Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
15 December
WORLD SUPPORT FOR ISRAELI CRIMES IGNORES VICTIMS
On this day in 2008, the Quartet (a grouping of the UN, US, EU and Russia to secure peace in the Middle East whose ’Official Envoy’ was Tony Blair) called for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, captured in a daring raid and held captive in Gaza. Families of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, sometimes years without charge, held demonstrations in Gaza opposing Shalit’s release. Blair never called on Israel to release prisoners, even those interned without trial.
دعم عالمي للجرائم الاسرائيلية وتجاهل الضحايا
15 ديسمبر
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام 2008 ، دعت الرباعية (مكونة من الأمم المتحدة والولايات المتحدة والاتحاد الأوروبي وروسيا التي كان "مبعوثها الرسمي" توني بلير لتحقيق السلام في الشرق الأوسط) إلى الإفراج الفوري وغير المشروط عن العريف الإسرائيلي جلعاد شاليط ،الذي تم أسره في غارة جريئة وأحتفظ به اسيرا في غزة. نظمت عائلات آلاف الأسرى الفلسطينيين المحتجزين في السجون الإسرائيلية ، دون توجيه تهم إليهم في بعض الأحيان ، مظاهرات في غزة ضد إطلاق سراح شليط. لم يطالب بلير إسرائيل مطلقًا بالإفراج عن سجناء ، حتى أولئك المعتقلين بدون محاكمة.
The day before the attack on the military post and the capture of Shalit, Israeli soldiers entered the house of the Muamar family in the village of Umm al-Nasser, near Rafah Camp, seized brothers Osama and Mustafa Muamar and took them to Israel. According to their father Ali Muamar, "they blindfolded and handcuffed me and started beating me up with the butts of their rifles and kicking me".
An Israeli spokesman said that both men were members of Hamas: "These Palestinians were transferred to Israel where they will be questioned". A Hamas spokesman confirmed the brothers were sons of a member but that the men detained were not involved in Hamas.
There was virtually no western press coverage of the kidnapping of the two Palestinian civilians, compared with extensive coverage of an Israeli tank crew member captured in combat while enforcing a siege of a civilian population.
A note on widespread western media terminological absurdity
US military historian Caleb Carr described reports of Israel’s escalated attacks on Gaza `to rescue what Israel claimed was a “kidnapped” soldier as absurd because a uniformed, front-line noncommissioned officer can no more be “kidnapped” by the enemy than an innocent, unarmed child can “die in battle”.’ (Los Angeles Times, August 12, 2006).
A 2010 meeting between the Quartet's Blair and Netanyahu:
Netanyahu: Tony, it's a pleasure to meet you once again in Jerusalem. Our government's policy towards Gaza is clear. Israel seeks to keep out of Gaza weapons and war-supporting materiel that Hamas uses to prepare and carry out terror and rocket attacks against Israel and its civilians. All other goods will be allowed into Gaza. Gilad Shalit is now approaching four years in captivity. The international community should join Israel in strongly condemning Hamas for holding him captive. Now is the time for all of us, Israel and the international community, to redouble our efforts to secure Gilad Shalit's immediate release. Tony, let me take this opportunity once again to thank you for your statesmanship and for your friendship.
Blair: Three days ago, Israel announced its intention to liberalize its Gaza policy...Let me state right at the outset that Israel has the complete right to protect its security and to keep arms out of Gaza. The new policy allows for first - a change from a list of permitted items to those not permitted. Everything else as the Prime Minister has just indicated is to be allowed into Gaza.
Second, the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations' approved project – schools, health facilities, housing, sanitation and water – will be enabled with the construction materials necessary entering Gaza.
And third, the crossing's capacity will be increased to facilitate all of this and to allow the expansion of commercial activity, and in time, security permitting, additional crossings will be opened. The practical effect of this should change radically the flow of goods and material into Gaza. Plainly, there are still issues to be addressed and the test of course will not be what is said but what is done. But I welcome strongly this statement of policy and the Office of the Quartet Representative looks forward to working closely with the Government of Israel and other partners on its' implementation. This new policy allows the Government of Israel and the Prime Minister to maintain their absolute determination to protect Israel's security whilst improving significantly the lives of people in Gaza.
Once again, let me repeat my demand that Gilad Shalit, now approaching four years in captivity, should be released immediately. We will redouble our efforts to secure his freedom. Over these coming months therefore, we need to improve life in Gaza, to continue the growth in the West Bank and the Palestinian development of its’ institutions for statehood and to ensure that the indirect talks now led by Senator Mitchell turn into full and direct negotiations. Thank you.
Netanyahu: Thank you very much. That's great.
2-minute video: Blair and Netanyahu in complete agreement that "all violence stops - the terrorism, the kidnappings.the killings".