Israel apologizes for calling Brazil 'diplomatic dwarf'

Yahoo – AFP, 12 Aug 2014

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin gestures during a ceremony at the Knesset,

Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem on July 24, 2014. (Photo by Ronen Zyulun)

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin apologized to his Brazilian counterpart for a remark by a foreign ministry spokesman calling the Latin American powerhouse a "diplomatic dwarf."

The comment in July was made by spokesman Yigal Palmor after Brazil criticized Israel's military campaign in Gaza as excessive and recalled its envoy in Tel Aviv.

In a phone call Monday, Rivlin assured Brazil President Dilma Rousseff that Palmor's comments "do not correspond to the sentiments of the population" of Israel, Rousseff's office said in a statement.

Rousseff had criticized Palmor's remarks, saying "Words, including the spokesman's, sometimes create a very bad climate. In this case, we have to be very careful."

In the phone call, her office said, Rousseff "condemned the attacks on Israel" by Hamas, and "reiterated Brazil's historic position ... defending the co-existence between Israel and Palestine as sovereign, economically viable and, above all, safe states."

Israel and Hamas Monday started a new 72-hour ceasefire, as negotiators in Egypt worked to seek a permanent end to hostilities.

Rousseff "expressed hope for the continuation of the ceasefire and the current negotiations," the statement said.

More than a month of bloody fighting in and around Gaza has killed at least 1,940 Palestinians and 67 people on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers.

Related Article:

Latin America turns against Israel on Gaza

Latin America turns against Israel on Gaza

Throughout Latin America, criticism of Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip is on the rise. Nations with a colonial history of their own regard Israel as an occupying power.

Deutsche Welle, 7 Aug 2014

In Latin America, Brazil is on the forefront of politics critical of Israel.

After Brazil recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations in July, several other countries in the region quickly followed suit: Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

"Almost all countries in Latin America follow Brazil's position," says Salem Hikmat Nasser, an expert on international law at Brazil's:link:http://portal.fgv.br/en# Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) University.# "They see the war in Gaza as the Palestinians' national struggle toward liberation in the face of a colonial occupying power."

Latin America's own colonial history is a common denominator in the region's critical attitude toward Israel. At the Mercosur summit last month in Caracas, the presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay urgently demanded an "investigation of all violations of international humanitarian law and crimes in the Gaza Strip, and the identification of those responsible."

Appeal to Security Council

Following the second bombing of UN quarters in Gaza, Argentina, too, reacted. "Buenos Aires regards the Israeli military attacks on a United Nations school to be a criminal act that must be investigated in order to bring those responsible to court," a Foreign Ministry statement said on August 3, adding that the Security Council must intervene.

Mercosur leaders condemned the Israeli offensive in Gaza

Brazil's increasingly critical position toward Israel is the result of a change of tack in foreign policy strategies during Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's presidency. Contrary to previous Israel-friendly Brazilian governments, Lula da Silva focused on closer political ties to the Arab world during his 2003- 2010 term.

On December 1, 2010 Brazil officially recognized Palestine as a state. Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Uruguay quickly followed suit, long after Cuba, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic had already taken similar steps.

"Brazil always signaled a special bond with Israel, and it didn't want to violate the country's interests," Nasser says, arguing that this position changed under President Lula. His successor Dilma Rousseff continued Lula's course. Last month, Brazil supported a resolution critical of Israel by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

"Diplomatic dwarf"

Brazil's Foreign Ministry also condemned "Israel's disproportionate use of violence in the Gaza Strip," and summoned the Israeli ambassador in the capital Brasilia. At the same time, Brazil's ambassador to Israel was recalled for consultations. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor subsequently referred to Brazil as a "diplomatic dwarf," and dismissed Brazilian diplomacy as simply "irrelevant."

Brazilian sociologist Demetrio Magnoli of Sao Paulo University is one of the few who agree with the critical voices from Israel. "Brazil turned into a diplomatic dwarf when Lula introduced his new foreign policies 11 years ago," the well-known critic and foreign policy expert told the national media.

For ex-President Lula, the ideological interests of Brazil's PT Workers' Party came first. As a result, Brazilian foreign policies were not consistent, Magnoli argues, pointing out that the government "remained silent in the face of human rights abuse in Cuba, Venezuela and Russia, but criticized the disproportionate use of violence in Gaza."

Technology "Made in Israel"

Despite the current political ice age between Israel and South America, trade ties are strong thanks to the Mercosur bloc's freed trade agreement with Israel. Trade between Brazil and Israel in particular is on the rise. From 2003 to 2013, exports to Israel increased from $187 million (139.9 million euros) to $454 million annually, the Brazilian Trade Ministry reports.

At the same time, imports from Israel increased from $318 million to $1.1 billion. Brazil mainly exports food to Israel, and mainly imports technology and military goods.

Be that as it may, Israel has lost the battle for the Latin American public's favorable opinion, Salem Nasser says. "It's time for Brazil to take a stronger stance, even if the Jewish community in the country is well-organized," he says. "Brazil is anything but a diplomatic dwarf." 

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Israel apologizes for calling Brazil 'diplomatic dwarf' - New

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Bolivia’s Evo Morales Calls Israel a “Terrorist State,” Israel Loses Support in Latin America

"The Evolution of Belief" - July 26, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - New (>26 Min - reference to the current conflicts in the Middle East)

Bolivia’s Evo Morales Calls Israel a “Terrorist State,” Israel Loses Support in Latin America

Latin Post, Rodrigo Ugarte, Aug 01, 2014

The Andean nation has terminated its visa agreement with Israel, requiring
Israelis to apply for visas to enter Bolivia. (Photo : telesurenglish/Twitter)

The conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel has crossed the ocean and reached Latin America, leading to countries in the region to pick sides. Bolivia is the latest in the Western Hemisphere to oppose Israeli violence in Gaza in a wave of opposition against Israel in the region.

Bolivia's Socialist president, Evo Morales, denounced Israel's violence against civilians in Gaza, enacting new travelling sanctions against Israelis, according to the Bolivian newspaper La Razon.

"Israel is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life and of basic rights governing the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community," Morales said in the city of Cochabamba, following a decision by his cabinet of ministers.

Morales also labeled Israel as a "terrorist state," depriving Israelis of the easy entry granted by a 1972 law. Morales, according to La Razon, argued that the law is invalid because it was implemented during the dictatorship of Hugo Banzer.

Aside from Bolivia, five other Latin American nations have criticized Israel's actions and have recalled their envoys, according to the Buenos Aires Herald. Along with these is also the economic trade bloc Mercosur, comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela and Paraguay. All but Paraguay signed a communiqué decrying the "disproportionate use of force" by Israel and calling for a cease-fire.

Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and El Salvador have all recalled their ambassadors, according to the Wall Street Journal, which does not have much clout in the larger scheme of things. However, some of these countries do not have leftist governments that oppose U.S. policy but are centrist governments enjoying good relations with Washington, showing the extent of animosity against Israel.

Following the actions of Chile, Peru and El Salvador, Israel's Foreign Minister Yigal Palmor expressed his displeasure with the Latin American nations' decisions, saying they encourage Hamas, according to Haaretz.

"Israel expresses its deep disappointment with the hasty decision of the governments of El Salvador, Peru and Chile to recall their ambassadors for consultations," Palmor said. "This step constitutes encouragement for Hamas, a group recognized as a terror organization by many countries around the world."

Berlin prayer house unites Jews, Christians, Muslims

Yahoo - AFP, Frederic Happe, 8 June 2014

(From L) Pastor Gregor Hohberg, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin and Imam Kadir

 Sanci hold three bricks as they pose for photographers in the vacant lot where

 they hope to build a multifaith prayer building, in Berlin June 3, 2014. (Photo:

John MacDougall)

Christians, Muslims and Jews, all praying under the same roof -- that's the groundbreaking project of a pastor, a rabbi and an imam in Berlin.

Still a sand-strewn vacant construction site, St Peter's Square in the centre of the German capital will -- God willing -- by 2018 host a building that's so unusual it doesn't have an official term.

Not a church, nor a synagogue, or a mosque as such, but a bit of all three, the centre known currently as a "House of Prayer and Learning" will be unlike any other religious venue in the world, its initiators say.

The aim of the 44-million-euro ($60-million) project, whose fundraising kicked off Tuesday but has been several years in the making, is not only to show the importance of multi-faith dialogue but to mirror multi-cultural Berlin.

"It seemed to us that there was a very strong desire for the peaceful coming together of the religions," said Roland Stolte, one of two Protestant representatives on the board of the association behind the project.

Not by coincidence, it will stand at a location with a strong and long religious significance.

In 2007 archaeological excavations unearthed the foundations of four previous St Peter's churches that had stood on the site at different periods since the Middle Ages, Stolte told AFP in an interview.

