Zarrar Khuhro
Published November 4, 2024
DAWV
AMERICA has allies while its enemies have proxies; America’s allies have governments that must be supported while its enemies have regimes that must be changed.
And right now, in the midst of their jointly conducted genocide, America and Israel have decided, in their infinite wisdom, that this is a ripe time to change the face of the Middle East. Again.
The plan for Gaza has been clear for some time: it involves starving and terrorising the remaining population of Gaza into fleeing their homes and making way for Jewish settlements and a permanent Israeli military evacuation.
But there are plans afoot for Lebanon, too, where both Israel and US feel that the Israeli attack is a perfect opportunity to degrade Hezbollah, while also changing the country’s political landscape. They’re not exactly making a secret of it: in October, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel took a break from his regular genocide apologia to tell reporters that America’s “goal is to get the government and country of Lebanon to a place where it is out of the stranglehold of Hezbollah”.
To achieve that end, the US tasked Amos Hochstein, the US special envoy to the region and a former IDF soldier, to press Lebanon to immediately hold elections despite the Israeli onslaught. Lebanese officials protested that in order to do so, they would have to reconvene parliament and there was no guarantee that Israel would not target that parliament to eliminate politicians they find problematic, given that Hezbollah and its allies control more than half the seats. Would the US guarantee the safety of Lebanon’s parliament? Hochstein had no reply.
Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon are sensing an opportunity.
Reportedly, the US is pressing for the head of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, to take charge as president, either through fiat or through an election in which pro-Hezbollah and pro-resistance voters will be disenfranchised thanks to Israel’s forced evacuation of large parts of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has its strongest support.
The Lebanese army, one should note, evacuated its positions before the Israeli assault, leaving Hezbollah to protest.
Some of Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon are also sensing an opportunity: Samir Geagea, the leader of a right-wing Christian party, feels this is the perfect time to push for the disarming of Hezbollah, after which he feels an agreement could be reached with Israel. However, the indiscriminate nature of Israel’s bombing, and the Lebanese people’s own experience with Israeli atrocities mean that this is, for now, seemingly a minority view even in Geagea’s own community.
That hasn’t stopped Lisa Johnson, the US ambassador to Lebanon, from using her position to pursue the agenda of eliminating Hezbollah from the Lebanese political arena and thus providing a clear field for Israel to do as it wishes. Lebanese media has reported her saying to Lebanese politicians that “Israel cannot achieve everything through war; it’s time for you to do your part and launch an internal uprising under the banner of ‘Enough’.”
Chiding them for being “afraid” of Hezbollah, she reportedly said: “Hezbollah has been defeated, its leadership is destroyed, and we are with you, and the entire free world stands by your side.” The Arab states would back such a movement, she added.
Meanwhile there’s Iran, the government of which has been in the target sights of successive US administrations from 1979 onwards. Thus far, all attempts at actual regime change have been unsuccessful but hope springs eternal, especially in the borderline psychopathic circles of US policy-makers and think tanks.
As for who would lead Iran after the current regime is done and dusted, a very usual suspect has officially thrown his crown into the ring — His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Iranian Shah, who is going around marketing himself as the perfect ruler of Iran which would then become the most allied ally of Israel and the US in the region.
However, he only has the support of the monarchist elements of the Iranian diaspora and these worthies are, I can assure you, the most unhinged lot you will ever come across in this lifetime. In their hate for Iran’s government, some of them have become the vocal allies of Zionism, going to the extent of calling for the mass killings of their own compatriots if it were to bring their Prince Charming one step closer to power.
Here’s an example: ‘journalist’ Babak Eshagi, who is affiliated with a pro-monarchist Persian news outlet embedded with the Israeli army in Gaza, while recording a piece to camera in the ruins of a Palestinian home, inscribed the slogan of the 2022 Iranian protests ‘women, life, freedom’, on the remains of a wall. These then are the Ahmed Chalabis of today, the genocidal court jesters who would be king.
The writer is a journalist.
X: @zarrarkhuhro
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024
And right now, in the midst of their jointly conducted genocide, America and Israel have decided, in their infinite wisdom, that this is a ripe time to change the face of the Middle East. Again.
The plan for Gaza has been clear for some time: it involves starving and terrorising the remaining population of Gaza into fleeing their homes and making way for Jewish settlements and a permanent Israeli military evacuation.
But there are plans afoot for Lebanon, too, where both Israel and US feel that the Israeli attack is a perfect opportunity to degrade Hezbollah, while also changing the country’s political landscape. They’re not exactly making a secret of it: in October, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel took a break from his regular genocide apologia to tell reporters that America’s “goal is to get the government and country of Lebanon to a place where it is out of the stranglehold of Hezbollah”.
