Israel and Middle East 2023 War 2025 Accord

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#3201023 28-Feb-2024 19:47

SJB:

Ramadan starts on March 11th and the Israelis have said that the Rafah assault will start on March 10th.

Like Judaism, Islam contains common-sense exceptions to religious laws, one of which is war (there's usually then an obligation to make up for it later or by some other means like charitable works). So it won't have any effect on the fighting, it'll just, as you point out, really, really piss off around 2 billion Muslims. I'm pretty sure that Netanyahu has at least some non-political-toady advisors left who have told him that scheduling the assault for Ramadan won't affect the fighting, so it could well be that he is actually doing it solely to goad the entire Islamic world.

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#3201684 29-Feb-2024 16:40

NZ designates entirety of Hamas as terrorist entity | Beehive.govt.nz

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have announced today the designation of Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist entity.

“The terrorist attacks by Hamas in October 2023 were brutal and we have unequivocally condemned them,” Mr Luxon says.

Following these attacks, then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins commissioned advice from officials about designating the entirety of Hamas - which has now been received.

Mr Peters says New Zealand has designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist entity since 2010.

"But what happened on 7 October reinforces we can no longer distinguish between the military and political wings of Hamas. The organisation as a whole bears responsibility for these horrific terrorist attacks."

A designation under New Zealand legislation freezes any assets of the terrorist entity in New Zealand. It also makes it a criminal offence to carry out property or financial transactions with them or provide material support.

“New Zealand wants to be clear that the designation of Hamas is about the actions of an offshore terrorist entity and is not a reflection on the Palestinian people in Gaza and around the world,” Mr Luxon says.

“This designation targets Hamas, not the provision of private humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians. Similarly, the designation does not stop New Zealand providing humanitarian and future development assistance to benefit civilians in Gaza, nor does it stop us providing consular support to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents in the conflict zone.”

Mr Peters says, “We remain gravely concerned about the impact of this conflict on civilians and will continue to call for an end to the violence and an urgent resumption of the Middle East Peace Process.

"A lasting solution to the conflict will only be achieved by peaceful means.”

Terrorist designations

Terrorist designations are a tool that the Prime Minister can use to limit the activities of individuals and groups that have undertaken terrorist acts.
Designation of an entity under the Terrorist Suppression Act 2002 (TSA) is one mechanism to give effect to New Zealand’s obligation under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 to take steps to outlaw the financing of, participation in, and recruitment to, terrorist entities.
It is an offence under New Zealand law to deal with a designated entity’s property, financial, or related services. It is an offence to knowingly recruit for a designated entity or participate in a group for the purpose of enhancing its ability to carry out a terrorist act. Members of a designated entity are not entitled to a visa or permission to enter New Zealand. Membership of a designated entity alone is not an offence.
Process to designate

The TSA sets out the stringent criteria that must be met for an entity to be designated in New Zealand as a terrorist entity. Those criteria include reasonable grounds to believe that an entity has knowingly carried out, or has knowingly participated in the carrying out of, one or more terrorist acts.
Where advice is provided on the potential designation of non-UN-listed terrorist entities in support of UNSCR 1373, this is supported by a “Statement of Case”. The Statement of Case provides assurance that the statutory criteria for designation have been met. Other relevant factors also form part of the consideration as to whether to designate. The Chief Executive-level National Security Board considers these matters and provides a recommendation to the Prime Minister about whether to designate an entity. The Prime Minister is required by law to consult with the Attorney-General before designating an entity for the first time.
Previous designations of Hamas’ military wing

The military wing of Hamas was first designated in October 2010. This designation was renewed in 2013, 2016, 2019, and most recently 2022.

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#3201686 29-Feb-2024 16:41

Travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers | Beehive.govt.nz

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have announced travel bans on a number of extremist Israeli settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

“New Zealand is seriously concerned by the significant increase in extremist violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian populations in recent months. This is particularly destabilising in what is already a major crisis,” Mr Luxon says.

“New Zealand has taken this step to signal clearly that this behaviour is unacceptable", Mr Peters says.

"We are imposing travel bans on a number of people known to have committed violent acts. These individuals will not be able to travel to New Zealand.

“Individuals responsible for perpetrating acts of violence are undermining peace, security and stability in this region.

"New Zealand’s consistent position has been that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a violation of international law.”

"Settlements undermine the prospects for a viable two-state solution. Recent statements by some Israeli ministers about plans for further settlement construction are of serious concern and will raise tensions further between Israelis and Palestinians.”

“The international community is overwhelmingly in favour of a future Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”

“New Zealand shares this view, and will continue to advocate for an end to the current conflict and an urgent restart of the Middle East Peace Process," Mr Peters says.

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#3202362 2-Mar-2024 12:24

The Israeli security minister who is incidentally also an illegal settler in the West Bank has called for all humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza to be stopped as they are endangering members of the IDF.

This is after circa 100 Palestinians died when they were fired on by the IDF when a convoy of aid entered northern Gaza.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

Source - The Telegraph.

Rikkitic

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#3202375 2-Mar-2024 13:06

The Israelis are creating a legacy of hatred that will last for generations. I find it incomprehensible that they don't seem to see this, or care about it. This is going to come back to bite them so badly in so many ways. It is a tragedy for all involved of truly epic proportions.

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#3202397 2-Mar-2024 14:27

Many normal Israelis probably do care but unfortunately this extermination is the price Netanyahu is willing to pay the ultra extremists in his cabinet to stay in power and out of court.

It demonstrates what can happen when a corrupt government or individual relies on the support of parties who have been voted in by a tiny percentage of the overall vote.

They wield power out of all proportion to their support in the general population.

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gzt

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#3202399 2-Mar-2024 14:43

Netanyahu has one primary aim - staying in power. 'Winning' the war and swinging his electorate further to his right is his avenue to do that and remain at the head of government.

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#3202406 2-Mar-2024 14:47

Radical settlers make a start on a new Gaza settlement in the usual way.

1. Create makeshift camp next to military outpost
2. Harass and prevent land access for nearby Palestinian civilians
3. Continue expansion and building and intimidation and provocation
4. Eventually get private and government funding for further expansion
5. Government builds private and protected roads

Military sources indicate the camp is on Israel side of the border. Step 1, tick.

gzt

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#3202437 2-Mar-2024 15:50

A conference of religious left opposition increased again in size again this year. Some family members of hostages and those slain on October 7th attended.

Times of Israel: Furstenberg felt that the conference last year marked a turning point in his life as the first time he had entered a distinctly left-wing and religious space.

According to Furstenberg, the one man to thank for what he saw as a newfound openness to the “left” label among liberal sections of religious Jewry is far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

“When Ben Gvir became the face of religious Jews in Israel, we had to stand up and say: ‘We’re not like him,'”

@Rikkitic you will find many echos of your sentiments there.

SJB

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#3202496 2-Mar-2024 16:47

The so called settlements in the West Bank are way past that.

An article on the BBC had video of some of the 'settlements' and they are in fact towns with hundreds of modern houses much like an NZ new development and including large blocks of apartments. There was also a lot of them with just a few miles between each one.

Western governments consider the settlements illegal but how you would ever dislodge so many well established settlers now is beyond me. There was enough trouble when the few small settlements in Gaza were emptied when Israel withdrew.

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#3202498 2-Mar-2024 16:57

SJB: The so called settlements in the West Bank are way past that.

Correct. That is the process by which West Bank settlements were started and continue to expand in territory administered by the Palestinian Authority.

The housing crisis in Israel has continued for a long time.

At one time only new immigrants lacking income to live within the 1967 borders could be easily convinced to live outside the 1967 borders knowing very little about it until they arrived. Today, it is many Israelis from all communities who find themselves in similar circumstances.

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#3202534 2-Mar-2024 19:32

Its not unlike Ukraine and Putin. No one likes it but lets push forward, once we win the war, and we get bagged and criticised, life goes back to normal. So the aggressors win in the end. The globe needs to put them in the North Korea shed, not interested, no trade etc etc and etc. Easy? In words yes, in practice no. When Putin succeeds in some form and Israel succeeds in some form, that sets a precedent.

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#3202584 3-Mar-2024 08:40

tdgeek:

Its not unlike Ukraine and Putin. No one likes it but lets push forward, once we win the war, and we get bagged and criticised, life goes back to normal. So the aggressors win in the end. The globe needs to put them in the North Korea shed, not interested, no trade etc etc and etc. Easy? In words yes, in practice no. When Putin succeeds in some form and Israel succeeds in some form, that sets a precedent.

We need to declare Netenyahu, his allies, and the top brass in the IDF terrorists as well. And any frontline soldiers convicted of war crimes. Not that that is ever going to happen.

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#3202625 3-Mar-2024 11:38

The immediate problem is mass starvation.

USA air-dropped 38,000 meals yesterday it will keep some lucky people alive for a short time that is all. UK and Jordan air-dropped medical supplies to a hospital last week. Likewise just better than nothing. Air-drops cannot deliver the volume required.

Israel's Netanyahu government has more or less convinced a large number of people starvation and other deaths are fake news. The UN and governments of USA and UK and NZ know the real situation and it is absolutely appalling.

SJB

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#3202627 3-Mar-2024 11:44

The Ukraine war is different in that not standing up to Putin may mean in the future that other countries such as the Poland and the Baltic states are at risk of being invaded by that maniac. It is imperative that he is stopped from winning in Ukraine. I doubt even the threat of Nato would necessarily hold him back.

The current Israeli government just wants the Palestinians gone from Palestine, either by leaving voluntarily or by extermination. They don't have any expansionist plans in the same way Putin has.

And I can see them succeeding. Gaza needs almost completely rebuilding to be livable but who is going to invest the huge amounts of money necessary when there's no guarantee it won't be destroyed again in the future. And the West Bank is for all intents and purposes lost already.

The West can shout and scream all it likes but the Israeli government ignores them. In the unlikely event the USA stopped backing them with money and weapons the Chinese would simply buy their way in.

The only future I see for the Palestinians is dispersal around other countries in the Middle East.

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