Three hour lull, every other day--the world of up-side-down politics

"We have now sunk to a depth where the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men." Attributed to George Orwell.

I have been resisting my inclination to write frantically about what is going on in Gaza since it all started-- right when people were getting ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the "civilized world!" I will continue to resist as I am sure my anger will take over and whatever I write will end up slightly too emotional. But I couldn't resist any more when I read about the the three hour lull, every other day. This is the most outrageous New Year gift I have ever seen in my life. After the Israeli authorities' shameless proposals for giving back the Palestinians parts of their own land and calling it "a sign of goodwill," this new gift to the Palestinian population in Gaza is just ridiculous.

The logic is simple: Israeli authorities know that there is not a single government or international relief organization, apart from G.W. Bush's outgoing administration, that "really and honestly" support what they are doing to Gaza. All the Arab states that are supporting the Zionist regime are not voicing their objections primarily due to American carrot and stick policy, geared towards acquiring support for this unpopular regime in the region. As long as the U.S. shows them the money and despite the popular disgust of most Middle Eastern population vis a vis the Zionist regime, the Middle Eastern leaders (or rather most of them) will continue tolerating the outrageous treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. However, if the new Administration, cuts such support or even parts of it as of January 20th--which I personally see as not very likeley), what do Israeli authorities have in hand? Nothing! Therefore they better start showing some signs of change (or as they like to call it: good will!). The three hour lull is one and the next step would be accepting the cease fire.

I don't see any problem with the lull or the cease fire for that matter. What I bothers me tremendously is the fact that things are increasingly turned up side down in this world. I was talking to a Jewish-American friend--who has been promoted to the rank of a self-hating Jew by Zionist extremists a few years ago--about the Israeli proposal to give a relatively high percentage of the Palestinian land back. She was bitterly laughing and telling me that: "after all these years of Israel talks about giving back only 30 or 40 percent of the UN defined Palestinian land, when a figure beyond 60% appears in a new proposal, I feel happy. But then I think: wait a minute! Is this a favor they are doing to Palestinians?!!!" Based on the same logic, I am calling our world, the world of up-side-down politics. This is a world where any less hostility and harm to the innocent people is celeberated. Meaning that harming innocent people is a given and any less of it is a surprise. This concept is being perpetuated domestically by regimes hostile to their population (or a part of it) and internationally by bullies and super-powers. They have the mandate to inflict harm upon poeple often enough that no one gets surprised by it.

In Iran, more than a decade ago, the poeple chose Khatami over Nouri. Now with Ahmadinejad in power, they are being pressured to a level that they would love for Nouri to be the President.

In Iraq, people are faced with so much uncertainty and daily horor that some dream of the quasi-stability that existed during Saddam Hussain's era.

In Gaza, the population is squeezed so tigh that a three hour lull (every other day, that is!) is absolutely necessary for them to survive!

Where are we going?

The other thing that convinced me to write was the news about Bloomberg's visit to the occupied territories:

Mayor Bloomberg of New York paid his tribute to his Zionist supporters by traveling to the Occupied Territories (Ashkelon) on January 4th. The possibly orchestrated attack scenario (they siren went off and he "had" to rush to a shelter) made the Zionist's day. After he visit to the absolutely safe shelter he was asked how it feels like to be under threat!!!!!!! But no one ever asks Palestinians how it feels to be under actual Rockets and Bombs (not just sirens) and not even have a shelter to go to!!! Bloomberg now knows firsthand "what it's like for Israelis living under constant threat from Hamas rockets"--My God, New York Post sucks.