French FM: Coming days are a test for Israel

The reason why Israel does not live peace with the Gazans because it is trying to starve them to death. Israel proudly brags to its critics that an average of 80 truckloads a day of international aid enters gaza. That in itself is almost an admission of genocide. According to the UN World Food Programme, Gaza with a population of 1.4 million requires daily 400 trucks of food just to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel also forbids entry of building materials, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets, blankets, cutlery, crockery, cups, glasses, musical instruments, books, tea, coffee, sausages,and shoes. Article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention discusses collective punishment and violation of the article is considered a war crime. If Israel continues to thumb its nose at the international community, that violation will probably end up being charged in the Hague.

Moshe, much of the world recognizes that Jews believe the world revolves around Israel. But you write as if there are two worlds: a Jewish world and the other world in which the rest of humanity lives. You are witnessing the world slowly, but inexorably, turning against Israel, manifested by boycotts, sanction movements, criminal charges, UN resolutions and articles of the 4th Geneva Convention which accuse Israel of war crimes. Yet you say you will be tested on your adherence to the principles of justice and morality and your opposition to those who oppress humanity. You have already been tested: And you failed! For 42 years you have forced a harsh and humiliating occupation on the Palestinian people. You mistreat and belittle them every day. You have imposed a near genocidal, and violation of human rights blockade against the 1.4 million people of Gaza. I can think of no other country with a human rights violation record more damning than Israels, unless it is Burma or North Korea.

It appears that the negotiations between King Abdullah of Saudi, and President Sarkozy of France the last few days are some sort of [Secret} requiring [CENSORSHIP]. Perhaps it is because Saudi is putting pressure on the US by rejecting arms deals with America for ones with Russia and France.

Israel is not being tested. The USA, EU and France are being tested. And they are flunking.

There is no peace process. If ever there was one, It has been killed since longtime, because Israels gouvernments never believed in the necessity of an indipendant, palestinian state. The proof: Sellters, incouraged by gouvernments. Now the paradoxon of "jewish" Israel becomes reality: Israel has to prepare itself for real democracy. It should take the chance before the Palestinians want much more. Why shouldn't they ? Beware this consequence of israeli refusal!

in peace with the Pals , is that after the full withdrawl from GAZA strip we thought we will have peace in the south. INSTead WE got hundred of missiles , infiltrations and murder (and this in return to supplying water, petrol and electricity to the PALS)we all know now what to expect if there will be "PEACE" with the Pals on the West Bank"

The best way to get Palestine into peace negotiations is for France, the UK, the USA and any other nation to speak out loudly and firmly in support of the Saudi 2002 plan for perace. Right now, Palestine is facing a powerful Israeli nation that threatens unilateral action if Palestine does not submit. How can Palestine expect justice if it must stand alone as an occupied state where Israel can withhold tax revenues, food, water and electric power? Israel's treatment of Palestinians provides fodder for Muslim zealots throughout the world. If the western nations want peace in the Middle East and greater stability in the world, it is time for them to stand up and be counted.

Even a lover, being repeatedly rejected, not to speak of hated and assaulted would lose faith.

It's true that with a foreign minister like Lieberman the French have so much too learn from Israel !!! I'd rather receive "sermons and pontifications" than racist comments.

The ?Mandate for Palestine? granted Jews the irrevocable right to settle anywhere in Palestine, the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, a right unaltered in international law and valid to this day. Jewish settlements in Judea, Samaria (the West Bank), Gaza and the whole of Jerusalem are legal. In fact, when you think about it, the major question is: where should the Palestinian arabs be resettled? that and the need for Israel to stand firm and look out for its own interests for a change. More at : http://xrl.us/ou89o

Bad Bernie Kouchner has the right idea about restarting talks where they left off a year ago, but he's taking to the wrong side. Netanyahu has said, on several occasions, that he wants to restart talks with no preconditions. It's Abbas and the arabs that want to changes in advance and new, major concessions before they restart talks. The construction in Judea and Samaria was approved and started by the Olmert government, and peace talks were not affected. The construction became a problem only when OyBama, with a naivety borne of a hatred of Israel, made it an issue forcing Abbas to get in front of him. If Bad Bernie wants to see talks restarted, he needs to tell Abbas that France will hold him responsible if talks are not restarted, and that France will turn their backs on him.

Kouchner says "there used to be a great peace movement in Israel", but Arafat and his cohorts sent bomber after bomber and destroyed the Israeli left. In January 1996 the opinion polls had Peres leading Netanyahu bu a huge margin, but the Palestininas sent bonber after bomber and Netanyahu was elected. Years later, Israel quit the Gaza Strip and has got thousands of rockets and mortars in exchange. Its amazing that there are so many peace-minded folks still there.

"But it seems that the Palestinians of the West Bank have been broken, and still they continue to go backwards." by Adrian Backwards? You are serious? When was your last trip to the West Bank? Palestinians keep building more and faster than any Jewish settlement project ever. So many rich Palestinians live there in there big villas and estates you have to see it to believe it, and the Israel Army leaves most all the Palestinian towns and cities totally alone for many years now! You want to complain on the roadbloacks Israel still keeps at points? Israelis also have to wait in line at these roadblocks and there are hundreds of security checks on the other side of the green line also. Maybe there has been "so few issues" coming out of the West Bank lately because the Palestinians live there in real peace and money and the roadblocks that remain help keep those who still want to kill Israelis - from killing Israelis. Ever think about that?

Perhaps, but that consensus is certainly not for peace nor is it for starting off where talks ended a year ago. Israel has said, defiantly, Gilo, like all of the hugh swathe of land it has stolen to judaise all of Jerusaelm, is staying put and the talks will start from scratch. Israel has said that to France, the US, the EU and the UN. At the same time as its annexation is solidified and its expansionism continues under different guises, it feigns a desire for peace. Israel pressure groups in Europe and the US will hold the wovles at bay for awhile, but froces are building that are ready to explode and when they do, Israel will balme the Palestinians saying now there is no partner and we are really back at square one and all of Palestine will be annexed to the zionist need for lebensraum. Then where will we be?

Lot of words and discussions but no actions at all. It is time to apply sanctions.

The French clown ,Kouchner assumes own and his country's Papal-like mandate to sermons and pontifications.

I hope that the EU -israel trade agreement is canceled as israel has fail to abide by what he has signed, yet again.

I have to say, I think Kouchner is right. What has happened to those Israelis who do actually desire peace? The odd thing is, there has been so few issues comming out of the West Bank for years now? Sure, if there were constant suicide attacks or a 3rd intifada, I would understand the hardening of attitudes. But it seems that the Palestinians of the West Bank have been broken, and still they continue to go backwards. Some please enlighten me.

Many don't see it, for many think of Israel as a giant super-power, when in fact it is so laughably tiny that it can be wiped out by one nuclear suitcase bomb carried by one single Jew-hating nut. And when you think of how many more Muslims there are than their Jewish cousins (yes, we are related to Arabs, folks, whether Jews and Arabs like it or not), you see the math odds for stabs at Israel's destruction remain enormous. Just ask the Shin Bet or other services how many terror attacks are thwarted in Israel each and every day. Pure math, in case fools can't see it. So many multitudes of followers of later faiths historically - and still - must say that Jews are wrong in order to justify their faiths, that it is no wonder that every day is a test for Israel.

The coming days, like the days before and the days following will be a test for Israel. We will be tested on our resolve, on our adherence to the principles of justice and morality, on our devotion to the Land of Israel and our opposition to those who oppress humanity all over the globe. Israel must stand strong against the global wave of oppression, especially that of Arab countries against their own citizens. Israel must not allow those dictatorships to distract the focus of the world from their atrocities by condemning the Jews of Israel for defending themselves against aggression. Well put, FM Kouchner.

Because of super protection by the american big brother, some israeli governments (like this bibi one) act as if everything was easy and without consequences. In the school courtyard, bibi and his friends already got their land, with freedom for all (on major part of historical palestine), but it is not enough. Why should the spoiled child stop, when the american big brother is there in any case, to protect. "We want the whole courtyard" !!! says Bibi who could loose everuthing with this stupid game, but he doesn't know it yet ...

"The time has come for harsh sanctions against Iran," said Livni. "The international community must be clear on this, and all dialogue must have a time frame." You've got to admire the cheek! Livni, your country has been negotiating for 18 years with the only intention of adding CO2 to the athmosphere... Not to mention flouting UN resolution for decades and now being accused of war crimes, not by your enemies but the intl community. ALL dialog must have a time frame? When do you think is a good time for harsh sanctions against Israel?