25 November 2012

By 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 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 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 said Palestinians killed and injured in Gaza "deserved it." Noncombatant status gave them no immunity, he believes.

Dutch writer Leon de Winter 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 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 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. It's 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 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 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:

o Israel, not Hamas, initiated conflict;

o Hamas, not Israel, responded defensively;

o Gazan casualties were largely civilians; many were women and children;

o Occupation harshness severely represses Palestinians; besieged Gazans suffer most; and

o 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: 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) "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.

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 Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour