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Lena's avatar

ESSENTIAL SPEECH.

Brilliant analysis and plan.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi:

“Let me begin with a fact that the region has learned through decades of painful experience, and that the world is learning again at a terrible human cost: “Palestine is not one issue among many”.

Palestine is the defining question of justice in West Asia and beyond. It is the strategic and moral compass of our region. It is a test of whether international law has meaning, whether human rights have universal value, and whether global institutions exist to protect the weak — or merely to rationalise the power of the strong.

For generations, the Palestinian crisis was understood primarily as the consequence of an illegal occupation and the denial of an inalienable right: the right of a people to self-determination. But today, we must recognise that the crisis has moved far beyond the parameters of occupation alone. What we are witnessing in Gaza is not merely war. It is not a “conflict” between equal parties. It is not an unfortunate byproduct of security measures. It is the deliberate destruction of civilian life on a massive scale. It is genocide.

The human cost of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza has wounded the conscience of humanity. It has torn open the heart of the Muslim world — and it has also shaken millions beyond it: Christians, Jews, and people of all faiths, who still believe that the life of a child is not a bargaining chip, that starvation is not a weapon, that hospitals are not battlefields, and that the killing of families is not self-defense.

Palestine today is not simply a tragedy; it is a mirror held up to the world. It reflects not only the suffering of Palestinians, but also the moral failure of those who had the power to stop this catastrophe — and chose instead to justify it, enable it, or normalise it.

But Palestine and Gaza is not only a humanitarian crisis. It has become the platform for something larger and more dangerous: an expansionist project pursued under the banner of “security”.

This project has three consequences — each of them profound, each of them alarming:

The first consequence is global. The Israeli regime’s conduct in Palestine, and the impunity granted to it, have deeply damaged the international legal order. We must say this clearly: the world is moving toward a condition where international law no longer is respected and governs international relations.

What is perhaps most dangerous is the precedent being established: that if a state has sufficient political cover and protection, it may bomb civilians, besiege populations, target infrastructure, assassinate individuals across borders, and still demand to be regarded as lawful.

This is not merely a Palestinian problem. It is a global problem.

We are witnessing not only the tragedy of Palestine, but the transformation of the world into a place where the law is replaced by force.

The second consequence is regional. Israel’s expansionist project has had a direct and destabilising impact on the security of all countries in the region.

The Israeli regime now openly violates borders. It breaches sovereignties. It assassinates official dignitaries. It conducts terrorist operations. It expands its reach in multiple theatres. And it does so, not discreetly, but with a sense of entitlement — because it has learned that international accountability will not come.

Let us be candid: if the Gaza issue is “settled” through destruction and forced displacement — if that becomes the model — then the West Bank will be next. Annexation will become policy.

This is the essence of what has long been called the “Greater Israel” project.

The question therefore is not whether Israel’s actions threaten Palestinians alone. The question is whether the region will accept a future in which borders are temporary, sovereignty is conditional, and security is determined not by law or diplomacy, but by the ambitions of a militarised occupier.

The third consequence is structural — and perhaps the most dangerous.

Israel’s expansionist project requires that neighboring countries be weakened — militarily, technologically, economically, and socially — so that the Israeli regime permanently enjoys the upper hand.

Under this project, Israel is free to expand its military arsenal without limits, including weapons of mass destruction that remain outside any inspection regime. Yet other countries are demanded to disarm. Others are pressured to reduce defensive capacity. Others are punished for scientific progress. Others are sanctioned for building resilience.

Nobody should be confused: this is not arms control, it is not non-proliferation, it is not security.

It is the enforcement of permanent inequality: Israel must have a “military, intelligence and strategic edge”, and others must remain vulnerable.

This is a doctrine of domination."

This is why the Palestinian question is not only a humanitarian issue. It is a strategic issue. It is not only about Gaza and the West Bank. It is about the future of our region and the rules of the world.

So what must be done?

It is not enough to express concern. It is not enough to issue statements. It is not enough to mourn. We need a coordinated strategy of action — legal, diplomatic, economic, and security-based — rooted in the principles of international law and collective responsibility.

First, the international community must support legal mechanisms without hesitation.

Second, there must be consequences for violations.

We call for comprehensive and targeted sanctions against Israel, including: an immediate arms embargo,

the suspension of military and intelligence cooperation,

restrictions on officials, and banning trade.

Third, we need a credible political horizon grounded in law. The international community must affirm: the end of occupation, the right of return and compensation in accordance with international law, and the establishment of a unified and independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Fourth, the humanitarian crisis must be treated as a matter of urgent international responsibility. Collective punishment must never be normalised.

Fifth, regional states must coordinate to protect sovereignty and deter aggression. The principle must be clear: security cannot be built on the insecurity of others.

And finally, the Islamic world, the Arab world, and the nations of the Global South must build a united diplomatic front.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, and regional organisations must move beyond symbolism toward coordinated action: legal support, diplomatic initiatives, economic measures, and strategic messaging.

This is not about confrontation. It is about preventing the region from being reshaped by force.

Dear colleagues,

Let no one miscalculate: a region cannot be kept stable by allowing one actor to act above the law. The doctrine of impunity will not produce peace; it will produce wider conflict.

The path to stability is clear: justice for Palestine, accountability for crimes, an end to occupation and apartheid, and a regional order built on sovereignty, equality, and cooperation.

If the world wants peace, it must stop rewarding aggression.

If the world wants stability, it must stop enabling expansionism.

If the world believes in international law, it must enforce it — consistently and without double standards.

And if the nations of this region seek a future free from perpetual war, they must recognise this fundamental truth: Palestine is not merely a cause for solidarity; it is the indispensable cornerstone of regional security.

Thank you."

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And it is not just Israel. Zionist impunity and omnipower is only a beginning. We see the same pattern of bringing great nations to their knees everywhere. They are targeting China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Belarus.

European nations have already been subjugated and stripped of dignity by establishing “European Union” that is a cover-up for governing by force and totalitarian oppression.

Which institutions and States will join Iran? Or will they continue to try to avoid or postpone their own destruction by genuflection to global dominationsts in futile hopes that Zionist-Anglosohere-NATO will spare them?

Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

Israel must be destroyed. It has proven to be the home of the most evil, dreadful, murdering, racist and insane people in the world. It does not deserve life.

Lena's avatar

Political defeat and dismantlement of Zionism DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT MEAN physical destruction of Palestine - the country on which the State of Israel sits. It is impossible to physically destroy physical people for an ideology. In case of Nazi Germany, only bloodthirsty Anglosphere attempted to physically destroy all lives and German cities. Like in Dresden. That is a crime against humanity and just shows the true nature of Anglo-Saxon and American virtue-signalling. I do not know a single Palestinian, Iranian or Lebanese wishing physical death on Israeli Jews because they might be Zionist. Only English-speaking people, for some reason, are talking about it.

Adam's avatar

An Islamic front for the ‘south’ would be a complete disaster. Melding the reds and greens is what started the disastrous and monstrous theocratic regime of Iran in the first place.

Lena's avatar

Dear, "disastrous and monstrous" is ISRAEL. It is a cancer on Earth. Israel and Western Zionism have destroyed everything they could, and they have greed for more. Satanic regime full of downright psychopaths and lunatics. It is very funny that you guys blame Iran.

Adam's avatar

Russia can invade Ukraine, Hamas can invade southern Israel, Maduro can run an international narcotics empire, the Islamic regime of Iran can hang dissidents from cranes, rape and imprison women for not wearing headscarves, the Assad regime in Syria can murder half a million civilians, and the Taliban can pass laws banning women from speaking—with barely a peep from the social justice warriors—but the United States and Israel take out the Ayatollah Khomeini, an evil theocrat, and people lose their minds.

Lena's avatar

Dude, Russia never "invaded Ukraine". Russia interfered in Banderite slaughter of Donbass, and Donbass Republics were not Ukraine. They declared independence.

How could "Hamas invade", if Hamas is Palestinian resistance to Zionist invasion?

Gaza is a concentration camp, surrounded by the high voltage barb wire, with automatically shooting watchtowers. Is it not? It is. So how people breaking out of this barb-wired enclosure can be said "invading" anything? Are you out of your mind? Assad never "murdered million civilians", ISIS and Al Qaeda did. And ARE doing it as I speak. Venezuela has nothing to do with "narcotics".

You talk insane libelous shit.

You dare to call the highly spiritual and moral nation of Iran "evil". It is you guys who are evil. A cancer on Earth. Enemies of humanity. LYING enemies.

Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

I have never hated anyone or anything as much as I hate Donald Trump, and his whole sick fascist nutcase crew. Anyone who voted for him--for any of them--is complicit in their crimes against humanity. They are beasts in suits. Monsters from a rotting brain.

John Rothery's avatar

Yes.

I agree with you Ben.

In an attempt to find out what I could over the last few hours I resorted to watching the mainstream corporate media. They have learnt nothing. I don't know why I was surprised, but I was. The US and Israel attack Iran, and the British media I was watching, criticised Iran for responding.

