Isn't it time for America to re-evaluate its "special relationship" with Israel?

1. Introduction: A call for the normalisation of relations.

A mere eleven minutes after Israel declared its independence in 1948, US President Harry Truman recognised the newly created state.  That instantaneous public support has never really wavered and ever since then the two countries have shared a "special relationship", one that is unlike any other. America has stood by Israel through thick and thin; right or wrong; supporting it on all fronts: financially, politically, diplomatically and militarily. However, many observers have for a long time now believed that this has become a toxic association, whereby America's entrenched and unwavering support for Israel is actually doing the United States more harm than good. In 2003 the European Commission conducted a poll across Europe in which 59% of those interviewed said they felt that Israel, America's staunchest ally, was in fact the greatest threat to world peace.

“In Conversation with John Ging” Head of UNWRA 
By
Dr Hanan Chehata
Press Officer, Middle East Monitor, London

This morning (November 30th) John Ging, the Head of the United Nation’s Relief and Works Agency (), hosted a discussion on the current crisis in the Gaza Strip. The closed seminar, which was co-hosted and organised by Oliver McTernan, Director of Forward Thinking and Dr Daud Abdullah Director of the Middle East Monitor, was attended by a small group of prominent individuals with a deep interest and commitment to the situation in the region. Those in attendance included Clare Short (MP), Jeremy Bowen (BBC), a representative of the Malaysian High Commissioner, a representative from Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP), Interpal, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and several members of the press.

The main focus of the discussion was the siege on Gaza and what needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the 1.4 million Gazans trapped in the region.

Policy makers must go to Gaza and see the situation for themselves

John Ging started by giving an overview of the situation in Gaza. According to Ging, one of the main problems at the moment is simply that “the truth is not getting out.” What is happening on the ground is not being reported widely enough or accurately enough. Throughout the meeting one of Ging’s main action points was to suggest that people, particularly high profile policy makers, go to Gaza to see the situation for themselves. He stood firm by his conviction that if members of Parliament and Congress and governments around the world could see first hand what was going on in Gaza, they would be forced to implement a change in their policies in the region. “I am convinced that they will be compelled to do more if they see the situation for themselves”, he stated. It is not enough to just sit around a Foreign Ministry table and discuss the situation. The Ministers must first go out and see the situation with their own eyes and then go back and have their meeting, he argued. This is particularly important in the case of EU member states, he said and for the members of the Quartet.

International Palestine Solidarity Day marked with an urgent call for the international community to stop aiding and abetting Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people

By
Dr Hanan Chehata
Press Officer, Middle East Monitor, London

To mark this year's UN's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on Tuesday 24th hosted a meeting in the House of Commons on the subject of the implementation of the Goldstone Report, bringing Israeli War Criminals to justice and ending the siege on Gaza.

One common theme which underpinned the presentation of the speakers was that there was an urgent need to find some way of mobilising and maximising global support for the Palestinian cause.  Among the ideas discussed were legal, political and grassroots level strategies including the vital step of politically promoting international support for the Goldstone Report, preparing the path for the implementation of Universal Jurisdiction against Israeli War Criminals, being realistic and upfront about the vocabulary used in the debate on Palestine, mobilising support of members of the public and many others.

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By
Dr Hanan Chehata
Press Officer, Middle East Monitor, London

Background

The Gaza conflict may have only lasted 22 days but its impact was one that has had far reaching consequences around the world. Not only did it lead to the ground-breaking Goldstone Report, hailed by many as the first real international attempt to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the region, but it also inflamed passionate public emotions and discourse across the globe. A rash of protests, marches, rallies and demonstrations against the Israeli aggression could be found in countries from Spain to America, and London was no exception. Within hours of the first Israeli air strikes against the civilian Gazan population, anti-war groups and other interested parties had arranged what was to be the first of many demonstrations, vigils and protests.

Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Arabs and non-Arabs, took to the streets to voice their horror and united opposition to the Israeli bombardment of the most populated region in the world.

However, many young protesters are now beginning to pay the price for their opposition to that conflict. Yesterday and today, 29th and 30th October 2009, many of those who took part in the London demonstrations were hauled before the West London Magistrates Court in Hammersmith. This included demonstrators who protested in the events on Sunday 28th December and Monday 29th December, both outside the Israeli embassy as well as the 3rd and 10th January.