No, more than a human rights crime. It is “one of the greatest human rights crimes now existing on Earth” says Carter. Think the Myanmar junta, the Sudanese government, and now the Israeli/US/EU (Blair) coalition, and yes, that would be us.
Following up on his first expose of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, the deadly siege, blockade, and collective punishment Israel has imposed on the Hamas controlled territory and its 1.5 million residents, Jimmy Carter spoke out again, this time in Wales, essentially turning up the volume on his previous Cairo message and more.
This report came through the French news agency, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and was picked up by Yahoo News.
LONDON (AFP)
Sun May 25, 2008
In a speech at a literary festival in Hay-on-Wye, in Wales, the 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner said: “There is no reason to treat these people this way,” referring to the blockade, in place since the Islamist Hamas movement seized Gaza in June 2007.
According to Carter, the failure of the European Union to support the Palestinian cause was “embarrassing.” He said European countries should be “encouraging the formation of a unity government,” including Hamas and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s rival Fatah movement. “They should be encouraging Hamas to have a ceasefire in Gaza alone, as a first step,” he told the invited guests. “They should be encouraging Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement in prisoner exchange and, as a second step, Israel should agree to a ceasefire in the West Bank, which is Palestinian territory.”
Carter also said the United States had to begin holding direct talks with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at developing a nuclear bomb, despite Tehran’s denials. “We need to talk to Iran now, and continue our discussions with Iran, to let Iran know the benefits, and the detrimental side, of continuing with their nuclear programme,” he said.
The big question is this: why can’t Carter make these statements in the US and why isn’t the mainstream media reporting them from wherever they originate? And how did Americans get pulled into this human rights crime as an accessory in the first place? Think Cheney-Bush.
Thanks for the diary, shergald. Carter is right. The blockade of Gaza is a crime against humanity. The EU is under no legal obligation to follow the US lead on this; especially since Gaza can be accessed through International waters, trade with and aid for Gaza does not depend on respect for the sovereign rights of any neighboring State.
Despite the international status of Gaza’s coastal waters, as you know, Israel has blockaded the coast, firing on fishing boats that venture into the sea, in a further attempt to starve out the Palestinians in Gaza. It has now pretty much resulted in the destruction of the fishing industry.
Thanks to America for supporting this additional embellishment of Israel’s Gaza seige.
Carter urges ‘supine’ Europe to break with US over Gaza blockade
Praises to Blair for his leadership of the EU in their contribution to the malnurishment of babies born in Gaza.
Everytime I read about Jimmy Carter, I feel some special pride as one of the original peanut brigade who went to NH in 1976. I also supported him in 1980.
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TEL AVIV (Jpost) – One month after his visit to the region spurred criticism from Israeli officials for his meeting with Syria-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, former US president Jimmy Carter is again making waves, this time saying that Israel possesses 150 nuclear weapons.
Former Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Aharon Ze’evi Farkash downplayed Carter’s comments, but warned that they could potentially be used by Iran to push its nuclear development.
“He [Carter] was a president a long time ago, and these kinds of things could do damage, but on the other hand, it could enhance the deterrent,” Farkash continued, but added that with regard to the current international effort to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, “they, the enemy, or some of our ‘less good’ friends, could use these claims against us.”
In an interview with The Guardian, Carter called on members of the European Union to break the embargo of the Gaza Strip.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Well now, isn’t that the problem: Israel wants to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East. That idea sits well I suppose with the 22 countries comprising the Arab League.
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Angry parliamentarians demanded that MK Arye Eldad (National Union) be investigated for criminal activity and incitement after he declared that “whoever gives up parts of the country should be sentenced to death.”
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s actions regarding the negotiations with Syria over the return of the Golan Heights could be considered tantamount to treason, Eldad told The Jerusalem Post .
“These despicable statements are reminiscent of the days before the murder of [former Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin and must not be heard,” MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) said. “Law enforcement authorities must prevent it, from public figures too.”
MK Zevulun Orlev (NRP) lashed out at his fellow party member, writing to him that he “heard his statement with shock. Before we have recovered as a society and a nation from the politically motivated murder of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, comes your call which gives approval for another political murder of a prime minister.”
Israel sets demands in new Syrian peace track
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."