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BUZZ OF THE ORIENT

"The truth is on the march and nothing shall stop it." (Emile Zola)
Articles Posted: 66  Links Seeded: 290
Member Since: 10/2008  Last Seen: 2/23/2012

World Jewish Congress - Jewish parliamentarians' group appalled by brutal attack on human rights activist in Gaza

Seeded on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:27 AM EST
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January 23rd 2012

"The chairwoman of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians, Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein, has expressed solidarity with Mahmoud Abu Rahma, a human and civil rights activist who has been recently stabbed in the Gaza Strip, as reported by the Gaza-based NGO Al-Mazan which  employs Abu Rahma. The attack is allegedly connected to the release of an article written by him last December in which he had sharply criticized Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza for repeated human and civil rights violations, banning the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly and the use of torture and illegal detentions, which resulted in the death of several individuals. He was stabbed repeatedly in the leg, shoulders and back after leaving his brother’s house in Gaza City."

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Buzz of the Orient

Hamas method of censorship.

  • 9 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:28 AM EST
Squidward

Yep. HRW report that was just published on Israel and the OPT talks about Hamas' human rights violations. Eventually, there will be an Arab Spring-like movement in Gaza. At least that is my hope.

  • 7 votes
#1.1 - Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:09 AM EST
Buzz of the Orient

I'm with you on that Squidward.

  • 7 votes
#1.2 - Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:29 AM EST
pjwbur

I hope you're right, too, Squidward.

  • 6 votes
#1.3 - Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:19 PM EST
nonStitiousZealot

Eventually, there will be an Arab Spring-like movement in Gaza. At least that is my hope.

As much as I would like to see that happen , I have my doubts . Hamas can't be removed by the removal of a single man as happened in each of the Arab spring countries .

  • 5 votes
#1.4 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:59 AM EST
Buzz of the Orient

But it seems that the leader is removing himself, so it will be interesting to see what comes of that.

  • 6 votes
#1.5 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:51 AM EST
Squidward

But it seems that the leader is removing himself, so it will be interesting to see what comes of that.

Sad thing is that he's stepping down most likely because he said Hamas was only going to start using popular resistance methods and moving away from armed "resistance".

Apparently that was a controversial statement.

  • 7 votes
#1.6 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:20 PM EST
Buzz of the Orient

"Sad thing", Squidward? So are you saying you're in favour of violence rather than peacemaking?

  • 3 votes
#1.7 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:46 PM EST
Buzz of the Orient

Sorry, I timed out before I could finish what I was trying to say. Hopefully, what you are saying is that it's a sad thing that there were pressures on him to keep up the violence, which he didn't agree with, and you're sad that he left because of those negative pressures when what he really wanted to do was have Hamas become non-violent.

  • 4 votes
#1.8 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:55 PM EST
Squidward

"Sad thing", Squidward? So are you saying you're in favour of violence rather than peacemaking?

Quite the contrary Buzz.

I should have elaborated so I apologize for my ambiguity.

It's sad that when a Hamas leader has the opportunity to adopt an acceptable strategy, he gets internal pressure to step down.

I could be exaggerating the effect of the pressure because I've read that, technically, Hamas leaders have to step down after two consecutive terms as leader of the group. I've read that his second consecutive term is nearing its end.

But to be completely clear, I believe in the right of self-defense (for everybody, both Israelis and Palestinians) and I believe that the best form of resistance and revolt is in the non-violent form. I believe the non-violent form is historically more effective, anyhow.

  • 6 votes
#1.9 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:00 PM EST
Buzz of the Orient

Yeah, Squidward, as I said I hoped you did not mean what I said in #1.7, but did hope you meant what I sais in #1.8. In fact you meant the latter rather than the former as I had hoped.

Does the end of an elected term mean more to Hamas than it does to Fatah? I see that Abbas is still there.

I believe the non-violent form is historically more effective, anyhow.

It worked for Ghandi and MLK, as examples.

  • 4 votes
#1.10 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:10 PM EST
Squidward

Does the end of an elected term mean more to Hamas than it does to Fatah? I see that Abbas is still there.

Maybe. It's hard to tell. It seems that the PA is happy with Abbas. Democracy seems to be easier among elitist groups. That would be great if it didn't keep the majority of the people out.

  • 5 votes
#1.11 - Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:54 PM EST
krishna-167929

Democracy seems to be easier among elitist groups. That would be great if it didn't keep the majority of the people out.

Actually, true democracy includes everyone!

  • 2 votes
#1.12 - Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:56 PM EST
Squidward

Actually, true democracy includes everyone!

That's exactly my point. It seems that the political groups run their affairs democratically, but don't apply the same principal to their constituents.

  • 4 votes
#1.13 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:22 AM EST
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