European Union underlined the urgency of renewed, structured and substantial efforts towards peace, and it remained gravely concerned about the continuing tensions and violence on the ground. It reiterated its reservation regarding the mandate of the Commission, which was limited to “investigate Israel’s violations” only, noting that all alleged violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory should be subject to scrutiny and investigated in line with international standards. Israel was urged to grant access to the Special Rapporteur without delay.

(…)

Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations, in a joint statement, expressed regret that some European Union Member States chose not to abide by the European Union’s consensus decision not to participate in agenda item seven.

UN Human Rights Council working to probe 1,500 deaths in Gaza war, slam Israel for failing to cooperate.

It was the first time in two years that the EU has spoken during the debate dedicated to Israel, known as item 7, in which the United States has refused to participate since March 2013.

König Carl XVI. Gustaf, repräsentatives Staatsoberhaupt der Parlamentarischen Erbmonarchie, zitierte heute Aussenministerin Margot Wallström in den schwedischen Königspalast.

The rise and rapid decay of left-wing governments in France, Greece and Brazil is not the result of a military coup, nor is it due to the machinations of the CIA. The debacle of left governments is a result of deliberate political decisions, which break decisively with the progressive programs, promises and commitments that political leaders had made to the great mass of working and middle class voters who elected them.

Increasingly, the electorate views the leftist rulers as traitors, who betrayed their supporters at the beck and call of their most egregious class enemies: the bankers, the capitalists and the neo-liberal ideologues.

The rerrible thing about fascism is that it works. People respond to fascistic appeals, and politicians who might take fascism on quail at the prospect. Herzog ran scared because he was afraid to take on these elements in his own society.

I believe that fascism is inherent when a society is constituted as Israel is, with Jews having the rights, and Palestinians, naturally, refusing to accept the order. The best antidote is a real democracy.

(20.März) President Barack Obama‘s phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was „tough“, Israeli sources said days after Netanyahu won Israel‘s election on the backdrop of unprecedented tensions between Jerusalem and the White House.
Meanwhile, Republican John Boehner, the speaker of the US Congress and an ardent backer of Netanyahu, announced he will visit Israel at the end of this month, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

Officials from the United States, Italy and Saudi Arabia led talks in Rome this week among a group of countries seeking to combat the financial activities of Islamic State militants, the U.S. Treasury said on Friday.

Officials held an inaugural meeting Thursday and Friday of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group (CIFG), which countries will use to exchange information and develop countermeasures.

Paul is expected to launch his White House bid when he holds an announcement event in Louisville, Kentucky on April 7.

Several national leaders of the American Jewish community this week were openly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s successful 11th hour pitch to his conservative base, in which he decried Arab citizens of Israel voting, and his pledge not to allow a Palestinian state.

(11.September 2014) As we keep saying, Gaza has changed Israel’s image in American politics: the grassroots are appalled by Israel’s carnage and they’re going to be more and more of a force in American elections, countering the Israel lobby. Last month Bernie Sanders stood by Israel at a Vermont Town Hall meeting and got heckled so angrily by his own leftwing base that he threatened to call the police. “Bullshit!” someone shouted when he said that Israel has a right to defend itself. (Video at the bottom of this post.)

Well the rightwing grassroots are conscious too

(11.September 2014) The Republican senator was the keynote speaker for the affair organized by the nonprofit, In Defense of Christians, and told dinner guests, “Tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians. Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight, we are all united in defense of people of good faith … Christians have no greater ally than Israel.”“*

(…)

`The ferocity of destruction and high proportion of civilian lives lost in Gaza cast serious doubts over Israel‘s adherence to international humanitarian law principles of proportionality, distinction and precautions in attack,´ he told the council.
He lamented „acute“ needs in Gaza, warning that Israel‘s continued „blockade keeps Gaza in a stranglehold which does not even allow people to help themselves“.(…)
The inquiry, now headed by former New York judge Mary McGowan Davis, will report back in June, although Israel says it should be disbanded altogether.

(25.2.2015) ten-year-old Weam Al Astal was walking back home from her grandfather’s house by her father Mohammed’s side. The distance was just 40m and dozens of her cousins were playing on the Gazan street outside their home. But as the pair approached, they heard the children shout in terror. A drone fired a missile overhead. The resulting explosion threw the pair to the floor, and Mohammed heard his daughter screaming. “I lost my leg! I lost my leg! Father, come and help me!”

(1.März)

(18.März) „Nur die Schaffung eines lebensfähigen souveränen Palästinenserstaates wird Frieden und Wohlstand im Nahen Osten sichern“, erklärte Frankreichs Außenminister Laurent Fabius am Mittwoch.

Er und der Nationale Sicherheitsberater Joseph Cohen wollten vor allem in Frankreich für die Position Israels werben, sagte der Minister für strategische Angelegenheiten, Yuval Steinitz, am Sonntag im Rundfunk.

Wherever I turned, I was met with the sense that Israel had not only lost its way, but had disfigured its future. As if there was another country out there: brazenly nationalist, stridently religious, barely democratic. Is this really the case? Did Israel lose its soul?

(20.März) Boehner hatte Netanyahu im Jänner eingeladen, vor dem US-Kongress zu sprechen, und damit US-Präsident Barack Obama brüskiert.

(1.März) Israels Premier Benjamin Netanjahu kommt aus dem Nahen Osten, doch er kämpft nach den Regeln des Wilden Westens: Mann gegen Mann, Schuss um Schuss. Und egal, was alles in die Brüche geht, wichtig ist allein, wer am Ende noch steht.

The step is unprecedented. The UNHRC is a notoriously anti-Israel forum where Washington has always defended Israel.

Asked for an explanation, a spokesman said only that the US ambassador to the council Keith Harper was in Washington.

„We won‘t comment on that,“ a spokeswoman with the Israeli mission in Geneva told AFP.

The United States was also absent from Monday‘s discussions.

Initially, Reuters reported that the US decision was unprecedented, eliciting a denial from the Israeli foreign ministry. „Israel asks all its friends not to speak at the annual debate“ so as not to accord the session any importance, the foreign ministry said. „The report is not true. The Americans don‘t participate annually in the debate.“

Following the Israeli denial, Reuters took out the word „unprecedented“ and added that „the last time that Washington spoke under that stand-alone agenda item was in March 2013, U.N. records show.“