To achieve that end, the US tasked Amos Hochstein, the US special envoy to the region and a former IDF soldier, to press Lebanon to immediately hold elections despite the Israeli onslaught. Lebanese officials protested that in order to do so, they would have to reconvene parliament and there was no guarantee that Israel would not target that parliament to eliminate politicians they find problematic, given that Hezbollah and its allies control more than half the seats. Would the US guarantee the safety of Lebanon’s parliament? Hochstein had no reply.
Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon are sensing an opportunity.
Reportedly, the US is pressing for the head of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, to take charge as president, either through fiat or through an election in which pro-Hezbollah and pro-resistance voters will be disenfranchised thanks to Israel’s forced evacuation of large parts of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has its strongest support.
The Lebanese army, one should note, evacuated its positions before the Israeli assault, leaving Hezbollah to protest.
Some of Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon are also sensing an opportunity: Samir Geagea, the leader of a right-wing Christian party, feels this is the perfect time to push for the disarming of Hezbollah, after which he feels an agreement could be reached with Israel. However, the indiscriminate nature of Israel’s bombing, and the Lebanese people’s own experience with Israeli atrocities mean that this is, for now, seemingly a minority view even in Geagea’s own community.
That hasn’t stopped Lisa Johnson, the US ambassador to Lebanon, from using her position to pursue the agenda of eliminating Hezbollah from the Lebanese political arena and thus providing a clear field for Israel to do as it wishes. Lebanese media has reported her saying to Lebanese politicians that “Israel cannot achieve everything through war; it’s time for you to do your part and launch an internal uprising under the banner of ‘Enough’.”
Chiding them for being “afraid” of Hezbollah, she reportedly said: “Hezbollah has been defeated, its leadership is destroyed, and we are with you, and the entire free world stands by your side.” The Arab states would back such a movement, she added.
Meanwhile there’s Iran, the government of which has been in the target sights of successive US administrations from 1979 onwards. Thus far, all attempts at actual regime change have been unsuccessful but hope springs eternal, especially in the borderline psychopathic circles of US policy-makers and think tanks.
As for who would lead Iran after the current regime is done and dusted, a very usual suspect has officially thrown his crown into the ring — His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Iranian Shah, who is going around marketing himself as the perfect ruler of Iran which would then become the most allied ally of Israel and the US in the region.
However, he only has the support of the monarchist elements of the Iranian diaspora and these worthies are, I can assure you, the most unhinged lot you will ever come across in this lifetime. In their hate for Iran’s government, some of them have become the vocal allies of Zionism, going to the extent of calling for the mass killings of their own compatriots if it were to bring their Prince Charming one step closer to power.
Here’s an example: ‘journalist’ Babak Eshagi, who is affiliated with a pro-monarchist Persian news outlet embedded with the Israeli army in Gaza, while recording a piece to camera in the ruins of a Palestinian home, inscribed the slogan of the 2022 Iranian protests ‘women, life, freedom’, on the remains of a wall. These then are the Ahmed Chalabis of today, the genocidal court jesters who would be king.
The writer is a journalist.
X: @zarrarkhuhro
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024
Ceasefire charade
DAWN
Editorial
Editorial
Published November 4, 2024
THE convention is that when parties are seeking a cessation in hostilities or a ceasefire, they engage in confidence-building measures that can eventually help silence the guns. However, in Israel’s case, the Zionist state has ‘supported’ American efforts to effect a truce in Lebanon by relentlessly pounding that country.
Beirut, Baalbek and Tyre have been hit in savage bombing raids over the past few days; but these actions are unlikely to convince Hezbollah — Tel Aviv’s Lebanese arch-nemesis — to sue for peace. In fact, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the new Hezbollah leader, taunted the Israelis in a speech after taking office, indicating that the pro-Iran armed group remains defiant. America’s efforts to end the violence in Lebanon and occupied Palestine must also be questioned.
The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies as the latter continue to butcher Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Such ‘peace talks’ led by a biased interlocutor are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade for public consumption. Moreover, the reported criteria that Tel Aviv has laid out for accepting a ceasefire in Lebanon — particularly allowing it to cross the border at will in pursuit of Hezbollah, thus violating Lebanese sovereignty — will not be a ceasefire, but an instrument of surrender for Beirut.
