Lessons of Israel-Hamas conflict

When Israel provoked Hamas on 14^th November this year by killing Ahmed Jabari,the hamas military chief of staff,it did little service to its own cause of

Israel-Gaza conflict : Implications and effects

Israel and Hamas are once again on the brink of war in Gaza and Israel has called up  75,000  reservists in preparation for a possible ground invasion that could happen any moment coupled with air offensive..Let's have a look What will be the impact of this war.

World leaders have condemned the attacks, and the Arab League said that it will hold an urgent meeting  Saturday to discuss the Israeli strike on Gaza.

Iraq recommended  that Arab states  must use oil as a weapon to exert pressure on Israel and countries that back it, particularly the United States, over the Gaza crisis.

"Playing the economic card is our most powerful weapon at the moment in supporting the Palestinian people, for no military power can currently stand up to Israel," Iraq's permanent Arab League representative Qais al-Azzawi said.

   

"What happened in 1973, when the Arabs stopped oil exports to Western states, is proof that this weapon can succeed in the battle between the Arabs and Israel," Azzawi said .

Israeli air strikes  on Saturday have targeted the cabinet  headquarters of Gaza's Hamas government ,  reporting extensive damage to the building.


On the other side ,Palestinian militants continued  targeting densely populated Tel Aviv in Israel's heartland with rockets .

 Meanwhile, further escalating the conflict between Israel and Hamas , Israel's Cabinet on Friday approved the activation of up to 75,000 reservists, prime minister's spokesman Mark Regev said. Also, the Israel Defense Forces reported earlier in the day that it is "mobilizing forces" in preparation for a "possible ground invasion of the Gaza Strip."



At least 30 Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday.
On Saturday an additional strike on the house of a Hamas official in the northern Gaza Jabalia refugee camp left at least 35 people injured.

Senior cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon warned that Israel was poised for aground offensive."We are preparing all the military options, including the possibility that forces will be ready to enter Gaza in the event that the firing doesn't stop," he said.
   
 As  ground troops massed, there was no let-up in theIsraeli air offensive. Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi hammered home the message of support soon after his prime minister ended the lightning visit. "Egypt will not leave Gaza on its own... What is happening is a blatant aggression against humanity."

Hamas boasted its Arsenal

'Israel believes Hamas has significantly boosted its arsenal since the last Gaza war four years ago, including with weapons from Iran and from Libyan stockpiles plundered after the 2011 fall of the regime there.

"After four years, we became stronger, we have a strategy and we became united with all the military wings in Gaza," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, referring to Hamas' setbacks during Israel's last major offensive in late 2008.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aim  is "to take out the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza while doing everything possible not to harm civilians."

WAr on TWITTER

The Israel and Hamas conflict has started  battle for public opinion on social media


An intense battle is taking place online, On Twitter , the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) warned Hamas’ military wing to lay low: “We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead,” the IDF tweeted.

To which the other side  tweeted  @Alqassam Brigade—a reference to the military wing of Hamas—replied: “@IDF Spokesperson Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves).”
   
IMpact of Gaza Attack

Hamas, first elected to govern the Gaza Strip in 2006, is a direct offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.

-Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said Friday that "Gaza will not remain alone as it was," adding that the "aggressors know they will pay a heavy price is they continue their aggression."

"I'm warning the aggressors on Gaza, they can't have any power over the strip," he  said in a statement after the Friday prayer.

"Cairo won't leave Gaza alone, and I'm speaking on behalf of all Egyptian people that Egypt now is different than before," he added.


As Israel turned down the Egyptian request to seize the assault on Gaza , Egypt withdrew its ambassador from Israel and called for a Security Council meeting.

The  ongoing conflict will effect the  three major groups  ie pro-American gulf countries  led by Saudi-Arabia, second group consists of of Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah, and the countries witnessing Arab Spring

Actually ,Israel’s assassination of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari have  reverberated far beyond the impoverished, violence-torn Gaza Strip.The exchange of attacks between Israel and Hamas has threatened an increasingly fragile Middle east peace process .

Hamas,who  refuses to recognize the state of Israel is one reason why it's been excluded from peace talks. In 1993, it opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace pact between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

In an effort to de-escalate tension in the region,US President Barack Obama has called the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Morsi Isa El-Ayyat.


 Obama tries to de-escalate tension

Obama reiterated American support for Israel's right to defend itself, and expressed regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives. "The two leaders discussed options for de-escalating the situation.

"The President and Prime Minister agreed that the continued spiral of violence jeopardizes prospects for a durable, lasting peace in the region.  The President underscored his commitment to advancing the goal of Middle East peace.

"In all cases, her message has been the same, that we are urging a de-escalation of this conflict. We are urging those countries with influence on Hamas and other groups in Gaza to use that influence to get a de-escalation," the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told 

Obama says the Best is yet to come

While addressing supporters in Chicago after winning a second term in the White House, US President Barack Obama said he returns to the White House "more determined and more inspired than ever".

 

Jubilation grew through the night in Chicago as Obama  addresses Americans ,"Tonight in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up," Obama said in a victory speech in his hometown of Chicago.

"We have fought our way back and we know in our hearts for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.""We are an American family, we rise and fall together as one nation, as one people,"

Obama, 51, the first African American president of the US and a powerful orator, said that he looked forward to taking to Romney in the weeks ahead to take the country forward.

Obama thanked his ... Impassioned voters and said "We are not divided as the politics suggest,we are more than the sum of the total as its the determination  of the person to carry forward  for the achievement."

"I spoke to Romney and congratulated him on a hard-fought campaign  I look forward to working with Governor Romney to see the country move  forward."

“I want to thank every American who participated in this election,” Obama told the crowd.

“Whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very, very long time – by the way we have to fix that – whether you pounded the pavement… or whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign you made a difference,” he said.

The nation, he told the gathering, “moves forward because of you… because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war, over depression”.
 

Obama was welcomed by thunderous applause as he arrived on stage in his hometown, joined by first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.

Obama acknowledges first lady Michelle

Acknowledging the contribution by first lady Michelle Obama, barack obama said "The  journey, he said, would not have been possible without the woman who married him 20 years ago.

“Michelle, I never loved you more,” he said.

 

Amidst loud cheers from massive crowds , Obama said the best is yet to come ".Obama  said "Thank you for believing in me all the way ".

Obama   said " We are here to open to the dreams  of immigrants who studies in campuses here ".Further adding that "You have voted for more work and I will work harder.

Decade of war is over

A decade of war  is over and economy will recover  and America will work towards achieveing great results. "

Obama said "To meet the challenges reducing our deficits, fixing our immigration system , working for taxes but that dosent mean your work is done ,  America  is about working together ."

Obama said " Hope is something that we strive hard to achieve something ,For Americans it dosen't matter whosoever you are security will be given to everybody.'

Obama said " We will fulfill  the ambitions of all the individuals  as we are the citizens of the United States of America and  we live in the greatest nation on earth

"Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests," he said, adding: "There's a lot more work to do."
 

 "Four more years," Barack Obama tweeted after winning a second term in the White House.

"Four more years," he said minutes after he defeated his Republican rival Mitt Romney in a closely contested poll.

"We're all in this together. That's how we campaigned, and that's who we are. Thank you," said another tweet.

The current electoral college tally is:

Obama:  303   (Vermont 3, Illinois 20, Connecticut 7, Delaware 3, Massachusetts 11, Rhode Island 4, Maine 4, Maryland 10, District of Columbia 3, New York 29, Michigan 16, New Jersey 14, Pennsylvania 20, New Hampshire 4, California 55, Hawaii 4, Washington 12, Wisconsin 10, New Mexico 5, Ohio 18, Iowa 6, Minnesota 10, Oregon 7, Colorado 9, Nevada 6, Virginia 13)

Romney: 203  (Kentucky 8, West Virginia 5, South Carolina 9, Oklahoma 7, Tennessee 11, Georgia 16, Alabama 9, Wyoming 3, Kansas 6, Louisiana 8, South Dakota 3, North Dakota 3, Mississippi 6, Nebraska 5, Arkansas 6, Texas 38, Indiana 11, Utah 6, Arizona 11, Idaho 4, North Carolina 15, Missouri 10 ,  Montana 3)

US presidential Polls:Who occupies the oval office next year?

President Barack Obama appeared to have a slight edge over Republican challenger Mitt Romney .Take a look at the policy plans of Barack Obama and that of Romney.

Polls show the race is neck and neck, although the president holds a slender polling lead in crucial swing states.

Polls  give Mr Obama a three-point edge over his rival.World is closely watching the US presidential race  as  the next president will determine the direction of the super power.

Amidst the European financial slowdown , the key issue among the Americans is their economy  and unemployment .International issues are behind the Domestic issues for a voter in united states.

Obama Policies

IRAN

Obama says  he is determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon through  diplomacy  but is opposed  to military strike by US or Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities . sanctions imposed   against Iran's central bank, oil revenues and financial system.For Romney  military action "remains on the table" and he presents a clearer military threat to Iran; would send Navy ships to patrol the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf; calls for more sanctions

Economy

Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known as the stimulus, a $768bn (£489bn) package of tax cuts and investment in education, infrastructure,  health; Backed a bailout of the US auto industry. President Obama's own budget proposals lack seriousness. In May 2012, the U.S. Senate voted 99-0 against a budget proposal containing all of the president's top-line budget numbers.

Romney has plans  on tax cuts, repeal of Obama's 2010 healthcare reform law and repeal of 2010 Wall Street and banking regulations,Opposed the auto industry bailout

Social issues

Obama a Supports abortion rights; appointed two Supreme Court justices who appear to favour abortion rights

 Romney opposes abortion rights and gay marriage and promises to use the power of the federal government to limit or end them.Though he supported abortion rights when he was running for governor Massachusetts in 2002;would strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood women's health clinics

Defence spending and  Afghanistan

Obama, already has a plan of withdrawal from Afghanistan and  has begun a draw-down of US troops with the combat mission to end by 2014 .While Romney wants to increase defence spending

Heath

Obama 's most important plan "Obamacare" 2010 healthcare reform law aims for universal health insurance coverage.

Mitt Romney  will repeal the Obama  the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), the signature legislative achievement of the Obama presidency and one that will guarantee health care access to almost all Americans.

UNemployment

Unemployment is persistently high among some of the very voters President Obama claims to benefit. Blacks face an unemployment rate of 13.4 percent. Nine million jobs evaporated.

But surely Hurricane sandy gave some good marks to Obama

Romney, according to a campaign official, will keep campaigning on Election Day, adding stops in Democratic-heavy Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Obama, Romney in tight race

Seven of the eight national polls released since on  Sunday indicate the race for the White House is not only in a dead heat nationally, but also in the key battleground states that will decide the next tenant of the White House.

According to surveys ,49 percent of likely voters support the president, with an equal number backing the former Massachusetts governor.