Israeli aggression in Gaza is a war crime
Need for convening an Arab summit stressed
"
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani addressing the Arab nation last night"
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani last night described the heinous Israeli aggression on the people of Gaza as a war crime as per international charters and laws.
In an address to the Arab nation broadcast on Al Jazeera Satellite Channel, the Emir said even if there were no other issues concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian cause the woes of Gazans should move the Arab leaders.
He said the Gaza Strip had been under an unjust siege for three years which blockaded even food and medicines for no reason except that the Palestinian people have been dealing seriously with democracy and have decided on their options.
The Emir said the calming agreement had not prevented Israel from continuing assassinations and incursions, adding that in the shadow of the calming Israel clamped a suffocating siege on the Strip which turned it into a detention camp and when it failed to break the will of the Palestinian people, today came the military aggression as a continuation of that siege.
HH Sheikh Hamad underlined the need for halting the aggression and for a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in a way guaranteeing an end to the siege which he described as inhumane and illegal.
He explained that Qatar had opted for just peace, saying this will not go in line with the continuation of the settlement policy, Judaisation of Jerusalem, siege and aggression on peaceful people.
The Emir added that we should pay any price to help our brethren in Gaza, stressing that it was not a grace but rather their right and our duty towards those who sacrifice their lives. “We should all co-operate so that the assistance will directly reach the people of Gaza to enhance their steadfastness and resistance, and to lift their morale.”
He said any ceasefire should be coupled with the lifting of siege and the opening of all crossings, stressing that all who call for a reciprocal ceasefire are equating culprit and the victim, and justifying the aggression retroactively.
He also underlined the need for the convening of an emergency Arab summit to adopt a position against the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
“We in Qatar, have called for the convening of an emergency Arab summit conference to take a decision vis-a-vis the Israeli aggression on Gaza,” the Emir said stressing that “moves by Arab peoples and a number of forces of peace in the world have proved that an emergency summit was the least things expected from us.”
“Our position was that we can do something but the problem does not lie in the summit but rather the will with which we come to the summit,” he said adding that “when we have that will, we can take decisions that would have an influence on the international arena and Israel.”
HH the Emir added that “some brothers have made efforts by going to the Security Council before the summit, but once again it has been proven that if we don’t have the will, the international community will not listen to us. We have to listen to our Arab community before the international community listen to us. Therefore I renew the call for an emergency Arab summit and I will leave this option to the Arab nation’s leaders.”
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks battled Hamas fighters in Gaza yesterday as the death toll from the offensive passed 510.
Israeli forces moved into the fringe of Gaza City while families fled or hid in cellars awaiting a second night of combat. The Israeli government fought off intense international pressure over its biggest military operation since its 2006 war in Lebanon.
At least 63 Palestinians were killed by tank shells or missiles fired from warplanes since the ground offensive was launched on Saturday night, Gaza medics said.
Columns of Israeli troops and tanks surrounded Gaza City and fighting was reported in outer districts. Fierce clashes were also reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya.
Explosions and machine gun fire rocked the territory of 1.5mn people. Hamas fighters fired mortar rounds and detonated roadside bombs in front of the advancing troops, witnesses said.
Moawiya Hassanein, head of Gaza medical emergency services, said the number of Palestinians killed since the Israeli operation was launched on December 27 was now 512, including 87 children.
Five members of the same family died when one tank shell hit their car near Gaza City, emergency services said.
Three ambulance workers were killed when they were hit by a missile as they helped wounded victims of the conflict, medics said.
Aid groups said the offensive had aggravated a humanitarian crisis for the population, who have no electricity, no water and now face dire food shortages. Hospitals were only running on backup generators.
International efforts to halt the conflict sought new impetus after the UN Security Council failed to agree a statement on the conflict, with the US giving strong backing to Israel.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancelled a planned trip to China this week because of the Gaza crisis.
A Russian presidential envoy and an EU ministerial delegation headed to the Middle East to make pleas for a ceasefire.
President Nicolas Sarkozy was also to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders today.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to call off the offensive in telephone talks with Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and a host of other foreign leaders, his office said.
The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) yesterday blasted the UN Security Council for failing to agree on a resolution condemning Israel’s attack on Gaza.
GCC Secretary General he Abdulrahman al-Attiyah in a statement also called on incoming US president Barack Obama to give priority to the Palestinian cause.
“This aggression is the expected and usual result of international silence toward Israeli arrogance,” he said in the statement. – Agencies
Source: Gulf-times.com
If you want to see a good documentary its called The Promises it was filmed about Israeli Jewish kids making friendships with Palestian Arabs. It was really good but now with the wall the Israelis have built theirs no hope for interaction, the peace and understand was starting with the young people but now Israel has cut even that interaction off. Georgetown sponsored the show here last year, although I bought the CD so if a group wants to show again I have it. It was neat to see kids being kids regardless of the political problems around them. There is also a Peace Camp in the States where they interact, hopefully that will continue.
Nice speech
ummjake: It's just like i said on some posts at start, they don't know what's love, but to hate, they leurn pretty fast.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
I agree -- enough blame to go around in this situation. And it just goes to show you, not EVERY Jew or Israeli agrees with what their government does (just like the rest of us don't always love what our government/country does...).
A youtube video that presents the Israeli side:
I KNOW it is partisan/biased, but since there are so many links/videos presenting the Palestinian side, I thought I'd throw this out there for parity.
The truth has to be somewhere in the middle, I suspect...
Alexa/Oryx/PM: Can I get an amen!? I've been continuallly astounded and amazed at the fact that they'll cut a kiss scene out of a film in the theaters here, but families have absolutely no problem taking all six of their under-10 kids to a (10 p.m.) showing of "Hellraiser" or some other violent horror movie. Honestly...
