Europe’s Israel-Palestine Policy – In Diplomats’ Own Words

European diplomats interviewed by the International Crisis Group frankly summarised Europe's Israel-Palestine policy as comprising five main planks: 1. Pretend to support a two-state solution while consciously making it impossible ‘European officials do realise that their policy is tantamount to accepting the further decline of the two-state solution’s feasibility ... A senior diplomat explained, “The settlements are expanding regardless of what government…

TRAPPED

The International Crisis Group’s depressing new report confirms that without a fundamental shake-up, either from regional shifts or the emergence of a broad-based popular movement in the occupied territories, things are hopeless for Gaza and for Palestine. The ICG argues that Israel and Hamas share an interest in stabilising Gaza, since neither at present want…

NEVER FORGET

[The] rules of engagement were pretty easy-going – I was shocked when I first heard them. [The] instruction was: ‘Anyone you identify in the area – you shoot’. * In Gaza, 551 children were killed, and 3,436 were injured, of whom 10% suffered permanent disability as a result. * 12,620 housing units were totally destroyed…

Khuza’a

  A sample, per Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, of what Israeli forces did in Khuza'a last summer: On 17 July, Israel sent mass SMS messages to residents to evacuate the town. Many left; others could not or chose not to, having heard of the terrible, overcrowded conditions that awaited them. Some left and returned…