Latest news with #Olmert
Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Genocide in Gaza: Does rise in internal opposition reflect internal rift in official Israeli narrative?
Gaza - Saba: In light of the absurd results of the ongoing war, its failure to recover the prisoners, and the Israeli enemy's military victory over the Palestinian resistance, criticism of the enemy government has intensified, particularly among the Israeli political and military elites, who have described it as a "criminal gang," and that its actions in the Gaza Strip constitute genocide and war crimes. One of the leaders who issued strongly worded statements against the ongoing massacres of Palestinian civilians in Gaza was former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who considered what "Israel" is currently doing in Gaza to be close to a war crime. In an interview with the BBC, Olmert emphasized that this is a war without a purpose and without any chance of achieving anything that could save the lives of the prisoners. Olmert pointed out that the clear picture of the war is the killing of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians and many soldiers. This precise description by Olmert was also echoed by the head of the Democratic Party and former Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General (Reserve) Yair Golan, who asserted in an interview with the Israeli radio station Kan that the occupation government is killing children in the Gaza Strip as a "hobby," adding that it poses a threat to Israel's existence. He emphasized that a "normal state" does not wage war against civilians, does not kill children as a hobby, and does not set itself the goal of displacing a population. Golan explained that the current government is filled with people possessed by feelings of revenge and lacking morals, it is incapable of acting and poses a threat to Israel's existence. Similarly, former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon asserted that the killing in Gaza is a policy pursued by the current Israeli government, aimed at remaining in power, even though it is dragging Israel toward destruction. Isolation In response to Israeli discontent over the ongoing war, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Friday that what is happening in the Gaza Strip is a political war aimed at preserving the ruling coalition, he emphasized that the military operation in Gaza will not lead to a victory over Hamas. In press statements, Barak explained that Israel needs leadership that seeks to return the prisoners held in the Gaza Strip in one fell swoop and stop the war, which he described as "absurd." Regarding the military operation in Gaza, Barak noted that there are significant doubts about the success of the military operation and its potential for achieving results different from previous operations. He emphasized that it will increase Israel's political and legal isolation and kill a number of living hostages, while it will not lead to a victory over Hamas. Barak emphasized that the occupation of Gaza, the displacement of two million Palestinians, and the settlement of Israelis in their place are mere illusions that will backfire on Israel. The Fall of Legitimacy Soon after, Major General Amos Yadlin, the former head of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman), called on Netanyahu to halt the war on the Gaza Strip, arguing that he lacks domestic legitimacy to continue the war. This came in an interview with the Israeli Knesset Channel, in which he said that Israel's international legitimacy is "at its worst today" due to its actions in the Gaza Strip. Yadlin said, "I once again call on the prime minister to end the war, as he has no domestic legitimacy to continue the war and relies on a certain group of extremists who evade military service." In this context, political analysts confirmed in separate interviews with the Al-Quds website that the escalation of political rhetoric in Israel, which has exposed the genocide being perpetrated against civilians in Gaza, constitutes an official admission that Israel is committing war crimes. In this regard, writer and expert on Israeli affairs, Yasser Manna, asserts that the statement by Israeli officer Golan, in which he said that "a rational state does not kill children as a hobby," represents a powerful blow to the official narrative, which justifies Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip under the pretext of "security necessities." According to Manna, Golan's statement also represents an implicit admission that Israel is practicing genocide in Gaza and has lost its mind, transforming into an entity fueled by feelings of hatred. Manna asserts that the credibility of these admissions stems from the fact that they come from figures like Golan, who cannot be accused of ideological hostility to Israel but were part of the decision-making process. Manna points out that such statements contribute to the internal dismantling of official Israeli discourse, which increases international and domestic pressure to reevaluate Israel's policies and practices in the conflict. Premeditated Intent For his part, Dr. Saad Nimer, a professor of political science at Birzeit University, believes that Golan's statements, in which he described Israel's actions in Gaza as motivated by the intent to kill rather than to achieve military objectives, such as liberating prisoners or eliminating