I also recall back when I used to teach little kids, I had one little Qatari boy, first grade so he was about 6 years old, who defaced the Israeli flag on the world map in my classroom, said they were "dirty dogs" or something similar. How sad is it that he had already learned to hate the place and the people before he'd even had a chance to meet one of them or find out what the whole situation was about for himself?
-Yes u can stand up and say what ever u think, simply becuase u are in side of the stronger!!!! apparently!
"note the winner writes the history"and that's exactly what happened in ww2.!!
-Yes unfortunately u have a brain to justify the crime..and u ask people to smoke some cronic and justify with you.
-What's happening is not a WAR between 2 matched armies, instead its a Massacre, the criminal is you "Jwes" and the victime is the Palestenians.
-Stop the massacre and get the fuck out and then ask for truce....u are very well known people " the fire first comes from you 1 minute when the truce start"
-If u think the goverment of paestine hides....then hahaha ....u really makes me hahahah...u have the latest weapons and technologies u have the air fighters u have every thing...and yet u still losing.....u people are really cow-ards...unmatched and ur losing...imagine what will happen without support of others to you!!!!
you never know!!!!
Cammon, Timtan do you think your brain its work?
If yes, please use to know the true story of Palestine, and your 100% correct I hate Israel, not only Israel whoever kills innocent people , and Palestine and Hammas just re-acting for freedome.
Please think from the side of human, and offcourse your brain is washed by Israel (Mosad) and from where your getting wrong information, its clear you are a Mosad agent. Don't think others also stuppid!!
Ofcourse im not .....if u are "u are" smomking somthing ....don't give me .....and stop seeing people the way "u are"....wake up ...try to.. i know it's deffecult for you people the "thiefs" but keep trying.
can i suggest that u get the f*** out of here!!!!!
So u want the wrold make stories about a home made rocket luanched at the desert where no one is alive...and forget about the 800 childrens actualy died in the city that 1.5 Mio lives in from a real latest technology missile that made in America or where ever.
But i woudn't really say shame on you ...becuase u people are shame less.
who think that all jews or all israelis (or all arabs for that matter) are incapable of thinking for themselves, read this.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-palestine
you don't contribute to a solution by blindly supporting one side (which is what you accuse others of doing). surely there has been enough senseless killing to justify both sides growing up.
___________________________________________
"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day." Withnail & I
of this community the world would be a different place,
Alexa: Couldn't agree more with you.
PM/Oryx: Once i posted that those restrictions regarding people in love were too severe, but i do understand that somethings can't be done in the presence of children, i have been saying, what those children need is LOVE not hate.
Btw: How can a war be considered war crime? But guess it's only a question of semantic.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Jews have the latest weapon that u or any one can imagine on this earth, they have the support of 90% leaders again "leaders" of this corrupted what is called U.N, you have put the elected government of Palestine without Palestine48 under a siege for 3 years No food No water No energy nothing was allowed in ...ofcuarse this is with the help of others!!!
you are kelling "not fighting" people the most advanced weapon they have is a home made what is called "rockets"
and yet u are talking.. shame on you as what bush said!!
why dont you get the F*** out of here!!!!!
I know - so what sort of 'norms' are we exposed to?
A severed leg is better to show a child than a couple kissing?
The big marker pen comes out on the packet of stockings in M&S oooops a little bit o thigh... but ok to show dead babies...
I think there needs to be some introspection in defining family and ultimately society's values
Criminal (airsupply/abu abu, etc...): Before accusing someone of having brain washed, just loose sometime reading your posts and than tell us who was brainwashed.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Cammon, Timtan do you think your brain its work?
If yes, please use to know the true story of Palestine, and your 100% correct I hate Israel, not only Israel whoever kills innocent people , and Palestine and Hammas just re-acting for freedome.
Please think from the side of human, and offcourse your brain is washed by Israel (Mosad) and from where your getting wrong information, its clear you are a Mosad agent. Don't think others also stuppid!!
esp when Airsupply and all his little multipersonalities start creating new profiles..... again...
Am waiting for the insults Airsupply.... my month won't be complete without them;-)
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
You are definitely not using obsence language but if you start questioning someones qualification or standard of education you wont get a good response.
Anyways I wasn't pointing at you, sorry if you felt like that overall we are human that full of emotions and sometimes we do lost control over our emotions and while doing so we are hurting others without actually knowing that we actually hurt somebody.
sorry again.
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When the eye becomes the heart, the heart becomes the eye ... Wasif Ali Wasif
Oh God a model from Virgin Island, what is your address i have a job for you
ADMIN and MOD, please stop this non sensicle debate with absolute garbage slang.
strange mentality....
My point is they ban single men on Fridays to uphold the moral fibre of the community but kiddies can see pictures of severed limbs and dead bodies.....
would you want your kids to see that whilst they are going from the toy shop to get their happy meal?
it just seems to be bad taste and unnecessary...
by all means have fund raising/awareness events...but this??
saoudusa...pray tell what you brag about in bed? Best Farter under the covers? Longest skiddy on the sheets?mmmmmmm
Being a professor does not mean stepping on others shoulders and making fun of them. If I'm in your bed right now I will teach you some of the things that you have never learned. I'm too bragger in the bed!!!
Our company website has a similar images of crying bleeding children.. but is this the right way to making people aware?..I really dont know..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
So someone enlighten me....how does a photo display of dead bodies and limbs in Hyatt Plaza help bring peace to this situation? And since when a shopping mall (all intent of protecting families on Fridays) is a suitable location for this???
I am just reading different comments posted above, why dont you open a pre QL Class to improve thier language skills so that they can reach to a level good enough to chat with his/her HIGHNESS or just simply try a bit harder to understand the msg considering the fact that QL is actually QATAR Living site which happend to be an ARABIC country where english is secondary language.
