RANT: Mirror Images: Israel & Apartheid South Africa

This is indeed Israel-kicking time on this blog. They've only themselves to blame, quite frankly. Israel's actions against a civilian aid ship in international waters resulting in nine dead were bad enough. The Israeli response in the days thereafter - a curious mixture of self-righteous indignation and outright lies - have made matters even worse.

Israel is out of control.

I contend that it is a mirror image of apartheid South Africa...

It indiscriminately kills politicians and activists it does not like, even in other countries. Apartheid South Africa did just the same.

It condemns anybody that is a 'threat' to it as a 'terrorist', freedom fighter or not. Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It kills, maims and terrorizes an entire population group in the name of 'self-defense'. Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It redraws territory to its liking and in flagrant violation of international law. Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It cordons off areas and forces people of a certain population group within that area. Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It forces all members of a certain population group to carry 'passes' and controls their movement fully on that basis. Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It feeds on the anxieties of the United States and the West within a given geopolitical context and curries their favour. Apartheid South Africa did the same.  

It is a de facto military-police state, whatever its democratic traditions and 'free press' (for some). Apartheid South Africa did the same.

It flaunts international law, knowing it can pretty much get away with it. Apartheid South Africa did the same.
 
The analysis: Israel is an apartheid state.

I lived in apartheid South Africa. Trust me, I know all the signs.

Ultimately, the international community is to blame for the morally corrupt nation that Israel has become. Just as the international community was to blame for allowing the apartheid regime to get away with its amoral policies during the 1950s, 1960s and most of the 1970s. Not to mention those nations that allowed 'sanctions busting' with apartheid South Africa on everything from gold to arms - the likes of the USA, UK and, oh yes, Israel.
 
It was only when the world community finally applied huge pressure on South Africa through sanctions was there the economic and political inevitability that culminated in the release of Nelson Mandela (an 'outright' terrorist according to South Africa for nearly 30 years, by the way) in 1991 and the first truly free elections in the country in 1994. Only sanctions forced the apartheid regime into that inevitability. 
 
And that is precisely why I advocate FULL sanctions against Israel. On everything - economic, sporting and cultural. Israel needs to be isolated and needs to feel the full wrath of international contempt for its ongoing racist and apartheid policies regarding the Palestinians and Palestine. Just as we felt it in South Africa back in the 1980s. 
 
There really is no other alternative. The actions by Israel on that aid ship on May 31st must be the turning point.
 
Sanctions NOW.
 

 
Basta!
 
Do you get my point?

RAVE: As This Too Says It All...

To all those who shout abuse that those of us that criticize Israel are anti-Semitic...

Well, this picture taken of a Jewish protester simply says it all...

Enough said.

RAVE: Says It All...

Tell me if this graffiti on a wall doesn't say it all...?

Enough said.

RANT: Israel - A State of Denial

Israel continues to be pounded from many quarters on the international stage in the aftermath of the raid on an aid ship by Israeli commandos on May 31st. At least nine people on board the ship died as a result of the Israeli actions. In short, Israeli aggression.

As much as it has become normative over the years, I am still astounded at the sheer arrogance and Orwellian double-speak being deployed by Israeli commentators and authorities in their own defense. Their defense of the indefensible is astounding. In TV show after TV show the Israelis comes across as hyper-defensive, forever the 'victim of others, yet curiously very aggressive as well.

And woe betide any commentator or reporter who probes too much or, heaven forbid, disagrees with or challenges the Israeli position. The Israeli response is either that of outraged vitriol or condescending dismisiveness bordering on the smug and patronizing. And the excuses, expressed as 'hard' fact or 'inevitable' truth, come thick and fast. And that's all that they are - excuses. Pathetic ones at that.

The levels of Israeli denial have become gargantuan in scope and hypocrisy.

It would seem that this has become the way of a nation that has become a law unto itself. A nation that conducts its affairs with impunity. A nation out of control within the context of international law. A rogue nation.