Hamas, were a major shock to Israeli society, as they revealed the naked truth about the nature of the war. Nimer explains that these statements are not the first of their kind. Several Israeli voices, including former leaders and members of the Knesset, have begun describing the war as "absurd" and lacking clear objectives, with increasing criticism of the way the military operations were carried out, which they consider a war of extermination. Nimer points out that Golan's statements, which provoked strong reactions within Israel, caused great confusion because they revealed a premeditated intent for genocide, this is consistent with the statements of extremist ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who affirm a clear intent to eliminate and displace Palestinians. Transformations Dr. Raed Abu Badawi, professor of international law and international relations at the Arab American University, said that repeated statements by a number of former Israeli political and military leaders confirm a noticeable shift in attitudes toward the war on the Gaza Strip in the Israeli public and the international community, he noted that these changes are not limited to military leaders, but extend to former political and security voices who have begun to criticize the gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Gaza. Abu Badawi pointed to Olmert's statements, in which he spoke explicitly about Israel's actions in Gaza, describing them as bordering on "war crimes," reflecting an internal rift in the official Israeli narrative. Abu Badawi explained that this shift is clearly evident in the Israeli public, as a recent poll showed that 67% of Israelis support an end to the war, alongside demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities holding up pictures of Gazan children to demand an end to the conflict. Abu Badawiya points out that these movements reflect growing societal awareness within the entity of the strategic cost of war, however, the entity's government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, continues to use the war as a political tool to advance its personal interests and maintain the ruling coalition, reflecting its priority of remaining in power over humanitarian considerations. Finally, the growing voices of internal anger demanding an end to the genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange deal indicate the extent of the impasse and severe divisions facing the Israeli enemy government, which could threaten its stability and lead it to collapse and defeat. 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Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
More than a thousand Israeli academics call for end to war in Gaza over 'moral collapse'
Hundreds of academics from universities and colleges across Israel have called for an end to the war in Gaza, warning of "moral collapse" across the country. On Tuesday , a letter signed by 1,300 academics was sent to the heads of the academic system in Israel, calling on higher education facilities to "mobilise the full weight of Israeli academia to stop the Israeli war in Gaza". "This is a horrifying litany of war crimes and even crimes against humanity, all of our own doing," the letter, organised by a group naming themselves the Black Flag Action Group, reads. "We cannot claim that we did not know. We have been silent for too long." "Black Flag" is a reference to Israeli jurisprudence, in which a black flag is said to fly over orders whose sheer immorality makes them illegal to follow. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'As academics, we recognize our own role in these crimes. It is human societies, not governments alone, that commit crimes against humanity," read the letter. "Some do so by means of direct violence. Others do so by sanctioning the crimes and justifying them, before and after the fact, and by keeping quiet and silencing voices in the halls of learning. It is this bond of silence that allows clearly evident crimes to continue unabated without penetrating the barriers of recognition.' Top genocide scholars unanimous that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza: Dutch investigation Read More » Increasing numbers of prominent figures in Israel have begun speaking out again the army's actions in Gaza. Last week, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert condemned his country's actions in Gaza, accusing the government of killing innocent Palestinians. In a BBC interview on Tuesday, Olmert, who served as the prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, said what Israel was doing in Gaza is "very close to a war crime". He told the network that the 'obvious appearance' of the war on Gaza is that "thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed, as well as many Israeli soldiers," adding that "from every point of view, this is obnoxious and outrageous". According to the latest update by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 54,249 Palestinians have been killed and 123,492 wounded since the start of Israel's war on Gaza. The Israeli army has killed at least 3,986 Palestinians and wounded 11,451 others since breaking the ceasefire agreement on 18 March. More than 180,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced by the offensive. The ministry said that 67 bodies and 184 injured people arrived at Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours.