As to the outcome. Time will tell. I was not encouraged by the statement by Hesbollah which sounded like - we support you, but don't involve us. I imagine that Yemen will be more resolute.

Keep up your good work Ben.

John Rothery 😎 (Tauranga)

Dave's avatar

It’s about distracting from the fact that Trump raped children.

Mario G. Rivera's avatar

The first victim always in any war is the truth. Thereafter, all that comes from any war are deaths and destruction. The many innocent ones who are injured or killed never had any say so about it all.

Frank Sterle Jr.'s avatar

Very disturbing. 

Arab nations cannot trust Israel, especially under Netanyahu, which is not even his real name (it's Mileikowsky), who has repeatedly proven himself to be a snake in the grass. … And Trump’s lame, immoral idea of creating peace is compelling one side or party that: “You’re not holding any cards.” However, human beings, both individualistically and collectively, want to maintain a sense of self dignity, and therefor Trump’s “You’re not holding any cards” won’t work. 

Early on Nov.6 of 2024, Donald Trump publicly stated: “Many people have told me that God spared my life [from two assassination attempts] for a reason. And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness.” 

The institutional ‘Christians’ who still vocally and politically support Donald Trump tend to see him as literally Godsent. Many also perceive Trump’s presidency as divinely-intended punishment against liberals. If anything, he's evidence of a great evil being unleashed onto a largely powerless world. If Trump does end up boding well for the world, it will have been accidental.

At the same time, the U.S. consistently militarily drinks the Israeli state's used bathwater. PM Netanyahu is the greatest warmonger of all (with the Mossad being an evil, insidious lot) yet still has the most powerful foreign connections acting as his puppets, notably the Trump administration. 

President Donald promptly bends over for Netanyahu's Israel, gets back up, wipes himself, then unconditionally rearms the Israel Defense Forces with American state-of-the-art American-taxpayer-supplied weaponry to indiscriminately use against Palestine’s innocent non-combatants, notably children, and other foreign parties Israel deems a threat. 

In 2002, Netanyahu implored the United States Congress to invade Iraq because, he alleged, Baghdad was developing weapons of mass destruction. This, of course, was utter BS; however, the brutal damage had largely already been done, mostly to innocent Iraqi men, women and children. More recently, he's pulling the same stunt with Iran's nuclear energy production. 

... Amongst Michel de Nostredame’s seemingly often prophetic quatrains were disturbing prophesies apparently making references to the first [Napoleon], second [Hitler] and third anti-Christs, the latter having yet to come and do his immense damage. One Nostradamus scholar interviewed for a documentary said the writings suggest the third anti-Christ would originate as the elected leader of what would become the United States, though he'll be of European ancestry.

Rhymes With "Brass Seagull"'s avatar

It's SO obviously NAKED IMPERIALISM!

Shaine Parker (Z Guadamour)'s avatar

Los Estados Esutidos foreign policy dumbness strikes again! Thanks for laying it out so clearly and succinctly Ben Norton.

Charles Wylie Kelly's avatar

Excellent and timely info.

charles leone's avatar

Death to Pigman Trumps Money Empire.

Contra Stultum's avatar

Awesome. You just sold me on a war I previously opposed!

Adam's avatar

A war on Iran is a must to maintain freedom, slow global terrorism that was funded by Iran, and hopefully stop the Chinese and Russian push for hegemony. For so many people their entire understanding of Middle Eastern geopolitics can be summarized in the two words "Trump bad" lecturing Jews, Iranians, and Arabs how they're wrong about the conflict that has dominated their lives for the past 1,400 years.

TomatoBible(トマトバイブル)'s avatar

Hello! Nice to meet you. 😊

I am a personal researcher of Japanese cults, education, and social structure.

I learn about economic mechanisms and war from your YouTube videos.

In Japan, the Takaichi dictatorship has also begun to suppress and persecution free speech, so I have been taking various inspiration from this.

By the way, I introduced how Palantir and Israel uses Device-Free Tracking to monitor,

track, and assassinate American civilians, Iranian, and Hezbollah officials.

If you're interested, please read it.😊

Anti-Communism Series⑲[Smart Dust:The Invisible Nano Weapon to Control ALL Humanity]

https://tomatobible.substack.com/p/anti-communism-seriessmart-dustthe

Conor Broll's avatar

Analysis of the Iran conflict has largely been silent on one crucial contingency: mounting American casualties in an unpopular war may be the final straw for many Americans who have thus far silently endured Trump 2.0. Analysis must come before ideology.