News   /   Interviews

Israel worried about international awareness on Palestine: Academic

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (© AFP)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Hani al-Bassous, a professor of political science at the Islamic University of Gaza, to discuss Israel.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: It seems that Netanyahu is playing the victim card here even though Israel is in violation of international law and has committed multiple crimes against the people of Palestine. What do you make of it?

Al-Bassous: Well, this is the fact that Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu are always playing this game. He is playing to be the victim of the Palestinians and of the international community; but the fact is that Israel has committed crimes against Palestinian people. They have destroyed hospitals, sport clubs and the infrastructure.

The Israeli army last year, in 2014, committed a crime against humanity in the Gaza Strip. They continue to hold the siege against 1.8 million in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is trying always to play the game of being the defendant of the Israeli people. At the same time, Netanyahu and his own right-wing government are trying to suffocate Palestinian economy. They use all kind of activities against the Palestinian civilians in an illegal way. Most of the activities they have been doing for the past many years against the Palestinians are illegal, illegitimate. So, now Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to say while the international community is trying to illegitimize the Israeli side, but I think the international community now understands the fact that this extremist Israeli government has been taking illegal actions against the Palestinian people.

And I think this awareness by the international community has spread, in which we have seen some decisions and also have seen some comments made by some of the international community organizations against Israel because of its activities. It’s all about the actions which have been taken many times and frequently by the Israeli side against the Palestinian people. Just two days ago, we have been hearing about the FIFA decisions against Israel. It’s because of the action has been taken by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian athletes…

Press TV: When we speak about action of course, Netanyahu and his cabinet are quite worried about the BDS movement, the Boycott and Divestment, Sanctions against Israel, where it’s a grassroots movement, which is trying to boycott products and organizations that are basically on or produced on illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Isn’t the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu is so worried about it going to show that this movement has been largely very successful?

Al-Bassous: Of course. Again, this is a fact. The BDS has been playing a positive role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has been raising the issue of the illegal Israeli settlements and the activities have been made for many years.

Now Benjamin Netanyahu understands that there is awareness in the international community, has been spread by the BDS and other organizations around the world defending the Palestinians and their rights. And he understands the fact that the Palestinians have legitimate rights and the occupation is illegitimate. The occupation has been for many years killing the Palestinian people and doing all bad things, and now, we have many voices around the world calling for an end of the occupation. At the end of the day, it’s about the occupation itself and Benjamin Netanyahu has no right to complain. I think he knows the situation very well but… playing victim role. This is not going to work out. People understand now well what is happening in Palestine and they understand well that the occupation has to end soon, because this occupation has affected the Palestinian people in a very bad way.

ABN/HJL


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku