Righteous Condemnation of Israeli Mass Murder
Stephen Lendman
Media scoundrels feature pro-Israeli supporters. Doing so makes them
complicit with Israeli crimes.
Charles Krauthammer is one of the worst. He’s an embarrassment to
legitimate journalism. His latest Washington Post op-ed <http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-why-was-there-war-in-gaza/2012/11/22/c77582e8-3412-11e2-bfd5-e202b6d7b501_story.html>headlines
“Why was there war in Gaza?”
His commentary shows appalling ignorance, support for Israeli lawlessness,
racist hate, and contempt for besieged Gazans.
“Israel wanted nothing more than to live in peace with this independent
Palestinian entity,” he claimed.
“After all, the world had incessantly demanded that Israel give up land for
peace.”
“It gave the land. It got no peace.”
In 2005, Israel disengaged from Gaza. It did so to get Jews out of harm’s
way. Palestinian West Bank land was stolen to accommodate them. War was
planned with no timeline. Cast Lead followed. Now Operation Pillar of Cloud. More coming. Stay tuned.
Occupation of Gaza doesn’t exist, claims Krauthhammer. Explain it to 1.7
million oppressed Palestinians. They’re isolated in the world’s largest
open-air concentration camp. Its harshness replicates Nazi-enforced Warsaw
ghetto conditions.
Humanitarian crisis conditions persist. Borders are closed. No one gets in or out without hard to get permit permission. Israel bombs, invades, and commits other atrocities at will. It maintains total control. Palestinians
have no say whatever.
“Israel has once again succeeded in defending itself,” claims Krauthhammer.
Irresponsibly he called months-ago planned naked aggression self-defense.
Rabbi Avichai Ronsky calls himself a man of God. He’s also a former chief
Israeli military rabbi. He’s more concerned about militarism than Judaic
doctrine. His comments <http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162421#.UK53h6WSLuQ>show it.
Ending conflict was “a great mistake and a disappointment,” he said. Killing and injuring Palestinians should have continued.
“The great IDF stood here facing a disgusting and vile terror organization
and signed an agreement with them. This is a big, unfortunate farce. We
have given them great strength now.”
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon <http://www.thetakeaway.org/2012/nov/21/israels-deputy-foreign-minister-situation-gaza/>said
Palestinians killed and injured in Gaza “deserved it.” Noncombatant status gave them no immunity, he believes.
Dutch writer Leon de Winter <http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/sterilize-palestinian-people-dutch-writer-leon-de-winter-says-israeli-ambassador?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=18ab2b87ec-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email>advocates involuntary eugenics. He wants chemicals added to Gaza’s water to sterilize Palestinians. He said so at an Wednesday evening Amsterdam solidarity meeting with Dutch Jews.
A November 19 Washington Times <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/19/invading-gaza/>editorial headlined “Invading Gaza,” saying:
“This time Israel should do it right …. Cast Lead failed to solved the problem. Hamas still rules in Gaza.” Half measures aren’t good enough. “There can be no peace.”
Indeed not because Israel and Washington won’t tolerate it. Media scoundrels don’t explain. They suppress truth, support lawlessness, and blame victims for Israeli crimes.
People of conscience get no say. They’re denied op-ed space and air time.
It’s reserved for warmongering, support for pro-Israeli viciousness, and
anti-Palestinian vitriol.
Advocates for peace, equity, justice, and liberation speak out best they
can. Voltaire Network’s Thierry Meyssan <http://www.globalresearch.ca/why-a-new-war-on-gaza/5312380>asked “Why a new war on Gaza?”
“Why now?” Israeli strategy is opportunistic. It “adapt(s) war objectives
to the occasions that arise.”
Israel wants Palestinian resistance weakened, not destroyed. Timing perhaps
relates to other regional events. Neighboring countries are affected. Israel is impacted or fears it will be.
Pre-war exercises and Pillar of Cloud tested Israel’s Iron Dome. Its
effectiveness is exaggerated. It didn’t function as intended when Hezbollah’s drone approached Dimona, “or when it tested surface-to-surface Fajr missiles.”
It’s only able to intercept “fairly primitive rockets.” Most more sophisticated ones land untouched. Take Israeli claims with a grain of salt. It wants adversaries to think it can foil them.
Michel Chossudovsky<http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-invasion-of-gaza-part-of-a-broader-us-nato-israel-military-agenda-towards-a-scenario-of-military-escalation/5311957>called attacking Gaza “Part of a Broader US-NATO-Israeli Military Agenda.” Conflict beginning on November 14 was well-planned months in advance. Israel deliberately provoked it.
Victims are blamed for what Israel planned and initiated. The same scenario
played out numerous times before. Western media claim Israeli attacks are
“part of a legitimate counter-terrorism agenda.”
In fact, Pillar of Cloud is Israel’s latest naked aggression. Obama approved it. Washington and Israel partner directly or indirectly in all regional conflicts.
Attacking Gaza bears directly on “US-NATO-Israeli war plans pertaining to
Lebanon, Syria and Iran.”
