PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED: Extremely disturbing and graphic images tell the real story of the Israeli attack on Gaza.
(SALEM, Ore.) - The damage Israel inflicted on the civilian population of Gaza is the subject of this special video report. The images are extremely graphic and parental discretion is strongly advised.
But people should watch it, and see the images of destruction and even massacred children. The sentiment has been strong in the U.S. that Israel has been simply defending itself from Hamas rocket and mortar attacks and while that is a serious problem, the Israeli reaction seems highly disproportionate.
The video is actually a special music video report, featuring the music of two artists; Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, who sings "Call to Prayer" as the first musical piece, and "Angel of War" as the third and final song.
The second song, Michael Heart's "We will not go down" (Song for Gaza) is a mournful outcry for the dead and injured people of this historic city. My connection for these images is a political activist who prefers to go by the name "xexon". This individual contacted Salem-News.com to advise us of a growing movement to boycott Israeli goods in an effort to show solidarity for the people of Gaza.
"I'm calling for a complete boycott and embago of anything Israel exports. Dead Sea cosmetics to college professors. I'm also calling for an end to US aid to Israel. Cut off their allowance, watch Israel have a moment of clarity. Israel has often called for such measures against countries like Iran. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, yes?"
Like so many others, xexon charges that Israel ignores world opinion because "they think they are above the rest of us".
"It's time to squeeze the Israeli people themselves, because in a democracy, the people are the government. If the goverment is a loose cannon, it's up to the people to set the problems straight. We certainly are guilty of this ourselves here in the United States."
The boycott movement from all accounts is non violent. The movement seems larger in the UK than in the US.
Activists like xexon say that is also important to remember that not all Israeli's and certainly not all Jewish people, support the military aggression against the people of Gaza.
"Many Jews have no love of Israel or zionism They need our support because they need to be the ones that fix this problem, not people from outside Judaism. Maybe empty store shelves in Israel will send the message better than what we've been trying? Boycott Israel. Don't you dare let this issue cool off. You ought to be out in the streets waving your fist around over this," xexon said.
A central point in this story that we reported in late December, is that Israel raided Gaza in early November, officially violating the fragile truce protecting the people of Gaza. (see my article: Israel Drew First Blood Against Hamas)
Like so many other advocates for Palestine, xexon stresses that zionism has nothing to do with Judaism.
"I'm talking about a Jewish supremacist movement that started just over a 100 years ago. It's a political force. It uses Judaism as a host body for it to move around in. This ideology is so racist, it could never stand on it's own. So it hides behind the Jews. Modern Israel was founded by these hatemongers. In the aftermath of WWII, It was thought a good idea to give Jews a homeland to call their own. The newly formed UN, ignorant then and now, agreed. The world has paid for it ever since."
The problem with this, xexon reasons, is that Jews are not a "people" or race.
"Jews are followers of a religion, and that's where it ends. They're no different than Catholics or Mormons. Okay? We should not be in the business of creating and sustaining religious states. They ALWAYS turn out badly."
So far that may be the case. Israel has lost less than 13 soldiers in the attack on Gaza and the Hamas rocket attacks combined, and 4 of the soldiers died in friendly fire incidents. More than 1300 people in Gaza have been killed, and approximately 5,450 injured.
Americans have shared the bill for the destruction of Gaza, xexon says.
"When you look at your next pay stub, wondering where all the deductions go, you need to consider that Israel got a cent or two of it. They're using OUR money to kill people who have never done any of us any wrong. That slaughter in Gaza? YOU paid for it. Mark my words, we're gonna pay for it too. We're party to a genocide."
The final point that ties all of this together, is that the hatred toward "our freedom" that George W. Bush so frequently talked about, was never the point of even some of the most radical Islamic militants.
"Ever wonder why we have terrorists in our hair these days? Believe me, they don't hate us for our freedoms. They hate us for what we're funding. They hate us for the way we block UN injunctions against Israel. They hate us for turning a blind eye to Israel's intention to reshape the Middle East in their image. The Iraq war, the Afghan war, both are part of this process."
You can check Google for many links to sites about boycotting Israel.
Here is a pro-boycott site: Boycott Israel to end the Military Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
Here is a site against the boycott: Boycott Israel?
This is the site for Michael Heart's: SONG FOR GAZA "We will not go down"
Here is site for Yusuf Islam: yusufislam.com
Google was not reliable as a video hosting provider -
Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. Tim majored in journalism at California's Cuesta College. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor.Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 in Afghanistan with Oregon troops. Tim recently returned from Iraq where he covered the war there while embedded with an Oregon Guard aviation unit. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators.You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
The Real Images of GazaSalem-News.com