Indo-Israel: News and Discussion

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 18 Jul 2014 05:43

Mysoreans who won Battle of Haifa and helped in the creation of Israel.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 20 Jul 2014 19:59

Knesset Deputy Speaker's final solution for Gaza:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Artic ... 8vbPqhlypc

Conquer – After the IDF completes the "softening" of the targets with its fire-power, the IDF will conquer the entire Gaza, using all the means necessary to minimize any harm to our soldiers, with no other considerations.

Elimination- The GSS and IDF will thoroughly eliminate all armed enemies from Gaza. The enemy population that is innocent of wrong-doing and separated itself from the armed terrorists will be treated in accordance with international law and will be allowed to leave. Israel will generously aid those who wish to leave.

Sovereignty – Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel. The coastal train line will be extended, as soon as possible, to reach the entire length of Gaza.

According to polls, most of the Arabs in Gaza wish to leave. Those who were not involved in anti-Israel activity will be offered a generous international emigration package. Those who choose to remain will receive permanent resident status. After a number of years of living in Israel and becoming accustomed to it, contingent on appropriate legislation in the Knesset and the authorization of the Minister of Interior, those who personally accept upon themselves Israel’s rule, substance and way of life of the Jewish State in its Land, will be offered Israeli citizenship.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 21 Jul 2014 11:54

Vipul wrote:Mysoreans who won Battle of Haifa and helped in the creation of Israel.

The Regimental Centre of Mysore Lancers still exists, but as the Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC) at Bangalore.

K Mehta · Post by **K Mehta** » 21 Jul 2014 18:15

While we would like to support Israel, we should keep our eyes open as to what its actions are. True friends dont hesitate to tell each other what they are doing wrong.
The current actions of IDF support the Knesset speaker's solution being implemented. The current actions dont look like a retaliation against killing of 3 youths, but much much bigger moves on the ground. If IDF is truly thinking of depopulating the gaza strip, the costs would be quite high and the future repercussions will be enormous.
Instead of analyzing the religious and other aspects, shouldn't we at BR be analyzing the strategy and future aspects?

Ambar · Post by **Ambar** » 21 Jul 2014 19:21

K Mehta wrote:While we would like to support Israel, we should keep our eyes open as to what its actions are. True friends dont hesitate to tell each other what they are doing wrong.
The current actions of IDF support the Knesset speaker's solution being implemented. The current actions dont look like a retaliation against killing of 3 youths, but much much bigger moves on the ground. If IDF is truly thinking of depopulating the gaza strip, the costs would be quite high and the future repercussions will be enormous.
Instead of analyzing the religious and other aspects, shouldn't we at BR be analyzing the strategy and future aspects?

Israel has clearly stated the goal of 'Operation Protective Edge' is to dismantle terror tunnel network that smuggles in arms and ammunition which are routinely used against Israeli towns and cities by Hamas. If depopulating Gaza was the intention, then Israel wouldn't be using ground forces in a densely populated urban area, instead they would employ heavy bombers and turn the strip into pulp. Hamas started the war by first kidnapping 3 Israelis and then starting a relentless barrage of rockets. Hamas just like Hezbollah cares little about civilian casualties since most of the terror bosses sit in posh offices in Qatar/Tehran.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 21 Jul 2014 19:34

If an independent country attacks Israel, Israel would declare war. But since it is Palestine, Israel can not do that. Attacks on Israel are war by other means, and Palestine does not have WMDs unlike pakis who get away with terrorist attacks and bomb blasts. No one is crying suddenly as much for hundreds of people already murdered by ISIL, and hundreds of thousands displaced from Mosul, or scores of people beheaded, and so on and so forth-forget about questioning who all are bankrolling ISIL. We all know who are bankrolling pakis, and what can we do with that? Our holding back should not be counted as some kind of experience to blame Israel who are protecting Jews in region surrounded by Islamic countries out to kill and annihilate Jews.

Even in Jordan, there is a monarch who is a monarch based on racial line ie descendant of Islam's founder. Let us not imagine that Jews will have any amount of independence or equality when dealing with others in region, especially from ones willing to murder Jews.

K Mehta · Post by **K Mehta** » 21 Jul 2014 20:20

The prominent strategy has been airstrikes mostly and less of ground offensive, which kinda resembles the depopulation being carried out by the TFTAs.So, as far as collective punishment theory goes, this seems to one.

What kind of tools would be used to detect the presence of the arms and ammo tunnels? Because that would be the first step in eliminating them, followed by airstrikes demolishing them, right? Would you truly need troops on ground for that?
Maybe to remove the chemical and construction factories used for making the rockets. But again these are mostly built elsewhere and assembled at the sites as per news reports. Gazans seem to be using tunnels for not just arms and ammo, but for almost all other day to day supplies as well. So these tunnels will be in plenty and they will be difficult to distinguish from each other.

The question then is that is the offensive effective? How long before hamas rebuilds? It will go for ceasefire as soon as its rocket inventory is empty, then again replenish and rebuild.
If (in my opinion) and when (as per you) IDF retreats, it would have not achieved anything that can be said as long lasting.

On the other hand depopulation would ensure a relatively longer lasting effect on one side atleast and even a threat to the other. It would however create bad PR and spoil their relations with arabs, may increase its targeting by the other side. This is hindered further by hamas holding their population captive and using them as human shields.

Hamas are terrorists and nothing more. I am not blaming Israel, just trying to analyze the options it has, the path it is taking and its future implications and consequences.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 22 Jul 2014 03:12

WRM Pontification

India Refuses to Censure Israel

India’s parliament rejected a resolution today that condemned the Israeli military campaign in Gaza—a conspicuous change for the country.
For the last few days, there have been some protests across India against the current Israeli operation in Palestine. The capital, New Delhi, witnessed a solidarity march, which included students and civil rights activists. Police, however, prevented the demonstrators from reaching the Israeli Embassy, leading to complaints of heavyhandedness as some of the protestors were injured.But there have been far fewer protests in India, and less outcry in general, than history suggests there would be. According to the Diplomat article, “the current crisis in the Middle East has failed to generate any debate in a majority of television channels and major newspapers in India.” Traditionally, Indians have identified with the Palestinians, seeing them as fellow resisters against colonial powers

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 22 Jul 2014 04:10

Jhujar wrote:WRM Pontification

India Refuses to Censure Israel
India’s parliament rejected a resolution today that condemned the Israeli military campaign in Gaza—a conspicuous change for the country.
For the last few days, there have been some protests across India against the current Israeli operation in Palestine. The capital, New Delhi, witnessed a solidarity march, which included students and civil rights activists. Police, however, prevented the demonstrators from reaching the Israeli Embassy, leading to complaints of heavyhandedness as some of the protestors were injured.But there have been far fewer protests in India, and less outcry in general, than history suggests there would be. According to the Diplomat article, “the current crisis in the Middle East has failed to generate any debate in a majority of television channels and major newspapers in India.” Traditionally, Indians have identified with the Palestinians, seeing them as fellow resisters against colonial powers

Replace Putin with Obama in the article and it would be factually correct. Typical ex-Foggy Bottom peddled BS farticle.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Jul 2014 05:08

We have abdicated any meaningful role in the ME region.Our peacekeepers in the region are toothless constables placed there for "colour". Most western analysts say that the ultimate winner will be Hamas which will grow even stronger from the Israeli attacks,pushing the moderates into the dustbin of irrelevance.500 killed now. This wholesale slaughter of the innocents,even Bunkum Moon ,the impotent UN Sec-Gen. has found utterance.Global condemnation of Israel has begun and finally even the US has now realised that Bibi's indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza brings back memories of the Nazis bombardment of the Warsaw ghetto.Tragic and ironic.

Israel-Gaza conflict: John Kerry flies to Middle East to urge ceasefire as crisis deepens
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 17757.html

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the Shijaiyah shelling 'an atrocious action'
Adam Withnall
Monday 21 July 2014

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has flown out to the Middle East after Sunday saw the deaths of two Americans among the 13 Israeli soldiers and more than 100 Palestinians killed in the deadliest day of the conflict so far.

Last night the UN Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the worsening crisis, where members expressed alarm at the rapid escalation of violence and rising death toll in Gaza.

This morning Palestinian health officials said its recorded number of dead had passed 500 for the first time, after 20 more bodies were pulled from the rubble of a single flattened home in the city of Khan Younis.

In total there have been 20 Israeli deaths, including two civilians killed by cross-border shelling.

On Sunday night, the US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki confirmed the identities of two Americans killed while fighting for the Israeli Defence Forces.

Max Steinberg, 24, was described by his family in California as a sharpshooter for the Golani Brigade of the Israeli infantry. Nissim Carmeli, 21, was a sergeant from Texas who moved to Israel four years ago.

Ms Psaki said that both President Barack Obama and Mr Kerry joined the UN in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Video: 'If you stay at home, you'll die...'

She said the US and its international partners were “deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life”.

Mr Obama spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Sunday to discuss plans for Mr Kerry’s arrival in Cairo, the White House said. It added that the US condemned Hamas’s continued firing of rockets into Israel.

Palestinian mourners pray over five bodies, all from the Halaq family, during their funeral in the Jabalia refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip, on 21 July 2014 Palestinian mourners pray over five bodies, all from the Halaq family, during their funeral in the Jabalia refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip, on 21 July 2014 (Getty) But while discussions for a ceasefire in Egypt have been firmly backed by the US and Israel, Palestinians have turned to Qatar and Turkey to put forward an alternative proposal. There is distrust in Gaza of the leadership in Cairo after it ousted the pro-Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood-led government last year.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had already been due to travel the region this week to try to revive ceasefire efforts, and described yesterday’s shelling of the Shijaiyah district in Gaza City as “an atrocious action”.

An Israeli rocket is fired into northern Gaza strip (REUTERS) An Israeli rocket is fired into northern Gaza strip (REUTERS) The UN relief agency in Gaza estimates that 70,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in the fighting and are seeking shelter in schools and other shelters set up by the UN.
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “massacre” and said the Israeli offensive involving tanks, infantry units, missiles from the air and sea and the reported use of flechette shells as a “crime against humanity”.

Banjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas doesn't Banjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas doesn't "give a whit about the Palestinians" (AP) The Israeli military said it targeted Shijaiyah to combat what it described as a Hamas stronghold, and to destroy a network of tunnels leading to Israel that have become “like the Underground”.

Speaking in a broadcast on Israeli national TV on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said the goal was to “restore a sustainable quiet” and ultimately “demilitarise Gaza”.

He said the offensive would continue “as long as necessary” to end rocket attacks from Gaza.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/j ... israel-idf
More than 20 members of one family killed in Gaza strike
'We don't want to see any more civilians killed' says Barack Obama as IDF attacks intensive care unit in day of bloodshed

Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem; Peter Beaumont in Gaza City; Ian Black
The Guardian, Monday 21 July 2014

A hospital was shelled, killing and injuring staff and patients, and up to 28 members of one family died in an air strike as Gaza endured another day of relentless bloodshed on Monday .

As heavy shelling and fighting on the ground continued, the US president, Barack Obama, restated his call for an immediate ceasefire, saying: "We don't want to see any more civilians killed."

He said he had authorised his secretary of state, John Kerry, to do "everything he can to help facilitate a cessation of hostilities" in a sign that international diplomacy had been galvanised by the weekend carnage in Shujai'iya.

Kerry was en route to Cairo for urgent talks with key players in the region, including the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon. The UN security council called for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday.

Kerry pledged yesterday that the US would provide $47m (£28m) in humanitarian aid to help Palestinians. He said: "We are deeply concerned about the consequences of Israel's appropriate and legitimate effort to defend itself."

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, al-Aqsa hospital became the third to be struck in the 14-day conflict when three shells slammed into the intensive care unit, surgical and administrative areas. Five people were killed and 70 wounded, including about 30 medics, according to Gaza health officials. Ambulances tried to evacuate patients but were forced to turn back by continued shelling. Israel has claimed that Hamas hides weapons in hospitals.
Barack Obama says he is focused on a ceasefire. Link to video: Barack Obama: we are focused on Israel-Gaza ceasefire

Further south, in Khan Younis, an extended family was wiped out in an air strike on a house. The number of dead was put at between 24 and 28. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said another 10 people were killed in a single air strike in Rafah, including four young children and a baby.

Save the Children said that, on average, seven had been killed every day during the conflict. "For many children, this is the third war in six years that they are going through," said the charity's David Hassell.

Israeli troops said they killed 10 Hamas militants as they attempted a cross-border attack using two tunnels. The Israel Defence Forces said seven soldiers had been killed in the 24 hours up to early evening.

Intense rocket fire from Gaza continued, with sirens warning people in Tel Aviv and other towns in central and southern Israel to seek shelter. The IDF said it was investigating Hamas claims that it captured an Israeli soldier on Sunday. Hamas displayed a photo ID, saying the soldier's name was Shaul Aron. Street celebrations erupted in Gaza at the news, with people chanting "Allahu Akbar" and lighting fireworks. If the capture of an Israeli is confirmed, it will complicate efforts to broker a ceasefire.

"We advise [Israel] to take their soldiers and leave before we kidnap more soldiers in addition to the scores we have already killed and wounded," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Palestinians pray over green flag-draped bodies Palestinians pray over the bodies of 17 members of the Abu Jamea family, killed by an air strike. Photograph: Hatem Ali/AP

The number of Palestinians killed in the conflict reached 530 by early evening, 72% of whom were civilians according to the UN. Twenty-seven Israelis – 25 soldiers and two civilians – have died. The UN said more than 100,000 people had fled their homes, including 85,000 people who sought shelter in schools.

Ten Israeli human rights organisations have written to the attorney-general to raise concerns about grave violations of international law in the conflict. They questioned the legality of Sunday's operation in Shujai'iya, "in particular, the potential violation of the fundamental principles of the laws of war, specifically the principle of distinguishing between combatants and civilians".

Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, Moshe Ya'alon, and chief of staff, Benny Gantz – the men directing the military operation in Gaza – said in a statement it would expand and continue "as long as necessary until the completion of the task". Israel has said the goal of the ground invasion is to locate and destroy dozens of tunnels under the border, used by militants to launch attacks.
Ban Ki-moon and Sameh Shukri in Egypt Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shukri, right, and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in Egypt. Ban has urged an immediate ceasefire. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

In Cairo, Ban held talks with Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and the head of the Arab League. The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was due to meet Hamas's leader-in-exile Khaled Mishal in Doha.

Egypt's proximity to Gaza, its peace treaty with Israel and good relations with the western-backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have made it the focus of attempts to defuse the crisis, though its relations with Hamas – which it sees as an offshoot of the banned Muslim Brotherhood – are hostile.

Hamas rejected Cairo's original ceasefire proposal last week, though a senior official said Egypt might be willing to amend its initiative. "Egypt does not mind adding some of Hamas's conditions provided that all involved parties approve," the official told Reuters. Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade of Gaza, an end to hostilities, opening the border to Egypt, the release of prisoners held by Israel and other conditions – in exchange for a truce.

Ismail Haniyeh, the former Hamas prime minister, claimed that Israeli forces were being beaten in Gaza. "The Palestinian resistance will meet the demands and expectations of the Palestinian people," he said, adding that the Hamas conditions were "the minimum demands" for any truce.

"Our people's sacrifices are heading for triumph," he said in a pre-recorded TV broadcast. "We see the al-Qassam Brigades and the Jerusalem Brigades and all resistance factions beating the enemy and attack him again and again, under the earth and sea. The ground operation is a declaration of failure on the part of the enemy aerial war against Gaza."

Mishal was due to speak later, fuelling speculation about a possible "victory" speech that could pave the way for acceptance of a ceasefire.

Perhaps now the GOI/MEA will spring into action with a suitable plea forcessation of hostilities? That's the least we can do instead of continuing to act like the 3 proverbial monkeys and remain true to the "ostrich" style of diplomacy that replaced the "Nehruvian" style thanks to Subedar Surrender Singh and his team of quislings.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Jul 2014 05:08

We have abdicated any meaningful role in the ME region.Our peacekeepers in the region are toothless constables placed there for "colour". Most western analysts say that the ultimate winner will be Hamas which will grow even stronger from the Israeli attacks,pushing the moderates into the dustbin of irrelevance.500 killed now. This wholesale slaughter of the innocents,even Bunkum Moon ,the impotent UN Sec-Gen. has found utterance.Global condemnation of Israel has begun and finally even the US has now realised that Bibi's indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza brings back memories of the Nazis bombardment of the Warsaw ghetto.Tragic and ironic.

Israel-Gaza conflict: John Kerry flies to Middle East to urge ceasefire as crisis deepens
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 17757.html

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the Shijaiyah shelling 'an atrocious action'
Adam Withnall
Monday 21 July 2014

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has flown out to the Middle East after Sunday saw the deaths of two Americans among the 13 Israeli soldiers and more than 100 Palestinians killed in the deadliest day of the conflict so far.

Last night the UN Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the worsening crisis, where members expressed alarm at the rapid escalation of violence and rising death toll in Gaza.

This morning Palestinian health officials said its recorded number of dead had passed 500 for the first time, after 20 more bodies were pulled from the rubble of a single flattened home in the city of Khan Younis.

In total there have been 20 Israeli deaths, including two civilians killed by cross-border shelling.

On Sunday night, the US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki confirmed the identities of two Americans killed while fighting for the Israeli Defence Forces.

Max Steinberg, 24, was described by his family in California as a sharpshooter for the Golani Brigade of the Israeli infantry. Nissim Carmeli, 21, was a sergeant from Texas who moved to Israel four years ago.