These people may not be as educated as you but when it comes to decency its a matter of debate.
Just yesterday I have seen a competition called "Who Knows More Languages" and today I am seeing a grammer and spell check mockery.
Please accept my appologies in advance if I made any spell or grammer mistakes in my post becuase I was less fortunate to study in institutes that were not as good as yours.
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When the eye becomes the heart, the heart becomes the eye ... Wasif Ali Wasif
Yes my grammar is very poor and my vocabulary is limited to the everyday English. I'm still learning which is good for me. Since it's not my native language I don't really care much about learning some unneeded stuff. At least I know your language while you will never ever come to know our language. I think I'm gonna go to McDonald's drive thru right know
Do u know that fancy bottle rocket did affect the oil prices in the world and it scares the $hit out of the Israelis. I'm not gonna waste my time debating with people I do know their mentality and their knowledge which is based on their media.
PM/Gypsy/Tallg: Don't you recognize airsupply new nick? It's becoming pretty common for him to be banned.
Unfortunatelly, it's folks like him and saoudusa that give bad name to Islam.
I don't aprove any kind of violence, it isn't a solution to anything.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
The numbers don't matter. Israel cares about the 1 dead as much as Palestine cares about 1 dead. That dead person is still someones mother, father, son or daughter. Anyway, if the Palestinians could manage it, there'd be a hell of a lot more Israeli's dead. Don't beeatch cause you're backing people that, despite billions in support from the Arab nations, can't manage to make more then a fancy bottle rocket.
Honestly I was typing in the dark
Dude, let me tell yeh something, I know what rhetoric is all about and what you guys are thinking. We all make miss spelling right? Now shut your mouth up and stop [moderated] your head.
Over 700 dead Palestinians VS. 4 or 5 dead Israelis in a matter of 11 days!!!!
LOL, considering you can spell one or best I doubt that saoudusa. Oh, and the American Universities here don't count.
oh yeah illiterate and studing in on of the beast schools in your country.
waht about the flies coming out from your backside. lol
I believe the term is "shooting themselves in the foot" PM. :)
Threads like these are why I can't condemn Israel for their actions, no matter how much I disagree with them. To condemn Israel is to agree with the likes of Criminal Israel, saoudusa and the rest and I just can't lower myself to their levels.
but when will be that someday?, After all the Gazans are dead? Are we in current reality here?
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
You got to many flies coming out of your mouth, just to clarify your smells.....
LOL
please review the website guidelines before posting : http://www.qatarliving.com/guidelines
moved away from original post....We started from HH Emir's approach/request to Arab Leaders to unite and show their solidarity to International community to stop killings of innocent civilian palestinians.
Like other said, Arab nations (middle east muslim countries) are always good pets of US/UK regimes;
Could not support more than with 'Words' and some pennys. Arab countries will meet, attend conferences and will send a delegation to UN and EU nations, That's it.
Till then More than 2000 people will die, 5000 will be injured and Israel will say Truce with all his conditions agreed by Hamas / Palestine Govt.
Arab will continue to have Fun, having luxurious life in their shells/cocoons/havens.
By end of this seigh; US economy will made all efforts to come out of credit crunch/financial crisis somehow. Oil price will shoot again and everybody will be happy.
CNN: Israel Broke Gaza Cease-Fire
http://pointers.audiovideoweb.com/stcasx/ca25win25213/sanchez.wmv/play.asx
Just got in my mail.
Can't see the video/audio in office.
Please tell me, if there is any truth in it?
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"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done." - Holmes
Tallg said:
Why not engage him in discussion rather than throwing your toys out of the pram.
Don't bother....
Because they don't know how to engage in a conversation.
Those typical anti Jew trollers probably love to play with the 'stick' SUV and 'big booty' CRUISERS' all the time.
QL not a Jews website also, its a public forum, MOD have to stop such comments when killing Criminal Israel innocent people day by day, and Timtan opinion and view, I don't know he is having this wrong information from where? MOD please consider human kind,
Criminal Israel - while people may not agree with Timtan's views and some of them may not be correct, he is perfectly entitled to express them here. Why not engage him in discussion rather than throwing your toys out of the pram.
It is you who are more likely to be banned by the MODs since you only registered this morning and are already labelling all Jews as criminals.
UK eng this is not the time for Timtan comments, this is too much........Israel is killing innocent people day by day, atleast request him to realise the true picture of Palestine, please try to understand all of you,
This stuppid Timtan having his own news agency or what? from where he is getting wrong information , and sharing the stuppid things with QL, Timtan as a human please learn about Palestine history first, and about the Criminal Jews
Criminal Israel you have to see both side of the picture. timtan comments at time may be harsh but remember that every one does not think the same. Its good to have different opinion as long as it does not hurt or victimise someone..It is called tolerance.
Its good to have a dialog and see comments from both side of the story. Only history will judge us..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Why MOD not stopping Timtan from QL, most of the people here have feeling about Palestine , and Timtan (Thai Mosad) is hearting them , It's MOD ALSO SUPPORTING CRIMINAL ISRAEL, PLASE GIVE HIM WARNING.
and QL don't forget this is an Islamic Country
[mod note: He is entitled to voice his opinions and views. Just because they don't agree with your views (or the majority's) doesn't mean he should be warned. And for your information, QL is not an Islamic website.]
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"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done." - Holmes
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"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done." - Holmes
timtan: got a link to that footage?
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
makes it difficult to solve this aggression. With a hardline stand of Hamas, they are sacrificing the civilians on this war. Unless Hamas comes to reality (current reality situation), continuing bloodshed will still very much around!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
...by hiding out among them and taking cover behind people's houses and schools and other "soft" targets, in the hopes that Israel won't fire upon them for fear of injuring civilians.
