Iran could be the ‘savior’ of the Middle East. If it wants to, that is.  The conflict between Sunni and Shia, ‘dating back to the seventh-century dispute over who was meant to be the Prophet Muhammad’s rightful successor, is the most consequential in the Middle East because it is so profound and elemental. But precisely because it is so intractable, it might hold the key to solving another seemingly eternal Middle East conflict, the one between Muslim and Jew.’ Iran just might be in the middle of all this.

The “symbiotic anxiety” shared by Israel and its Sunni Arab adversaries might not be abated as it might be too late to forge a Sunni-Jewish alliance. The reason is hate, a phenomenon that never stopped the ‘formation of pragmatic alliances in the Middle East.’ Making it worse is the new and added Arab enmity for Israel because of last December’s Israeli attacks in Gaza. It might be impossible now ‘for Arab governments to be seen entering even a tacit alliance with Israel.’

Iran has obviously shown to be a guardian of Islamic and, in particular, Palestinian interests. It is an undeniable fact that ‘half of the future state of Palestine is under the control of a Sunni fundamentalist group, Hamas, that is theologically opposed to the Shia dogma, but more than happy to take Iranian money and weapons. Iran can continue encouraging Hamas—as well as the Shia Hezbollah in Lebanon—to subvert any upcoming negotiations.’

David Makovsky, one of the most respected experts on the peace process, and co-author of a new book, Myths, Illusions, and Peace, says, “There is a convergence of interests between the Arabs and Israelis on Iran. As such, this moment is a gift that shouldn’t be wasted. The two sides need to put their differences in perspective to address the common challenge.”

‘The history of Middle East peacemaking is littered with missed opportunities, and the shared challenge of an ascendant Iran might not be enough to induce Arabs and Israelis to make common cause.’

Even if Iran may not want to save the Middle East conflict, it is in the crucial position of owning the possibility of doing so.

Via The Atlantic

The current blockade enforced by the state of Israel in the Palestinian city of Gaza has forced hundreds of Gaza residents to sought out alternative to get their hands on the basic needs for survival, such as food, water, medicines etc. This desperate situation led the Palestinians to start digging huge underground tunnels under the town of Rafah, which lies near the Israeli border.

However, the Palestinian tunnel program is not only proving to be a failed attempt at bypassing the Israeli blockade, but has also created a huge financial scandal in the already poverty stricken country. News reports suggest that, many of the contractors who took money from the residents to create smuggling tunnels are now absconding with the money, that is estimated to be around $100 million to $500 million. The military wing of the Hamas, which is the ruling party in Palestine has committed its militia in locating and retrieving the absconding contractors. As per Hamas sources, the militia have already apprehended two fugitives and are now trying to trace the money.

The tunnels that run under Palestine are believed to be leading to Egypt and the vendors, also known as “tunnel merchants” cross the border illegally and bring back household and electronic commodities such as, food, refrigerators, cigarettes etc. However, Israel insists that, along with these items, the tunnels are widely used to smuggle arms and ammunition. Each of these tunnels cost about $100,000 and the operators of the tunnels charge a staggering $5000 for each ton of commodities brought in by the merchants, thus making up for the construction costs on a fast track basis.

However, the Palestinians wish that Israel ends the blockade as soon as possible, so that some ounce of normalcy can return to the impoverished state. One of the tunnel merchants, Abu Ismail said,

“I want to go to the park at the end of the day, not go looking for my son inside a tunnel digging for a living and finding him dead inside the tunnel.”

Via CNN.

The United Nations today announced that, it has given the go ahead to the resolution out for before the international body, that calls for investigations for the alleged war crimes committed dung the Israeli offensive in Gaza strip in last winter. The resolution states that, both Israel and Palestine should conduct independent probes to verify the war crime claims.

As per the resolution, the U.N Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has been requested to submit the report from both the countries to the United Nations General Assembly in three months time. It has also been demanded that, strict actions should be taken against either country, who fails to uphold the resolution as targeting non-combatants and civilian infrastructure is a gross human rights violation and a serious war crime. If either Israel or Palestine is found guilty of these crimes, then appropriate actions need to be taken against the offender by the corresponding bodies of the U.N including the Security Council. The resolution was put forward by the 20 Arab League members and it was passed with a vote count of 114-18.

In a statement the Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations said,

“This resolution represents yet another pretext to bash Israel at the U.N. and is detrimental to any positive diplomatic engagement in the region.”

Singing the same tune, Israel’s long time ally, the United States of America also expressed its disappointment and concerns about the resolution. The U.S Ambassador to the United Nations, Alejandro Wolff stated that, although the U.S takes the matters of human rights very seriously, especially in the Palestinian region, yet the Goldstone report has been biased and has harshly criticized Israel for its defending its right to existence and hasn’t relegated Hamas’s share of responsibility. Last year’s conflict between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Palestinian militant organization, Hamas, was instigated by the Katyusha rockets that were fired targeting the Israeli cities.

Via CNN.

In a recent released by the military intelligence chief of Israel, the intelligence branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that, the rouge militant outfit, Hamas, which is operating from Palestine has now acquired rockets and proje3ctile weapons that can be launched against Israeli targets in the heart of the nation’s capital, Tel Aviv.

The report has come in the wake of intelligence reports suggesting that, Hamas has indeed acquired and test fired short range rockets, supplied by Iran and this new offensive weapon could very well be ready to target Tel Aviv. Iran has reportedly been trying to find loopholes in the security at and along the Palestinian border, to bring the new rockets to Hamas.

These new rockets are far more advanced than the crude and primitive Grad rockets, that have become a regular occurrence in many Israeli cities, but due to the limited range of the weapon, the Grad rockets have always failed to hit the capital Israel. The new batch of vehicle launched short range rockets can reach upto a range of 37 miles or 60 kilometers.

According to Abu Obaida (Spokesman, Hamas),

“We are not interested in responding to the Zionist intelligence reports. They can say whatever they want.”

Even after last year’s military offensive against Hamas conducted by the IDF to shut down the rocket and mortar launching capabilities of Hamas, several intelligence sources believe that, the militant outfit has been able to replenish its stockpiles of small arms, mortar rounds and rockets, courtesy of Iran. These contraband have been smuggled into Palestine, via tunnel that runs between the border of Palestine and Egypt.

Via Associated Press.

Since Israel began its operations in the Palestine against Hamas initiated rocket attacks, Hamas it seems has decided to abandon its violent struggle against Israel and has decided to opt for more meaningful non-violent acts of protests. As of now, Hamas activists have restricted themselves   to peaceful protests and are working hard to achieve international support and sympathy.

According to one of Hamas leaders, Ayman Taha,

“Armed resistance is still important and legitimate, but we have a new emphasis on cultural resistance. The current situation required a stoppage of rockets. After the war, the fighters needed a break and the people needed a break.”

Hamas has been continuously firing Qassam rockets, into Israel since the year 2002 and their rate of fire has been exponential and on a daily basis. However, for the month of June 2009, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF), only two rockets had fallen into Israel and that it is the lowest count since Hamas initiated the rocket attacks.

Via New York Times.

The report called, “Breaking the Silence” includes private and anonymous testimonies from IDF soldiers who have confessed to using civilians as human shields and other acts that violate international laws outlining the ethics of  waging a war. These alleged incidents have happened during the 22 days of IDF announced offensive against Hamas. According to the report,

“In some cases a civilian would be forced to walk in front of soldier while the soldier places his gun barrel on the civilian’s shoulder.”

On the basis of anonymity, these soldiers explained in the report how buildings, that did not pose any threat were flattened to the ground and phosphorous gas was released in civilian areas.  Phosphorous gas is known to cause severe burns and as per the international laws, warring countries are required to keep the use of this weapon to a bare minimum. According to the soldiers all these actions were authorized by the chain of command and were termed as a part of the rules of engagement.

However, IDF strongly denies these allegations and has stated that, it has always complied with all international laws and is still one of the most ethical armed forces in the world. According to Lt. Col. Avital Liebovitch (IDF spokesman),

“There are no factual details, no places, no names of incidents in specific houses on a specific date. I would be more than happy to be provided with these details and I will be able to investigate them.”

In a statement, Israel Defense Minister, Ehud Barak said,

“If someone has a criticism, or information or conclusions about IDF (Israel Defense Forces) actions, they should bring them to me, as minister of defense of the state of Israel, and to the Israeli government that instructed the IDF to restore quiet to the communities in the south. The IDF is the most moral army in the world and it operates according to the highest ethical code.”

Via CNN

The Israeli army engaged in acts of ‘wanton destruction’ against Palestinian civilians during its offensive in the Gaza Strip in December and January, says Amnesty International. In a 117-page report about the 22-day fighting, the humanitarian organization also states that the firing of rockets by Hamas militants against Israel constituted ‘war crimes.’ The report is entitled Operation ‘Cast Lead’: 22 Days of Death and Destruction.

The death toll from the Palestinian side is 1,400 casualties, including 300 children. Amnesty claims to have found no evidence that civilians were deliberately used by Hamas fighters as human shields, as claimed by the Israeli army.

“Most of the destruction was deliberate and free. They have been conducted in circumstances which confirm that they were not justified by military necessity,” said Amnesty in its report.

Israel defended its military by saying that the army had acted in accordance with international regulations during ‘Operation Cast Lead.’ The country accused the authors of the report of ignoring ‘the efforts made by the IDF to minimize the damage to noncombatants.’

“In many cases, the Israeli Defense Forces have exercised caution, including warning the civilian population before an attack. Israeli forces have directed their attacks only against military targets.” says the IDF.

An investigation by the Israeli military had found no crimes while Israel refused to cooperate with an investigation conducted by the UN.

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Via Amnesty International/BBC

It should not be forgotten that the Iran that was shaped by Khomeini has been an entirely different system that has been carried out for thirty years. It is a theocratic, fundamentalist, and revolutionary government system, which means that it is impervious to reform and incorrigible in nature.

With the ruthless suppression of opponents to silence the accusations of an obvious election fraud and doubts about the legitimacy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s second term, the Islamic Republic of Iran has sealed its fate.