Timing is always significant. Attacks followed one week after US elections
and ahead of scheduled January ones in Israel.
Pillar of Cloud was no isolated event. It relates directly to a broader
imperial regional agenda. More wars are planned. Syria appears closer to
full-scale Western intervention.
Hezbollah may be targeted. At issue is isolating Iran, increasing pressure,
and perhaps attacking its nuclear and military infrastructure. Don’t expect
scoundrel media to explain.
Jonathan Cook <http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-israel-alliance-obamas-green-light-to-israel-attack-on-gaza/5312200>also said Obama approved Pillar of Cloud. Key is understanding that major Israeli campaigns require US approval. It’s generally automatic.
Both countries partner in regional conflicts. Disagreements, when they
occur, largely reflect timing and perhaps tactics.
Pillar of Cloud had nothing to do with Palestinian rockets or Israeli
self-defense. These type claims are ludicrous on their face. Yet they’re
repeated nauseam. Most people believe them. Doing so let America and Israel
get away with murder.
Cook said Israeli attacks target “an occupied, largely unarmed civilian
population.” Doing so violates international law.
Washington supports the worst of Israeli crimes “brazenly and prejudicially.” Media scoundrels regurgitate official lies. Facts are readily available. Minimal effort can obtain them. Few bother. Cook highlighted a few:
– Israel, not Hamas, initiated conflict;
– Hamas, not Israel, responded defensively;
– Gazan casualties were largely civilians; many were women and children;
– Occupation harshness severely represses Palestinians; besieged Gazans
suffer most; and
– Israel’s attacks were strategically timed.
Other relevant issues also matter. Media scoundrel suppress what viewers
and readers most need to know. They’re on their own to find out.
On November 21, 137 global academics, activists, and other pro-Palestinian
supporters published a “Letter on Gaza <http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/21/the-world-cannot-stand-by-as-palestine-is-battered-to-death/>:
The World Cannot Stand by as Palestine is Battered to Death.” In part is
said:
“We the undersigned watch with horror yet another ruthless and criminal
Israeli assault on the defenceless people of the Gaza Strip.”
“The assassination of the Hamas’ military commander, Ahmad al-Jabari, by
Israel was intended to disrupt any chance for a permanent cease fire
between the two sides and caused the current cycle of violence.”
“For the last five years, al-Jabari had been responsible for limiting rocket attacks on Israel.”
Western inaction shows complicity with Israeli crimes. Washington, EU
states, and other NATO partners share responsibility.
“No other people in the world has been subjected, for more than sixty
years, to such relentless acts of collective punishment and military
brutality as have the Palestinian people.”
End Gaza’s blockade. Let people and goods move freely. Ease a humanitarian
crisis. The world no longer can wait. Palestine is being “battered to death.” Stopping it must be enforced.
Signatories included Ilan Pappe, Nur Masalha, Tariq Ali, Steven and Hilary
Rose, Ali Abunimah, Terri Ginsburg, Nurith Peled-Elhanan, and Sid Shniad.
They and millions of others care. Slaying the beast requires heavy pressure. Keeping it unrelenting is vital.
On November 23, the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council
(PHROC<http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/topics/gaza/643-joint-statement-palestinian-human-rights-ngos-condemn-violations-of-international-law-in-gaza-and-call-for-prompt-investigations-and-accountability->) “strongly condemn(ed) the violations of international law committed during the recent Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip.”
Violations this grave must be ended, investigated, and punished according
to “standards set by international law.”
Israel willfully attacked civilians disproportionately. Around 170 were killed. Others will perish. Bodies under rubble will be found. Over 1,000 were injured. Nearly half were children and women.
“At least 963 houses were damaged or destroyed.” Most were willfully
attacked.
They included “10 health centers, 35 schools, 2 universities, 15 NGO offices, 30 mosques, 14 media offices, 92 industrial and commercial facilities, 1 UNWRA food distribution center, 8 government buildings, 14 police/security stations, 5 banks, 34 vehicles, 3 youth clubs, 3 cemeteries, and 2 bridges.”
Support for and/or statements on behalf of Israel made by Washington, EU
nations, and UN officials raise deep concerns. They call Israeli aggression
self-defense.
They ignore besieged Gazans and occupation harshness. They endorse Israeli
collective punishment and belligerence. They’re silent on grave
international law beaches.
They’re mindless about appalling human suffering. They let Israel get away
with murder.
They deny Palestinians the right to live free from Israeli attacks in
peace. They ignore their humanity and suffering. Signatory groups included:
Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association
Aldameer Association for Human Rights
Al-Haq
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
Defence for Children International
Palestine Section
Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
Hurryyat – Centre for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights
Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling
Other human rights/activist groups and Palestinian supporters made similar
statements. Palestinians are human beings like Jews. Their rights matter no
less.
It’s time they got world support. It’s time culpable Israeli officials and
complicit allies were held fully accountable. Palestinians have been denied
far too long.
Source: Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled “How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War” http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
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