"An Israeli military statement said it received intelligence that the dead at the girls school included Hamas operatives, among them members of a rocket-launching squad. It identified two of them as Imad Abu Askar and Hassan Abu Askar.
Two residents who spoke to an AP reporter by phone said the two brothers were known to be low-level Hamas militants. They said a group of militants — one of them said four — were firing mortar shells from near the school.
An Israeli shell targeted the men, but missed and they fled, the witnesses said. Then another three shells landed nearby, exploding among civilians, they said, refusing to allow their names to be published because they feared for their safety."
(Taken from an AP article online today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians)
The people killed when the UN school got bombed were most likely casualties of this repugnant Hamas tactic.
How can people be livid at Israel, when Hamas, the elected government of the Palestinians, doesn't even respect the lives of its own citizens enough to not use them as human shields?
God willing, the peace initiatives being offered up by Franch and Egypt will lead to an end of this conflict.
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"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done." - Holmes
Eco-savvy said:
How to steal a bone, how to grab land and then bury the bone.
Eco-savvy
I did ask my neighbors Dog, Why would you bury the bone?
Amazingly his reply was; My bones are bury, because of those darn stray cats are always stealing the bones.
What the cat does not know, those bones are marked with dog poop and pee. :)
How to steal a bone, how to grab land and then bury the bone
Guys if dog bark at u it do not mean we bite dark this is what ppl like tamtim are
Add them to ignore list just if u want to meet face to face with gm 35 I will also come to kick u r sorry aaaa. Sssss
typical RP :-O, well at least your giving some one the oportunity to read...
Who are Hamas?
Sheikh Ahmad Yassin's Hamas founder
For more reading on his profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4653706.stm
Current leadership
Hamas' Mahmoud Zahhar
For more reading on his profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4653706.stm
Mahmoud Zahhar is believed to be the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Group, Hamas, in Gaza.
A surgeon who teaches medicine at the Islamic University in Gaza, Mr Zahhar helped found the group in 1987 with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
He became a member of the "collective leadership" of the militant group in 2004 after Sheikh Yassin and Abdel-Aziz Rantissi were assassinated by Israel.
Mr Zahhar is one of Hamas' ideological leaders and is considered to be more hardline than Ismail Haniya, who headed the group's national list of candidates for the January legislative elections.
Hamas PM Ismail Haniya
For more reading on his profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4655146.stm
Ismail Haniya was a relatively unknown figure until he headed the Hamas list that won the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006.
He had risen within the Islamic group as a close associate of its spiritual leader, the late Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, whose office he ran.
He is considered a pragmatist in the movement's ranks who is more open to dialogue with Israel.
However, he has insisted that Israel would have to recognise Palestinian rights before talks could begin.
=============================================
Who are the Hamas?
Hamas takes its name from the Arabic initials for the Islamic Resistance Movement.
Branded a terrorist organization by Israel, the US and the EU, it is seen by its supporters as a legitimate fighting force defending Palestinians from a brutal military occupation.
It is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist organisation, formed in 1987 at the beginning of the first intifada, or Palestinian uprising against Israel's occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
The group's short-term aim has been to drive Israeli forces from the occupied territories. To achieve this it has launched attacks on Israeli troops and settlers in the Palestinian territories and against civilians in Israel.
It also has a long-term aim of establishing an Islamic state on all of historic Palestine - most of which has been contained within Israel's borders since its creation in 1948.
For years the organisation was divided into two main spheres of operation:
* social programmes like building schools, hospitals and religious institutions
* militant operations carried out by Hamas' underground Iss al-Din Qassam Brigades.
But it became increasingly involved in Palestinian factional politics, both in the occupied territories and with a political branch in exile.
One of its leaders-in-exile, Khalid Meshaal, was the target of a bungled Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997.
King Hussein was outraged by Israel's action and was only placated when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released Hamas's jailed spiritual leader and founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
While King Hussein tolerated Hamas's presence, his successor King Abdullah II had the group's headquarters closed down and senior figures expelled to Qatar.
Hamas has remained outside the main Palestinian political structure of the PLO, but it took part in - and won - Palestinian Authority (PA) legislative elections in the occupied territories in 2006.
Veto power
Hamas came to prominence after the first intifada as the main Palestinian opponent of the Oslo accords - the US-sponsored peace process that oversaw the gradual and partial removal of Israel's occupation in return for Palestinian guarantees to protect Israeli security.
Despite numerous Israeli operations against it and clampdowns by Yasser Arafat's Palestinian National Authority, Hamas found it had an effective power of veto over the process by launching suicide attacks.
In February and March 1996, it carried out several suicide bus bombings, killing nearly 60 Israelis, in retaliation for the assassination in December 1995 of Hamas bomb maker Yahya Ayyash.
The bombings were widely blamed for turning Israelis off the peace process and bringing about the election of right-winger Mr Netanyahu who was a staunch opponent of the Oslo accords.
In the post-Oslo world, most particularly following the failure of US President Bill Clinton's Camp David summit in the summer of 2000 and the second intifada which followed shortly thereafter, Hamas gained power and influence as Israel steadily destroyed the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority.
In towns and refugee camps besieged by the Israeli army, Hamas organised clinics and schools which served Palestinians who felt entirely let down by the corrupt and inefficient Palestinian Authority dominated by its secularist rival, Fatah.
The armed struggle
Many Palestinians cheered the wave of Hamas suicide attacks (and those of fellow militants Islamic Jihad and the secular al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade) in the first years of the intifada.
They saw "martyrdom" operations as the best way to avenge their own losses and counter Israel's unchecked settlement building in the West Bank.
After the death of Fatah leader Yasser Arafat in 2004, the Palestinian Authority was taken over by Mahmoud Abbas, a vocal opponent of attacks on Israel.