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Former Israeli Prime Minister: Gaza is Palestinian Land
Amir Hagag Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the majority of Israelis want to stop the war, allow aid in, and withdraw from the Gaza Strip because it is Palestinian land, stressing that only US President Donald Trump can do this. Olmert explained that the United States and Europe supported Israel in responding to the October 7, 2023, attack, based on its right to self-defense, as he put it. Olmert added that everyone knew this war would put many civilians in danger, but he said that "this was 18 months ago, while today we need to stop the war, release prisoners in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and withdraw forces from Gaza because it is Palestinian land." Olmert emphasized that continuing the war would achieve no goal and would endanger the lives of prisoners and lead to the killing of more Palestinians. He emphasized the need to stop the fighting and not endanger anyone who did not participate in the October 7 attack. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he believes the war in Gaza no longer has a clear goal, and it has gone too far. Olmert made the comments in an interview with ABC News' Alex Presha Wednesday. Olmert's public criticism of his country's war comes as thousands of Palestinians are suffering from malnutrition and conditions of famine across the Gaza Strip after an 11-week blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli government. The distribution of aid entering the strip this week has led to chaotic scenes of people desperate for food fighting to get what they need, leaving two dead and several injured. "We have destroyed Gaza," Olmert told ABC News about the crisis. On Tuesday, chaos broke out at a new food distribution site in Rafah as families fought through crowds to get basic food supplies, the United Nations said. At least one person died and 47 others were hurt when shots were reportedly fired into the crowd of desperate Palestinians who were trying to get food, the UN said. The Israeli Defense Forces fired "warning shots" in the area of the distribution site as people flooded in. The cause of death for the person who was killed is unknown. Olmert said that while Israel had every right to fight back after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, he believes the war has gone too far. He said that while some of the thousands of people who have died in Gaza since the conflict began were terrorists who needed to be stopped, many were innocent people. "We are now almost 18 or 19 months after the beginning of that war." Olmert said. "We have destroyed Gaza. We have killed perhaps more than 50,000 people, of which there were few with. There were terrorists, and that should have been punished by so many who were not to carry on the war." Watch Olmert's full interview with ABC News in the video above. Over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. While statistics do not distinguish between military and non-military casualties, women and children make up tens of thousands of this number, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. MORE: Israeli airstrikes target Yemen airport as Netanyahu warns Houthis, Iran "Yes, there was shooting. It's food dipped in blood," Mazen Yunis, a Gazan from Khan Younis, told ABC News outside the distribution site Tuesday. He added, "I have a 10-member family and only came back with a can of peas." Olmert told ABC News he is angry about what some Israeli leaders have been saying about the worsening crisis. He described their comments about "starving Gaza" and treating all Palestinians like terrorists as "war crime statements." He warned that this approach puts both Palestinian civilians and the 20 Israeli hostages still in Gaza in danger. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said military pressure will help free the hostages, Olmert disagrees. He calls Netanyahu's claims "ridiculous" and says they don't match what is really happening. "I think that the feeling is that Trump getting tired of the rhetoric and manipulation of Netanyahu. He should call him to Washington, as he did a few months ago, summoned him to the White House, to the Oval Office, beautiful office there, and in front of the whole world, you will tell him, Mr. Netanyahu, enough is enough," Olmert said. Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly fired back in a video response on Wednesday, calling Olmert's statements "horrible" words that he said feed into lies about Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens originally appeared on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'What is it if not a war crime?': Ehud Olmert says he can't defend Israel anymore
'I believe the majority of Israelis are sick and tired of these policies, these statements, and the terrible damage this government has caused," said Olmert. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert told CNN on Wednesday that he can no longer defend Israel against accusations of war crimes. He explained that his growing criticism of Israel's government stems from 'a lack of any vision for what comes next. What are we going to do in order to end the war, release the hostages, and start to move it towards some kind of political horizon?' Olmert noted comments made by Israeli cabinet ministers in recent days, stating, 'We should starve Gaza.' 'What is it if not a war crime?' Olmert said, referring to the comments as well as Israel's months-long pause on humanitarian aid to Gaza since March 2. He continued, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of 'committing actions which can't be interpreted any other way.' Regarding the IDF's expanded operations in Gaza, which Netanyahu said aim to take control of the entire territory to prevent Hamas from looting humanitarian aid, Olmert said, 'We have to make sure that no uninvolved people in Gaza are hurt because of this expansion of military operations, which is entirely unjustified and does not serve any important interest of the State of Israel at this point.' In the interview, Olmert expressed hope that the current government would disappear soon, telling CNN, 'I believe the majority of Israelis are sick and tired of these policies, these statements, and the terrible damage this government has caused to the moral integrity of the state and its people.' Olmert expressed his confidence in US President Donald Trump to end the war, stating that Trump is one of the few who can compel Netanyahu to stop the conflict. 'I really certainly think that he is the only person, perhaps, that can force the Israeli prime minister to come to terms with reality and with the moral reality of what is being accomplished by this government,' he told CNN. Lastly, when asked whether Netanyahu would launch an attack on Iran if talks fail, Olmert replied, 'You have to distinguish between what he can do and what he says.' 'I still believe that there is a good chance that President Trump will succeed in his negotiations.' He added that Iran poses a threat not only to Israel but to the entire world, but 'there is no one better aware of this and more prepared to deal with it than President Trump.'
