Forum Topic

At last. Not only Israel that makes the news re 'genocide'.

From today's Guardian"UK places sanctions on four RSF commanders for ‘heinous’ violence against Sudan civilians".'Men are suspected of ‘mass killings, sexual violence and deliberate attacks in El Fasher’, says Foreign Office'.The UK has placed sanctions on four senior commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces suspected of involvement in “heinous” violence against civilians in the city of El Fasher, but decided not to take any action against their key military and diplomatic backer, the United Arab Emirates, or their chief commander.British officials suggested they preferred to use their leverage with the UAE and the RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, privately, but admitted there was little sign of a ceasefire in Sudan’s near three-year civil war.Those targeted include Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF’s deputy leader and brother of Hemedti, as well as three other commanders, all of whom now face asset freezes and travel bans. Officials indicated the threshold of evidence needed to place sanctions had been met partly because some of the commanders posted videos glorifying the killings on social media.The war between the army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has caused what the UN has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Communities in the Darfur region are facing famine and malnutrition after an 18-month RSF siege around El Fasher, before it fell to the group on 26 October'.Who would have thought Arabs would have carried out such atrocities.Is not Israel the most evil country on the planet ?I am sure there there will be highly visible protests against the RSF at Saturday's pro-Palestine march - NOT ! Asset freezes and travel bans ?Soon be appealing to the ECHR ! 😉

John Hawkes ● 30d18 Comments

I felt that no contribution from me would be welcome.

David Ainsworth ● 26d

BoycieI note you cannot recall what I posted or was posted about me that you found so hilarious.'Chillax, John. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, again'.So I will take your advice as your comments, containing only insult rather than any measure of intellectual thought or argument, are not really worth responding to.

John Hawkes ● 26d

Chillax, John. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, again.

Gerry Boyce ● 26d

'I will add though that as a firm believer in freedom of speech I have changed my views and accept that people should be allowed to protest.'I think this must be a SCAM.I do not recall posting this comment.

John Hawkes ● 26d

Mr Ainsworth' I decided that I should wait and see the response to the massacre from the regular contributors. 'Have you had sufficient time yet such that we can now learn what your considered views are ?I personally am waiting with bated breath.

John Hawkes ● 26d

"Both lead to the antisemitic atrocities seen in Australia which I note you have not condemned." Yes I have, elsewhere. Before there was any mention on here, I thought about it. I then realised the response which I should get. I decided that I should wait and see the response to the massacre from the regular contributors. 

David Ainsworth ● 26d

Mr Ainsworthre below -I should have written 'Israelophobe' to describe you or perhaps 'Islamophile'.Same difference really. Both lead to the antisemitic atrocities seen in Australia which I note you have not condemned.

John Hawkes ● 26d

Mr AinsworthIf you have the ISBN number then read the book.It might help moderate your Israelophobia that verges on antisemitism.'No, you are incorrect. They have had a presence in Palestine for millennia. As, unsurprisingly, have the Palestinians'.What is the land mass that constitutes Palestine in this context ?'Settled' vs 'presence' is a childish effort at deflecting argument through semantics.At least you concede that Jews have as good a claim for establishing a state in the region as do the Palestinians.With that I agree.Not really interested in your religious beliefs.They obviously don't show much of "good will to all men" if they happen to be Jews.'A pre-emptive strike' in the conflicted times it found itself would seem to me to be a good tactic.The Egyptians have kept their heads down since to the extent they refuse today to even accept Palestinians on their territory.And yes Israelis could well be a generation of settlers even though as you concede they have long had a presence in the region.They are such a generation in hard hats and with gun barrels because of the genocide and ethnic cleansing  perpetrated upon them in WWII.Have you forgotten that ?Similar actions in 2023 carried out against women, children and the elderly by those Palestinians you support are being stirred up again today.Not least by the attitudes of Islamophobes like you.Hence the rise of antisemitic murders in Australia which are more than likely to spread to the UK.Once the Islamic terrorists moderate their views and renounce their Charter calling for Israel's annihilation and Israelophobic fellow travellers such as you pipe down and stop supporting them then perhaps a peaceful co-exitance of Jew and Arab in the region might be negotiated."Come on the Donald"

