Baroness Deech (Crossbench) | Hansard source
My Lord, I recently heard a speech by President Peres of Israel.
He said that if we look back 50 years, who would have imagined then that the
Soviet Empire would have ended, that the South African system of
apartheid would have been dismantled and Mandela would have become
president, that the Berlin Wall would have come down and that there
would be a black president of America?
Soviet Empire would have ended, that the South African system of
apartheid would have been dismantled and Mandela would have become
president, that the Berlin Wall would have come down and that there
would be a black president of America?
He said that we should look forward 50 years from now in the same spirit.
I want to start on that optimistic note because I believe that if we wait that long*no doubt
beyond our lifetimes*there will be change for the better.
beyond our lifetimes*there will be change for the better.
I want to emphasise that because inevitably much of my speech will be rather
gloomy.
No one can accuse this House of not focusing on the distressing
situation in Gaza.
gloomy.
No one can accuse this House of not focusing on the distressing
situation in Gaza.
In the past 12 months, there have been 161 Questions
and Statements about Israel, Gaza and the Palestinians compared with,
for example, 33 on Sri Lanka and 24 on Tibet.
and Statements about Israel, Gaza and the Palestinians compared with,
for example, 33 on Sri Lanka and 24 on Tibet.
I mention Sri Lanka in
particular because noble Lords will be aware that recently there was a
well attended protest in Parliament Square about the terrible attacks on
the Tamils, the hospitals under siege, the killing of 70,000 people and
the many more thousands who are trapped and displaced from their homes.
particular because noble Lords will be aware that recently there was a
well attended protest in Parliament Square about the terrible attacks on
the Tamils, the hospitals under siege, the killing of 70,000 people and
the many more thousands who are trapped and displaced from their homes.
This has attracted little opprobrium and no calls for the obliteration
of Sri Lanka or talk of its brutalisation.
I raise that because I am
interested in the particular focus on the Middle East that is expressed
in this country. Part of the reason is that the war in Gaza has not been
seen in perspective, but only as a minute fragment of what is, in truth,
a larger picture.
interested in the particular focus on the Middle East that is expressed
in this country. Part of the reason is that the war in Gaza has not been
seen in perspective, but only as a minute fragment of what is, in truth,
a larger picture.
There is a wider war, of which Israel and Gaza are
figureheads, and there is also a civil war. The talk about what is
proportionate
figureheads, and there is also a civil war. The talk about what is
proportionate
*I prefer the word "necessary"*
has to be seen in the
context of a response to an attack from Hamas designed not just to
launch rockets at Israel*5,000 rockets deliberately aimed at Israeli
civilians and schoolchildren at 7.45 in the morning*but to end the state
of Israel. Hamas has vowed to have an Islamic state over Gaza, the West
Bank and Israel as part of a wider Islamic empire. Israel has a 20 per
cent Arab population, but not one Jew is to be allowed to live in this
Islamic state.
context of a response to an attack from Hamas designed not just to
launch rockets at Israel*5,000 rockets deliberately aimed at Israeli
civilians and schoolchildren at 7.45 in the morning*but to end the state
of Israel. Hamas has vowed to have an Islamic state over Gaza, the West
Bank and Israel as part of a wider Islamic empire. Israel has a 20 per
cent Arab population, but not one Jew is to be allowed to live in this
Islamic state.
We can well imagine the fate planned for the millions of
Israelis were this to come about.
Israelis were this to come about.
The response from Israel was, if
anything, as restrained as it possibly could be. We should recall the
detailed precautions taken by the Israeli army to avoid wherever
possible harm to civilians, bearing in mind the use of mosques, schools
and hospitals, as has been referred to earlier today.
anything, as restrained as it possibly could be. We should recall the
detailed precautions taken by the Israeli army to avoid wherever
possible harm to civilians, bearing in mind the use of mosques, schools
and hospitals, as has been referred to earlier today.
The charges of "disproportionate" were not made in relation to other
wars that we have recently experienced; Kosovo, Georgia, Iraq or even
Afghanistan, where people have died in their thousands. In fact, there
has been some praise for the restraint that Israel has shown in trying
to avoid civilian casualties.
There is also a civil war in Gaza, which
makes the prospects of peace unrealistic.
makes the prospects of peace unrealistic.
The military dictatorship
there did nothing to protect its own subjects, but took the opportunity
of war to eliminate many of its Fatah political opponents. Other noble
Lords have referred to the very cruel details of this.
there did nothing to protect its own subjects, but took the opportunity
of war to eliminate many of its Fatah political opponents. Other noble
Lords have referred to the very cruel details of this.
Even the Palestinian Authority's President Abbas said: "Hamas has taken risks
with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate and dreams and
aspirations for an independent Palestinian state".
with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate and dreams and
aspirations for an independent Palestinian state".
The wider war is one
of destruction of Israel, and those who criticise Israel's attack on
Gaza must realise that they are unwittingly giving succour to that plan.
Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas all share that same aim of
destroying Israel entirely and, indeed, Hamas has thanked Iran for its
support in the Gaza war.
of destruction of Israel, and those who criticise Israel's attack on
Gaza must realise that they are unwittingly giving succour to that plan.
Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas all share that same aim of
destroying Israel entirely and, indeed, Hamas has thanked Iran for its
support in the Gaza war.
As others have mentioned, the result has been
that Jews all over the world have suffered for this.
that Jews all over the world have suffered for this.
The attacks on Jews
that have taken place here in the UK and elsewhere illustrate my theme
of a wider war. It is Jews and synagogues in London and Venezuela, in
universities, to their shame, and streets, that are attacked, with Gaza
as the excuse, not Israelis.
that have taken place here in the UK and elsewhere illustrate my theme
of a wider war. It is Jews and synagogues in London and Venezuela, in
universities, to their shame, and streets, that are attacked, with Gaza
as the excuse, not Israelis.
It is not Jews who see all criticism of
Israel as anti-Semitism; it is some of the critics of Israel who vent
their displeasure on Jews in general.
Israel as anti-Semitism; it is some of the critics of Israel who vent
their displeasure on Jews in general.
The hatred of Israel, and
sometimes Jews, is almost unique in international politics. Then there
is the propaganda war. I urge noble Lords not to believe all that they
read in the newspapers about damage and killings in Gaza. We do not have
the evidence. I cite just one case.
sometimes Jews, is almost unique in international politics. Then there
is the propaganda war. I urge noble Lords not to believe all that they
read in the newspapers about damage and killings in Gaza. We do not have
the evidence. I cite just one case.
The tragic killing of the three
daughters of the respected Gazan doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish now seems to
have been by Gazan rockets, not Israeli fire, according to the
post-mortem examination of the fragments of their bodies.
daughters of the respected Gazan doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish now seems to
have been by Gazan rockets, not Israeli fire, according to the
post-mortem examination of the fragments of their bodies.
On the
humanitarian front, of course, it is exacerbated, because Hamas wanted
civilian deaths to increase its worldwide exposure and sympathy.
Humanitarian aid is another area where the wrong and pessimistic view
has been taken. I noted with interest and approval that the BBC refused
to screen the advertisement for aid and that it was backed by its own
NUJ branch of journalists.
humanitarian front, of course, it is exacerbated, because Hamas wanted
civilian deaths to increase its worldwide exposure and sympathy.
Humanitarian aid is another area where the wrong and pessimistic view
has been taken. I noted with interest and approval that the BBC refused
to screen the advertisement for aid and that it was backed by its own
NUJ branch of journalists.
It is not so good to hear talk of a Zionist
lobby and Jews mugging protests and stemming disquiet in the United
States, when you consider the very small numbers that there are. The
United Nations Relief and Works Agency has a huge budget. We do not yet
know what happened to the millions that Arafat salted away and took to
his death.
lobby and Jews mugging protests and stemming disquiet in the United
States, when you consider the very small numbers that there are. The
United Nations Relief and Works Agency has a huge budget. We do not yet
know what happened to the millions that Arafat salted away and took to
his death.
