Israel's shame — and America's complicity

[jwkelly]

Gruesome violence directed against unarmed protesters is becoming a terrifyingly regular occurrence in Gaza, where another huge storm of protests was just inspired by the Trump administration moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Gazans massed near the borders of their open-air prison, with some attempting to break through the fence. The Israeli military responded by spraying live ammunition into the crowd and bombing several targets in Gaza. Scores of Gazans have been killed, including several children. Thousands have been injured.

On the other side, so far no Israelis have been hurt, and not a single rocket has been fired at Israel.

Let us call this what it is: naked tyranny by the Israeli apartheid regime. And America is complicit in the regular murderous violence necessary to maintain it.

Remember, it is not just the Jerusalem embassy being protested. Monday's protests were part of a series to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, in which about 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were ethnically cleansed, mostly from what is today official Israel, to make room for Israeli settlers. The #GreatReturnMarch hashtag refers to Gazans' demand for a "right of return" to their former villages and homes.

Hundreds of Gazans have already been shot by Israeli snipers in previous protests, dozens fatally, and several at least directly in the back as they were fleeing to safety. They had to know that many were going to be gunned down like dogs today — a previous video showed IDF soldiers whooping and cheering after one sniped a man simply standing on the other side of the fence. (Vicious racism is an undeniable reality in the IDF, and increasingly in Israel itself. It's not a coincidence that it's one of two countries on Earth that prefers Donald Trump to Barack Obama.)

Why would Gazans run into Israeli gunfire? Sheer desperation. Under the Israeli blockade, Gaza is a hellish open-air prison which is every day becoming less inhabitable. As Peter Beinart writes, despite ludicrous Israeli claims that it has "withdrawn" from the territory, Israel maintains absolute control over Gaza "the way a prison guard might control a prison courtyard in which he never actually sets foot." There are only a handful of border crossings, and Israel controls them all, even the one on Egypt's side. One needs a South Africa-style pass to enter or exit. Israel lets almost no imports through, restricts fishing kilometers off the coast (well short of where most fish are), bans access to a large swathe of Gazan territory, and sharply restricts exports.

As a result, the Gazan economy has all but collapsed. Unemployment is nearly 30 percent, over half the population doesn't have enough to eat, fresh water is running out, and all its medical facilities are severely short of supplies. Gazans get only a few hours of electricity a day at most, and famine is staved off only with international aid and a tiny trickle of supplies from Israel. The United Nations predicts that on its current trajectory, by about 2020 Gaza will reach a comprehensive humanitarian crisis.

The original Israeli justification for the blockade was the victory of Hamas in the Gaza elections of 2006. The increasingly obvious reality, as Israel was tightening its grip over Gaza well before 2006, and has contemptuously dismissed hesitant peace overtures since then, is that Hamas is just an excuse. Israel wants to maintain its iron grip over the West Bank and Gaza, and barely even cares anymore about not appearing to enforce an apartheid regime.

In this light, consider the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Palestinians view this as a vile provocation, as they have long regarded Palestinian East Jerusalem as the logical future capital of a Palestinian state. America's action signals tacit acceptance of Greater Israel in the form of a full apartheid state — one which will never renounce political control over the West Bank and Gaza (as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly promised during his last election campaign, though he disingenuously reversed himself after the election victory); one which will continue to gradually steal more and more West Bank land for itself; one which will continue its monstrous collective punishment of Gazans every time they attempt more than a whisper of protest over their nightmarish conditions.

Israel, sitting safe behind a blanket use of the United States' U.N. Security Council veto, currently has more than enough power to maintain its tyrannical occupation of the West Bank and bludgeon Gaza into submission whenever it is deemed necessary. But there may come a time when that veto is withdrawn, or the United States becomes so dysfunctional and isolated itself that it no longer provides any defense. If or when that comes to pass, Israel will regret poisoning its reputation with these vile and indefensible tactics. But the rest of world will surely not forget.

[vickigleitz]

You are either extraordinarily brave to speak this truth, or not from the United States. I agree with all you said.

[jwkelly]

Israel was created by terrorism and for decades Arabs/Muslims have been portrayed as such because of what Jewish extremists started almost a hundred years ago during the WW 1 era.

[mgint]

if people start throwing rocks and other things during protest dont say they are peaceful and there are bad actors on both sides. if america is so bad try living in other countries.

[jwkelly]

if people start throwing rocks and other things during protest dont say they are peaceful and there are bad actors on both sides. if america is so bad try living in other countries.                              Man you're clueless   !!!!  If ppl expelled you from your land,demolished your  homes,threatened and killed your family and friends....?   Look up the century of Israel/the creation of Israel/jewish terrorism....  I'd be perturbed too  as Pals and Arabs/muslims are.

    IDF can use  rubber bullets and non deadly force and none of this would be happening had  Israel been created peacefully.  LOOk it up !!!

[paints]

They're not using rubber bullets.  They're using live rounds.  Rocks are nothing compared to bullets.

[hawkeye3210]

Hamas members had guns and were throwing bombs and Molotov cocktails. These weren't peaceful protests.

[paints]

Hamas was created by Israel, as a distraction.  Whenever Israel does something horrendous, they point to Hamas. 

[ktheodos]

it's all such a big mess the I wish would resolve itself peacefully

[dwiley11]

Look, the simple fact is, is that israel has all sides that hate them.  If they throw fire bombs they shoot to kill.  They will not put up with muslim extremists.  All the other countries look like crap because israel rebuilds after it gets shot at and the palestinians take money from us for humanitarian aid and uses it for more missiles.  God blesses any country that blesses israel.  If you go against them they will win. 

[Sawman214]

This has been going on for 2000 years bottom line is if Israel has it the muslims want it. They didn't want it when jews were not there but after they made it look nice they tried to take it back.  Make your place livable before you try to expand. Its theres to do with what they want.  deal with it.

[vickysue]

Why is it always the shame put on Israel? The Jews have been persecuted for 2000 years. Yet what ever happens the Jews are to blame. They do have a lot of land compared to the Muslims countries all around them. But the Muslim want t he land because it has been built up. they still want to run the Jewish people to the ground. I think it is right that they are protecting themselves.  Sorry folks but I  stand with them. Let the other countries build themselves up. But their governments want it all.

[JaniceSW]

The fact of the matter is that the US should not be taking blatant sides in the Middle East.  I will make an exception to this as when the Syrian regime uses chemical warfare against its own people or any others in the area.  As far as Israel and the Palestinians are concerned, we should be more like Switzerland so that we can better mediate if it is even possible.  There are no angels on either side of this dispute and that includes Israel!

[JediJohnnie]

Those protesters weren't blowing kisses at Israelis.

[sfreeman8]

in all these posts siding with Hamas/Palestinians, I don't see a single mention of all the children that were killed. Why were they killed? Because, as usual, women and children are property in the Muslim religion and used as shields to cover their butts. Hamas gets 3/4 of their money for weapons from Iran. Israel was given that land by the treaty in '48 and that is their country. It was fine with the rest of the 'Arab" Muslim world back then. Hamas started the problem and is a terrorist organization, as are the Palestinians who protest. They dig tunnels into Israel and kill the citizens and/or soldiers of Israel, so it's only natural that Israel fight back.

As for the U.S. being involved...we've supported Israel since day 1...a little bit because of guilt, but they are the only non-MUslim country in the corner of the world. They know what's going on in the Muslim countries and are the strongest and only ally we have in that part of the world. There is no way The U.S. would let them down unless our government is overtaken by Musims. If things keep going in the U.S. as they are now, I don't doubt that in 10 years, half this country will be run by Muslims, and not the good ones, but the terror group.