately and its ramifications and possible connection to the recent events in Jerusalem.
However no argument or a discourse is complete without first presenting some premises and no inferences can be discussed without examining the validity of those premises. So let us examine the premises of my argument.
Lately the EU foreign ministers have felt a desperate need to have a political perspective for Palestine, and have been trying ways to revive that farce of 'peace talks' between Israel and the Palestinians, the 'peace talk' that has been going on for the past 3 decades without any results, and Netanyahu has been one of the rare Israeli PM who has overtly shown that he is not interested in it.
None-the-less the international pressure has been mounting especially following weeks of unrest in and around Jerusalem centered around access to a holy site Al Qods that is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.
Meanwhile the EU countries have one by one voted to recognize Palestine. British Parliament non-binding vote to recognized Palestine about a couple of months ago were the trend setters and paved the road for similar recognition.
The Swedish government followed the Brits last month when she officially recognized the Palestinian state, and finally yesterday Spain joined the ranks of other EU countries to endorse a Palestinian state.
French lawmakers are expected to consider the recognition of Palestine at the end of this month (November) and the French State Secretary Harlem Desir has already spoken of importance of relaunching the peace talks. Again this is the same 'peace negotiation' that Tel Aviv had never had a use for nor had shown any interest in the past.
One by one the EU countries garnered the wrath of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as disapproval of the United States.
This past Sunday November 16, 2014, Netanyahu complained during a visit by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier that such moves (recognition of Palestine by the EU members) "pushed peace backwards because they don't tell the Palestinians ... that they will have to make genuine compromises."
On Monday November 17, 2014, after visiting Netanyahu, Steinmeier was reported that "nervousness" was palpable.
Finally in the recent weeks the EU have been turning up the pressure on Israel over its policy of building settlements on disputed territory. Just last week Netanyahu in his defiance to the International Community approved another 200 new settlements in addition to the 500 new settlements that were approved last month.
The 200 new approved settlements, which were a clear indication of Netanyahu showing his proverbial middle finger to Obama, even led to a little change of language from Washington. State Department Spokesperson Psaki statement indicated a shift in White House sentiment from "being concerned" to "being deeply concerned".
Furthermore the BDS, the movement of which many suspected its futility, has been picking a fantastic momentum in recent months. Some countries have been pushing for measures against Israel - for instance special labeling to differentiate products manufactured in settlements. A punitive action taken by the BDS movement that was slow to gain traction in the past, has been picking up momentum.
The world has witnessed the amazing and unprecedented carnage during 50 days of "operation Ethnic Cleansing", the aftermath of which has been horrendous. Israel could no longer hide from the world that not only she has no intention to make life any easier for the Palestinians but that the systematic genocide of Palestinian will go on unabated. The reconstruction of what she had destroyed has been hindered by any means. The images of destitute Gazan families faced with the prospect of a bleak winter amid the ruins of what used to be their homes have replaced the photos of dead and mangled bodies of the Gazan children that used to fill the computer screens throughout the world.
As if the total disregard for human life and dignity wasn't apparent enough, just last week, the 'Peace Doctor', Dr. Mads Gilbert, the man who tirelessly cared for hundreds of victims whose lives were hanging by a string or needed the expert hands of someone who cared to hold them when they took their last breath, was banned "for life" from returning to Gaza, news that exploded in media like another one those Israeli bombs.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
