israeli 1

Liberty In Peril

formerly,

The Llano Ledger

4-26-24

Israeli airstrike against Iran. The Associated Press reports:

"Israel and Iran on Friday both played down an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran, signaling the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown regional war. But the indecisive outcome of weeks of tensions — which included an alleged Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals, an unprecedented Iranian missile barrage on Israel and the apparent Israeli strike early Friday in the heart of Iran — did little to resolve the deeper grievances between the foes and left the door open to further fighting. “It appears we’re closer than ever to a broad regional war, despite the fact that the international community will most likely make a great effort to de-escalate tensions,” wrote Amos Harel, the military-affairs commentator for the Israeli daily Haaretz."

The only way this region-wide ongoing conflict can be resolved is with a two-state solution. That is a future Palestinian state as well as the current State of Israel.

"While Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war for years, mostly in neighboring Syria, they have largely avoided direct confrontations. That changed after an April 1 airstrike killed two Iranian generals at an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Although Israel did not comment, Iran blamed Israel for the strike and vowed revenge. Iran responded with its first-ever direct attack on Israel, launching over 300 missiles and attack drones late Saturday night. Israel, working with a U.S.-led international coalition, said it intercepted 99% of the incoming fire, though a handful of missiles managed to land, causing minor damage to an Israeli military base and seriously wounding a young girl."

Get this:

"In Friday’s attack, Iranian state television said that air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones in the air. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects. “The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. State television described all Iranian atomic sites in the areas as “fully safe.” The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said there was “no damage” to Iran’s nuclear sites."

Interestingly:

"Iranian officials made no mention of possible Israeli involvement. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to respond to any Israeli retaliatory attack. Israel also had no comment on the apparent attack, though one hard-line government minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, hinted at his dissatisfaction, with a one-word tweet early Friday, using a slang word for weak or lame. But Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said at a summit of Western leaders in Capri that the U.S. received “last-minute” information from Israel about the attack. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not dispute that, but said: “We were not involved in any offensive operations.” Yoel Guzansky, a former Iran expert in the Israeli prime minister’s office, said Israel appears to have carried out the attack to “check off a box” by sending a message to Iran without doing anything too provocative that could upset the United States, which had urged restraint, or spark further Iranian retaliation. “It seems very limited, to send a message that ‘we can strike you inside of Iran,’” said Guzansky a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank. He said “the current round” of violence appears to be over, but that “nothing has changed” with Israel still facing Iranian-backed threats on various fronts."

The Washington Post reports:

"Israel carried out a strike on Iran early Friday in retaliation for a barrage of missiles and drones launched last weekend, an Israeli official said. It was not clear what damage the apparently limited strike caused in central Iran, but the official — who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters — said it was intended to signal to Iran that Israel has the ability to strike inside the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on whether Washington was warned about the strike, but he emphasized that “the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations.” U.S. officials at multiple government agencies told The Washington Post that the Biden administration instructed them not to speak publicly about the strike."

Transparency? Non-existent for a number of different reasons. Political expediency usually number one.

"The Israel-Gaza war has gone on for six months, and tensions have spilled into the surrounding region. On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival. Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching a ground invasion that fueled the biggest displacement in the region since Israel’s creation in 1948. In the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of this century’s most destructive wars, killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into “famine-like conditions.” For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave."

With impunity to date, Israel has committed war crimes. Over 33,000 civilians have been murdered by the Israelis. Egregious war crimes.

"Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians, including President Biden, the United States supports Israel with weapons, funds aid packages, and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations’ cease-fire resolutions. The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve. Forfeiture of liberty. At the hands of outrageously corrupt and abusive government.

4-26-24

Freedom of speech in peril. NPR reports:

"New York City police officers in riot gear began making dozens of arrests at Columbia University Thursday afternoon, after school president Minouche Shafik asked for help clearing protesters from a pro-Palestinian encampment. In a letter sent to the NYPD, Shafik said "the encampment and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger" to the school. "With great regret, we request the NYPD's help to remove these individuals," Shafik wrote."

Goddamned gutless. Direct attack on the First Amendment.

"The school's student-run newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, reported that "over 100 individuals" were arrested at the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" beginning around 1 pm. The protest and encampment were organized by activists who want Columbia University to divest from companies that operate in Israel. Protesters also want a cease-fire in Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state. The clash at Columbia came a day after the university's leaders, including Shafik, testified before a Congressional hearing in Washington DC that antisemitism was a growing concern. Columbia trustee Claire Shipman responded to one lawmaker's question, saying "we have a moral crisis on our campus."

That's a gutless crock of shit. Criticism of war crimes committed by the Israeli autocrat Netanyahu is not anti-Semitism. It is criticism of an Israeli State that has murdered in excess of 33,000 Palestinian civilians in the last six months. Egregious war crimes.

"In an email sent to NPR, an organization called the Institute for Middle East Understanding said protests at the university would continue. Columbia University president Minouche Shafik testified before a House committee Wednesday. On Thursday she urged NYPD officials to break up a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus in New York City."

She gutlessly caved in to pressure by the nazi element in the Republican Party. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Despite the University's threats, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment will remain until Columbia University divests all finances, including the endowment, from corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid," the group said."

Hat's off. Uncommon Valor.

"In a statement posted on Columbia University's website Thursday, Shafeek said that asking for police help to clear the protest encampment was "an extraordinary step because these are extraordinary circumstances."

That's called gutless bullshit. Double talk. Pitiful. Pathetic. Deliberate ignorance of the egregious war crimes committed by the Israelis in Gaza. Over 33,000 civilians murdered by these jackbooted bastards. You caved into pressure by the nazi element in the Republican Party. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

More gutless bullshit:

"This morning, I had to make a decision that I hoped would never be necessary," she said."

Gutless. You need to resign in disgrace.

"Meanwhile, the daughter of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Ohmar was suspended from Barnard College on Thursday for taking part in the Columbia University protest."

Uncommon Valor. Stood tall.

"Those of us in Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not be intimidated," Isra Hirsi, age 21, wrote on social media. "We will stand resolute until our demands are met."

Uncommon Valor. Continue to stand tall.

3-29-24

Biden finally stands tall against Netanyahu. The Washington Post reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday canceled a trip to Washington by an Israeli delegation of top officials after the United Nations Security Council passed its first resolution calling for a Gaza cease-fire. The United States abstained, allowing it to pass. The resolution, backed by 14 nations including China and Russia, demands an immediate cease-fire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the release of all hostages. Four previous cease-fire resolutions had failed, including one proposed by the United States on Friday.

“In light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that the delegation will not travel to the U.S.,” the office of Israel’s prime minister said in a statement. The delegation had been set to include Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the abstention did not represent a “change in policy” for President Biden. “There is no reason for this to be seen as some sort of escalation,” he said. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is in Washington this week, part of a separate delegation from the one that was canceled, as the Biden administration presses Israel not to attack the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Vice President Harris told ABC’s “This Week” that such an offensive “would be a huge mistake.” Harris said consequences for such an attack, on an area where more than a million people are sheltering, had not been ruled out. Netanyahu repeated his insistence Sunday that a military operation in Rafah is needed to eliminate Hamas."

The Prime Minister has indeed lost himself. Remains a war criminal. Over 32,000 civilians have been murdered.

3-22-24

Schumer stands tall. Finally. What took so long, Senator?

NPR reports:

"Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history and a top advocate for Israel in Congress, announced that he sees Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace in the country's war with Hamas. He said it was time for the country to hold new elections. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel," Schumer said."

Clearly. No question.

"The New York Democrat, who began his remarks by decrying Hamas and calling for the release of hostages, said that, were Netanyahu to remain in power, it would jeopardize global support for Israel at a critical juncture. "Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah," he said."

No question. The truth.

"Schumer said that Israel needs to make "some serious course corrections," including allowing more aid into Gaza, though asserted that the country had shouldered too much of the blame for the civilian death toll, which is now estimated to be more than 30 thousand people. "Hamas has heartlessly hidden behind their fellow Palestinians by turning hospitals into command centers and refugee camps into missile launching sites," Schumer said. Among the other obstacles to peace Schumer identified: radical right-wing Israelis and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. The White House was made aware of Schumer's remarks in advance, according to John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council."

Not surprisingly:

"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took to the Senate floor after Schumer's remarks to reaffirm his support for Netanyahu. "The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one," McConnell said. At a House GOP retreat in West Virginia, Republican leaders called an impromptu press conference to slam Schumer. House Speaker Mike Johnson said they learned about the remarks during a work session, and found the remarks "shocking." "This is not only highly inappropriate, it's just plain wrong," Johnson told reporters at Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., where Republicans are holding their retreat. "For an American leader to play such a divisive role in Israel politics, while our closest ally in the region is in an extensional battle for its very survival, we need to be standing with Israel."

No matter the extensive war crimes and deliberate murder of over 30,000 Palestinian civilians by the Israelis? Time to wake up.

"Johnson was flanked by Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Rep. Elise Stefanik, who chairs the House Republican Conference. Scalise called Schumer's remarks "disgraceful," and said the Senate majority leader owes the people of Israel an apology. Emmer called Schumer's actions "unprecedented and very dangerous."

Called the truth. -- Something the nazi element in the Republican Party continues to deliberately ignore. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

A two-state solution is the only way the State of Israel can possibly survive.

3-8-24

Follow-up. Israeli war crimes. NBC News reports:

"Israel-Hamas war has now killed at least 30,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians."

Likely far more since many may be buried under the rubble:

"Some 60% of the residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged and 45% have been destroyed altogether, according to a World Bank report."

Deliberate murder of innocent civilians orchestrated by the Israelis. War crimes.

"The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has now killed at least 30,000 people, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced Thursday, a swelling death toll that has already drawn condemnation internationally, isolated Israel and prompted dismay from its traditional friends and allies. Though the United States says a cease-fire may be near, the military campaign looks far from over. Having swept through swaths of northern and central Gaza, Israel has signaled its intention to attack Rafah, the enclave’s southernmost city where an estimated 1.4 million people are sheltering in squalid conditions."

Gets worse. Get this:

"Some 70% of the dead Palestinians are women and children, according to figures published by the Palestinian Health Ministry. And while many lawyers agree Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel was a war crime, Israel too has been accused by rights watchdogs and United Nations officials of breaking international law in its response. “Nothing can justify” Hamas’ “deliberate killing, injuring, torturing and kidnapping of civilians, the use of sexual violence, or the indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israel,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a speech Monday. “But nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” “International humanitarian law remains under attack,” he said. And “tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, have been killed.”

As reported earlier and complicating matters:

"American and U.N. officials say the death toll given by Palestinian officials is at least accurate and perhaps an undercount. Aid workers on the ground say that thousands more people could still be trapped under the rubble. In addition some 70,000 people have been wounded, and 1.7 million — or 80% of the population — has been displaced, according to Gazan health officials and U.N. estimates."

With absolutely no regard for the massive loss of civilian lives.

“This isn’t just a question of the number of Palestinians killed; this is much bigger than that,” said Diana Buttu, the former legal adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “The world has failed Palestinians.”

Yet, Biden continues to refuse to cut off all weapons, funding, and aid to Netanyahu. The following ignores decades of oppression perpetrated by the Israelis against Palestinians and the Arab community throughout the entire region:

"Israel says it’s only interested in trying to root out Hamas following its Oct. 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 kidnapped, according to the Israeli government. According to the Israeli military, 576 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7 — 237 of them since the ground offensive began Oct. 27. The Israeli military says it is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, including dropping leaflets, attempting to evacuate conflict areas and creating so-called “safe zones’’ inside Gaza."

There are no "safe zones inside Gaza." It's a lie. Simply, not true. Worse, it ignores the over 30,000 civilians Israel has murdered since this latest conflict started. War crimes.

"Israeli officials blame the death toll on Hamas using civilians as “human shields,” as well as the group’s failure to release the 134 hostages believed still in Gaza. “Hamas declared war on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel had to respond,” said Aviv A. Oreg, a veteran reservist in the IDF’s military intelligence branch where he has held multiple senior roles. “I think we’ve done much, much better within the framework of humanitarian issues than others did,” he added, comparing Israel’s efforts favorable to those by the U.S. in Afghanistan, or the Western Allies in World War II. “I didn’t see them creating safe zones in Dresden,” he said."

Here's the problem:

"Hamas is deemed a terrorist group by the U.S., and most if not all international law experts say its Oct. 7 assault constituted a war crime. But in its response, Israel, too, has been accused by watchdogs, such as Human Rights Watch, and some senior U.N. officials of breaching international law. South Africa has engaged a legal case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is guilty of genocide against the Palestinians, something Israel vehemently denies. Dozens of Gazans interviewed by NBC News since the start of the conflict say they believe Israel’s ultimate aim is to drive them out of Gaza so that it can be settled by Israelis, as is happening in the West Bank, another territory Palestinians hope will be part of a future state."

The Israeli war criminal autocrat Prime Minister has no credibility:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied this is his government policy. But other members of his coalition, the most right wing in Israel’s history, have suggested as much. That, coupled with the relentlessness of Israel’s campaign, is proof enough for Palestinians who say that this is not just about targeting Hamas. “These deliberately random attacks say one thing to me — that this is really a plan to carry out collective punishment, which is a war crime,” said Musheir El-Farra, 62, a Palestinian filmmaker and rights activist. “It’s a crime in front of our eyes and the whole world is watching.” He spent six weeks in Gaza at the start of the conflict, and although, as a British national, he managed to flee to England, he says more than 100 of his relatives have been killed. “We are witnessing the destruction of anything and everything,” he said. “They continue to destroy town after town, city after city.” The next such population center looks set to be Rafah. Israel has drawn up plans to attack the city and evacuate both its residents and the people who have fled there from elsewhere. Two Israeli officials told NBC News on Monday that Palestinian civilians sheltering in Rafah will be allowed to flee to other areas of southern Gaza but not be allowed to return to their homes in the north. With Gaza already one of the most densely populated places on Earth, that’s led many to question where these people are supposed to go."

No place for them to go. The following is empty, hollow, meaningless, disingenuous bullshit, double talk engaged in by our government:

"The White House has warned Israel that it was opposed to an attack on Rafah without “a credible and executable plan” to get civilians out of harm’s way. It was not clear if the Israeli proposals to move civilians into other parts of southern Gaza would meet that American benchmark."

How could it?

“The operation in Rafah, it’s going to have a lot of consequences,” said Shahin Berenji, an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island. “I’m not sure how you go about relocating 1.5 million people in the span of a week. I think there are a lot of unanswered questions.” Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is facing domestic political pressure from critics who are dismayed at Washington’s continued military support of Israel, which receives more than $3 billion in military aid from Washington every year. Biden and his officials have grown increasingly critical of Israel’s war, but nevertheless the U.S. has been accused of giving “Israel the greenest of green lights” to attack Gaza, according to Buttu, who was a spokesperson for the Palestine Liberation Organization in the 2000s."

Certainly, appears to be the case. Reeks of Aryan arrogance. A problem dating back to 1948 when Palestinians were given the boot to create the State of Israel. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"On Monday, Biden said he hopes there will be a cease-fire by next week. But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that such a pause would not stop Israel “continue fighting until the very last hostages return.” For Palestinians such as El-Farra, any respite to the violence must be accompanied by a long-term plan for their future, something on which Israel and Washington also remain divided. “As someone whose heart is bleeding for my people, I would love to see a cease-fire,” El-Farra said. “But I don’t want to see a cease-fire that will give people a little bit of hope, only for the fighting to resume in six weeks.”

Been an ongoing problem in the region since 1948.

NBC News reports:

"As Gaza death toll tops 30,000, is Israel on the path to victory or quagmire? Israel says Hamas is under mounting pressure, but some analysts say the situation in Gaza could end up resembling Israel’s troubled experience in Lebanon in the 1980s and ’90s."

Certainly, appears to be the case.

"But as Israel prepares for what it says is a final push against Hamas in the southern city of Rafah, one U.S. official said Hamas is “degraded but still capable.” Hamas’ top leaders are still alive, the group still holds more than 100 Israeli hostages, it continues to battle Israeli troops on the ground and — even based on Israel’s aggressive casualty estimates — has 18,000 fighters left. And the massive civilian death toll in Gaza, like the dozens killed Thursday by Israeli forces as they rushed aid trucks in search of food, keeps stoking global criticism of Israel. The chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, meanwhile, told NBC News he was surprised to learn that only a “miniscule” portion of the Hamas tunnel network, which may stretch for 300 miles, has been cleared. “The amount of the tunnels that they’ve been actually fully able to clear, fully secure is tiny,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “It’s stunningly small.” Israel’s estimate that it has killed roughly 40% of Hamas’ fighters is significant but suggests there is still a substantial armed force on the ground, said the former head of U.S. Central Command, retired Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who oversaw the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. “That’s not nothing,” he said. “But what that does tell you is there are a lot of fighters left.” Although Israel’s military is “making progress,” he said there are indications “they still have got an awful long way to go, and it’s going to continue to be a difficult campaign.”

Here's the problem:

"Clarke and other analysts say the situation in Gaza could end up resembling Israel’s troubled experience in southern Lebanon in the 1980s and ’90s. In 1982, Israel moved into southern Lebanon to evict the Palestinian Liberation Organization but stayed for nearly two decades, having failed to stamp out Lebanese and Palestinian militants. “They withdrew from it (Lebanon) in 2000 unilaterally, and they never solved the problem. In fact, they left Hezbollah stronger than ever,” said Randa Slim, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank. “I think they’re going to repeat the same failed experiment” in Gaza, she said. Israel’s long-running military presence in southern Lebanon enabled the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia to attract thousands of volunteers, Slim said, and the Israeli offensive in Gaza could have a similar effect."

Most likely will.

"Israel’s reliance on heavy aerial bombing in Gaza could also prove to be counterproductive, as it risks fueling resistance for years to come, according to Robert Pape, a military strategy and counterterrorism expert and political science professor at the University of Chicago. “Israel’s military operations are producing more terrorists than they’re killing,” Pape said."

Finally, something other than empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric from Biden and the United States government. While egregiously insufficient, better than nothing:

CBS News(AP) reports:

"U.S. military C-130 cargo planes on Saturday dropped food in pallets over Gaza, three U.S. officials said, two days after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops."

All the more reason Biden should have cut off all funding, aid, and weapons to the autocrat Israeli dictator and his government.

"U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza, CENTCOM said in a statement. A defense official told CBS News three U.S. C-130 cargo planes dropped 66 total bundles, equating to about 38,000 pork-free meals, into the territory on Saturday morning. The bundles were split between three planes, the official said."

Although nowhere near sufficient, imagine the reaction of starving Gazans.

"The airdrop is expected to be the first of many announced by President Joe Biden on Friday. The aid will be coordinated with Jordan, which has also conducted airdrops to deliver food to Gaza. A U.S. official said that the next drop is planned for Wednesday."

The pace must pick up most significantly.

"These airdrops are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into Gaza, including by expanding the flow of aid through land corridors and routes," the statement said, adding that the military is "conducting planning for potential follow-on airborne aid delivery missions."

The Israelis have blocked food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza since onset of the war. Have deliberately killed innocent civilians. Intentionally perpetrated war crimes and have yet to be held accountable by anyone including Biden and the U.S. government. The following is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg:

"At least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded in the Thursday attack as they scrambled for aid, the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said. Israel says many of the dead were trampled in a chaotic crush for food aid, and its troops fired warning shots after the crowd moved toward them in a threatening way."

Like the Trump nazi, the Israeli dictator Prime Minister is a congenital liar. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that the airdrops were being planned to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in a safe way to people on the ground."

That is, indeed, welcome news. Question remains, why did it take this long? Why all the stonewalling and egregious disingenuous bullshit to date?

"The C-130 cargo plane is a widely used military jet to deliver aid to remote places due to its ability to land in austere environments and cargo capacity. It airlift[s] as much as 42,000 pounds of cargo and its crews know how to rig the cargo, which sometimes can include even vehicles, onto massive pallets can be safely dropped out of the back of the aircraft."

The military is extremely good at this:

"Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles onto pallets with netting that is rigged for release in the back of a C-130, and then crews release it with a parachute when the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone."

Imagine the reaction of people on the ground about to receive the aid seeing the air crews doing the seemingly impossible.

"The Air Force's C-130 has been used in years past to air drop humanitarian into Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations and the airframe is used in an annual multi-national "Operation Christmas Drop" that air drops pallets of toys, supplies, nonperishable food and fishing supplies to remote locations in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau."

Here's the problem that the Israelis have not been held accountable for:

"Since the war began on Oct. 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for a trickle of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing. The United Nations says a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people face starvation. Aid officials have said that airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a measure of last resort."

No question. Time for Biden to cut off all funding, aid, and weapons to an Israeli war criminal Prime Minister and his government continuing to commit war crimes.

"U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to meet with Israeli government minister Benny Gantz on Monday. The meeting "is part of our continued efforts to engage with a wide range of Israeli officials on the war in Gaza and planning for the day after," a White House official told CBS News."

Nowhere near significant or effective to date. Precisely, why all funding, aid, and weapons to the Israeli war criminal dictator and his government need to end.

"Harris will also reiterate concerns about civilian casualties and the situation in Rafah during the meeting, the official said. Gantz will also meet with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan."

To date, nothing more than empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric. Biden should be ashamed of himself. Worse? Could cost him the election. Should that happen, would likely trigger an unwanted, dreaded second American revolution. There is no greater threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties than the Trump nazi. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

2-29-24

Follow-up. Raw nazism. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter. Emulation of its Second World War oppressor, Adolf Hitler.

The Washington Post reports:

"Netanyahu presents hard-line ‘day after’ vision for Gaza for the first time."

Sadly, this nazi dictator remains a war criminal. Over 25,000 innocent Palestinians murdered by this Israeli nazi war criminal and his jackbooted goons.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a proposal early Friday for Israel’s indefinite military control of Gaza, repeating hard-line stances he has made before but still surprising the public by putting it all in writing as a concrete postwar plan."

Nazi arrogance of this autocratic Israeli dictator, war criminal.

Readers of this publication and elsewhere are certainly aware:

"For months, Netanyahu has placed two topics largely off-limits in public questioning: What responsibility does he bear for security lapses leading to the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, and who will govern the enclave when the fighting is over? On the first question, Netanyahu continues to deflect. But he has finally spoken on the second with a one-page proposal presented to his security cabinet Thursday night and released publicly after midnight. The outline is meant as a starting point for further discussions, his office said."

Sadly, this man is delusional. These 'discussions' will likely go nowhere. Have no support in the region or at the United Nations. ... Not that the Oct.7 Hamas attacks can be supported, justified.

"The debut of a plan that had been considered off-limits to public discussion came as a surprise to many in the government, according to an Israeli official close to the discussions. The new policy followed a meeting Thursday with White House envoy Brett McGurk and came as momentum appeared to be building in Paris-based talks toward a possible cease-fire and hostage-release deal with Hamas. “This was synchronized with the Americans,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about internal discussions. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem did not respond to a request for comment."

No surprise. No transparency. Never has been.

“Netanyahu’s number one goal is buying time,” said Gideon Rahat, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and chair of Hebrew University’s political science department. “He bought as much time as he could on this in the face of pressure from Joe Biden.”

Biden is gutless. Could have brought quite a bit more pressure on the Israeli autocrat, war criminal. Should have long since threatened to cut off all U.S. aid to the Israeli war criminal.

"The proposal outlined by Netanyahu largely reflects what he has said in public. Among its key points: Israel’s military will stay in Gaza as long as it takes to demilitarize the enclave, eliminate Hamas and keep it from regrouping."

Has no chance of success. Sadly, the terror will continue. Hamas has nothing to lose. Will continue to recruit terrorists as the Israeli oppression remains unabated.

"Israel will assume greater control of Gaza’s southern border, in cooperation with Egypt “as much as possible,” and will carve out border buffer zones to prevent smuggling and further attacks. Egypt has rejected any Israeli role on its border with Gaza."

Precisely, why Israel has virtually no chance of success there.

"The United Nations’ primary aid agency in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA, which Israel accuses of complicity with Hamas and fostering hatred of Jews, would be disbanded and replaced."

Not a chance of success. Continued oppression by the Israelis guaranties new recruitment of terrorists. Jackbooted tactics by Adolf Hitler and his goons employed by the Israeli dictator will work no better for Israel than it did the Germans. Netanyahu doesn't seem to understand this.

"The proposal rejects any permanent agreement with “the Palestinians” that is not achieved through direct negotiations with Israel, as well as any “unilateral” Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said the outline was a nonstarter."

Clearly. Guaranties continued violence.

“The plans proposed by Netanyahu are aimed at continuing Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state,” said Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. “Israel will not succeed in its attempts to change the geographical and demographic reality in the Gaza Strip.” Critics in Israel also dismissed the outline as a compendium of ideas that have already been rejected by the international community and Israel’s most important backers. The points will be welcomed by Netanyahu’s conservative base but do little to advance strategic considerations about postwar Gaza, said Chuck Freilich, a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council and a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. “This is just a presentation of Israel’s maximalist positions,” Freilich said. “The pressure was building on him to come up with something, so he came out with this document and slapped ‘day after’ on the top.”

Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric.

"But if the goals were in line with Netanyahu’s rhetoric, political observers said the proposal was notable for breaking the official silence on the topic. And it did not call for the reestablishment of Israeli settlements inside Gaza, as some of Netanyahu’s coalition partners have demanded. Nor, as many Israeli political observers noted, did it slam the door on Palestinian Authority officials playing a role in Gaza, as Netanyahu has repeatedly done in the past. Instead, the outline describes a civil service staffed by “local entities with managerial experience,” without defining who that might be. Anyone with ties to terrorist groups or countries “supporting terrorism” — a possible reference to Qatar and Iran — would be barred. Senior Israelis have previously pushed the idea of unaffiliated clan leaders taking charge of many government functions, which critics dismiss as an unworkable alliance with inexperienced locals who would be seen as Israeli proxies."

No question.

"Not explicitly rejecting (or even mentioning) the Palestinian Authority, which governs in the West Bank, at least avoids another public break with the Biden administration, which has pushed the idea of a “revitalized” authority as the best place to look for stable, long-term administrators for Gaza. “It’s vague enough to enable him to control his coalition on the one hand and to give a hint to Biden and others that there might be some type of Palestinian Authority role when it doesn’t come to security issues,” Rahat said. But Palestinians saw the document’s silence as an insult."

Sadly, rightly so.

“The Palestinian Authority is simply ignored, rendering it as if it doesn’t exist,” political analyst Mustafa Ibrahim told The Washington Post in a phone interview from Rafah, in southern Gaza, where he is sheltering with his family. “What Netanyahu’s plan presents is a vision solely centered around Israel and its interests, with no regard for the humanity or rights of Palestinians.”

Surprised?

1-26-24

Think Biden will ever stand tall against the Israeli aggressor? NBC News reports:

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken dialed up pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday over the future of the Gaza Strip, laying bare the Biden administration’s growing frustrations with the Israeli prime minister’s rejection of a proposal last week. “There’s a profound opportunity for regionalization in the Middle East, in the greater Middle East that we have not had before,” Blinken said during an interview at the World Economic Forum's summit in Davos, Switzerland. “The challenge is realizing it.” Asked if Netanyahu is the prime minister for seizing this opportunity, Blinken said, "These are decisions for Israelis to make," adding, “This is an inflection point." Blinken’s comments, made during an interview with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, come just a week after a trip to the Middle East to try to get Israel and Arab leaders to agree on a path forward for Gaza once the war with Hamas ends. The Biden administration and Netanyahu’s divisions over Israel’s handling of its war with Hamas, as well as the Israeli leader’s refusal to consider U.S. proposals for a post-war Gaza, have only become more pronounced since Blinken’s visit to Israel, according to multiple senior administration officials. The secretary of state returned to Washington, the officials said, having been rebuffed by Netanyahu on all but one of the administration’s asks: an understanding that Israel would not attack Hezbollah in Lebanon."

Time for Biden to cut off all funding of the Israeli regime.

12-29-23

Is the Israeli aggressor succeeding or failing? NBC News reports:

"Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has inflicted significant damage on Hamas but it appears a long way from delivering the death blow to the Palestinian militants that Israeli leaders vowed when the assault began 11 weeks ago. In slow-moving, street-to-street fighting backed up by relentless bombing raids, Israel says it has scored battlefield gains against Hamas and begun to dismantle its military infrastructure. But experts and former U.S. military officers say that the progress is temporary and that there is no sign the militants are on the verge of a strategic defeat. “I wouldn’t call it impossible, but I think the likelihood is becoming increasingly small that they will achieve the strategic goal of eliminating Hamas as a threat,” said retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Nagata, who oversaw special operations forces in the Middle East. The limited success against Hamas has come at a high price, in civilian lives and international political outrage directed at Israel’s government. On Wednesday, the rising death toll for Palestinian civilians reached a grim milestone of 20,000, according to Gaza health authorities."

Egregious war crimes.

"Israel so far has failed to achieve several key goals that it set for the campaign. Hamas’ senior leaders remain alive. The group’s military infrastructure has been hit hard but not wiped out. The group continues to hold dozens of hostages and Hamas remains the sole governing authority in the Gaza Strip, despite vows from Israel to permanently oust the militants from political power. Meanwhile, Israel’s main adversary, Iran, stands to benefit from the conflict, which it helped provoke through its decadeslong support for Hamas.

"But Israel now finds itself caught in a bind between contradictory objectives: The more military success it achieves in its war with Hamas, the higher the Palestinian civilian death toll and the more Israel risks losing support from its most important ally, the United States."

Time for the United States to withdraw all support. If not, it continues to enable and facilitate Israeli war crimes.

“Every bit of progress they make towards their strategic goal increasingly damages their reputation internationally and makes it harder for their allies and supporters to continue to support them,” said Nagata, who helped lead the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group's militants in Syria and Iraq."

The Washington Post reports:

"Weeks before Israel sent troops into al-Shifa Hospital, its spokesman began building a public case. The claims were remarkably specific — that five hospital buildings were directly involved in Hamas activities; that the buildings sat atop underground tunnels that were used by militants to direct rocket attacks and command fighters; and that the tunnels could be accessed from inside hospital wards. The assertions were backed by “concrete evidence,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said as he laid out the case in an Oct. 27 briefing. After storming the complex on Nov. 15, the IDF released a series of photographs and videos that it said proved its central point. “Terrorists came here to command their operations,” Hagari said in a video published Nov. 22, guiding viewers through an underground tunnel, illuminating dark and empty rooms beneath al-Shifa. But the evidence presented by the Israeli government falls short of showing that Hamas had been using the hospital as a command and control center, according to a Washington Post analysis of open-source visuals, satellite imagery and all of the publicly released IDF materials. That raises critical questions, legal and humanitarian experts say, about whether the civilian harm caused by Israel’s military operations against the hospital — encircling, besieging and ultimately raiding the facility and the tunnel beneath it — were proportionate to the assessed threat. The Post’s analysis shows: The rooms connected to the tunnel network discovered by IDF troops showed no immediate evidence of military use by Hamas. None of the five hospital buildings identified by Hagari appeared to be connected to the tunnel network. There is no evidence that the tunnels could be accessed from inside hospital wards."

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying like hell, could it?

"Hours before IDF troops entered the complex, the Biden administration declassified U.S. intelligence assessments that it said bolstered Israel’s claims. In the aftermath of the raid, Israeli and U.S. officials have stood firm behind their initial statements. “We are absolutely confident in the intelligence ... that Hamas was using it as a command and control node,” a senior administration official told The Post last week, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings. “Hamas had been holding the hostages in the hospital compound until shortly before Israel went in.” The U.S. government has not made any of the declassified material public and the official would not share the intelligence this assessment was based on."

Why not? Is it because it doesn't exist?

“The IDF has published extensive, irrefutable evidence that points to the abuse of the Shifa hospital complex by Hamas for terrorism purposes, and underground terrorism activity,” an IDF spokesperson told The Post. When asked if more evidence from al-Shifa would be forthcoming, the spokesperson said: “We cannot provide additional information.” On Nov. 24, Israel’s military announced in a statement that it had destroyed the tunnel on the hospital grounds; its forces withdrew soon after. “Before, I was convinced that [al-Shifa] was where these operations were taking place,” a senior U.S. member of Congress told The Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. But now, he said, “I think there has to be a new level of demonstration. They should have more proof at this point.”

No question.

"A doctor went to Gaza to help. What he saw there still haunts him. The targeting by a U.S. ally of a compound housing hundreds of sick and dying patients and thousands of displaced people has no precedent in recent decades. The march on al-Shifa caused the hospital’s operations to collapse. As Israeli troops closed in and fighting intensified, fuel ran out, supplies could not enter, and ambulances were unable to collect casualties from the streets."

NPR reports:

"Journalist Masha Gessen received a prize named after political theorist Hannah Ahrendt in Bremen, Germany on Saturday. The ceremony almost didn't happen after sponsors condemned Gessen's recent remarks on the Middle East. Prominent Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen received a prestigious award for political thought over the weekend, in a ceremony that almost didn't happen due to backlash over their recent writings on Israel-Gaza. Israel's air-and-ground assault on Gaza has killed more than 20,000 people in the 10 weeks since the Hamas-led attack on Israel killed some 1,200 people and took more than 240 others hostage. Gessen, who is Jewish and whose family lost loved ones in the Holocaust, has been criticized for a New Yorker essay published earlier this month in which they likened the Gaza Strip to the WWII-era ghettos that Nazis developed to segregate and control Jewish people in occupied Europe."

Unjust criticism. Told the truth.

"Gessen argues in the essay that treating the Holocaust as a "singular event," unlike anything that has occurred before or after in history, not only is incorrect but makes it impossible to learn lessons from the Holocaust that are needed to prevent future genocides."

The truth.

"The term "would have given us the language to describe what is happening in Gaza now. The ghetto is being liquidated," they wrote, referring to the process in which Jews were either killed in ghettos or forced out to concentration camps. Gessen notes there are key differences between the two: The Nazi claim that ghettos were necessary to protect non-Jews from disease "had no basis in reality," while Israel's stance that the isolation of Gaza is necessary to protect against Palestinian terrorist attacks "stems from actual and repeated acts of violence."

That violence ultimately stems from the seizure of Palestinian land in 1948 as well as Israeli intransigence regarding a 'two-state' solution.

"Yet both claims propose that an occupying authority can choose to isolate, immiserate — and now, mortally endanger — an entire population of people in the name of protecting its own," they contend. The essay was published — and made waves — just as Gessen was preparing to travel to Bremen, Germany to accept the Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought. The award, which is funded by the left-leaning Heinrich Böll Foundation and the government of Bremen, honors those who contribute to public thought in the tradition of the influential 20th-century philosopher. Both the foundation and Bremen's town hall quickly withdrew their support from the awards ceremony, which was originally set for last Friday. A scaled-down ceremony was held in a different venue the following day. Shortly after, Gessen spoke to Morning Edition's Leila Fadel about the controversy and the essay that started it."

Get this:

"Leila Fadel: I want to lay out the point and the argument of your piece before we get to the backlash that happened. In your recent essay for The New Yorker, you discuss how "the politics of memory of the Holocaust and antisemitism obscure what we see in Israel and Gaza today." ... What is the central argument in your piece?

"Masha Gessen: It's an argument for comparing the Holocaust to present-day situations, and I make this argument both explicitly and implicitly. I believe that to deliver on the promise of "Never Again," we have to constantly be checking to see if we are once again sliding into the darkness, which I believe is something that's happening in Gaza today. The essay looks at how memory culture, particularly in Germany, has sort of ossified and given birth to a vast and rather bizarre bureaucracy that polices what it perceives as antisemitism. But antisemitism is often too often defined as criticism of Israel, rather than actual antisemitic attacks and harassment."

No question. Criticism of the Israeli dictator and his policies is not antisemitic, it is criticism of an autocrat and his murderous ideology and tactics.

12-22-23

No end to the carnage imposed by the Israeli aggressor. The Washington Post reports:

"Almost half of the munitions Israel has used in Gaza since the war began have been unguided bombs, a U.S. intelligence assessment has found, a ratio that some arms experts say helps explain the conflict’s enormous civilian death toll. The Israel Defense Forces has fired more than 29,000 air-to-ground munitions into the Palestinian enclave since Oct. 7, and only 55 to 60 percent of them have been precision-guided, according to a new assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The rest were what are known as “dumb bombs,” said two people familiar with the assessment who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The use of so many unguided bombs, first reported by CNN, is a concern among humanitarian groups and others amid growing calls inside and outside the United States for Washington to condition any further military aid to Israel on the immediate reduction of civilian deaths."

Biden is certainly part of the problem:

"The Biden administration has thus far rejected such calls, fearing a backlash by Republicans and political attacks from powerful pro-Israel lobbying organizations. Instead, it has attempted to influence the Israeli government to scale back its military campaign using a series of high-level visits, including meetings in Tel Aviv on Thursday between national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

Biden is gutless. More concerned with politics than the Israeli murder of nearly 18,000 innocent Palestinians. Doesn't he understand this could indeed cost him the election?

"The IDF did not respond to a request for comment."

Surprised?

"Nearly 18,800 people have been killed and almost 51,000 wounded in Gaza over the past two months, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Under international law, weapons are considered indiscriminate if they cannot be directed at military targets. “It is challenging in the best of circumstances to differentiate between valid military targets and civilians” there, said Brian Castner, senior crisis adviser and weapons investigator at Amnesty International. “And so just under basic rules of discretion, the Israeli military should be using the most precise weapons that it can that it has available and be using the smallest weapon appropriate for the target.” Israel has been using “very, very large weapons,” Castner said. “And so when you’re using that in a densely populated area, even if you hit your valid military target, you’re far more likely to kill civilians nearby.” In some instances, Israel’s use of unguided munitions is less problematic than in others, said a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Hitting tunnel entrances or buildings in less-populated areas, when Israeli planes will fly at low altitudes and release their payloads at close range — a tactic known as “dive bombing” — is viewed as more defensible by the Biden administration. Overall, however, the administration considers the level of civilian casualties unacceptably high and has implored the Israelis to take greater caution."

Not good enough. Nowhere near.

"In a recent visit to Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli officials they had weeks, not months, to continue fighting at its current pace, said a U.S. official familiar with the matter."

Not good enough. Nowhere near. Pitiful.

"When asked about the use of “dumb bombs,” State Department spokesman Matt Miller said he was not in a position to provide “judgment” on the matter. “There are different ways you can use any number of munitions,” he said."

Gutless. A non-answer to a pointed question.

"Sullivan’s trip to Israel on Thursday marked the first in a string of visits planned by senior officials in coming days. All are expected to bring a stark message regarding Washington’s desire for a change to the pace of Israel’s aerial campaign. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled to arrive Friday, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is due in Israel on Monday. “Netanyahu has gone way too far and Jake Sullivan will be informing him that the bombing must be greatly limited or Israel will be without its last real friend,” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said in a statement on social media. White House spokesman John Kirby said Sullivan “discussed the next phase of Israel’s military campaign” with Netanyahu and “asked hard questions.” “Jake also discussed efforts Israel is now undertaking to be more surgical and precise in their targeting and efforts that they are undertaking to help increase the flow of aid,” said Kirby. Earlier this week, President Biden told attendees at a fundraiser that “the indiscriminate bombing that takes place” in Gaza was beginning to cost Israel support around the world, in some of the sharpest U.S. criticism yet of Israel’s approach to the war. Kirby has said the president’s comments “reflected the reality of global opinion, which also matters.”

All the above is nothing more than empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric. The Israeli aggressor clearly intends to continue murdering innocent Palestinian civilians. There will be no change unless the United States threatens to end all support.

"There has been growing international condemnation and concern over the scale of casualties in Gaza, with 153 nations voting Tuesday in favor of a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza — an increase of more than 30 votes since a similar motion in late October."

Rightfully, so.

"Frustrations are rising in Congress too, after the Biden administration invoked a sparingly used emergency provision to allow the State Department to approve the sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 tank shells, worth roughly $106 million, without first going through the normal congressional review channels. Lawmakers are also uncomfortable with the dearth of information made public about U.S. arms transfers, a process that has entailed a level of secrecy from the administration at odds with its approach to arming Ukraine. “Do I have concerns? Yes, I do, in regard to that,” said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who added that he was informed by the administration ahead of the tank shells sale. “Not because it’s Israel or anyone else, because of any funding in that regards, it should come to us.”

That's right. It should. Biden remains oblivious. Out to lunch.

"Pressure has also been growing from rights groups and even within Biden’s own party, with calls for greater scrutiny over U.S. military support for Israel as well as the measures taken to protect civilians."

No question. Israel has murdered nearly 18,000 innocent Palestinians.

“We have documented a number of what we would argue are indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks. ... I think this new information about the use of unguided bombs actually goes a long way to explain that,” said Castner, Amnesty International’s weapons investigator. Even attempts to more precisely engineer the path of such missiles can’t necessarily mitigate the potential for civilian harm, according to analyses by Armament Research Services, commissioned by the International Committee of the Red Cross. “The predicted area in which they will fall is almost always larger than that of precision-guided equivalents,” the report said."

Biden should be ashamed of himself. He's facilitating Israeli war crimes.

"Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, said there is technology to help increase the accuracy of unguided missiles. Israel has F-16s fitted with targeting pods, for instance, which use laser designators to improve accuracy when conducting dive-bomb attacks. Still, accuracy can be affected by factors including the height of the aircraft, wind and weather conditions, and whether the aircraft launching the strike is being targeted from the ground. Some experts said the reported use of unguided munitions was out of step with the United States’ own practice."

Stunning, isn't it?

"Marc Garlasco, a former military adviser at the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the U.S. military relies “almost exclusively” on precision munitions. This is especially true in conflicts where American commanders pursue targets in urban areas, he said “because of the likelihood of civilian harm as well as the potential for missing the target.” “Israel has the most technologically advanced weapons in the world and their [precision-guided munitions] have an accuracy of three meters,” he said — but with unguided bombing, munitions can land as far as 30 meters, or about 100 feet, away from their intended target."

Certainly, indicates the Israelis are deliberately killing innocent Palestinian civilians. ... Nearly, 18,000 in this conflict to date.

"Mick Mulroy, a Marine Corps and CIA veteran who went on to serve in the Trump administration, said Israel may be holding some of the precision “smart” bombs it has in reserve because they are more expensive and harder to come by."

Rings hollow. Excuses the murder of innocent Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces.

"Mulroy, speaking at an event hosted by the Middle East Institute, said it appears that Israel took a “heavy-handed” approach to its early operations in Gaza. The United States, he said, would probably have been more conservative and “not have taken many of the shots” that have received scrutiny."

Sad, isn't it? Goddamned inexcusable. War crimes.

"White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said remarks by President Biden expressing concerns over Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” in the Gaza Strip “reflected the reality of global opinion.”

Falls far short.

"The health system has collapsed in Gaza, and the besieged enclave is experiencing “a public health disaster,” a U.N. humanitarian official said. Roughly 90 percent of people in Gaza have been displaced, according to the United Nations."

Sadly, catastrophically, the United States has facilitated the carnage and war crimes perpetrated by the Israelis.

The Associated Press reports:

"The Israeli military has rounded up hundreds of Palestinians across the northern Gaza Strip, separating families and forcing men to strip to their underwear before trucking some to a detention camp on the beach, where they spent hours, in some cases days, subjected to hunger and cold, according to human rights activists, distraught relatives and released detainees themselves. Palestinians detained in the shattered town of Beit Lahiya, the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya and neighborhoods of Gaza City said they were bound, blindfolded and bundled into the backs of trucks. Some said they were taken to the camp at an undisclosed location, nearly naked and with little water. “We were treated like cattle, they even wrote numbers on our hands,” said Ibrahim Lubbad, a 30-year-old computer engineer arrested in Beit Lahiya on Dec. 7 with a dozen other family members and held overnight. “We could feel their hatred.” The roundups have laid bare an emerging tactic in Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza, experts say, as the military seeks to solidify control in evacuated areas in the north and collect intelligence about Hamas operations nearly 10 weeks after the group’s deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. Militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted over 240 that day.“ This is already helping us, and it will be crucial for the next stage of the war,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “That’s the stage where we clean areas from all the remnants of Hamas.”

By emulating Adolf Hitler and his tactics?

Sadly, the following has zero credibility. Fails to jive with reality:

"In response to questions about alleged mistreatment, the Israeli military said that detainees were “treated according to protocol” and were given enough food and water. The army spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said this week that arrests took place in two Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza and that detainees were told to strip to make sure they didn’t conceal explosives. Hagari said the men are questioned and then told to dress, and that in cases where this didn’t happen, the military would ensure it doesn’t occur again. Those believed to have ties to Hamas are taken away for further interrogation, and dozens of Hamas members have been arrested so far, he said. The others are released and told to head south, where Israel has told people to seek refuge, Hagari said."

The Admiral is a liar. There is no refuge in Gaza. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

"Photos and video showing Palestinian men kneeling in the streets, heads bowed and hands bound behind their backs, sparked outrage after spreading on social media. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Monday said the United States “found those images deeply disturbing” and was seeking more information."

Ongoing atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor.