Yet again, the United States chooses to respond to Israeli aggression and illegality with words like 'regrets the deaths of..." and "the US trusts Israel to conduct a full investigation". Little wonder that Israel feels so able to act in such an illegal and hyper-aggressive manner, whether the theatre of its aggression be Gaza or Lebanon or the West Bank or, what the hell, even in a luxury hotel in Dubai.

Blessings of America, even if 'tacit', not to mention billions of dollars in aid from said America, and an Arab world too fractured and too incompetent to do anything of worth, and Israel just keeps going on and on and on and on...

The Israelis did not need to board that ship with that much force and aggression. Their actions were overly aggressive and provocative. They acted illegally in international waters. Their blockade of Gaza is illegal under the Geneva Convention. The effective entrapment of 1.5-million people in Gaza is illegal and inhumane.

But let it be said here loud and clear: Israel acts with such impunity and with such arrogance based on a constant barrage of denial and disinformation precisely because the world, in the end, really does very little.

And as long as the world continues to do so little to effectively condemn and rein in Israel, so then will the Israel of today continue to be nothing more than an aggressive apartheid state dressed up as a legitimate democracy.

It's a demented, self-serving and morally schizophrenic lager mentality that reminds me so much of living in apartheid South Africa back in the 1980s...

Do you get my point?

RAVE: Johannesburg Winter Is Back

My first post for this month of June is also a rave on a rather personal note. In short, it's all about winter in Johannesburg.

As an environmental/ sustainability consultant the state of the planet is never far from my mind. And, of course, global warming and climate change loom large in my mind. Always there, always a concern that rattles and unnerves.

I grew up in this large, mad city of Johannesburg and always remember winter as being a time of cold mornings and nights but day times full of blue sky, sunshine and even warm weather. And it was dry, dry, dry. Chapped, cracked lips and sandpaper for skin were the norm. But it was a small price to pay for what was essentially a lovely winter.

For me, it made up for the season I've always hated in this city - summer. Much as some rhapsody about how much they love Johannesburg summers with their huge thunderstorms and lashing rain, I, for one, bloody hate them. And I still do. All that lightning, thunder and crazy maelstrom delights some, but I hate how it breaks up a hot day and just makes summer feel wet and mad. And one could never really plan a full day out in the garden or at the pool during these tempestuous Joburg summers. Hated that.

Which is why when we arrived in Portugal after emigrating there slap bang in the middle of summer at the age of 17, with its endless summer days of blue sky, hot weather and days spent on the beach well into the evening, it was like Nirvana for me. Pure bliss. Ever since, Mediterranean-type summers have been my preference.

So, when I returned to live and work in Johannesburg after 14 years away from the city, I knew I had summer to dread and winter to enjoy. Or so I thought. One winter after another had endless days of grey, miserable weather and...endless rain, even drizzle...what the hell was that?! Last year's winter was no different. Most of the time I felt I was back in Cape Town or even England for winter - NOT what one needs when having to brave this sprawling, crime-ridden, demented city...

And don't even get me started on the string of lousy, totally unpredictable summers we've endured in recent years.

And, of course, always niggling at me was the fact that these changes in the Highveld winter had almost certainly something to do with climate change. It fed into my anxiety about the state of the planet. It made the global feel horribly local. Too real, too quick, too unnerving.

And now this year. For now - and I must touch every bit of wood in touching distance - we have enjoyed a simply splendid Johannesburg winter. The nights and mornings have been chilly, even cold, but the days have been quite warm and, best of all, full of brilliant sunshine against a blue, blue sky. And memories of my childhood come flooding back to me. And all seems a little more normal - at least for now.

Sure, we've had some grey, overcast spells and lousy Capetonian hues to our autumn days thus far, but winter is upon us and, for now (touching all that wood again), it seems it may just be like old times. And somehow that feels oddly reassuring, uplifting even.

I have no doubt that climate change is real. And my mind tells me that the seasons have still changed here in Johannesburg. There's no point in being delusional.

But at least my soul feels good about being dressed once again in winter clothes whilst seeing a blue sky and bright winter sun outside my window.

I'll take that great feeling - however fleeting it may be - and run with it for all its worth.