Count the DEAD Count the VOTES

The carnage in Gaza was driven by hardliners to win the popular vote in the coming elections in Israel

Harsh Dobhal Delhi, Hardnews

It was the flesh and blood of Palestinians at stake yet again. This time Israel struck in exceptional hurry, with precise, prompt and prolonged strikes, attributing its actions to ‘provocation' from Hamas -firing Qassam rockets into Israel.' The truth is that these rockets impacted a dot on the map compared to the brutal military death machine unleashed by the cynical hardliners in Tel Aviv for three relentless weeks. Indeed, Israel appeared to be rushing desperately fast in its deadly offensive as if running out of time to finish the job days before next month's general elections, as also just in time for Barack Obama's arrival at the Oval Office. As if it was trying to set the tone for the terms of endearment under the new president. Is Israel afraid that the new American dispensation could deviate from the unquestioning support Washington has provided to the Jewish State in the past 60 years - despite the heinous and relentless crimes committed against the Palestinians?

In this extremely disproportionate war, Israel is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry - satellite technology, modern tanks, warplanes, air force, navy. Compared to this, Hamas had almost nothing. As Israel attacked with utmost fury, it garnered tacit international support and managed to silence the global media while attacking even UN buildings. The UNRWA (United Nations Relief Work Agency) building was not spared and UN-run schools were targeted where people and children had gone to seek shelter from the Israeli death machines. As in Lebanon in 2006, in sheer disregard of international law, Israel once again made it clear that it does not want UN bodies to be anywhere near what Tel Aviv perceives to be its target areas.

Now that the senseless attacks have been halted ‘temporarily' and an unstable, fragile ceasefire is in place, let us look at the political landscape that formed the backdrop for this offensive. This includes stated political goals of Israel, its hidden agenda, what has been achieved/lost on the ground and how the post-war political reality has changed in this land of infinite conflict.

‘Operation Cast Lead,' as Israel called the carnage, had been meticulously planned for months and the US, European Union and some Arab countries were aware; they provided silent encouragement. Nothing substantial was done by the international community. Many international organisations termed these attacks as war crimes, but not a word of real condemnation or denunciation from any western leader or institution was expressed.

Even a big chunk of the academia remained tight-lipped. As Israeli Professor Neve Gordon said, not one of the 450 presidents of American colleges and universities - who prominently denounced an effort by British academics to boycott Israeli universities in September 2007 - raised their voice in opposition to Israel's bombardment of the Islamic University of Gaza. The world has witnessed unprecedented and shameful global silence on crimes of such magnitude. 

The foremost goal of Israel is what it calls achieving a ‘stable cease-fire' by preventing arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip. The logic is that the Israeli army would damage Hamas' military capability, stop rocket attacks into Israel, and consequently remove Hamas from government. Also, ever since Hamas democratically won the Gaza elections in 2006, Israel has wanted to reinstall PLO's (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) Mahmoud Abbas.