"To Palestinians, it is a stinging indignity. Among those rounded up were boys as young as 12 and men as old as 70, and they included civilians who lived ordinary lives before the war, according to interviews with 15 families of detainees. “My only crime is not having enough money to flee to the south,” said Abu Adnan al-Kahlout, an unemployed 45-year-old with diabetes and high blood pressure in Beit Lahiya. He was detained Dec. 8 and released after several hours when soldiers saw he was too faint and nauseated to be interrogated. “Do you think Hamas are the ones waiting in their homes for the Israelis to come find them now?” he asked. “We stayed because we have nothing to do with Hamas.” Israeli forces have detained at least 900 Palestinians in northern Gaza, estimated Ramy Abdu, founder of the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which has worked to document the arrests. Based on testimony it collected, the group presumes Israel is holding most detainees from Gaza at the Zikim military base just north of the enclave. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are believed to have stayed in the north despite the danger — unable to afford a ride, unable to abandon disabled relatives or convinced things are no safer in the overcrowded south, which also has come under daily bombardment."

Get this:

"Palestinians cowered with their families for days as Israel poured heavy machine-gun fire into Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya, the tank shelling and firefights with Hamas militants stranding families in their homes without electricity, running water, fuel or communications and internet service. Hundreds of buildings have been crushed by Israeli bulldozers, clearing paths for tanks and armored troop carriers. “There are corpses all over the place, left out for three, four weeks because no one can reach them to bury them before the dogs eat them,” said Raji Sourani, a lawyer with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza. He said he saw dozens of dead bodies as he made his way from Gaza City to the southern border with Egypt last week. Israeli forces are holding one of his colleagues, human rights researcher Ayman Lubbad, in custody. Palestinians recount similar terrifying scenes as the Israeli military combs through northern towns. Soldiers go door to door with dogs, using loudspeakers to call on families to come outside, residents said. Or they blast doors of homes open with a grenade, yelling at men to remove their clothes and confiscating money, IDs and cellphones. In most cases, women and children are told to walk away to find shelter. Some released detainees reported soldiers shouting sexually explicit insults at women and children and beating men with their fists and rifle butts after bursting into their homes. Others reported enduring humiliating stretches of near-nudity as Israeli troops took the photos that later went viral. Some guessed they were driven several kilometers (miles) before being dumped in cold sand."

Tactics catastrophically reminiscent of Adolf Hitler and his jackbooted bastards.

"The Israeli military declined comment on where the detainees were taken."

Surprised?

"Abu Adnan al-Kahlout’s family believes its members were singled out for mistreatment because they share a last name with the spokesman for Hamas’ military wing better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Obeida. But family members — among them electricians, a tailor, a bureau chief for London-based news site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and employees of Hamas’ political rival, the Palestinian Authority — insist they have nothing to do with Gaza’s Islamic militant rulers. Three family members remain in Israeli custody. No one has heard from them in days. Other relatives, like 15-year-old Hamza al-Kahlout and 65-year-old Khalil al-Kahlout, returned home Dec. 8 to find their five-story building a charred skeleton. They fled to a nearby U.N. shelter at a school. But the Israeli military stormed the school and arrested them again as it pressed on with its crackdown. Released detainees said their wrists were blistered from tightly drawn handcuffs. Exposed to the chill of night, they endured repeated questions about Hamas activities that most couldn’t answer. Soldiers kicked sand in their faces and beat those who spoke out of turn. Several Palestinians held for 24 hours or less said they had no food and were forced to share three 1.5-liter bottles with some 300 fellow detainees. Construction worker Nadir Zindah said he was fed meager scraps of bread over four days in custody."

Readers are reminded these are innocent Palestinian civilians.

"Darwish al-Ghabrawi, a 58-year-old principal at a U.N. school, fainted from dehydration. Mahmoud al-Madhoun, a 33-year-old shopkeeper, said the only moment that gave him hope was when soldiers released his son, realizing he was just 12. Returning home brought its own horrors. Israeli soldiers dropped detainees off after midnight without their clothes, phones or IDs near what appeared to be Gaza’s northern border with Israel, those released said, ordering them to walk through a landscape of destruction, tanks stationed along the road and snipers perched on roofs. “It was a death sentence,” said Hassan Abu Shadkh, whose brothers, 43-year-old Ramadan and 18-year-old Bashar, and his 38-year-old cousin, Naseem Abu Shadkh, walked shoeless over jagged mounds of debris until their feet bled. They begged the first person they saw for rags to cover their bodies. Naseem, a farmer in Beit Lahiya, was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper as they made their way to a U.N. school in Beit Lahiya, Abu Shadkh said. His brothers were forced to leave their cousin’s body in the middle of the road."

The following is Israeli raw insanity, delusional, -- sadly, of their own making:

"Israeli officials say they have reason to be suspicious of Palestinians remaining in northern Gaza, given that places like Jabaliya and Shijaiyah, in eastern Gaza City, are well-known Hamas bastions. “We will continue to dismantle each and every one of these Hamas strongholds until we finish in Jabaliya and Shijaiyah and then continue,” government spokesperson Eylon Levy said, signaling the military would widen its campaign as ground forces press deeper into the south, where over a million Palestinians have taken refuge. He said the southern town of Khan Younis, now at the center of fighting, would be next. “We will of course work out who needs to be arrested and detained and put to justice as a Hamas terrorist and who does not,” Levy said."

Why do we continue to support this embrace of the tactics of Adolf Hitler by the Israeli aggressor?

"Human rights groups say mass arrests should be investigated. “It isn’t clear on what basis Israel is holding them and it raises real serious questions,” said Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch’s regional director. “Civilians must only be arrested for absolutely necessary and imperative reasons for security. It’s a very high threshold.” Meanwhile, families plead for information about loved ones who disappeared. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its hotline had received 3,000 calls from people trying to connect with missing relatives from the beginning of the war until Nov. 29. “I can’t take not knowing, I feel sick,” said 40-year-old Zindah, the construction worker, who arrived Monday by foot at the hospital in Deir al-Balah after four days in Israeli detention with his 14-year-old son, Mahmoud. “I don’t know where my wife and seven kids are. Are they alive? Are they dead? Are they in prison?”

Why do we continue to support this embrace of the tactics of Adolf Hitler by the Israeli aggressor?

Isn't the United States better than this? When did we lose ourselves?

NBC News reports:

"Mounting anger at the Israeli government spilled onto the streets of Tel Aviv Saturday after it emerged that the country’s military had mistakenly killed three hostages in Gaza who “had a stick with a white cloth on it.” In a plaza in downtown Tel Aviv known as “Hostage Square,” Raz Ben Ami, who was released from captivity late last month, told a crowd of hundreds that she had “warned” the Israeli government that military operations in Gaza were putting hostages at risk and had “unfortunately” been proven right. Emotions were raw a day after news broke that Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shamriz had been killed by soldiers from their own side. Ben Ami, whose husband, Ohad Ben Ami, remains in captivity, told the crowd that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war Cabinet should present a proposal to free the dozens of people still held by Hamas."

Expect rational behavior from the Israeli dictator?

"Holding an hourglass, Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old son Itay Chen is still being held hostage, said the government “needs to be active” in getting a new deal. He added that it was evident the current strategy wasn’t working very well."

Apparently, the Israeli dictator can't, won't be confused by the truth. Sad, isn't it?

"The protest, which followed another demonstration on Friday night, erupted after an official from the Israel Defense Forces revealed Saturday that the hostages “had a stick with a white cloth on it” before they were killed. The hostages were believed to have either “been abandoned or escaped” Hamas’ captivity, the official said, adding that a soldier felt threatened and opened fire."

Threatened by what? Three men holding a white flag in surrender?

“Two are killed immediately, one is injured and runs back into the building,” the official said. He added that a “cry for help” had been heard in Hebrew, but after the battalion commander issued a cease-fire order there was “another burst of fire,” and “he also dies.”

Outrageous. Inexcusable. ... 'Shoot first, ask questions later?'

"A preliminary investigation has been launched “at the highest level,” the official said, adding that the conduct went “against our rules of engagement.”

Will the killers be prosecuted?

"His comments came less than 24 hours after Netanyahu offered his condolences to the families of the dead in a post on the social media platform X. “The entire state of Israel will mourn this evening,” he said Friday. “This is a combat zone where there have been many incidents in recent days. Immediate lessons from the event are now being passed on to all the fighting forces in the field.”

Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric offered by the Israeli dictator.

"The war has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides."

Readers are reminded the Israeli dictator and his henchmen are responsible for the murder of over 18,000 innocent Palestinian civilians. War crimes.

"Around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ deadly attack on Oct. 7, and Israeli military officials say 116 soldiers have been killed during the country’s ground invasion in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister’s office estimated that around 115 of the roughly 240 people taken hostage by Hamas remain alive in the enclave after more than 100 were freed during a pause in fighting at the end of November. Inside Gaza, more than 18,700 people have been killed, while around 90% of the population has been displaced, with many living in spiraling humanitarian conditions, according to estimates from the United Nations. At Friday’s protest Daniel Ron, 65, said he believed Netanyahu’s government should do more to work toward a cease-fire that would allow for more hostages to be freed. “I don’t know what’s the deal of Netanyahu,” Ron said. “He’s starting his campaign for the next elections. He’s in illusions that he can keep on after all he did to our country.”

Expect rational behavior from the Israeli dictator?

"U.S. and Israeli officials have told NBC News they fear that some of Netanyahu’s positions on the war are rooted in a bid to prolong his political survival."

Certainly, a strong possibility.

"And with a growing sense he will not be able to maintain power once the fighting ends, they said he has a strong motive to prolong Israel’s offensive in the enclave. “He has every incentive to keep the war going, to ensure his political survival,” one U.S. lawmaker, who asked not to be named, told NBC News Friday. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, also said Netanyahu is likely to have serious concerns about the “day after” the war. “There, it seems that Netanyahu is not only worried about how to stabilize the security situation the day after, but also how such decisions might affect his political career and how to reinvent his political posturing” in “the way he manages those discussions,” he said."

Expect rational behavior from the Israeli dictator? Certainly, should be prosecuted for war crimes.

"Polls in recent weeks have also suggested Netanyahu could face a reckoning once the war does come to an end, with the Israeli leader’s approval ratings plummeting in recent weeks, while polling also suggests Israelis will demand those at the top take responsibility for this crisis. In a survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute in late November, 72% of the 600 Jewish Israelis and 151 Arab Israelis polled said they believe there will be a wave of mass civil protests demanding those “responsible for the failures of October 7 are held to account.” At least 73% of Jewish Israelis held that belief, along with 64% of the smaller pool of Arab Israelis surveyed."

Clearly, the Israeli population is not in support of the war.

"While Israel’s military and security leaders have taken a share of the blame for the failures that allowed Hamas to launch its attack, Netanyahu has so far avoided publicly claiming any responsibility."

Gutless. Expect rational behavior from the Israeli dictator? Certainly, should be prosecuted for war crimes.

"As calls grow for a cease-fire, Plesner said Netanyahu faces the difficulty of negotiating a deal that would see hostages freed without Hamas having to “pay a very dear price.” And once the war is over, Plesner said, Netanyahu will face the fresh challenge of convincing Israelis “you still need me, regardless of what you think about my responsibility for Oct. 7.”

If so, hopelessly delusional.

12-15-23

The United States supports the Israeli aggressor despite its outrageously egregious ongoing war crimes.

The Washington Post reports:

"The United States drew criticism from rights and aids groups for blocking a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the unconditional release of all hostages, on Friday. The resolution had near-unanimous support from member states. The State Department is selling $107 million of tank supplies to Israel and subverting congressional approval to do so. Human Rights Watch said the United States was at risk of “complicity in war crimes,” and the Palestinian Authority’s president said the United States was responsible for the bloodshed of Palestinians. A U.S. envoy defended the veto, calling the resolution “divorced from reality” and noting that it did not condemn the Hamas attack. Israel’s ambassador, characterizing the resolution as “distorted,” praised the U.S."

Expect better of a country that is murdering innocent Palestinian civilians?

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken used the emergency declaration to sell weapons to Israel because “it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the State Department said in a news release."

Rings hollow. No more than empty rhetoric, sadly, devoid of substance. Here's precisely why:

"Nearly a million children in Gaza have been displaced from their homes; many are injured, at risk for disease or without enough water; and more than half of Gazans are starving, U.N. officials said Saturday. The U.N., Save the Children and others have intensified their warnings of further humanitarian crisis: Aid operations have broken down, and health, water and sanitation systems have largely collapsed."

The Israeli aggressor has shown little to no regard for the innocent Palestinian civilians it has murdered.

The conflict is likely to get far worse:

"The Houthis, a Yemeni militant group aligned with Iran, plan to block the passage of any ships to Israeli ports unless they are delivering food and medicine to the Gaza Strip, said Brig. Gen. Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesman, warning countries and shipping companies that the group will target any ships heading to Israel. The Yemen-based force has already targeted ships in the Red Sea; the United States said this week that missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas hit a cargo ship, a container ship and another vessel."

The Associated Press reports:

"Going around Congress, the Biden administration said Saturday it has approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million as Israel intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip."

How many innocent Palestinian civilians will be murdered by this ammunition?

"The move comes as President Joe Biden’s request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security is languishing in Congress, caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. Some Democratic lawmakers have spoken of making the proposed $14.3 billion in American assistance to its Mideast ally contingent on concrete steps by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas."

The Israeli dictator is unwilling, and worse, incapable of doing so in Gaza. War can't be waged in such a heavily-populated area without murdering innocent Palestinian civilians in the process. Biden knows that. So does the Israeli dictator. So does the world community. So do both Democrats and Republicans.

"The State Department said it had notified Congress of the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale” of the munitions in the U.S. national security interest. That means the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for lawmakers’ approval."

Will certainly cost Biden politically. To say nothing of his credibility.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” the department said in a statement. “Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”

Delusional. Lessens Israeli security. Ignores war crimes perpetrated by Israel vis a vis the murder of innocent Palestinian civilians. Will ensure the conflict will never end as others continuously replace Hamas casualties.

"The sale is worth $106.5 million and includes 13,981 120 mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer tank cartridges as well as U.S. support, engineering and logistics. The materiel will come from Army inventory."

How many innocent Palestinian civilians will be murdered by this ammunition?

NPR reports:

"The U.S. was one of just 10 other nations to oppose a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding a cease-fire for the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The U.N. General Assembly approved the resolution 153 to 10 with 23 abstentions. This latest resolution is non-binding, but it carries significant political weight and reflects evolving views on the war around the world. The United States' position on this pledge comes after American representatives blocked an earlier resolution at the U.N. Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. acknowledges that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, but that it was Hamas that broke an earlier deal that allowed for a pause in fighting. "Look, there is no shortage of rhetoric here in New York, but it's the diplomacy the United States is engaging in on the ground that made that week-long pause possible," she said."

Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric considering the Israelis have murdered nearly 18,000 Palestinian civilians.

"During that weeklong pause in fighting, more than 100 hostages were released by Hamas. Thomas-Greenfield tried, and failed, to get the General Assembly to alter the resolution to denounce Hamas and their actions on Oct. 7. That attack on Israel killed 1,200 people and resulted in around 240 people being kidnapped. In response to that attack, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed nearly 18,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory's health officials."

While there is no excuse for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, there is indeed no excuse for the Israeli murder of nearly 18,000 innocent Palestinians. Not to neglect to mention the atrocities committed by the Israeli aggressor since the 1948 seizure of Palestinian land courtesy of the UN. Much more on this as the story develops.

11-24-23

Israeli credibility in question. NBC News reports:

"Alongside its fight with Hamas, Israel is fighting another battle: to convince the world, and chiefly the United States, that this is a just war. Israel’s public-relations machine has gone into overdrive in recent weeks to make the case that its pummeling of Gaza has been necessary and conducted in a way meant to minimize civilian deaths. It has allowed journalists, including those from NBC News, to embed with its soldiers in Gaza, maintained a steady drumbeat of social media posts, and made Israeli representatives available for TV appearances. But in its recent outreach to global allies, Israel has released several pieces of inaccurate or disputed information including claiming that an Arabic calendar was a shift schedule for Hamas kidnappers, and using curtains as evidence that hostage videos had been filmed in a hospital. The widespread reaction calling out these questionable pieces of evidence has weakened Israel’s credibility, according to some experts, and could lead to a boy-who-cried-wolf situation unless concrete evidence for a Hamas headquarters is found beneath Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, one of Israel’s key contentions at this stage of the war."

Credibility is an issue. Here's why:

“The irony is they might find something and nobody is going to believe them,” said H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington, D.C., think tank. “At this point their credibility is shot.” This is not an evenhanded information war between Israel and Hamas, the latter being a terror group banned in the U.S. and Europe that carried out the Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 people. Among a host of spurious claims, Hamas claimed without evidence that Israel had bombed the al-Ahli Hospital on Oct. 17, killing 500 people. Israel denied this, saying that instead a misfired rocket by Palestinian militants had caused the explosion, a conclusion supported by evidence analyzed by NBC News. And while some of Hamas’ propaganda has been able to sidestep Western efforts to limit its reach, Hellyer, whose career has included senior anti-radicalization roles in the U.K. government, said this information war should not be seen as one between two equal parties. “We don’t take seriously what a terror group says, but we do take seriously what an army says, especially one that’s an ally of ours,” he said. “So we naturally hold it to a higher standard.”

No question.

"Israel knows the international debate matters. While the White House backs Israel’s stated goal to destroy Hamas in response to its Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 people, Biden administration officials have privately expressed concerns that the Israel Defense Forces are not doing enough to avoid civilian deaths, of which there have been more than 12,000, over half of whom were women and children, according to Palestinian health officials."

This destroys Israeli credibility. Calls into question the judgment of Biden and his administration as well.

"Pressure isn’t only coming from the United States. This week, the 15-member United Nations Security Council voted for a pause in the fighting. And streets across the world have been filled with hundreds of thousands of protesters demanding a cease-fire."

For damned good reason. The Israeli Prime Minister couldn't care less for all the civilians killed.

"Polling suggests much of the outpouring of goodwill Israel received after the Oct. 7 attacks has now ebbed in the face of images showing mass casualties and destruction in Gaza."

For damned good reason. The Israeli Prime Minister couldn't care less for all the civilians killed.

"Nimrod Goren, a Jerusalem-based senior fellow for Israeli affairs at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, the oldest think tank focusing on the region, said these shifts do not go unnoticed. “The sense is that Israel is taking into account American and other Western concerns when conducting its military operation to ensure that support continues and the criticism doesn’t cross a certain bar,” Goren said."

No credibility. Nothing more than wishful thinking. Time for the Israelis to finally wake up.

"Much of Israel’s PR effort has centered on hospitals, where IDF strikes have contributed to a soaring Palestinian death toll. Israel has maintained that Hamas uses the facilities as military bases, making them legitimate targets. Hamas has denied those claims. The Israeli military says at Al-Shifa it has found one tunnel shaft, a vehicle containing weapons and other caches of guns and ammo. Nearby, Israel said its soldiers found the bodies of Yehudit Weiss, a civilian hostage, and Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier, who were both taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. But efforts to prove its case have at times hurt Israel’s cause. Most notably, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari showed what he said was evidence that the Al-Rantisi hospital had been used by Hamas to detain hostages. He pointed to a piece of paper, saying that it showed a rota for guarding the captives. “Every terrorist has his own shift,” he said. Written above the document in pen was “Al-Aqsa Flood,” Hamas’ name for its Oct. 7 assault. But Arabic speakers pointed out that the rest of the paper merely showed days of the week, with no trace of the Hamas captors’ names described by Hagari."

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying, could it?

"Elsewhere in the hospital, he pointed out curtains had been hung on a wall with no window. There was “no reason” to do this “unless you want to film hostages and deliver movies,” Hagari said. Some people from the region pointed out that this is a common interior decor theme among Palestinian households. In response, the IDF told NBC News that it had issued a “prompt correction” to Hagari’s calendar comment, and that any “suggestions that the IDF is manipulating the media are incorrect.” “We are taking all necessary precautions to report as much information as we can,” it said in a statement, “whilst maintaining the safety of our troops and retaining our operational readiness.”

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying, could it?

"Nevertheless, ridicule soon followed. Videos on social media have lampooned increasingly ridiculous and mundane objects held up as “IDF evidence.” Israel has been accused of spreading misinformation before. Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson for Arab media, Ofir Gendelman, posted to X a video that he claimed showed Gazans faking their injuries with makeup. Despite countless people correcting him that the footage was in fact from a Lebanese film, it had not been deleted as of Friday."

How about that? LOL.

"Attacking a hospital is a war crime unless a military or militant group is using it for operations, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Even then, doctors and patients must be warned, with extra care taken not to harm those who stay. Israel says it has warned doctors and patients at hospitals it says are being used by Hamas. But many doctors say they are unable to transfer critical patients and unwilling to leave them behind. Doctors at Al-Shifa have vehemently denied it is being used as a militant base."

The doctors are standing tall. Indeed, Uncommon Valor.

Sadly, the Israelis are not. Quite the opposite.

Gets worse. Get this. NPR reports:

"Israeli bombardment has killed thousands of civilians in the areas of the Gaza Strip that Israel has ordered them to move to, Gaza health ministry death tolls show. Witnesses' accounts, satellite data and expert assessment gathered by NPR show that Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire occur daily in the areas Israel has said are "safer" for civilians, and have hit schools, residential towers and overcrowded United Nations refugee shelters. Amid its military offensive on Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military has repeatedly dropped leaflets and sent messages telling residents they must leave their homes and "evacuate" to areas it claims are safer, which are south of the Wadi Gaza wetlands. Families have risked journeys through the blasted landscape of destroyed buildings and corpses, along the road that Israel has designated as a "humanitarian corridor" through the war. For the few hours each day that the road is open, people carry or drag wounded loved ones. They push wheelchairs with patients just out of surgery in hospitals that have now stopped working. Mothers pull along weary children who look around with blank, fearful stares. But what awaits Palestinians who move south is still life-threatening. The "evacuation" areas are both heavily bombarded and in a dire humanitarian crisis, as Israel's blockade of fuel and control of aid into the Gaza Strip leaves people searching for food and access to clean water. "Israel's use of the term 'evacuation' for sending Palestinians to southern areas is really problematic, because it conjures up an idea of a safe route to a place of safety," says Caitlin Procter, a research fellow at the Center on Conflict Development and Peacebuilding at the Geneva Graduate Institute. "But the reality is there is no safe place left in Gaza for people to go."

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying, could it?

"Israel has vowed to defeat Hamas and force an end to its rule of Gaza after the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli military says it will strike Hamas targets "wherever necessary." So far, Israeli airstrikes have hit residential buildings, bakeries, hospitals and even United Nations-run shelters across the heavily populated Gaza Strip, including in the south."

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying, could it?

"The Israel Defense Forces press desk, responding via WhatsApp to questions from NPR, said on Nov. 9 that it is operating to protect the security of the state of Israel after the Hamas attacks. It said it "continues to request that all residents move south, where it is considered to be safer than the northern Gaza Strip." But, it says, because "Hamas has embedded itself in civilian infrastructure and operates across the entire Gaza Strip," the IDF "will strike Hamas wherever necessary."

With no regard for civilian casualties. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

"Earlier this week, Israel's military dropped leaflets telling residents in parts of the southern town of Khan Younis they too had to leave their homes. The IDF did not respond to NPR's request for comment on this further displacement of civilians. The dangers for those fleeing south are evident from the high number of people killed there. So far, a total of more than 11,800 people — of which more than two-thirds are children, women and elderly — have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive last month, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. A map by the United Nations' humanitarian affairs office, relying on the health ministry's data, shows that more than 3,600 people — roughly one-third of the total — were killed in areas where Israel has told civilians in northern Gaza to escape to."

Couldn't be the Israelis are lying, could it?

"The latest analysis of imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite shows a steady increase in the number of buildings destroyed in middle and southern Gaza. Since the beginning of the conflict, over 10,000 buildings are likely to have been damaged or destroyed by airstrikes in these areas, according to analysis by Corey Scher of New York's CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. As NPR has previously reported, the same satellite analysis shows extensive destruction in northern Gaza, according to Scher and Van Den Hoek. The majority – 94% – of the damage to central and southern Gaza appeared after Oct. 13, when the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza. Since Oct. 30, between 3,400 and 4,800 additional buildings have been destroyed or damaged in this so-called evacuation zone, including in the heavily populated refugee camps of Bureij and Al-Maghazi. On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes hit a densely populated residential area in Khan Younis, killing at least 14 people. Several news reports have noted bombardments also hit residential buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp and Deir al-Balah, both in central Gaza."

Get this:

"Asa'd Saqallah told NPR his family fled Gaza City when his father received a call from the Israeli military saying they had to leave their home and move south. On Oct. 13, he and 16 relatives, including his adult siblings and their children, took what few possessions they could and went to stay with a cousin in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Eleven days later, at night on Oct. 24, most of the family were sleeping when, Saqallah says, "Death came." In a multiple rocket attack, Saqallah says, the walls of their apartment caved in on them, and the apartment above in the three-story building was destroyed. "I started praying; rubble fell on me; my face was burnt," he says. Saqallah says his 11-month-old son was killed. So was his sister, her husband and their three children, ages 12, 8 and 6 months. And so was his younger brother, 18, and a cousin. Saqallah's wife, who was heavily pregnant, was badly wounded. "When I carried her out of the building, her arm was gone and her legs were just flesh," he says. Doctors managed to save her and the baby girl that she has now delivered — named Mariam after Saqallah's dead sister. Saqallah, 25, says baby Mariam has given them a reason to live. But they remain broken. "There is no emotion, no life, no feeling," he says. "After everything that has happened, and we're sitting in the hospital now, how do you want us to feel?"

No question.

"An analysis by the civilian harm watchdog Airwars shared with NPR finds that in the first week after Israel began telling civilians to move south, the bombardment on these areas increased. The increase was part of intensified airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. The group parsed every report of harm to civilians south of Wadi Gaza in the first week after Israel told civilians to go there. Including only those events they could geolocate, Airwars gathered 127 allegations of civilian harm between Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. "You can see that the frequency and intensity of those allegations of the attacks south of Wadi Gaza really appeared to increase," Sanjana Varghese, a journalist who also works as an investigator at Airwars, says of the group's as-yet unpublished analysis. The strikes on the south were part of a pattern of increased Israeli bombardment across the whole Gaza Strip, Varghese says. Many of the reported attacks Airwars analyzed in the south were around civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and restaurants. "Calling this area an evacuation zone might technically be true," says Varghese. "But it's not safe. It's not a place that people can go to and know that they'll be taken care of." Last Sunday, Israeli strikes included an attack on a guesthouse for staff from UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency that aids Palestinians, in the southern town of Rafah, on the border with Egypt. In this case, the employees had just left the building and were not injured. But in the past five weeks, 102 UNRWA staff have been killed — more losses than during any other period in its more than 70-year history. "Every day we get more confirmation of more colleagues killed," says Juliette Touma, UNRWA's director of communications, based in Amman. "It's shattering. It's just shattering."

Clearly, the Israeli government couldn't care less.

"Some 830,000 displaced people are sheltering in UNRWA schools and other buildings. They live in cramped conditions, sleeping in the schoolyards or in hallways. In the most overcrowded shelters there are now over 600 people sharing one toilet. UNRWA regularly shares the coordinates of its centers with the Israeli military, and civilians come to the shelters hoping they are safe. But even these have become targets. Over the last month, UNRWA says 64 of its facilities have been damaged, including several in direct strikes. It says the attacks have killed 71 people in its shelters and injured 563 more. Over half of the U.N. agency's buildings that have come under attack are located south of the Wadi Gaza line, UNRWA says. "This shows that nowhere is safe in Gaza. Not the north, nor the middle areas or the south," says Touma. "Civilians, including children, including women, including men, including UNRWA colleagues, have been killed across the board across the Gaza Strip."

Clearly, the Israeli government couldn't care less.

"Donatella Rovera, an investigator with Amnesty International with decades of experience covering conflicts, tells NPR the intensity of Israel's offensive on Gaza is "beyond anything we've seen." Palestinian officials in Gaza say the fatalities so far include 4,407 children, 3,137 women and 686 elderly people, out of a population of 2.3 million. Rovera says the high number of dead shows that the Israeli military is willing to carry out strikes on Hamas targets despite the presence of many civilians. "This is why we get so many dead who are clearly noncombatants, because they are children, women, older people, people with disabilities," Rovera says."

A de facto mass execution by the Israeli aggressor.

"Israel claims that Hamas militants are embedding with the civilian population and insists it has a right to carry out strikes in its effort to wipe out Hamas. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of UNRWA, told an international conference on Gaza in Paris last week that "thousands of children cannot be 'collateral damage.'"

That's right. No question.

"UNRWA says 70% of Gaza's population has been displaced in this offensive, and most are now south of Wadi Gaza, a tiny area only 16 miles long and between about three and seven miles wide at different points. In this overcrowded area, Palestinians now struggle to find shelter, food and water. "People are gathering wood from the rubble of buildings where possible to make fires to cook over. They are searching for water, even digging holes to try to reach it," says Procter, of the Geneva Graduate Institute. Procter lived in Gaza and speaks regularly with people there. "We can't find food and we can't find water," Abu Kareem, a resident of Rafah, told NPR this week. "And we don't have the water to shower." Even before this war, Gaza was dependent on aid to function. After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Israel imposed what it has called a "total" siege on the Gaza Strip, blocking fuel and other necessities from entering. Some aid trucks have now started moving into Gaza again, but humanitarian groups say the deliveries are not enough to match the need. Meanwhile, UNRWA says diseases are spreading. And Palestinian telecommunications provider Paltel said this week its cell towers in the Gaza Strip had stopped operating for the lack of fuel, further cutting off residents from the outside world. On Friday, it announced a "partial restoration" of services, after receiving "a limited quantity of fuel" via UNRWA to restart its generators."

Since the Israeli aggressor will not agree to a "two-state" solution, there will be no end to this conflict. None.

11-10-23

The following, if true as reported, is horrific. Speaks volumes vis a vis the Israeli aggressor. Three quarters of a century of oppression of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli aggressor that has no intention of accepting a two-state solution to this ongoing crisis.

NBC News reports:

"Amid mounting reports of a wave of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank, one incident has caused particular alarm. Five days after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, Mohamad Mattar says, he and two other Palestinians in the West Bank were detained by a group of Israeli troops and settlers wearing military uniforms. Mattar, 46, a social and humanitarian worker for the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, told NBC News that he and his companions were taken to a sheep barn near their village of Wadi al-Seeq, east of Ramallah. There, they were stripped to their underwear, bound, photographed and urinated on, he said. One of the unidentified attackers tried to sexually assault him with a stick, Mattar continued, and when he fought back, the Israeli man beat him for 10 minutes — until the stick broke in three places. “He was telling me that he is going to kill me, he is going to make my kids hungry,” Mattar said of one of his assailants. “He poured cold water on my body and made me roll over all the manure. Then he kept beating me up.” Three men stripped, bound and confined in an animal pen. In an image that circulated on social media, Mattar (right) and two other men are shown stripped, bound and confined in an animal pen.via social media. This firsthand account is part of a growing crisis in the West Bank, according to the United Nations, human rights groups and locals, who say that Israeli security forces and extremist settlers have been intimidating, abusing and killing Palestinians there. The hard-right coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been handing out assault rifles to the settlers and, according to the U.N., allowing them to harass and kill with impunity."

Expect better of an Israeli aggressor that has turned hard right in its ideology? That seems to get its cookies off abusing and murdering innocent Palestinian civilians?

"When NBC News asked the Israel Defense Forces about the incident involving Mattar, the IDF said in a statement that it had gotten reports of “a number of suspicious individuals.” “The forces apprehended and searched the suspects, who were in possession of a knife and an ax,” the IDF said. Mattar said he had a kitchen knife in his car but wasn’t going to use it to hurt anyone. Palestinians have in recent years used knives to carry out attacks, including stabbing Israeli security forces and civilians at checkpoints and other public places. The IDF also said that “the manner in which the arrest was carried out, and the conduct of the force in the field, was contrary to the standards expected of soldiers and commanders in the IDF,” and that it had opened an investigation and dismissed the commander of the unit that led the arrest."

The abuse and murder of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Israeli aggressor has been a serious problem since at least the 1967 war.

"Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian residents of the West Bank were a problem before Oct. 7. But the U.N. and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem both say the Hamas massacre and subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza has given settlers and Israeli authorities cover to increase those assaults. “It’s definitely escalated very much in the past few weeks,” B’Tselem spokesperson Dror Sadot said. “Because of the war, the settlers are exploiting this — the fact that no one’s looking at them.”

Needs to change. Biden by his gutless silence regarding this issue reinforces, exacerbates, and encourages ongoing Israeli war crimes.

"Israel rejects this characterization, saying that most of the recent Palestinian deaths in the West Bank were the result of counterterrorism efforts aimed at rooting out members of Hamas and other militant groups. But it does not deny the incident Mattar described."

Sadly, the Israeli aggressor continues to hypocritically talk out both sides its ass. Forfeited all credibility for the sake of political expediency.

"In the month since Hamas’ attack, more than 2,000 Palestinians have been arrested from their homes, at checkpoints and during other encounters across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. In total, there are around 5,000 Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons on “security grounds,” including around 150 children, figures from B’Tselem suggest. The numbers given by Israeli authorities have generally been lower. On Thursday, the IDF said it had “apprehended 1,200 suspects,” 742 of whom it said were members of Hamas. NBC News contacted the IDF on Saturday for an update but did not receive one in time for publication. According to the U.N., at least 132 Palestinians, including 41 children, have been killed by security forces and settlers in the West Bank in the past four weeks. Last year, 158 Palestinians were killed there, and 199 before Oct. 7 this year, U.N. data suggests — the highest level of violence in the West Bank in two decades."

The photographs certainly look authentic. Should be investigated for their authenticity:

"Mohamad Mattar shows bruises on his legs, arm and torso that he said are the result of a beating from Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Mohamad Mattar shows bruises on his legs, arm and torso that he said are the result of a beating from Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied West Bank.Marc Smith / NBC News"

The following also demands investigation:

"Mattar said the dismissal of a commanding officer is not sufficient justice for what his trio went through. He likened the experience to the treatment at Abu Ghraib, the Iraqi prison where detainees were physically and sexually assaulted by American forces following the 2003 United States-led invasion of that country. Mattar wants to see the officer jailed. He said that even as his attacker “was beating me, I was telling him I am against the war between us” and “against Hamas.” But the assailant was not receptive, Mattar continued: “He said, ‘You are all Arabs, all s---, not only Hamas. We want to kill you and expel you from here.” “Their insults are part of their sadism,” Mattar said. “Some of the settlers perceive Arabs as a sublevel in the world.”

So does Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, no more than a clueless dictator.

"He warned that the subjugation of Palestinians in the West Bank could backfire on Israel — a sentiment President Joe Biden similarly alluded to when he said last week that the settler violence was “pouring gasoline” on tensions in the region. Such treatment raises the risk of another cycle of violence, Mattar said, in an area seemingly doomed to repeated conflagrations. “They are applying pressure on us like a balloon, which keeps pressuring until it explodes,” he said. “If this oppression persists in the West Bank, and as people get more used to the attacks on Gaza, an explosion will happen in the West bank and Jerusalem.”

CBS News reports:

"Jerusalem — Angry protesters paid Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a home visit over the weekend, chanting, "jail now!" They were echoing rising cries from across the country for the veteran Israeli leader to step down. A new poll by an Israeli news station found that 76% of respondents want Netanyahu to resign. Many blame him for the security failures behind Hamas' Oct. 7 terror rampage across southern Israel."

Without a two-state solution, this ongoing catastrophe the last 75 years will continue indefinitely.

"He must resign!" shouted Moshe Radman outside Netanyahu's home over the weekend. Radman is one of the Israelis who's been leading the protests against the country's leader. Asked by CBS News what motivated him, he said it was Netanyahu "lying again and again and again."

Expect better of an out of control autocrat?

"A leader needs to think 100% about our soldiers and our country and 0% about himself," he said. "This is for sure not Netanyahu."

Truly expect better of a dictator?

"Even before the Hamas attack, anger at the veteran Israeli politician was snowballing — over his move to strike down the Israeli Supreme Court's independence this year, over corruption charges he's still battling that date back to 2016, and for billing himself as "mister security" in campaign videos. In one campaign ad from 2015, he said Israelis would head to the polls to "choose who will take care of our children." More than three dozen of those children are believed to be among the 241 people Israel says were taken hostage by Hamas. The Oct. 7 terror attack was Israel's biggest security failure in decades, and the prime minister has not apologized or taken any responsibility for the apparent lapses behind it."

This fiasco dates back 75 years. At the very least, due to the lack of a two-state solution, abuse and murder of innocent Palestinian civilians.

"He thinks about 50 years ahead of time," Tal Schneider, a political correspondent for The Times of Israel, told CBS News. "He doesn't want to have anything on record saying he has responsibility for anything." Schneider said a loyal cult of support has kept Netanyahu in power — "a base of loyalists," she said, in addition to his own political savvy. "Netanyahu as a prime minister was compared to President Trump," she said. "Netanyahu is much more sophisticated."

No shit. -- To say the least. LOL.

"But given the most recent polling, it's unclear if Netanyahu's political career will survive the next time Israelis are asked to elect a leader. "Enough with it," protest leader Radman told CBS News. "Our country deserves better. Our people deserve better."

No question.

NPR reports:

"On Monday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported more than 10,000 people killed — most of them women and children — in the besieged territory. In the West Bank, 155 people have been killed since Oct. 7, the health ministry says."

Reportedly, sadly, two-thirds of the 10,000 killed by the Israelis were women and children. War crimes.

"There have been more than 100 attacks on health care facilities according to several humanitarian groups, including the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA."

War crimes.

"The groups also reported 88 workers with UNRWA have been killed since Oct. 7, "the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict."

War crimes. Perpetrated by the Israelis.

"This all started nearly one month ago, on Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked several communities in Israel, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping around 240 people."

Doesn't excuse the war crimes perpetrated by the Israelis in the ongoing conflict. -- Not to neglect to mention all those committed by the Israelis in the last 75 years.
"
"Israeli forces launched an intense response that included a bombardment on Gaza from the air and ground invasion, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Hamas."

Reportedly, sadly, two-thirds of the 10,000 killed by the Israelis were women and children.

War crimes.

The disparity in the casualty figures is stunning, speaks volumes. Hamas killed 1,400 Israelis Oct. 7:

"More than 340 Israeli soldiers have died since the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel said."

Get this:

"Humanitarian groups like the UNRWA continue to plead for the release of hostages and for each party to agree to a cease-fire. "We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It's been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now," the aid groups said. On Sunday, Israeli forces reached the coast of Gaza, splitting the besieged area in half and essentially cutting off the north from the south, Israel's military said. "In the last 12 hours, the soldiers of the division struck around 50 targets, including combat zones, operational residences, outposts, military positions and underground infrastructure, and eliminated terrorists in close-quarter combat," the military said. Phone, 4G cellular networks as well as internet services were cut off in Gaza for several hours. By Monday morning local time, the networks appeared to have been at least partially restored. Israeli bombs hit refugee camps. One attack on the Maghazi refugee camp early Sunday killed at least 33 people and wounded dozens, health officials in the region said. The Rafah border crossing was reopened Monday for foreign passport holders whose names appeared on the approval list, according to a statement by the General Authority for Crossings and Borders, which is run by the Hamas government in Gaza. Individuals whose names don't appear on the list will not be allowed to leave Gaza. As fighting around Gaza City continues, many Palestinians are trying to head south as Israel's military continues to urge civilians to do. On Sunday, for the second day in a row, Israel's military announced another window for civilians in the north of Gaza to travel south. A day earlier, the military also allowed passage for a few hours, but people trying to flee found the roads impassable. Israel has accused Hamas of firing on Israeli troops who were attempting to secure the route for civilian passage. The United Nations estimates that of the roughly 300,000 people trapped in northern Gaza, only 2,000 were able to move south this weekend, according to monitors on the ground."

Suffering remains unabated:

"The ones that have managed to flee have mostly traveled by foot for miles — adults carrying babies or pushing wheelchairs with the elderly, and holding the hands of children lugging bags full of whatever belongings they could grab. Some waved white pieces of cloth to show they were civilians. They walked by piles of rubble, looking exhausted, as shells exploded in the distance. NPR spoke with a group traveling in Gaza who said they had to walk past dead bodies rotting in the street as bombs dropped in the distance. They declined to provide their names over security concerns."

Quite understandable.

"U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken finished a busy weekend tour of the Middle East with a stop in Turkey Monday morning. On Sunday, he made an unannounced visit to Iraq and met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad for more than an hour. Blinken also made trips to Israel and Jordan and had a sit-down with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank. Blinken's stop in Turkey comes as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly criticized Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this weekend. Blinken met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss, among other things, the war and the need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, he told the media. Despite this whirlwind visit, Blinken's efforts yielded little obvious progress on cease-fire talks or increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Blinken said he remained optimistic and told the media, "We're working on all of this almost every single minute." CIA Director William Burns is reportedly visiting Israel Monday, as well."

8-4-23

The Aryan arrogance of the Israeli dictator knows no bounds. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

NPR reports:

"In an interview with NPR's Morning Edition, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will not replace the country's top law enforcement official, but does expect to reappoint a convicted tax felon to a senior position in government, after passing a contentious law this week giving his government some unchecked powers over senior appointments. It is the first time Netanyahu has publicly stated what he expects to do with the new legislation passed Monday limiting a power of the Supreme Court. The law has sparked months of unprecedented domestic protest over concerns it will erode the democratic separation of powers. Speculations over the future of Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whose office is leading the charge against Netanyahu in an ongoing corruption trial, have been swirling since the prime minister's return to power in December. Legal experts say this law could help Netanyahu fire or sideline the attorney general, and Netanyahu's party members have advanced a bill to strip her of her prosecutorial powers. But Netanyahu claims he has no intentions of removing Baharav-Miara from her post. "It's not even on the table and it won't happen," Netanyahu tells NPR."

Expect better of a congenital liar?

"Speaking with Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep, the prime minister also rejected any notion that the new law will make it easier for him to outright dismiss his own trial. "It's completely false. There's no connection between this judicial reform, which is very broad, and my trial," he says."

Expect better of a congenital liar?

"Mordechai Kremnitzer, a law expert from the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute, questioned the claim. "I'm afraid to say that the level of trustworthiness of Netanyahu is so low in my view, that I just don't trust his word," Kremnitzer told NPR. "It's clear that despite what Netanyahu says, that the firing of the attorney general is on the table. It's clear that it has to do with the trial of Netanyahu, as well as it has to do with the wish of this government to get rid of the rule of law."

No question. ... To protect his sorry ass.

"The court used the "reasonability" clause in January to dismiss Aryeh Deri, a key Netanyahu ally, from his position as Israel's interior and health minister. Deri was also meant to serve as finance minister later on. The Supreme Court found that Deri's prior conviction for tax fraud made his appointment unreasonable, and that his promise to the court to stay out of politics — which appears to have granted him leniency in his sentencing — also should preclude him from serving in Netanyahu's government. But with this judicial check now gone, unless the Supreme Court repeals the new law, Netanyahu could appoint Deri to his cabinet position without intervention from the Supreme Court deeming it unreasonable. And he's considering doing just that. When asked directly if he will reappoint Deri, Netanyahu responded: "Well, you know, it depends what happens, of course, with the legislation, we have to see. But if it stands, I expect it to happen."

Expect better of a congenital liar?

"In the NPR interview, Netanyahu denied that the legislation impacted Israel's national security, despite public concerns from defense officials. Israeli officials have reportedly been holding meetings to evaluate at what point Israel's readiness for battle will be adversely affected. "I don't think it's affecting our national defense, Israel is very strong," Netanyahu said. "There's no real, I would say, no real detraction or reduction in our ability to, to meet our security challenges." That appears to contradict statements from Israel's military. In a public statement, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said requests by reservists not to serve have increased, and "if reservists do not show up for reserve duty in the long term, there will be damage to the military's readiness." Army chief of staff Herzi Halevi said in a video, "When a dispute spills over into the ranks of the IDF, and cracks begin to emerge...These are dangerous cracks."

The Prime Minister remains hopelessly delusional and an exigent threat to democracy:

"On how to proceed with his government's plan to overhaul the judiciary: "Now that we've passed [the first law] and we have the votes to to continue legislating, maybe now we'll be able to get some buy in from the opposition, and I'm prepared to do that. I think we should just sit down. We have about three months, four months. We should just sit down, work out the entire judicial reform, find a happy middle." On why judicial reform is needed: "People agree that the balance between the three branches of government has been taken off the rails in the last 20 years, and people want to bring it back. What does it mean bring it back? It means that that neither one of the three branches of government has that overwhelming dominance over the other three. That assures democracy. ... [Over] the last 20 years, the Supreme Court has aggregated for itself the powers of the judiciary, executive branch and the legislative."

7-28-23

Time for the United States to reassess its financing of the Israeli aggressor. The Associated Press reports:

"Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive plan to curb the powers of the country’s justice system despite massive protests that exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society and accused the government of pushing the country toward authoritarian rule."

Too late. Already there. Quite some time now. Treatment of the Palestinians for decades under the boot heel of the Israeli aggressor? Appalling. Right wing nazi. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted “shame” and then stormed out of the chamber. Mass demonstrations erupted outside the parliament building in Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv after the vote."

Clearly, not all Israelis are in goose step with Netanyahu's embrace of national socialism to protect his criminally indicted sorry ass. -- Readers will recall his sorry ass is currently on trial. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"It reflected the determination of Netanyahu and his far-right allies to move ahead with the plan, which has tested the delicate social ties that bind the country, rattled the cohesion of its powerful military and repeatedly drawn concern from its closest ally, the United States. The overhaul calls for sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, from limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge parliamentary decisions to changing the way judges are selected. Netanyahu and his allies say the changes strengthen democracy by limiting the powers of unelected judges and giving elected officials more powers over decision making. But protesters see the overhaul as a power grab fueled by personal and political grievances of Netanyahu — who is on trial for corruption charges — and his partners. His allies, who include ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties, have promoted such goals as increased West Bank settlement construction, annexation of the occupied territory and limiting the rights of LGBTQ+ people and Palestinians. In Israel, which does not have a formal constitution, the judiciary plays a critical oversight role in the country’s system of checks and balances. Under the Israeli system, the prime minister governs through a majority coalition in parliament — in effect giving him control over two branches of government. By moving to weaken the judiciary, critics say, Netanyahu’s allies will consolidate power by weakening the independence and oversight of judges. They liken the process to “illiberal” democracies like Poland and Hungary."

Truer words never spoken:

“It’s a sad day,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said after the vote. “This is not a victory for the coalition. This is the destruction of Israeli democracy.”

Nazi justice:

"In Monday’s vote, lawmakers approved a measure that prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are “unreasonable.”

Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

Courageously, the opposition walked out:

"With the opposition out of the hall, the measure passed by a 64-0 margin."

Galling bullshit:

"After the vote, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the plan, said parliament had taken the “first step in an important historic process” of overhauling the judiciary."

The consequences?

"More mass protests are now expected, and the Movement for Quality Government, a civil society group, immediately announced it would challenge the new law in the Supreme Court. The grassroots protest movement condemned the vote, saying Netanyahu’s “government of extremists is showing their determination to jam their fringe ideology down the throats of millions of citizens.” “No one can predict the extent of damage and social upheaval that will follow the passage of the legislation,” it said. Thousands of people blocked Jerusalem’s main highway and gathered outside the parliament building after the vote. Walls and fences running the length of the street outside the Supreme Court, prime minister’s office and parliament were plastered with hundreds of stickers reading “we won’t service a dictator,” “democracy or rebellion” and “save Israel from Netanyahu.” Police tried to clear away the crowds with water cannons spraying skunk-scented water. Mass demonstrations also erupted in central Tel Aviv — the epicenter of months of anti-government protests. Earlier, demonstrators blocked a road in Jerusalem leading up to the parliament, and big mall chains and some gas stations shuttered their doors in protest. Further ratcheting up the pressure on Netanyahu, thousands of military reservists have declared their refusal to serve under a government taking steps that they see as setting the country on a path to dictatorship. Those moves have prompted fears that the military’s preparedness could be compromised."

Couldn't be the stress is finally getting to Netanyahu as the walls close in, could it?

"The vote came only hours after Netanyahu was released from the hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted. His sudden hospitalization added another dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of events, which were watched closely in Washington. The Biden administration has frequently spoken out against Netanyahu’s government and its overhaul plan. In a statement to the news site Axios late Sunday, President Joe Biden warned against pushing ahead with the legal changes that were sparking so much division. “Given the range of threats and challenges confronting Israel right now, it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this — the focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus,” he said."

Sounds remarkably familiar, Mr. President, doesn't it, sir? As our formerly great country continues to embrace the Trump nazi and all you do is engage in empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric.

"Biden has also been critical of the government’s steps to deepen Israel’s occupation of the West Bank."

Rightfully, so. -- One thing Biden is certainly doing right and has to be given credit for. LOL.

"The massive, sustained democracy protests have shunned mention of Israel’s 56-year occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for their hoped-for independent state, fearing the issue might alienate supporters. But critics portray this rule over another people as a major stain on Israel’s claim to be a liberal democracy and accuse the protesters of harboring a significant blind spot in their struggle. The overhaul has exposed deep divisions in Israeli society — much of it along religious, ethnic and class lines. While protesters come from all segments of society, they come largely from the country’s secular middle class, while Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more religious and live in West Bank settlements or outlying rural areas. Many of his supporters are Mizrahi Jews, with roots in Middle Eastern countries, and have expressed hostility toward what they say is an elitist class of Ashkenazi or European, Jews. On the eve of the vote, tens of thousands of people gathered for mass rallies for and against the plan. Netanyahu’s supporters late Sunday, thronged central Tel Aviv — normally the setting for anti-government protests — while his opponents converged on Jerusalem ahead of Monday’s vote."

All of this quite fascinating, achingly similar, highly reminiscent of the embrace of national socialism by the nazi element in the Republican Party here in the United States. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

The Associated Press reports:

"Thousands of Israeli doctors walked out of work, labor leaders threatened a general strike and senior justices rushed home from a trip abroad Tuesday, a day after the government approved a law weakening the country’s Supreme Court that critics say will erode the system of checks and balances. Four leading Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black ink — an ominous image paid for by an alliance of high-tech companies. The only words on the pages were in a line at the bottom: “A black day for Israeli democracy.” Monday’s vote — on the first of a series of measures that make up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive judicial overhaul — reverberated across the country. It came despite seven months of fierce popular resistance, Netanyahu’s promises of an eventual compromise and a rare warning against the overhaul from Israel’s closest ally, the United States. The bill was unanimously passed by the governing coalition, which includes ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties, after the opposition stormed out of the hall shouting “Shame!” But opponents say they are not done fighting: Civil rights groups submitted petitions to the Supreme Court, calling for the new law to be overturned, and protests roiled the country’s streets anew. “These protests are not going anywhere, especially because the government has clearly stated that this is just phase one,” said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. “This is the most widespread and significant democratic awakening in the history of the country. Clearly, it won’t end.”

Hopefully, that's true and will remain so. The same needs to happen here in the United States as the nazi element in the Republican Party desperately attempts to force its nazi ideology on the rest of us. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Hundreds of thousands of people fanned out in Tel Aviv overnight, burning tires, setting off fireworks and waving national flags. In Jerusalem, mounted police and water cannons spraying foul-smelling liquid cleared protesters from a main highway. At least 40 people were arrested by police in protests around the country. Videos showed police officers dragging protesters by the hair and neck, beating people until they bled and violently pushing them back with batons. At least 10 officers were assaulted and injured, police said."

Sadly sounds frighteningly familiar, doesn't it, dear readers?

"Israel is now hurtling into uncharted territory against the specter of further social and political unrest. Thousands of officers in the military reserves have announced they’ll no longer turn up for voluntary service — a blow that could undermine the country’s operational readiness. High-tech business leaders are considering relocation. The overhaul also threatens to strain ties with the Biden administration, jeopardize the country’s new alliances with Arab states and deepen Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, analysts say. “I think this country is going to either split into two countries or be finished altogether,” said Yossi Nissimov, a protester in a tent city set up by demonstrators outside of the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem."

Think the same can't happen here in the United States as the nazi element in the Republican Party forces its nazi ideology on the rest of us? Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

Interestingly:

"The vote on the law came just hours after Netanyahu was released from the hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted, adding another dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of events. The Israeli Medical Association, which represents nearly all of the country’s doctors, announced they would strike en masse Tuesday across the country, with only emergencies and critical care in operation. “The vast majority of physicians know they will not be able to fulfill their oath to patients under a regime that does not accept the role of reason,” said Hagai Levine, chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health. He was referring to the law passed Monday that prevents the Supreme Court from using the standard of “reasonableness” to strike down government decisions. “This overhaul will damage the public health and the health care system in Israel,” Levine said, adding that already over 1,000 physician members have asked to be transferred abroad since the law passed. Israel’s largest labor union, the Histadrut, which represents some 800,000 workers, said Tuesday that it would convene in the coming days to plan a nationwide general strike. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, along with five other senior justices, cut short a trip to Germany in order to deal with the crisis, the court’s spokesperson said. The justices were expected to land Tuesday night, a day earlier than expected, to discuss petitions against the overhaul. But any move by the court to strike down Netanyahu’s new law could lead to a constitutional crisis and put the justices on an unprecedented collision course with the Israeli government."

Get this:

"Supporters of the judicial overhaul say that the powers of unelected judges should be curbed to boost the powers of elected officials. Opponents say that it will undermine Israeli democracy and erode the country’s only check on majority rule in a system where the prime minister governs through a coalition in parliament — in effect giving him control over the executive and legislative branches of government. As a result, the Supreme Court plays a critical oversight role. On Tuesday, for instance, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara appealed to the top court to scrap a law passed earlier this year that strips her of the power to remove the prime minister from office. Netanyahu responded to the court, saying it shouldn’t intervene in the matter. Protesters also fear that the overhaul is fueled by the personal grievances of Netanyahu, who is currently on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust."

Clearly, the Israeli dictator is doing all this to protect his sorry ass.

"While protesters represent a wide cross section of society, they come largely from the country’s secular middle class. Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more religious and live in West Bank settlements or outlying rural areas. The judicial overhaul has laid bare Israel’s social and religious divisions, said Israeli historian Tom Segev. “This is the beginning of a whole plan to change the basic values of society,” he said."

Think the same isn't happening here in the United States as the nazi element in the Republican Party attempts to force its nazi ideology on the rest of us as Biden and his fellow Democrats do nothing more than engage in empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric to combat this exigent threat to a democratic republic? Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

The Associated Press reports:

"Israel’s highest court said Wednesday it would review legal challenges to a divisive new law that weakens its power, putting the country’s top justices in the position of defending their own independence and escalating a political crisis that has unleashed the country’s biggest protests in history. Israeli civil society groups and others have filed petitions asking the Supreme Court to strike down the law enacted Monday — the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s broader program to overhaul Israel’s judiciary. The opposition’s legal challenges are pushing Israel toward a showdown over the foundations of its system of government. The court faces massive public pressure to strike down the law and has an inherent interest in preserving its powers and independence. But if it does so, Netanyahu’s government could ignore the ruling, setting the stage for a crisis over who has ultimate authority."

Sad, isn't it? Democracy under attack by a self-serving dictator.

"Israel has no constitution, relying instead on a set of “basic laws” that enshrine rights and freedoms. The prime minister governs through a majority coalition in parliament — in effect, giving him control over the executive and legislative branches of government. As a result, the Supreme Court plays a critical oversight role, a safeguard against corruption and overtly political appointments of unqualified candidates to important jobs. The law passed Monday specifically strips the Supreme Court of its power to block government actions and appointments on the basis that they are “unreasonable.” The Supreme Court did not issue an injunction on Wednesday, as petitioners had asked, but said it would hear challenges to the new law after the Knesset returns from recess in September. It asked the law’s defendants to submit a response at least 10 days before the preliminary hearing. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good governance group, said in its petition that the law undermines Israel’s core values as a democracy, and that it was passed through a flawed legislative process. “We will appear in the Supreme Court to defend Israeli democracy and we will do everything we can to stop the coup,” Eliad Shraga, the group’s chairman, said on Wednesday."

7-7-23

Why does the United States continue to financially support the Israeli aggressor? The Washington Post reports:

"About 1,000 Israeli soldiers backed by drone strikes stormed Jenin on Monday, targeting a militant “operational command center” in the most expansive Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in two decades. The assaults marked the start of an “extensive counterterrorism effort” centered on the densely populated Jenin refugee camp, according to Israeli officials, and were ongoing as of Monday afternoon local time. At least eight people were killed and 50 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, with 10 in critical condition. The Israel Defense Forces said the operation would continue indefinitely. “We’ll do it as long as it is needed; there is no timeline on this right now,” Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an IDF spokesman, told reporters. Another Palestinian was shot and killed by soldiers near the city of Ramallah while protesting the Jenin attack."

Murdered for protesting the Israeli aggressor?

"Gunfire, drones and explosions were reported by Jenin residents and in videos posted on social media. Residents reported receiving text messages from Israeli numbers that warned them to stay inside for their protection. Separate messages directed at militants advised them to “surrender yourself for your safety and the safety of those around you.” The use of air power and a brigade-size force in the assault represents a significant military escalation in the northern West Bank, which has been targeted by frequent commando-style Israeli raids this year. The clashes have grown more intense in recent months; among them was a firefight in Jenin on June 19 that killed five Palestinians. A U.S.-built Apache helicopter gunship was used to help evacuate Israeli soldiers caught inside the camp, the first time Israel had turned to air power in the West Bank since the uprising known as the second intifada in the early 2000s. Later that night, Israel carried out its first drone strike in the West Bank since 2006, killing three suspected militants."

Is this how the Israeli aggressor gets its cookies off murdering Palestinians fighting for their liberty?

"The crowded and impoverished Jenin camp, a sprawling warren in the center of the city, is largely unpoliced by Palestinian Authority security forces and is known as a hub for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other armed factions."

Fighting for their liberty from the Israeli aggressor.

"Militants there have deployed roadside explosives and last week attempted to fire a crude rocket into Israel, though it failed quickly after launch. The IDF said a rocket launcher and hundreds of improvised explosive devices were confiscated by troops on Monday. Israeli officials said Monday’s offensive was meant to decisively confront the city’s longtime role as a base of militant operations."

Fighting for their liberty from the Israeli aggressor that continues to oppress them. Why does the United States continue to financially support the Israeli aggressor?

"Over the past two years, “most of the terror attacks against Israelis originated from Jenin,” the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, wrote on Twitter after the strike."

Fighting for their liberty from the murderous Israeli aggressor, Mr. Ambassador. Time for you and your henchmen to finally wake up, sir.

"At least 15 attacks on Israeli citizens in recent months were launched from Jenin, according to the IDF, and 19 people participating in those assaults fled to the camp afterward."

Fighting for their freedom from their oppressors, the Israeli aggressor.

“Our main focus is basically breaking that safe-haven mentality,” Hecht said. “We are not trying to hold ground; we are acting against very specific targets.”

That's unadulterated, convoluted bullshit, sir. You and your henchmen simply don't get it. Or, remain determinedly ignorant of reality. For all practical purposes, you and your henchmen have effectively imprisoned them under horrendous, intolerable conditions for decades. Clearly, you clueless bastards have no intention of coexisting peacefully with the Palestinians whose land you commandeered after the Second World War. -- Land you rightfully lost generations ago.

“A massacre is taking place now in Jenin camp,” Salim Awad, a 34-year-old restaurant worker, said in a phone interview Monday from a house where 19 Jenin residents were taking refuge. “The children are crying and screaming, terrified of what is happening.” Awad said “a thousand Israeli soldiers” entered the camp in the early hours, with bulldozers rolling on Seka Street and partially demolishing several buildings. An airstrike destroyed the Freedom Theater, he said, and he saw one boy with a severed leg. “His brother was next to him, crying out for him,” he said. The operation bore hallmarks of Israel’s regular missions against Islamist factions in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip — featuring airstrikes, no fixed end time and substantial military resources."

Why does the United States continue to financially support the Israeli aggressor?Why?

The following rings hollow. Has no credibility. Remains self-serving bullshit:

"Israeli officials publicly assured Palestinian leaders that they were not directing the attacks at the Palestinian Authority, which has security control of that section of the West Bank under the terms to the 1990s Oslo accords. “We are not there to take over. This operation is not against the Palestinian Authority and is not against its security organizations, which have also found it difficult to operate in the Jenin refugee camp,” Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said in a radio interview. “We are focused solely on this bottleneck, to dismantle it.”

Sadly, the following remains the seemingly intractable truth:

"But Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the attacks “a new war crime against our defenseless people,” according to a spokesman. Rival militant groups throughout the occupied territories expressed defiance. “The resistance in all arenas will not allow the enemy to invade our people in Jenin or to single them out,” a coalition of factions in Gaza said in a statement. The IDF also said it was boosting air defense readiness in southern Israel in the event of rocket fire from Gaza. Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed militant group that Western nations regard as a terrorist organization, said in a statement that it would not be deterred by the strikes. “Jenin will not surrender,” said the organization, which has a following in the city. Both Egypt and Jordan, Arab neighbors that have relations with Israel, condemned the operation and called on the international community to intervene. In a sign of regional tensions, Israeli planes conducted airstrikes near Homs, Syria, on Sunday, according to the Syrian army, and an antiaircraft missile that was reportedly launched from the area exploded over central Israel. The escalating violence has raised fears about a return to the bloody warfare of the early 2000s that killed thousands across the region."

Surprised? Time for the United States to stand tall. Rein in the Israeli aggressor.

The following is certainly a huge part of the ongoing problem:

"The decades-old Jenin camp has one of the highest rates of unemployment and poverty among refugee camps in the West Bank, according to the United Nations. Thousands of residents of the camp are on Israeli watch lists, making them ineligible for work permits. Violence has surged this year in Israel and the occupied territories. Nearly half of the roughly 140 Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank between Jan. 1 and late June were affiliated with militant groups, the Associated Press reported. But in several instances, children have been killed as Israeli security forces adopted increasingly aggressive tactics. In March, a 14-year-old boy was killed during a raid in central Jenin, according to a Washington Post investigation. In June, a 15-year-old girl was killed in another raid."

The casualty figures are certainly lopsided in favor of the Israeli aggressor:

"At least 23 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians as of June, according to a Post tally of media reports and Israeli government figures. Last month, Hamas gunmen killed four Israelis at a gas station outside the Eli, a small hilltop Israeli settlement. In response, groups of masked settlers rampaged through Palestinian villages over several days, burning cars and houses. One resident, a Palestinian American, was killed."

The Associated Press reports:

"Airstrikes targeting Palestinian militants in a crowded residential area. Armored bulldozers plowing through narrow streets, crushing cars and piling up debris. Protesters burning tires. A mounting death toll. Israel’s large-scale military raid into the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Monday had undeniable similarities with the second Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s — a period that claimed thousands of lives. But the current fighting is also different from those intense years of violence. It’s more limited in scope, with Israeli military operations focused on several strongholds of Palestinian militants. It’s also a symptom of a conflict with no foreseeable end. The Palestinian leadership is weakened, and the Israeli government has been accelerating the expansion of settlements that have eroded any chance of Palestinian statehood. WHAT IS AN INTIFADA? The word that means “shaking off” in Arabic was coined to describe an uprising against Israel’s military occupation that erupted in 1987. It ended in 1993 with an agreement of mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization."

Readers will recall:

"What became known as the first intifada was marked by widespread Palestinian protests and a fierce Israeli response. In the second uprising, which began in 2000, Palestinian militants carried out deadly suicide bombings on buses and at restaurants and hotels, eliciting crushing Israeli military reprisals. The second uprising pitted Palestinian militant groups against a far more powerful Israeli military. Over 4,000 people died, including vast numbers of civilians. Roughly three times as many Palestinians as Israelis were killed. Israel struck targets in a militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank with drones and deployed hundreds of troops in the area, in an incursion that resembled the wide-scale military operations carried out during the second Palestinian uprising two decades ago. Palestinian health officials said at least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded. (July 3) Israeli crackdowns upended Palestinian lives, including placing tight restrictions on movement that choked the fledgling economy. For Israelis, especially during the frequent bombings of the second intifada, stepping onto a bus or going out to a restaurant was terrifying. Those events were initially fueled by widespread participation. Many Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians for their state — joined in the protests. The protests were also driven by the Palestinian leaders, including President Yasser Arafat, whom Israel accused of encouraging and abetting militants. The intifada petered out after Arafat died in 2004 and the current Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, took power. In the spring of 2022, a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis prompted Israel to launch near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas of the West Bank. Israel said the raids were meant to stamp out militant networks. But Palestinian attacks have continued, and the death toll on both sides has risen, making last year one of the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since the second intifada. The violence has only intensified since Israel’s current far-right government, which is made up of hard-line ultranationalist settlement supporters, took power late last year."

What did the Israeli aggressor expect? Capitulation?

"The Palestinian death toll this year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem stands at more than 135, according to a tally by The Associated Press, nearly matching the death toll for all of 2022. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested. Some 24 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis. The region has not seen such a sustained cycle of violence since the second uprising, which lasted about five years. More recent periods of bloodshed have not lasted this long or involved such a strong show of force by the military. The tactics seen Monday, with airstrikes, armored bulldozers and a brigade of troops, were a mainstay of the second uprising. But analysts say that’s where the similarities end. For one, a monthlong Israeli operation in 2002 that was seen as the peak of the fighting during the second intifada involved an intense clampdown on most cities in the West Bank. Israel’s raids over the last year have been smaller in scale. Israel’s targets are also more limited to local armed groups and militant cells. Other differences, analysts say, include the weakened Palestinian leadership and the lack of popular participation. While protests have erupted in response to the raids, they have not engulfed the entire West Bank. “Intifada is a people’s uprising. It’s a society that fights,” said Amir Avivi, president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders. Avivi, who served as a battalion commander in the northern West Bank during the 2002 operation, claimed that the current fighting is dominated by militant groups that are funded by Israel’s archenemy, Iran."

Surprised?

"Ziyad Abu Zayad, a Palestinian analyst and former Cabinet minister, said the fighting is best described as “waves” of Palestinian anger, not an uprising. “The problem is not security, but rather political. And as long as there is no political solution, these waves will continue,” he said. “People, mainly young people, want to live in freedom and dignity. They see no future for themselves, and they only see oppression from the occupation.” There is no end in sight to the fighting. The military raids have tended to fuel more attacks that prompt even more raids. As attacks against Israelis have mounted, including one that killed four settlers last month, government members have called for a harsher response. They have also intensively advanced settlement building, further dimming hopes for a negotiated solution to the conflict."

Will certainly fuel the fighting.

"The last 16 months, including Monday’s large-scale raid, showed Israel lacks a long-term vision for how to deal with the Palestinians, said Michael Milshtein, a former military official and head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University. “We need to start thinking strategically about the Palestinian issue,” he said. “We can’t just keep plastering over it.” Abu Zayad, the Palestinian analyst, said Israel’s government is instead pushing the Palestinians “toward more extremism and violence.” “If there is opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, these waves are likely to remain for long periods to come.”

5-19-23

Sadly, the United States continues to ignore the egregious actions of the Israeli aggressor. NPR reports:

"For the first time in history, the United Nations is officially commemorating the Nakba, the annual Palestinian commemoration of their mass displacement during the establishment of Israel."

What took so long? Seventy-five years of this outrageous injustice.

"The international body is marking the 75th anniversary of the displacement on Monday to "serve as a reminder of the historic injustice suffered by the Palestinian people" and to spotlight the ongoing refugee crisis, organizers said."

Sad, isn't it? The Israeli aggressor remains highly reminiscent of its Second World War German Nazi oppressor.

Here's the ongoing problem:

"For decades, the Nakba had not garnered universal international recognition, as countering narratives have downplayed the plight of Palestinians. Resistance remains: The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom were among 30 countries that voted against the U.N. resolution to adopt this year's commemoration."

A disgrace. Gets worse. Get this. Egregious Israeli ignorance of reality suffered by Palestinians the last 75 years:

"Israeli officials, meanwhile, are urging U.N. member states to boycott the event. "Attending this despicable event means destroying any chance of peace by adopting the Palestinian narrative calling the establishment of the state of Israel a disaster," Israeli's U.N. ambassador Gilad Erdan said."

It was, and is, a continuing disaster for the Palestinians, Mr. Erdan. To deny this fact is to ignore reality, sir.

"Israel says tens of countries have agreed not to attend, including the U.S., U.K., Czech Republic and Ukraine. A State Department spokesman told NPR the U.S. would not be represented at the event, and Ukraine's ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, told NPR that Ukraine is declining in order "not to harm (the) Israeli interest."

Gutless. If any country should indeed show sympathy for the Palestinians it ought to be Ukraine, Mr. Korniychuk. Forget, Mr. Ambassador? The Palestinians have endured Israeli oppression and aggression 75 years, sir. Wake up.

"Monday's commemoration includes a morning key note address from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, followed by an evening event that features an "immersive experience of the Nakba through live music, photos, videos, and personal testimonies." The events, held at U.N. headquarters in New York, will also be livestreamed."

Here's the ongoing issue ignored by the United States and many in the world community:

"On May 15, 1948, one nation's triumph became another nation's catastrophe. Israel was established as a homeland for Jews, while the majority of Palestinians were displaced. "For Israelis and for most other people who know only the Israeli narrative, 1948 represents the miraculous establishment of a Jewish state in the wake of the Holocaust," Rashid Khalidi, a Middle East historian and author of The Hundred Years' War on Palestine, told NPR's Throughline podcast in 2021. But Palestinians call it the Nakba — "the catastrophe." "For Palestinians, it represents the destruction of their society, the loss of self — the right to self-determination and the expulsion of most of them and the expropriation of the property of most of them," Khalidi said."

No problem with that? None?

"In 1947, the U.N. voted to partition Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state, a catalyst that sparked fighting between Arab and Jewish militias. After Israel declared independence the following May, regional Arab armies invaded. By the time Israel won the war in 1949, the vast majority of the Palestinians there had fled or were expelled. Their homes were given to Jewish immigrants or destroyed."

No problem with that? None?

"For many Palestinians — millions of whom remain a stateless people to this day — the Nakba isn't just history for today's generation, but what they call an ongoing catastrophe punctuated by the violence of an entrenched Israeli military occupation."

No problem with that?None?

"Israel marked its 75th Independence Day in April, corresponding to the anniversary on the Hebrew calendar, amid street protests against Israel's current government and deep divisions between Jews over what kind of country Israel should be."

Clearly, fortunately, not all Israelis accept the nazification of the Israeli state. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Today, Israel's most nationalist government in history includes a far-right minister who has called to "erase" a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank and another far-right minister who campaigned to encourage Palestinians to leave."

No problem with that?None?

"Some Palestinians say they fear a second Nakba. To prevent another historic displacement, they say their role is simply to stay put."

4-28-23

The Israeli aggressor remains out of control. NBC News reports:

"Upstairs in his monastery tucked in the Old City, Brother Matteo Munari heard a commotion at the Church of the Flagellation, along the path where Jesus is said to have carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion. Munari, 49, went downstairs and found that a 10-foot statue of Jesus had been wrested off its pedestal and thrown to the ground, its face partially destroyed. When the church’s doorman tackled the man suspected of toppling the statue on Feb. 2, Jewish ritual tassels that had been concealed under his clothes emerged, the Franciscan friar said. “He was kind of crying. Like, ‘We have to destroy all the statues and the idols in Jerusalem,’” Munari told NBC News last week as he gazed at the smashed face of Jesus, now awaiting repair at the church, which was built in 1929 on a site that dates to the 12th century. “I just felt sad for him,” he added. “I think he wanted to do the right thing. So the problem probably was not the man himself, but who instructed him to think in this violent way.”

No question.

"Israeli police confirmed that a U.S. citizen in his 40s was arrested at the scene, adding that investigators were “working diligently to maintain security, order and freedom of worship for members of all religions and denominations.”

Think so? Truly, believe it?

"But church officials and Christian leaders in Israel say this was far from an isolated incident. As tensions over Jewish and Muslim holy sites have erupted in recent weeks, spiraling into violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Christians in the Holy Land say they’re under attack, too. Although they blame a minority of Jewish extremists for the attacks, they say Israel’s far-right government has fostered a culture of impunity for attacks on non-Jews, emboldening the nation’s most extreme elements. In January, ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmakers allied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed imposing jail time for Christian proselytizing, although after a global outcry, Netanyahu said he would block the bill. Dimitri Diliani, head of the Palestinian National Christian Coalition, said he felt “more threatened” now by “Israeli policies than any other time.” “Staying here and protecting our heritage is becoming more difficult,” he said. In Christianity’s holiest city, churches have been graffitied and clergy who live and work here report being frequently spit on, harassed and even physically attacked by extremist Jews. Christian leaders say most incidents are never thoroughly investigated."

Sadly, catastrophically, Israeli extremists are behaving remarkably like their Second World War German Nazi oppressors.

"Exact numbers for anti-Christian incidents are hard to come by. But data compiled by Tag Meir, a Jewish group that opposes racism and violence against Israel’s minorities, suggest that there has been a dramatic rise in attacks by Jewish civilians on cemeteries, churches, monasteries and mosques in Israel and the occupied West Bank. The group has documented six such incidents in the first three months of 2023 alone, compared to just two in all of 2022 and three in 2021. The Israeli government says its commitment to ensuring that people of all faiths can live and worship safely is a core democratic value, pointing out that Israel’s founding documents enshrine freedom of religion to all “by law and in practice.”

That's simply not occurring. Certainly, not enforced. Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric devoid of substance as is the following:

"And the national Israel police force says that it is in “continuous contact” with religious leaders to investigate attacks and vandalism and that efforts to bring lawbreakers to justice are “unwavering.” “As the police of all residents and visitors to Jerusalem — Jews, Muslims and Christians — we act against violence and acts of vandalism, and in particular those that hurt religious sentiments,” Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman said during a recent meeting with the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III."

Not true. Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric devoid of substance.

"In the knotty patchwork of identities and beliefs that make up Israel’s social fabric, the plight of Christians has at times been overshadowed by the overlapping struggles between Muslims and Jews, and Israelis and Palestinians. Many, but not all, Christians in Israel and the West Bank are Palestinian. Christian Palestinians themselves are a minority compared to the larger Palestinian population that adheres to Islam. Often, it’s tensions surrounding Muslim and Jewish holy sites that have garnered the most global attention, including in the recent violent flare-ups in Israel and along its borders that erupted in response to Israeli police raids this month on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third-holiest site in Islam. The same spot is also the holiest site in Judaism, known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Those raids elicited retaliatory rocket attacks by Palestinian-linked groups in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, with Israel in turn retaliating by striking those territories."

Sadly, the Israeli aggressor continues to act remarkably similar to its Second World War German Nazi oppressors.

"Yet Christian holy sites in the Old City have also become flashpoints, most recently on Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, just a third of a mile from Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall. In the narrow, cobbled alleyways of the Christian Quarter, tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world showed up for the Holy Fire miracle ceremony, an annual ritual held the day before Orthodox Easter. The crowd was far larger than the 1,800 worshippers the Israeli police had announced would be allowed into the church, leading to sometimes-violent clashes with officers."

Surprised?

"In a war of words that escalated as the ceremony approached, church officials accused Israeli police of arbitrarily restricting worship to a mere fraction of the number who safely attended in years past, calling it a crackdown on the freedom to worship. Police argued the restrictions were about fire hazards and stampede risks, insisting that they were relying on an engineer’s analysis of how many could safely fit in the church. “The tensions we understand, because everybody wants to partake in this special event,” police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said Saturday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s courtyard. “We’re here ultimately to ensure that the people who got the permission from the church leaders are able to attend and attend safely.”

Think so? Believe it?

"Overlooking the Old City less than a mile away, Propst Joachim Lenz walked the grassy pathways of the Protestant cemetery on the steep slopes of Mount Zion, where tradition holds the Last Supper took place. Many of the tombstones in the historic cemetery bear dates from the 1800s, but now many are broken, tipped over and trashed. In January, security camera footage revealed two young men, both wearing traditional clothing associated with Orthodox Jews, breaking into the cemetery and desecrating the headstones. Israeli police said 28 graves were vandalized, and a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old were later arrested and indicted on vandalism charges. “We do not have the feeling that the government is really helpful to end this violence, to stop these aggressions against people who just do not have the same faith as those attackers,” said Lenz, the head of the German Lutheran Church in Israel. Bearing witness a few feet away, Gadi Gvaryahu from Tag Meir agreed. The Jewish group pays condolence visits to victims of extremism, and Gvaryahu said that while Jewish extremists have long enjoyed a degree of impunity, with like-minded politicians in power, “now they feel better.” “It’s like shooting in the heart of Judaism,” said Gvaryahu, before heading home before sunset to observe the Jewish sabbath. “This is not our faith. It’s not written in the Bible. We should all condemn those extremists. And we first as Jews need to condemn.”

Sad, isn't it? Unsustainable.

4-14-23

Israeli aggressor clearly under great stress. The Associated Press reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary. In a live press conference, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying at his post. “I decided to put the differences we had behind us,” he said. “Gallant remains in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel.” In a tweet showing himself sitting next to Netanyahu, Gallant wrote: “We continue together with full strength, for Israel’s security.”

Will take a hell of a lot more than reinstatement.

Readers will recall:

"Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system. Netanyahu never sent Gallant a formal termination letter. As of Monday, Gallant — whose criticism of Netanyahu’s planned judicial changes led to his dismissal — was still on the job. Gallant’s aides said it was business-as-usual at the Defense Ministry. In recent days, Gallant was seen taking part in Israeli government meetings discussing tensions in Jerusalem that escalated last week and the wider violence they sparked in the region. “Even in the last few days we worked together and stood together around the clock on all fronts in the face of the security challenges,” Netanyahu said."

Your resignation in disgrace, Mr. Prime Minister, would indeed be a step in the right direction, sir. Time for the United States to reconsider all financial and military aid.

"Days after Netanyahu announced Gallant’s firing, an Israeli police raid at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site triggered rocket fire at Israel on multiple fronts. Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire at rocket launch sites and accused Hamas and Palestinian militant groups of being behind the attacks. The judiciary crisis and other issues including his indictment on corruption charges in 2019 have distracted Netanyahu from his traditional focus on security and diplomacy, and many Israelis were concerned about the prospects of a vacant defense minister post."

For damned good reason.

"On Saturday, tens of thousands of Israelis took part in the 14th straight week of protests against the planned judicial overhaul. Organizers say the plan would diminish Israel’s national security by roiling the military and weakening the country in the eyes of its enemies. They also say that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest at a time when he is on trial. Netanyahu’s supporters say the plan is needed to rein in the powers of unelected judges. After Wednesday’s police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound — the third holiest shrine in Islam that is also the most sacred to Jews — rockets were fired on northern Israel from Lebanon, Syria and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The escalation came at a time of rare convergence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holidays."

4-7-23

Biden finally stands up to the Israeli aggressor. The Associated Press reports:

"Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday brushed aside criticism of his judicial overhaul plan from President Joe Biden, saying the matter was an internal Israeli issue and would not be influenced by outside pressure."

Time to consider removing all financial aid from the Israeli aggressor.

"While both sides tried to play down their differences, it was a rare bout of public disagreement between the two close allies, and reflected what has been a lukewarm relationship between the Biden administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government. It also marked the latest sign of cooling ties between Israel and the Democratic Party. The disagreement came after months of unrest in Israel over Netanyahu’s proposed overhaul of the country’s judicial system. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, says the plan is needed to rein in the powers of an interventionist judiciary. Critics say it will push the country toward authoritarianism by weakening an independent court system. Following especially heavy protests, Netanyahu this week froze the plan and launched negotiations on a compromise with his political opponents. The timeout prompted Biden’s ambassador, Tom Nides, to tell Israeli media that he expected Netanyahu to soon be invited to the White House. Asked about the legislation on Tuesday, Biden told reporters, “I hope he walks away from it.” He said Netanyahu’s government “cannot continue down this road” and called for a compromise. He also said there were no immediate plans for a White House visit, saying: “No, not in the near term.” Netanyahu responded with a statement expressing appreciation for Biden’s years of support for Israel and vowing to seek a “broad consensus” over the legal program. But he also dismissed the outside pressure. “Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends,” Netanyahu said. Members of his coalition reacted even more harshly, saying Biden had no business interfering in an internal Israeli matter. Israel “is not another star in the American flag,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Power party. “I expect the U.S. president to understand this point.”

Time to consider removing all financial aid from the Israeli aggressor. It's treatment of Palestinians remains appalling. Now, it's considering restructuring its government from a democracy to an autocratic police-state.

Here's the problem:

"After five Israeli elections in under four years, Netanyahu managed to cobble together a coalition government with a group of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist partners late last year. These include far-right partners who oppose Palestinian statehood and have strong ties to the West Bank settler movement — putting them at odds with U.S. support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since taking office, there have been repeated run-ins with the Americans over Israeli settlement construction on occupied lands and comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called for a Palestinian town to be “erased” and later said the Palestinian people don’t exist. Washington has called his comments “repugnant” and snubbed Smotrich during a recent U.S. visit. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who enjoyed good ties with Biden during a brief period as caretaker prime minister last year, accused Netanyahu of harming Israel’s most important relationship. “For decades, Israel was the USA’s closest ally,” Lapid wrote on Twitter. “The most radical government in the country’s history ruined that in three months.” That relationship, however, has been repeatedly tested in recent years by a growing partisan divide in the U.S. over support for Israel. Netanyahu has long been seen as favoring the Republicans over the Democrats. During his 2009-2021 term as prime minister, he cultivated close ties with U.S. evangelical Christian groups."

Not particularly surprising since these groups have embraced national socialism as has the Israeli dictator. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

NPR reports:

"Israel accused the United States of inappropriately intervening in its internal affairs as the fallout continues from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt to increase his far-right coalition's say in how judges are chosen. The comments widened simmering tension between the two close allies that has built for months. On Monday, Netanyahu postponed for at least a month — but vowed to resume — an effort to change how Israel appoints judges to the Supreme Court. The court is especially pivotal in Israel and could rule over future legislation from Netanyahu's coalition or even eventually over Netanyahu's own corruption trial. The effort has prompted months of demonstrations in Israel, with protesters saying it's an attempt to pave the way for a nationalist and religious agenda. Biden told reporters a day later that he was "very concerned" about the judicial proposal. And he said there were no plans "in the near term" for the U.S. to invite Netanyahu to the White House — responding to what was apparently an offhand remark by the U.S. ambassador to Israel that Netanyahu could be invited soon. Netanyahu maintains he's trying to strengthen the country's democracy against a liberal court system. As for the U.S. pressure, he issued a statement Wednesday saying, "Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends." Later in the day, reporters from mainly U.S. media were invited to hear a senior Israeli official speak — without naming and mostly without quoting the official — with sharper criticism of the White House. The official accused the U.S. of inappropriately intervening and said it was bizarre for Biden to comment after Netanyahu said he was delaying his proposal."

Not good enough. Nowhere near.

"The situation poses diplomatic and political challenges for both leaders. Israel is a key security ally and major recipient of U.S. military assistance — billions of dollars a year coming under an agreement made with the Obama administration, in which Biden was vice president."

Clearly, time to re-assess that assistance.

3-17-23

Think the Israeli aggressor is not committing war crimes? The Washington Post reports:

"Israeli security forces in an armored vehicle fired repeatedly into a group of civilians sheltering between a mosque and a clinic after a Feb. 22 raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, killing two people, including a teenager, and wounding three others, according to witnesses and a visual reconstruction of the event by The Washington Post. The Post spoke with two witnesses to the shooting, obtained previously unpublished videos of the incident from a bystander and the Israel Defense Forces, and had audio experts analyze the gunfire. A Post reporter collected visual evidence at the scene to reconstruct the incident using 3D modeling software, and reporters also reviewed more than 30 videos filmed in Nablus that day. The Post reconstruction shows that, while responding to what they claimed was a gunman, Israeli forces fired at least 14 times from inside their armored vehicle as it moved down a street and then came to a halt next to a short wall behind which the civilians huddled. The Israelis continued firing even after those people would have been visible from the vehicle’s windows, the analysis shows."

Nothing new. Been going on decades. Ignored by the United States.

“It was a black Wednesday,” said Farid Shaaban, the father of 16-year-old Mohammad Shaaban, who was killed as he waited for a ride home after school. “For Nablus and for my personal history, my family.” The Israeli military declined to answer detailed questions about the incident but said that soldiers at the scene said a man had fired at their vehicles before running toward the clinic. An Israeli military official said the matter is “under examination.”

Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric. Means shit squat. The Israeli aggressor has no intention of changing tactics, i.e. targeting civilians.

"Israeli forces killed at least 11 people during and after the raid, including several Palestinian fighters, and wounded 102, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and social media posts by Palestinian armed groups. The raid came amid a rise in deadly Israeli military incursions unseen in the occupied West Bank since the end of the most recent Palestinian uprising in 2005. Recent shootings of civilians by Israeli forces have alarmed human rights and advocacy groups, several of which called the events a result of soldiers being given impunity for unlawful violence against Palestinian civilians."

War crimes.

"Israeli forces killed 71 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 13 children, between Jan. 1 and March 7, according to the last available figures provided by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Israeli forces killed 146 Palestinians in the West Bank in 2022, and 75 in 2021. At least 14 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians so far this year."

A massacre of Palestinians. Casualty figures quite lopsided.

"An official for the Israeli military said their forces do not deliberately target civilians, fire only as a last resort and abide by international law."

Clearly, not true. A lie. Perpetrated decades by the Israeli aggressor.

"The Feb. 22 raid of a house in Nablus began around 9 a.m. and involved 150 members of the Israeli military, border police and internal security service, according to the Israeli military. The operation targeted two members of an armed group called the Lions’ Den and a member of Islamic Jihad who were planning to carry out attacks against Israelis in the “immediate future,” the military said. Israeli forces killed all three men during the rare daylight raid, which set off hours of violence around the city center."

The Israeli aggressor doesn't understand the fact its tactics spawn further violence.

"About a third of a mile from the house, the spreading violence stranded several civilians at the Rahma Clinic, on the main road running through Nablus and adjacent to al-Haj Maazouz Mosque. Among those present were the two killed: Shaaban and 65-year-old retiree Abdelaziz Ashqar. Injured were 36-year-old chauffeur Asaad Najjar, 22-year-old Mohammed Samaaneh and a vegetable seller who could not be reached for an interview. Shaaban, who loved learning languages, had just finished school, his father said. Unable to find a safe ride home, the teen had called his father and was waiting to be picked up. Ashqar, a former employee of the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, had come to the mosque for the afternoon prayer, said his son, Elias. Najjar, who had been driving students to school earlier that day, said he had parked his car nearby to wait for things to calm down and avoid wafting tear gas. Samaaneh, a recent college graduate, had been at the clinic for an examination with a dermatologist, said his father, Hazem. The vegetable seller worked in the area. A video shot by Najjar at 12:09 p.m. shows Israeli armored vehicles maneuvering in the distance and Palestinian men setting up barricades."

Get this:

"Around 1 p.m., as Israeli forces began to withdraw from the city, a patrol of several vehicles moved toward the clinic and the mosque, looking to head off any armed fighters, a military official said. Having read about a withdrawal on social media, Shaaban, the four men, and a handful of other civilians gathered near the street. At 1:02 p.m., Farid Shaaban said, he received the call from his son, telling him where to pick the boy up. What happened next was captured in three videos. Two were previously unpublished — one from a bystander and the other filmed by the Israeli military from inside one of its vehicles. The military posted a partial clip on Twitter on the day of the raid but later provided The Post with an extended version that included the shooting. At 1:03 p.m., the bystander, standing in a clinic window, began filming the street. In the video, five Israeli armored vehicles pass by. People on the street pelt them with rocks and other objects. About 45 seconds later, more Israeli military vehicles begin to pass, the first an MDT David light armored vehicle and the second a Wolf armored personnel carrier roughly 100 feet behind. A member of the Israeli military filmed the scene from inside a vehicle behind the Wolf. As the vehicles passed, Firas Masry, a 50-year-old man living in an apartment building across from the clinic, began to film the third video from several floors above. The video was first geolocated by Gabòr Friesen, a student at Leiden University College, and Chris Osieck, a Dutch human rights researcher. Audio from the videos captures two initial bangs, the second of which can be heard as a man on the sidewalk is seen extending his arm toward the passing Israeli vehicles. The videos reviewed by The Post do not clearly show whether the man had a gun or fired, and none of the witnesses interviewed by The Post said they saw a gunman fire at the Israelis."

Fascinating, isn't it? The Post carefully did its homework:

"Video shows the man on the sidewalk running toward and ducking through a gate, onto a staircase between the mosque and clinic where the group of civilians is sheltering. To reconstruct the incident in 3D, The Post synchronized all three videos and took more than 1,000 additional photos of the location. Troops in a Wolf armored vehicle can shoot while looking through either a window or a firing port. An Israeli military official declined to say what they did in this incident. The Post used a commercially available computer model to map the complete perspective visible from both of the Wolf’s side windows, which are covered by protective grates. The Post also analyzed the perspective from the vehicle’s firing ports, which indicated that a soldier aiming through them would have had a similar, but more restricted, view. As the man moves through the gate into the group of civilians, Israelis shoot from the vehicle. Audio from the videos captures at least 14 gunshots within four seconds, according to two forensic audio experts who analyzed it. The Post modeled the view from the windows of the Wolf armored vehicle the entire time it was shooting and found that civilians remained in the view for the duration that shots are heard."

If true, deliberate targeting of civilians.

"Israeli forces start shooting from the vehicle. The 3D reconstruction shows that the man who ran from the sidewalk and ducked behind the wall would not have been clearly visible from either window. Israeli troops continue to shoot as a civilian moves directly across the gateway and the Wolf slows in front of the staircase. As the vehicle stops, civilians behind the wall remain visible. Israeli forces continue firing. To help assess the Israeli soldiers’ claim that a gunman fired on the convoy, The Post sent audio from the videos to Lawrence Abu Hamdan of Earshot, whose audio investigations have been used as evidence at the U.K. Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, and Steven Beck, an audio forensic expert who consulted for the FBI for more than a decade. Beck said he did not believe that two bangs The Post identified preceding the fire from the armored vehicle were gunshots. Abu Hamdan said that every shot heard was “highly likely” to have been fired from the Wolf armored vehicle. Najjar, the chauffeur, was hit by shrapnel from the gunfire. He said he saw shots hit Ashqar and heard Shaaban yelling that he’d been hit. Najjar said his own decision to step down the staircase a moment earlier probably saved his life. “I did, but they couldn’t do it on time,” he said. “It was clear that it was shoot to kill.” Najjar said that even after decades living with Israeli military incursions, the shooting shocked him. “I believed that it was going to be an ordinary withdrawal of the army,” he said. An ambulance transported the five victims to An-Najah National University Hospital, where Shaaban and Ashqar were pronounced dead around 20 minutes after the shooting. Shaaban had been shot in the left shoulder and left upper arm, and Ashqar had been shot in the abdomen, according to medical reports reviewed by The Post. “That place is in the middle of the city,” Shaaban’s uncle, Alaa, said. “The Israeli army was shooting on a city, the middle of a city, at such an hour. What’s to be expected?” A military official said the decision to shoot is up to the soldier in the field. It appeared that “in this case they decided the right thing to do was to thwart the threat that they faced and that’s the decision they took,” the official said."

