03 September 2012 By Stephen
Lendman On November 6, Americans vote for
president, Congress, and regional candidates. On
matters concerning Israel, virtually every
officeholder and aspirant expresses wholehearted
support. One-sided bipartisan platform
language endorses it. Rock solid commitment defines
it. Obama and Romney practically fall over each other
affirming it. Doing so lets Israel to get away with
crimes of war, against humanity, and genocide with
impunity. It's no exaggeration. Longstanding US policy permits
it. Palestinians were thrown under the bus decades
ago. Israel considers them lesser beings. So does
America. Policies in both countries show it. Human suffering is out of sight
and mind. In late August, a UN report said Gaza won't
be "livable" by 2020 without urgent help. At issue is
improving water supply and safety, power, healthcare,
education, other essential services, and rebuilding
what war and regular Israeli attacks destroy. UN humanitarian coordinator
Maxwell Gaylard said conditions already are too severe
to bear. Gaza's been suffocating under Israel's
blockade for over five years. It's democratically elected
government is unrecognized. At the behest of Israel,
Washington declared it a terrorist organization.
Isolation renders Gaza's economy nonviable. Peace and security don't exist
because Israel prevents it. Land, sea and air attacks
happen regularly. No one knows from day to day who'll
live, die, or become permanently disabled. Rapid population growth assures
much worse ahead without help. Pathetically little so
far is forthcoming. Talk substitutes for policies,
condemnation of Israel, demands to end the blockade,
and other actions to free Palestine from lawless
militarized occupation and oppression. Israeli crimes happen daily. Some
matter more than others. All deserve international
condemnation. Palestinian liberation and
self-determination are long overdue. Volumes can be written daily on
what's wrong and needs correcting. On September 6, 30
Israeli intelligence community members, Likudnik Moshe
Feiglin, and extremist settlers violated the Al-Aqsa
Mosque's sanctity. It happened early at 8AM. They entered forcefully, defiled
it, and performed Talmudic rituals. Israeli security
forces protected them. Imagine world headlines and
outrage if Palestinians entered a synagogue, prayed
peacefully, and just left. Condemnation too vocal to
miss would follow. An Al-Aqsa Institute press
release accused Israel of "profanation of the
mosque….in which the occupation attempts to (force a
Jewish) presence" where it doesn't belong, impose its
will lawlessly, and try "to divide Al-Aqsa between
Palestinians and Jews." It called on Palestinians to
increase their presence and protect holy ground. That
much and more is essential. Little is done to help political
prisoners rotting in Israel's gulag. On September 2, Addameer
headlined "Imminent danger to lives of hunger strikers
Samer Al-Barq and Hassan Safadi." As of September 10,
Samer's been hunger striking for 112 days. It followed
his previous 30 day abstinence. Hassan's on his 82nd day.
Previously he hunger struck for 71 days. At issue is
long denied justice. Both men risk dying for it. On
August 30, Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad visited them and
Ayman Sharawna. He's refused food for 72 days. Samer was too weak to meet with
Fares or get out of bed. All three are in imminent
danger. Hassan experiences extreme fatigue, can't
sleep, and instead falls unconscious two or three
times daily. He suffers from numerous life-threatening
problems. He's also experiencing chronic upper waist
and joint pain. When hospitalized, their arms and
legs are painfully shackled to beds. Soldiers guard
them at all times. Israel bears full responsibility
for their condition and death if they don't survive. On September 7, Samer's father
protested at Egypt's Ramallah embassy. "Every minute
matters," he said. He's been hunger striking since
April 17. Dignity and freedom matter more than food. Israel won't let family members
see him. Samer's father is bearing up best he can. His
mother is traumatized and depressed. She's been
hospitalized over what's happened to her son. He's
held lawlessly uncharged. International pressure for him,
Hassan, Ayman, and a fourth hunger striker is absent.