Ms Psaki said that both President Barack Obama and Mr Kerry joined the UN in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Video: 'If you stay at home, you'll die...'

She said the US and its international partners were “deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life”.

Mr Obama spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Sunday to discuss plans for Mr Kerry’s arrival in Cairo, the White House said. It added that the US condemned Hamas’s continued firing of rockets into Israel.

Palestinian mourners pray over five bodies, all from the Halaq family, during their funeral in the Jabalia refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip, on 21 July 2014 Palestinian mourners pray over five bodies, all from the Halaq family, during their funeral in the Jabalia refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip, on 21 July 2014 (Getty) But while discussions for a ceasefire in Egypt have been firmly backed by the US and Israel, Palestinians have turned to Qatar and Turkey to put forward an alternative proposal. There is distrust in Gaza of the leadership in Cairo after it ousted the pro-Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood-led government last year.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had already been due to travel the region this week to try to revive ceasefire efforts, and described yesterday’s shelling of the Shijaiyah district in Gaza City as “an atrocious action”.

An Israeli rocket is fired into northern Gaza strip (REUTERS) An Israeli rocket is fired into northern Gaza strip (REUTERS) The UN relief agency in Gaza estimates that 70,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in the fighting and are seeking shelter in schools and other shelters set up by the UN.
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “massacre” and said the Israeli offensive involving tanks, infantry units, missiles from the air and sea and the reported use of flechette shells as a “crime against humanity”.

Banjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas doesn't Banjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas doesn't "give a whit about the Palestinians" (AP) The Israeli military said it targeted Shijaiyah to combat what it described as a Hamas stronghold, and to destroy a network of tunnels leading to Israel that have become “like the Underground”.

Speaking in a broadcast on Israeli national TV on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said the goal was to “restore a sustainable quiet” and ultimately “demilitarise Gaza”.

He said the offensive would continue “as long as necessary” to end rocket attacks from Gaza.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/j ... israel-idf
More than 20 members of one family killed in Gaza strike
'We don't want to see any more civilians killed' says Barack Obama as IDF attacks intensive care unit in day of bloodshed

Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem; Peter Beaumont in Gaza City; Ian Black
The Guardian, Monday 21 July 2014

A hospital was shelled, killing and injuring staff and patients, and up to 28 members of one family died in an air strike as Gaza endured another day of relentless bloodshed on Monday .

As heavy shelling and fighting on the ground continued, the US president, Barack Obama, restated his call for an immediate ceasefire, saying: "We don't want to see any more civilians killed."

He said he had authorised his secretary of state, John Kerry, to do "everything he can to help facilitate a cessation of hostilities" in a sign that international diplomacy had been galvanised by the weekend carnage in Shujai'iya.

Kerry was en route to Cairo for urgent talks with key players in the region, including the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon. The UN security council called for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday.

Kerry pledged yesterday that the US would provide $47m (£28m) in humanitarian aid to help Palestinians. He said: "We are deeply concerned about the consequences of Israel's appropriate and legitimate effort to defend itself."

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, al-Aqsa hospital became the third to be struck in the 14-day conflict when three shells slammed into the intensive care unit, surgical and administrative areas. Five people were killed and 70 wounded, including about 30 medics, according to Gaza health officials. Ambulances tried to evacuate patients but were forced to turn back by continued shelling. Israel has claimed that Hamas hides weapons in hospitals.
Barack Obama says he is focused on a ceasefire. Link to video: Barack Obama: we are focused on Israel-Gaza ceasefire

Further south, in Khan Younis, an extended family was wiped out in an air strike on a house. The number of dead was put at between 24 and 28. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said another 10 people were killed in a single air strike in Rafah, including four young children and a baby.

Save the Children said that, on average, seven had been killed every day during the conflict. "For many children, this is the third war in six years that they are going through," said the charity's David Hassell.

Israeli troops said they killed 10 Hamas militants as they attempted a cross-border attack using two tunnels. The Israel Defence Forces said seven soldiers had been killed in the 24 hours up to early evening.

Intense rocket fire from Gaza continued, with sirens warning people in Tel Aviv and other towns in central and southern Israel to seek shelter. The IDF said it was investigating Hamas claims that it captured an Israeli soldier on Sunday. Hamas displayed a photo ID, saying the soldier's name was Shaul Aron. Street celebrations erupted in Gaza at the news, with people chanting "Allahu Akbar" and lighting fireworks. If the capture of an Israeli is confirmed, it will complicate efforts to broker a ceasefire.

"We advise [Israel] to take their soldiers and leave before we kidnap more soldiers in addition to the scores we have already killed and wounded," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Palestinians pray over green flag-draped bodies Palestinians pray over the bodies of 17 members of the Abu Jamea family, killed by an air strike. Photograph: Hatem Ali/AP

The number of Palestinians killed in the conflict reached 530 by early evening, 72% of whom were civilians according to the UN. Twenty-seven Israelis – 25 soldiers and two civilians – have died. The UN said more than 100,000 people had fled their homes, including 85,000 people who sought shelter in schools.

Ten Israeli human rights organisations have written to the attorney-general to raise concerns about grave violations of international law in the conflict. They questioned the legality of Sunday's operation in Shujai'iya, "in particular, the potential violation of the fundamental principles of the laws of war, specifically the principle of distinguishing between combatants and civilians".

Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, Moshe Ya'alon, and chief of staff, Benny Gantz – the men directing the military operation in Gaza – said in a statement it would expand and continue "as long as necessary until the completion of the task". Israel has said the goal of the ground invasion is to locate and destroy dozens of tunnels under the border, used by militants to launch attacks.
Ban Ki-moon and Sameh Shukri in Egypt Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shukri, right, and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in Egypt. Ban has urged an immediate ceasefire. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

In Cairo, Ban held talks with Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and the head of the Arab League. The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was due to meet Hamas's leader-in-exile Khaled Mishal in Doha.