Not all Israelis, however, march in goose step with these murderous tactics:

"But “it’s impossible to be accurate” shooting from a moving vehicle and especially dangerous to do so in an urban environment, said Ori Givati, the advocacy director for Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli army veterans who served in the Palestinian territories and oppose the occupation. Givati said that “constant political pressure from ultranationalist leaders,” including some who are now government ministers, as well as the lack of repercussions for killing innocent Palestinians, have created a permissive environment for Israeli soldiers. Brian Castner, a crisis researcher with Amnesty International, said that without further research he could not make a conclusive determination about the shooting, but in operations such as the raid in Nablus, Israeli forces are obligated by international human rights law to use force as a last resort and only when there is an imminent threat to life. Castner, who reviewed the videos, said that because of the protection afforded by the armored vehicles, there did not appear to be an immediate threat. Brad Parker, a senior adviser at Defense for Children International-Palestine, who also reviewed the videos, said that “unlawful killings have become the norm, suggesting that Israeli military rules of engagement have shifted over the past few years to permit live fire where no threat is posed to Israeli forces in complete contravention of international law.” Israeli forces in heavily armored vehicles fired “with complete disregard” to the Palestinian civilians standing nearby, Parker said."

As dangerous as it would certainly be, The Post and other news sources need live reporters at the scene recording all such military operations. If the Israeli aggressor is indeed abiding by international law, it should have no objection. The following, while certainly a step in the right direction, is not good enough:

"To re-create the location in Nablus in virtual 3D space, The Post collected more than 1,000 photos and geospatial data of the site. This data was processed in photogrammetry software Metashape and exported as a scaled 3D mesh. The Post then used perspective plotting tools alongside available location and camera lens metadata from the collected photographs and videos to add virtual cameras into the scene, matching the perspective of key visuals from different angles, and assisting in the accurate modeling of the site. The Post added a commercially built, scaled 3D model of a Wolf armored personnel carrier to the environment, embedding a camera inside that allowed the range of visibility from inside the vehicle to be determined as it moved through the scene."

ABC News(AP) reports:

"Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday against a contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary as the government pressed ahead with the plan. The nationwide demonstrations have been a regular weekly event for more than two months. Despite the demonstrations, Netanyahu and his allies have pledged to press ahead with a series of bills that would strip the Supreme Court of its ability to review legislation and give coalition politicians control over judicial appointments."

Sadly, tragically, Netanyahu and his follow national socialists are emulating early Nazi Germany. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Critics say the changes will destroy the country’s system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of the prime minister and his allies."

An autocrat who clearly does not believe in democracy.

“We are protesting because if not, it’s like compliance and we will never agree to have democracy abolished in this country," said Einat Gival-Levi, a protester. “It’s really important that we raise awareness all around the world.”

Clearly, standing tall. Better late than never.

"Hundreds of Israeli women’s rights activists dressed as characters in the television series, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” marched to the center of Tel Aviv city to join the main protest. The uproar over the legal changes plans by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises. Beyond the protests, which have drawn tens of thousands of Israelis to the streets and recently became violent, opposition has surged from across society, with business leaders and legal officials speaking out against what they say will be the ruinous effects of the plan."

When will the U.S. citizenry finally wake up to the threat posed by the nazi element in the Republican Party to democracy and liberty? When will Democrats effectively challenge this exigent threat? To date, have egregiously failed. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"On Thursday, Netanyahu had to be airlifted to the country’s main international airport for an overseas trip after throngs of cars and protesters prevented him from driving there. The rift has not spared Israel’s military, which is seeing unprecedented opposition from within its own ranks."

When will the U.S. military similarly, finally wake up to the exigent threat posed by the nazi element in the Republican Party?

"Critics also say Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, is driven by personal grievances and that he could find an escape route from the charges through the overhaul. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing and says the legal changes have nothing to do with his trial."

Like the Trump nazi, Netanyahu is a congenital liar. Presents an exigent threat to democracy.

"The protests have been largely dominated by the country’s secular middle class. Israel’s Palestinian minority, which makes up some 20% of the population, have been largely absent, in part because they suffer from discrimination in Israel and and because of Israel’s treatment of their Palestinian brethren in the West Bank and Gaza."

Sad, isn't it? Yet, the United States continues to provide the Israeli aggressor with weaponry and financial aid no matter what war crimes it commits.

The Associated Press reports:

"The Israeli parliament on Monday advanced a bill that would make it harder to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the corruption charges against him, as it plowed ahead with a broader plan to overhaul the country’s legal system in defiance of mass protests. Lawmakers in the Knesset gave preliminary approval during a late-night vote on the bill, which would allow the parliament to declare a prime minister unfit to rule only for physical or mental reasons. The body was expected to vote later on a measure that would allow the Knesset to overrule Supreme Court rulings and enact laws that had been struck down. Both bills require additional votes before being enshrined into law. The steps were the latest in a series of moves by Netanyahu’s coalition to overhaul Israel’s legal system. The prime minister and his allies say the effort is aimed at reining in an activist court. Critics say the drive would upend the country’s democratic checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his parliamentary majority."

Highly reminiscent of the Trump nazi, isn't it? LOL. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and religious coalition allies have pledged to plow ahead with the legal changes despite demonstrations by tens of thousands of Israeli protesters over the past two months. Business leaders, legal experts and retired military leaders have joined the protests, and Israeli reservists have threatened to stop reporting for duty if the overhaul passes."

When will Americans finally stand up to Trump and the nazi element in the Republican Party?

"In a late-night vote, the Knesset moved forward a bill that would protect Netanyahu from calls to oust him, replacing current law that opens the door for a leader to be removed under other circumstances. The new bill would require approval by three-quarters of the government, and could be overridden by the prime minister. The measure has personal importance to Netanyahu, who returned to power late last year after Israel’s fifth election in under four years. He is on trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, and denies the allegations. The proceedings have dragged on for nearly three years. Good governance groups and other critics have called on the country’s attorney general to deem Netanyahu unfit for office. Speaking to members of his Likud party on Monday, Netanyahu lashed out at the Israeli media, saying they are broadcasting a “never ending tsunami of fake news” against him. He reiterated his claim that the legal overhaul will strengthen Israeli democracy."

Like the Trump nazi, Netanyahu is a congenital liar looking out for his own sorry ass.

"Opposition lawmaker Orna Barbivai said the bill was “a disgrace, which says the the prime minister is above the law.”

Sounds remarkably similar to the views of Trump supporters, doesn't it? That is, the former president is supposedly above the law. LOL.

"Israel’s Palestinian minority, which makes up some 20% of the population, has been largely absent from the protests, in part because they suffer from discrimination in Israel and and because of Israel’s treatment of their Palestinian brethren in the West Bank and Gaza."

... Clearly, the Israelis are far from perfect. At least, they're standing up to their dictator and the exigent threat he presents to their democracy.

3-10-23

In follow-up to the ongoing, worsening crisis in Israel, The Washington Post reports:

"A Palestinian militant named Mohammad Abu Dhraa strode boldly through this city’s roughest refugee camp last week with an assault rifle on his shoulder, an entourage of young men following in his path. The day before, Abu Dhraa had taken part in an hours-long gun battle with Israeli soldiers who raided Nablus’s city center, one of the deadliest confrontations here in years. Fighters like Abu Dhraa are not tied to a party or a political ideology. But they have easy access to guns and are committed to the fight. In their youth and independence, they represent a new kind of threat — not only to Israel but to an ever-weaker Palestinian Authority, run by unelected men in their 70s and 80s. In earlier generations, Palestinian political factions ran the brigades during street fighting against Israel. Now, cells of teenagers and young men in their early 20s from the neighborhood are calling the shots. “The names aren’t important,” said Abu Dhraa, speaking of the various brigades who fought with him during the Feb. 22 raid in Nablus. “We are resisting the Israeli occupation. It’s not important a person’s faction. What’s important is they are a soldier on the ground.”

Fascinating turn of events. Has to be of great concern to the Israeli aggressor.

"Over the past year, the Israeli military has carried out increasingly lethal near-daily raids across the occupied West Bank, targeting Palestinian militants it says are responsible for, or planning, attacks against Israelis. Under the most far-right government in Israel’s history, sworn in late last year, the raids have escalated, taking a heavy toll on civilians. The cycle of gun battles and funerals in Nablus, Jenin and elsewhere have inspired revenge attacks, and appear to be fueling the growing militancy rather than containing it."

What does the Israeli aggressor expect? Capitulation? Resistance increases as Israeli violence and massacres worsen:

"Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed more than 60 Palestinians so far in 2023, the highest rate in years; Palestinian attacks have killed at least 14 Israelis, seven of them in a shooting outside a synagogue in East Jerusalem in January. It has been nearly 20 years since the last Palestinian intifada, or uprising. And while the dynamics have changed, observers say, the fundamentals are the same — occupation, despair and relentless violence."

That's right. The Israeli aggressor doesn't seem to understand this. Neither do Putin and Russian forces mired in Ukraine.

"Across the West Bank, “the widespread public frustration and desperation is there” for another Palestinian uprising, said Tahani Mustafa, an expert with the International Crisis Group. “I think it’s going to be a lot bloodier, far more diffused, far more fragmented.” In the decaying alleys of Nablus and nearby refugee camps, mourners gathered last week to praise those killed in the raid — six militants, most in their 20s, and at least four civilians, including a 16-year-old boy. “We have chosen our path,” Abu Dhraa said. “There is no going back.”

The Israeli aggressor doesn't seem to have a clue.

"The armed groups popping up are decentralized — but when the army raided Nablus, fighters from Jenin came to their aid, Abu Dhraa said. As the dust settled that night, a new brigade in Tulkarem, farther north, announced its formation on Telegram and TikTok."

Resistance grows. Yet, the Israeli aggressor fails to understand its tactics are not working:

"The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it “operates in a complex operational reality” in the West Bank “and faces violent riots and acts of terrorism daily,” including “explosive devices, molotov cocktails and stones.” The military said it uses “riot dispersal means, and when necessary — live fire.”

A massive failure that ironically fuels resistance.

"All the while, a succession crisis is brewing over who will replace the ailing Palestinian Authority president, 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, whose role in a failing U.S.-led peace process has left him with limited rule over the West Bank."

The United States has failed to rein in the Israeli aggressor. Has not forced the aggressor to compromise and come to a settlement with the Palestinians by threatening to cut off all financial assistance and weaponry. There is no reason all these decades why Palestine and Israel cannot co-exist in separate states other than Israeli intransigence. Sadly, as time passes, that may be changing on the Palestinian side as well, -- as resistance increases, becomes intransigent, and the violence increases.

“What unifies these splinter groups,” Mustafa explained, “is their frustration with the occupation and a divided Palestinian leadership.”

For damned good reason the United States and Israel fail to understand.

"Over the past year in Nablus and Jenin — traditional hot spots of militancy — new groups such as the Lions’ Den and the Balata Brigade have amassed followers in the streets and on social media. They fight the military during raids and fire at soldiers at checkpoints, but also attack Israelis in Jewish settlements and inside Israel. And they are inspiring others. In January, five friends from the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp formed an armed cell in Jericho, a normally sleepy town considered a stronghold of the Palestinian Authority and its dominant Fatah party. The young men, four of them cousins and all in their 20s, were wanted by Israel in connection with a failed shooting attack at a restaurant in a nearby settlement. The five friends had spoken often about “martyrdom and resistance” against the occupation, said Saadiya Awadat, 70, the grandmother of brothers Refat, 21, and Ibrahim Awadat, 27, and their cousins Adham, 22, and Thaer Awadat, 28. Ibrahim had started building a second floor to his father’s cramped home, which he needed to get married. But the cousins and a school friend, Malik Lafi, 22, were simultaneously stockpiling assault weapons, according to the Israeli military. The weapons won out. During a 10-day manhunt for the fighters, Israel put Jericho in a state of lockdown, setting up checkpoints that brought business and traffic to a standstill. On the eighth day, Feb. 4, the military launched the largest raid on the camp in decades, shooting up the Awadats’ homes and firing shoulder-launched missiles at the house of a relative. In the darkness of night, residents said, soldiers ordered men to strip down in the rain and arrested dozens from the extended family. The fighters escaped. The incursion, like so many before it, left locals feeling angry and helpless."

Think there won't be violent revenge in response?

"Hours after the raid, a sleepless Jamal Omar, chair of the administration committee for the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp, was at his wits’ end. He had tried to calm tensions. But like all parents, he worried that his son “could be out in the street and be shot and killed.” Aqbat Jabr is one of 19 refugee camps in the West Bank, built for Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in 1948. Israel captured the Palestinian territories in 1967. The 1993 Oslo peace accords created the Palestinian Authority as a step toward statehood, but polls show that most here have given up on a two-state solution to the conflict."

That means violence will continue unabated.

Here's the problem:

"Israeli settlements and agricultural outposts, illegal under international law, now dominate much of the West Bank. Palestinians in the territory are subject to military rule and have no political recourse: The Palestinian Authority has not held elections in 17 years, while Hamas, the extremist militant group, controls the Gaza Strip."

Yet, the United States fails to rein in the Israeli aggressor.

"Two days after their first raid targeting the Awadats and Lafi, Israeli forces raided Jericho again before dawn on Feb. 6. They killed all five fighters, hiding in a shack, and took their bodies. Hours later, green Hamas flags flew over the houses where the Awadat family had gathered to mourn. A Fatah flag flew at Lafi’s home. “Without a political solution, no place will remain quiet,” Omar said. The IDF labeled the Jericho group a “Hamas terrorist squad,” referring to the Iran-backed militant group in Gaza that has called for Israel’s destruction, but declined to disclose its evidence."

Couldn't be it has none, could it?

The BBC reports:

"Fighter pilots in an elite Israeli Air Force squadron have vowed not to attend training, in an unprecedented protest against the government. Nearly all of the 40 reservist pilots from 69th Squadron have refused to join a one-day training exercise this week. It is seen as an unparalleled political move by some of Israel's most strategically important reservists. It is also a sign of growing opposition to the ruling nationalist coalition's plans to overhaul the legal system. One unnamed pilot told the Ynet news website that the squadron was "signaling that we won't be prepared to serve a dictatorial regime".

Uncommon Valor. ... Think the same couldn't happen here in the United States as our formerly great country continues to nazify courtesy of the nazi element in the Republican Party? Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Meanwhile, the national airline El Al said it had found a crew to fly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife to Italy for a planned state visit this week, following media reports its pilots had refused to fly the couple as part of the protests. And in a further sign of growing concern among Israel's military leadership, 10 former Israeli Air Force chiefs published an open letter calling on Mr. Netanyahu to "stop and find a solution" to the crisis, given the level of protest among pilots and aircrews. "We are fearful over the consequences of these processes and the serious and tangible danger posed to the national security of the State of Israel," the letter said. It follows an announcement last week by reservists in the elite 8200 intelligence unit, who also said they would not turn up for aspects of their reserve duty. Israel's reservists are a key component of its military forces, often carrying out frontline roles, and in the case of the air force, regularly involved in active combat operations."

Israelis continue to stand tall against the Netanyahu dictator:

"Anti-government protests have continued to grow since Mr. Netanyahu returned to power at the end of last year, leading the most right-wing, nationalist coalition in Israel's history and promising radical changes to Israel's legal system. They include new laws which would give the government full control over nominating judges and would ultimately strip the Supreme Court of crucial powers to strike down legislation. Most legal scholars say the reforms would effectively destroy the independence of the judiciary, while opposition figures describe the proposals as an attempted "regime coup" by the prime minister and his coalition. Mr. Netanyahu is also on trial for corruption charges, which he denies, and opponents claim the legal reforms could help shield him from conviction. The proposals have sparked some of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in Israel's history, with an estimated 150,000 people on the streets of Tel Aviv and tens of thousands more in protests elsewhere on Saturday.

"The pilot reservists are also reportedly concerned that the new hardline government's conduct could expose them to prosecution by the International Criminal Court, without being able to argue that an independent judiciary in Israel is responsible for ultimately investigating wrongdoing by its forces. Human rights groups and Palestinian officials, however, have long dismissed Israel's own inquiries into its forces' conduct as a whitewash. Threatened boycotts by reservists in Israel are not uncommon, but the scale and seniority of those now involved is unprecedented. The pilots' protest adds to announcements by reservists in almost every combat or intelligence unit in recent weeks threatening not to serve if the government presses ahead with the highly controversial changes. Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has reportedly spoken to Mr. Netanyahu, warning him that the action could harm the military's operational capabilities."

The Associated Press reports:

"Shraga Tichover is hanging up his fatigues. After more than three decades as a reservist in the Israeli military, the paratrooper says he will no longer put his life on the line for a country slipping toward autocracy."

Uncommon Valor. Unlike here in the United States where the autocratic nazi element in the Republican Party remains ignored. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Tichover is part of a wave of unprecedented opposition from within the ranks of the Israeli military to a contentious government plan to overhaul the judiciary. Like Tichover, some reservists are refusing to show up for duty and former commanders are defending their actions as a natural response to the impending change. “The values of this country are going to change. I am not able to serve the military of a state that is not a democracy,” said Tichover, a 53-year-old volunteer reservist who has served in southern Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The typically taboo talk of defying military orders underlines how deeply the overhaul has divided Israel and is now tearing at what Israeli Jews see as their most respected institution, the military. Concerns are growing that the protest could trickle down to young conscripts as well. In a declaration that has sent shock waves through the country, three dozen reservist fighter pilots said they wouldn’t show up for training on Wednesday in protest. The airmen are seen as the cream of the military’s personnel and irreplaceable elements of many of Israel’s battle plans. After appeals from top officials, the pilots announced they would show up to their base — but only for a dialogue with their commanders, Israeli media reported. “We have full confidence in our commanders,” the reports quoted the pilots as saying in a letter. The military’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi, reportedly warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week that the reservists’ protest risks harming the military’s capabilities. Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met late Tuesday with a group of senior reservists to discuss the crisis. “The army cannot operate without the reservists,” Halevi told them. But, he said, “insubordination is a red line.” For Israel’s Jewish majority, most of whom must serve in the military, the army is a source of unity and a rite of passage. Military service is an important launching pad into civilian life and the workforce. After completing three years of mandatory service, many men continue in the reserves until their 40s, when service becomes voluntary. Most of those threatening to halt their service are volunteers, protecting them from potential punishment."

Fascinating, isn't it?

"Recognizing the threat to its stability, the military has pleaded to be kept out of the heated public discourse. But it’s become central to the debate over what kind of Israel will emerge after the overhaul. Netanyahu, a former soldier in an elite unit, and his government are pushing forward on a plan to weaken the Supreme Court and limit the independence of the judiciary. His allies say the changes are meant to streamline governance, while critics say the plan will upend Israel’s system of checks and balances and slide the country toward authoritarianism. They also say Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, is motivated by a personal grudge and has a conflict of interest. The overhaul, which is moving ahead in parliament, has sparked an outcry from business leaders and legal officials. Tens of thousands of protesters have been taking to the streets each week."

The following is also quite true:

"Not everyone identifies with the soldiers. Critics say the military, as the enforcer of Israel’s rule over millions of Palestinians in an open-ended occupation, has subjugated another people and eroded the country’s democratic ideals. The reserve units now protesting, including pilots and intelligence units, have been behind deadly strikes or surveillance against Palestinians."

Get this:

"Israel’s own Palestinian minority has largely stayed on the sidelines of the anti-government protests, in part because of Israel’s treatment of their Palestinian brethren in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. But Jewish Israelis see the military as a pillar of security in the face of myriad threats. Israel is mired in a bloody round of violence with Palestinians and archenemy Iran is blazing ahead with its nuclear program. Israel says Iran is developing a nuclear bomb — a charge that Tehran denies. Those developments have not stopped the creeping challenge within the military. Israel’s pool of reservists are the backbone of the force when security crises erupt. Ehud Barak, a former military chief of staff, defense minister and prime minister, has said it would be acceptable to defy orders from what he calls a dictatorial regime. Dan Halutz, another former military chief, said soldiers won’t agree to become “mercenaries for a dictator.”

3-3-23

Israeli aggressor on the rampage. The Associated Press reports:

"Scores of Israeli settlers went on a violent rampage in the northern West Bank, setting dozens of cars and homes on fire after two settlers were killed by a Palestinian gunman. Palestinian medics said one man was killed and four others were badly wounded in what appeared to be the worst outburst of settler violence in decades. The deadly shooting Sunday, followed by the late-night rampage, immediately raised doubts about Jordan’s declaration that Israeli and Palestinian officials had pledged to calm a year-long wave of violence. Palestinian media said some 30 homes and cars were torched. Photos and video on social media showed large fires burning throughout the town of Hawara — scene of the deadly shooting earlier in the day — and lighting up the sky. In one video, a crowd of Jewish settlers stood in prayer as they stared at a building in flames. And earlier, a prominent Israeli Cabinet minister and settler leader had called for Israel to strike “without mercy.”

Frighteningly reminiscent of early Nazi Germany and the rise of Adolf Hitler and his jackbooted bastards.

"Late Sunday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 37-year-old man was shot and killed by Israeli fire. The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said two other people were shot and wounded, a third person was stabbed and a fourth was beaten with an iron bar. Some 95 others were being treated for tear gas inhalation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called “the terrorist acts carried out by settlers under the protection of the occupation forces tonight.” “We hold the Israeli government fully responsible,” he added. The European Union said it was “alarmed by” the violence in Hawara and that “authorities on all sides must intervene now to stop this endless cycle of violence.” The U.K.’s ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, said that “Israel should tackle settler violence, with those responsible brought to justice.”

Sadly, highly unlikely to occur currently under Netanyahu and his Extreme Right outrageously fascist regime. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"As videos of the violence appeared on evening news shows, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for calm and urged against vigilante violence. “I ask that when blood is boiling and the spirit is hot, don’t take the law into your hands,” Netanyahu said in a video statement."

Empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric. Double talk. Disingenuous bullshit intended to deceive.

"The Israeli military said its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi, rushed to scene. It said troops were being reinforced in the area as they worked to restore order and search for the shooter. Ghassan Douglas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israeli settlements in the Nablus region. said that settlers burned at least six houses and dozens of cars in Hawara, and reported attacks on other neighboring Palestinian villages. He estimated around 400 Jewish settlers took part in the attack. “I never seen such an attack,” he said. The rampage occurred shortly after the Jordanian government, which hosted Sunday’s talks at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, said the sides had agreed to take steps to de-escalate tensions and would meet again next month ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. “They reaffirmed the necessity of committing to de-escalation on the ground and to prevent further violence,” the Jordanian Foreign Ministry announced. After nearly a year of fighting that has killed over 200 Palestinians and more than 40 Israelis in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Jordanian announcement marked a small sign of progress. But the situation on the ground immediately cast those commitments into doubt."

No question. The statistics clearly indicate the Palestinians are being massacred by the Israeli aggressor.

"The Palestinians claim the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip – areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war – for a future state. Some 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements as illegal and obstacles to peace. The West Bank is home to a number of hard-line settlements whose residents frequently vandalize Palestinians land and property. But rarely is the violence so widespread. Prominent members of Israel’s far-right government called for tough action against the Palestinians."

Sadly, the current Israeli government is highly reminiscent of early Nazi Germany and the rise of Adolf Hitler and his jackbooted bastards.

"Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler leader who lives in the area and has been put in charge of much of Israel’s West Bank policy, called for “striking the cities of terror and its instigators without mercy, with tanks and helicopters.” Using a phrase that calls for a more heavy-handed response, he said Israel should act “in a way that conveys that the master of the house has gone crazy.”

Sadly, been the case since 1967. Precisely, why there is no peace.

"Late Sunday, however, Smotrich appealed to his fellow settlers to let the army and government do their jobs. “It is forbidden to take the law into your hands and create dangerous anarchy that could spin out of control and cost lives,” he said."

Called double talk. Blatant bullshit intended to deceive.

"Earlier, in Israeli ministerial committee gave initial approval to a bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted in deadly attacks. The measure was sent to lawmakers for further debate."

If enacted, will increase the level of violence as the Palestinians fight back against their occupiers.

"There were also differing interpretations of what exactly was agreed to in Aqaba between the Palestinians and Israelis. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said the representatives agreed to work toward a “just and lasting peace” and had committed to preserving the status quo at Jerusalem’s contested holy site. Tensions at the site revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif have often spilled over into violence, and two years ago sparked an 11-day war between Israel and the Hamas militant group during Ramadan. Officials with Israel’s government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, played down Sunday’s meeting."

Not surprising. Sadly, highly reminiscent of early Nazi Germany and the rise of Adolf Hitler and his jackbooted bastards.

"A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity under government guidelines, said only that the sides in Jordan agreed to set up a committee to work at renewing security ties with the Palestinians. The Palestinians cut off ties last month after a deadly Israeli military raid in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who led the Israeli delegation said there were “no changes” in Israeli policies and that plans to build thousands of new settlement homes approved last week would not be affected. He said “there is no settlement freeze” and “there is no restriction on army activity.”

Precisely, why violence will continue unabated.

"The Jordanian announcement had said Israel pledged not to legalize any more outposts for six months or to approve any new construction in existing settlements for four months. The Palestinians, meanwhile, said they had presented a long list of grievances, including an end to Israeli settlement construction on occupied lands and a halt to Israeli military raids on Palestinian towns. Sunday’s shooting in Hawara came days after an Israeli military raid killed 10 Palestinians in the nearby city of Nablus. The shooting occurred on a major highway that serves both Palestinians and Israeli settlers. The two men who were killed were identified as brothers, ages 21 and 19, from the Jewish settlement of Har Bracha. Hanegbi was joined by the head of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency who attended the talks in neighboring Jordan. The head of the Palestinian intelligence services as well as advisers to President Mahmoud Abbas also joined. Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who has close ties with the Palestinians, led the discussions, while Egypt, another mediator, and the United States also participated."

Yet, no one has been successful in reining in the Israeli aggressor. Sadly, the United States has failed to even make the attempt all these decades since the 1967 war and the continued Israeli occupation of most of the seized territory. It is the continued occupation that drives this endless violence.

"In Washington, the U.S. national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, welcomed the meeting. “We recognize that this meeting was a starting point,” he said, adding that implementation will be critical.” It was a rare high-level meeting between the sides, illustrating the severity of the crisis and the concerns of increased violence as Ramadan approaches in late March. In Gaza, Hamas, an Islamic militant group that seeks Israel’s destruction, criticized Sunday’s meeting and called the shooting a “natural reaction” to Israeli incursions in the West Bank. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. The Hamas militant group subsequently took control of the territory, and Israel and Egypt maintain a blockade over the territory."

Sadly, there will be no end to the violence until the United States reins in the Israeli aggressor. Cuts off all financial and military support. Highly unlikely to happen any time soon.

The Associated Press reports:

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in Israel’s history, came under criticism for its failure to halt a surge in violence and for sending what some saw as mixed messages. As Netanyahu appealed for calm, a member of his ruling coalition praised the rampage as deterrence against Palestinian attacks. The Israeli army also came under criticism for its failure to move quickly to stop the rioting, the worst such violence in decades. “The government needs to decide what it is,” veteran columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper. “Is it resolved to enforce law and order on Arabs and Jews alike? Or is it a fig leaf for the hilltop youth, who do as they please in the territories? That same question also applies to the army, which has thus far failed to deal effectively with either Palestinian terrorism or Jewish terrorism.” The events also underscored the limitations of the traditional U.S. approach to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Washington has been trying to prevent escalation while staying away from the politically costly task of pushing for a resolution of the core disputes."

Gutless. Achingly, gutless. Precisely, why the violence will not end any time soon.

The Associated Press reports:

"Weeks of anti-government protests in Israel turned violent on Wednesday for the first time as police fired stun grenades and a water cannon at demonstrators who blocked a Tel Aviv highway. The crackdown came shortly after Israel’s hard-line national security minister urged a tough response to what he said were “anarchists.” The violence came as thousands across the country launched a “national disruption day” against the government’s plan to overhaul Israel’s judicial system. The protests moved later Wednesday to Jerusalem, where protesters rallied outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, chanting. Demonstrators were set to gather in the evening in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in central Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s allies say the proposed judicial overhaul program is meant to reduce the influence of unelected judges. But critics, including influential business leaders and former military figures, say Netanyahu is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule and has a clear conflict of interest in targeting judges as he stands trial on corruption charges."

Sadly, under Netanyahu, Israel has emulated its Second World War Nazi oppressors.

"Since Netanyahu’s government took office two months ago, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the changes, which they say endangers Israel’s fragile system of checks and balances. Wednesday, however, marked the first time police used force against the crowds. The crisis has sent shock waves through Israel and presented Netanyahu with a serious challenge. A wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence in the occupied West Bank has compounded his troubles. For now, his government is barreling ahead with the legal changes — highlighted by proposals that would give Netanyahu’s allies the power to appoint the country’s judges and other bills that would weaken the Supreme Court’s authorities. Netanyahu and his government, made up of ultranationalists, have branded the protesters anarchists, while stopping short of condemning a West Bank settler mob that torched a Palestinian town earlier this week."

How about that?

"The legal overhaul has sparked an unprecedented uproar, with weeks of mass protests, criticism from legal experts and rare demonstrations by army reservists who have pledged to disobey orders under what they say will be a dictatorship after the overhaul passes. Business leaders, the country’s booming tech sector and leading economists have warned of economic turmoil under the judicial changes. Israel’s international allies have expressed concern. Early Wednesday, police arrived on horseback in the center of the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv, hurled stun grenades and used a water cannon against thousands of protesters who chanted “democracy” and “police state.” A video posted on social media showed a police officer pinning down a protester with his knee on the man’s neck and another showed a man who reportedly had his ear ripped off by a stun grenade."

Sadly, under the Israeli dictator, Israelis are suffering remarkably similar abuses to what we are suffering here in the United States from out of control law enforcement in a de facto fascist police-state, a democratic republic in name only. The conflict driven here by the nazi element in the Republican Party. Democrats failure to effectively challenge this growing threat to democracy. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Facing the police, protesters also chanted “where were you,” a reference to the absence of security forces during the settler attack on the Palestinian town of Hawara, which took hours to quell and which the military said it was not prepared for. Police said protesters threw rocks and water bottles at the officers. Police said they arrested 39 protesters in Tel Aviv for disturbing the peace while 11 people were hospitalized with various injuries, according to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Earlier Wednesday, protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main freeway and the highway connecting the city to Jerusalem, halting rush hour traffic for about an hour. At busy train stations in Tel Aviv, protesters prevented trains from departing by blocking their doors. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist accused of politicizing the police, has vowed to take a tough line. He called on police to prevent the road blockages, labeling the demonstrators “anarchists.”

Emulating Adolf Hitler, Mr. National Security Minister?

"Netanyahu said Ben-Gvir had his full support. “We will not tolerate violence against police, blocking roads and blatant breaches of the country’s laws. The right to protest is not the right to anarchy,” he said. Netanyahu also blamed opposition leader Yair Lapid for fomenting anarchy. Lapid called on police to show restraint and said Netanyahu’s government had lost control. “The protesters are patriots,” Lapid tweeted. “They are fighting for the values of freedom, justice and democracy. The role of the police is to allow them to express their opinions and fight for the country they love.”

We have remarkably similar problems right here in the United States. The difference is Israelis are doing something about them. Here, we accept the growing nazism embraced by the nazi element in the Republican Party. While Democrats fail to effectively challenge this raw nazism. Ignore the 6-3 nazi Republican takeover of the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Thousands of protesters came out in locations across the country waving Israeli flags. Parents marched with their children, tech workers walked out of work to demonstrate and doctors in scrubs protested outside hospitals. “Every person here is trying to keep Israel a democracy and if the current government will get its way, then we are afraid we will no longer be a democracy or a free country,” said Arianna Shapira, a protester in Tel Aviv. “As a woman, as a mother, I’m very scared for my family and for my friends.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the overhaul’s main architect, said Tuesday that the coalition aims to ram through some of the judicial overhaul bills into law in the coming month, before the parliament goes on recess for the Passover holiday on April 2. The Knesset also was also set to cast a preliminary vote Wednesday on a separate proposal to protect Netanyahu from being removed from his post, a move that comes following calls to the country’s attorney general to declare him “unfit for office.” Netanyahu has been the center of a years-long political crisis in Israel, with former allies turning on him and refusing to sit with him in government because of his corruption charges. That political turmoil, with five elections in four years, culminated in Netanyahu returning to power late last year, with ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties as partners in the current far-right government. Wielding immense political power, those allies secured top portfolios in Netanyahu’s government, among them Ben-Gvir, who before entering politics was arrested dozens of times and was once convicted of incitement to violence and support for a terror group. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a firebrand West Bank settler leader, has been given authority over parts of the territory."

Sadly, the following guaranties continued violence:

"They have promised to take a tough stance against Palestinians, which has ratcheted up tensions in recent weeks. Smotrich publicly called for a harsh response to the killing of two Israelis in the West Bank by a Palestinian gunman, saying Israel should “go crazy,” shortly before Sunday’s mob violence. While he later urged restraint, he also said Wednesday that Hawara, the Palestinian town that was attacked, should be “erased.” In addition to the protests, Netanyahu’s government, Israel’s most right-wing ever, is beginning to show early cracks, just two months into its tenure. The government says the legal changes are meant to correct an imbalance that has given the courts too much power and allowed them to meddle in the legislative process. They say the overhaul will streamline governance and say elections last year, which returned Netanyahu to power with a slim majority in parliament, gave them a mandate to make the changes. Critics say the overhaul will upend Israel’s system of checks and balances, granting the prime minister and the government unrestrained power and push the country toward authoritarianism."

Precisely, what's happening here in the United States courtesy of the nazi element in the Republican Party, rubber stamped by the six Republican fascists on the Supreme Court, and the egregious failure of Democrats to effectively challenge this nazi takeover of our government. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

1-13-23

Follow-up on the ongoing Israeli government fiasco. The Associated Press reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s justice minister on Wednesday unveiled the new government’s long-promised overhaul of the judicial system that aims to weaken the country’s Supreme Court. Critics accused the government of declaring war against the legal system, saying the plan will upend Israel’s system of checks and balances and undermine its democratic institutions by giving absolute power to the most right-wing coalition in the country’s history."

Blatant nazification of what used to be a healthy democracy. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a confidant of Netanyahu’s and longtime critic of the Supreme Court, presented his plan a day before the justices are to debate a controversial new law passed by the government allowing a politician convicted of tax offenses to serve as a Cabinet minister. “The time has come to act,” Levin said."

The time has come for the United States to respond decisively. Why continue to financially support an ally that is increasingly becoming a fascist autocracy?

"The proposals call for a series of sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, including by allowing lawmakers to pass laws that the high court has struck down and effectively deemed unconstitutional. Levin laid out a law that would empower the country’s 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes. Levin also proposed that politicians play a greater role in the appointment of Supreme Court judges and that ministers appoint their own legal advisers, instead of using independent professionals. Levin argued that the public’s faith in the judicial system has plummeted to a historic low, and said he plans to restore power to elected officials that now lies in the hands of what he and his supporters consider to be overly interventionist judges. “We go to the polls and vote, choose, but time after time, people who we didn’t elect decide for us,” he said. “That’s not democracy.”

That's a crock of shit. Simply, not true. What these bastards are imposing amounts to a fascist police-state, not democracy. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"The planned overhaul has already drawn fierce criticism from Israel’s attorney general and the Israeli opposition, though it is unclear whether they will be able to prevent the far-right government from racing forward. Yair Lapid, former Prime Minister and head of the opposition, said he will fight the changes “in every possible way” and vowed to cancel them if he returns to power. “Those who carry out a unilateral coup in Israel need to know that we are not obligated to it in any way whatsoever,” he said."

Remarkably similar to what's happened here in the United States since the Trump nazi took office.

"If Levin’s proposed “override” law is passed, Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist allies have said they hope to scrap Supreme Court rulings outlawing Israeli outposts on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. They would also seek to allow for the protracted detention of African asylum-seekers and make official the exclusion of the ultra-Orthodox from the country’s mandatory military service. In Israel, Supreme Court judges are appointed and dismissed by a committee made up of professionals, lawmakers and some justices. Levin wants to give lawmakers a majority in the committee, with most coming from the right-wing and religiously conservative ruling coalition. “It will be a hollow democracy,” said Amir Fuchs, senior researcher at Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute think tank. “When the government has ultimate power, it will use this power not only for issues of LGBTQ rights and asylum-seekers but elections and free speech and anything it wants.”

Remarkably similar to what's happened here in the United States since the Trump nazi took office.

"Recent opinion polls by the Israel Democracy Institute found a majority of respondents believe the Supreme Court should have the power to strike down laws that conflict with Israel’s Basic Laws, which serve as a sort of constitution."

Clearly, the Israeli citizenry is waking up to the exigent threat posed by Netanyahu and his colleagues.

"In a speech Wednesday ahead of Levin’s announcement, Netanyahu appeared to back his justice minister by vowing to “implement reforms that will ensure the proper balance between the three branches of government.” Since being indicted on corruption charges, Netanyahu has campaigned against the justice system. He denies all charges, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors. Levin said his plan is “not connected in any way” to Netanyahu’s trial."

Think that's true?

"Just hours before Levin’s speech, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, a prime target of the new government, declared her opposition to the ministerial appointment of one of Netanyahu’s key coalition partners who has been convicted of tax offenses. On Thursday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear petitions against Aryeh Deri serving as minister. As part of negotiations to form the current government, Israel’s parliament last month changed a law to allow someone convicted on probation to serve as a Cabinet minister. That paved the way for Aryeh Deri, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, to serve half a term as the minister of health and interior affairs, before becoming finance minister. He will also hold the post of deputy prime minister. Deri was convicted of tax fraud and given a suspended sentence last year."

How about that? Corruption reeks. -- As it does here in the United States.

"Good governance groups saw the legal maneuver as a green light for corruption by a government cavalierly changing laws for political expediency. Baharav-Miara made her standing clear in a note to the Supreme Court. She said the appointment “radically deviates from the sphere of reasonability.” She has said she will not be defending the state in court against the appeals, because of her opposition. Levin’s proposed changes also include eliminating the test of “reasonability” when reviewing government decisions. Baharav-Miara was appointed by the previous government, which vehemently opposes Netanyahu’s rule."

For damned good reason. He's a corrupt fascist autocrat. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Netanyahu’s allies have floated the idea of splitting up the post of attorney general into three roles including two that would be political appointments. That would water down the current attorney-general’s authority while opening the door for Netanyahu to install someone favorable to throwing out the charges against him."

1-6-23

In follow-up to the Israeli aggressor-Benjamin Netanyahu fiasco covered earlier in this publication and elsewhere, NPR(AP) reports:

"Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming hard-line Israeli government put West Bank settlement expansion at the top of its priority list on Wednesday, vowing to legalize dozens of illegally built outposts and annex the occupied territory as part of its coalition deal with ultranationalist allies. The coalition agreements, released a day before the government is to be sworn into office, also included language endorsing discrimination against LGBTQ people on religious grounds, contentious judicial reforms, as well as generous stipends for ultra-Orthodox men who prefer to study instead of work. The package laid the groundwork for what is expected to be a stormy beginning for the country's most religious and right-wing government in history, potentially putting it at odds with large parts of the Israeli public, rankling Israel's closest allies and escalating tensions with the Palestinians. "What worries me the most is that these agreements change the democratic structure of what we know of as the state of Israel," said Tomer Naor, chief legal officer of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a watchdog group. "One day we'll all wake up and Netanyahu is not going to be prime minister, but some of these changes will be irreversible." The guidelines were led by a commitment to "advance and develop settlement in all parts of the land of Israel," including "Judea and Samaria," the biblical names for the West Bank."

Readers will recall:

"Israel captured the West Bank in 1967 along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — territory the Palestinians seek for a future state. Israel has constructed dozens of Jewish settlements home to around 500,000 Israelis who live alongside around 2.5 million Palestinians. Most of the international community considers Israel's West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The United States already has warned the incoming government against taking steps that could further undermine hopes for an independent Palestinian state."

An issue dating back decades.

"In response to a request for comment, the Palestinian leadership emphasized that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved only through the establishment of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. Without a negotiated two-state solution, "there will be no peace, security or stability in the region," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas."

Will certainly exacerbate violence in the region.

"Netanyahu, who served 12 years as prime minister, is returning to power after he was ousted from office last year. His new government is made up of ultra-Orthodox parties, a far-right ultranationalist religious faction affiliated with the West Bank settler movement and his Likud party. In the coalition agreement between Likud and its ally, the Religious Zionism party, Netanyahu pledged to legalize wildcat settlement outposts considered illegal even by the Israeli government. He also promises to annex the West Bank "while choosing the timing and considering the national and international interests of the state of Israel." Such a move would alienate much of the world, and give new fuel to critics who compare Israeli policies in the West Bank to apartheid South Africa. The deal also grants favors to Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician who will be in charge of the national police force as the newly created national security minister. It includes a commitment to expand and vastly increase government funding for the Israeli settlements in the divided West Bank city of Hebron, where a tiny ultranationalist Jewish community lives in heavily fortified neighborhoods amid tens of thousands of Palestinians. Ben-Gvir lives in a nearby settlement. The agreement also includes a clause pledging to change the country's anti-discrimination laws to allow businesses to refuse service to people "because of a religious belief."

Sadly, the Israeli aggressor is at least partially emulating the tactics of its Second World War oppressors, -- Adolf Hitler and the German Nazis. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"The legislation drew outrage earlier this week when members of Ben-Gvir's party said the law could be used to deny services to LGBTQ people. Netanyahu has said he will not let the law pass, but nonetheless left the clause in the coalition agreement."

Stunning, isn't it? Gets worse. Get this:

"Netanyahu and his allies also agreed to push through changes meant to overhaul the country's legal system — specifically, a bill that would allow parliament to overturn Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 lawmakers. Critics say the law will undermine government checks and balances and erode a critical democratic institution. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest in pushing for the legal overhaul because he is currently on trial for corruption charges. "Since (the new government's) intention is to weaken the Supreme Court, we're not going to have the court as an institution that would help guard the principles of freedom and equality," Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank, told reporters. Two of Netanyahu's key ministers — incoming interior minister Aryeh Deri and Ben-Gvir — have criminal records. Deri, who served time in prison in 2002 for bribery, pleaded guilty to tax fraud earlier this year, and Netanyahu and his coalition passed a law this week to allow him to serve as a minister despite his conviction. Ben-Gvir was convicted in 2009 of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Israel's figurehead president, Isaac Herzog, on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" about the incoming government and its positions on LGBTQ rights, racism and the country's Arab minority in a rare meeting with Ben-Gvir, one of the coalition's most radical members. Herzog urged Ben-Gvir to "calm the stormy winds."

Will take far more than empty, hollow, meaningless rhetoric to do so.

"The government platform also mentioned that the loosely defined rules governing holy sites, including Jerusalem's flashpoint shrine known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, would remain the same. Ben-Gvir and other Religious Zionism politicians had called for the "status quo" to be changed to allow Jewish prayer at the site, a move that risked inflaming tensions with the Palestinians. The status of the site is the emotional epicenter of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an interview with CNN published Wednesday, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned that his country would respond if Israel crossed red lines and tried to change the status of the sacred Jerusalem site, over which Jordan has custodianship. "If people want to get into a conflict with us, we're quite prepared," he said."

Time to wake up. Before too late.

NBC News(AP) reports:

"Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn into office Thursday, taking the helm of the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in Israel’s history and vowing to enact policies that could cause domestic and regional turmoil and alienate the country’s closest allies. Netanyahu took the oath of office moments after parliament passed a vote of confidence in his new government. His return marks his sixth term in office, continuing his more than decade-long dominance over Israeli politics. His new government has pledged to prioritize settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, extend massive subsidies to his ultra-Orthodox allies and push for sweeping reform of the judicial system that could endanger the country’s democratic institutions. The plans have sparked an unprecedented uproar from across Israeli society, including the military, LGBTQ rights groups, the business community and others. Netanyahu is the country’s longest serving prime minister, having held office from 2009 until 2021 and a stint in the 1990s. He was ousted from office last year after four deadlocked elections by a coalition of eight parties solely united in their opposition to his rule. Despite his political comeback, he remains on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three corruption cases. He denies all charges against him, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors."

Sounds remarkably like the Trump nazi, doesn't he? Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"The diverse yet fragile coalition that toppled Netanyahu collapsed in June, and Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies secured a clear parliamentary majority in November’s election. “I hear the constant cries of the opposition about the end of the country and democracy,” said Netanyahu after taking the podium in parliament ahead of the government’s formal swearing-in on Thursday afternoon. His speech was interrupted repeatedly by heckles and jeers from opposition leadership, who at times chanted “weak.” “Opposition members: to lose in elections is not the end of democracy, this is the essence of democracy,” he said."

In the case of raw nazism? Get this:

"Netanyahu heads a government comprised of a hard-line religious ultranationalist party dominated by West Bank settlers, two ultra-Orthodox parties and his nationalist Likud party. His allies are pushing for dramatic changes that could alienate large swaths of the Israeli public, deepen the conflict with the Palestinians and put Israel on a collision course with some of its closest supporters, including the United States and the Jewish American community. Netanyahu’s government platform says that “the Jewish people have exclusive and indisputable rights” over the entirety of Israel and the Palestinian territories and promises to advance settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. That includes legalizing dozens of wildcat outposts and a commitment to annex the entire territory, a step that would draw heavy international opposition by destroying any remaining hopes for Palestinian statehood and add fuel to calls that Israel is an apartheid state if millions of Palestinians are not granted citizenship. Netanyahu’s previous administrations have been strong proponents of Israel’s West Bank settlement enterprise, and that is only expected to be kicked into overdrive under the new government."

No question.

"Israel’s new government has also raised concerns about the rollback of minority and LGBTQ rights. Outside parliament, several thousand demonstrators waved Israeli and rainbow Pride flags. “We don’t want fascists in the Knesset!” they chanted. Earlier this week, two members of the Religious Zionism party said they would advance an amendment to the country’s anti-discrimination law that would allow businesses and doctors to discriminate against the LGBTQ community on the basis of religious faith. Those remarks, along with the ruling coalition’s broadly anti-LGBTQ stance, have raised fears that the new administration would jeopardize their limited rights. Netanyahu has tried to allay those concerns by pledging no harm to LGBTQ rights. Yair Lapid, the outgoing prime minister who will now reassume the title of opposition leader, told parliament that he was handing the new government “a country in excellent condition, with a strong economy, with improved defensive abilities and strong deterrence, with one of the best international standings ever.” “Try not to destroy it. We’ll be back soon,” Lapid said."

Think so?

12-30-22

For quite some time, this publication has been extremely critical of the Israeli aggressor and its treatment of the Palestinians. -- What certainly appears to be frightening partial emulation of its anti-Semitic Second World War oppressors, Hitler's Nazis. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter. There's been a most encouraging development, however.

The Associated Press reports:

"Over 1,000 senior Israeli air force veterans, including a former Israeli chief of staff, on Monday urged the country’s top legal officials to stand tough against the incoming government."

What took so long? Better late than never, however. The following is, indeed, Uncommon Valor:

"In a letter to the chief of Israel’s Supreme Court and other top officials, they said the alliance of religious and ultranationalist parties threatens Israel’s future. The letter was delivered days before the new government is to take office. “We come from all strata of society and from across the political spectrum,” the letter said. “What we have in common today is the fear that the democratic state of Israel is in danger.” It called the legal officials “the final line of defense” and implored them to “do everything in your reach to stop the disaster that is affecting the country.” Among the nearly 1,200 signatories were Dan Halutz, who served as military chief from 2005-2007; Avihu Ben-Nun, a former commander of the air force and Amos Yadlin, a former head of military intelligence. All three are former fighter pilots."

Time for desperately needed change.

"Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners captured a parliamentary majority in Nov. 1 elections. While they have not yet completed coalition negotiations, Netanyahu has reached a series of deals that would grant his far-right partners authority over the national police force and settlement construction in the occupied West Bank."

Raw nazism. For quite some time, now, Israel has been a de facto fascist police-state, -- democratic republic in name only. Precisely, what's happened here in the United States as well. Time for change. Well past due.

"They are promoting legislation to allow a politician who spent time in prison in a bribery case to serve as a Cabinet minister while on probation for a separate conviction on tax offenses. They also are expected to promote a series of changes in the legal system that critics say will weaken the judiciary and potentially dismiss criminal charges against Netanyahu."

Think that isn't a problem? Think it won't similarly be a problem here in the United States if the Trump nazi isn't prosecuted by the Department of Justice? Democracy is, indeed, in peril. Time to wake up. Before too late. -- Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

The Associated Press reports:

"Israel’s largest medical center and health care workers from hospitals around the country have spoken out against remarks by allies of Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a law to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people in hospitals and businesses. It was part of a broader blowback against remarks made this week by Religious Zionism politicians calling for legal discrimination against LGBTQ people. Netanyahu’s new government — the most religious and hard-line in Israel’s history — is made up of ultra-Orthodox parties, an ultranationalist religious faction and his Likud party. It is to be sworn in on Thursday. Earlier this week, two Netanyahu allies from the ultranationalist Religious Zionism party said that their faction seeks to change an anti-discrimination law in a way that would permit businesses and doctors to deny service to LGBTQ people on the basis of religious belief."

Raw nazism. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini? Likely wildly cheering on their fiery perches. -- Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter.

"Orit Struck, a Religious Zionist lawmaker, said her party seeks a change to the country’s anti-discrimination law that would include allowing religious health care providers to refuse to treat LGBTQ patients “so long as there are enough other doctors to provide care.”

No more than outrageous embrace of raw nazism.

"Sheba Medical Center released a video on Instagram of health care workers from around the country on Monday saying “we treat everyone.” Similar statements were made by doctors and administrators at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon."

As well they should. Certainly, stood tall. On high principle, not raw nazi ideology.

"Netanyahu later rebuked Struck for her remarks, saying there would be no curtailing of LGBTQ rights under the new government."

Believe the fascist son of a bitch?

"The uproar could be a sign of what lies ahead for Netanyahu and his new government. His partners are seeking widespread changes that could alienate large swaths of the Israeli public, raise the risk of conflict with the Palestinians and put Israel on a collision course with some of its closest supporters, including the United States and the American Jewish community."

What took so long? The Israeli aggressor has been moving Nazi Right for decades.

"Netanyahu has sought to portray himself as the responsible adult in the coalition and already issued a series of statements guaranteeing to protect the rights of LGBTQ people. But his partners hold great leverage because they support new legislation that could ultimately freeze or dismiss criminal charges against Netanyahu."

Delusionally believe they don't own him? Wake up:

"The long-time leader, who served 12 consecutive years before he was ousted last year, already has agreed to put a hard-line politician known for his anti-Arab views in charge of the national police force and put another hard-line settler leader in charge of West Bank settlement policies."

Think this won't increase violence and killing of Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor?

"A third religious lawmaker who opposes LGBTQ rights has been given widespread authority over the national education system, and Netanyahu reportedly also has agreed to increase unpopular subsidies to ultra-Orthodox men who do not work or serve in the army."

How about that? No issues with any of it? Delusionally believe it won't spark unrest and increase the level of violence?

"Yated Neeman, a newspaper affiliated with one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, published an editorial against the Religious Zionism politicians, saying they were “defaming Judaism worldwide” and branding the future government as “one that persecutes Arabs, minorities and discriminates against people on the basis of religion and more.”

Believe it? Or, is it no more than a ruse to temper criticism of the future government?

"Several Israeli companies said they would not work with businesses that discriminate against clients for religious reasons."

Same needs to happen here in the United States.

"Bank Discount, Israel’s third largest bank, said Monday that its board decided that it “would not grant credit to businesses or bodies that discriminate against clients on the basis of religion, race, sex or sexual orientation.”

Encouraging, isn't it? At least some in the Israeli citizenry are beginning to wake up. Same needs to happen here in the United States.

"Wiz, an Israeli cybersecurity company, expressed “grave concern” over Religious Zionism politicians’ remarks and said it would require companies hiring its services to commit not to discriminate against its clients."

Better late than never.

2-4-22

Truth hurts. Yet, the Israeli aggressor has yet to smarten up. NPR reports:

"The state of Israel's treatment of Palestinians is a crime against humanity and is illegal under international law, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. The rights group says Israel's "oppression and domination" of Palestinians amounts to apartheid. "The Israeli government is committing the crime against humanity of apartheid against Palestinians and must be held accountable," the organization said as it released its nearly 280-page report. Amnesty said Israel has embraced laws and practices that "are intended to maintain a cruel system of control over Palestinians, have left them fragmented geographically and politically, frequently impoverished, and in a constant state of fear and insecurity." Amnesty is the latest rights advocate to accuse Israel of operating an apartheid system, joining former President Jimmy Carter, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. Israel said it rejects Amnesty's findings. Even before the report was officially issued, the Israeli foreign ministry urged the group to withdraw it, and called it "false, biased, and antisemitic." Foreign Minister Yair Lapid added, "Amnesty quotes lies spread by terrorist organizations."

Sadly, it is the Israeli aggressor that remains a liar. Refuses to accept the truth.

"Israel's embassy in the U.K., where Amnesty is based, said the group's apartheid declaration is a "shameful misrepresentation of Israel's diverse and dynamic society."

Not if you happen to be a Palestinian. In fact, the problem dates back to 1948. Read on:

"In contrast, the report states that Israel's treatment of Palestinians amounts to apartheid in part because "all territories controlled by Israel continue to be administered with the purpose of benefiting Jewish Israelis to the detriment of Palestinians, while Palestinian refugees continue to be excluded." Amnesty's report comes less than three years after then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "the national state, not of all its citizens, but only of the Jewish people." In Israel, the debate over whether the country imposes apartheid on Palestinians took on a new tone in 2020, when as NPR's Daniel Estrin reported, Netanyahu "vowed to annex some of the West Bank into Israel without giving Palestinians there voting rights in Israel." Palestinian Arab citizens make up about a fifth of Israel's population and have Israeli voting rights. But Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip do not have Israeli voting rights. Even within Israel, the report states, Israel has dispossessed Palestinians of their land and property and imposed segregation and discriminatory policies. Language in the Amnesty report echoes sections of the International Criminal Court's founding treaty, which took effect in 2002. Here's how it defines apartheid: "'The crime of apartheid' means inhumane acts ... committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime." The "inhumane acts" referred to in that clause include crimes Israel has been repeatedly accused of, such as the deportation or forcible transfer of a population and the persecution of an "identifiable group or collectivity" on the grounds of their political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious or gender identity."

The problem, sadly, dates back to 1948 and the creation of the Israeli state:

"While many of the most recent accusations against Israel stem from its annexations of land in the West Bank, the Amnesty report says the problems it sees stem from Israel's creation. "In the course of establishing Israel as a Jewish state in 1948, Israel expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages, in what amounted to ethnic cleansing," the report said. In response to Amnesty, Israel's embassy to the U.S. retweeted and amplified an editorial in The Wall Street Journal criticizing the findings, highlighting a line that states, "the report all but ignores that Israel is a democracy that accords more rights to Arabs and Palestinians than does any other state in the region."

While, indeed, figuratively f--king them hard in the ass without the Vaseline.

1-28-22

Think the Israeli aggressor does not continue to oppress the Palestinians? NBC News reports:

"Israeli police demolished a Palestinian family's East Jerusalem home Wednesday after a high-profile standoff which saw family members take to the roof in protest. An "eviction order of illegal buildings" was carried out in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, Israel Police said in a statement, adding that the land will be used to build a school for children with special needs."

Called legalized theft.

"The family's lawyer said that the demolition was illegal. Mahmoud Salhiyeh, 50, who lived in the house with his wife and children, alongside a another house where his sister and her five children lived, took to the roof Monday and was threatening to burn the house down by igniting a gas canister, rather than hand it over to the authorities. "I will blow myself up, with the house, with the children, with everything," he told NBC News by phone as he stood on the roof with others Monday. He eventually came down. An excavator came to raze the property to the ground early Wednesday. NBC News saw personal items such as children's books and school bags, family photos, clothes and shoes strewn in the rubble. Israel security forces at the scene prevented the family from retrieving anything."

Jackbooted nazi motherf--kers in blue. Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter. Why does the United States continue to shamelessly support the Israeli aggressor? Why?

"Police said the eviction was been approved by multiple courts, including the Jerusalem District Court, and that the order was first issued in 2017."

Delusionally, believe that makes it right?

"Members of the family living in the illegal buildings were given countless opportunities to hand over the land with consent, but unfortunately they refused to do so, even after meetings and repeated dialogue attempts by the Jerusalem municipality," a police spokesperson said in a statement."

Wake up. The Israeli government stole their land. Legalized theft. Yet, U.S. taxpayers continue to support the Israeli aggressor with their taxes. Why?

"The Municipality of Jerusalem says 18 classrooms, 6 kindergartens, sports fields and leisure facilities are set to be built on the land and that the school will be open to local Arab community. The authority accused the family of building illegally on the land."

Jesus Christ. Give me a f--king break. Their property was stolen by the Israeli aggressor. House demolished by jackbooted bastards.

"However, Waleed Abu Tayeh, the Salhiyah family's lawyer, said the order was unlawful and went beyond what had been agreed in court. "Mahmood was willing to evict his home, but they demolished his house even though they have an eviction order, not a demolition one. This is illegal," he said in a statement Wednesday. Tayeh also said that the authorities demolished Mahmoud Salhiyeh's sister's house, which was not covered by the order. However, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, said the order was for both eviction and demolition. She added the police action on Salhiyeh’s sister's house was consistent with the court's order."

Called nazi justice.

"NBC News has contacted Israel Police and the Jerusalem Municipality about these claims. Dozens of longtime Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah are battling efforts by Jewish settlers to evict them from their homes in an area that has been a frequent site of unrest in recent years. That case, which has been in Israel’s Supreme Court for months, has drawn global attention and fueled last year’s Israeli-Palestinian violence."

While terrorism is never justified, it will continue unabated until the Israeli aggressor ends its vicious nazi oppression of Palestinians.

"The Salhiyah family say they purchased the property before 1967, when Israel captured east Jerusalem, while the state has argued in court that the family does not have rights to the property. Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. It later annexed the eastern half of the city — home to most of Jerusalem’s Palestinian population — in a move unrecognized by most of the international community. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state."

More interesting? Get this. The Associated Press reports:

"Retired general Yair Golan spent a significant part of his military career serving in the occupied West Bank, protecting Jewish settlements. Today, he is one of their most vocal critics. Golan, a former deputy military chief, is now a legislator with the dovish Meretz party, where he has repeatedly spoken out against settler violence against Palestinians. His comments, highlighted by his recent description of violent settlers as “subhuman,” have rattled Israel’s delicate governing coalition, and his opponents have labeled him a radical. He joins a cadre of former security personnel who, after not speaking up while in uniform and positions of influence, have in retirement sounded the alarm over Israel’s five-decade-long military rule of the Palestinians."

About time. Decades overdue.

“You can’t have a free and democratic state so long as we are controlling people who don’t want to be controlled by us,” Golan told The Associated Press in an interview at his office in the Knesset this week. “What kind of democracy are we building here long term?” Golan has emerged as a rare critical voice in a society where the occupation is largely an accepted fact and where settlers have successfully pushed their narrative through their proximity to the levers of power. Most members of Israel’s parliament belong to the pro-settlement right wing. Golan, 59, had a long military career, being wounded in action in Lebanon and filling key positions as head of the country’s northern command and as commander of the West Bank, among others. Along the way, he gained a reputation as a maverick for decisions that sometimes landed him in hot water. At one point, he reached an unauthorized deal to remove some settlers from the West Bank city of Hebron. He was reprimanded and a promotion was delayed after he permitted the use of Palestinian non-combatants as human shields during arrest raids, a tactic the country’s Supreme Court banned. At the same time, he was credited with permitting thousands of Syrians wounded in their country’s civil war to enter Israel for medical treatment. As the deputy military chief, he was passed over for the top job after comparing what he saw as fascistic trends in modern-day Israel to Nazi Germany. He believes the speech cost him the position."

A comparison this publication has made over the years as well. For damned good reason. It's sad it cost him the promotion. For speaking the truth.

"A few years after retirement, he was elected to parliament and eventually joined Meretz, a party that supports Palestinian statehood and is part of the current coalition headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett."

For there to be any chance of peace after all these decades of Israeli oppression, there must be Palestinian statehood.

"Meretz has been one of the few parties to make ending Israel’s occupation a top priority. But since joining the coalition, which has agreed to focus on less divisive issues to maintain its stability, most of its members have appeared to tone down their criticism. Golan has not. Earlier this month, he caused a firestorm when he lashed out against settlers who vandalized graves in the Palestinian West Bank village of Burqa. “These are not people, these are subhumans,” Golan told the Knesset Channel. “They must not be given any backing.” His remarks angered Bennett, a former settler leader, and sparked criticism from others within the coalition. Golan acknowledged his choice of words was flawed but said he stands by the spirit of his remarks. “Is the problem the expression that I used or is the problem those same people who go up to Burqa, smash graves, damage property and assault innocent Palestinians?” he said."

He's right. None of it is sustainable. Think the United States will continue to financially support the Israeli aggressor forever? Think we won't finally smarten up? Realize we're on the wrong side? If things don't change, the Israeli aggressor will, sadly, ultimately be driven into the sea. Yet, nazis in Israel refuse to smarten up:

"Such statements have turned him into a poster boy for what far-right nationalists describe as dangerous forces in the coalition challenging Israel’s role in the West Bank. The Palestinians seek the area, captured by Israel in 1967, as the heartland of a future state. Some on Israel’s dovish left also have been hesitant to embrace Golan, who continues to defend the army’s actions in the West Bank. Golan always saw his duty in the territory as primarily combating Palestinian militants, and he continues to believe that most settlers are law-abiding citizens. The international community overwhelmingly considers all settlements illegal or illegitimate, and the Palestinians and many left-wing Israelis see the military as an enforcer of an unjust occupation."

Exactly, what it is and remains.

"Breaking the Silence, a whistleblower group for former Israeli soldiers who oppose policies in the West Bank, called for action, not just words, against settler violence. “Yair Golan knows full well what settler violence looks like and what our violent control over the Palestinian people looks like. That’s why his criticism is valuable, but it’s not enough,” the group said in a statement. Golan said he always saw Israeli control over Palestinian territories as temporary. He said separating from the Palestinians is the only way to keep Israel a democratic state with a Jewish majority. In 2006, Golan commanded the violent evacuation of the Amona settlement in the West Bank, which was built on privately owned Palestinian land. “I can’t come to terms with the idea that someone Jewish who holds Jewish values supports the theft of someone else’s lands,” he said. In recent months, as violence between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank has ticked up, videos have emerged of soldiers standing by as settlers rampage. Golan said he never would have allowed such a thing under his command. “These people don’t accept the essence of Israel and abide by the law only when it’s convenient for them,” he said. His comments about settlers aren’t the first to rankle the establishment. In a 2016 speech marking Israel’s Holocaust memorial day, Golan, then deputy military chief, said he was witnessing “nauseating processes” in Israeli society that reminded him of the fascism of Nazi-era Germany."

No question about that. Adolf and Benito? Wildly cheering on their fiery perches.

"He said the remarks were sparked by the fatal shooting of a subdued Palestinian attacker by a soldier. The soldier was embraced by nationalist politicians, including then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Golan said the shooting was nothing short of an execution. Next to his desk, Golan keeps a photo of Netanyahu arriving for his corruption trial at a Jerusalem courthouse, surrounded by his Likud Party supporters as he rants against police and prosecutors. Golan said the image is a reminder of what he is fighting against — and for. “I served the country in uniform for so many years, I really gave it my life,” Golan said. Pointing to the photo, he said: “I didn’t endanger my life countless times for these people.”

Uncommon Valor, General. Hat's off. If there is no desperately needed change, Israel will not survive.

3-19-21

Why does our formerly great country continue to mindlessly support the Israeli aggressor no matter what it does or doesn't do? NBC News reports:

"Video shows Israeli forces detain Palestinian boys. They say they went foraging for vegetables. Video of the incident was circulated widely on social media and shared furiously by activists as the latest insight into Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Jaber Hmeidat says his sons, ages 9 and 12, left their home in the hills south of Hebron earlier this week to forage for akoub, a wild artichoke-like vegetable that is currently in season. So he was stunned to learn that the children had been detained by Israeli forces. “They were terrified,” he said in an interview Thursday, the day after their detention. “They couldn’t sleep all night.” The father of nine said he spent Thursday trying to reassure his children and to explain that what happened is part of life for Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation. “I worked so hard to raise their spirits,” he said. Hmeidat added that the incident had made him angry and said had he been present he would've tried to intervene."

The Israeli aggressor would have killed him:

“I would not have let them take the children, it would have been over my dead body,” he said."

Exactly, what would have happened.

"Video of the incident was circulated widely on social media and shared furiously by activists as the latest insight into Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The Israeli rights group B’Tselem, which published the video, said five boys, ages 8 to 13, were detained Wednesday by the Israeli army after picking akoub near a settlement outpost in the occupied West Bank. Israeli police said in a statement that the military had detained four minors for allegedly breaking into private property and stealing parrots and other objects. The Israeli Defense Forces said a group was spotted entering private property in the southern Hebron area and was transferred by a military patrol to the Israeli police after "a short initial questioning with police present." The police said they had not detained the children after they were transferred by the IDF and had tried to locate their parents for “several hours” before waiting for them to collect them. But while the exact circumstances of the children's detention remains unclear, the incident offers a window into the reality of life under Israeli occupation, rights groups and some Palestinians say."

'Some Palestinians?' It's a hell of a lot more than just 'some Palestinians.' Why do we continue to support the Israeli aggressor no matter what it does or doesn't do?

"Whether they were simply picking wild vegetables or allegedly stealing parrots, they contend, there is no reasonable scenario in which children as young as 8 should be detained by armed soldiers. “It shows first and foremost the absolute disregard Israeli authorities have for the well-being of Palestinians,” Amit Gilutz, B'Tselem spokesperson, said. "Palestinians are constantly being dehumanized,” he said."

An ongoing issue since 1948.

"Gaby Lasky, a human rights lawyer who is representing the children, said they were released five and a half hours after being detained on Wednesday by the Israeli army. The two oldest, who are 12 and 13, were ordered to return next week for questioning, she said. Israeli police said two boys were summoned with their parents on suspicion of stealing the parrots and other objects. The age of criminal responsibility under Israeli military law, which governs Palestinians living in the West Bank, is 12, according to UNICEF. Lasky told NBC News that the children said they did not steal anything. “It was really a matter of telling the boys to go back home or move away a little bit and that’s it,” she said. “Their detention was humiliating.” Video footage published by B’Tselem and shot by Israeli activists appears to show the children picking plants and putting them in buckets. Separate footage shot by a B'Tselem field researcher later that day appears to show armed soldiers detaining and manhandling young boys — believed to be the same children — into a white military vehicle as bystanders look on. At one point, an older child tries to pull one of the children out of the grip of one soldier, only to be yanked away by another. It was unclear what may have happened in the time between the two videos. The children were detained near Havat Maon, a settler outpost that is illegal under Israeli law, according to B’Tselem. There are dozens of these outposts in the West Bank, in addition to some 130 officially recognized settlements, according to Peace Now, a group that advocates for an independent Palestinian state. The Palestinians view all settlements as illegal and a major obstacle to their goal of establishing an independent state that includes the West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 war. Most of the international community considers the Palestinian territories to be occupied and also largely views the settlements as illegal and an impediment to peace. However, beginning as early as 2017, U.S. officials began dropping public references to the West Bank as “occupied" and in 2019 the U.S. reversed its decadeslong position that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal."

Courtesy of the Trump nazi. Forget?

Get this:

"Seven hundred Palestinians under the age of 18 were arrested by the Israeli authorities in 2020, according to Khaled Quzmar, the general director of Defense For Children International-Palestine, a group that works to defend the rights of Palestinian children. It was not clear if that included children who were detained in this incident. More than 150 Palestinians under the age of 18 were held in Israeli custody, both detainees and prisoners, at the end of September, according to B’Tselem. “Children are the main victim of the occupation,” Quzmar said. “They're paying the price of the occupation every day of their lives.”

Courtesy of the United States. Our government clearly couldn't care less what the Israeli aggressor does or doesn't do. Sad, isn't it? Intolerable as well. One of the reasons why our country has no credibility in the Middle East. Why there'll be no peace there indefinitely.

12-4-20

Time to rein in the Israeli aggressor. NBC News reports:

"A day after the dramatic assassination of the country's leading nuclear scientist in a roadside attack, Iran's supreme leader on Saturday vowed to retaliate and pledged to continue Iran's nuclear work. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised "definitive punishment" in a statement on his official website. Later on Twitter, he promised to pursue the "brutal mercenaries" behind the ambush and killing of scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh near Tehran on Friday. Calling him a "martyr," Khamenei praised Fakhrizadeh's work and said he was one of the country's "eminent scientists in the nuclear and defense fields." He added that Iran would continue with the "scientific and technological efforts" in which he was engaged. Fakhrizadeh was killed Friday in an attack on his car in the Absard area of the province of Damavand, about 40 miles east of Tehran, the capital, Iran's Defense Ministry said. NBC News has not independently confirmed any details surrounding Fakhrizadeh's death. He was widely regarded by the West as the architect of a covert military nuclear program by Tehran that was halted in 2003. Iran has consistently denied seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran's clerical and military rulers, including President Hassan Rouhani, have pointed the finger of blame for Fakhrizadeh's death at Israel, which could renew tensions in the Middle East and beyond. "Our people are wiser than to fall in the trap of the Zionist regime (Israel). ... Iran will surely respond to the martyrdom of our scientist at the proper time," Rouhani said in a televised Cabinet meeting on Saturday. A spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, considered Iran's archenemy, told NBC News on Saturday that the country was "not commenting on security-related matters." The death of Fakhrizadeh could provoke confrontation between Iran and its foes in the last weeks of Donald Trump's presidency. Trump withdrew the U.S. from a landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018. It could also complicate any efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to revive America's relationship with Iran, once he takes office in January. The U.S. State Department, White House and CIA have not responded to NBC News' requests for comment, while a spokesperson for the Pentagon declined to comment on Friday. However, Trump retweeted a post on Friday from an Israeli journalist, Yossi Melman, about Fakhrizadeh's killing. In the West, Fakhrizadeh was commonly referred to as Iran's Robert Oppenheimer, the American scientist who helped develop the atomic bomb in 1945, and was considered among the most important nuclear scientists in Iran. At least five Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed since 2007, mostly in dramatic fashion, with motorcycle-borne assailants and car bombs, U.S. officials have previously told NBC News. Tehran has viewed the program of assassinations as an attempt to sabotage its nuclear energy program and has always denied pursuing nuclear weapons. In January, frayed tensions between Washington and Tehran reached a boiling point after Trump ordered the assassination of one of Iran's top military generals, Qassem Soleimani. He was killed when a U.S. drone targeted his motorcade in Baghdad on Jan. 3. Iran retaliated less than a week later by firing missiles at American troops in Iraq. Although most Iranians had not heard of Fakhrizadeh before Friday, his death will likely give rise to feelings of fear over a possible confrontation, Iranian Canadian academic Arash Azizi told NBC News, while the country also battles with one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the Middle East and a flagging economy. Azizi, who has also authored a biography of Soleimani, said many people would be questioning what Trump may do in his remaining weeks in office and how Biden could overcome this latest foreign policy hurdle. "I think Iran will be prudent in its response and wait for the new American administration," he said. "The Iranian regime finds itself in a very hard place and it knows a serious confrontation can be lethal to it — it will try to avoid it." Elsewhere in the region, many in Israel consider Iran an existential threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a tough stance on Iran a top priority. In 2018, Netanyahu gave a presentation in which he unveiled what he described as material stolen by Israel from an Iranian nuclear archive and described Fakhrizadeh as a name to remember. Former CIA Director John Brennan called the assassination "highly reckless" on Twitter. Warning that "it risks lethal retaliation and a new round of regional conflict," as he urged Iran to "resist the urge to respond against perceived culprits." On Saturday, Iran's envoy to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, wrote a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the U.N. Security Council Inga Rhonda King, stating that Iran reserved the right to defend itself. He also claimed there were "serious indications of Israeli responsibility" for Fakhrizadeh's death, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The office of the spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general did not confirm to NBC News whether the letter had been received or responded to. "We have noted the reports that an Iranian nuclear scientist has been assassinated near Tehran yesterday. We urge restraint and the need to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions in the region," Farhan Aziz Haq, deputy spokesman of the U.N. secretary-general, said by email on Saturday. In Europe, a spokesperson for the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles called the killing a "criminal act" in a statement on Saturday and urged "all parties to remain calm and exercise maximum restraint."

5-8-20

Israeli aggressor again in the news. The Washington Post reports:

"Israel’s largest bank will pay more than $900 million after admitting it helped U.S. customers evade taxes in illegal offshore accounts and, separately, that it laundered money as part of a bribery scheme in the ranks of international soccer, U.S. prosecutors said Thursday. Bank Hapoalim and its Swiss subsidiary pleaded guilty to aiding U.S. customers in setting up accounts under false names and avoiding U.S. reporting requirements for more than a decade, prosecutors said in a release, helping them evade taxes on more than $7.6 billion in deposits. The banks have agreed to pay $874 million in penalties, tax arrears and forfeited assets. The payment represents the second-largest penalty in an ongoing crackdown of offshore tax evasion by the U.S. Department of Justice. Hapoalim’s activities involved at least four senior executives, including two former members of the bank’s board of directors, prosecutors said. “Israel’s largest bank, Bank Hapoalim, and its Swiss subsidiary have admitted not only to failing to prevent but actively assisting U.S. customers to set up secret accounts, to shelter assets and income, and to evade taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman of the Southern District of New York. “The combined payment approaching $1 billion reflects the magnitude of the tax evasion by the Bank’s U.S. customers, the size of the fees the Bank collected to provide this illegal service, and the gravity of the illegal conduct.”

Anyone imprisoned?

"A spokeswoman for Bank Hapoalim said the company had no comment on either investigation. The bank filed a required report on an event “outside the normal business of the corporation” with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Thursday, acknowledging the plea agreements and the amounts, totaling $904 million, to be paid. In the money laundering case, prosecutors said Bank Hapoalim and its Swiss affiliate had agreed to pay more than $30 million in forfeited assets and fines after admitting that some employees helped launder millions in bribes and kickbacks paid to officials in FIFA, the international soccer body. For five years between 2010 and 2015, according to prosecutors, the bank’s Miami branch laundered illicit payments to officials that included Luis Bedoya, the former head of Colombian football and a member of FIFA’s executive committee. Bedoya, who was banned from international soccer in 2015, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to racketeering and wire fraud in New York. In November 2015, Bedoya pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of New York. He is awaiting sentencing."

Think he'll wind up in prison?

"Accounts in the Miami branch were also used by an Argentine sports marketing company to pay bribes and kickbacks to FIFA officials, according to prosecutors. The activities continued despite concerns raised by Hapoalim’s own compliance teams, they said. “Instead, the banks’ relationship managers continued executing illicit bribe and kickback payments on behalf of Full Play,” said a statement by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which has pursued the FIFA bribery scandal. “For nearly five years, Bank Hapoalim employees used the U.S. financial system to launder tens of millions of dollars in bribe payments to corrupt soccer officials in multiple countries,” Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowsk said in the statement. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding financial institutions to account when they knowingly facilitate corruption and other criminal conduct.” In addition to its international business, Hapoalim is a familiar retail bank in Israel, with more than 250 branches across the country."

Walk into any local business and steal, guess what? Your sorry ass rightfully winds up in jail. Why not the top of the food chain who fleece far more? Why the double standard?

5-1-20

Israeli aggressor back in the news. The Associated Press reports:

"The United Nations’ Mideast envoy is warning that Israeli moves to annex parts of the West Bank and accelerate settlement expansion, combined with the coronavirus pandemic’s devastating impact, can “ignite” the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and “destroy any hope of peace.” Nickolay Mladenov told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that annexation would also “constitute a serious violation of international law, deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace.” He urged Israelis and Palestinians to support U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for a global cease-fire to all conflicts to tackle the pandemic. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed a coalition agreement that includes a clause to advance plans to annex parts of the West Bank, including Israeli settlements, starting on July 1. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the council that “whatever technical coordination has been achieved between the two sides in recent weeks to combat COVID-19 has been undercut by incessant violations,” most flagrantly Israel’s annexation push which he claimed is being done in full coordination with the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says annexation is “an Israeli decision.”

The hell it is. Wake up, Mr. Secretary. Your head remains figuratively speaking, securely lodged up your clueless ass.

"Mansour also warned that the U.S. plan for Mideast peace and Israel’s decision to proceed with annexation “will destroy the two-state solution and entrench Israel’s military control over the Palestinian people and land.” He said the Palestinians are urging the international community to enforce concrete measures “to hold Israel accountable for its perverse impunity” and salvage prospects for peace."

The American public will eventually wise up to the fact the Israeli aggressor is out of control. When, not if, that happens, U.S. support for the aggressor will disappear. Alone without the support of the United States, Israel will sadly wind up in the sea over run by its long-term enemies. All this could have been avoided. All of it. The United States, Britain, Europe, and the United Nations have miserably failed since 1948 to get this right.

2-7-20

Fallout. Far from unexpected. UPI reports:

"Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday he has cut ties with the United States and Israel as Arabs rejected the Trump administration's Middle East peace plan. President Donald Trump administration's plan sets aside sections of land for a Palestinian state, but current illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories would be annexed to the state of Israel. The plan, which calls for a demilitarized Palestinian state, was developed through U.S.-Israeli negotiation without any input from the Palestinians, the Middle East Eye reported. Abbas announced he would cut ties at an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday after he and the leaders of Iran and Turkey rejected the plan as one-sided earlier this week. "We've informed the Israelis and Americans of this decision through two letters," he said at the meeting. "We informed them that Israel has abrogated the agreements signed with the Palestinians and violated the international legitimacy on which these agreements are based. "Therefore, we notified them that there will be no relations with Israel and the US. That includes security relations in light of their disregard of the signed agreements and international legitimacy," he continued. "The Israelis need to assume responsibility as an occupying power. We have the right to pursue our national struggle with peaceful means to end the occupation. We're not going to carry rifles."

"Abbas said he was particularly opposed to the plan to retain Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. "I won't accept the annexation of Jerusalem to Israel," he said. "I won't record in my history that I sold Jerusalem. Jerusalem does not belong to me alone. Jerusalem belongs to all of us. It's our capital." Foreign ministers of the Arab League unanimously adopted a resolution Saturday rejecting the peace plan. "It does not satisfy the minimum of the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people," the Arab League said." The closing statement of the Arab League said the U.S. plan contradicts peace process principles and United Nations resolutions. Abbas added that Palestinians would not accept the Trump administration as the sole mediator in peace talks with Israel, and he would likely present a Palestinian peace plan in a speech at the U.N. Security Council meeting in the coming weeks."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

1-31-20

A delusional narcissist. The Associated Press reports:

"President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East peace plan Tuesday, calling for the creation of a State of Palestine with its capital in portions of east Jerusalem, saying it is a “win-win” opportunity for both Israel and the Palestinians."

Think so?

"The plan calls for the creation of a State of Palestine with its capital in portions of east Jerusalem, ending speculation as to whether his administration, in preparing a proposal without input from Palestinian leaders, would abandon a “two-state resolution” to the conflict. Trump, releasing the plan before a pro-Israel audience at the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel, but he said he wanted the deal to be a “great deal for the Palestinians.” Trump said the deal is a “historic opportunity” for Palestinians to achieve an independent state of their own."

A 'deal' achingly lopsided in favor of the Israeli aggressor.

"The plan more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control, although it also recognizes Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank, something to which the Palestinians will almost certainly object. The Palestinians have already rejected the proposal, accusing Trump of being biased in favor of Israel as he has adopted policies that bolster Israel at their expense."

Certainly, true. No question.

"The plan does call for a four-year freeze in new Israeli settlement construction, during which time details of a comprehensive agreement would be negotiated. However, it was not immediately clear if the freeze could be extended if a final deal is not concluded in the four years. The 50-page political outline goes further in concessions to the Palestinians than many analysts had believed was likely. However, it would require them to accept conditions they have been previously unwilling to consider, such as accepting West Bank settlements. It builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected."

For damned good reason.

"Under the terms of the “peace vision” that Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, the future Palestinian state would consist of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of above-ground roads and tunnels. Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan."

Why wouldn't they? Favors the Israeli aggressor at the expense of the Palestinians. So what else is new?

Here's the problem:

"In the run-up to the March 2 election, Netanyahu had called for annexing parts of the West Bank and imposing Israeli sovereignty on all its settlements there. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Jordan Valley in particular is considered a vital security asset. Security responsibility for the Jordan Valley would remain in Israel’s hands for the foreseeable future but could be scaled back as the nascent Palestinian state builds its capacity, under the terms of the plan, which says that statehood will be contingent on the Palestinians meeting international governance criteria."

Why would Palestinians agree to this?

Wishful thinking based on fantasy:

"U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan’s release, said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, as well as Turkey and Iran, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright. The officials said they expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan. The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, will be particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout."

Here's the reality:

"The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the American Embassy there. He’s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs."

Precisely, why the Palestinians walked away from the Trump nazi and his henchmen.

"Those policies have proven popular among Trump’s evangelical and pro-Israel supporters and could give him a much-needed boost from his base as he gears up for a reelection battle this year. But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears that the announcement in Washington could spark a new round of violence. Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley."

Expect less of the Israeli aggressor?

In a second article, The Associated Press reports:

"President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday, winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians, who called it “nonsense.”

Surprised?

"Trump’s plan calls for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would leave sizable chunks of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands."

Deal breaker.

"Netanyahu said he would move forward on Sunday and ask his Cabinet to approve plans to annex West Bank territory — an explosive move that is likely to be met with harsh international reaction."

No question.

"Trump called his plan a “win-win” for both Israel and the Palestinians, and Netanyahu called it a “great plan for Israel.” At a speech in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as “nonsense.” “We say 1,000 no’s to the Deal of the Century,” Abbas said, using a nickname for Trump’s proposal. “We will not kneel and we will not surrender,” he said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “peaceful, popular means.”

Worse? The 'plan' ensures continued violence.

Following speaks volumes:

"With Netanyahu standing beside him, Trump presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with other Israeli officials and allies, including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors but no Palestinian representatives."

Surprised? Why? With the deck stacked against the Palestinians from the outset, what other outcome could be expected?

"The ceremony came amid Trump’s impeachment trial and a U.S. election year, and after Netanyahu was indicted on counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases. The longtime Israeli leader, who denies any wrongdoing, also faces a March 2 parliamentary election, Israel’s third in less than a year."

Trump and Netanyahu? Two peas in a pod.

Here's why the 'plan' is dead on arrival:

"The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas. But as details emerged, it became clear that the plan sides heavily with Netanyahu’s hard-line nationalist vision for the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians’ core demands."

... A national socialist Israeli aggressor "vision." Forget? Trump and Netanyahu are marching in goose step. Trump, his henchmen, and the United States are no honest brokers of peace in the Middle East. Sadly, quite the opposite.

"Under the terms of the “peace vision” that Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, all settlers would remain in place, and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley."

Unworkable. Unsustainable. Ensures no end to the violence.

Here's the reality:

"The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli “enclaves” with the entity’s borders monitored by Israel. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier."

The following is galling, pathetic bullshit. No more than a congenital liar at his haughty worst:

"Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel, but he said he wanted the deal to be a “great deal for the Palestinians.” He said his vision gives the Palestinians the time needed for them to meet the challenges of statehood."

The following ensures the continuation of violence:

"The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West Bank. But Netanyahu clarified later that this only applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex, and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction."

Think this will end well?

"Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement, burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “Palestine is not for sale.”

Precisely, how Trump and his henchmen have cluelessly approached this fiasco:

"Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for four years. “It’s going to work,” Trump said. “If they do this, it will work. Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood.” “President Abbas, I want you to know, that if you chose the path to peace, America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways. And we will be there every step of the way,” Trump said."

You remain a liar, Mr. 'President.' The Palestinians know this. So does the American public. So do your goose stepping Republican supporters. The bloom certainly is long since off the rose.

"The 50-page plan builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected. The plan envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of roads and tunnels. It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land. But the many caveats, and ultimate overall Israeli control, made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians. Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan."

Why wouldn't they? Benefits only the Israelis. Ensures the Palestinians will remain under the boot heel of the Israeli aggressor:

“Mr. President, because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed,” Netanyahu said. “I’ve agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan. It’s a great plan for Israel. It’s a great plan for peace.”

It ensures the Palestinians will remain under the boot heel of the Israeli aggressor. Worse? The violence will continue.

"Arab League chief, Ahmed Abuel-Gheit said the Palestinian reaction would define the Arab response. He spoke after meeting with Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, is particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout. The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the American Embassy there. He’s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs. Those policies have proven popular among Trump’s evangelical and pro-Israel supporters. But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears of a new round of violence. Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

11-29-19

Israeli Prime Minister gets his. CBS News reports:

"Israel's attorney general on Thursday formally charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of corruption cases. The indictment throws the country's paralyzed political system into further disarray and threatening the long-time leader's grip on power. Capping a three-year investigation, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Netanyahu with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three different scandals. It is the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime.

"The indictment does not require Netanyahu to resign but is expected to raise pressure on him to step down. Netanyahu has called the allegations part of a witch hunt, lashing out against the media, police, prosecutors and the justice system."

Where have we heard this before? LOL. Couldn't be from our fuhrer, the Trump nazi, could it? LOL.

"The most serious charges were connected to so-called "Case 4000," in which Netanyahu is accused of passing regulations that gave his friend, telecom magnate Shaul Elovitch, benefits worth over $250 million to his company Bezeq. In return, Bezeq's news site, Walla, published favorable articles about Netanyahu and his family. The relationship, it said, was "based on a mutual understanding that each of them had significant interests that the other side had the ability to advance." It also accused Netanyahu of concealing the relationship by providing "partial and misleading information" about his connections with Elovitch. Two close aides to Netanyahu turned state's witness and testified against him in the case."

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? LOL.

"Police recommended indicting Netanyahu over accepting nearly $300,000 in gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. Police say that in return for jewelry, expensive cigars and champagne, Netanyahu operated on Milchan's behalf on U.S. visa matters, tried to legislate a generous tax break for him and sought to promote his interests in the Israeli media market. Police have not commented on what Packer, who reportedly sought Israeli residency status for tax purposes, may have received, and Netanyahu has said all he received were gifts from friends. Longtime aide Ari Harow is a state witness in this case. The charges include fraud and breach of trust. Police have also recommended indicting Netanyahu for offering a newspaper publisher legislation that would weaken his paper's main rival in return for more favorable coverage. Netanyahu reportedly was recorded asking Arnon Mozes, the publisher of the Yediot Ahronot daily, for positive coverage in exchange for helping to weaken Israel Hayom, a free pro-Netanyahu newspaper that had cut into Yediot's business."

Chickens, coming home to roost.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

8-30-19

In an editorial, Philip Rucker of The Washington Post brilliantly opines:

"President Trump decided long ago that it would be smart politics for him to yoke his administration to Israel and to try to brand the Democratic Party as anti-Semitic. He set about executing a pro-Israel checklist: moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the Golan Heights as part of sovereign Israel, and taking a hard line against Iran. And he promoted himself as the greatest president — a deity even — for Jewish people. Yet Trump has become flummoxed that Jewish Americans are not in turn lining up to support his reelection, according to people familiar with his thinking, and he has lashed out in predictable fashion. “If you vote for a Democrat, you’re very, very disloyal to Israel and to the Jewish people,” Trump said Wednesday on the South Lawn of the White House. He was amplifying a statement he made in the Oval Office a day earlier: “I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” Trump’s use of the word “disloyalty” drew immediate criticism from Jewish groups, whose leaders said it echoed anti-Semitic tropes about where American Jews’ loyalty lies. The president insisted his comments were not anti-Semitic. Regardless, this turn in the president’s rhetoric about Jews magnifies his transactional approach to politics and his miscalculation that his hawkish interpretation of support for Israel should automatically translate into electoral support from Jewish Americans. It also reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the motivations of many Jews, who are not a monolithic voting bloc but rather prioritize a wide range of issues — not only Israel, but also education, the economy and the environment, as well as civility and morality."

Certainly, highly indicative of Trump's raging narcissism, profound ignorance.

“He is reflecting a concept of Jewish Americans as single-issue voters around Israel, which we’re not; that we’re uniformly hawkish on these issues, which we’re not,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel advocacy group. “In reality, what matters most to us are the exact values that the president is spending his term trashing. We care about equality and justice, and we embrace the notion that this is a nation of immigrants and opportunity for all.”

Trump remains achingly shallow, delusionally shortsighted. The mark of a national socialist, fascist, nazi. A dictator.

"Daniel Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama, said Trump’s expectation that Jewish people vote for him because of his record on Israel is “breathtakingly cynical.” “In his typical buffoonish way, he thinks that by [pushing] out these instructions, essentially, to American Jews to get in line and become his supporters he’s going to be successful,” Shapiro said. “It’s all shaped by his narcissism. It’s all shaped by his transactional nature. It’s all shaped by his insatiable need for praise and confirmation of his greatness and appreciation for the gifts he’s bestowed on whoever it is he’s courting. And it’s not going to fly with this community.” Trump’s transactional expectations for Jewish voting patterns reflect how he views other voting blocs. He routinely defends himself against charges that he is racist by citing the relatively low unemployment rate for blacks on his watch, as well as the criminal justice legislation he signed last year, as if those are the only issues of concern to black voters."

Highly demonstrative of profound ignorance.

"Trump has been told over and over again that he is “the most pro-Israel president ever,” according to a former senior administration official, delivering on a wish list that includes recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel — but the official said Trump is angry that he has not received more plaudits from Jewish Americans. Trump contrasts his unpopularity with Jews to the overwhelming support he enjoys from evangelical Christians. This official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the president’s mind-set, argued that Trump’s rhetoric of late is “a manifestation of frustration of not getting the recognition and the praise and the support that he feels like he deserves as a result of what he’s done.”

Other than nazify our formerly great country, he's done nothing. Massive failure.

NPR reports:

"President Trump doubled down Wednesday on his remarks that American Jews who vote for Democrats are disloyal to Israel. "In my opinion, you vote for a Democrat, you're being very disloyal to Jewish people, and you're being very disloyal to Israel," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, "and only weak people would say anything other than that."

Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini reincarnated.