World leaders able to make a difference don't care if
they live or die. They've said nothing about torture,
other physical abuse, isolation, and denial of
adequate medical care. Israel renewed Samer's uncharged
administrative detention seven times. He can be kept
imprisoned lawlessly indefinitely. Perhaps death alone
can free him. His father believes only a miracle can
save him. Israel is slowly killing him. Addameer, Al Haq and Physicians
for Human Rights-Israel urge immediate international
community intervention to help him and others refusing
food. They want justice long denied. One phone call from Obama could
do it. Instead, he lets Netanyahu roll him over. He
caves on Palestinian issues. They're off his radar. He
doesn't give a damn. The Democrat party platform threw
them under the bus. AIPAC demanded it. They complied. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman
obliquely reflected it saying "I bring my love of
Israel to work every day." Saying it relegates
Palestinians to sub-human status. Republicans and
Democrats both express no concern for Palestinian
suffering. On September 8, Israeli soldiers
violently assaulted four Palestinian workers. They
were traveling to their construction jobs in Israel. Their car was stopped. Soldiers
beat them viciously. All four required
hospitalization. They have arm, leg and head
injuries. The previous day, Israeli
soldiers kidnapped four Palestinians, including two
young children. They were playing near the Hebron City
Council in Hebron's Old City. Their whereabouts is
unknown. Two men were seized. Soldiers forcibly
entered their homes and arrested them. No reasons why
are known. Also on September 7, soldiers
violently attacked dozens of nonviolent Bil'in village
protesters. They do it weekly. Israel's Annexation
Wall is stealing their land and isolating them. Villagers, Israeli peace
activists, and German delegates were attacked.
Soldiers used tear gas, rubber bullets, toxic spray,
and gas bombs. Dozens were injured. They resist courageously. They
raised Palestinian flags. They marched, chanted
supportive slogans, urged unity among all Palestinian
factions, demanded release of political prisoners, and
called for ending Israel's lawless occupation. Kufr Qaddoum village had its own
large demonstration. Ramallah and Bethlehem ones were
held. Soldiers also attacked them. Injuries were
reported. Western media ignore what goes on and say
nothing. Political Washington supports the worst of
Israeli crimes. They're ongoing daily like clockwork. On September 9, dozens of
protesters blocked Wadi al-bar road. It's the main
artery connecting north and south West Bank areas. At
issue is growing economic hardship. High unemployment,
low pay for those able to find work, and rising prices
put enormous pressure on Palestinians struggling to
survive. Help isn't forthcoming. PA
leaders Abbas and Fayyad are shameless Israeli
collaborators. They contribute to their own people's
misery. Subservience benefits them greatly. They're
traitors. As appointed prime minister, rage
aimed mainly at Fayyad. He's a former World Bank/IMF/Federal
Reserve official. LIke Abbas, he's Israel's man in
Palestine. He's a political opportunist.
He's contemptuous of his own people. He serves without
authority. So does Abbas. His presidential term
expired in January 2009. Israel keeps them both in
power. They're useful imperial tools. Expect greater
public rage as conditions worsen. Fayyad is
unapologetic. Justice delayed denies it.
Palestinians have been waiting since 1948. Under
occupation, it's since 1967. No relief looks imminent.
No one able to help cares. Israeli lawlessness is
immunized. The worst of its crimes go unpunished.
Political Washington endorses them. Republicans and Democrats pledge
fealty to Israel. Its tail wags America's dog most
often. Isn't it about time sucking up shamelessly
ended? Progressive change more than ever is needed. Political Washington won't budge.
It's too corrupted, dysfunctional and lawless. It
doesn't give a damn about ordinary people. They're on
their own sink or swim. Perhaps they'll awaken one day
and realize it. Perhaps they'll act on their own
behalf. They better or they'll be no better off than
Palestinians. Their futures lie in their own hands.
Without activism they'll have none. There's no in
between. 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 Visit his
blog site at
sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio
Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
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