He viewed Hamas rocket fire, the militants' weapon of choice in recent years, as counterproductive, inflicting little damage on Israel but provoking a harsh response by the Israeli military.
When Hamas scored a landslide victory in the Palestinian Authority legislative elections in 2006, the stage was set for a bitter power struggle with Fatah.
Hamas resisted all efforts to get it to sign up to previous agreements with Israel, as well as to recognise Israel's legitimacy and to give up the armed struggle.
It has remained steadfast to its pledge never to sign up to a permanent ceasefire while Israel occupies Palestinian territory and its troops are responsible for the deaths of Palestinians.
It did, however, offer a 10-year truce in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967: the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
But it has not relinquished its assertion that Palestinian refugees from 1948 should be allowed to return to homes in what has become Israel - a move that threatens Israel's very existence as a Jewish state.
Assassinations
Over the years Hamas has lost many members in Israeli assassinations and security sweeps.
The paraplegic and visually impaired Sheikh Yassin was killed in a missile attack on 22 March 2004.
Khaled Meshaal, now based in Syria, became the group's overall leader. Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi emerged as Hamas leader in Gaza before he too was assassinated six weeks later on 17 April.
Other prominent Hamas officials killed by the Israelis include Ismail Abu Shanab, in August 2003, and Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades leader Salah Shehada, in July 2002.
Shehada's successor, Muhammad Deif - whom Israel blames for the 1996 bombings - has escaped several attempts on his life.
More moderate political figures also emerged as significant players within the movement.
One of them was Ismail Haniya, a former aide to Sheikh Yassin, who was appointed to a "collective leadership" in the occupied territories along with the more hardline Mahmoud Zahhar and Said al-Siyam.
Facing the electorate
Hamas's decision to stand in PA legislative council elections in 2006 was a major departure for the movement and had a profound impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Top figures said the move reflected Hamas's importance in the Palestinian sphere and the need for it to address failing political structures beset by corruption, inefficiency and lost credibility.
It did not, they insisted, imply any acceptance of a two-state solution to the conflict, although Hamas opposition to the Oslo accords had kept it out of previous elections.
Aside from its much-vaunted incorruptibility, Hamas campaigned forcefully on its claim that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in the summer of 2005 was a victory for its commitment to armed conflict with the Israelis.
But if Hamas leaders thought its parliamentary victory would bestow greater credibility on them in the eyes of the international community - or if they thought in any way that they would be given any more leeway - they were mistaken.
The new government was subjected to tough economic and diplomatic sanctions by Israel and its allies in the West.
Skirmishes in Gaza with the Fatah-dominated PA security forces escalated to all-out war, in which the well-armed and better-disciplined Qassam Brigades eventually ousted their rivals in May 2007.
Hamas security control made Gaza a more calm and orderly place than it had been for months. But Israel tightened its blockade on the Strip and - despite a multilateral ceasefire in June 2008 - rocket fire and Israeli raids continued to provide provocations for more violence by each side.
And on the diplomatic level, the Palestinians faced their biggest set-back for decades.
With Hamas in charge of Gaza and the pro-Fatah PA operating in the West Bank - and neither side engaging properly with the other - the aspiration of an independent Palestinian seemed further away than ever.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm
Published: 2009/01/04 15:53:06 GMT
© BBC MMIX
"I would love to meet you in person"
it would take me a minute to kick the 5hit out of you, coward.
You are not even man enough to face me
GPN-35 - That sounds a lot like Hamas! They shoot their little rockets into Israel and then runaway! I hope the Palestinian people are proud of the government they elected! Hamas is personally responsible for every Palestinian that has died and that will die in this war. If the citizens of Palestine is too weak and scared to do anything about their government, they deserve what they are getting.
Very true.
But people don't dare discuss such topics with you. They usually prefer to make a personal insult & run away
is your stupidity a result of inbreeding or did someone hit you over the head with a large frying pan??
i am going to sit outside...and look thru my amazon box
here you go:
http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story
When this started while I was home in Canada the media was decidedly anti-Israel. It really depends what you watch.
HETLAR SAID ON HIS BOOK
I COULD KILL ALL THE JEWISH BUT I KEEP SOME OF THEM TO KNOW WHAY I KILL THEM
It's a worry state of affairs when Christina Aguilera is at the forefront of your mind first thing in the morning!
As I said earlier in the thread, it's very hard to have sensible discussion about this on QL because so many people have almost blinding anti-Israel, anti-US views, to the point that they'll regurgitate stuff they heard from somewhere regardless of whether it's true or not.
I can sympathise with why they have these views even if I don't agree with all of them, and it is entirely their right to voice them, but it doesn't make for a good discussion. Perhaps we should have one thread for "getting things off your chest" and one for "discussing potential solutions sensibly", rather than 10s of threads all trying to do both.
Sorry Brit you are right...thanks for the correction
TallG - having a blondie moment???
its just all these irrational remarks.... and there was the report on telly...shocking stuff -
then they showed an interview with Bush...so it made him look like a right tw*t....not difficult I know but that is hardly bias
But definitely not Aguilera, right?
Sorry for the correction, its Amanpour and not Annapour
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HE WHO DARES WINS
When I first read your comment Uryx I processed the name as Christina Aguilera! I thought the news had stooped to new lows! Thank goodness it was just me being an idiot.
you should see Christiana Annapour's report on now...
she is citing civilian casualites and showing injured children and calls it 'heartbreaking'.....and showing the morgue...
this is not a pro US/Jewish report....
you make a valid point....i have never heard other Arab nationalities talk positively about Palestinians...
the region has to unite to sort this out.....it has the money and resources but have never seemed to do much more than tokenism and scream hatred platitudes...
the platitude that irks me the most is that 'the world does nothing'...well get in there and sort it out!!!
you know that I cannot swallow those pills ;-)
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I hope the same killing happens to your family, then let's see you lecture where Hamas is hiding ;-)
US and Jews lobby ...
Do you think by throwing 100s of bombs (each bomb weight more than 100 tons) will only have 100 casualty?
Have you not seen several hundreds building totally destroyed... which were occupied by 'Civilian'
How about No Water, No Medicines, No Food and No Power supply since several weeks ?
I am sorry for your lack of knowledge !!
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..
the only smelly BS I see here is you, gen
Why do you think I dont get enough air supply?
Do you see me suffocating?
which iraq you talk about? Now or then?
Christians had rights during Saddam's era. Now, in the American era, they are being chased & killed.
Christians also have full rights in many other muslim countries.
"there is no harm that this state would have a jewish minority, similar to their percentage before the 40's of the last century.
Of course they would have full rights of Palestinean"
similar to Christians, jews & other minorities in Iraq has full rights..
Don't you get enough of your repeated BS air supply
"about 30% of israeli population are arabs, christians and muslims? aren't they? they manage somehow to live together in peace for over 60 years...so..it shows that it IS possible to live in peace for all - jews, christians and muslims..."
There's 1 small detail that needs fixing, in your theory:
most decent arabs refuse the "30% arabs & christians of israeli population"
We prefer the "30% jews & christians of the Palestinean population" version
The state should be PALESTINE, no israel. There is no harm that this state would have a jewish minority, similar to their percentage before the 40's of the last century.
Of course they would have full rights of Palestinean citizens
ah you mean Arabs should send THEIR American troops !
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I can not understands how some of you are talking about two countries conflicting, there is Israel supported from USA and europe and some arab countries against poor people, come on guys there is around 600 dead from palatines 30% of them are children and women on other hand 4 from Israelis. this is a war crime against poor people, this is the fact, and not like media is saying.
look the only solution is that arab must send their troops to gaza to defend those people or at least kick israelis out from their lands. or else forget about it, never mind.
Aissa
you run the world, by providing the energy that runs the engines, if u stop that they r nothing, so stop talking and start doing something.
mira i totally agree with you..
...that many Palestinians are Christian, not Muslim. But it's always been my understanding that Hamas's ultimate goal is an Islamic republic of Palestine (with Jews, Christians, and Muslims all living under Islamic rule, which they think is the only way they will ever peacefully co-exist), that they view this as their God-given duty and goal to achieve, and that to even consider giving up ANY piece of historic Palestine would be to go against God's will.
And while you and I might think this is a political issue and not a religious one, I don't think Hamas agrees. The 'anti-semitic, Jews are prophet killers, they can't be trusted, they control the world' rhetoric that they spew kind of belies the belief that they think this is simply a national struggle.
Given this, it doesn't seem likely that Hamas will be a good partner to engage in discussions with Israel about any kind of resolution or compromise to the current situation.
If Israel wanted to wipe ALL the Palestinians off the map, trust me Eve, they've got enough fire power and support from the USA that they could do a much better job (read: kill a LOT more Palestinians) than they currently are.
I think even THEY realize that such a move would prove foolish given that they are surrounded by Arab countries.
I find it interesting that despite all the Arab public rallying around the Palestinian cause, if you ask a random Qatari/Egyptian/other Arab nationality privately what he thinks, he'll say "Uff, those Palestinians...they're awful". Trust me -- I have, and that's nearly always the response I get.
And after 60 years of not having a proper state, it doesn't seem like many other Arab countries have been willing to do what's really needed and help them out and taken them in, give them a passport/a place to call home (until they get one of their own). They'd rather have them living in refugee camps so they can continue to wave their sticks in the air and cry "foul" at Israel for another few decades.
Both the Jews and the Palestinians kind of got screwed in history; the Jews were nearly wiped out by the Holocaust, and the Palestinians had their land given away to people they didn't agree to give it to. It sucks, for both of them. But there it is. It's done. Israel has now been a country for 60 years, and it's not going away, like it or not. The best resolution at this point is for the Palestinians to get some amount of land back, form their own state, and for everyone to try and co-exist peacefully.
Ummjake, you are incorrect about some of your beliefs about Hamas, number one they are not trying to return every cm of soil to Islamic control, considering Palestinians are not all Muslims, there is a huge and well respected Christian community. Islam is not the issue to Hamas, please read the article I had posted above so you can understand that this is not a faith based issue from the Palestinian Prospective.
tallg, the reason that people will not be able to speak objectively with you at the moment, is people are enraged! Consider this - People are feeling they are witnessing a holocaust. Pure ethnic cleansing rolling out in front of the world and it's all over their television and computer screens. And yet, nothing is being done...at any level (not even allowing food into the region). The frustration levels are high and the last thing on peoples minds are how to make peace with Israel...their main focus is to stop the genocide in Gaza immediately.
So, hateful words will be pouring out from their mouths, but as humans we must be somewhat empathetic to their flight, especially now. Hopefully talks of peace will be constructively brought up again (yet for those who read the article-which is written by a Jew, it basically lets you know talk is idle). But right now don't expect people on the "other" side which are Arabs (both Christian and Muslim) and non-Arab Muslims to amuse ideas of peace with Israel, considering what they are seeing right before their eyes now...I can understand why they would view this as impossible. Tallg, they are not necessarily looking for revenge, but maybe even a little justice.
Once Obama gets sworn in on the 20th, which is exactly why this offensive is happening before he officially becomes president, we are all hoping that real progress will be made in the Middle East. Once again, I do request that we don't hasten to judge those on this forum, I have met people directly affected by this conflict and I can't imagine what I would be saying if this was all happening in my own backyard.
Once you actually meet Palestinians and get first hand accounts on their history do you understand. When Hanan Ashrawi visited America I took friends to hear her but I told them it will still be difficult for them to understand as they never heard the Palestinian side, NEVER. Our governor even said Hanan Ashrawi is a terrorist! Imagine she is a CHRISTIAN peace activist. Their ignorance is beyond belief.
I realise that Eve, it's just that on this forum most people are on the other side!
It seems not many realize that Israel wants all the Palestinians wiped out and are trying their best to do that at present! They are just to clever not to publicise the fact.
And it is exactly that attitude -- the "we must wipe Israel off the map" -- that makes it seem like there is little hope of any negotiated solution or meaningful dialogue that can happen with a group like Hamas. I understand that they were the democratically elected government in Gaza, and that (for whatever reason) the people there felt they were better represented by them than by Fatah. But when Hamas's charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, when they consider it a religious duty to wipe all the Jews off the map and return every cm of soil in the region to Islamic control, then it's kind of hard to have an intelligent conversation or reach any kind of compromise.
The level of crimes committed is evaluated in accordance to the level of violence applied in retaliation. The drama is evolved by the death of innocents, while the criminal hides behind their backs.
Who is more guilty?
Thanks for the link Mira, but it wasn't so much my lack of knowledge I was referring to. It was more the inability for a sensible discussion to ensue when there are so many 'extreme' comments posted. I realise why they people are so angered, but it's pretty much impossible to talk about solutions and the like when many people are advocating eye for an eye attacks and have a "we must destroy Israel and everything related to it" mentality.
That is why i respect the Qatari government...at least they try to keep a channel of communication open to the possibility of negotiation...
if everyone closes the channels then there will never be resolution and only further suffering.
there is a conflict and always will be because of people with your attitude...
if you cant learn to negotiate with your enemy but only advocate violence you will never have peace....
Correct me if i am wrong but 'peace be upon you' does not come by advocating extermination
good on him, at least hes spoken up about the inhumane way innocent people are getting killed, starving no electricity or food..what more can they take?
HITLER come back to life, exterminate al the evil israeli people and the Go back to hell!!
Thanks Mira for the article I feel exactly what she wrote
It was soooooooooooooo interesting everyone should read it thanks for sharing it.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14575.
I seen a comment about the opposition in Israeli Govt that dont make up voting majority perhaps due the reason that a majority of Israeli support this idea and peace lovers are very few.
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When the eye becomes the heart, the heart becomes the eye ... Wasif Ali Wasif
tallg, I would be more than happy to engage you on this topic. (you had mentioned you are having a difficult time following a discussion with individuals on this issue).
I had posted an article on QL called "If Hamas Didn't Exist"
It's an excellent starting point. It was written by an American named Jennifer Loewenstein who is the Associate Director of Middle Eastern studies at the Uni. of Wisconsin.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14575
It helps bring some real clarity on the situation that dates weeeeell before Hamas' existence. It helps to form the basis of understanding of why people feel the way the do about Israel and the current situation.
There is much more than meets the eye to the Israel/Palestine conflict. It's not as simple as firing homemade rockets and responding with tanks and advanced weapons.
Well as per his profile, i guess he should be in the deportation waiting list.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
Ya Speed, in a Democracy it's this thing we have called the "Opposition". There's a very vocal opposition to the Israeli government in Israel, unfortunately they don't always make up the voting majority.
lol Drac......
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DaRuDe is a only wolf escaped from Israeli Zoo!
You can contact him via Scarlett to Qatar Animal Shelter.
Don't feed him!
in his Speech ;-D
Da... be ready to be kicked out :-D
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As per real life no. Far from it in fact.
Anyway, what would it matter if he was, just because someone was born in Israel doesn't mean they are Zionists or the one's responsible for the problems in Palestine. There are a lot of Israeli's fighting for peaceful co-exisitence.
Speed ..realsome is under the impression that Darude from Israel...lol
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Well Speed, isnt he an Israeli?
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
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i am also kidding
lol i dont hate him...but since we are talking about kicking the Jews out, we should start at QL :)
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
Personally QS I don't believe any legitimate organizations in Palestine receive any of that money. It goes to the "war" and the RPG's that they fire onto Israeli terrority starting this whole rigamarole over again.
gypsy, agree in general.. couple of thoughts though...
1.Palestine IS receiving “billions if not trillions” of dollars.. the question is where does this money go to?
2.I even wouldn’t blame these people, or ‘individuals’ who blow up themselves.. it’s not as easy as “the person has nothing to loose that’s why he/she blow up him/herself”. These persons are rather victims of some big sharks, of some huge , powerful and well supported moneywise, brainwashing machine. My heart is crying when I hear about/see the next blown up victim of these monsters who put this bloody idea into his/her unstable mind and put on him/her this bloody dead belt, and sent him/her to get blown up... THESE monsters are criminals, THEY are killers! And that’s where unfortunately goes a huge piece of western “pie” of “billions if not trillions” of dollars…
3.Certainly agreed with the point of risk of creation of 2 states.. the situation might go out of control, and then thousands and thousands of innocent people will be eliminated…
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“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
hi bro
u r also darude hater?
where is he?
I'm sure they would, but there's no way to gurantee it and frankly the mean side of me thinks Israel and US should front all the cash. I know it doesn't bring back the innocent people killed, but it's at least some kind of punishment.
Surely the rich Arab nations would be willing to contribute to the rebuilding of Palestine, if it helped broker a "co-existence" agreement.
Point 2 is harder to find a solution to.
I agree with Eve, there's no reason the two countries can't find away to co-exist. I only see two reasons barring this:
1) Economics: For Israel and Palestine to co-exist Israel will have to front BILLIONS if not TRILLIONS of dollars to rebuilding Palestine and getting it into an economically feasible state. This will cripple the economy for a few years. Not many places are willing to do that. (Germany did it and it took a decade for the economy to right itself and they didn't pay anywhere near as much).
2) Terrorism. There will always be people in Palestine and the rest of the Arab states who will stop at nothing less then the destruction of Israel, so Israel and Palestine will continue to live as terror states because of these people and groups. Currently Israel has the right to fight back, if they become their own people, it becomes harder.
Its very possible for Israel and Palestine to live side by side but you have to allow the Palestinians the right of existance you can't continue to cut up their country til theirs nothing left, deprive them of the basics of human life and expect them to be happy. Now I think the Israelis think the Palestinians will just lay down and play dead better to fight back then give up, you can't watch your children blown to bits and do nothing even if all you have is a rock. So many wars are being played out for Israel this tiny country is causing the world tons of violence.
Eve, about 30% of israeli population are arabs, christians and muslims? aren't they? they manage somehow to live together in peace for over 60 years...so..it shows that it IS possible to live in peace for all - jews, christians and muslims...why not to expand it to all land of palestine? and to all ME?
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Step ONE, let the Arabs kick DaRuDe out of QL
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
I agree, the poor Palestinians are under seige, so are the innocent Israleli citizens, they are caught in a war between their government and the Hamas and neither give a flying f***k about the innocent civilians.
very good points
I loathe the Zionest Jews that kill to steal land and occupy other countries, their history is turner bleaker by the day its sad but true. It seems its always the religious fanatics of this world that cause us all the grief. Their are a different breed of Jews that we can respect but unfortunately they are numbering fewer and fewer. They are making a history of genocide to secure their future, I believe they will go to hell for their actions, they are making rivers of blood they will regret. How can they even believe in God and behave like this? Its funny when Arabs are involved its all about religion but don't suggest a Jewish country does anything for religion, isn't the whole reason Israel exists is due to religion? They believe God promised them the promised land? How can you not judge its all Jews that are slaughtering the Palestinians they are treating them worse than dogs.
Qatar has been poising itself to become the new mediator in the Arab world, and it remains the only GCC country (and one of only a few Arab/Muslim nations) to maintain any kind of diplomatic ties with Israel. Thus, their role is unique, and they shouldn't just have a knee-jerk reaction and kick the Israelis out over this current situation. They need to help engage both parties in dialogue and contribute to finding a solution to this conflict.
Eve -- you sound like you pretty much loathe all Jews. I'd caution you to try and avoid sterotyping people based on religion when this is a national conflict, not a religious one.
And as far as a "controlled media" goes, I doubt that Israel is the worst offender. I dare say they probably have a much freer media than most of the Arab world does...
In the past Jews lived with the Arabs in Iraq, in Egypt in Yemen so they understand and know Arabs should not be their enemy but now they want a country that is just Jewish, Israelis will not live with anyone else. So I don't think them living here now will change anyones attitudes. I respect the Israelis that come out for peace and understand they cannot commit genocide and expect to live a happy, safe life. Like the refuseniks, Israeli troops that refuse to fight that see the big picture and understand what is taking place will never work in their best interest nor will it give them respect in the world.
I find it so hard to seriously follow these Israel threads (of which there are now soooo many!) because so many people are 110% anti Israel and everything related to it. It's there choice to have that view and I'm not knocking them for that, but it does make it hard to have rational discussions about it.
If Qatar and the other countries kick them out, then they have to go home... to a controlled media, perhaps? And get more and more brainwashed, perhaps? I dunno. I could be wrong, of course. Some of you guys would know better.
*****************************************
Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
Sure,Eve. They're here for money BUT what I'm saying is - the fact that they are out here, gives the chance for them to be exposed to other views, less radical and fundamentalist views. Yes, noted that there are hardliners but not everyone is. Change one mindset, that one will change others within his/her circle of influence and things can change for the better.
/Edit - yeah, not "killing" but the same for kicking them out. While they remain here, they can learn from you. I know it sounds wishy washy for people who want action NOW. But change takes time. I'm sure it has already started .. but it's just not there yet.
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Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
If these Israelis practice suicide bombing, scary?
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
I say kick them out!
Also no point killing Israelis here. It will only anger the home country more and then it will truly be the point of no return. Don't you think that changing mindsets is the only way for real change?
*****************************************
Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
Obviously the Israelis are here for money its not about seeing a different viewpoint, nor would they ever see things different, Israel is like a cockroach it will live even if they kill us all. I love how Madhoff ripped them off as they all trusted another JEW and due to their GREED they all lost billions! Great they stuck together and they all lost their wealth.
Heard on QBS this morning and read on Gulf Times thereafter. United will stand, divided will fall.
/Kick Israelis out of Qatar? Why harm them? They are the ones who can make a difference with their votes. The fact that they are outside their home country would mean that they would see a bigger picture than at home. Don't you think that helping to convince them of truth will make a bigger difference in the future, hopefully near future?
*****************************************
Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
That's the funny thing about Qatar - they try to please everyone. Some think this will ultimately be their downfall. They allow Israeli sportsmen to compete in Qatar as well. Personally I applaud them for this, as it shows they have a bit of perspective about what's going on. But I can see how it's now at odds with this message.
No where in the speech did I hear he will kick the Israelis out of Qatar in an act of unity and support?
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Nice speech (albeit from a biased standpoint!) but at the end of the day it's just more of the same - talk, talk, talk. Are they ever going to go into action and do something about it?
HH the Emir added that “some brothers have made efforts by going to the Security Council before the summit, but once again it has been proven that if we don’t have the will, the international community will not listen to us. We have to listen to our Arab community before the international community listen to us. Therefore I renew the call for an emergency Arab summit and I will leave this option to the Arab nation’s leaders.”
...................
Excellent speech by the Emir...
At least they (the Arab leaders) realized now that without the 'Unity' they have no value in the eye of 'International Community' .... and we all know that who are the key members of IC !!!
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speed thanks
thank you very much