The last one, which had a striking 100-metre-tall (328-foot) steeple and dated from the mid-19th century, was damaged in World War II and later demolished by the former East German communist state in the early 1960s.

A car park then occupied the site which the city authorities later handed back to the local Protestant community.

"We wanted to revive this place, not by building a church again but by constructing a place that says something about the life of religions today in Berlin," Stolte said.

Nearly 19 percent of Berlin's 3.4 million residents described themselves as Protestant, according to 2010 official data.

Some 8.1 percent said they were Muslim and 0.9 percent Jewish, while more than 60 percent said they did not adhere to any religion.

'Be patient'

Pastor Gregor Hohberg said it had been crucial to also get the centre's Jewish and Muslim partners involved right from the start, well before work got underway on building it.

"From the beginning we wanted it to be an inter-religious project, not a place built by Christians in which Jews and Muslims would then be added," he said.

Imam Kadir Sanci, who's of Turkish origin, told AFP that a Catholic-Protestant church in western Germany had inspired him to dream that such a centre could be possible .

"When I was doing my Muslim theology studies in Frankfurt, I had seen in the neighbouring town of Darmstadt, a Catholic church and a Protestant church under the same roof," he said.

"I said to the priest it would be great to one day have a shared place with Muslims. But the priest told me 'be patient, it took us 600-plus years'," the imam said.

An illustration of German architect Wilfried Kuehn's design for the House of

 Prayer and Learning project, a multifaith prayer building in Berlin June 3, 2014.

(Photo: John MacDougall)

Architect Wilfried Kuehn, whose design for the new building was chosen in 2011 from around 200 entries in a competition, said it had posed many challenges that spanned architecture and theology.

"It was a challenge to try to combine the differences and the universal aspects. It was a question of not mixing the religions while ensuring mutual recognition," he said.

Each of the three religions will have its own equal-sized prayer space, all on the same floor, with each leading out to a common room where the congregations will be able to mix and chat.

Hohberg said that after much consideration, they had decided against a common prayer room "because that risked putting off more people than it would have attracted".

"And we want also to address the more conservative believers, to show that inter-religious dialogue is not only possible but important," he said.

However, financing must still be found, and organisers have sought to keep even that aspect of the ambitious project firmly at the grassroots level.

A crowdfunding campaign via the website www.house-of-one.org was launched Tuesday to raise the 43.5 million euros needed.

Donors are, among other things, invited to buy a "brick" for 10 euros.

"We wanted for this project to be base-driven," Stolte said, adding that they had sought out local partners such as Berlin's Jewish community or the Muslim group Forum for Inter-Cultural Dialogue rather than involving higher religious echelons.

For this reason, an upper limit has been set on individual donations -- at one percent of the total, or 435,000 euros.

Also in the garden of the Vatican embraced Peres and Abbas together. (NOS/AFP)

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"Soul Journeying" - Mar, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version Part 1) - New

".... Will religion on the planet survive the new energy?

We have spoken in the past about the evolution of spiritual systems [religion] on the planet. We have discussed what to expect, and we have told you to look at how organized religion will shift. In fact, it's already happening - a very slow understanding that your systems simply reflect the concept of branches of the same tree, and they are not opposed to each other but simply different. We describe it again, for it shows how the collective soul plays a part in awareness.

The question has arisen, "Will religion survive?" and the answer is yes. We told you before that it doesn't matter how Humans find God. It really doesn't matter! There will be many levels of Human awareness represented by many ways to worship and grow. Cultures don't need to meld into one group to become enlightened. It's important that all of the various processes remain, so that Human Beings just starting out can go through whatever spiritual processes they wish and have enough time to honor their own timing of learning. The search for God is unique to each Human Being.

So what about organized religion? How is it going to change? It's going to start seeing connectivity, and this is what we teach. When the religions of this planet join together in dialogue and they eventually realize they are unique, but have much the same compassionate purpose, they will relax. When they see it's fine to worship the way they wish, yet at the same time acknowledge the others' right to worship the way they wish, wisdom will expand. You will see an expansion of this planet's spiritual awareness, with increased knowledge and understanding and compassion. But as long as they separate into groups, where each one claims to be "right" and they don't talk to each other, there can be no growth. But you knew that, didn't you?

Religion is not going to diminish or go away. In fact, it's going to get bigger! Look for better understanding between belief systems. When you see separation and radicalism, it will look alarming to you - yet it has been there all along. In the very new energy, it will start showing itself as being lower consciousness and not of God. Change is everywhere.