Egypt's proximity to Gaza, its peace treaty with Israel and good relations with the western-backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have made it the focus of attempts to defuse the crisis, though its relations with Hamas – which it sees as an offshoot of the banned Muslim Brotherhood – are hostile.

Hamas rejected Cairo's original ceasefire proposal last week, though a senior official said Egypt might be willing to amend its initiative. "Egypt does not mind adding some of Hamas's conditions provided that all involved parties approve," the official told Reuters. Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade of Gaza, an end to hostilities, opening the border to Egypt, the release of prisoners held by Israel and other conditions – in exchange for a truce.

Ismail Haniyeh, the former Hamas prime minister, claimed that Israeli forces were being beaten in Gaza. "The Palestinian resistance will meet the demands and expectations of the Palestinian people," he said, adding that the Hamas conditions were "the minimum demands" for any truce.

"Our people's sacrifices are heading for triumph," he said in a pre-recorded TV broadcast. "We see the al-Qassam Brigades and the Jerusalem Brigades and all resistance factions beating the enemy and attack him again and again, under the earth and sea. The ground operation is a declaration of failure on the part of the enemy aerial war against Gaza."

Mishal was due to speak later, fuelling speculation about a possible "victory" speech that could pave the way for acceptance of a ceasefire.

Perhaps now the GOI/MEA will spring into action with a suitable plea for cessation of hostilities? That's the least we can do instead of continuing to act like the 3 proverbial monkeys and remain true to the "ostrich" style of diplomacy that replaced the "Nehruvian" style thanks to Subedar Surrender Singh and his team of quislings.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Jul 2014 05:17

Meanwhile in the madness of the Middle East,ISIS has ensured the end of the Christian presence in Iraq ,ending 2000 years off history and tradition.What is so ironic is that this would never have happened in the Bushes,father and son had not hounded Saddam out of power and murdered him in a farce of a court trial.That great army of Crusaders was to have been followed by another army of neo-con and fundoo Yanqui "Christian soldiers" armed with bibles and crosses at the ready to convert the masses of Iraqis! The Iraqi insurgency put paid to that great hope of evangelism latter-day Crusader style. The misadventures of Bush 1 & 2 has brought about the stunning opposite result,the ethnic cleansing of Christians in Iraq! How the wheel has turned and American loss of face so tragic and complete.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 17606.html
Time runs out for Christian Iraq: Isis deadline passes with mass flight

The ultimatum imposed by militants for Christians to convert to Islam, pay a tax or be killed has passed with the collapse of communities that have existed for millennia
Patrick Cockburn Author Biography

Sunday 20 July 2014
The last Christians in northern Iraq are fleeing from places where their communities have lived for almost 2,000 years, as a deadline passed for them to either convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be killed.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) issued a decree last week offering Christians the three options accompanied by the ominous threat that, if they did not comply by midday on 19 July, “then there is nothing to give them but the sword”.

It is the greatest mass flight of Christians in the Middle East since the Armenian massacres and the expulsion of Christians from Turkey during and after the First World War. Isis, which now rules an area larger than Great Britain, has already eliminated many of the ancient Christian communities of eastern Syria, where those who had not escaped were given a similar choice between conversion, payment of a special tax or death.
Read more: Conversion of Iraq: As Isis drives Christians out of their homes, the group’s genocidal intentions take on horrible clarity
Iraqi Parliament in deadlock as Isis advance continues
Isis declares its territories a new Islamic state with 'restoration of caliphate' in Middle East

Christians leaving Mosul – which was captured by Isis on 10 June – in order to seek refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan are being stripped of all their possessions.

A Christian man said: “The Islamic State [Isis] stopped my relatives at a checkpoint when they were fleeing and when they found out they were Christians, they took everything they were carrying, including their mobile phones. They left them only with the clothes they were wearing.”

Mosul is one of the most ancient centres of Christianity and on the east bank of the Tigris river that flows through the city is a mosque housing the tomb of the Biblical figure of Jonah. This is now in danger of being destroyed by Isis, whose puritan and iconoclastic version of Islam is opposed to the worship of tombs, shrines, statues and pictures.

Tens of thousands of Shabak and Shia Turkmen, demonised as polytheists and apostates by Isis, have fled their homes following raids by Isis gunmen.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » 23 Jul 2014 22:29

India voted against Israel in the UN. More importantly they supported the Kashmiri terrorist loving Palestinians. Ummah ko chumma diya Modi ne.

shravanp · Post by **shravanp** » 23 Jul 2014 22:41

Russia and China too voted against Israel.

shravanp · Post by **shravanp** » 23 Jul 2014 22:42

skekatpuray wrote:Russia and China too voted against Israel.

James B · Post by **James B** » 23 Jul 2014 22:52

Disgusting. Disappointed in Modi. The least we could have done is to abstain.

Yayavar · Post by **Yayavar** » 23 Jul 2014 23:02

What does 'respecting international law' mean? Does it have implications on other conflict zones? Israel and India's interests might be same wrt Islamic fundamentalism but Israel is not on the right side in squeezing a large section of the populace in a strip of land and then continuing to further encroach on it. The situation will not hold.

Yayavar · Post by **Yayavar** » 23 Jul 2014 23:19

How much of this is true? No idea what al-monitor is.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origina ... atred.html

When the boys realized that the Hyundai passengers were not Jews but terrorists, one of them succeeded in calling the police emergency call center and whispered, "We've been kidnapped." In the recording of that phone call, one of the abductors was heard shouting in Hebrew, "Heads down!" Then there were sounds of shouting, volleys from an automatic weapon and a weak voice sighing "Ai," of someone who was injured. This was followed by another volley of shots from an automatic weapon, and the boys fell silent. Then the murderers burst out singing.

It was a murder in real-time, horrifying and monstrous. Three Israeli boys who attempted to hitch a ride on their way to their weekend Shabbat at home were murdered in cold blood. And the police had recorded documentation of the murder. Like in the movies.