"It was the second time in two days that the president questioned the loyalty to Israel of Jewish people who vote Democratic. On Tuesday, he questioned their smarts, too. "I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty," Trump said from the Oval Office."

Unparalleled ignorance displayed by our fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

"Trump's comments display a lack of understanding of how and why Jewish Americans vote the way they do, which is overwhelmingly Democratic. While Israel is a threshold issue for Jewish voters, it is not determinative to the votes of most of them — and many don't agree with President Trump's or Republicans' approach to Israel. Jewish people who vote Democratic care about what Democrats care about — social justice, health care, climate change, the welfare of immigrants and more."

"We see evidence that it [the Jewish vote] is moving even more towards Democrats now during Trump's presidency," said Jim Gerstein, a Democratic pollster. He added that American Jews don't even necessarily agree with Trump's policies toward Israel — and they have other concerns. "They're so hostile to Trump himself because of all the immigration issues and white nationalism and the rise of anti-Semitism, all that makes them so hostile to him that anything he says or does doesn't matter — even if they were to agree with it," said Gerstein, who called views of Israel "a threshold issue" for Jewish voters. "But they don't necessarily agree with him on the Israel stuff to begin with."

"Disloyalty, "a centuries-old anti-Semitic idea" The "disloyalty" claim reminds some of an anti-Semitic trope. "This loyalty claim or disloyalty claim is actually a centuries-old anti-Semitic idea that dates back to European monarchies," said Rabbi Alissa Wise, deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace. "This idea that Jews are somehow disloyal to or have more loyalty to an entity outside of the state to which they live."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

8-23-19

In follow up to the last edition, NBC News reports:

"Democrats slammed Israel Thursday over its decision to block pro-Palestinian Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering the country on a trip they had planned to take this weekend to Israel and the West Bank. Many lawmakers warned of the move's potentially negative impact on the U.S.-Israel relationship; called on Israeli officials to reverse Thursday's announcement and return to an earlier position of allowing the pair to enter the country; and accused President Donald Trump of instigating the move. Ahead of the Israeli government’s announcement, Trump tweeted that it would “show great weakness” if the country allowed the two to enter, later tweeting that "Representatives Omar and Tlaib are the face of the Democrat Party, and they HATE Israel!" Omar and Tlaib are the first two Muslim woman elected to Congress."

Trump's action is treasonous. To say nothing of abject bigotry against women of color. These two ladies are U.S. Congresswomen. Had every right to travel to Israel in their official capacity.

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the decision "a sad reversal" and "deeply disappointing." "I pray that the Government of Israel will reverse that denial," she said in a statement, calling the move "a sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel."

No question. Israel, clearly, is no longer what it claims to be.

"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, also said in a statement that denying the two lawmakers entry was "a sign of weakness, not strength" that "will only hurt the U.S.-Israel relationship and support for Israel in America."

No question.

"Many strong supporters of Israel will be deeply disappointed in this decision, which the Israeli government should reverse," he said."

No question.

"Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and has also been a critic of the Israeli government, tweeted: "Banning Congresswomen Omar and Tlaib from entering Israel and Palestine is a sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders, to the United States Congress, and to the principles of democracy. The Israeli government should reverse this decision and allow them in."

No question. What is the Israeli aggressor so afraid of? The truth?

"Omar, of Minnesota, responded in a lengthy Twitter post Thursday afternoon, saying that "Trump's Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected Members of Congress," and calling the decision "both an insult to democratic values and a chilling response to a visit by government officials from an allied nation."

No question. Israel has again disgraced itself.

"MoC are frequently asked to visit Israel to “see things for ourselves.”

"But Netanyahu choosing to ban the only 2 Muslim women in Congress from entering tells the US that only *some* Americans are welcome to Israel, not all.

"Trump is exporting his bigotry &making matters worse. https://t.co/PFdMDxuIfJ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 15, 2019"

Quite true. Trump is the problem. The Israeli aggressor is catering to our fuhrer's wishes.

"Tlaib, of Michigan, echoed Democratic leadership in calling the move on Twitter a "sign of weakness" and saying Israel had made the decision because "the truth of what is happening to Palestinians is frightening."

This woman right here is my sity. She deserves to live in peace & with human dignity. I am who I am because of her. The decision by Israel to bar her granddaughter, a U.S. Congresswoman, is a sign of weakness b/c the truth of what is happening to Palestinians is frightening. pic.twitter.com/GGcFLiH9N3
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 15, 2019"

Certainly, true. The Israeli aggressor is emulating Hitler's barbaric treatment of the Jews at the very beginning of the Nazi regime. Far worse was yet to come.

Consider the following:

"Several Democrats, including Reps. Nita Lowey and Jerry Nadler, both New York Democrats and Jewish, who have questioned Omar and Tlaib for their critical statements about Israel, defended them and criticized Israel over Thursday's move."

Rightfully, so.

“I don’t like the way these members often talk about Israel, but a decision to ban congressional critics from Israel would be a big mistake," tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., adding that the move to bar the two would "do long term harm to the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

No question. Already has.

“When you attack one of us, you attack all of us," said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a close ally of Omar and Tlaib, who Pressley said have been subject of “some of the most vile and vicious attacks simply for being who they are.” Pressley said Netanyahu was "stoking division and punishing dissent just like the occupant of the White House." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. — the fourth member of the "the squad," along with Pressley, Omar and Tlaib — tweeted that lawmakers "are frequently asked to visit Israel to 'see things for ourselves.' But Netanyahu choosing to ban the only 2 Muslim women in Congress from entering tells the US that only *some* Americans are welcome to Israel, not all," adding that "Trump is exporting his bigotry & making matters worse."

No question. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst. Netanyahu is gutless. What a marvelous opportunity he stupidly forfeited to have sat down with both Congresswomen to air their differences. What was he so afraid of? The truth? Should have suggested their first stop be a meeting with him.

Ferociously pointedly, hard to believe an Israeli Prime Minister would ever stoop to the level of bigotry embraced by our fuhrer, the Trump nazi. Yet, here we are.

"Many members suggested that the move was provoked by Trump’s policies and statements, including comments specifically about the two congresswomen. “This is a craven, partisan, racist weaponization of the US-Israel relationship that will do lasting damage,” Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., tweeted, suggesting that Trump was trying to play “electoral map games” with the states the two women represent. “Banning Muslims from travel is one of Trump's most consistent policy positions,” tweeted Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., referring to Trump’s proposal during his 2016 presidential bid to ban all Muslims from entering the United States."

Racism. Unbridled. Unbecoming the president of the United States.

Equally remarkable? Get this:

"House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who co-led an official congressional delegation trip to Israel last week with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had helped secure a statement from the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, last month that the government there would not deny entry to any member of Congress "out of respect for the U.S. Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America," an aide to Hoyer told NBC News on Thursday — a position reversed on Thursday. Hoyer had been working since Wednesday to convince the Israeli government to allow the pair entry, speaking directly to Dermer and Netanyahu, the aide said. Other House Democrats who lobbied Dermer not to bar Omar and Tlaib from visiting the country included Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Lowey, NBC News confirmed with sources familiar with the conversations. The most influential pro-Israel group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said on Twitter that all members of Congress should be able to visit the country.

"We disagree with Reps. Omar and Tlaib’s support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with Rep. Tlaib’s calls for a one-state solution. We also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand.
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) August 15, 2019"

The following is gutless insanity:

"In a statement defending the decision shortly after Trump's tweet, Netanyahu called Omar and Tlaib "leading activists in promoting boycott legislation against Israel in the US Congress" and accused them of "planning a campaign whose sole purpose was to strengthen the boycott and negate Israel's legitimacy.”

The Israeli aggressor is doing all that on its very own through its actions. Critics of Israel are merely pointing out the truth, -- truth that the Israeli leadership is unwilling to address.

"He added that they had not sought "any meeting with an official Israeli official in both the government and the opposition."

So what? Had you brains and guts, you would have extended a formal invitation to meet with them. Taken advantage of that opportunity to air differences. Too goddamned gutless?

"Omar and Tlaib were among 17 House members to vote against a bill last month that opposed efforts to delegitimize Israel through the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, known as BDS, which passed overwhelmingly with 398 members in support."

So what? Both are on the right side of history. The other 398 in support made a horrendous mistake.

"Few GOP lawmakers weighed in early Thursday on the Israeli move, though Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida tweeted that it was a "mistake."

"I disagree 100% with Reps. Tlaib & Omar on #Israel & am the author of the #AntiBDS bill we passed in the Senate

But denying them entry into #Israel is a mistake.

Being blocked is what they really hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks against the Jewish state.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2019"

Wake up, Senator. You're out to lunch. Can't see the forest for the trees. You cluelessly ignore the horrendous atrocities the Israeli aggressor is brutally inflicting on the Palestinians. Israeli behavior, currently, is precisely akin to early Nazi Germany shortly after Hitler became Chancellor. The worst then, yet to come. As today, in the Middle East vis a vis the Israeli aggressor.

"Several Republican members of Congress visited Israel last week on the official congressional delegation visit led by Hoyer and McCarthy. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, McCarthy said that Omar and Tlaib should have joined the Israel tour last week with other members of Congress. "The one thing that should’ve happened, they should’ve come with their colleagues," McCarthy said. "They should’ve come together where they can have a meeting with Israel, with the Palestinian Authority, with those who were running against [Netanyahu] at the same time."

So what? They're Congresswomen. Why would the Israeli leadership not take advantage of any visit, at any time? Had Netanyahu extended a formal invitation for a meeting, don't think the pressure on both would have been enormous to meet with the Israeli dictator? Don't think they wouldn't have taken advantage of such an invitation to share their views? Wake up.

The Washington Post reports:

"Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said Friday that she will not travel to Israel after the Israeli government initially banned her from entering the country and then reversed course. Israel had relented after Tlaib sent a letter requesting to see her 90-year-old grandmother, who lives in the occupied West Bank, during a four-day trip planned for next week. “In my attempt to visit Palestine, I’ve experienced the same racist treatment that many Palestinian-Americans endure when encountering the Israeli government,” she said in a statement. Tlaib had initially hoped to arrive in Israel on Sunday with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on a trip focused mainly on viewing the impact of recent U.S. policies and aid cuts on Palestinians. Israel’s decision to prevent their entry for that trip immediately drew widespread criticism from Democratic lawmakers and American Jewish organizations, including the staunchly pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, with some critics saying it set a new, unfortunate precedent for U.S.-Israel relations. In her statement, Tlaib said the Israeli government had taken advantage of her personal situation and her desire to visit her grandmother, requesting that she pledge not to advocate for a boycott of Israel while she visited. “The Israeli government used my love and desire to see my grandmother to silence me and made my ability to do so contingent upon my signing a letter — reflecting just how undemocratic and afraid they are of the truth my trip would reveal about what is happening in the State of Israel and to Palestinians living under occupation with United States support,” the lawmaker wrote. She said visiting her family under such “oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me would break my grandmother’s heart.”

This entire fiasco has been poorly handled by Trump, Netanyahu, and both Congresswomen. What should have happened did not. That is, both Congresswomen, along with the other two members of the 'Squad' who did not plan on coming, should have sought a meeting with Netanyahu first to discuss their differences before proceeding on to the rest of their business. Cleared the air with the Israeli Prime Minister who is clearly in the pocket of our fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

Had such a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister been planned, might have prevented what wound up happening including the following:

"Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who on Friday approved an overnight request from Tlaib to visit based on humanitarian grounds, called Tlaib’s decision not to visit a provocation. “Last night, she sent me a letter asking to allow her to visit her 90-year-old grandmother ‘because this could be my last chance to meet her,’” said Deri. “I approved it for humanitarian reason, but it turns out that it was a provocation to embarrass Israel. Her hatred for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.”

Jesus Christ. That's bullshit. Both women have a viewpoint the Israeli leadership needs to hear. What are the Israelis so afraid of? The truth? The same is true of Trump. Had our fuhrer been any other president, he would have long since invited both Congresswomen, and the two other members of the 'Squad,' to the Oval Office to make their case. Scheduled sufficient time to do so properly. Trump, just like Netanyahu, has no regard, no interest in the truth. Clearly, the truth is unacceptable, doesn't meet their needs. Precisely, why both countries are failing. Time to act before too late. The American public will finally wake up. When that happens, financial and military support from the U.S. will dry up. At that time, all bets are off.

"Tlaib and Omar have said their criticism of the Israeli government is based on policy differences and have repeatedly denied harboring any animus toward Jews or Israelis. Both have voiced support for a boycott movement against Israel to oppose the treatment of Palestinians. In 2017, Israel passed legislation banning entry to activists who actively promote the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which has found growing support in Europe and the United States in recent years."

For damned good reason. The Israeli aggressor is out of control.

Crisis grows. The Washington Post reports:

"A politically explosive fight over Israel’s attempt to block two members of Congress from entering the country — at President Trump’s urging — has elevated rifts between it and Democrats who have increasingly started to view the Israeli government and its leader as out of line or, in the eyes of at least two presidential candidates, even racist."

Exactly, right. The true colors of the Israeli aggressor are becoming clearer and clearer. Trump's action is traitorous. These two Congresswomen are American citizens, duly elected representatives of their districts.

"The shift in dialogue has been accelerated by the tight embrace between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and after a dizzying 48 hours, some Democrats are more openly discussing the unusual step of reconsidering foreign aid to the longtime ally."

About time. What took so long? Abuse of the Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor has been an ongoing issue for decades.

"The dispute has fractured bipartisan support for Israel and moved debates over it into partisan space more typically home to issues such as abortion, gun control and immigration."

Comes as no surprise as our formerly great country continues to deteriorate under a national socialist, fascist, nazi 'president.'

The following is indeed frightening:

“There is this tectonic shifting of one of the fundamental plates of American politics,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group. “This has been a plank of the rule book for 60 years, and things are shifting in a really important way.” The situation also has put many Democratic lawmakers in the awkward position of defending colleagues they find politically toxic while rebuking a country they support. It has complicated a months-long effort by congressional Democrats to distance themselves from Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and repair some of the damage flowing from accusations that they were anti-Israel or, in the case of Omar, had made anti-Semitic remarks."

We are a country coming apart at the seams. What we're increasingly witnessing here is raw nazism. Time to wake up. Before too late.

"Trump has worked to portray those members of Congress as the face of the Democratic Party. But his extreme action — urging an ally to bar two members of Congress from entering — has forced many Democrats to defend Omar and Tlaib even while making clear that they do not agree with all of their views."

Trump's actions are treasonous. Worse? The sick, narcissistic, fascist bastard is taking a raucous hard dump on the Constitution, abrogating his falsely sworn oath of office to uphold the United States Constitution.

“The only person who won and got what they wanted was Trump. No one else was happy about it,” said Aaron Keyak, a Democratic strategist who works with pro-Israel groups. “He goes over the top in attacking them, and Israel goes over the top in responding. And then you force even hawkish Democrats to jump to their defense.”

Trump is great evil. Unfit. Presents an exigent, direct threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

“This is exactly what Trump wants,” he added. “And in the meantime it is hurting the support for the thing the pro-Israel community most cares about, which is the U.S.-Israeli relationship.”

That relationship is increasingly in question due to the Israeli aggressor's treatment of Palestinians. Both political parties remain unwilling to question the tactics employed by the Israelis. -- Tactics highly reminiscent of early Nazi Germany well before the very worst. Survivors of Nazi concentration camps liberated at the end of the Second World War rightfully claimed "Never Again!" Yet, the Israeli aggressor is employing Nazi tactics against the Palestinians.

"For decades, Israel held a special place in American politics, with almost universal support. That has eroded over the past several years but seemed to disintegrate this week in a way that some fear could do irreparable damage."

It's not too late. Not yet. Time to wake up.

"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), has been one of the most outspoken recent critics of Israel and has suggested withholding foreign aid. He labeled the country’s government as “dare I say, racist,” the same description fellow candidate and former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke used for Netanyahu."

Exactly, right. About time. Well overdue. What took so long? -- If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, guess what? It's a duck.

“If Israel doesn’t want members of the United States Congress to visit their country ... maybe they can respectfully decline the billions of dollars that we give to Israel,” Sanders said on MSNBC."

Not good enough. Nowhere near. Time to threaten withdrawal of funding if the Israeli aggressor refuses to end its brutal tactics against the Palestinians. Forget? Thousands and thousands of our best and brightest died fighting this very same shit. Second World War European Theater. Time to wake up.

"The past few days also have jumbled a months-long strategy on the part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team to try to emphasize that Democrats are friends of Israel, after months of accusations by the president that they are not. When Omar first sparked an uproar in February for using anti-Semitic tropes to criticize Israel, Trump attempted to suggest all Democrats are “anti-Jewish” and cast Republicans as the only true allies of the Middle Eastern democracy."

Jesus Christ. Wake up, Madam Speaker. The only viable solution is a formal vote to launch an impeachment investigation. Time for Democrats to place principle ahead of partisan interests.

"But now, many hawks on Israel have found themselves in a position of having to release statements criticizing a nation they have long defended. “This matter is a self-inflicted wound by one of America’s closest allies, one of our closest friends, and a vibrant democracy,” Hoyer said in a Friday statement, his second such remark in about 24 hours. “President Trump’s urging of such action and its implementation were — and are — unacceptable.”

Jesus Christ. ... You think? The number one problem in this entire fiasco is not the Israeli aggressor. It's the Trump nazi. Democrats can easily force the Israeli aggressor issue by cutting off all funding. Since funding originates in the House, doing so is indeed possible. Dealing with Trump is far more difficult. Especially, with the Senate run and owned by Republican nazis. Precisely, why a formal vote on launching an impeachment investigation is so necessary. Tie the 'president' up the rest of his term defending himself in the House. Would at least slow him down. As more and more is revealed during the investigation, pressure on Republicans would become enormous.

"Hoyer, who personally pleaded with Netanyahu on Wednesday to allow Omar and Tlaib entry, went on to rebuke Israel for making Tlaib sign a letter limiting her actions in Israel in order to visit her grandmother in the West Bank. Tlaib ultimately declined to go."

Never make a deal with the devil. Always a mistake.

"Omar on Friday rebutted Netanyahu’s claim that the group had not requested to meet with any Israeli officials, and she outlined aspects of the itinerary, which included visits to Palestinian areas. “As many of my colleagues have stated in the last 24 hours, we give Israel more than $3 billion in aid every year. This is predicated on their being an important ally in the region, and the ‘only democracy’ in the Middle East,” she wrote on Twitter. “Denying visits to duly elected Members of Congress is not consistent with being either an ally or a democracy. We should be leveraging that aid to stop the settlements and ensure full rights for Palestinians.”

No kidding. Yet, Republicans remain too stupid, Democrats too gutless to do the right thing.

"Numerous Democrats said they worried about the long-term effects of politicizing the U.S.-Israel relationship. In an interview, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), a vocal defender of Israel who like Sanders is Jewish, ticked off a range of policy ramifications should some of his colleagues start to view Israel negatively rather than as a strategic ally. Israel is the greatest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, with the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding in 2016 outlining $38 billion in military aid for the next 10 years. Typically, Congress approves the funds on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis — but with Democrats such as Sanders calling that into question, the future is uncertain. "This will no doubt have an impact on the debate, on attitudes toward Israel, and on the growing concerns about Israel's actions under Netanyahu's right-wing leadership," said Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "It's too early to come to conclusions as to where this debate will take us, but certainly aid is an issue that will be discussed."

About time. Things have to change. If not, all bets are off.

Trump is great evil personified:

"Trump in 2015 played into Jewish stereotypes, telling the Republican Jewish Coalition “you’re not going to support me, because I don’t want your money.” In 2017, he equated the anti-Semitic marchers in Charlottesville with those who were protesting them, saying there were “very fine people on both sides.” At the same time, Trump is focused on trying to motivate evangelical Christians, who have a deep religious connection to Israel and have long made up a core of Trump’s base. Many American Jews also have viewed Netanyahu as problematic and oppose some of his policies and his abandonment of a two-state Middle East solution. “What’s so challenging to Democratic leaders here is they look at what’s happening in Israel and they see the reflection of Trump,” Ben-Ami said. “This is a strategic blunder of epic proportions that Netanyahu and his advisers have made, turning Israel into a branch of the Republican Party. This is a tiny little country in a very bad neighborhood that needs all the friends it can get.”

Time for change. Before too late. The United States has great power and influence. Can and should pressure the Israeli aggressor to viably settle the Palestinian issue. If not, the American public will eventually wake up. See the aggressor precisely for what it is. At that time, funding will be cut off. On its own and without American support, all bets are off.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

8-16-19

The Israeli aggressor is bigoted against women of color. So is the Trump nazi. The Washington Post reports:

"Caught between the opposing views of President Trump and Democratic leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed himself on Thursday and decided to prohibit Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) from visiting Israel during a trip scheduled to start Sunday. The move followed an unusual intervention by Trump and immediately opened up a new battle between Netanyahu and Democrats, who had privately warned that such a decision would be unprecedented and inconsistent with Israel’s claims of tolerance and openness. “The decision has been made; the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israel’s Reshet Radio. Several pro-Israel groups in the United States criticized the decision, an about-face on the part of Netanyahu’s government. “Any sitting member of Congress should be welcome to visit Israel as official representatives of Israel’s closest ally and most critical source of international support,” said the Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based Jewish organization. “We strongly urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to reconsider.” The Democratic Party’s leading progressive presidential primary candidates also swiftly condemned the decision, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling it a “sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders” and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warning that it would be a “shameful, unprecedented move.”

More on this as the story develops.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

6-21-19

Think it doesn't run in the family? It does. LOL. CNN reports:

"Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed to a plea deal in a case concerning illegally ordered meals at the Prime Minister's residence, according to a statement released by Israel's Justice Ministry."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

6-14-19

The following extreme example in Israel illustrates precisely why church-state separation is critical to a democratic republic. Certainly, a portend of far worse to come in the United States as we transition from a de facto fascist police-state to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich. The Washington Post reports:

"Bastet, a vegan and LGBT-friendly cafe whose blue tables spill across a central Jerusalem sidewalk, is a secular oasis for residents seeking Saturday refreshment in a city that largely comes to a standstill for the Jewish Sabbath. But each week, a procession of ultra-Orthodox men, some in their finest fur hats and gold robes, invariably marches past in a show of displeasure at the cafe’s desecration of the day of rest. “Shabbos!” they chant, using the Yiddish word for the Sabbath. On a recent Saturday, the wait staff struck back, lifting their shirts to reveal their bras in an attempt to push back the religiously conservative demonstrators. The confrontation reflected a central tension in modern Israel over the very nature of the state, founded by secular Zionists but with an ultrareligious population that is growing in size and influence. That tension came to the forefront late last month, thwarting longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government and sending a stunned nation to the polls for the second time this year. Netanyahu needed two competing factions, secular and religious, to form a governing majority in parliament, and they were deadlocked over legislation that proposes drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the military as other Israeli Jews are."

Trump recently complained about this Israeli failure to get their political act together. Laughable, considering the fact our delusional fuhrer is doing precisely the same here in our formerly great country.

"For Israelis like Klil Lifshitz, the 28-year-old lesbian who opened Bastet 2½ years ago with a “super feminist” wait staff rather than decamp to liberal Tel Aviv as most of her friends had, the shrinking space for secularism is a concern. “They have more and more power,” she said of the ultra-Orthodox. “As long as they keep having the power they do in forming coalitions and governments, they are basically going to get what they want.” Alex Dvorkin, 21, a staffer at Bastet, said she exposed her bra to repel religious protesters and make a point about freedom. It was during an usually large demonstration last month — called by ultra-Orthodox Jews to protest what they termed Israel’s desecration of the Sabbath as the country hosted the Eurovision song contest — that the wait staff decided to make their own stand. They said the purpose was to protect their tables and make an ideological point."

Good for them. Did the right thing. Displayed great courage.

"Since then, the ultra-Orthodox have paused their weekly walk past."

LOL. Imagine that. Couldn't be, could it? LOL. What's the matter, boys? Afraid you might get your cookies off? LOL.

“It is a victory,” said Mira Ibrahim, one of the staff members who decided to disrobe, though she said the sense of triumph was tinged by a heavy-handed police response to the demonstrators that made the staff uncomfortable."

That's a problem. There and here in the United States. No one wants aggressive policing. Always counterproductive. No matter who it is directed against. No matter why.

"But while the Bastet staff may have won a small reprieve, the wider battle is only expected to escalate. The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim, make up only 12 percent of the population but are the fastest-growing segment of Israelis, with women giving birth to an average of 6.9 children. In the early days of the Israeli state, many of the ultra-Orthodox were opposed to the secular Zionist movement that created it, fearing it would eradicate their form of Judaism. Now, they are increasingly using their power in Israel’s 120-member parliament, where they most recently won 16 seats, to promote and protect their interests, rather than shunning it. And it’s not just the ultra-Orthodox who are pushing for Israel to be ruled by religious law. On June 3, Netanyahu rejected calls from his political ally Bezalel Smotrich — a religious, but not ultra-Orthodox, Jew — for the Israeli justice system to adhere to Jewish law. “Israel will not be a halacha state,” Netanyahu tweeted, using the term for Jewish law based on the Talmud. A religious state is what Avraham Menkes, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, would like to see, and he sees conscription as a threat to the existence of his unique community. National service, he says, is a “melting pot” designed to take Israeli Jewish immigrants from a diverse mix of cultures across the world and give them a uniform identity."

While the clash between a secular and religious state is nowhere near as pronounced yet in the United States, the Nazi Right, centered in the Republican Party, is quite determined to force its political, religious, and ideological views on the rest of us by statute. Direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.

"While many outside Israel see its conflict with the Palestinians as the country’s defining struggle, Haim said he sees the clash between his two worlds — religious and secular — as the most fateful and sure to escalate in the future, as the ultra-Orthodox population grows. He predicted that Israel will reach a tipping point when the balance between the Jewish communities will no longer be sustainable, and secular Jews would then begin leaving Israel because it had grown so restrictive. “At some point it will break,” he warned."

At some point as well, Americans will finally wake up to what is happening in Israel. To say nothing of what is happening here in our formerly great country. Hopefully, before too late.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

6-7-19

Pompeo caught with his pants down, -- so to speak. The Washington Post reports:

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a sobering assessment of the prospects of the Trump administration’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan in a closed-door meeting with Jewish leaders, saying “one might argue” that the plan is “unexecutable” and it might not “gain traction.” He expressed his hope that the deal isn’t simply dismissed out of hand. “It may be rejected. Could be in the end, folks will say, ‘It’s not particularly original, it doesn’t particularly work for me,’ that is, ‘It’s got two good things and nine bad things, I’m out,’” Pompeo said in an audio recording of the private meeting obtained by The Washington Post. “The big question is can we get enough space that we can have a real conversation about how to build this out,” he said. The remarks are the most unvarnished comments to date from a U.S. official about President Trump’s “deal of the century,” an effort to resolve the intractable Israeli-Palestinian dispute he has entrusted to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former lawyer Jason Greenblatt."

The United States has never been an honest broker of peace in the region. Has always favored the Israeli aggressor no matter what it has or hasn't done. No matter the corruption. No matter the murderous war crimes committed by the aggressor. Under Trump, this problem has been exponentially exacerbated.

"The unveiling of the plan has been repeatedly delayed, a point Pompeo noted. “This has taken us longer to roll out our plan than I had originally thought it might — to put it lightly,” he said at a meeting on Tuesday of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a New York-based group that addresses concerns of the Jewish community. In trying to manage expectations, he said there are “no guarantees that we’re the ones that unlock it,” he said, referring to the frozen conflict. “I hope everyone will engage in a serious way.” He also recognized the popular notion that the agreement will be one-sided in favor of the Israeli government. “I get why people think this is going to be a deal that only the Israelis could love,” he said. “I understand the perception of that. I hope everyone will just give the space to listen and let it settle in a little bit.”

What for? The bottom line will remain the same. The Israeli aggressor gets favored. The Palestinians, f--ked. So what else is new? Unless this changes, expect terror to continue indefinitely in the region.

"Since the U.S. president announced plans to solve the decades-old conflict, the United States has taken actions vehemently opposed by the Palestinians, including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital without a final-status agreement, cutting funding to the Palestinian Authority and the U.N. refugee agency that serves it, forcing its diplomatic office in Washington to close, and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights."

Trump's above actions ensure the conflict will worsen. Aggressive stupidity, -- to the nth degree. Courtesy of an idiot whose head, figuratively, remains securely lodged up his clueless ass.

"Two attendees said they left with the impression that Pompeo was not optimistic the plan would succeed. “He was not in any way confident that the process would lead to a successful conclusion,” said one of the attendees, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because the terms of the meeting were off the record."

Without the United States being even-handed, there is no chance for peace. Not now, not in the foreseeable future.

"Elan Carr, the State Department’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism who also attended the meeting, expressed a different view, saying he thought Pompeo “provided a hopeful assessment over the prospect of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.” “It was an excellent briefing that was very well received by the conference,” he said in a statement offered by the State Department."

Day is night, night is day, and shit smells perversely sweet. All ass backwards from reality. Clearly, Carr is a clueless congenital liar, just like his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

"Aaron David Miller, a former negotiator and analyst on Middle East issues for both Republican and Democratic administrations, said the remarks were “the most revealing and real assessment of the plan that I’ve heard so far.” “The fact that Pompeo so easily conceded the perception — and likely the reality — that the plan was strongly structured and tilted toward the Israelis is striking,” Miller said."

Pompeo is working for a congenital liar who is determinedly doing all he can to eviscerate diplomacy. Pompeo is no idiot. Where is his honor? Why hasn't he long since resigned in protest? Trump has made him no more than a figurehead. Certainly, not our nation's top diplomat:

"Pompeo, unlike previous secretaries of state, is not overseeing the peace effort, but he told the group he is kept closely abreast of the proposal, including a game plan for what to do if Israel proceeds to annex territory in the West Bank. “I have seen what I believe are all of the details of what it is we are going to roll out,” he said."

Here's the problem. Proof of the inherent unmitigated bias of the entire effort:

"Kushner, a real estate scion from New Jersey, and Greenblatt, the former chief legal officer for Trump and the Trump Organization, have led the initiative since the president took power. The two men, both practicing Orthodox Jews, did not come in with political experience but have shared a long interest in and connection to Israel."

That's the issue, intractable problem. They're hopelessly biased in favor of the Israeli aggressor.

"If the peace plan had appeared to be an uphill battle when Pompeo spoke Tuesday night, it hit another significant hurdle just a day later as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition and Israel’s parliament voted to dissolve itself, sending the country back to elections in September."

Netanyahu's days are likely numbered due to corruption charges that may wind up pending later this year.

"Pompeo said the State Department had given “quite a bit of consideration” to what it would do if the plan “doesn’t gain traction.” “I don’t want to call it failing,” he said. “Call it whatever. I fail a lot, so it’s not about not using a word like that.”

Jesus Christ. Give me a break.

"The contingency planning includes how to respond if the Israeli government decides to annex territory in the West Bank, a move many believe would be a final death knell to a two-state solution."

Should that happen, the conflict would exponentially escalate, become far more violent.

"As part of his election campaign, Netanyahu pledged to annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank if he won, a move considered illegal by much of the international community. He also may face pressure from right-wing coalition partners to take advantage of the remaining time before the next U.S. election. A peace plan that lays down Israel’s right to sovereignty over certain areas of the West Bank could bolster calls from those pushing for annexation. If Israel did go ahead with annexation, the administration would then consider “what would be the best ways to achieve the outcomes that we think are in America and Israel’s best interests,” Pompeo said."

That last statement by Pompeo is proof positive the United States is no evenhanded broker of peace. Precisely, why there will be none.

The following is insanity:

"After a participant asked whether there was any effort to bring the Palestinians on board, Pompeo responded that “everyone will find something to hate about the proposal” but that everyone, including the Palestinians, “will find something that they say that’s something to build upon.”

Here's the reality. Unvarnished truth:

"Palestinian officials see the White House plan as inevitably biased against them. In a speech broadcast on Palestine TV recently, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that both the “deal of the century” and the Trump administration's upcoming economic summit for the Palestinians in Bahrain could “go to hell.” The goal of the Bahrain summit is to drum up support for the economic component of the administration’s peace plan without getting bogged down in the more contentious territorial issues. Abbas has said Palestinian officials will boycott the summit."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-17-19

The following is a glaring example of sick religion. Raw nazism. Deliberate encouragement of the violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion by the Vice President of the United States. The Washington Times reports:

"Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday elevated President Trump as a defender of religious freedom and told Liberty University graduates to muscle through criticism from the “secular left” as they live out their Christian faith, saying they’ll “be blessed” for it."

What he is apparently encouraging them to do is force their perverse religious views on others through evisceration of abortion rights, bigotry against the LGBTQ community, etc..

"Speaking to a friendly commencement crowd in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mr. Pence criticized the Obama administration for forcing nuns who care for the elderly to fight birth-control rules in court. And he slammed the “bevy of Hollywood liberals” who’ve promised to boycott Georgia as the state passes strict pro-life legislation."

Tough shit. A healthcare license is clearly, without question, not a right. Remains a privilege. Can't do your job due to religious objections? Do what's honorable and leave the profession. Who the hell are you, Mr. Vice President, to force your perverse religious views on the rest of us? Think you, and others who think like you, own a woman's uterus? You don't. Don't want to abort? Don't. Don't force your perverse views on those who don't agree. Any state who denies a woman the right to do as she pleases with HER uterus, needs to be boycotted. Deserves it.

"He got personal, too, pointing to those who criticized his wife, Karen, for returning to teach at a Christian elementary school that’s been criticized for its stance on homosexuality."

It's homophobic bigotry, Mr. Pence. Ignorantly, Aryan arrogantly, egregiously, hypocritically most un-Christlike. Then again, what does a nazi truly know about Christianity, Mr. Pence?

“Some of the loudest voices for tolerance today have little tolerance for traditional Christian beliefs. So as you go about your daily life, just be ready,” he said."

Jesus Christ. What a crock of shit. Has nothing to do with traditional Christian beliefs. Nothing at all. Where in the Four Gospels did the Head Honcho of your bastardized religion instruct His followers to shit on the LGBTQ community? On women? Where?

"The Trump White House has a close connection to Liberty University. The school’s president, Jerry Falwell Jr., is an evangelical leader who strongly supported Mr. Trump on the campaign trail."

Supported the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler. That Christlike? Christian? Think so? Delusionally believe so?

"Mr. Trump gave his first commencement speech as president to Liberty students in 2017."

Glaring hypocrisy. Especially, in light of the following and much, much more:

"Critics say it’s rich for Mr. Trump, who’s been married three times and accused of paying hush money to a porn star and a Playboy model to cover up affairs — allegations the president denies —to cast himself as a defender of Christian values. Yet his administration has thrilled conservative evangelicals with his policies."

Called sick religion.

"He’s rolled back Obama-era rules that compelled faith-based nonprofits to insure birth control, drafted policies that support pro-life initiatives — including conscience protections for health workers — and appointed conservative judges."

All in direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion. Did so to advance his national socialist, fascist, nazi political agenda. Yet, his sick sycophants bought his bullshit hook, line, and sinker. What does that make them?

"Mr. Pence touted those judges at Liberty, and reminded the crowd that “America stands with Israel.”

Those 'judges' are not 'conservative.' They're fascists. A conservative wants as little government as possible. Conversely, a fascist thrives on it. Not all of us stand with the Israeli aggressor, Mr. Pence. The aggressor continues to murder innocent Palestinians protesting its Nazi tactics, continues to steal Palestinian land the Israelites rightfully lost generations ago. This matter has been extensively covered in this publication. Click on the Israeli Aggressor 1 icon for more.

"He also said students are graduating at a great time, citing the robust jobs market under Mr. Trump’s tenure. “The American economy is soaring,” he said."

For the top of the food chain. Not the long-sufferiing middle class, -- and certainly not the bottom of the food chain.

"Most of his remarks focused on shifting attitudes in the U.S. “Throughout most of American history, it’s been pretty easy to call yourself a Christian. It didn’t even occur to people that you might be shunned or ridiculed for defending the teachings of the Bible,” he said."

You're not following the teachings of the Bible, Mr. Pence. You and others who think like you bastardize the Bible to advance your political agenda. That's precisely why the Nazi Right is increasingly, ferociously opposed.

"He said it’s far harder now, and that students will [be] asked to “bow down to the idols of the popular culture.”

You mean to figures like you and your fuhrer, the Trump nazi?

"Mr. Pence told students to fight, because the administration has their back."

That's frightening, Mr. Pence. Your fuhrer is a congenital liar, engages in highly questionable business practices to be exceptionally kind, is doing all he can to eviscerate all civil and constitutional rights and liberties in direct violation of his oath of office. To impose his national socialist, fascist, achingly nazi agenda. List can go on and on.

“As President Trump said at this very podium two years ago, on our watch, 'No one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what is in your heart.’ That’s a promise,” he said. “And we will always stand up for the right of Americans to live, to work, and to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.”

That's not, and never has been an issue, -- or in contention. It's your Aryan arrogant practice of forcing your perverse religious views on the rest of us by statute, in the courts, etc., that is, and will continue to be, ferociously resisted.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-10-19

Determined Palestinians continue to valiantly fight back against the Israeli aggressor. NBC News reports:

"The death toll continued to rise Sunday as civilian casualties increased on both sides of the border after more than 600 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza in less than 24 hours, in one of the most intense flareups of violence in the region in years. The barrage of rockets from Gaza started Saturday morning, prompting Israel to retaliate with airstrikes."

Sad, sad loss of life on both sides as the Israeli aggressor determinedly keeps a boot heel on the throat of the Palestinians:

"At least 17 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and a baby, were killed and ninety more have been hurt in the Palestinian enclave, according to Ashraf al Qudra, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman. Barzilai Medical Center in the coastal city of Ashkelon confirmed the death of four Israelis on Sunday. The first of these to be announced, a man who was killed outside his home, was the first Israeli to be killed by rocket fire in the Israel-Palestine conflict since 2014, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

4-19-19

The United States is not an honest broker of peace in the Middle East. Never has been. NPR reports:

"The U.S. government has denied entry to Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movement, which urges boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel on security and settlement policies in the West Bank. Barghouti was at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Wednesday when airline staff informed him that he wouldn't be flying despite holding valid travel documents, according to the Arab American Institute, a Washington-based advocacy group that arranged the trip. He was told that U.S. immigration officials had ordered the U.S. consul in Tel Aviv to deny him permission to enter the United States. "Barghouti was not provided an explanation for his denial of entry beyond 'immigration matter,' " the Arab American Institute said in a statement. The group said Barghouti typically faces travel hurdles from Israel — not the United States. He has a master's degree from Columbia University and spent a decade in the U.S. in the 1980s. A State Department official told NPR, "Visa records are confidential under U.S. law; therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases."

Convenient, isn't it? No transparency. Certainly, not in a de facto fascist police-state. ... Right, Mr. 'President?'

"Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs, which handles Israel's fight against the BDS movement, said it had no connection to the matter. And Israel's Interior Ministry said it had no knowledge of the U.S. action."

Hard to believe the Trump nazi and his henchmen did not give the Israeli aggressor a heads up.

"Barghouti had scheduled a speaking tour that included stops at Harvard and New York University, meetings with Washington policymakers and an appearance at a bookstore in Philadelphia owned by professor Marc Lamont Hill, whose CNN pundit contract was terminated last November over controversial remarks he made in support of Palestinian rights. At the end of the trip, Barghouti planned to attend the wedding of his daughter, who lives in the United States."

Can't have that, can we? After all, the Palestinians have valiantly refused to march in goose step with the Trump nazi and/or the Israeli aggressor.

"BDS supporters see Barghouti's movement, which draws inspiration from a similar campaign against apartheid-era South Africa, as a nonviolent way to protest Israel's military occupation of the West Bank, construction of settlements which most of the world views as illegal, and other human rights concerns. The approach has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, with dozens of student, academic and labor groups announcing support for BDS, and artists such as Lorde and Lauryn Hill canceling shows in Israel."

They've done the right thing. Had no choice. Forget? The Israeli aggressor is now chillingly reminiscent of Adolf Hitler, 1933, when he became Chancellor of Nazi Germany. The worst was yet to come. Sadly, so too in Israel.

"Those moves worry Israel, which considers BDS a cover for a more nefarious campaign to delegitimize or even destroy the country."

Readers are reminded the United States, Europe, and the United Nations in 1948 bequeathed Palestine to survivors of Hitler's Holocaust. -- Without consulting the Palestinians. -- Territory, the Israelites had lost generations ago due to their excesses. Since 1948, the Israeli aggressor has killed Palestinians, taken additional territory. All this has repeatedly been covered in this publication and elsewhere.

"BDS critics on Twitter had blasted Barghouti's speaking tour as giving a platform to anti-Semitism."

The Nazi Right in our formerly great country does not acknowledge it's following in the footsteps of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini. Also, perversely, equates criticism of the Israeli aggressor with anti-Semitism. Not one and the same.

"In the United States, more than two dozen states have adopted laws to punish companies that boycott Israel. This week, according to a report in The Hill, House Republicans are launching a discharge petition to force a vote on Senate legislation "that would allow state and city governments to penalize entities that seek to boycott, divest from or sanction Israel."

No more than raw nazism. Who the hell are these national socialist, fascist, nazi bastards to dictate who we associate with, do business with, or criticize?

"Arab American Institute President James Zogby said in the statement that denying Barghouti entry deprives Americans of an important voice in the debate over BDS. "It is disturbing that policymakers and the American people will not have the opportunity to hear from Omar directly about his views," Zogby said."

That's right. No question. The brazen, national socialist intention of these fascists is to stifle free speech. F--k the nazi element in our formerly great country. They're un-American. Present an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

Most remarkable? Get this:

"Barghouti, who lives in Israel with permanent residency status, previously has faced obstacles to traveling. In 2016, Israeli authorities refused to renew his travel documents, citing evidence that Barghouti spent most of his time in the West Bank, Israeli outlets reported. Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri was quoted as saying Barghouti is "using his resident status to travel all over the world in order to operate against Israel in the most serious manner."

Like most national socialists, fascists, the Trump nazi and the Israeli aggressor cannot withstand criticism. To say nothing of close scrutiny.

"In that instance, Barghouti told the newspaper Haaretz that the impediments to his travel were "clearly political" and potentially "a first step toward revoking my permanent residency." He has also reportedly faced travel denial because of an Israeli investigation in connection with alleged tax evasion. The ban was temporarily lifted in 2017 and Barghouti traveled to Yale University to receive the Gandhi Peace Award from a Connecticut activist group. Yale issued a statement stressing that it was unaffiliated with the award but honors requests from the community to "invite speakers and groups to campus in accordance with our mission of fostering the free exchange of ideas."

Free exchange of ideas is reprehensible to a fascist dictator. Both here in our formerly great country as well as in Israel.

"In February, the watchdog group Amnesty International demanded that Israel "end the arbitrary travel ban on human rights defender Omar Barghouti." Israel later issued Barghouti a travel document. He holds a U.S. visa that is valid through January 2021."

Clearly, no longer matters in a de facto fascist police-state, quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich:

"Barghouti is among a growing list of international figures barred entry to the U.S. by the Trump administration. Earlier this month, U.S. authorities revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, reportedly over her attempts to investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan."

No accountability. Certainly, none here. Forget? We do no wrong. LOL.

"Last month, dozens of women — primarily from African and Middle Eastern nations that fall under the administration's travel ban — were denied visas to attend a United Nations women's conference. In accordance with a 70-year-old treaty, the United States, as host nation, is obliged to admit visitors to the U.N. headquarters in New York."

We are no longer living up to our obligations. Fascinating, isn't it?

"In some cases, there is a clear political or security backstory to the denial of entry. In others, the reasons are opaque. In 2017, an Afghan all-girls team of students that was invited to a robot-building contest was denied entry. U.S. authorities eventually issued visas for the girls after a backlash from human rights groups."

Sad, isn't it?

Insult to injury? Get this. NBC News reports:

"Elan Carr, the Trump administration's new special envoy for combating anti-Semitism, said Thursday that organized boycotts of products made in Israeli settlements is anti-Semitic, even if the settlements are not recognized by international law."

Clearly, this nazi is insane. Criticism and boycott of the Israeli aggressor is not one and the same with anti-Semitism. Only a national socialist, fascist, nazi would be so ignorant to equate both.

"Carr's comments came on his first day in the congressionally mandated post left vacant by the administration for the last two years."

Imagine that. What took so long? Couldn't get the bullshit propaganda line exactly right?

“An individual has a right to buy or not buy what they please. However, if there is an organized movement to economically strangle the state of Israel, that is anti-Semitic,” Carr said. “We are going to focus relentlessly on eradicating this false distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.”

This achingly ignorant fascist son of a bitch talks out both sides his ass. Clearly, we no longer have the right to buy or not buy as we see fit. His statements are contradictory, nonsensical. Based no more than on the will of his national socialist, fascist fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

"Past U.S. policy considered Israeli settlements built on land captured in the 1967 war as illegal, in following with international law, but the view of the current administration is unclear."

The view of the Trump nazi is quite clear. Backs Israel no matter what it does or doesn't do. Whether or not consistent with international law.

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined several opportunities this past week to say how the U.S. would respond if newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed through on his campaign promise to annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank."

Nazi aggression. ... If or when it happens, Pompeo will certainly excuse it. Will march in goose step with his fuhrer, the Trump nazi, no matter what.

