"There are, despite everything, reasons to be hopeful”

[TBF]

Veronique De Keyser: “There are, despite everything, reasons to be hopeful”

Translated Sunday 20 July 2014, by Michael Peters

A Belgian Member of the European Parliament until last month, Veronique de Keyser actively fought there in favour of the creation of an independent Palestinian state and against the Israeli occupation. We met her at Avignon as the bombs were once again raining down on Gaza.

What was your reaction to this new Israeli outburst against the Gaza strip?

Veroniqe de Keyser: It didn’t surprise me. It was clear that Israel was going to do everything to prevent the reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah which was announced a month ago. We have already seen this several times: as soon as such a possibility takes shape in this sense, something happens implicating Hamas. Israel forces Hamas into a mistake, which isn’t very difficult. A section of Hamas do not want peace and in the Israeli extremists, who are gaining more and more ground, including within the government, they find a willing adversary.

The moderate members of the two sides must stop this orchestrated escalation of violence. If not, we will witness this terrible piece of history repeating itself, worse and worse every time.

Is the risk not increased by the current situation in the region, with the advance of Jihadists in Iraq and Syria?
Veronique de Keyser: Of course. All the more so since they are already present in Palestine, even as an ultra-minority. The current chaos can only increase the risk. Israel is playing with fire. It sold us the story of Hamas as terrorists, but it risks awakening an even more dangerous force. Until now, Palestine and Israel have remained outside the chaos of the region. Now, they are on top of the volcano.

Are you not angered by the weakness of the European reaction?
Veronique de Keyser: In its relations with Israel, the EU has always been in total contradiction with its values and treaties ...

More here: http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article2504

[Demeter]

1. I've had enough of hoping for change

I don't see any hope for anything, just lots of hard work and education, and the kind of investment that doesn't make billionaires. And lots of prosecutions...way overdue.

[Doctor_J]

2. I'm with you. this has as much chance of ending as the northern Ireland thing

And of course the republicans have no qualms about using the slaughter as a political football to further distract from their destruction of THIS country.

[TBF]

3. One way or another

We will be involved in that area as long as the natural resources exist. If not via Israel than we'd find another way in. I'm convinced that's the real reason for no serious attempts at resolving the conflict.

[2banon]

6. Are you saying the I/P conflict won't be resolved for purposes of controlling natural resources?

Or are you referring to the larger region?

[TBF]

8. The region as a whole -

there is no reason for the US to broker peace in that area if they (they meaning US powerbrokers) need to be there. Whether it's in Israel, Iran etc ...

Evidence: Genocide in Rwanda - where were we? We had no vested interests (ie economic interests) so it wasn't a priority. My view.

[2banon]

7. I agree.. n/t

[2banon]

5. true that.. n/t

[2banon]

4. Informative perspective.

I confess I didn't know that Hamas and Fatah had reconciled a month ago. It's more than obvious that the racist Likud party has no intentions of allowing Palestinian a free and independent state, ever. But I did wonder why they decided this was the moment to reign terror on Gaza at this juncture, and this article answers that question for me. Thanks for posting this.

On a side note, I am glad to see this subject is not forbidden in this forum. Personally I am enraged (yet again) with the pro-IDF / Likud "discussions" in GD. I can't go there for all of the Neo-Con articles, pov's parroted in every thread on this subject. Similar to the red baiting wrt to Ukraine.

[TBF]

9. I think it's ok for us to discuss -

and even better if we get into discussions of what this means for everyday Israeli/Palestinians. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a young mother or a child in Gaza.

[2banon]

10. I know. The place is a ghetto prison. No place to shelter the children.. no words.