Recent Hamas/Israel hostilities

Submitted by Alexander Ziggy (Australia), Dec 19, 2012 at 15:03

I am an Australian and watched in horror how Australia abstained from voting on the Palestinian observer status seat at the UN. I believe there were two things in play here at the same time. Firstly, the USA permitting the vote to go ahead in the first place - this is a clear move on the part of President Obama to show his contempt for Israel.

Secondly, Hamas created and escalated the hostilities, knowing full well that Israel would respond with full force, which Israel did do but stopped short of crossing the border into Israel following its call up of up to 70,000 reservists. On this point, I believe Hamas put Egypt into the spotlight by making it 'the mediator'. This was a trap for Israel. And even the USA got caught in the trap when Hillary Clinton congratulated Egypt for their work after which, President Morsi - created a de facto mandate to alter the constitution regarding his absolute powers whilst America 'helplessly' watched on. But that was not the end game in this stage of the Hamas deception.

By getting Observer Status at the United Nations, the Palestinian Authority now has what it really wants - access to the provisions of the Rome Statute 2009 - yep, you got it - The International Criminal Court. This is what they were after and they will use the ICC to haul Israel into that court and seek charges for genocide and occupation. Both of these 'offences' are well able to be heard and Israel would be under intense pressure to not only withhold its defensive actions but maybe even give up more 'land for peace' which is the main thing the PA is after.

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