Free Palestine from Israeli talons

Assembly making it appear as if its Palestinians who invaded Israeli territory. But Palestine is a sovereign territory. Its declaration of independence was drafted in 1987 and adopted on November 15, 1988 by the Palestine National Council affirming statehood.
Nonetheless, Israel’s illegal occupation continues with US blessing. Gaza’s under siege with UN complicity through a conspiracy of silence. Israeli forces attack repeatedly. Deaths and injuries are commonplace.
Dozens of weekly West Bank incursions harass Palestinians ruthlessly. Numerous arrests follow. Innocent civilians are imprisoned, including children young as 10. Peaceful protesters are assaulted violently. Settlement expansions continue on stolen land. Dispossessed Palestinians have no redress. Police state repression terrorises millions of people. World leaders yawn and do nothing.
Last April in Cairo, Hamas and Fatah leaders proclaimed unity. Palestinians hoped it signaled rapprochement between the two sides. Both agreed to form a transitional government. The two delegations, headed by Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, discussed security issues and ways to coordinate forces cooperatively. They also agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections within a year. Despite reservations on both sides, signing ceremony comments signaled hope. Abbas suggested turning a page, saying:
“Four black years have affected the interests of Palestinians. Now we meet to assert a unified will. Israel is using the Palestinian reconciliation as an excuse to evade (peace. It) must choose between peace and settlement.” Based on his long collaborationist history with Israel, his commitments need to be tested. Saying and doing often differ. The jury so far is out.
For his part, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said:
“Hamas was ready to pay any price for internal Palestinian reconciliation. The only battle of the Palestinians is against Israel. Our aim is to establish a free and completely sovereign Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza strip, whose capital is Jerusalem, without any settlers and without giving up a single inch of land and without giving up on the right of return.”
At the time, Netanyahu denounced unity, saying:
“What happened . . . in Cairo is a tremendous blow to peace and a great victory for terrorism.”
In fact, Israel is the region’s leading purveyor of state terrorism by far. Moreover, Netanyahu, other Israeli officials, and previous ones spurn peace. Why else would decades of negotiations go nowhere. Hopefully, Hamas and Fatah agreements will hold. On November 24, the International Middle East Media Centre headlined, “Abbas, Mashal, Meet in Cairo, Affirm National Unity,” saying: Both sides affirmed “Palestinian national unity and partnership. An understanding was reached to hold legislative and presidential elections in May 2012.” Abbas said:
“I am pleased to inform the Arab and Islamic Nations that we started a new phase of partnership to best serve the Palestinian people. We deal with each other as partners. We have unified responsibility towards our people and our cause. We discussed the reconciliation agreement in detail, and we are pleased to say that were no disagreements on any issue.”
It remains to be seen if he means it. Mashal also signaled hope, saying: “I want to assure everybody, these are not just words. I want everybody to wait and see the real outcome on the ground. We hope that our people, all factions, will help us in serving our cause.”
Another meeting is planned for December 22 to affirm agenda details. In response, Israeli officials condemned the agreement, calling Hamas (Palestine’s legitimately elected government) a terrorist organisation. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said:
“The foreign ministry is examining the possibility of Israel pulling out of the Gaza Strip in terms of infrastructure.” In other words, Israel may cut off electricity, water, and other essentials in retaliation. Already, besieged Gazans lack enough food, medicines, and other basic supplies. Everything is rationed. Shortages cause harm.
Rolling blackouts happen daily for hours. Normality’s denied. So are Palestinian tax revenues PA leaders need to function. A senior Israeli official said if Hamas and Fatah conclude unity, “it would make a transfer of funds impossible.”
In recent weeks, Israel escalated Gaza attacks. Potentially they signal more war. In mid-November, Israel’s military commander Benny Gantz warned about another large-scale operation. Palestinians take the threat seriously. The possibility of a post-election Islamist Egypt raised concerns. Why isn’t clear as Israel and Western nations have close ties to others. In fact, Israel’s using it as a pretext perhaps to unleash what’s already planned.
Timing may depend on an “intelligence assessment of likely targets, the weather, the readiness levels of regular and reserve troops and, last but not least, the situation in Egypt” if new leaders are anti-Israeli.
These and other factors affect new conflict strategies. “During Gantz’s nine months as chief of staff, plans for new operations have been drawn, old plans have been revised and numerous battle-oriented discussions have been staged.” Events on the ground will dictate decisions. Pre-emption’s a strong possibility. Israel favours it, claiming it’s responding defensively when, in fact, it’s committing lawless aggression – especially against soft targets like Gaza.