Why is the United States providing financial aid to the Israeli aggressor when an Israeli firm can afford to spend $100 million on a failed mission to the moon? Ferociously pointedly, the Trump nazi and his henchmen clearly have their heads figuratively securely lodged up their collective ass. The embrace of the Israeli aggressor by the Trump nazi is disingenuously political, not ideological in nature. Forget? Our nazi fuhrer has repeatedly demonstrated profound bigotry against numerous minority groups. His embrace of the Israeli aggressor is too keep his base securely in line, marching in goose step.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

4-19-19

The Trump nazi and his henchmen present an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties. ABC News reports:

ABC News reports:

"Just hours after Rep. Ilhan Omar released a statement reporting a surge of threats against her life following a tweeted attack from President Donald Trump, Trump again took aim at the freshman Muslim-American congresswoman on Monday by describing her as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “leader."

Trump is insane, growing increasingly desperate as the failure of his regime becomes quite apparent.

"Before Nancy, who has lost all control of Congress and is getting nothing done, decides to defend her leader, Rep. Omar, she should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made," Trump tweeted. "She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy!"

Jesus Christ. Day is night, night is day, and shit smells perversely sweet to the Trump nazi and his henchmen. All ass backwards from reality. Our formerly great country continues to tear apart at the seams as we progress from the fascist police-state we've lived in since 9/11 to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich. Think Adolf and Benito are not 'high-fiving' each other on their fiery perches?

"Before Nancy, who has lost all control of Congress and is getting nothing done, decides to defend her leader, Rep. Omar, she should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made. She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019"

Simply, untrue. Nazi distortion of reality. Coming from our increasingly insane, desperate fuhrer in the Oval Office. The achingly deluded nazi element in our formerly great country does not understand criticism of the Israeli aggressor is not the same as anti-Semitism. This point has been repeatedly addressed in this publication and elsewhere. It is the Trump nazi who is dangerously out of control, not Omar. This 'president' and his henchmen continue to be an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

While certainly not politically correct in her rhetoric, Omar has indeed drawn attention to Middle Eastern issues we Americans have been determinedly ignorant of since 1948. Don't like what she's saying? Tough shit. Wake up. Things are not, and have not been, as they appear to be. Not for decades. Release of top secret government data by hackers is certainly indicative of this.

"Democrats have rushed to Omar's defense after Trump tweeted out a video Friday evening sequencing a clip of Omar speaking about 9/11 during a CAIR speech last month with disturbing footage from the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. “CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something, and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties,” Omar said in the speech. Republicans have criticized the seemingly passive reference to the terrorists who carried out the attacks, while Omar's defenders have countered that the remarks were largely taken out of context and have been seized on in order to stoke anti-Islamic sentiment against the Muslim congresswoman."

That's right. Raw nazism perpetrated by the outrageously gutless nazi element in the Republican Party. -- A GOP that is growing increasingly desperate under its fuhrer, the Trump nazi. Readers are reminded the 9/11 attacks could have been prevented. The State Department failed to do full background checks on the terrorists. Worse, failed to act after the flight schools informed the government the terrorists wished to learn only how to fly straight and level, not take off and land. Wake up. This government has failed us. Both major political parties responsible. For totally different reasons.

“Since the President’s tweet Friday evening, I have experienced an increase in direct threats on my life—many directly referencing or replying to the President’s video," Omar said in a statement Sunday evening. "I thank the Capitol Police, the FBI, the House Sergeant at Arms, and the Speaker of the House for their attention to these threats."

She has a First Amendment right to free speech. Don't like what she has to say and/or how she says it? Tough shit. Grow up. Act as Americans, not gullible, out to lunch sheep.

"Pelosi said Sunday she personally spoke with the House Sergeant-at-Arms in order to ensure the safety of Omar, as well as her family and staff. “The President’s words weigh a ton, and his hateful and inflammatory rhetoric creates real danger," Pelosi said. "President Trump must take down his disrespectful and dangerous video.”

The nazi remains too clueless, determinedly ignorant.

In another article, ABC News reports:

"White House press secretary Sarah Sanders defended President Donald Trump's criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar Sunday , saying he "should be calling out" the freshman congresswoman for her "absolutely abhorrent" comments."

What is 'abhorrent' is the raw nazism perpetrated by you and the Trump nazi, Ms. Sanders.

"Sanders also said even though Omar's comments were "unbefitting for a member of Congress," Trump wasn't wishing her any harm with his criticism."

Disingenuous bullshit. Just like you, the Trump nazi knows precisely what he's doing. Highly reminiscent of Adolf Hitler, circa 1933, when the fascist bastard became Chancellor of Nazi Germany. Worst, yet to come.

"Certainly the president is wishing no ill will, and certainly not violence towards anyone," Sanders said in an interview on "This Week."

Posting of the video screams otherwise, you disingenuous fool. Achingly, clueless.

"But the president is absolutely and should be calling out the congresswoman for her not only one time but history of anti-Semitic comments."

You and your fuhrer are delusional, Ms. Sanders. Criticism of the Israeli aggressor is not one and the same with anti-Semitism. Such rhetoric coming from the bigoted Trump nazi and his henchmen is the height of hypocrisy. Forget? Your achingly clueless fuhrer has repeatedly demonstrated his bigotry against Moslems and many,many others. Wake up.

"It's absolutely abhorrent, the comments she continues to make and has made and (Democrats) look the other way," Sanders told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. "I find ... her comments to be absolutely disgraceful and unbefitting of a member of Congress and I think that it's a good thing that the president is calling her out for those comments. And the big question is, why aren't Democrats doing it as well?"

-- Because it's self-serving GOP horse shit, Ms. Sanders. Your determined, concerted ignorance, and that of your fuhrer, is quite striking. Achingly, laughable. Transparent, unlike your failed regime.

"On Saturday, Omar vowed her "unwavering love" for America. "I did not run for Congress to be silent. No one person – no matter how corrupt, inept, or vicious – can threaten my unwavering love for America," she wrote, without naming Trump directly. "Thank you for standing with me – against an administration that ran on banning Muslims from this country – to fight for the America we all deserve."

"No one person – no matter how corrupt, inept, or vicious – can threaten my unwavering love for America. I stand undeterred to continue fighting for equal opportunity in our pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 13, 2019"

The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump said he has no regrets about sharing an incendiary video of Rep. Ilhan Omar and called her “extremely unpatriotic and extremely disrespectful to our country,” as the freshman lawmaker claimed an uptick in threats to her life."

Can't the same criticism be made of you, Mr. 'President?' Think your treasonous embrace of national socialism becoming of a U.S. president?

"Trump made his comments on Monday to local television station KSTP during a trip to Minnesota for an event focused on taxes. He was asked if he had any regrets about a Friday tweet that included video of Omar (D-Minn.) spliced with images of the twin towers falling on Sept. 11, 2001, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks."

Jesus Christ. Think it proper for a U.S. president to deliberately place a congresswoman in danger, Mr. 'President?' For speaking the truth? Have you forgotten, sir, free speech is guarantied by the First Amendment?

“No, not at all,” Trump said. “Look, she’s been very disrespectful to this country. She’s been very disrespectful, frankly, to Israel. She is somebody that doesn’t really understand, I think life, real life, what it’s all about. It’s unfortunate. She’s got a way about her that’s very, very bad I think for our country. I think she’s extremely unpatriotic and extremely disrespectful to our country.”

She hasn't been disrespectful to this country, or unpatriotic. She's spoken the truth. Most unlike you, sir. Moreover, she's rightfully challenged the Israeli aggressor and all the damage it's done to the Palestinians since 1948. Conveniently forget? The UN, the United States, and the Europeans bequeathed Palestine to survivors of the Nazi Holocaust in 1948. (Land the Israelites had lost generations ago due to their excesses.)

-- Callously bequeathed Palestine without first consulting the Palestinians. Precisely, why there has been war after war in the Middle East since. The Israeli aggressor has continued to wantonly kill Palestinians and continues to steal additional territory. Your continued support of the Israeli aggressor is un-American. Egregiously short-sighted. Inexcusable. Right Wing nazi.

Worse? You have stupidly in effect granted carte blanche to the Israeli aggressor to do as it pleases. Refused to force the Israeli aggressor to accede to a two-state solution to the conflict. That's aggressive stupidity at its very worst, Mr. 'President.' Ensures there will be no peace in the region. Is that what you want, Mr. Trump? Your short-sightedness is unbecoming a U.S. president.

"On Monday, Pelosi said Trump’s tweet was “beneath the dignity of the Oval Office.” But that hasn’t stemmed the vitriol directed at Omar. Even a Trump official mocked the death threats to Omar, which only incited more threats. As first reported by Mother Jones, Lynne Patton, the highest-ranking black woman in the Trump administration, who serves as a regional administrator at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, on Saturday shared on her personal Instagram account an image that read: “Ilhan Omar is crying she’s receiving death threats. They’re not death threats. Just some people saying something.”

Your achingly cold-blooded, most callous ignorance, Ms. Patton, would indeed be laughable had it not put Rep. Omar in further danger.

"One cybersecurity expert took it upon himself to monitor all the threats made against Omar on Twitter. He found hundreds since Saturday."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

4-5-19

Why are we selling U.S. weaponry in the Middle East? Certainly, lines the pockets of war-profiteers. Placates former enemies of the Israeli aggressor such as Egypt. Consider the following. It's appalling. CBS News reports:

"An American woman who survived a mistaken attack by Egypt's military on her tour group is urging President Trump to confront Egypt's president and make him take responsibility. Helicopters built in the U.S. were used in a 2015 attack that killed April Corley's boyfriend. Some members of Congress are pointing to that incident as they try to block a deal to sell 10 more American-made Apache helicopters to Egypt. CBS News' Errol Barnett spoke with Corley about the attack and how the injuries she suffered changed her life. Corley is a Hollywood stuntwoman and dancer who has appeared in movies and commercials and even choreographed moves for Madonna. "My life was really about glitter and rhinestones and roller skates and I was living my dream," Corley said. But while on a vacation to Egypt in 2015 with her boyfriend, Rafael, Corley and her tour group were attacked in the desert.

"The Egyptian government offered each survivor $140,000, but Corley is asking the Egyptian government to pay more than $14 million, for scars she bears on her body and others she says you can't see. "I went to the beach recently to meet some of my girlfriends, and a helicopter came over, and I ran in fear for my life," she said. The State Department told CBS News it has raised Corley's case with the Egyptian government. Both she and Vermont Senator Leahy said they hope President Trump will bring this up with Egypt's president when they meet next week at the White House."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

3-29-19

Trump nazi backs Israeli aggressor. NPR reports:

"The Trump administration has backed Israel's claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The move comes weeks before Israeli general elections and reverses the position U.S. administrations have held for decades. President Trump made the announcement via tweet Thursday. "After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" the president wrote.

"After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2019"

Trump is insane. Aggressively stupid. Guaranties war and terror will continue unabated in the region.

"Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed the territory, a move not recognized by the U.S. or the international community. For years, the U.S. has tried to broker a regional agreement that would involve Israel exchanging captured territory for peace."

The United States has never been an honest broker of peace in the Middle East. Readers are reminded the United States, the United Nations, and Europe in 1948 bequeathed Palestine to survivors of the Holocaust, -- without first consulting the Palestinians. Leading to decades of war and terror in the region.

"Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has repeatedly endorsed controversial Israeli positions. In early March the U.S. closed its Jerusalem Consulate, which has been the lead diplomatic mission to the Palestinians, NPR's Daniel Estrin reported. It folded that job into the U.S. embassy to Israel. Last year the U.S. moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and backed Israel's assertion that the city is its capital. Palestinians claim part of the city as the capital of their future state. Previously, the U.S. held that the status of the city would be determined in peace talks. After the U.S. moved the embassy, Palestinian leaders cut contacts with the Trump administration."

Why wouldn't they? Trump and his henchmen are clearly in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor. Israeli Prime Minister 'Bebe' Netanyahu has certainly swept the Trump nazi off his feet.

"Washington has also shut off most funding to the Palestinians, leaving unfinished school and sewage projects in the West Bank."

All the above guarantee terror will continue unabated in the region. Trump is not only insane, but stupid.

"Trump's Golan Heights announcement came as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Jerusalem. Pompeo said the move was "truly historic."

How did you ever graduate West Point, Mr. Secretary?

"President Trump made a bold decision to recognize that, an important decision to the people of Israel," Pompeo said."

Further evidence of your aggressive stupidity, Mr. Pompeo. This only guaranties continued war and terror in the region. ... That, how you and your fuhrer get your cookies off, sir?

"Pompeo was hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the decision to recognize the Golan as a "miracle" during the week Jewish people celebrate the holiday of Purim."

The Prime Minister continues to disgrace himself and his country.

"Netanyahu faces reelection in April, and he contends with corruption allegations and a rival who has tapped into the public's fatigue with a decade under the same leader."

The Prime Minister remains an impediment to peace in the region.

"U.S. policy as it relates to the Golan Heights has been probably been one of the most consistent and long-standing positions we've had on any Arab-Israeli issue," said Scott Lasensky, former advisor to the U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Obama administration. Lasensky said Trump's move seemed to be "totally devoid of strategic imperative" and possibly aimed at helping Netanyahu win the vote. The Israeli leader visits Washington, D.C. next week."

Certainly, seems Trump and his henchmen are backing a country that has become the aggressor in the region.

"Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat panned the Golan announcement and said U.S. policy would bring "bloodshed in our region".

"Yesterday president Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s https://t.co/A8nWFdMkyz for regional stability he wants to make sure that the occupied Syrian Golan Heights be under Israel’s sovereignty. What shall tomorrow bring? Certain destabilization and bloodshed in our region.

— Dr. Saeb Erakat (@ErakatSaeb) March 21, 2019"

Sadly, so. Shortsighted of the Trump nazi and his henchmen. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst.

"U.S. secretaries of state have usually met Palestinian leaders while visiting the region, the Associated Press reports, but Pompeo had no visits with Palestinian dignitaries planned."

Incredibly shortsighted and stupid.

CBS News reports:

"Asked why he isn't attending the annual AIPAC conference this year, the president on the White House South Lawn responded by attacking Democrats. The president claimed Democrats have proven to be anti-Israel, going so far as to call them anti-Jewish, repeating similar comments he has made in recent days. Republicans and many Democrats have heavily criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, for comments perceived as anti-Semitic. "The Democrats have very much proven to be anti-Israel there's no question about that, and it's a disgrace," Mr. Trump told reporters Friday. "I don't know what's happened to them but they are totally anti-Israel, Frankly I think they're anti-Jewish."

That's nuts. You've lost your mind, Mr. 'President.' You're anti-Palestinian despite the injustice perpetrated against them by the United States, the United Nations, and Europe in 1948. No support of the Israeli aggressor perpetrated by you and your henchmen ameliorates your embrace of white supremacy, national socialism, fascism, nazism. Wake up. You've disgraced yourself and our formerly great country.

CBS News reports:

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday that President Trump's move on the Golan Heights does not amount to a double standard. He made the remarks when asked about the U.S. stance on the Syrian territory that Israel officially seized in 1981 compared to U.S. policy on Russia regarding its annexation of Crimea. "You imposed sanctions on Russia for annexing Crimea," Hiba Nasr of Sky News said to Pompeo Saturday at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. "Now you are going to recognize the sovereign -- the Israeli sovereignty over these territories. Isn't this a double-standard policy?" "No, not at all," Pompeo said. "What the president did with the Golan Heights is recognize the reality on the ground and the security situation necessary for the protection of the Israeli state. It's that - it's that simple."

No it's not. Only to a narrow-minded national socialist, fascist, nazi who remains achingly deluded, hopelessly simple-minded. What this does is ensure there will be no peace, more war, endless terrorism in the region. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst. Proof positive the United States is not, has not been, an honest broker of peace in the Middle East. Quite the opposite. Remains in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor.

"He denied that Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, saying "the decision the president made will increase the opportunity for there to be stability throughout the region."

Jesus Christ. This fascist son of a bitch is hopelessly deluded. Achingly, ill-informed. Israel's enemies have already made it quite clear there will be more violence.

"Israel's annexation of the area is not recognized internationally. Several countries and the European Union have affirmed that they do not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights since Mr. Trump's announcement."

Certainly, have.

"The U.S. has strongly condemned Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea in the Ukraine, and issued sanctions against Russia in response."

Nothing quite like hypocrisy, is there?

"Pompeo also said in his interview Saturday that Lebanese leadership supported the American position that Lebanon should not "succumb" to the influence of Iran and the terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has significant political influence in Lebanon. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil denied that Hezbollah was a terrorist group on Friday, and said that it "enjoys a wide popular base," according to Al Jazeera. Nonetheless, Pompeo said in his interview with Sky News that it was "false" and "wrong" to say that Lebanese leadership disagreed with him about Hezbollah. "They understand -- President [Michel] Aoun, the foreign minister -- they both understand the need for Lebanese freedom, democracy, independence, sovereignty," Pompeo said."

Clearly, Pompeo remains as hopelessly delusional as his fuhrer, the Trump nazi. Sad, isn't it? Day is night, night is day, and shit smells perversely sweet in the world of the Republican nazi.

Netanyahu has his say. NBC News reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back Tuesday against comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., suggesting that the reason Israel is solidly supported by the U.S. government is because of money. "From this Benjamin, it's not about the Benjamins!" Netanyahu told the AIPAC conference in Washington, speaking by satellite hookup from Israel. "The reason Americans love Israel," he added, "is not because they want our money, it's because they share our values. It's because America and Israel share a love of freedom and democracy."

No longer true, Mr. Prime Minister. Not in your country. Not in mine. Think not? Wake up.

The United States has been a de facto fascist police-state since 9/11. -- Gutless imposition by both major political parties of the USA 'Patriot' Act, Homeland 'Security' Act, 'Real' ID Act, etc.. ... Fascism, nazism, national socialism defined as the pernicious blend of government, business, and religion. 'Justified' by perversion and bastardization of the latter. Our fuhrer, the Trump nazi, prima facie evidence.

Equally to the point and ferociously, how is your country a democratic state when you continue to brutally subjugate the Palestinians after stealing their land in 1948 with the blessing of the United States, the United Nations, and Europe? When Palestinians who happen to be citizens of Israel and live within the borders of your country are not treated the same as Jewish Israelis? -- Land that was lost due to excesses of the Israelites generations ago.

"Netanyahu's remarks were in response to a February tweet by Omar, who is Muslim, that American support for Israel was "all about the Benjamins baby." Weeks later, she said pro-Israel activists pushed for "allegiance to a foreign country." Both comments triggered accusations from some lawmakers and prominent Jewish groups of anti-Semitism and playing on toxic anti-Jewish stereotypes."

Any excuse at all to excuse and justify subjugation of the Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor.

"In response, the House of Representatives approved a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred though the measure did not single her out. Omar has apologized for suggesting that the United States' connection to Israel is driven by money from AIPAC. On Tuesday, however, she took a shot at Netanyahu, as well as President Donald Trump, telling NBC News that "the Prime Minister of Israel is the one that is aligning with right-wing leaders, somebody who is currently facing possible indictments for bribery and corruption, and he is meeting with a president that we know might be charged, or might face indictments for obstruction of justice."

She's right. That might very well happen. Criminal investigation of the Trump nazi is far from over. Not clear, either, whether or not Netanyahu will be prosecuted.

"Netanyahu met with Trump at the White House on Monday. Moments after Netanyahu spokes at AIPAC — he had been scheduled to speak to the conference in person but returned to Israel early after rockets were launched from Gaza — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also addressed Omar's comments, saying that "for many years, such slurs and tropes were limited to the fringes."

What's the matter, Mitch? Can't handle the truth? The injustice perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor?

"Sadly, they've recently received new prominence, having been repeated and retweeted by a sitting member of Congress," he said, not mentioning Omar by name. "My friends, your advocacy is not a conspiracy. Your passion is nothing to apologize for. It is the essence of our democracy."

That's nonsense, Mitch. This is no longer a democratic republic. In name only. We've gone backwards last 65 years or so. Culminating in imposition of what is in effect a fascist police-state after 9/11. Both major political parties are gutlessly responsible for this ongoing fiasco.

"McConnell also attacked the several Democratic presidential candidates who skipped the conference after a prominent progressive group called on them to boycott the event."

Wake up, Mitch. It's the embrace of nazism, Senator. Don't flatter yourself, you fascist son of a bitch.

"I'm troubled that many of the declared Democratic presidential candidates seem to be avoiding this very gathering," McConnell said. "Apparently, because political partisans who have leveled scurrilous charges against this organization have warned they will be keeping watch, and they will be taking names."

What are you so afraid of, Senator? The truth? You're out to lunch. Hopelessly, clueless. What national socialist isn't?

"Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, as well as others, did not attend the event. Meanwhile, speaker after speaker at the three-day AIPAC conference referred to Omar before an audience of 18,000 who packed the Washington Convention Center, watching the proceedings from a dozen giant screens flanking the sage."

Forget? Politically correct thing to do. ... While ignoring atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor on the Palestinians since 1948. Then again, the nazi element can't, won't be confused by the truth.

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., addressing the group on Tuesday, however, touted the anti-hate resolution she recently shepherded through Congress in response to the Omar controversy and condemned the "myth of dual loyalty" and the BDS movement (boycott, divestment, sanctions) as "bigotry masquerading as policy." "I simply declare to be anti-Semitic is to be anti-American. It has no place in our country," Pelosi said to applause."

You're right, Madam Speaker. Neither does national socialism, fascism, nazism embraced by the Republican Party. Why aren't you courageously calling out the GOP for what it has gutlessly become?

"Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for his part, pledged support for Israel and also condemned Omar’s comments — but pushed back aggressively at GOP attempts to drive a wedge between Jewish voters and the Democratic Party."

Clearly, has become the agenda of the Republican Party as it continues to ironically nazify at the very same time it embraces the Israeli aggressor. Years ago, would have been thought impossible, unthinkable. No longer. Inconsistency? Rule of the day.

"I can['t] stay silent when the entire Democratic Party is castigated as Jew-haters when what we really need is leadership in a movement that unites this nation and the world against the rise of anti-Semitism, hatred and white supremacy and across the globe," Menendez said to applause. "This isn't about playing politics with anti-Semitism."

How is that possible when our fuhrer in the Oval Office remains supportive of white supremacy, embraces the principles of national socialism, fascism?

“So, yes, when you imply that money is the only driving factor behind a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, you are fanning those flames,” Menendez continued, before taking a thinly veiled shot at Trump. "And just the same, when you accuse Jews of funding caravans of asylum-seekers at our southern border or fail to condemn the full variety of white supremacy at home and abroad, you are fanning those flames."

Indeed. The hypocrisy, unsustainable.

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3-15-19

Apples and oranges. Never ends. Hypocrisy rules. Forget? From the Conaway Chronicle, Rep. Mike Conaway opines:

"Anti-Semitism, racism, white supremacy, and hateful speech have no place in the House of Representatives."

Since when? Wake up, Congressman. No more than disingenuous bullshit.

"When a Member of Congress violates these principles, appropriate action must be taken. As recently as January, that included a resolution unequivocally condemning the Member of Congress and his comments and removal from all committees."

Forget? He was tolerated quite some time. Not equivalent to the Congresswoman you now criticize for totally different reasons.

"Now, we have a Member of Congress who continually chooses to use anti-Semitic rhetoric, and House Democrat leadership refuses to directly acknowledge the problem. Instead of strict condemnation, they have hemmed and hawed over the intent of the statements made. Democrats have handed out allowances for inexperience and youth, adding insult to injury for millions of Jewish Americans. Worse yet, Nancy Pelosi has allowed this Member of Congress to remain on the House Foreign Affairs Committee."

More disingenuous horse shit. Don't you Republican national socialists, fascists, bona fide nazis understand the difference between criticism of the Israeli national socialist, fascists currently running the Israeli government and anti-Semitism? They're not one and the same. You don't know that? Too hopelessly ignorant to understand?

"This week's watered-down resolution included the Democrats' kitchen sink, but did not lend support to Christians, Mormons, and many other groups that face regular discrimination in this country and abroad."

Disingenuous bullshit. ... Can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, Mike, baffle 'em with bullshit? Give me a break. The Israeli aggressor has been out of control for decades. What is happening to the Palestinians since 1948 is unconscionable. Who the hell were the United States, the United Nations, and Europe to bequeath Palestine to survivors of the Holocaust at that time? Without first consulting the Palestinians.

Forget? The Israelites had lost that land generations ago due to their excesses. The Israeli aggressor has been emulating its German Nazi oppressors circa 1933 at the very beginning of the Third Reich. Too clueless to understand? That ignorant of history? Ignorance of history is precisely why that region has suffered war after war since 1948. Why it clearly became the hotbed of modern terrorism. You Republican nazis too stupid, too ill-informed to understand this?

"House Democrats must take bigotry of all kinds seriously, not just instances that fit their progressive liberal agenda."

'Kettle calling the pot black,' Congressman. You Republican national socialists, fascists are no better than the Democrats. Just at the opposite political extreme. Both parties present an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties. For totally different reasons.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

3-15-19

Yet again, the Israeli Prime Minister has callously demonstrated his embrace of national socialism, fascism, nazism. Think not? Wake up. NPR reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Arab citizens have equal rights under the law but that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people — and only them. Soon after, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said Israel "has complete equality of rights for all its citizens."

Does it?

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is drawing criticism for saying that Israel is "the national state, not of all its citizens, but only of the Jewish people." The comment prompted many people — including Israel's president and the star of Wonder Woman — to defend Israel's Palestinian Arab minority. Palestinian Arab citizens are about a fifth of Israel's population and often face discrimination and accusations of disloyalty."

Raw nazism, circa 1933, when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Nazi Germany. Worst was yet to come. Wake up.

"The prime minister's comment set off criticism, debates over Israel's true nature — and observations that with Israel's legislative elections now less than a month away, Netanyahu's provocative language might be calculated to help his Likud Party at the polls. Netanyahu and his party are warning that if they lose upcoming elections, the new government could include Arab political parties."

So what? They're Israeli citizens. Netanyahu is behaving like a nazi. That's a problem. A big problem. Why is the United States providing financial aid to a country that is now emulating its German Nazi oppressors shortly after Hitler became Chancellor?

"The saga began when Israeli actress and TV host Rotem Sela posted an Instagram story about comments that Culture Minister and Likud member Miri Regev made during a news interview. Sela questioned why Regev's statements about what she called the dangers of Palestinian Arab citizens taking part in a governing coalition went unchallenged. "When the hell will someone in this government tell the public that Israel is a country of all its citizens," Sela wrote."

Goddamned right. Good question. Needs to be answered by the Netanyahu nazi.

"Much of the dispute that followed played out on Instagram, where Netanyahu responded to Sela, "Dear Rotem, an important correction: Israel is not a state of all its citizens." Referring to a hotly contested law adopted last year that defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, the prime minister said Arab citizens have equal rights under the law, but that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people — and only them, Ynet News reported."

That's f--king nazism. No more. No less. The Prime Minister has disgraced himself. Why is the United States backing this nazi? Why?

"Israeli movie star Gal Gadot, who plays Wonder Woman, weighed in, backing Sela and calling her an inspiration. "Love thy neighbor as yourself. This isn't an issue of right or left. Jew or Arab. Secular or religious," Gadot said on Instagram, according to The Associated Press. "It's an issue of dialogue." On Monday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said on Twitter that Israel "has complete equality of rights for all its citizens," adding, "There are no first-class citizens, and there are no second-class voters. We are all equal in the voting booth. We are all represented at the Knesset." Rivlin did not refer to Netanyahu directly, saying in a tweet, "Recently, when political thinking is turning all reason on its head, we hear entirely unacceptable remarks about the Arab citizens of Israel."

That's right. Netanyahu and those who think like him are emulating Hitler's Third Reich at the beginning of their reign of terror. Wake up. This is unacceptable. The United States cannot continue to financially support Israel under these conditions.

"For political observers in Israel, the story has echoes of 2015, when Netanyahu posted a last-minute video on the day of a national election, claiming (falsely, it turned out) that right-wing rule of Israel was in danger because large numbers of Arab voters were heading to the polls in buses provided by left-wing groups. The tactic was widely criticized — but it was also credited with helping to sway the election result."

Netanyahu has betrayed his people. Remains unfit to be Prime Minister.

"Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement in which it "called on Israeli political leaders across the spectrum to stop delegitimizing Israeli Arab political parties and vilifying the Arab minority population of Israel." In that statement, Carole Nuriel, the director of ADL's Israel office, said recent incidents of politicians using anti-Arab rhetoric were "a deeply troubling trend that, if it continues, could undermine Israel's vibrant democracy."

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3-8-19

Think the Trump nazi and his henchmen are not determinedly, concertedly, deliberately increasing tensions in the Middle East? NPR reports:

"When the United States closes its Jerusalem Consulate on Monday, it will not only be winding down a 175-year diplomatic mission. The move also represents another major downgrade of the Trump administration's relations with the Palestinians. The Consulate General in Jerusalem is the U.S. government's de facto representative office to the Palestinian Authority. The diplomatic mission, first established in 1844 and housed in a historical stone estate in downtown Jerusalem, will be downgraded to a Palestinian Affairs Unit and will merge with the new U.S. Embassy to Israel. Consul General Karen Sasahara, who has served as an unofficial ambassador to the Palestinians, is leaving Jerusalem and won't be replaced. A lower-ranking foreign service officer will head the new unit. U.S Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, a longtime supporter of Israel's West Bank settler movement whom Palestinians see as their ideological opponent, will oversee diplomatic relations with the Palestinians and Israelis both. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the move, which he announced in October, will "improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations." Palestinian officials view it as a hostile move."

It is, indeed, precisely that.

"The U.S. administration had a choice to build constructive relations with the Palestinian people and leadership. Instead, it chose bullying and arrogance," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Maliki said in a statement."

Exactly, right. An aggressively stupid move by the Trump nazi and his henchmen. Guaranties there will be no peace any time soon in the region.

"A U.S. official told NPR that at least one dissent cable opposing the consulate closure had been sent to senior officials in Washington. The official was unauthorized to speak to the media about the internal diplomatic matter, and spoke on condition of anonymity. State Department officers use the practice of sending dissent cables in rare cases to discreetly protest major policy decisions. Since the mid-1990s, the Consulate General has served as the U.S. diplomatic mission dealing directly with the Palestinian leadership, while the embassy has worked closely with Israel. U.S. officials viewed the dynamic as providing diplomatic symmetry amid Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. "Historically the position of Washington has been, the two should not be merged," said Ed Abington, a former U.S. consul general in Jerusalem. "Now they're merged. The effect on our ability to deal with the Palestinians is being greatly damaged."

Intentionally, by the Trump nazi and his equally clueless henchmen. Sadly, tragically, the U.S. will grow to regret this. Will only exacerbate an impossible situation made worse by the jackass in the Oval Office.

"The mission merger is the latest contentious U.S. step regarding the Palestinians. Last year, the U.S. moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, endorsing Israel's claims to the city but enraging Palestinians who also have claims there and drawing international criticism. Palestinian authorities cut off ties with U.S. officials in protest. Then the U.S. closed the Palestinians' diplomatic office in Washington and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian and development aid for Palestinians. Lara Friedman, a former U.S. foreign service officer in Jerusalem and president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, called the consulate closure "a massive shift" in U.S. policy. "At this point we are saying to the Palestinians and the world — we do not see the Palestinians as a people to engage directly. They are now a minority and a subset to our relationship with Israel," said Friedman, who is not related to the ambassador."

Outrageous. Particularly so, since the Palestinians were NOT consulted when Europe, the United States, and the United Nations chose to bequeath Palestine to survivors of the Holocaust in 1948. Triggering war after war in the region, birth of modern terrorism.

"Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the consulate closure. But Zalman Shoval, a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., called it positive. "I would have no objections for the U.S. to have a consulate in Ramallah, for instance, for the Palestinians," Shoval said, referring to the West Bank city where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered. "But to have a separate consulate in another part of Jerusalem creates a certain fact of splitting Jerusalem into two parts, something which Israel is opposed to."

Tough shit. It is Palestinian territory the Israelites lost generations ago due to their excesses.

"Scott Lasensky, former adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Obama administration, said there were "gross inefficiencies and convoluted lines of authority" with the consulate general and embassy working separately. But he added that the merger "will be widely perceived as a dismantling of previous U.S. policies that positioned Washington as the lead peace broker and advocate for a two-state solution."

The United States has never, in effect, been a peace broker in the region. Never. A ruse.

Get this:

"The consulate closure is subject to a congressional review period, according to U.S. officials, but it is unclear if any Congress members registered any formal objections to the mission merger. House Foreign Affairs Committee staffers did not return NPR's requests for comment. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy's office said he objected to the move, but his office was not aware of any congressional review process. "It downgrades our diplomatic posture with the Palestinians at a time when the Trump administration is cutting aid and tightening the screws on the Palestinians, and restricting our engagement with them, apparently believing they can be pressured into supporting the White House's yet to be revealed Middle East peace plan. To the contrary, it has only increased the Palestinians' desperation and distrust, widened the gap between us and them, further damaged our credibility as a mediator, and made the prospects for peace more elusive," Leahy's office said in a statement to NPR."

Guaranties increased terrorism. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst. Then again, what else can be expected from our nazi fuhrer in the Oval Office and his equally clueless fascist henchmen?

"White House adviser Jared Kushner says the administration will present its still-secret Israeli-Palestinian peace plan after Israeli elections in April."

How the hell is this achingly biased, outrageously fascist Trump family member qualified to force any peace plan on the Palestinians? How? The son of a bitch is part of the problem. Not the solution.

"Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Mideast negotiator, said the consulate-embassy merger offers a clue about how the Trump administration approaches the question of creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel, which was longtime U.S. policy. "The administration seems to view Israel-Palestine as more or less one and the same," Miller said, "and that they're thinking not of a two-state solution but something along the lines of a Palestinian state-minus."

Delusionally short-sighted. Guaranties there will be, cannot be, peace in the Middle East. Certainly, no time soon. Indeed, a step backwards. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

3-8-19

Netanyahu may finally be getting his. The Washington Post reports:

"As Israelis digested the charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust leveled against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the question on the minds of many Friday was whether it may spell the beginning of the end for Israel’s long-serving leader. Polls have indicated that although Netanyahu will be hurt by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s decision to indict him, pending a hearing in which he can present his defense, the prime minister still has a fighting chance of being reelected on April 9, when the country votes in legislative elections. However, calls for him to stand down have sharpened. Netanyahu has shown no sign of being prepared to do so voluntarily."

Sounds like the Trump nazi, doesn't it? LOL.

"In a televised speech Thursday evening, after news of Mandelblit’s decision emerged, Netanyahu made an embattled vow to “continue serving you and the state for many years.”

Jesus Christ. Like the narcissist Trump nazi, remains a master serving himself.

"He told the public not to let a “witch hunt” by bureaucrats, commentators and reporters cause confusion and promised that the “house of cards” built around three corruption cases against him would soon come tumbling down."

Sound familiar? Where have we heard this before? Where?

“Do not believe the spin,” he said. “I intend to serve you for many years. It all depends on you and not on the officials or the TV studios.”

Jesus Christ. Give me a break. Sounds like Trump reincarnated, doesn't it? LOL. Forget? This bastard serves himself.

"For Netanyahu, now that Mandelblit's letter outlining the charges against him has been sent to his legal team, a date will be set for a hearing so the accused can rebut the allegations. Netanyahu's lawyers told Israeli networks Thursday that they have witnesses and documents that would prove his innocence in all three criminal cases. In a televised speech following Netanyahu’s address on Thursday night, main political challenger Benny Gantz said it was impossible for Netanyahu to continue to govern. The former army chief of staff, whose newly formed Blue and White Party is polling neck and neck with Netanyahu’s ruling Likud faction, called on him to step down. “Benjamin Netanyahu, I turn to you this evening — wake up, think about the national responsibility and resign,” said Gantz. “If and when you prove your innocence, you can return to the public arena with your head held high.”

Think Trump, should he lose the election, would voluntarily leave office?

“This is a sad day for the State of Israel,” said Yair Lapid, who merged his Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party with Gantz’s last week. “Netanyahu cannot continue to serve as prime minister. He knows that. He knows that better than anyone.” Indeed, when he was leader of the opposition and his rival Olmert was indicted, Netanyahu argued that the prime minister should step aside because he would be too distracted by the legal case to govern."

Same kind of contradictory, achingly hypocritical double talk we constantly hear from the Trump nazi. ... Partners in crime, -- so to speak? LOL.

Report goes on and on in great detail. Be interesting to see how the Israelis resolve this. To say nothing of how we, as Americans, resolve the Trump nazi catastrophe. What webs we weave.

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2-22-19

The Israeli Prime Minister is back in the news. For the wrong reason. NBC News reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu startled Iranians and even the White House on Wednesday with a strident call for Israeli-Arab action against the government in Tehran that was translated by his office as urging "war with Iran." Although Israeli officials tried to soften the reference by altering the English translation, the provocative comment was likely to further the perception that Israel, its Gulf Arab neighbors and the United States are interested in using military action to topple the government of Iran. It comes at a particularly delicate moment, as the Trump administration uses a U.S.-organized summit in Warsaw and this week's 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution to try to rally the world against the government in Tehran."

Certainly, will do nothing to improve relations in the region.

"The U.S. government quickly reached out to Israeli officials to ask for an explanation. A senior U.S. official traveling with Vice President Mike Pence, who is attending the summit in Warsaw, said that senior Israeli officials told the U.S. that it was a matter of bad translation. But Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, dismissed the notion that Netanyahu had simply been mistranslated. "He knew what he meant," King said on MSNBC."

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12-21-18

The following, while exceptionally un-American, comes as no surprise under Trump's Fourth Reich. The Washington Post reports:

"Bahia Amawi, a speech pathologist who has worked as a contractor in a Texas school district for nine years, received a new contract agreement to sign in September for the upcoming school year. The agreement asked her to affirm that she did not boycott Israel and assert that she would not while working for the school."

What the hell business is it of the school district?

"She declined to sign it. Amawi, an American citizen of Palestinian descent who was born in Austria, said the statements infringed on her principles: her stance on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and her belief in the First Amendment. So she was forced to stop working with the district. The contract, which stems from a 2017 law passed by the state’s Republican-held legislature and governor that prohibited state agencies from contracting with companies boycotting Israel, is the subject of a lawsuit filed this week by Amawi in federal district court in Austin."

Sue the living shit out of the nazi f--kers. Take them for all you can get.

"Amawi says the state’s enforcement of the law violates her right to free speech."

Indeed. It does. Outrageous abrogation of the First Amendment.

“My first reaction was shock,” Amawi told reporters Monday. “Why is the government restricting me from boycotting a certain entity?” Amawi started working for the Pflugerville Independent School District outside Austin in 2009. Her work entails doing evaluations of Arabic-speaking children, according to the complaint she filed. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the school district are named in the lawsuit."

Here's what's remarkably interesting. Get this:

"In a statement posted on Facebook, the district said it was bound by the recently passed Texas state law, which it cast in a negative light. “This language is required by the State of Texas for all school districts in Texas, along with other governmental entities,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, Pflugerville ISD and all Texas school districts are at the mercy of the state and the regulations printed into law, and in situations such as this, we are forced to spend time on state political issues and not on our core mission — educating students." Texas passed the law in 2017, part of a wave of states that have passed legislation requiring that state agencies not do business with companies that support the “BDS movement” (for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) to boycott Israeli goods."

It's none of the state's goddamned business.

Gets worse. Get this:

"The bill’s language has been interpreted so broadly that the application for some grants for victims of Hurricane Harvey included a similar provision, drawing rebukes from local officials and the American Civil Liberties Union. It is not clear whether other states' laws have been written or interpreted in a way to include contractors such as Amawi. “Texas’ ban on contracting with any boycotter of Israel constitutes viewpoint discrimination that chills constitutionally-protected political advocacy in support of Palestine,” Amawi’s complaint states. Fred O. Smith, a constitutional law expert at Emory University, cited two Supreme Court precedents: a 1996 case that found that it was unconstitutional for government officials to retaliate against independent contractors for their speech, as well as 1976 ruling, Elrod v. Burns, that found it unconstitutional for governments to refuse to hire people for their political views, in most circumstances. “These principles taken together strongly suggest that refusing to renew a contract of someone who wishes to advocate a political position raises very serious constitutional concerns under those Supreme Court precedents,” Smith said."

Our nazi Governor, however, remains determinedly aggressively clueless:

"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) tweeted his support for Israel on Monday as news of Amawi’s lawsuit began to circulate. “Texas stands with Israel,” he wrote. “Period.”

The hell it does, Governor. You don't speak for all of us, Mr. Abbott. Readers are reminded this piece of shit ignored repeated complaints against Wells Fargo made by this writer when Abbott was Texas Attorney General. Clearly, the Governor is far more interested in lining the pockets of his cronies in the corporate management suite than in doing the right thing. That is, prosecuting white-collar criminals. Holding the greedy bastards accountable for their crimes.

Not everyone is in goose step with our national socialist Governor:

"Glenn Greenwald, a columnist and co-founding editor of the Intercept who writes frequently about Israeli politics as they intersect with those of the United States, wrote harshly of the contract.“ The language of the affirmation Amawi was told she must sign reads like Orwellian — or McCarthyite — self-parody, the classic political loyalty oath that every American should instinctively shudder upon reading,” he wrote. “In order to continue to work, Amawi would be perfectly free to engage in any political activism against her own country, participate in an economic boycott of any state or city within the U.S., or work against the policies of any other government in the world — except Israel.”

Outrageous, isn't it? Unless, of course, you're the national socialist Governor of Texas. Raw nazism.

Our achingly fascist Governor could certainly learn something from Ms. Amawi:

"Amawi said that she made the decision for her own values, but also to serve as an example for her four children, telling the Intercept that she did not consider signing the pledge in order to keep her work. “I couldn’t in good conscience do that,” she said. “If I did, I would not only be betraying Palestinians suffering under an occupation that I believe is unjust and thus become complicit in their repression, but I’d also be betraying my fellow Americans by enabling violations of our constitutional rights to free speech and to protest peacefully.” Amawi’s lawsuit says she’s seeking an injunction that will strike the “No boycott of Israel” clause from school contracts, as well as others statewide, and pay her “reasonable costs” and attorney’s fees. “The point of boycotting any products that support Israel is to put pressure on Israeli government to change its treatment, the inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people,” she told the Intercept."

Indeed. Hat's off, madam. You've got guts. Incredible courage. Especially, since we live in a de facto fascist police-state, quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich. ... Right, Governor? Sheriff? Sonny Boy? Madam County Attorney?

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12-7-18

Think the Israeli aggressor does not have serious problems of its own making? NPR reports:

"Protesters across Israel on Tuesday criticized what they say is the government's failure to address violence against women. Activists carried signs bearing the names of women killed this year, lit candles and blocked city streets. Some demonstrators lay in the roads, with fake blood splattered across their clothes, and clutching stuffed animals. In Tel Aviv, protesters displayed shoes that had been dyed red. In Jerusalem, a fountain spouted red fluid, resembling blood. Media outlets reported that people chanted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "wake up, our blood is not cheap."

Ferociously pointedly, not like the blood of Palestinians?

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12-7-18

Outrageous infringement on the First Amendment. NBC News reports:

"CNN on Thursday parted ways with contributor Marc Lamont Hill after a speech the college professor made on Israel and Palestine at the United Nations."

Gutless, mindless muzzling of free speech. Capitulation to the Nazi Right by the gutless bastards at CNN.

"A CNN spokesperson confirmed Hill is no longer under contract. The network did not give a reason, but the move comes amid objections to Hill's speech by the Anti-Defamation League and other groups. Hill, a professor of media studies at Temple University who had been a recurring political commentator on CNN, called for countries to boycott and divest from Israel in the Wednesday speech given for the U.N.'s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." "We have an opportunity to not just offer solidarity in words but to commit to political action, grass-roots action, local action and international action that will give us what justice requires and that is a free Palestine from the river to the sea," Hill said in the speech.

"Yesterday, I gave a speech at the UN in which I critiqued Israel’s polices and practices toward Palestinians. It’s baffling how people are not responding to the critique, but instead responding to things I didn’t actually say.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018"

Political correctness run amok:

"The ADL and others said the "river to the sea" phrase is code for the destruction of Israel often used by Hamas and groups bent on its destruction. "Those calling for 'from the river to the sea' are calling for an end to the State of Israel," ADL's Senior Vice President for International Affairs Sharon Nazarian, said in a statement, adding that the annual event at the U.N. "promotes divisiveness and hate." Hill sent a series of tweets responding to his firing and defending his speech."

Why should he have had to do this? He is entitled to his opinion and the right to state it. Did not do so while on the CNN dime. So what the f--k is their problem?

"My reference to 'river to the sea' was not a call to destroy anything or anyone," Hill said on Twitter. "It was a call for justice, both in Israel and in the West Bank/Gaza. The speech very clearly and specifically said those things." "I support Palestinian freedom. I support Palestinian self-determination," Hill tweeted, adding, "I do not support anti-Semitism, killing Jewish people, or any of the other things attributed to my speech. I have spent my life fighting these things."

No longer matters in Nazi America, a goddamned fascist police-state, quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich. CNN is achingly gutless. Hopelessly, out to lunch. Has caved in to the Nazi Right.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

11-30-18

Think the Israelis aren't behaving like out of control savages? ABC News reports:

"A senior Israeli Cabinet minister on Wednesday threatened to kill the leader of the militant Hamas movement ruling Gaza, vowing that another "large campaign" looms in which Israel will hit the militants hard. Housing Minister Yoav Gallant, a former military general who commanded the Gaza region, said Hamas leader Yehiyeh Sinwar should "recalculate his route" before the next engagement. "Yehiyeh Sinwar's time is limited. He will not end his life in an old folks' home," he said, at the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference. "He has to behave himself."