Isn't it interesting that on your planet, there is a full realization of a monotheistic God? There is one God, a theme expressed by most of the Humans on Earth. Most of the earth also believes there is an afterlife [something beyond death]. Yet you segment yourself into thousands of "doctrinal pieces", deciding who gets to worship the one God in the correct fashion. Those who do not somehow will be left behind. This attitude is what will change. It's about connectivity and compassion for another's process. .."

Foreign minister would have helped Vitesse over Mori's UAE ban

DutchNews.nl, Tuesday 07 January 2014

 Dan Mori (Nos/ANP)

Foreign minister Frans Timmermans would have gladly helped Arnhem football club Vitesse in its efforts to get an Israeli player permission to join the club’s winter training camp in Abu Dhabi, he said on Tuesday.

Speaking from Cuba, where he is on a three-day visit, Timmermans said: ‘if my help was asked for on time, I would have done what I could to make it possible for [Dan] Mori to travel.’

Vitesse was told the by the UAE on Saturday defender Mori was not welcome because of his Israeli passport. The club says it had been given earlier assurances Mori would be allowed in and decided not to call off the trip because it would interfere with the training.

Football association

The Dutch football association said on Monday that it wanted to keep out of politics, but on Tuesday issued a more strongly worded statement following criticism from politicians.

‘We are, of course, angry Mori was refused entry to the UAE because of his nationality,’ the statement said. ‘Football connects people from different lands, cultures and religions.’

The KNVB now plans to discuss further steps with Vitesse when the club returns to Arnhem, Nos televisions said. The club is unwilling to create too many waves while it remains in the UAE, the KNVB said.

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"THE BRIDGE OF SWORDS"– Sep  29, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version)

“… Let us talk about the swords: When you hear the word sword, the first thing that occurs to you is battle. The Bridge of Swords is a battle and we told you that as well. Swords are metaphoric and they mean many things, so let us describe the things we mean them to say to you.

Number one: They are indeed a weapon in a battle. There is a battle coming. "Kryon, does that mean there's going to be a war?" Potentially, yes. Right now we will tell you that the Middle East cooks itself. You've noticed, haven't you? What do you know about the Middle East, dear one? Let's start examining things for a moment. What energy did you grow up in? What was the energy of the Middle East? In the '40s, what was the energy? With the establishment of the state of Israel, you built a wall of hate, both sides. The wall was so thick that the children of both sides were taught to hate one another as soon as they were able to understand the language. They were told who their enemies were. Now, where were you then?

Some of you weren't here yet. By the time you arrived, in your youth, were you aware of the Middle East? Not particularly. "What's the hatred about?" you might ask. What if I told you it's about a family feud? Two sons of a Jewish master are involved. One founded the Arabs and one remained a Jew. They don't want to hear this, but they are all Jews. (Don't tell them this.)

If you look at the lineage, it's pretty obvious and yet it's a complete and total set-up for either solution or war. The set-up would have this world ending in a conflagration that would have been brought about by this hatred. That's in the prophecy of Nostradamus and your scripture, but it is no longer the prophecy of the planet. Yet the hatred still exists. The hatred is as great today as it was then, but where was all the terrorism 40 years ago? It was isolated.

Those in Israel and Palestine and surrounding areas took the brunt of it, but now it's seemingly everywhere - and you're worried. Why would this be? The answer is that the old energy was happy to have this hatred contained, for it would keep it going and never involve outsiders. Outsiders tend to bring unwanted light to the party. Suddenly, the whole earth is involved and can see the entire scenario before them. The old guard wants war, just like all the eons before them. The ones on the bridge are holding the light and showing the earth how to cross. Even many younger ones in Israel and Palestine and Iran are holding light! It's all around the old guard and they are furious, for they are losing the "battle of hatred." …”

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“ … Spirituality (Religions)

Number one: Spirituality. The systems of spiritual design on your planet are starting to change. This is not telling you that certain ones are going to go away. They're simply going to change. Some of the largest spiritual systems, which you would call organized religion on the planet, are shifting. They're going to shift away from that which is authority on the outside to authority on the inside. It will eventually be a different way of worship, slowly changing the rules while keeping the basic doctrine the same.

The doctrine of the Christ has always been to find the God inside. The teachings were clear. The examples of the miracles were given as an example of what humans could do, not to set a man up for worship as a God. So when that has been absorbed, the teaching of the Christ can remain the teaching of the Christ. It simply changes the interpretation. 

