Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War

[Ravenlocke]

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
Text:
The IDF says it is further increasing its preparedness on the northern border, publishing footage from recent "intensive" training exercises carried out by the 226th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade.

"As part of the process of increasing readiness on the northern border, the Northern Command held intensive training sessions last week to strengthen competence and readiness for the moment of decision," the IDF says in a statement.

The 226th Brigade, under the 146th Division, with combat engineers, tanks, artillery, and other infantry forces, carried out drills simulating fighting in urban areas more applicable to Lebanon, amid winter weather, according to the IDF.

Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, the IDF says it has carried out more than 100 days worth of drills, including 40 battalion-level exercises.

The drills come amid repeated attacks by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian terror groups in Lebanon on northern Israel, with fears of a wider conflict.

https://x.com/manniefabian/status/1751288933206384967

https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1751271572956971328

Text:

BREAKING

The signs of an invasion of Lebanon are appearing

Israel has deployed its elite forces near the border with Lebanon

The Golani brigade of thousands of elite soldiers has been deployed near the border with Lebanon, along with Merkava tanks and other armoured vehicles

https://x.com/IranObserver0/status/1751360763476762650

Text:

BREAKING:

⚡ 🇮🇱🇱🇧 Thousands of elite IDF soldiers belonging to the Golani Brigade have been deployed to the Northern front, after having left Gaza in the past few weeks.

Hundreds of tanks, APCs and IFVs have also been transferred to the border with Lebanon.

Israeli media reports that the invasion of Lebanon will begin in the next 2 weeks

http://t.me/megatron_ron

https://x.com/Megatron_ron/status/1751362226009624824

https://x.com/lyndsey02857009/status...82547663802840

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
❗️ 🇮🇱 🇪🇬 Israel informs Egypt it will send troops to Gaza's Rafah - report

"Israel informed Egypt on Saturday evening of its intention to send troops into Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, despite Egypt's firm opposition to such a decision, Maariv reported, citing Sky News Arabia."

"Head of the State Information Services (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said earlier this week “It must be strictly emphasized that any Israeli move in this direction will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations.”

https://jpost.com/breaking-news/article-783992

https://x.com/dana916/status/1751363046449009099

[Rizotto]

As a Canadian, I am outraged and disgusted by our Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly’s irresponsible statement on the ICJ ruling about Isreal’s genocide of Palestinians. We don’t have democracy in Canada, as many of you here already know. We only have lackeys taking their instructions from the corrupt Biden administration. I’ve written several letters to my government, they never respond. They just don’t care what Canadians have to say.

Below is an article quoting Melanie Joly's statement (highlighted).

https://globalnews.ca/news/10253841/...nterim-ruling/

Canada takes no clear position on ICJ interim ruling in Gaza genocide case

January 26, 2024

Canada will continue to closely follow the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Friday following an interim ruling that ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.


The ruling did not order a ceasefire. It also called on Hamas to release hostages taken in its deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel and represents a closely watched step in a legal process that could take years to fully play out.

“Canada supports the ICJ’s critical role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and its work in upholding the international rules-based order,” Joly said in a statement. “Our support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. It is for the ICJ to make a final decision on the case, which it has not done today. We continue to follow the case very closely.”

Joly and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not stop to answer reporters’ questions about the ruling on Parliament Hill.

Joly’s statement, issued hours after the ruling, repeated language previously used by the federal government that its critics have called “incomprehensible” in response to the case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.

A federal government source previously told Global News the statements should not be interpreted to mean Canada is taking a definitive stance on whether it supports or dismisses South Africa’s case.

The highest court of the United Nations on Friday ordered six measures to limit casualties in the Gaza Strip and ensure the preservation of evidence as the court continues deeper probing of the allegation of genocide against the Palestinians. The final ruling is expected to take years.

Judges on the court ruled against Israel’s request to throw out the case brought by South Africa altogether.

The ruling amounted to a rebuke of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and added to mounting international pressure to halt the nearly four-month-old military offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the case “outrageous,” vowed to press on with the campaign against Hamas.

Israel’s ambassador in Canada said Friday the country has tried to limit casualties but cannot stop its fight with Hamas.

“Hamas inflicted the worst massacre on the Jewish people since the Second World War,” Iddo Moed told Global News.

“Hamas vowed to do this again and again and again. So we have to wage this war. We don’t have a choice. We are, however, doing as much as we can to alleviate the conditions of those who are suffering under this war.“

Mona Abuamara, chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation in Canada, said the ruling is not the end of their efforts.