Both in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel is stuck in a quagmire. Militarily, though it has inflicted damage on both, it has been unable to defeat Hamas or Hezbollah. Rockets and drones continue to fly towards Israeli cities from Lebanon. One of the world’s best-armed militaries — backed by a military superpower and its European supporters — has been unable to defeat two much smaller non-state actors. It is perhaps to erase this ignominy that Israel continues its genocidal war in Palestine and Lebanon. A ceasefire in both theatres is definitely required; only it will take unbiased respected international actors — who do not act as Israel’s B-team — to bring one about.
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024
THE convention is that when parties are seeking a cessation in hostilities or a ceasefire, they engage in confidence-building measures that can eventually help silence the guns. However, in Israel’s case, the Zionist state has ‘supported’ American efforts to effect a truce in Lebanon by relentlessly pounding that country.
Beirut, Baalbek and Tyre have been hit in savage bombing raids over the past few days; but these actions are unlikely to convince Hezbollah — Tel Aviv’s Lebanese arch-nemesis — to sue for peace. In fact, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the new Hezbollah leader, taunted the Israelis in a speech after taking office, indicating that the pro-Iran armed group remains defiant. America’s efforts to end the violence in Lebanon and occupied Palestine must also be questioned.
The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies as the latter continue to butcher Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Such ‘peace talks’ led by a biased interlocutor are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade for public consumption. Moreover, the reported criteria that Tel Aviv has laid out for accepting a ceasefire in Lebanon — particularly allowing it to cross the border at will in pursuit of Hezbollah, thus violating Lebanese sovereignty — will not be a ceasefire, but an instrument of surrender for Beirut.
Both in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel is stuck in a quagmire. Militarily, though it has inflicted damage on both, it has been unable to defeat Hamas or Hezbollah. Rockets and drones continue to fly towards Israeli cities from Lebanon. One of the world’s best-armed militaries — backed by a military superpower and its European supporters — has been unable to defeat two much smaller non-state actors. It is perhaps to erase this ignominy that Israel continues its genocidal war in Palestine and Lebanon. A ceasefire in both theatres is definitely required; only it will take unbiased respected international actors — who do not act as Israel’s B-team — to bring one about.
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024
Key takeaways
Arif Hasan
The real reason to depopulate Gaza and the West Bank; make it a part of ‘Greater Israel’
Arif Hasan
Published November 2, 2024
DAWN
IT is now indisputable that Israel’s mass murder and destruction of Gaza had nothing to do with finishing off Hamas. The real reason was to depopulate Gaza and the West Bank and make it a part of ‘Greater Israel’. It is also clear that the same policy of mass murder and destruction of infrastructure to make Lebanon uninhabitable is being followed so as to annex that country.
Statements of Israeli politicians and diplomats also indicate that they have every intention of occupying Sinai and part of Syria. If they succeed in doing this, they will have fulfilled what Moses promised them in the Old Testament. The Israeli public and politicians firmly believe that what is mentioned in the scriptures is their right — odd for a supposedly secular country and that too in 2024. It is a belief that is also supported by a considerable population of US citizens who are waiting for the second coming of Christ.
It is also clear that the Western powers (the EU, Nato, and the US) have supported Israel’s ambitions by providing it with military equipment, spare parts for military hardware, and/or financial assistance. They have also supported the American vetoes in the Security Council for a ceasefire in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
There are other takeaways too. During diplomatic initiatives, both in the UN and at press conferences, the Israelis never mentioned Palestine’s name. In a map presented before the UN, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, showed not only the Palestinian territories but also Lebanon, parts of Syria and Iraq, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia as a ‘new Middle East’.
The Israelis have been taught to see the Arabs as barbarians.
Large sections of the Western media justified Israel’s destruction of Gaza, saying that this was being done for Israel’s right to exist. Many journalists, who reported otherwise or showed pro-Palestinian leanings, were sacked or coerced into changing their stories. It was only after millions of citizens around the world (including in the West) demonstrated against the war in favour of the Palestinians that media reporting underwent a change.
In addition, Al Jazeera fought a media war against Western propaganda and since it told the truth with images, it emerged as the most watched and believed media on the subject.
Reporting changed when schools and hospitals were destroyed, children were murdered, and food and water were denied to the Gazans, and when homelessness and repeated relocation were forced on the victims of bombardment and the truth could no longer be wished away. As a result, some countries recognised the state of Palestine. This has been considered a victory but Israel has continued bombing and murdering the citizens of Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon.
The Israelis have been taught to consider the Arabs as barbarians and cowards, incapable of protecting themselves. However, the Oct 7 event demonstrated that the Arabs could fight back effectively. The event humiliated the Israelis and much of the ferocity of the Israeli response was the result of being insulted. The Arab response also led to an interest in Arab history and culture in the West. It showed the West that the Arabs had a great history, beautiful music and dance, literature, and that above all, they were a highly educated society and had outstanding people in the social and physical sciences. And then they were almost white, many with light eyes!
One of the aims of the Israelis was to obliterate these out-standing people and the educational and health institutions where they were trained. In Gaza, they have succeeded in doing this to a great extent.
A very disturbing development (apart from the genocide) in this conflict is that there is nothing left of international law and its institutions. Policy and election results in the US that has veto powers within the Security Council are also governed by what is known as the ‘Jewish lobby, which controls much of corporate sector investments both globally and in the US.
In addition, it finances prospective and serving Congressmen by supporting their election through huge bribes.
The result is that the US Congress is not only pro-Israel, but also responsible for framing US foreign policy and domestic legislation. US military aid to Israel amounts to roughly $3 billion per year.
Given these figures, it is obvious that the US is subservient to Israel and in light of the present electoral trends will remain so in the foreseeable future. So it will be a long war with the Muslim world, which is torn between ‘pragmatism’ and the pressure exerted for an anti-US policy by its own citizens.
The writer is an architect.
arifhasan37@gmail.com
www.arifhasan.org
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024
Statements of Israeli politicians and diplomats also indicate that they have every intention of occupying Sinai and part of Syria. If they succeed in doing this, they will have fulfilled what Moses promised them in the Old Testament. The Israeli public and politicians firmly believe that what is mentioned in the scriptures is their right — odd for a supposedly secular country and that too in 2024. It is a belief that is also supported by a considerable population of US citizens who are waiting for the second coming of Christ.
It is also clear that the Western powers (the EU, Nato, and the US) have supported Israel’s ambitions by providing it with military equipment, spare parts for military hardware, and/or financial assistance. They have also supported the American vetoes in the Security Council for a ceasefire in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
There are other takeaways too. During diplomatic initiatives, both in the UN and at press conferences, the Israelis never mentioned Palestine’s name. In a map presented before the UN, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, showed not only the Palestinian territories but also Lebanon, parts of Syria and Iraq, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia as a ‘new Middle East’.
The Israelis have been taught to see the Arabs as barbarians.
Large sections of the Western media justified Israel’s destruction of Gaza, saying that this was being done for Israel’s right to exist. Many journalists, who reported otherwise or showed pro-Palestinian leanings, were sacked or coerced into changing their stories. It was only after millions of citizens around the world (including in the West) demonstrated against the war in favour of the Palestinians that media reporting underwent a change.
In addition, Al Jazeera fought a media war against Western propaganda and since it told the truth with images, it emerged as the most watched and believed media on the subject.
Reporting changed when schools and hospitals were destroyed, children were murdered, and food and water were denied to the Gazans, and when homelessness and repeated relocation were forced on the victims of bombardment and the truth could no longer be wished away. As a result, some countries recognised the state of Palestine. This has been considered a victory but Israel has continued bombing and murdering the citizens of Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon.
The Israelis have been taught to consider the Arabs as barbarians and cowards, incapable of protecting themselves. However, the Oct 7 event demonstrated that the Arabs could fight back effectively. The event humiliated the Israelis and much of the ferocity of the Israeli response was the result of being insulted. The Arab response also led to an interest in Arab history and culture in the West. It showed the West that the Arabs had a great history, beautiful music and dance, literature, and that above all, they were a highly educated society and had outstanding people in the social and physical sciences. And then they were almost white, many with light eyes!
One of the aims of the Israelis was to obliterate these out-standing people and the educational and health institutions where they were trained. In Gaza, they have succeeded in doing this to a great extent.
A very disturbing development (apart from the genocide) in this conflict is that there is nothing left of international law and its institutions. Policy and election results in the US that has veto powers within the Security Council are also governed by what is known as the ‘Jewish lobby, which controls much of corporate sector investments both globally and in the US.
In addition, it finances prospective and serving Congressmen by supporting their election through huge bribes.
The result is that the US Congress is not only pro-Israel, but also responsible for framing US foreign policy and domestic legislation. US military aid to Israel amounts to roughly $3 billion per year.
Given these figures, it is obvious that the US is subservient to Israel and in light of the present electoral trends will remain so in the foreseeable future. So it will be a long war with the Muslim world, which is torn between ‘pragmatism’ and the pressure exerted for an anti-US policy by its own citizens.
The writer is an architect.
arifhasan37@gmail.com
www.arifhasan.org
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024
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