The teachings of the great prophets of the Middle East (all related to each other) are about unity and love. So once the holy words are redefined with new wisdom, the Human changes, not the words of the prophets. In fact, the prophets become even more divinely inspired and their wisdom becomes even more profound.

You're going to lose a pope soon. I have no clock. Soon to us can mean anything to you. The one who replaces him may surprise you, for his particular organization will be in survival mode at that point in time. That is to say that fewer and fewer are interested in starting the priesthood. Fewer and fewer young people are interested in the organization, and the new pope must make changes to keep his church alive. That means that his organization will remain, but with a more modern look at what truly is before all of you in a new energy. It is not the fall of the church. It is instead the recalibration of the divinity inside that would match the worship that goes on. It's a win-win situation. The new pope will have a difficult time, since the old guard will still be there. There could even be an assassination attempt, such is the way the old energy dies hard. That is number one. Watch for it. It's a change in the way spiritual systems work. It's a realignment of spiritual systems that resound to a stronger truth that is Human driven, rather than prophet driven.…”

"The End of History" – Nov 20, 2010 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll)

(Subjects: Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Muhammad, Jesus, God, Jews, Arabs, EU, US, Israel, Iran, Russia, Africa, South America, Global Unity,..... etc.) (Text version)

" ..... If an Arab and a Jew can look at one another and see the Akashic lineage and see the one family, there is hope. If they can see that their differences no longer require that they kill one another, then there is a beginning of a change in history. And that's what is happening now. All of humanity, no matter what the spiritual belief, has been guilty of falling into the historic trap of separating instead of unifying. Now it's starting to change. There's a shift happening. ....."

"... Taught to Hate From Birth

On this earth today, many who are born in Israel are taught from birth how to dislike and distrust all those around them. At this time in history on this earth, those around them from birth are taught how to hate the Jews. Carefully taught, they are. Against all odds, they are proud of this separation because it is the lineage of their ancestors that is at stake, and they want to follow historic protocol. They want to stay separate. Yet I want to tell you that's what is changing. Oh, it's really changing! It's changing in the places you don't expect. It's changing in Jerusalem. It's changing in Iran. And the children are waking up and saying, "Tell me again why I should hate them? They did what, when? That wasn't them. It was their ancestors. The ones here now are current and didn't participate in history. Tell me again, because I don't feel it."

The parents are shaking their heads, and saying, "Do as we say, for tradition and history tells us that they are our enemy and always will be." And the children are saying, "No. I am not going to do this, and neither are those around me." This is slowly making a difference on this planet and it is not being recorded. For your worldwide media has no idea what to do with this new energy and it doesn't seem to even be news to them. They are steeped in the old Human nature, where things that separate are news, and things that unify are not. Yet it is one of the greatest energies this planet is seeing today. I'm here to tell you it's real and it's happening under the hood, you might say. Oh, there are other things I'd like to report to you. ..."

Contrary to announcement, Israel PM not meeting pope

Google – AFP, 20 October 2013

This handout picture released on October 17, 2013 by the Vatican press office

 shows Pope Francis (R) speaking with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas during

a private audience (Osservatore Romano/AFP/File)

Jerusalem — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be meeting with Pope Francis in three days, a diplomatic source said Sunday, after the premier's office had previously said they would.

A statement from Netanyahu's office had said the premier would be "meeting Pope Francis next Wednesday at the Vatican" and with US Secretary of State John Kerry for updates on nuclear talks with Iran and negotiations with the Palestinians in Rome.

But a diplomatic source on Sunday told AFP no such meeting with Francis will be taking place, noting that audiences with the Pope must be arranged sufficiently in advance.

A spokesman for Netanyahu refused to comment on the matter.

This was to be Netanyahu's first meeting with Pope Francis. On Thursday, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas met with the pope and invited him to the Holy Land. Israeli President Shimon Peres also invited Francis during a visit earlier this year.

Francis has said he would like to travel to the Middle East, but the Vatican has not confirmed the trip, despite a report by Israel's Channel 2 television that it will take place in March.

Abbas is the fourth Middle East leader to have met Pope Francis after Peres, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and King Abdullah of Jordan.