We note the failure of other Arab countries to come to the
aid of their brothers. The oil revenue of the Gulf states in 2008 was
$562 billion; in Saudi Arabia it was $260 billion*one day's oil revenue
would work a miracle for the West Bank and Gaza, but this is not
forthcoming.
aid of their brothers. The oil revenue of the Gulf states in 2008 was
$562 billion; in Saudi Arabia it was $260 billion*one day's oil revenue
would work a miracle for the West Bank and Gaza, but this is not
forthcoming.
On the humanitarian front, Israel's Supreme Court in the past few days,
a court known for its robustness, has examined the application of the
Geneva conventions on humanitarian law and found them not to have been
breached.
Other Arab countries have not only not helped but have
literally turned their backs on the Palestinians, as one can read
regarding Syria in the report in the Times today. What of the future?
Gaza could have had a future.
literally turned their backs on the Palestinians, as one can read
regarding Syria in the report in the Times today. What of the future?
Gaza could have had a future.
Every Israeli soldier and civilian was
removed from there. Everything was ready for the Gazans a few years ago
to start a new period of economic development. There was no blockade,
and it remains true that Egypt could open its crossing if it wanted to.
It does not, of course, because it no more wants an Iranian state on its
borders than Israel does.
removed from there. Everything was ready for the Gazans a few years ago
to start a new period of economic development. There was no blockade,
and it remains true that Egypt could open its crossing if it wanted to.
It does not, of course, because it no more wants an Iranian state on its
borders than Israel does.
Instead the rockets and the tunnels came, and
the sad destruction of the very greenhouses where flowers and fruit were
grown and could have continued to be grown. What can the UK do? It can
support Egypt, which is acting very well in this crisis, albeit for its
own reasons of survival.
the sad destruction of the very greenhouses where flowers and fruit were
grown and could have continued to be grown. What can the UK do? It can
support Egypt, which is acting very well in this crisis, albeit for its
own reasons of survival.
It can help block Hamas from smuggling more
arms by sea. It can press for the release of Gilad Shalit, who has been
a hostage in Gaza for two and a half years with no access to the Red
Cross or any other international agency.
arms by sea. It can press for the release of Gilad Shalit, who has been
a hostage in Gaza for two and a half years with no access to the Red
Cross or any other international agency.
It can persuade Hamas to change
the charter and remove mention of destruction. Above all, your Lordships
should lend your voices to the end of the demonisation of Israel and to
calm down the surging anti-Semitism. Your Lordships should recognise the
need of Israel to exist and its legitimacy. It is no more arriviste in
the Middle East than the other 22 Arab states to be found there. There
can be no further removal of six million Jews from the Middle East. We
must do nothing to feed the hatred that surrounds this issue and we must
do everything to look to the future.
==============================================x
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Please support the victims of the expulsion and those whose communities
are still in danger. Eretz Yisrael le'am Yisrael!
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How odd of G*D to choose the Jew. But not as odd as those who choose
the
Jewish G*D, and hate the Jew! ~ Francis A. Schaeffer
the charter and remove mention of destruction. Above all, your Lordships
should lend your voices to the end of the demonisation of Israel and to
calm down the surging anti-Semitism. Your Lordships should recognise the
need of Israel to exist and its legitimacy. It is no more arriviste in
the Middle East than the other 22 Arab states to be found there. There
can be no further removal of six million Jews from the Middle East. We
must do nothing to feed the hatred that surrounds this issue and we must
do everything to look to the future.
============
Please visit our website at:
http://www.anglican
Those who kneel before G-d can stand before anyone! Please daven for the
safety of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael and for G-d's Shalom for
Yerushalayim ! Am Yisrael Chai!
Please support the Healing Teddies Project---
http://www.healingt
http://www.israeltr
http://www.israeltr
Help Israel and show the world you care!
SWI Israel Store: http://www.cafepres
used anytime and anywhere to let your community know that wherever you
stand, you stand with Israel!
Please support the victims of the expulsion and those whose communities
are still in danger. Eretz Yisrael le'am Yisrael!
Wherever we stand we stand with Israel! Forever!
How odd of G*D to choose the Jew. But not as odd as those who choose
the
Jewish G*D, and hate the Jew! ~ Francis A. Schaeffer
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