“We would have loved to see the court explicitly demand Israel end its hostilities against the defenceless people in Gaza. But, it was the second best option,” Abuamara said Friday.

Before Joly issued her statement, and after the ICJ’s ruling, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East called on the government to clearly state Ottawa’s position.

“CJPME insists that Canada must now take a stand in support of the court’s ruling, following weeks of confusing and contradictory statements,” the pro-Palestinian group said in a statement.

The group later called Joly’s statement “shameful and inadequate.”

[grapevine]

I feel your pain, Rizotto, but you know what? Nobody in their right mind could support the indefensible killing of thousands of innocent people, but the fact that so many of our politicians DO is clear testament that they are "owned" and have been infiltrated. This is on a worldwide scale and there are so many, some really surprising to us (like RFK for instance). But at least they've identified themselves and we know who NOT to vote for in future elections, if anyone has enough positivity and will left to vote that is

[grapevine]

Digging for victory

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zvu5lCXE6vQ

(1:28)
George asks how it's possible to get hundreds of kms of tunnels into land the size of Gaza and, that being the case, if Hamas are hiding in the tunnels why is Israel killing all the people on the surface and destroying all the buildings?

[bojancan]

So sad....


Protection of journalists in conflict zones: Professor Ylva Rodny-Gumede weighs in

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=agQ3GSe0bU8

[bojancan]

This is brilliant, powerful presentation... but it isn't remotely the same, I know... these moments of ours are so sad.. it's always a question of morality & humanity versus power & resources.... always!!

Dehumanisation: From the Holocaust to Gaza

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=WThpN5mILpM

[Vicus]

The good and the bad of the ICJ decision

The ICJ decision requires - ipso facto - a cease-fire on the part of the Israelis. It also would compel legal action on the part of Israel against all those inciting genocide.

Israel must report to the ICJ within a month.

Of course, the ICJ has not made a final judgment - but should Israel not meet the conditions set, the ICJ will likely hand down damning final verdict.

On the other hand, the ICJ has no power to enforce its decisions. That would require action by the Security Council or the ICC, which up until now has been transparently under the thumb of the US and Europe.

Technically Israel's compliance with the ICJ should be a matter for the Security Council. But the US and Britain have supplying weaponry to Israel and are therefore complicit in the genocide. While ethically they should abstain in any Security Council vote, they won't - they will use their vetoes to protect Israel. Already, the US and UK and Europe have cut off funding to the UNRWA which provides aid to Gaza, in response to an Israeli complaint.

Of course, the US continues to supply Israel with military aid.

However, should the UN General Assembly demand the ICC act, one might think it would have to do so-- or lose all credibility and support.

The ICC can certainly act on its own, however, as it did when it issued an arrest warrant for. Putin on spurious charges where rescuing children from a war zone became child trafficking!

But the ICC is owned by Europe which is owned by the US which is owned by Israel.


Still, that does not mean that the US and its G-7 allies can flout international law with impunity. Once upon a time the US was the Hegemon - militarily and economically - and it could do a lot of damage. It owned the world.

However, in this new century, the world no longer wants to be owned. We don't want to be US's basement, backyard, or dumpster - property.

Choices-- secede to succeed?

Suddenly. we have BRICS ... Russia China and Iran have shown the way.




What's important here is not the comparison of BRICS with the G-7 but comparison of both with "the rest of the world" which means the world has choices it didn't used to have.

We can go with the G-7 which is declining in all areas and makes up the rules as it goes along and keeps on losing, losing, losing — oblivious to international law-- proving time and time again they cannot be trusted.

It's time to look for options.

The world wants to secede from the Empire.

Even people in the Not So United States are wondering....



You can manufacture consent as long as you control the narrative and there are no competing options. If disbelief is no longer suspended and you lose control of that narrative, yesterday's "social facts" become tomorrow's social fictions

But the ICJ judgment cannot be ignored. Suddenly Americans are the Bad Guys. But maybe they always were.

continue: https://www.sott.net/article/488320-...ty-of-genocide

[bojancan]

Two videos.... this morning I watched a few videos from Turkish and Al Jazeera's news... they are very much interesting!


Why is Netanyahu lashing out at Egypt, Jordan and Qatar? | Inside Story

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tv5xHhd8Oz8

Western leaders' hypocrisy and double standards exposed: Marwan Bishara

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=XtuwIxxPRs8

[grapevine]

It’s all gone hideously wrong

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hUYmTjcIEhs

(17:41)
George lambasts the British government, politicians and mainstream media for their lack of any meaningful response to the ICJ ruling when, he says only a few days ago the Israeli defence was televised live, in its entirely, while the South African case didn't even get a mention.

[Rizotto]

Just a little update about my post #2723 above, it's not very important, but the timing is weird.

Specifically where I said "I’ve written several letters to my government, they never respond." Curiously, within minutes of my posting this, I actually received an emailed response from the Prime Minister's Office, they sent it around 3 AM on a Sunday. Possibly they have automated scheduled form emails they send to the thousands of inquiries from Canadians. But this is the first time I received an email from them on a Sunday at such an odd hour.

Anyway, the Prime Minister's Office response was essentially a repeat of Netanyahu's talking points. In other words, it's complete garbage. Doesn't address any of the points I raised, so I don't think they even read my letter.

[Rizotto]

"Human Rights lawyer and former UN official Craig Mokhiber explains the real reason the U.S. is defunding UNRWA, why it’s a terrible decision and how it will cause Palestinians to suffer even more than they already are. "
(Note by Rizotto: Canada is also participating in that evil scheme by defunding UNRWA.)

‘UNRWA Is A Threat To Israel’s Ethnonationalist Plan’ - UN Human Rights Lawyer Craig Mokhiber

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1BdP7Hr4DT8

[Tintin]

The Invention of the Land of Israel: From Holy Land to Homeland - Shlomo Sand (2014)

Now in the Avalon Library

One on my reading list now.

Here's an Amazon review:

What is a homeland? When does it become a national territory? Why have so many people been willing to die for such places throughout the twentieth century? What is the essence of the Promised Land? Following the acclaimed and controversial The Invention of the Jewish People, Shlomo Sand examines the mysterious sacred land that has become the site of the longest-running national struggle of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Invention of the Land of Israel deconstructs the age-old legends surrounding the Holy Land and the prejudices that continue to suffocate it. The invention of the modern concept of the 'Land of Israel' in the nineteenth century, he argues, not only facilitated the colonization of the Middle East and the establishment of the State of Israel, it is also what is threatening Israel's existence today.

[gini]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=X_Vvdvlqcr4

[Gwin Ru]

...

... The veil is being torn: the hidden truths of Jabotinsky and Netanyahu

Thierry Meyssan
Voltairenet.org
Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00 UTC

© Unknown - Josep Borrell denounces the links between Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas

The group that murdered 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza is not representative of Jews in general. It is the heir to an ideology that has been committing such crimes for a century. Thierry Meyssan traces the history of the "revisionist Zionists" from Vladimyr Ze'ev Jabotinsky to Benjamin Netanyahu.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, receiving an honorary doctorate in Valadolid, declared:

"We believe that a two-state solution [Israeli and Palestinian] must be imposed from outside to bring about peace. Even if, and I insist, Israel reaffirms its refusal [of this solution] and, to prevent it, has gone so far as to create Hamas itself (...) Hamas has been financed by the Israeli government in an attempt to weaken the Fatah Palestinian Authority. But if we don't intervene firmly, the spiral of hatred and violence will continue from generation to generation, from funeral to funeral".

In so doing, Josep Borrell broke with the official Western line that Hamas is the enemy of Israel, which it attacked by surprise on October 7, justifying the current Israeli response and the massacre of 25,000 Palestinian civilians. He asserted that enemies of Jews can be supported by other Jews, Benjamin Netanyahu in particular. He rejected the communitarian reading of history and examined personal responsibilities.

This narrative shift was made possible by the UK's exit from the European Union four years ago. Josep Borrell knows that the European Union has financed Hamas since its 2006 coup, yet today he is free to say what's on his mind. He didn't mention Hamas's links with the Muslim Brotherhood, whose "Palestinian branch" the organization claims to be, or with MI6, the British secret service. He simply suggested withdrawing from the mess.

Gradually, the veil is being torn away. A historical reminder is in order here. The facts are known, but never linked, nor listed in sequence. They have an illuminating cumulative effect. They take place mainly during the Cold War, when the West turned a blind eye to the crimes it needed, but they actually began twenty years earlier.

[...]

Full article: https://www.sott.net/article/488329-...-and-Netanyahu

[Kryztian]

Pope calls for global cease-fire; says humanity is on brink of abyss
Pope Francis said in a new interview that he will never tire of calling for peace, especially to political leaders: "stop the bombs and missiles now, end hostile stances" everywhere.
https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/pope...ty-brink-abyss

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Today's wars and conflicts have put humanity on the brink of the abyss, Pope Francis said, calling for a worldwide cease-fire.

"I will never tire of reiterating my call, addressed in particular to those who have political responsibility: stop the bombs and missiles now, end hostile stances" everywhere, the pope said in an interview with La Stampa, an Italian newspaper, published Jan. 29.

"A global cease-fire is urgent: either we do not realize it or we are pretending not to see that we are on the brink of the abyss," he said.

Asked specifically about the situation in Israel and Palestine, the pope said that the Oslo Accord is "very clear with the two-state solution. Until that agreement is implemented, real peace remains distant."

The pope said the thing he fears most is a "military escalation" in which the conflict might "further worsen the tensions and violence that already mark the planet."

However, he said he is also hopeful because "confidential meetings are taking place to try to reach an agreement. A truce would already be a good result."

A key figure in the Vatican's efforts concerning the Middle East, he said, is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem. "He is trying with determination to mediate."

"The Christians and the people of Gaza -- I don't mean Hamas -- have a right to peace," the pope said.

He said he connects daily on the video platform Zoom with the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza to speak to them. Some 600 people sheltering in the parish compound are "living their lives looking death in the face every day."

The other priority remains the release of the Israeli hostages, he added.

The Holy See continues with its diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine, particularly through the papal envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who is working to "build an atmosphere of reconciliation," the pope said.

It is also still mediating for the exchange of prisoners, the return of Ukrainian civilians and repatriation of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia. One child has already returned to its family, he said.

Asked if there were such a thing as "just war," the pope said it is better to use the term "legitimate defense."

"If thieves come into your house to rob you and attack you, you defend yourself. But I don't like to call this reaction a 'just war' reaction, because it is a definition that can be exploited," he said.

"It is right and legitimate to defend yourself," he said, so it is better to discuss situations of legitimate defense, "so we can avoid justifying wars, which are always wrong."

World peace must be built on dialogue and the pursuit of human solidarity and fraternity, he said. "We can no longer kill each other, between brothers and sisters! It makes no sense!"

The pope also called for peace after praying the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter's Square Jan. 28.

He highlighted the current conflict in Myanmar, joining the call of some Burmese bishops for turning weapons of destruction "into instruments for the growth of humanity and justice" and for allowing humanitarian aid to reach everyone in need.

"Peace is a journey, and I invite all parties involved to take steps in dialogue and to clothe themselves in understanding so that the land of Myanmar may reach the goal of fraternal reconciliation," the pope said.

"The same must happen in the Middle East, in Palestine and Israel, and wherever there is conflict: the populations must be respected!" he said.

Thinking of all victims of war, especially civilians, the pope said, "Please, listen to their cry for peace: it is the cry of the people, who are tired of violence and want the war to stop. It is a disaster for the people and a defeat for humanity!"

The pope also thanked the boys and girls of Catholic Action, parishes and Catholic schools in Rome who came to Rome for the annual "Caravan of Peace," organized by Catholic Action.

"Thank you for your presence! And thank you for your commitment to building a better society," he said.

[shaberon]

Strike eighteen:


Yemen’s Armed Forces announced, in a statement Brigadier General Yahya Sarea, that the Yemeni navy carried out a missile attack on the US ship, Lewis B Puller, while sailing in the Gulf of Aden.


And, oh:

US Department of Defense confirmed that 28 American soldiers were killed and wounded in a bomb-laden drone attack in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border.

The Pentagon stated that the attack resulted in the death of three soldiers and left 25 others injured, describing the event as a ‘dangerous escalation’.

Subsequently, an American official informed Reuters that the number of injured American soldiers had risen, with approximately 34 soldiers now under monitoring for possible brain injuries stemming from the attack on a base in northeastern Jordan.

Jordan says the attack took place in Syria, not inside Jordan.

US Central Command and President Biden said the attack was on a base in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border. It did not name the base.

A Jordanian government spokesman, Muhannad Moubaideen, however, told state TV that the attack targeted al-Tanf base in Syria.

Wrong place, wrong time? This will only encourage them.

Message to idiots: you will be killed where everyone hates you.

Toss that in your ICJ case, and watch your countries disintegrate. No one wants the Fifth Crusade, not going to work.

[shaberon]

Remnants:






Those weapons are effective. In a short clip where a missile hits a big (20m) radar dome, right beside it you can see a smaller (10m) dome already ripped up like a tin can.



More drivel about occupation:

The fact that an UAV managed to break through US air defense and inflicted so heavy losses to the US military raised a lot of suspicions. Moreover, there are a lot of questions on the details of the strike.

Jordan continues to refute reports of the US military. The Cabinet of Jordan denies that American soldiers died on the territory of the Hashemite Kingdom. Ammann claims that the deadly attack was carried out on the Al-Tanf base in Syria.

Despite all the questions related to the alleged attack, the Pentagon claimed it would respond to the strike. Biden is quoted as saying that nothing is really clear yet — except that Iran is behind all the attacks.

Washington blamed Iran without any evidence, while the Democrats in power are seeking to show the treat of an external enemy which is allegedly threatening their security. While the Republicans are ‘fighting the illegal migrants on the US border’, Biden enters the battle against Iran.

[Rizotto]

US military base recently attacked was illegally in SYRIA, not Jordan.
_____________________________________________________________

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/am...116455518.html

American Base Near Syria-Jordan Border Attacked Amidst Rejection of US Role in Area

January 29, 2024

The United States has been engaged in a semi-covert regime change effort in Syria for over a decade.
A US base near the Syria-Jordan border was struck by an overnight drone attack in the latest demonstration of widespread rejection of the United States’ role in the region.

The attack killed three US Army soldiers and injured more than 30, according to the latest reports from US officials Sunday.

There is dispute over whether the targeted US installation was in Jordan or Syria. US officials have claimed the attack hit Tower 22 in Jordan, which US media describes as a “small US outpost” in the northeast of the country. Meanwhile Jordanian government spokesman Muhannad al Mubaidin told a local television channel the strike was actually against the Al-Tanf base, which hosts a substantial US military presence in Syria.

The distinction is significant as the Syrian government and other countries consider the US presence in Syria to be illegal.

The instance is the first known time US troops have been killed in attacks targeting the country’s presence in the Middle East since US backing of Israel provoked retaliatory strikes starting in October. US strikes are thought to have produced casualties as recently as four days ago, when the White House reported that an attack on Kataib Hezbollah likely killed several members of the militia.

Although the United States has never formally declared war on Syria, the country has been involved in efforts to oust President Bashar al-Assad for more than a decade. Here, Sputnik takes a look at the controversial US role in the country, which has contributed to the death of at least half a million people.

Covert Operations

Many of the details surrounding the genesis of US presence in Syria are still shrouded in mystery. The intervention is thought to have begun in 2012 or 2013 as a classified program of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) known as Timber Sycamore. The program was launched by the agency’s infamous Special Activities Center, a division that conducts secret paramilitary activity, psychological operations, and economic warfare without oversight from the US public.

Launched at a time of mass US public opposition to unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, CIA officials hoped they could topple Syria’s government through the arming and training of rebel forces in the country. Ironically, many of the militants backed by the CIA had ties to ISIS*, a force the United States has ostensibly fought to defeat in the region. This led former US President Donald Trump to claim former President Barack Obama was the “founder of ISIS.”

[Rizotto]

Most discussions are about the question of the release of Isreali hostages held by Hamas. Seldom mentioned are the thousands of Palestinian hostages imprisoned by Israel without charges, often for YEARS, even women and children who only made a post on social media that the IDF didn't like.

"On Friday, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must cease its attack on Gaza and prevent a genocide. The U.S. also cut aid to the United Nations’ Relief and Works Agency after Israel accused them of being complicit with the October 7 attacks. Is this ethical? Palestinian American journalist Ramzy Baroud joins us to discuss."

BREAKING: Israel Must Cease Gaza Attack! U.S. Cuts Off Aid | Redacted w Natali and Clayton Morris

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-mMPV2wCDh8

¤=[Post Update]=¤

"Human Rights lawyer and former UN official Craig Mokhiber reacts to National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby's pathetic shilling for Israel and his whitewashing of their genocide. It's probably because Kirby himself is complicit. And he even wears an Israeli dog tag!"

LYING Biden Stooge EXPOSED For Shilling For Israel By Former UN Official

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxILw4zgN1E