A tragedy is a tragedy, wherever it happens. Fire raging out of control, while it’s part of the natural cycle in many parts of the world, can be terrifying by any measure. According to reports, 40 people have already been killed in wildfires that broke out near Haifa in northern occupied Palestine and continue to rage at this moment.
Wildfires rage near Haifa, December 2010 (BBC)
In no way is this short article an exercise in gloating. The people of that part of the world are in strife and they deserve sympathy – just as sympathy poured in for Victorians when bushfires created havoc there back in the southern summer of 2008.
They also deserve help . Wisely, Netanyahu has asked for help. Apparently he’s been in contact with numerous countries in the region including Greece and Cyprus, who are sending firefighting equipment urgently. A massive Russian water-bomber is on the way. It’s reported countries as far away as the USA and Australia have pledged assistance.
The irony of Greece and Cyrpus helping Israel with airplanes in its time of crisis is hard to pass over unmentioned. The Zionist State boasts one of the most sophisticated and largest military airforces in the world. Costly too – although the USA paid for most of it. But Israel’s airforce is geared up for war fighting and terrorizing – not civil disasters. It can bomb with napalm. It can bomb with depleted uranium. It can bomb with high-explosive bunkers busters. It can bomb with deadly silent drones. It can ever spray thick clouds of tear gas, this very day, to disperse protestors at Ni’ilin.
On the same day as the wildfires, a cloud of teargas disperses Palestinian protestors at Ni'ilin
But water-bombing? It seems no Israeli planner thought of that.
Fortunately, helpful neighbours can share theirs…
Wildfire is natural, but there are indications wildfires are on the increase worldwide. Israel has just experienced its driest November on record. It’s consistent with rapid human-induced climate change. In many parts of the world, scientists anticipate more and more frequent wildfires as the century progreses. accompanied by accelerating ecosystem change and loss of biodiversity.
The world community knows it must deal with the problem of climate change – urgently. It’s a crucially high priority for us all. At least, it should be.
But in our bizarro world, the centrally-important USA is now so brow-beaten by Zionist power that its far easier to get bipartisan congressional consensus for launching a new illegal war at Israel’s behest than it is to agree serious measures to avert rapid climate change – which has potentially devastating consequences for all humanity.
When the fires are out, the Zionist plutocrats who stand behind this rotten project of the apartheid rogue state of Israel should take a long hard look at themselves and their vile sectarian policies.
What price international dominance?
Global ecocide?
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Postscript (December 4th 2010)
Antaea Darom has an important follow-up article, focusing especially on gratuitous anti-Arab commentary in some of the Israeli media regarding the wildfires that continue to blaze – see Israel’s Carmel Fire: Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Even in Tragedy