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"THE RECALIBRATION OF BELIEF" – Aug 18, 2013 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll)

Guatemala recognizes Palestine as 'free, sovereign' state

The Daily Star - AFP, April 10, 2013

Handout picture shows the Human Rights Rapporteur of the United Nations,
Navi Pillay (L) and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina during a meeting
at the presidential palace in Guatemala City, on March 15, 2012. AFP
PHOTO/PRESIDENCIA DE GUATEMALA/HO

                              

GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemala has recognized Palestine as a sovereign state in the belief that this will help foster peace in the Middle East, the president's office announced Tuesday.

Guatemala "has decided to join the vast majority of Latin American and Caribbean countries and recognize the State of Palestine, as a free, sovereign and independent State," the statement said.

"This decision in no way alters Guatemala's long tradition of friendship and cooperation with the State of Israel, a relationship the Guatemalan Government highly values," the statement added.

Guatemala wants talks between "the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, backed by the international community, to gain new momentum," the statement added.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has ruled out any return to negotiations while Israel continues to build on land they want for a future state.

Nobel peace laureates call for Israel military boycott over Gaza assault

Letter with 52 signatories including artists and activists also denounces US and EU 'complicity' through weapons sales

guardian.co.uk, Chris McGreal in Jerusalem, Wednesday 28 November 2012

A man looks at the ruins of a Hamas police station destroyed by an Israeli
air strike in Gaza City. Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

A group of Nobel peace prize-winners, prominent artists and activists have issued a call for an international military boycott of Israel following its assault on the Gaza Strip this month.

The letter also denounces the US, EU and several developing countries for what it describes as their "complicity" through weapons sales and other military support in the attack that killed 160 Palestinians, many of them civilians, including about 35 children.

The 52 signatories include the Nobel peace laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel; the film directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach; the author Alice Walker; the US academic Noam Chomsky; Roger Waters of Pink Floyd; and Stéphane Hessel, a former French diplomat and Holocaust survivor who was co-author of the universal declaration of human rights.

"Horrified at the latest round of Israeli aggression against the 1.5 million Palestinians in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip and conscious of the impunity that has enabled this new chapter in Israel's decades-old violations of international law and Palestinian rights, we believe there is an urgent need for international action towards a mandatory, comprehensive military embargo against Israel," the letter says.

"Such a measure has been subject to several UN resolutions and is similar to the arms embargo imposed against apartheid South Africa in the past."

The letter accuses several countries of providing important military support that facilitated the assault on Gaza. "While the United States has been the largest sponsor of Israel, supplying billions of dollars of advanced military hardware every year, the role of the European Union must not go unnoticed, in particular its hefty subsidies to Israel's military complex through its research programmes.

"Similarly, the growing military ties between Israel and the emerging economies of Brazil, India and South Korea are unconscionable given their nominal support for Palestinian freedom," it says.

The letter opens with a quote from Nelson Mandela: "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

The other signatories include John Dugard, a South African jurist and former UN special rapporteur in the occupied territories; Luisa Morgantini, former president of the European parliament; Cynthia McKinney, a former member of the US Congress; Ronnie Kasrils, a South African former cabinet minister; and the dramatist Caryl Churchill.

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"THE BRIDGE OF SWORDS"– Sep  29, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Text version)

“… Let us talk about the swords: When you hear the word sword, the first thing that occurs to you is battle. The Bridge of Swords is a battle and we told you that as well. Swords are metaphoric and they mean many things, so let us describe the things we mean them to say to you.

Number one: They are indeed a weapon in a battle. There is a battle coming. "Kryon, does that mean there's going to be a war?" Potentially, yes. Right now we will tell you that the Middle East cooks itself. You've noticed, haven't you? What do you know about the Middle East, dear one? Let's start examining things for a moment. What energy did you grow up in? What was the energy of the Middle East? In the '40s, what was the energy? With the establishment of the state of Israel, you built a wall of hate, both sides. The wall was so thick that the children of both sides were taught to hate one another as soon as they were able to understand the language. They were told who their enemies were. Now, where were you then?

Some of you weren't here yet. By the time you arrived, in your youth, were you aware of the Middle East? Not particularly. "What's the hatred about?" you might ask. What if I told you it's about a family feud? Two sons of a Jewish master are involved. One founded the Arabs and one remained a Jew. They don't want to hear this, but they are all Jews. (Don't tell them this.)

If you look at the lineage, it's pretty obvious and yet it's a complete and total set-up for either solution or war. The set-up would have this world ending in a conflagration that would have been brought about by this hatred. That's in the prophecy of Nostradamus and your scripture, but it is no longer the prophecy of the planet. Yet the hatred still exists. The hatred is as great today as it was then, but where was all the terrorism 40 years ago? It was isolated.

Those in Israel and Palestine and surrounding areas took the brunt of it, but now it's seemingly everywhere - and you're worried. Why would this be? The answer is that the old energy was happy to have this hatred contained, for it would keep it going and never involve outsiders. Outsiders tend to bring unwanted light to the party. Suddenly, the whole earth is involved and can see the entire scenario before them. The old guard wants war, just like all the eons before them. The ones on the bridge are holding the light and showing the earth how to cross. Even many younger ones in Israel and Palestine and Iran are holding light! It's all around the old guard and they are furious, for they are losing the "battle of hatred." …”

(Religions – Zionism - March 1, 2012 - Matthew Channelled by Suzanne Ward)

9. It can be no other way—simply, this is the physics that governs life in this universe. As Earth continues apace into successively higher planes, nothing with low vibrations in any form—physical bodies, subversive plans, theft, dishonesty, unjust laws and imprisonment, bigotry, cruel customs and deeds—can survive.

10. Moving on, no, it will not be quite like religions being “totally discarded and replaced by universal laws in the Golden Age.” When the truths come forth that science and spirit are one and the same and that religious dogmas were originated by early leaders of church and state to control the masses, people whose consciousness has risen beyond the constraints of third density will adhere to the spiritual aspects of their respective religions and the devised, controlling aspects will fall by the wayside.

11. One of the truths to come forth is that Zionism, which by dark intent has been made synonymous with Judaism, actually is a bellicose political movement within the Illuminati, and its aim for more than six decades has been to create conflict and instability in the entire Middle East. Zionists, who have wielded powerful influence within and behind major governments and their military forces, do NOT represent the Jewish peoples in Israel or anywhere else. And, like all other Illuminati factions, they have been committed to that cabal’s goal of global domination.

12. Although Semites are of diverse national origins and religions, the Zionists have been successful in convincing many that “anti-Semitic” is exclusively prejudice against the Jewish peoples and opposition to Israel’s right to defend itself from its “enemies.” By means of that blatant distortion, they obtained not only world sympathy, but also massive defense funding from Israel’s allies, most especially the United States, all of which served to increase the Illuminati’s vast profits from their industrial-military machine.

13. In addition to controlling the masses through dogmatic teachings, religions have served the dark purpose of divisiveness to such an extent that it resulted in centuries of trauma and bloodshed. Witness the Crusades, wars between Catholics and Protestants, pogroms against Jews, executions of “blasphemous” individuals who refused to “recant.”  (Read More …)

S. American bloc condemns Gaza violence

The Daily Star, AFP, November 17, 2012

A Palestinian protester throws a stone at Israeli security forces during
 clashes against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, at Hawara
 checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus November 17, 2012.
REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

                             

BRASILIA: A major South American trading bloc condemned Saturday the "disproportionate use of force" in Gaza, calling on Israel and the Palestinians to immediately halt the violence that has claimed more than 40 lives.

MERCOSUR leaders expressed "their strongest condemnation of the violence taking place in Israel and Palestine," said a statement released by Brazil, which currently holds the group's rotating presidency.

They "profoundly lament the lost of human lives and express their concern over the disproportionate use of force," it added.

The statement also expressed support for the Palestinians' controversial bid to secure upgraded membership at the United Nations later this month, a move strongly opposed by Israel and the United States.

The trading bloc, whose members include Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as currently-suspended Paraguay, recognizes a Palestinian state and signed a free trade agreement with the Palestinian authority in December.

MERCOSUR also signed a free trade agreement with Israel in 2007.

Israeli air strikes in the neighboring Gaza Strip killed 10 people on Saturday and destroyed the headquarters of the Hamas government.

Since the conflict broke out on Wednesday, 40 Palestinians have been killed and a further 393 have been injured, according to Gaza's emergency services.

In the same period, three Israelis have been killed by rocket fire from Gaza and another 18 injured, 10 of them soldiers, police and the army said.

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US gives 'full backing' to Israel while urging de-escalation of Gaza violence

"THE BRIDGE OF SWORDS"– Sep  29, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Text version)

“… Let us talk about the swords: When you hear the word sword, the first thing that occurs to you is battle. The Bridge of Swords is a battle and we told you that as well. Swords are metaphoric and they mean many things, so let us describe the things we mean them to say to you.

Number one: They are indeed a weapon in a battle. There is a battle coming. "Kryon, does that mean there's going to be a war?" Potentially, yes. Right now we will tell you that the Middle East cooks itself. You've noticed, haven't you? What do you know about the Middle East, dear one? Let's start examining things for a moment. What energy did you grow up in? What was the energy of the Middle East? In the '40s, what was the energy? With the establishment of the state of Israel, you built a wall of hate, both sides. The wall was so thick that the children of both sides were taught to hate one another as soon as they were able to understand the language. They were told who their enemies were. Now, where were you then?

Some of you weren't here yet. By the time you arrived, in your youth, were you aware of the Middle East? Not particularly. "What's the hatred about?" you might ask. What if I told you it's about a family feud? Two sons of a Jewish master are involved. One founded the Arabs and one remained a Jew. They don't want to hear this, but they are all Jews. (Don't tell them this.)

If you look at the lineage, it's pretty obvious and yet it's a complete and total set-up for either solution or war. The set-up would have this world ending in a conflagration that would have been brought about by this hatred. That's in the prophecy of Nostradamus and your scripture, but it is no longer the prophecy of the planet. Yet the hatred still exists. The hatred is as great today as it was then, but where was all the terrorism 40 years ago? It was isolated.

Those in Israel and Palestine and surrounding areas took the brunt of it, but now it's seemingly everywhere - and you're worried. Why would this be? The answer is that the old energy was happy to have this hatred contained, for it would keep it going and never involve outsiders. Outsiders tend to bring unwanted light to the party. Suddenly, the whole earth is involved and can see the entire scenario before them. The old guard wants war, just like all the eons before them. The ones on the bridge are holding the light and showing the earth how to cross. Even many younger ones in Israel and Palestine and Iran are holding light! It's all around the old guard and they are furious, for they are losing the "battle of hatred."

Will there be a war? What is going on? You can feel it cooking, can't you? Some of you don't want to look at the news, for you're afraid of what tomorrow will bring. It's not even the end of the year yet! Will there be a battle?

Let me tell you, dear ones, right now as we speak to you there is the potential of a small war in the Middle East. You have been told that if there is any war at all in the Middle East, the whole world will join in, and you will not make it. I will tell you that that is an old paradigm, for if and when it happens, watch carefully who decides not to come to the war party. For there's a new consciousness brewing on this planet and I will tell you this: In all fairness, as we see the potentials before you in your future, it's not going to matter one way or another to the bridge if there is a battle or not.

What's eventually going to happen in Iran is going to be the same no matter what, and I will tell you why - because there is nobody to take the place of the old guard. They're not growing any, young ones! It's all the ancient ones with the hatred who are moving the chess pieces as though they are representing the whole of the nation, but they are not. There will come a time, perhaps one that is actually exacerbated by a war, that will create the revolution in that country. Overwhelmingly, they don't want war.

Ask an Israeli if they want still another war. They will say no, but they are afraid that their enemies will bring one to them. Who are their enemies and what is changing, dear ones? You think you know what's going on in Syria and Egypt and Libya? You think you do? Let me tell you there's a recalibration going on there of what they believe and who their enemies are. It's about what they want from their government. Let me tell you what all of them want eventually, and you may not see it for 20 years, but they want schools and hospitals. They want what you have in your stores, and they want the freedom to worship their prophet without a small group telling them the rules of how they should. They want to honor Muhammad in their own way and see the love of God in him as was designed by him. That's what's going on. That's the battle. The problem is that the old energy will fight this, for it will lose control if they get what they want.

There's a paradigm shift at hand and you're going to see it over there first, and it may not be pretty, so I want you to hang tight. Don't pull out what Nostradamus said at the last minute and say, "He was right." Nothing he said has manifested since 1987. Don't suddenly grasp the scriptures of Revelations and draw out all of those words that haven't been true for 30 years. Nothing has happened as they said it would. The only thing that rings true there is that there are still problems in the Middle East.

All of those prophecy quatrains have fallen on the floor and didn't come true. The timing is not right for them to happen now. Take a look. Oh, there are still those who say, "It's happening, it's happening, it's happening!" For they are invested in fear and control. Some of them actually want it to happen, and they believe the culmination will be in the rapture of going home to God. I want to tell you, dear ones, you're all going home! But home is across the bridge to an earth without war. That's the bridge. Old energy dies hard.…”

Israel Army, Mossad 'halted Iran attack alert' from Netanyahu, Barak