Examination of the burned Hyundai found near Halhul, north of Hebron, only verified what was already known from listening to the tape. The numerous bloodstains and DNA findings left no room for hope. But Israel's defense and political systems closed ranks and transmitted one message, loud and clear: The State of Israel is closely tracking the fates of the three missing boys, who were abducted for bargaining purposes to free Palestinian prisoners. Thus, searches are underway to free them.

The border crossing between Israel and Jordan was closed. The official reason: to prevent the terrorists from smuggling the abductees outside Israel's borders, and even from the Palestinian Authority's limits.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 24 Jul 2014 02:04

unless the vote was a Yes Prime Minister moment.

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 24 Jul 2014 03:51

Surya wrote:unless the vote was a Yes Prime Minister moment.

Indeed.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 24 Jul 2014 04:08

James B wrote:Disgusting. Disappointed in Modi. The least we could have done is to abstain.

Aye. Had hoped things would change when NaMo refused to condemn Israel in Parliament. Did Babus just vote by rote in UN? Anyway, NaMo should have guided the Babus and at least, abstained, as you correctly pointed out.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 24 Jul 2014 04:30

Jews suffer from the same blunder that Nehruvian Congress committed : by leaving a large Muslim population on the boundary, and inside. If Ben Gurion's dream fails, it will be because he left the task incomplete. Once a large Islamic population is allowed to flourish together with their ulema, all the ideological repertoire of deceptive pretension of peaceful intent, while refusing to denounce as anti-islamic and therefore worthy of execution, all that they wriggle about as violent mis-representation of peaceful banalities in their texts - will be bandied. Until of course demographic and other support enables the violent jihad mode to be switched on.

Any non-Muslims supporting Palestinian jihad in any way, is committing the blunder of their lives, if their society is on any receiving end of Islamic love anywhere and in any form.

The dishonest logic (speculation) that India had to vote for Palestinian jihad, in exchange for supposed "cooperation" from jihadi side to release Indian captives - would have been funny had it not been so symptomatic of an intellectual dumbness unforgivable in states.

The Palestinian jihadis had started rocketing in mid June. The Indians ISIS had kidnapped were returned by 3-4 th July. Israeli op "Protective" was launched 8th. So if India had promised Palestinian jihadis long before any UN vote was obvious, a vote for them on such an eventuality in return for ISIS returning the Indians- then
(1) Palestinian jihad and ISIS jihad are parts of the same jihad
(2) Palestinian jihadis even by late June already knew how, and what the provocation of Israel was aimed at: and a UN vote on this in second half of July was already a forgone conclusion in early July
(3) Palestinian jihadis have "ideology" as primary concern and not material - if they could arrange to exchange captives in a seemingly unrelated jihadi group, not on cash - but on a guarantee of future vote support to manage world public opinion
(4) if India really promised a vote in return for "cooperation" how do we trust that there were not more conditions for such "cooperation"?

There are plenty of material from Palestinian side to show that their jihad is mounted by motivations of classical Islamic jihad : racial, imperialist, genocidal - even though openly admit on their own TV and restricted circles, that they cannot declare this openly as they will then lose parts of global opinion support.

Palestinian Islamism had reactivated their Jew-hatred and genocidal tendencies from way before formation of Israel, and as typical Muslims, they always start their version of "retaliation by Muslim only on non-Muslim provocation" at convenient points of history, and carefully suppressing their planned provocations of non-muslims that triggers the non-Muslim reaction to which the "Muslims" then claim to retaliate.

No matter how much India appeases Palestinians, Islamic jihad - the salafist jihadism that is now sweeping ME, will not stop or restrain themselves where India is concerned.

Muhammad himself casually dismissed the danger to women and children of non-Muslim settlement on a surprise night attack by Muslims - and said "they are from non-believers", implying that collateral damage on children, women are okay if they are non-muslim. A population that believes in such a leader as ideologically unchallengeable, and emulate him, crying about "collateral damage" is interesting as a wonderful theatrical performance, but throughout history Muslim armies never cared for collateral damage on non-muslims. And these very Palestinian jihadi will not hesitate to repeat Israeli behaviour on non-Muslims whenever and wherever they will get the slightest chance, even if those non-msulims had actually come to their support against Israel.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 24 Jul 2014 05:03

skekatpuray wrote:Russia and China too voted against Israel.

It seems the whole BRICS did. I wonder why?

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 24 Jul 2014 05:06

Russia is involved with Iran, and why should it leave any chance of bashing US satellite when USA is at its tail on Ukraine? China had deep linkages with Saudis, and islamistw orld in general. Like Indians they also see utility in minimizing the Ummah getting together behind its own Islamist corner in Turkmenistan. Each for its own.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 24 Jul 2014 08:49

Annotated interview with Israeli government spokesperson:
http://tinyurl.com/mopexf6

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 24 Jul 2014 16:11

http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semp ... by-wp.html

As it is now constituted, Israel is a Manifest Destiny state. The Zionists view their Manifest Destiny as a land without Palestinians granted to them by the promise of God to Moses. Israel is in the closing phase of full subjugation of those on the Gaza Palestinian Reservation and the West Bank Palestinian Reservation, shrinking the reservations to minimal sizes.

Now we have a reprise of Wounded Knee. Israel is trying to disarm another tribal band on its Gaza Palestinian Reservation using weapons and organizational systems that completely outmatch the defenders. The desparate inhabitants of the oppressed place are resisting and being killed and wounded by the thousands. Israel has suffered a mere fraction in number of the casualties imposed on the Gazans. It is a massacre.

In the current media discourse over Gaza, the MSM refuses to acknowledge or speak about the elephant in the room--the fact that the root of the conflict is the land grab by the Zionists. The most recent reel of the story, the rocket attacks, is the only one played. All earlier events are ignored. The Palestinians are vilified and blamed for their own destruction as bit players in Israel's final act of extirpation in furtherance of its Manifest Destiny meme.

Sen_K · Post by **Sen_K** » 24 Jul 2014 16:44

Really bizarre; Sushma Swaraj was just blocking the resolution in parliament and now this vote?

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 24 Jul 2014 18:48

some of you younger guys have to watch the Yes Prime minister episode relating to the UN vote.

In fact binge watch the whole series.

Not only great laughter it will also give you an idea of what Modi has to deal with x 100

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 24 Jul 2014 19:24

India did the right thing. India's vote can not change outcome. IMO we had told the Israel about this beforehand. We knew that US will be blocking it. This way we can keep Uhhh Maaah happy. Modi govt is making secular decisions onlee. This is very smart.

And if somebody is watching Yes Prime Minister , please watch the episode where Israel's ambassador advises Jim Hecker about "lot of goodwill".

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jul 2014 19:57

James B wrote:Disgusting. Disappointed in Modi. The least we could have done is to abstain.

Why? Would others not have pointed to that as "evidence" of India tagging along with whatever is ordered by WHOTUS/POTUS?

There is noooooooooo tie between the "Kashmir dispute" (which is just a Pakistan problem, solved by dissolving Pakistan) and the Palestine dispute. Israel has no "international law" legitimacy to stay in occupied territory and terrorize the population of those territories. This is not to say that Israel does not have legitimate, common-sense security concerns, but it is destructive to cite those as carte blanche for otherwise unconscionable policies.

Building settlements (which implies outsiders) in occupied territory, is what Pakistan has been doing these past 67 years in POK. It is completely contrary to international law and specifically against UN resolutions. All the terrorist attacks and LOC violations are BEYOND that outrage.

So how is it consistent for India to say that it is OK for Israel to do that in Occupied Territories? The Indian vote was completely consistent with INDIAN policy, though of course it may have gone against FOREIGN-dictated "foreign policy". I am very glad to see India voting Indian interests consistently. High time.

Ambar · Post by **Ambar** » 24 Jul 2014 20:15

The easiest option would have been to abstain, the way we did with resolution against Srilanka back in March. India has good relationship with Israel, and i don't see any reason why we should jeopardize it by voting in favor of a toothless UNHRC resolution against Israel. What has added to the confusion is GoI's reluctance to censure Israel in parliament when the opposition was demanding it, and then going against Israel in UN. We don't want to ever see the Indira-Rajiv era pappi-jhappi sessions with Palestinian terror heads ever again.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 24 Jul 2014 20:34

Why this dhoti shivering about a "yes" ??? As if Israel is going to break off all relations with India or like we were living on rehmo karam of Israel that we needed to vote a "no". When the entire BRICS has voted against Israel why this chest beating about India onlee ??? Israel needs friends at the international forum and it would do itself good to remain in the good books of India and I don't see many things regarding that and why is Modi being accused of being pro ummahh ??? Is the same accusation true for BRCS leaders as well ??? Can't say much about BCS but Putin supporting ummah !!!!

SanjayC · Post by **SanjayC** » 24 Jul 2014 20:41

brihaspati wrote:The Palestinian jihadis had started rocketing in mid June. The Indians ISIS had kidnapped were returned by 3-4 th July.

You are assuming all Indians have been rescued from Iraq. That is not true. This news is from yesterday:

21 more nurses return from war-torn Iraq
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 888010.cms

Plus Indian workers from Punjab are still in ISIS captivity.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 24 Jul 2014 20:59

X-Posting from Modi Sarkar thread:

Actually, IMHO... on the Israel/Palestine situation, Modi Sarkar has kept all avenues open quite deftly.

If the Israelis (I don't think they will, but if they do) get upset about the UNHCR vote and ask India "why did you vote against us?" We can say... "you know we support Israel. Look, our MPs firmly rejected any GOI condemnation of Israel in the parliament. These are elected representatives of the Indian people, and their decision reflects the firm resolve of the Indian people to support our friend Israel."

OTOH if the Arab or Iranian oil-sellers ask us "why did you suppress the motion in your parliament to censure Israel? Are you anti-Muslim?" We can say... "look, we are very much concerned about the human rights of Palestinian refugees and voted in UNHCR that Israel should respect international law in Gaza."

Crucial difference here is that the pro-Israel move (rejection of censure in Parliament) is seen to come from the Indian PEOPLE... enforced by their MPs. Meanwhile the UNHCR vote is seen to come from appointed Babus who are responsible for maintaining realpolitik, which the Israelis surely understand.

There is also the question of consistency as others have mentioned. If we are to get back POJK/NA, even by military means, we have to have our legalistic arguments ready and without any loopholes in order to KEEP it. The argument is that while the 13th Aug, 1948 UNCIP resolution clearly required Pakistan to vacate the parts of J&K it occupied, Pakistan has illegally retained possession of those territories and *violated international law* by demographically changing those territories, settling them with Al-Qaeda fighters, Mirpuris and all kinds of other non-natives for political reasons. If we don't have it on record that we opposed this behaviour in territories occupied in violation of international law by other nations, our case is weakened. I think the Israelis understand this compulsion quite well, and don't really care because it doesn't affect anything substantive in our relationship with them.

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 25 Jul 2014 01:57

i think it is about deal we have with arabs about rescuing indians from isis occupied territory.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 25 Jul 2014 04:29

UlanBatori wrote:
James B wrote:Disgusting. Disappointed in Modi. The least we could have done is to abstain.
Why? Would others not have pointed to that as "evidence" of India tagging along with whatever is ordered by WHOTUS/POTUS?

There is noooooooooo tie between the "Kashmir dispute" (which is just a Pakistan problem, solved by dissolving Pakistan) and the Palestine dispute. Israel has no "international law" legitimacy to stay in occupied territory and terrorize the population of those territories. This is not to say that Israel does not have legitimate, common-sense security concerns, but it is destructive to cite those as carte blanche for otherwise unconscionable policies.

Building settlements (which implies outsiders) in occupied territory, is what Pakistan has been doing these past 67 years in POK. It is completely contrary to international law and specifically against UN resolutions. All the terrorist attacks and LOC violations are BEYOND that outrage.