John Hawkes ● 27d

Mr AinsworthSorry to disillusion you but my level of education far exceeds that from a 'third rate comprehensive school'.I sometimes wonder if your comments do not indicate that this is not true in your case.As to answering my own questions re Israel which you are unwilling or unable to do on your own behalf -1) Yes I do believe Israel has a right to exist in its current territory.Firstly because Jews have been settled there for millennia.Secondly because it has had to fight for its entitled existence, at a cost of much blood and treasure, against seemingly over whelming odds against states that show nothing but rabid hostility towards it.Thirdly because such a status has full UN approval.Fourthly because its political, social and economic success should, were they to have the wit and whereabouts to follow them, be examples and source of assistance for the failed Arab states which surround it to act similarly for the overwhelming benefit of their beleaguered peoples.Regarding a state of Palestine, of course I think that Arabs in the region defining themselves as Palestinians and not peoples of surrounding Arab states, should have a homeland.But I cannot see where that might be nor how it might come abouts when Gaza, part of what constitutes it today, is run by fascist terrorists whose aim is to annihilate Israel and the West Bank is run by those that are constantly at odds with Gaza and lead by a Hitler supporting despot. What do these territories have in common ?How can they be reconciled ?Do they give the impression of being peoples with a will and notions of governance making them ready to form a democratic and viable state for the betterment of their people ? Perhaps the Donald has the answers !

John Hawkes ● 27d

Oh not again. The same texts, the same "arguments", boringly repeated. Even the ISBN 1537152726 has been repeated 6 times!"Am I not correct in thinking that Jews have been settled in their current territory for millennia ?"No, you are incorrect. They have had a presence in Palestine for millennia. As, unsurprisingly, have the Palestinians."Have you not read the Bible ?"Yes, I have. It contains quite a bit of genocide and ethnic cleansing, and apparently much is historically unsound.I cannot really accept the idea of a god who believes in a form of racial supremacy, which fortunately happens to coincide with the race of their believers. "the 1967 6 Day War when Egypt and other Arab states attacked and were defeated by Israel'."That was the Israeli story. However "in a 1982 speech at the Israeli National Defense College, then-Prime Minister Begin made a notable and controversial admission about the war's origin: "The Egyptian army concentrations... did not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him. This was a war of self-defense in the noblest sense of the term". This statement contradicted the widely held Israeli narrative at the time that the war was purely one of no-choice self-defense against an imminent existential threat, suggesting instead it was a preemptive strike.""U.S. intelligence at the time also assessed that Egyptian troop movements were defensive in nature and that President Nasser did not intend to initiate an attack. Egypt had even agreed to a diplomatic meeting in Washington to discuss reopening the Straits of Tiran just two days after the attack was launched." ----------------------------------"Zionist settlers from Europe""A generation of settlers": In a 1956 eulogy (often cited in the context of the 1967 war and occupation), Moshe Dayan encapsulated a core Zionist philosophy: "We are a generation of settlers, and without the steel helmet and gun barrel, we shall not be able to plant a tree or build a house".

David Ainsworth ● 27d

Mr Ainsworth'Zionist settlers from Europe, with their different politics, cultures and religion.'Am I not correct in thinking that Jews have been settled in their current territory for millennia ?Have you not read the Bible ?The State of Israel was formally established by the Israeli Declaration of Independence on 14 May 1948, and was admitted to the United Nations (UN) as a full member state on 11 May 1949.And might I refer you to "Myths and Fact"-'a guide to the Arab Israeli Conflict' by Mitchell G Bard ISBN 1537152726 p3 .'When the first Congress of Muslim-Christian Associations met in Jerusalem in February 1919 to choose Palestinian representatives for the Paris peace conference, they adopted the following resolution: "We consider Palestine as part of Arab Syria, as it has never been separated from it at any time. We are connected to it by national, religious, linguistic, natural, economic and geographical bonds".And in 1937 local Arab leader Auni Bey Abdul Hadi told the Peel Commission which ultimately suggested the partition of Palestine: "There is no such country as Palestine! 'Palestine' is a term invented by Zionists There is no Palestine in the Bible. Our country for centuries was part of Syria".The Arab Higher Committee to the UN echoed this view in a statement to the general Assembly in May 1947 saying Palestine was part of the Province of Syria and the Arabs of Palestine did not comprise a separate political entity.A few years later Ahmed Shuqeiri later Chairman of the PLO told the Security Council; "It is common knowledge that Palestine is nothing but Southern Syria.Palestinian Arab nationalism is largely a post-World War I phenomenon that did noy become a significant political movement until after the 1967 6 Day War when Egypt and other Arab states attacked and were defeated by Israel'.Wiki- 'The idea of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has evolved through various proposals and disputes. During the British mandate period, numerous territorial and constitutional models were proposed for Palestine, none of them winning the agreement of all parties. In 1947, the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was voted for. The leaders of the Jewish Agency for Palestine accepted parts of the plan, while Arab leaders refused it. This triggered the 1947–1949 Palestine war and led, in 1948, to the establishment of the state of Israel on a part of Mandate Palestine as the Mandate came to an end.The Gaza Strip came under Egyptian occupation, and the West Bank was ruled by Jordan, before both territories were occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War'.

John Hawkes ● 27d

Hawkes: "What questions did you ask me ?"I just wrote "Why don't you answer your own questions so that people can get a clearer idea of your views?"Answer YOUR own questions - not any from me.I have noticed your difficulty with understanding and, of course, memory.Hawkes: "Your 'Robinson' reference would be jeered at in a Sixth Form Debating Society at a third rate comprehensive school."You probably have more experience of that than I do.Anyway I was echoing your style. Hawkes: "If you accuse me by inference of being 'far right' then I would claim, regarding many issues, to be joining the majority of the populace.Two related issues in particular.Concern over the uncontrolled immigration into this country of those from different cultures to ours."Hawkes: "And second I fear the encroaching prominence of Islam into our culture and the way the country is governed."So, Mr Hawkes, believing that, you should be completely sympathetic to the overwhelming Palestinian majority original inhabitants in Palestine who faced the British-protected and backed immigration of Zionist settlers from Europe, with their different politics, cultures and religion.Hawkes: "Still waiting for your answers to my Israel questions."Breath should not be held.

David Ainsworth ● 28d

Mr Ainsworth'Stuck in adolescence are you?Still, if you wish to think so, then carry on.Why don't you answer your own questions so that people can get a clearer idea of your views? Some may have missed out. Their loss, obviously.Did you enjoy Tommy Robinson's Christmas Carol concert yesterday?'Please refresh my memory.What questions did you ask me ?Answers guaranteed though I think readers understand my views very well if they are at all interested which I am sure many are not.As for being adolescent.Your 'Robinson' reference would be jeered at in a Sixth Form Debating Society at a third rate comprehensive school.If you accuse me by inference of being 'far right' then I would claim, regarding many issues, to be joining the majority of the populace.Two related issues in particular.Concern over the uncontrolled immigration into this country of those from different cultures to ours.And the fact they seem to be committing the majority of sex related crimes against women and girls. The Baroness Longfield review could well prove this.Government website -https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-independent-inquiry-into-grooming-gangs"Update on Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs"'Baroness Anne Longfield CBE will lead a 3-year statutory independent inquiry, focusing on grooming gangs and looking at ethnicity, religion and culture.It has also been confirmed that the inquiry will focus exclusively on grooming gangs and explicitly ask how ethnicity, religion and cultural factors impacted both the response from authorities and the perpetrators themselves. The government has committed £65 million to the inquiry and it must not take longer than 3 years, putting a stop to victims waiting endlessly for answers. The draft terms of reference will now be consulted on before being finalised by March'. And second I fear the encroaching prominence of Islam into our culture and the way the country is governed.Still waiting for your answers to my Israel questions.

John Hawkes ● 28d

""Frit" !"Stuck in adolescence are you?Still, if you wish to think so, then carry on. Why don't you answer your own questions so that people can get a clearer idea of your views? Some may have missed out. Their loss, obviously.Did you enjoy Tommy Robinson's Christmas Carol concert yesterday?

David Ainsworth ● 28d

Mr Ainsworth'"Is not Israel the most evil country on the planet?"'Well is that not what an Israelophobe like you believes ?How far have you got in answering my recently posed questions to you regarding Israel ?"Frit" !

John Hawkes ● 28d

"Who would have thought Arabs would have carried out such atrocities?"Oh, you are so naive and hopeful. No, really."Is not Israel the most evil country on the planet?"Oh you, you really are the greatest satirist since Lenny Bruce died.

David Ainsworth ● 30d

"The UK does not support either of the warring factions (the Sudanese Armed Forces or the Rapid Support Forces) in Sudan's civil war. Instead, its support is directed towards the Sudanese people through humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful, civilian-led government and end the conflict.Key aspects of the UK's approach:Humanitarian Aid: The UK is a major donor to the Sudan crisis, providing substantial funding for life-saving food, water, shelter, and medical assistance to internally displaced persons within Sudan and refugees in neighbouring countries like Chad and South Sudan. This aid is delivered through UN agencies and NGOs, not the warring parties.Diplomatic Pressure: The UK uses its diplomatic influence and its role in the UN Security Council to call for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and accountability for atrocities and human rights violations committed by both sides.Sanctions: The UK has imposed sanctions on commanders from both the SAF and the RSF who are suspected of serious human rights abuses, including mass killings and sexual violence.Support for a Civilian Transition: Historically, the UK supported Sudan's political transition towards democracy after the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and continues to advocate for a return to civilian government as the only sustainable solution for lasting peace.International Cooperation: The UK co-hosts international conferences (such as the London Sudan Conference in April 2025) and works with partners like the African Union, the US, and Norway to coordinate a global response and pressure the warring parties to engage in peace talks.The UK's primary goal is to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe and foster a stable, peaceful future determined by the Sudanese people."

David Ainsworth ● 30d