While we saw the bloody and fiery protests on the streets of Tehran as the manifestation of an electoral battle gone wrong, there is another battle happening in the background which the people did not exactly see.

In fact, Ahmadinejad was not up against Mousavi but the clerical elite of the ayatollahs who thrive on the specter of Khomeini. On one hand are the traditionalist clerics whose strength draws from the lineage of the Iranian Revolution thirty years ago, but who have become corrupt. On the other are the true guardians of the revolution.

Although the world did not see it, the duel was being waged between the clerics of Qom who have personally benefited from the 1979 Islamic revolution and the guardians of the revolution or the people who protect the revolution itself. For the latter, Ahmadinejad is at the helm.

With Ahmadinejad’s perpetuation in power, Iran will continue to stand its ground regarding its nuclear program, a crucial aspect when seen from Iran’s point of view with regards to Israel. Khameini, the ultimate political arbiter in the country,  sees this that is why he is not lifting a finger to contest Ahmadinejad’s purported electoral victory.

Iran’s clerical elite are totally aware of the political situation in the Middle East. They know quite well that Ahmadinejad may just be indispensable at the moment as far as establishing a cohesive whole with the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Hamas in Gaza for purposes of the general destabilization of the Gulf and the confrontation with the West.

It is still all about the Islamist revolution. And the ayatollahs have come to realize that it has become a regional struggle in need of a nuclear armament program whose greatest champion happened to have cheated in the elections. In throwing their support behind an obvious election fraudster, we can imagine that it is the ayatollahs that have probably been losing sleep.

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The number of fatalities in the last Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip known as Operation Cast Lead is relatively low when one considers that the fighting took place in densely populated areas, noted a spokesman for the Israeli Army. The IDF makes the comparative conclusion based on population density.

“The figures show that the Israeli Army made great efforts in carrying out its precise operation,” he added, responding to accusations by human rights groups that are now demanding for an international investigation. The IDF spokesman defended the Israeli data which, he said, are based on a thorough analysis by the military secret services.

The controversial data refers to the 1,417 Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli offensive that lasted for 22 days, broken down as follows: 926 civilians, 236 members of militia groups, and 255 members of the police force controlled by Hamas. Among the victims were 313 children and adolescents under 18 years, as well as 116 women.

Israel, however, only recorded about 1,166 Palestinians killed. Of the figure, 709 were allegedly involved in terrorist activities. The casualties, according to the IDF, included only 295 civilians, 89 children under 16 years, and 49 women.

A Palestinian human rights organization published a list of all fatalities and the dates of their deaths, accusing Israel of ‘an intentional attempt to destroy the handling of a military offensive and to conceal the illegal activities of Israel.’

One of the most controversial aspects is the classification of the security forces of Hamas. The policemen regulating traffic on roads were considered by Israel as  members of the terrorist organization. This is probably because the entire Hamas has been previously declared as a terrorist group.

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Via The Boston Globe

The IDF opened an investigation after Israeli soldiers confessed to the murders committed during Operation ‘Cast Lead,’ the 22-day military operation in the Gaza Strip. The testimonies of several Israeli soldiers who claim that they killed civilians and committed acts of vandalism in Gaza have given rise to a wave of criticism that forced the army to open an internal investigation.

Head of legal services, Brigadier General Avichai Mendelblit, has ordered the immediate commencement of the criminal investigation. The disputed testimony was released last February 13 by pilots and infantrymen who gave a talk at a preparatory course for military service at an academic institution.

Israeli soldiers gave the statement that during the last military offensive in the Gaza Strip from December 27-January 18, they fired at unarmed Palestinian women and children and damaged private property. It goes without saying that these soldiers committed murders and brutality during the Gaza offensive.

Operation ‘Cast Lead’ killed over 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians. In the editorial of the newspaper Haaretz, the ‘acts of disregard for human life and a tendency toward brutality’ were attributed to the ‘disconnection between the battalion commanders and their senior officers.’

After Operation ‘Cast Lead,’ the United Nations needed $613 million for the recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

At the academic conference, a squadron commander told how the company shot and killed an elderly Palestinian who was walking along a road about one hundred meters from a housing that the company had seized. He described the act as ‘cold-blooded murder.’

Another soldier said that during a discussion with his squadron commander on the permissiveness of the code of action and where other soldiers complained, the officer said, “We should kill everyone here [in central Gaza]. Everyone here is a terrorist.”

Another soldier testified, saying, “When entering a house we had to pull the door and start shooting inside, from floor to floor. I wondered how this can make sense.”

The dissemination of hard evidence by the military has caused a wave of protests after it was shown that war crimes were committed during Operation ‘Cast Lead.’ The Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din has demanded that a military commission be formed to investigate the allegations. “If Israel does not investigate its crimes, others will have to do it,” said Yesh Din in a statement. The NGO Rabbis for Human Rights has declared that the turn of events is a moral tsunami that forces Israel to make a fast examination of conscience.

The Hamas-led government in Palestine planned to file a petition with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Israel over Gaza air strikes. There is sufficient evidence that Israel used white phosphorus, the chemical incendiary bomb, in crowded places in Gaza during the air strikes.

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Via The Huffington Post