So how is it consistent for India to say that it is OK for Israel to do that in Occupied Territories? The Indian vote was completely consistent with INDIAN policy, though of course it may have gone against FOREIGN-dictated "foreign policy". I am very glad to see India voting Indian interests consistently. High time.

There is no^100 connection onlee in Indian voices claiming to be so. For almost every ummah country with whom India has now sided on Palestine, still see Pak position as legitimate over and above that of India. When time comes they will not follow this no^100 "consistency" argument. No one in the world cares about every international conflict being treated on some Indian delusion of being at par and mortal despair at not appearing "consistent".

The very same folks on whose behalf India voted at UNHRC, will support Pakistan in case Kashmir issues comes up at UN.

Never is UN consistent on such issues, it doesnt have any obligation to be consistent, and there are always enough legal loopholes in the creations of any august and divine body of rule-makers to entirely reverse the argument - if necessary, to push for contextual complete reversals of policy/criteria depending on the country involved.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 25 Jul 2014 04:40

Sagar G wrote:Why this dhoti shivering about a "yes" ??? As if Israel is going to break off all relations with India or like we were living on rehmo karam of Israel that we needed to vote a "no". When the entire BRICS has voted against Israel why this chest beating about India onlee ??? Israel needs friends at the international forum and it would do itself good to remain in the good books of India and I don't see many things regarding that and why is Modi being accused of being pro ummahh ??? Is the same accusation true for BRCS leaders as well ??? Can't say much about BCS but Putin supporting ummah !!!!

Who cares about Israel breaking "off" relations with India?!!! Keeping Saudis happy is much much more important. Of course it is a matter of gaining from supporting countries, what can Israel offer! some weapons! does that contribute to development and prosperity? absolutely no^100! just ye think of the money that Saudis can invest in! man...all the finance networks gaining in commissions, fees, and now-proven of GOI inability to touch any of that if shipped or cut abroad, sweetening political pockets, so much dough circulating just to get a small cut from would make one's "life".

Miss the voice that promised that Saudi and Gulf investments will make India a zooper-power. He was the correctly representative mindset and viewpoint of those who will never really be out of power.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 25 Jul 2014 04:48

No, no! deals are good. Deals should always be made. Just take care that all the prices agreed upon are not declared. Or better never declared, with plausible deniability. Also its not good for Palestinian image to say India had to promise to ISIS, the Palestine vote even before 8th July when "Protective" started, to get nurses back on 3-4th July. It makes Palestininian and ISIS jihad appear to be part of same jihad.

Dosent look good, does it?

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 25 Jul 2014 07:01

"rin jhukana" is a very serious recurring theme in Indian epics and puranas. Mahabharat is full of this repeating meme.

will Palestinians pay off the debt of continuing Indian support of 65 years when similar resolutions are brought to table on Jammu & Kashmir? on Assam and Kerala (in the future)? on punitive resolutions against Pakistan (by supporting India's stance)?

all of those who are passing this off as "chankian lip service" should seriously consider my question above. it's not sarcasm. we need to assess if Palestinians rin jhukayenge ki nahin?

member_23692 · Post by **member_23692** » 25 Jul 2014 07:16

brihaspati wrote:
Sagar G wrote:Why this dhoti shivering about a "yes" ??? As if Israel is going to break off all relations with India or like we were living on rehmo karam of Israel that we needed to vote a "no". When the entire BRICS has voted against Israel why this chest beating about India onlee ??? Israel needs friends at the international forum and it would do itself good to remain in the good books of India and I don't see many things regarding that and why is Modi being accused of being pro ummahh ??? Is the same accusation true for BRCS leaders as well ??? Can't say much about BCS but Putin supporting ummah !!!!
Who cares about Israel breaking "off" relations with India?!!! Keeping Saudis happy is much much more important. Of course it is a matter of gaining from supporting countries, what can Israel offer! some weapons! does that contribute to development and prosperity? absolutely no^100! just ye think of the money that Saudis can invest in! man...all the finance networks gaining in commissions, fees, and now-proven of GOI inability to touch any of that if shipped or cut abroad, sweetening political pockets, so much dough circulating just to get a small cut from would make one's "life".

Miss the voice that promised that Saudi and Gulf investments will make India a zooper-power. He was the correctly representative mindset and viewpoint of those who will never really be out of power.

And yes, why should we care about Israel breaking relations with us ? Will Israel ever vote against us in favor of Pakistan ? Will Israel fund madarsaas in neighboring countries like Paki and Bangla to create rabid Islamists who will have anti-India in their DNA ? Will Israel fund madarsaas and other Islamists in India fostering an ideology which will make Deobandis look like buddhist monks ? Will there ever be in Israel the kind of religious bigotry and anti-kafir propoganda as there is in Saudi ?

Why should India vote with Israel then ? We Hindus have been throwing each other under the bus since eternity, because we are not afraid of each other. Why will we not throw an ally, if not a friend, under the bus, if we are not afraid of them ? We should continue in our tradition of always bowing down in front of those who are out to screw us and who can hurt us.

But, let us not call surrender and bending over, presenting our rear side to Khan and inviting him to "do" us without even applying vaseline, a "bold move" and a " hard nosed act in our national interest". Just because this is done by a government headed by the BJP it doesnt make it so and even if it is done by a government headed by Mr. Modi, it still doesnt make it so.

The surrender in this case is particularly ironic, grevous and even more brazen, almost suicidal, certainly, even in practical terms highly destructive to our national interests, because at least in their heart of hearts, as things stand right now in 2014, most Arab countries, Saudi, Gulf Arab States (with the exception of Quatar), Jordan, Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority themselves, hate Hamas just about as much as they hate Israel. I am not even sure that had India not voted with Hamas, it would have made enemies of any Arab States. In fact, by voting with Hamas (even though these Arab States could not but voite with Hamas, just to pacify their "street"), Indians might actually have alienated all these anti-Hamas Arab regimes, certainly Egypt, but I suspect, even the Saudis and other monarchies there, as these regimes would not mind more pressure on Hamas from the international community, not less.