'Kettle calling the pot black.' LOL.

"We are now close to a no-choice war against Hamas in Gaza. We must strike hard to restore deterrence," Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told the conference. "Any attack on Israeli soil must be met with a tough response ... if Sinwar or (Hamas political chief Ismail) Haniyeh were to fire a bullet or a rocket at a soldier or Israeli citizens they will pay with their heads."

Wake up. Remove your head from your ass. Deterrence? What deterrence? The unmitigated brutality of the Israeli aggressor has done nothing more than increase determination of the Palestinians and others in the region since 1948.

"Israel assassinated Hamas leaders Ahmad Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi in 2004, and tried to kill another leader, Khaled Mashaal, in 1997. The killing of senior members of the group has had no discernible impact on its operations or ideology."

You bastards so clueless, so hopelessly arrogant you cannot, will not understand what you've done to date has had the exact opposite effect intended?

"Hamas has staged near-weekly border protests since March in an effort to lift the Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after the Islamic militant group seized control of the coastal strip in 2007. The blockade has ravaged Gaza's economy, and Israel refuses to lift it unless Hamas disarms, a demand rejected by militant group, which is pledged to Israel's destruction. Demonstrators each week have approached the border fence, throwing firebombs, grenades and burning tires at Israeli troops. Israeli snipers have killed about 170 people, most of them unarmed. Israel says it is defending its border against attackers, but it has come under heavy international criticism for shooting unarmed people."

Holocaust survivors stole land from its Palestinian inhabitants in 1948 with the blessing of the United States, Europe, and the United Nations. Did so without consulting the Palestinians. Made no effort to come to an understanding or agreement. Occupied land your ancestors lost centuries ago due to their excesses. Wake up.

"Nobody wants war in Gaza now. It will be very damaging for everyone," said Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. "I hope we can step back from this terrible cycle where every Friday we are wondering if we will go to war or not."

Our country, the United States, is the ongoing problem. An impediment to peace. Continues to mindlessly support the Israeli aggressor no matter what it does or doesn't do. Won't rein in the aggressor. Someday that will change when Americans finally wake up. When that happens, so will the unthinkable. That is, Israel, horrendously outnumbered by its enemies, will be destroyed as US support dries up and finally ends. Time to resolve this issue now. Before too late.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

11-16-18

Once again, the Israeli aggressor has struck. CBS News reports:

"Israel carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday after dozens of rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory into Israel. Clashes which erupted during an Israeli special forces operation in Gaza late Sunday had threatened to derail efforts to restore calm to the Palestinian enclave after months of unrest. Seven Palestinians were killed in the overnight clashes, one of whom was a local commander for Hamas's armed wing. One Israeli army officer was also killed. At least six Israelis were injured later on Monday when dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a trip to Paris to commemorate the end of World War I to rush home as tensions rose. Israel stressed its operation was an intelligence-gathering mission and "not an assassination or abduction." The statement from Israeli military spokesman Ronen Manelis signaled that the mission did not go as planned and resulted in the clash, which Palestinian security sources said included Israeli air strikes. An Israeli ground operation to kill or abduct militants inside the Gaza Strip would be rare. Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded enclave, and its armed wing, spoke of a "cowardly Israeli attack" and an "assassination", vowing revenge. Hamas's armed wing said an Israeli special forces team had infiltrated near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip in a civilian car. Israeli air strikes followed when the operation failed, it said in a statement. Israel's military had not confirmed those details. Gaza's health ministry said seven Palestinians were killed.

The Washington Post reports:

"Israel’s hawkish Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced his resignation Wednesday, citing his opposition to a cease-fire with Hamas following the worst outbreak of violence in Gaza since a 50-day war in the summer of 2014. In a televised news conference, Liberman, who became defense minister in 2016, said that agreeing to a cease-fire was “surrendering to terror.” He has been a proponent of firm military action against Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, even if it risked a wider conflict. “There is no other definition, no other significance, but a surrender to terror,” Liberman said. “What we are doing now as a country is buying short-term quiet at the cost of our long-term security.” The withdrawal of his party from government leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a thin one-seat majority in Israel’s parliament, known as the Knesset — controlling just 61 of 120 seats. As he resigned, Liberman called for elections to be held as soon as possible."

Growing political trouble in Israeli aggressor 'paradise':

"All eyes are now on Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of Israel’s Jewish Home party, another right-wing politician who has called for a stronger military response to Gaza. Bennett, who has a fractious relationship with Netanyahu, is demanding to take Liberman’s place or his party will leave the coalition, according to senior officials in his party."

Hopefully, will quickly occur. Anything to destabilize the Israeli aggressor.

"Palestinian armed factions in Gaza announced the cease-fire on Tuesday night after a bout of fighting triggered by a botched Israeli operation into the Hamas-controlled strip. Seven militants, including a Hamas commander, were killed in the incident, which also claimed the life of an Israeli officer. Militants fired more than 460 rockets toward Israeli communities near Gaza in what they said was a response to the deaths, as Israeli jets pounded 160 targets in Gaza, destroying several buildings. The cease-fire announced by Hamas Tuesday night was still holding Wednesday even though there was no official Israeli confirmation it had been accepted. Residents of the southern Israeli communities have protested what they called the government’s capitulation."

Sadly, the Israeli aggressor has it ass backwards. Been so since 1948.

"Demonstrations celebrating the cease-fire as a victory against Israel were held in Gaza on Tuesday night. Hamas then described Liberman’s announcement as another win. “The resignation of Liberman is a political victory for Gaza,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. He said it was an admission of defeat and showed Hamas had succeeded in “creating a political shake-up in the occupation.” Liberman said his resignation comes after weeks of disagreement with Netanyahu over a course of action on how to handle ongoing tensions with the coastal Palestinian enclave, whose rulers have called for Israel’s destruction. Last week Israel facilitated the transfer of $15 million in cash from Qatar to Gaza to pay salaries of civil servants and employees of the Hamas-run government, as part of a wider deal aimed at alleviating the growing humanitarian crisis in the territory."

None of this is sustainable. Has not been since 1948 when the United States, Europe, and the United Nations bequeathed Palestine to survivors of the Holocaust, -- without consulting the Palestinians.

"It was part of an understanding that would have entailed economic aid for Gaza, including a cash injection and international reconstruction projects, in return for Hamas clamping down on border demonstrations and preventing the use of incendiary kites that have been launched across the border fence into Israel. Netanyahu said on Sunday that the process was to maintain Israel’s security by preventing a collapse in the humanitarian situation for the 2 million civilians “held hostage” by Hamas. Liberman said the transfer of the money was a “turning point” for him. “Everyone saying the money will be regulated after entering Gaza, is wrong — to put it mildly,” he said. “The money went first of all to the terrorists’ families.” The Moldovan-born minister said it was no secret that he and the prime minister held differences of opinion. “I did not agree to allow Qatari money to enter [into Gaza],” he said. “I had to allow it only after the prime minister announced it.”

Goes on and on. None of this is going to end well. None of it.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

11-2-18

War for the liberation of Palestine from the Israeli aggressor, sadly, goes on and on. NBC News reports:

"Israeli warplanes bombed around 80 targets across the Gaza Strip early Saturday after militants launched a volley of rockets into Israel. Within hours, a widely reported truce calmed what looked like a dangerous escalation in violence. Overnight, explosions rocked the blockaded Palestinian enclave as buildings shook and flames lit up the night sky. In Israeli towns and communities near Gaza, warning sirens sounded through the night, sending residents rushing to bomb shelters. Israeli Air Force said some rockets were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system. The Islamic Jihad — a militant group operating in Gaza — claimed responsibility for rocket strikes into Israel, saying in a statement it "can no longer stand idly" in light of "continued cold-blooded killing of innocent civilians by the Israeli occupation."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

10-19-18

In follow up to the last edition vis a vis the latest ongoing Israeli aggressor fiasco, CBS News reports:

"An American graduate student in detention at Israel's international airport over allegations that she promotes a boycott of the Jewish state appealed her detention Thursday before an Israeli court in Tel Aviv. Lara Alqasem appeared calm, mostly keeping her hands on her knees during the court hearing, only smiling giddily when she was surrounded by journalists and photographers. She is to remain in detention until the court delivers its ruling; no date for the ruling has been set."

This young woman stood tall. Fearlessly, but peacefully, challenged the aggressor. Uncommon valor.

"The 22-year-old American with Palestinian grandparents landed at Ben-Gurion Airport last week with a valid student visa and was registered to study human rights at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. But she was barred from entering the country and ordered deported, based on suspicions that she's an activist in the boycott movement. Israel insists she can leave at any time but must renounce the BDS boycott movement if she wishes to be reconsidered for admission."

F--k 'em. While she may never consequently be granted entry, certainly is exposing the fascists running Israel for precisely whom and what they are. Causing them great embarrassment.

"Israel enacted a law last year banning entry for any foreigner who "knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel." It's come under heavy criticism for its handling of Alqasem's case."

Rightfully, so. Certainly, doing irreparable damage to its image internationally. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst.

"Alqasem, from the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Southwest Ranches, Florida, is a former president of the University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. The group is a branch of the BDS movement, whose name comes from its calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel."

Rightfully, so.

"BDS supporters say that in urging businesses, artists and universities to sever ties with Israel, they are using nonviolent means to resist unjust policies toward Palestinians."

That's right. Israeli citizens themselves are questioning what their leaders are doing vis a vis the Palestinians. So are many Jews in the United States. Again, rightfully so.

"Israel says the movement masks its motives to delegitimize or destroy the Jewish state."

Israeli leaders themselves have already been doing this for decades in their treatment of the Palestinians. Remain too ignorant to understand these oppressive, brutal tactics are counterproductive. Will eventually lead to precisely what they are desperately trying to avoid, destruction of the State of Israel.

"Gilad Erdan, Israel's minister for strategic affairs, described Students for Justice in Palestine as an extremist organization. "We don't want to see their activists coming to Israel and trying to use our infrastructure to harm us and destroy us," he said."

You're already doing this to yourselves as well as the Palestinians. Have done so since 1948. Status quo, not sustainable.

"Alqasem's lawyers say she is no longer involved in BDS activity, and former professors have described her as a curious and open-minded student. Jewish groups in the United States as well as the Hebrew University itself have come to her defense."

Stunning, isn't it? What are the nazis running Israel so afraid of?

"A pair of dovish Israeli lawmakers also attending Thursday's hearing to protest Alqasem's lengthy detention. Mussi Raz of Meretz called on Erdan to free her and stop a "snowball" that is getting larger all the time. "Stop this circus, you are causing grave damage to Israel's image," he said."

That's right. Aggressive stupidity at its worst.

New readers are reminded the United States, Europe, and the United States granted survivors of Hitler's death camps the land mass of Palestine in 1948. -- Land the Israelites lost generations ago due to their excesses. Executed this land grant without consultation of the Palestinians. Precisely, why there's armed conflict in the region ever since.

Reportedly, the Israeli's bowed to intense international pressure. Released Alqasem.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

10-12-18

Another achingly clueless Trump turkey about to go out the door. Doesn't your heart bleed? NPR reports:

"Nikki Haley is resigning as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and will leave the Trump administration at the end of the year, she said Tuesday."

Finally, did the right thing, Madam Ambassador. Congratulations. About time.

"Haley appeared with President Trump on Tuesday morning at the Oval Office, where he called her a "fantastic person" and said Haley had told him six months ago that she might take time off at the end of the year."

Finally, some good news. Can we stand it? LOL.

"Trump praised Haley, saying she has done an "incredible job" and is "somebody who gets it." He said he hoped she would come back to the administration in another capacity, adding, "You can have your pick."

Jesus Christ. Two peas in a pod. Two certifiable dolts. LOL.

Gets worse. Get this:

"It has been the honor of a lifetime," Haley said. "It has really been a blessing." She thanked the president, as well as first lady Melania Trump and the president's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, whom she singled out as a "hidden genius" who had done significant behind-the-scenes work."

Wake up. Haley has done great damage as UN Ambassador:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Haley in a statement for her support of Israel, saying she "led an uncompromising fight against the United Nations' hypocrisy and for truth and justice in our country."

Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister. History is indeed repeating itself. You and your stooges are emulating the German Nazi oppressors of Holocaust victims during the Second World prior to the death camps. Doing so to the Palestinians, whose land you've stolen and whose lives you've taken as they've valiantly fought for what's theirs. Conveniently, forget? Land you lost generations ago due to your excesses.

Delusionally believe Haley is without controversy?

"On Monday, the federal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called for the State Department's inspector general to launch an ethics investigation into Haley regarding seven free flights on private planes that Haley and her husband accepted from three South Carolina businessmen in 2017. "Ambassador Haley should have been conscious of the appearance concerns surrounding her acceptance of gifts of private luxury air travel at a time when her colleagues in the administration were making news with their own lavish air travel," CREW wrote."

Can't confuse a clueless nazi with the truth, can we?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

10-12-18

In follow up to the above, here is the tyranny UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is at least partially responsible for. NPR reports:

"Lara Alqasem, a 22-year-old Florida native, landed at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport last Tuesday, expecting to start her studies in human rights at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Instead, she has spent the past week detained."

Courtesy of Israeli storm troopers.

"Alqasem, whose father is of Palestinian heritage, was barred from entering the country and accused of supporting a boycott of Israel that was started by Palestinian leaders."

Even if true, tough shit. Called freedom, liberty. A concept no longer understood in Israel or the United States.

"Her mother, Karen Alqasem, told WMNF that "when she went through the gate to try to enter the country they asked where her father — you know she has the Alqasem name — so they asked where does that name come from, where was her father born?"

Who the f--k cares? She's an American citizen, a Florida native, there to study and on a visa.

"She showed the security agents her student visa, her mother said, but they made a call and detained her."

Israeli nazi storm troopers reminiscent of their German Nazi oppressors during the Second World War.

"Alqasem was denied entry to Israel because of a 2017 law barring visitors who support or call for a boycott against the country or its settlements in the West Bank. The measure passed after the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a Palestinian-led campaign to exert pressure on Israel, gained traction internationally."

As well, it should have. Called justice. An exceptionally precious principle no longer understood in Israel or the United States.

"Israel, like every democracy, has the right to prevent the entry of foreign nationals, especially those working to harm the country," Israeli Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan said on Monday. "Therefore we work to prevent the entry of those who promote the anti-Semitic BDS campaign, which calls for Israel's destruction."

Horse shit.

"Erdan said the student was "president of a chapter of one of the most extreme and hate-filled BDS groups" in the U.S., which has chapters that "repeatedly engaged in anti-Semitic and violent activity with the goal of bullying and silencing students simply for their support of Israel."

More horse shit.

"He also questioned why she "changed her story several times" since arriving in Israel and erased her social media accounts prior to traveling."

Vis a vis 'her story,' did she? Or, are you no more than a congenital liar like the Trump nazi? Regarding social media accounts, why wouldn't she erase them? To protect herself against idiots like you, sir. Then again, have to question the judgment of this young woman to have any social media accounts at all.

Here's the crux of the matter, true intention of the Israeli aggressor vis a vis this particular young woman:

"He also said she is free to return to the United States."

How about that? Persona non-grata. ... Just like the Trump nazi to so very many here in the United States. LOL.

"According to a profile page about Alqasem on a website that claims to document people and organizations "that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses," she was the president of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Florida."

Even if true, so what? Called liberty. Had she been violent or embracing violence, however, would have been a far different story. She would not have even gotten out of this country. Would have been prosecuted.

"Alqasem appealed the order, reportedly telling the Tel Aviv Court of Appeals that she no longer identified with the boycott movement. The court recommended that she remain in custody until a decision was reached. "The weeklong detention is the longest anyone has been held in a boycott-related case," The Associated Press reported."

Who the hell cares whether or not she supports the boycott movement? Proof positive, the Israeli aggressor is growing increasingly paranoid and isolated.

"As she awaits the court's decision, she told her mother that there was a bedbug infestation in her cell, according to the AP. Her cellphone was confiscated and she felt "completely cut off from the world."

Intentionally so, by the Israeli aggressor. Proof positive the nazis running Israel are growing increasingly desperate.

"On Tuesday, Erdan said that the government would reconsider her entry if she denounced the boycott movement."

F--k 'em. True desperation. Proof positive they're losing the fight.

"Her attorney, Yotam Ben-Hillel, did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment. "We're talking about someone who simply wants to study in Israel, who is not boycotting anything," Ben-Hillel told the AP. "She's not even part of the student organization anymore."

Other than the nazis in power in Israel, who is concerned? Get this:

"Erdan said the leader of the boycott movement, Omar Barghouti, has an Israeli residency permit and studied at Tel Aviv University. Erdan argued that studying in Israel did not mean Alqasem could not be part of the boycott movement. Dror Abend-David, a Jewish language and culture professor who taught Alqasem Hebrew at the University of Florida, offered support for her in an opinion letter to Haaretz: "It was impossible not to notice that she was an exceptional student — hard-working, curious and ambitious. ... She was curious about Israel and never expressed any negative sentiment or anger about Israel." A spokesperson at Hebrew University of Jerusalem told NPR that it would join Alqasem's appeal. Some 400 academics from the university and other Israeli schools have called for her to be allowed into the country, The Jerusalem Post reported."

How about that? Some sanity left.

Insult to injury, get this:

"Hebrew University Rector Barak Medina told The Washington Post that authorities prevented university representatives from visiting her at the airport on Sunday. "This kind of legislation might actually enhance the tendency to boycott Israel, instead of mitigating it," Medina was reported to have said. "These are a collection of policies that are not only aimed at narrowing freedom of speech but also show the extent to which Israel is not acting like a liberal democracy should."

Exactly, right. Clearly, only the nazi element in Israeli government has its shorts in a wad. LOL.

"In recent months, a number of vocal critics of the Israeli government, including U.S. journalist Peter Beinart, have been interrogated about their political views by border agents. As NPR's Daniel Estrin reported, the practice has revived a debate about whether Israel is suppressing dissent."

It is. Clearly, so.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

10-5-18

Once again, the Israeli aggressor has shown its true colors. NPR reports:

"President Trump's administration has begun pressing Israel to embrace the idea of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insisting on something less."

Egregious understatement.

"Netanyahu spoke with NPR after Trump spoke in favor of a two-state solution while visiting the United Nations last week. (To be precise, Trump welcomed a two-state solution, or a one-state solution in which Palestinians are absorbed into Israel: "If they do a single, if they do a double, I'm OK with it if they're both happy.") In the NPR interview, Israel's leader pushed for neither."

Spoke out both sides his fascist ass:

"Netanyahu said Israel must remain in complete control of security, whether Palestinians claim a state or not."

Translation? No freedom. Must remain under the boot heel of the Israeli aggressor. No true sovereignty. None. None at all. Continued oppression.

"My view of a potential agreement is that the Palestinians have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten us," Netanyahu tells NPR's Steve Inskeep in an exclusive interview for Morning Edition. "The key power that must, must not be in their hands is the question of security. ... I don't want them either as citizens of Israel or subjects of Israel."

Survivors of the Holocaust stole their land in 1948, you lying, deceptive, disingenuous son of a bitch. Did so with the blessing of the United States, Europe, and the United Nations. -- Land your forebears lost generations ago due to their excesses. In 1948, Palestinians were not consulted by anyone before their land was stolen. Have been fighting you and your murderous bastards ever since.

"The Israeli leader says he would prefer Palestinians receive "basically all the powers of sovereignty, or nearly all the powers, but not the ones of security." This option, he says, would give Israel overriding power of security, but let the Palestinians "govern their lives in a more complete way," with their own parliament, government and tax system."

That's not freedom, Mr. Prime Minister. It's subjugation under the Israeli aggressor boot heel.

"He believes this potential solution is the most realistic approach and "the best arrangement" for both parties."

Horse shit. Unadulterated. Sadly, ensures the killing will continue unabated. Sadder still? All this could have been avoided had Palestinians been consulted in 1948. An arrangement could have been made. Instead, their land was stolen. Were told they had to live under the Israeli boot heel.

Sadder than that? The Israeli aggressor has become remarkably reminiscent of its Nazi oppressors, circa 1933, when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor. Unfortunately and clearly, the worst was yet to come then, -- and now. Status quo is unsustainable, Mr. Prime Minister. There are those of us in the United States beginning to wake up to this horrendous injustice.

Will come a time American aid and support to the Israeli aggressor will end. Outnumbered and surrounded by your enemies in the region, the very existence of the State of Israel will be sadly, tragically threatened. Use of your nuclear weapons stockpile will accomplish nothing other than obliterate the region.

"Last week, President Trump said he supports a two-state solution, making it the first time he has publicly voiced his stance on a Palestinian state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded in agreement with Trump, saying the path to peace requires a two-state solution. Netanyahu, however, tells NPR he has made it clear for several years that any Palestinian government could not have full control of security."

Translation? Will continue to live under the Israeli boot heel.

"Despite Trump's comments, Netanyahu says the relationship between the U.S. and Israel continues to be "a very powerful bond." He doesn't view his close friendship with Trump as a risk to the historic bipartisan support for Israel in the United States."

Enjoy it while you can, Mr. Prime Minister. Forget? Nothing is forever.

"He gives Trump credit for his "tremendous service to our common security," specifically when it comes to the Iran nuclear deal."

Delusional horse shit. Unbridled paranoia.

"We can have disagreements and yet have a basic agreement about the importance of our alliance," he said. "I don't have a disagreement with President Trump on Iran."

Wake up. You're losing support from Jewish Americans. To say nothing of those of us who heretofore supported Israel, but have finally woken up to your horrendous treatment of the Palestinians.

"In May, Netanyahu praised Trump for his "courageous leadership" in pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, something Israel had been fighting against since its formation. Netanyahu again commended Trump for standing up for Israel during the U.N. General Assembly meeting last week, when the Trump administration announced it would cut all funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency in Palestine. The agency helps fund schools and clinics in the West Bank and Gaza — as well as Jordan, Syria and Lebanon — for more than 5 million Palestinian refugees."

You remain a fool, Mr. Prime Minister. This ensures there will be no peace in the region for the foreseeable future. Sadly, only violence.

"As for bipartisan support in the U.S., Netanyahu believes that both Republican and Democratic leaders understand Israel's dedication to "a robust, open, free democracy."

But not for the Palestinians, right, Mr. Netanyahu? Your Aryan arrogance, stunning. Reminiscent, Adolf Hitler, circa 1933, beginning of the Third Reich.

"We value America's support from all sides," Netanyahu said."

Delusional. You're not getting it from all of us. Not at all. Wake up.

NPR reports:

"Israeli authorities are defending a recent series of interrogations of left-wing activists at Israel's airport and borders, saying the practice is necessary to prevent violence and terrorism."

Defense of the indefensible. As Israel and the United States continue to sadly, tragically nazify.

"But a prominent civil rights advocate in the country called the government's justification "shameful and dangerous." In recent months, several critics of the Israeli government — most prominently U.S. journalist Peter Beinart — complained that Israeli border agents questioned them about their pro-Palestinian activism and political beliefs. The testimonies made headlines and rekindled a debate about whether Israel is stifling dissent and liberal views."

Called nazification. Fascist police-state.

"In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Beinart's interrogation was a mistake. Israel's domestic security service, Shin Bet, which conducts interrogations, opened an investigation into the case. Israeli justice officials also looked into the recent incidents. In a letter Thursday to Israeli groups protesting the practice, Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber said the interrogations were not intended to block demonstrations but rather "to thwart and prevent illegal activity, whether on a nationalist basis or with a connection to terror."

Horse shit. These jackbooted bastards are emulating their Nazi SS oppressors during the Second World War. At the beginning of the Third Reich and before the death camps went into full operation. Far worse was about to come, both then and now. Wake up.

"The Shin Bet issued a seven-page document defending its interrogations, saying it seeks to prevent domestic and international left-wing activists from encouraging Israelis and Palestinians to gather in West Bank areas "and use violence against Jewish residents and security forces." Dan Yakir, chief counsel for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, who petitioned justice officials to investigate the interrogation practice, protested the government's explanations. "This is one of the most shameful and dangerous documents ever issued from one of the state authorities," Yakir said. "Apparently, the Shin Bet believes that participation in a demonstration or a tour in the West Bank constitutes an existential threat to the State of Israel." Pro-Palestinian activists from around the world frequently participate in demonstrations with Israeli and Palestinian activists against Israel's military occupation of the West Bank and policies toward Palestinians living there. Most countries reject Israel's presence in the territory and support Palestinians' quest for independence."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

9-21-18

The insanity grows, ever more expansive. Prima facie evidence of Trump's expanding, dire unfitness for office. NPR reports:

"The Trump administration has confirmed it will no longer fund peace-building programs for Palestinians and Israelis — including an interfaith youth program and a project for children with disabilities."

Aggressive stupidity the Trump nazi can't seem to shake.

"It's the latest in a series of announcements of the U.S. cutting hundreds of millions of dollars for Palestinians, with the aim of pressuring Palestinian leaders to cooperate with U.S. efforts to broker a peace deal with Israel."

Only expands resolve of the Palestinians to stand up to the Israeli aggressor and the United States.

"The decision, first reported Friday by the New York Times, is expected to affect a host of projects supporting Israeli and Palestinian almond farmers, young entrepreneurs, environmental activists and others."

'Stupid is as stupid does,' right, Mr. 'President?'

"I continue to believe in the importance of building relationships between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly kids, but. ..." senior U.S. peace negotiator Jason Greenblatt tweeted, "Palestinian and Israeli kids will lose, and these programs will be meaningless, if the (Palestinian Authority) continues to condemn a (peace) plan they haven't seen & refuses to engage on it."

Wake up, Mr. Greenblatt. You and your nazi fuhrer have no credibility. The United States is not, has not, been an honest broker of peace in the region since 1948. You and the national socialist, fascist bastard in the Oval Office seek to force your peace plan and that of the Israeli aggressor you sponsor on the Palestinians. Not acceptable. Never has been. Precisely, why there is no peace, will be no peace in the region. ... Too stupid, too clueless to understand this, sir?

"Palestinian leaders cut ties with the Trump administration after it recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a city where Palestinians also have claims."

Certainly, did the right thing. Only thing they could do. Resist. Not capitulate.

"In response to the latest funding cut announcement, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said Saturday the U.S. was using "sanctions and blackmail to make our people surrender" and that "clearly this administration has nothing to do with peace and making peace."

That's right. No question Sadly, quite the contrary. Trump nazi and his henchmen remain determined to force the Palestinians to surrender to the Israeli aggressor. Not going to happen. Will not happen. Will only lead to more terror, death, and destruction in the region. Aggressive stupidity at its very worst.

"There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials."

What could they say? Why say anything? Forget? Trump nazi and his henchmen are doing their will. Remain beholden to the Israeli aggressor.

"Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, said cutting the money was "reprehensible."

Worse? Stupid. Achingly, shortsighted.

"Congress wrote this program in a bi-partisan manner to bring together Israelis and Palestinians," Leahy told NPR. "What possible good can come from a policy that drives these people further apart? This is no way to build the trust and confidence needed for real peace in the Middle East."

Trump nazi and his henchmen, cannot, will not be confused with the truth. Ludicrously create their own reality.

Exceptionally telling? Carefully, consider the following:

"Tim Rieser, an aide to Sen. Leahy, said Friday that officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, notified Congress last week that the money cannot be spent on peace and reconciliation programs bringing Israelis together with Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza — only on programs inside Israel for Jews and Palestinian Arab citizens."

Clearly, "The King has no clothes!" Trump and his henchmen remain in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor. That money will be used by the aggressor to further subjugate all Palestinians. Raw nazism. Precisely, where Nazi Germany stood politically when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor in 1933. Portend of far, far worse to come.

"Dave Harden, who oversaw U.S. aid to Palestinians under the Obama administration and now directs the Georgetown Strategy Group, said this funding cut "puts Israelis and Palestinians on a collision course for further conflict."

Precisely, what the Trump nazi, his henchmen, and the Israeli aggressor insanely want.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

9-14-18

Think the Trump nazi capable of ever smartening up? NPR reports:

"The Trump administration has announced further cuts in aid to the Palestinians — this time, cutting money to cover cancer treatments and other critical care for Palestinians at Jerusalem hospitals. A State Department official told NPR the administration is pulling $25 million it had planned to give to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, a group of six hospitals, some church-run, providing care primarily to Palestinians. In past years, U.S. funding covered medical costs for Palestinians to go to these hospitals for treatment unavailable in the West Bank and Gaza — from cardiac and eye surgeries to neonatal intensive care and children's dialysis, according to the World Health Organization."

Here's the egregious aggressive stupidity:

"President Trump said he's cut aid for the Palestinians to pressure them on a peace deal with Israel."

Jesus Christ. This lunatic hasn't a clue. Will strengthen Palestinian resolve:

"This is not surprising at all. Let America know that all these acts will not change our position toward our cause one bit. On the contrary, it consolidates our positions toward every issue, including Jerusalem," said Adnan Husseini, Palestinian Authority minister for Jerusalem affairs."

Worse, incites terrorism. More killing. Additional violence. Feeds the cycle of vicious hostility in the region.

"Dave Harden, a former senior U.S. official overseeing aid to the Palestinians under the Obama administration, called the funding cut "particularly vindictive." He warned it could "cause the collapse" of hospitals including Augusta Victoria Hospital, run by the Lutheran World Federation, and St. John Eye Hospital."

Clearly, Trump is too stupid, too mentally challenged to understand the obvious.

"In a phone call with U.S. Jewish community leaders and rabbis Thursday ahead of the Jewish new year, Trump said he's "stopped massive amounts of money" to the Palestinians, whom he has accused of showing disrespect to the U.S."

The 'president' is too clueless to understand the United States has NEVER been an honest broker of peace in the region. It is insane to believe the Palestinians would have any respect for the United States when it remains solidly in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor. Been so since 1948.

"Trump is seeking to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. But the Palestinian Authority cut ties with the administration after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinians also have claims in the city."

Legitimate claims our formerly great country remains hopelessly indifferent to.

"The Palestinian Authority cut ties with the administration after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinians also have claims in the city."

That's right. A terrible ongoing injustice since 1948.

"The United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money," Trump said, according to a White House transcript of the call. "And I'd say, you'll get money, but we're not paying you until we make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we're not paying. And that's going to have a little impact."

Do you truly think everyone can be bought and paid for, Donny boy? Not everyone is an unprincipled, amoral, nazi piece of crap like you, sir.

"I said, "By the way, did you ever do that before?" I said to some of the past negotiators. "Did you ever do that before? Did you ever use the money angle?" They said, "No, sir. We thought it would be disrespectful." I said, "I don't think it's disrespectful at all. I think it's disrespectful when people don't come to the table," Trump said."

Expect any better of a simple-minded, achingly clueless, hopelessly narcissistic, nazi fuhrer? This piece of human excrement is an embarrassment not only to himself, but our formerly great country.

No end to Trump's aggressive stupidity, shortsightedness. CBS News reports:

"The Trump administration has informed the Palestinian government that its primary office in Washington D.C. will be closed, deepening a rift with the Palestinians and drawing cries of a "dangerous escalation" from their leadership. The move, which U.S. officials were yet to confirm on Monday morning, comes after the White House said over the weekend that it was cutting $25 million in funding for health services in heavily-Palestinian East Jerusalem. Senior Palestinian diplomat Dr. Saeb Erekat confirmed in a statement released Monday that the U.S. government had informed the Palestinian Authority that the office of the Palestine Liberation Organization, effectively the Palestinian parliament, would be shuttered. "We have been notified by a US official of their decision to close the Palestinian Mission to the US. This is yet another affirmation of the Trump Administration's policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people, including by cutting financial support for humanitarian services including health and education," Erekat said in the statement."

Trump and his henchmen apparently, ludicrously believe this will lead to capitulation of the Palestinians to the Israeli aggressor, not more terror in the region.

"Closing the PLO office in D.C. will leave the Palestinians without a formal presence in the U.S. capital. Erekat said the "dangerous escalation shows that the US is willing to disband the international system in order to protect Israeli crimes and attacks against the land and people of Palestine as well as against peace and security in the rest of our region."

What webs we weave. One definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, -- expecting a different result. Yet, the United States has been doing precisely that since 1948.

"The move follows the State Department's late August announcement that the administration is slashing more than $200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinians following a review that President Donald Trump ordered to ensure the spending was aligned with U.S. national interests."

What U.S. 'national interests,' Donny boy? Securing the vote of your achingly sick sycophant base, Mr. 'President?'

"The Palestinians had held out hope that the hospital money would be spared because it was not included in the previously announced cut. On Saturday, the Palestinian Authority denounced the administration's move as "an act of political blackmail."

Proof positive the United States remains, and has been, in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor since 1948. Has not, and cannot be, an honest, trusted broker of peace in the Middle East.

The State Department said the review was intended to make sure the American aid was "being spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and were providing value to the U.S. taxpayer."

Another shameless lie. Unadulterated horse shit. Was done to secure the vote of Trump's sick sycophant base.

"The administration "will be redirecting approximately $25 million originally planned for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network. Those funds will go to high-priority projects elsewhere," the department added. It did not identify the projects."

Why not inform the public as to where you're going to squander this money, Donny boy?

"In response, Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi accused the administration of threatening to cause "serious instability and grave harm" to thousands of patients and their families across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and jeopardize the livelihood of thousands of workers in the Palestinian health care sector."

Our nazi fuhrer couldn't care less.

"Such an act of political blackmail goes against the norms of human decency and morality," Ashrawi said in a statement. "Politics should not trump humanity or harm a vulnerable people in need of support and protection."

Not how things work any longer in our formerly great country. Quite some time.

"The administration announced the original cut in U.S. aid to Palestinians as Mr. Trump and his Middle East advisers prepared to release the U.S. peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians."

Non-sequitur. What does the latter have to do with the former? LOL. Not only that, sheer stupidity for two reasons. First, delusionally believe the Palestinians are going to accept peace on U.S. terms when our fuhrer has cut aid? Second, who the hell is the United States to dictate peace terms to the Palestinians on behalf of the Israeli aggressor?

Ferociously pointedly, why stupidly ensure more unrest, lest stability, and worst of all, more terror in the region, Donny boy? Further proof positive you remain unfit for office, Mr. 'President.'

ABC News reports:

"The Trump administration is closing the Palestinian mission in the U.S. capital because the PLO has attempted to get an international court to prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes, according to multiple administration officials. A provision in a U.S. law says the PLO mission must close if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis for crimes against Palestinians."

Convenient, isn't it? Again, proof positive the United States is not, has not been, and cannot be an honest broker of peace in the Middle East. Zero credibility.

"This is yet another affirmation of the Trump administration's policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people, including by cutting financial support for humanitarian services including health and education," Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said."

Think Russia won't be more than willing to fill the void at some point? Especially, since the brutal Assad dictator seems to have won the war in Syria with Russian help. What webs we weave.

"Closing the PLO mission in Washington almost certainly will stiffen the Palestinians' opposition to any Trump peace plan now being worked on by President Donald Trump's Middle East point men, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt. The Palestinian leadership has been openly hostile to any proposal from the administration, citing what it says is a pro-Israel bias."

Ongoing problem since 1948. Trump's exacerbating the crisis. Certainly, not resolving it.

"One issue the U.S. has had with support for the Palestinian Authority had been its stipends paid to the families of Palestinians killed, injured or jailed for attacks on Israel. Israel and the Trump administration, have repeatedly demanded that those payments from a so-called "martyrs' fund" be halted because they encourage terrorism. PLO President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to do so."

If the United States had not blindly supported the Israeli aggressor no matter what it did and/or didn't do since 1948, this would not have been an issue. Blind support of the Israeli aggressor by the United States all these decades is directly responsible for terror in the region. Root cause. An inconvenient truth our government has been most gutlessly unwilling to admit since 1948.

"Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign promised to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem. The consulate opened in May with a star-studded reception that included the president's daughter, Ivanka and Kushner, as well as Israel's top leaders."

Haughty, Aryan arrogant nazism displayed by Trump, his family, and Israeli war criminals. Highly reminiscent of Nazi Germany, circa 1933, when Hitler took office as Chancellor, the Nazi Fuhrer.

"Israel killed more than 60 Palestinians, including a 14-year-old girl, during protests that followed. It was the bloodiest day since a war between Hamas and Israel ended in 2014. Israel said it is defending its border and accuses Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, of trying to carry out attacks under the cover of the protests."

More unadulterated horse shit, re-write of history. Had the Israeli aggressor not stolen Palestine from the Palestinians in 1948 with the aid and blessing of the United States, Europe, and the United Nations, not done so without prior consultation of the Palestinians, all of this could have been avoided.

"PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi called the U.S. policy "blackmail" that "once again seeks to punish the Palestinian people as a whole who are already victims of the ruthless Israeli military occupation."

Consider the following. Most remarkable. A change in thinking by young Jews in the United States vis a vis Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. Indeed, a welcome breath of fresh air. Ray of hope. NBC News reports:

"For nearly 20 years, the Birthright program has been a rite of passage for hundreds of thousands of young American Jews, who get a free trip to Israel along with a tour that shows the country in a very positive light."

Remarkable change:

"But in recent weeks, the same discomfort that many Americans Jews feel about the current Israeli government, and in particular its continued occupation of the West Bank, has been reflected in some of the tours. An American anti-occupation group, called IfNotNow, has organized walkouts by a few Birthright participants, hoping the resultant publicity will inspire other young tourists to make the same gesture, and pressure American Jews to reassess their support for Israeli policies."

Uncommon valor, especially considering extreme volatility raging across the U.S., currently.

"In June, that led to a chaotic scene on one of the tour buses. Bethany Zaiman of Washington stood up and announced that she and four others would leave the bus to “learn about the occupation from the perspective of Palestinians,” and would visit the West Bank."

Stunning, isn't it? Certainly, rattled the cage of her guide:

"The Israeli tour guide interrupted her several times, and — as seen on a video that was shown on Facebook on June 28 — erupted as the group was leaving. “No Palestinian is going to send me away from here!” the guide said."

If it does not make peace with the Palestinians, Israel will sadly, ultimately wind up in the sea. The American public at some point will finally wake up. When that happens, financial support from the United States will end. Israel on its own, without American support, will likely succumb to its enemies in the region. Massively, outnumbered. Use of its nuclear arsenal would only decimate the entire region.

"Moments later, a male Birthright participant wearing a white T-shirt and holding what appears to be an American flag, pointed at Zaiman and said: “Guess what’s going to happen. You’re going to get killed, you’re going to get raped.” IfNotNow helped stage another walk-off on video a few weeks later. The second group left a Birthright tour and visited a Palestinian family in danger of being evicted from their home in eastern Jerusalem, which was occupied along with the rest of the West Bank in 1967 after the Six-Day War with Israel’s Arab neighbors. Though only a few participants have engaged in walk-offs, the protests have been widely shared on social media and have helped shine a light on the growing disillusionment with Israel that many young American Jews feel."

No question, a hopeful sign. Usually, only the young affect desperately needed change.

"Dubbed radical, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic by some critics, members of IfNotNow say they are tapping into anger at established U.S. Jewish institutions such as Birthright, which they say have hidden the reality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and acted as apologists for a government that has increasingly moved to the hard right. (The group takes its name from a well-known saying of the ancient Rabbi Hillel: “If not now, when?”)

Badly needed breath of fresh air.

"Birthright is “so afraid of the occupation that they’re trying to hide it” from young American Jews, said IfNotNow member Clare Jordan, who was one of a group of activists who came up with the #NotJustAFreeTrip campaign. Meanwhile, Zaiman, who had started getting involved with IfNotNow just before taking the trip to Israel, told NBC News that all her “requests to meet Palestinians were ignored” by Birthright. A spokesman for Birthright Israel denied the organization had a political agenda."

Like the Trump nazi, lies like hell.

"Jordan said it was her Jewish identity and values she was raised with that led her to IfNotNow. She and her sister Leah Jordan — a rabbi who is also active in progressive circles — were raised to love Israel, she said. The family attended synagogue regularly and the sisters went to Jewish summer camp. “I grew up feeling deeply Jewish,” said Jordan, 29-year-old Kansas City native who recently moved to Jerusalem to study Arabic. But in her teens, Jordan realized that not all was how it had been explained to her at camp and in the synagogue, she said."

Has also become quite obvious to those of us not Jewish, but who supported Israel for decades before finally waking up to the truth.

"For her, a change of perspective came during a trip to Hebron, a Palestinian city with a population of over 150,000 in the West Bank. Hundreds of Jewish settlers, who trace the Jewish presence in the city back to the Old Testament, are guarded by Israeli soldiers who, according to rights activists, regularly and unnecessarily raid Palestinian homes. Over the decades, Palestinian streets have been cleared, shops shuttered and homes emptied, with some areas cleared of any Arab presence. “All it took was a split second and I realized this was not a conflict — it was a brutal occupation,” Jordan said of her visit to the city."

Exactly, right. Time for change. Before too late.

"According to Rabbi Sharon Brous of Los Angeles, who leads a progressive non-denominational congregation in Los Angeles, IfNotNow is part of a generational shift among Jewish Americans who are alienated by signs of growing illiberalism in Israel.

“How could it be that my sweet Jewish democratic Israel is now detaining journalists at the border and not letting people into the country and interrogating people based on their political views?” she asked, referring to the recent detention and questioning of Jewish journalists and activists as they arrived or left the country."

Sadly, tragically, Israel, like the United States, is nazifying.

"Among these was Peter Beinart, a prominent liberal American journalist who says he was held and interrogated about his contacts and activities at Ben Gurion Airport in early August. Netanyahu later said the detention was a mistake. The change in attitudes among American Jews has traditionally not burst into the open because criticizing the state of Israel has long been anathema to community leaders, said Brous. “There is a tremendous fear about speaking honestly and openly about these Israeli, about Palestinians struggles, about these complexities, because you could lose your job,” she said. “In the name of loving Israel, we have created a firewall to protect Israeli politicians and Israeli policies that I believe are ultimately undermining Israel’s Jewish and democratic nature.”

Exactly, right. Terrifying. Both the United States and Israel appear to be exactly where Nazi Germany was politically when Hitler became Chancellor in 1933.

"Another example of what many on the left consider to be an illiberal trend is the list of 20 organizations Israel has banned from entering the country because, the government says, they back the BDS movement, which supports boycotts, divestment, and sanctions on Israel. While it has been fiercely resisted by Israeli officials, it continues to make headway. Last week the pop singer Lana Del Rey became one of many performers to cancel appearances in the country, in her case at a major music festival."

Will certainly increase pressure on the Israeli aggressor.

"Even prominent mainstream Jewish leaders in the U.S. are starting to publicly criticize Israel’s government. On Aug. 13, Ronald Lauder — president of the World Jewish Congress — wrote an op-ed article in The New York Times listing a litany of complaints and government U-turns, including the controversial nation-state law which many believe demotes non-Jewish minorities to second-class citizens. “These events are creating the impression that the democratic and egalitarian dimensions of the Jewish democratic state are being tested,” he wrote."

Indeed.

"Another Jewish figure who was recently detained and questioned was Simone Zimmerman, a co-founder of IfNotNow who was stopped on the Egypt-Israel border in early August. “They asked me if I knew Palestinians repeatedly,” she said. “In their eyes, knowing Palestinians, caring about Palestinians, having anything to do with Palestinians is a threat.” The incident, which lasted several hours and was a “warning,” should be put into context, she said because non-Jewish travelers regularly endure far worse treatment."

Highly reminiscent of Hitler's Nazis in 1933. Portend of far worse to come.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

9-7-18

Palestinians continue to stand tall. Against the Israeli aggressor as well as the Trump nazi. The Washington Post reports:

"A decision to end all U.S. funding for the United Nations program aiding millions of Palestinian refugees will not bring an end to their belief in the “right to return” to land that is now part of Israel, Palestinians said Friday. The Trump administration is expected to announce in the coming weeks that it is stopping its contributions to the more than $1 billion annual cost of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, a U.S. official told The Washington Post this week. The administration will also call for a reduction in the number of Palestinians officially recognized as refugees, from the more than 5 million who are counted today to the few hundred thousand alive when the agency was created seven decades ago, the official said."

Readers are reminded this land was stolen from the Palestinians in 1948 by the United States, Europe, and the United Nations, summarily bequeathed to survivors of the Holocaust without consultation, negotiation, and agreement of those from whom the land was taken. Blatant, shameless, unabashed theft.

"The pullback is part of the administration’s efforts to recalculate U.S. foreign aid spending. It is also a response, in the words of Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to continued Palestinian hostility toward America, which has intensified following U.S. policy changes that Palestinians deem pro-Israeli."

Haley, the Trump nazi, and the rest of his henchmen can't, won't be confused by the truth.

"Palestinians, who remain angry over a decision by Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the U.S. Embassy there, said the administration’s moves would have little impact on their right to return to the land they lost when Israel was created in 1948. Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the Trump administration had disqualified itself from having a role in any future peace process."

The United States has never ever never been an honest broker of peace in the region. As always, been in the pocket of the Israeli aggressor.

“By cutting aid, the U.S. is violating international law,” Erekat said. He argued that “UNRWA is not a Palestinian agency” but was established by the United Nations, “and there is an international obligation to assist and support it until all the problems of the Palestinian refugees are solved.”

The United States does as it pleases. Usually, with impunity. Often becomes a law unto itself. Particularly, under the Trump nazi.

"Erekat added: “Some may argue that it is U.S. taxpayers’ money and that it is up to them how it is spent. But by the same token, who gave Trump the damn right to steal my land and my capital and my future and my aspirations and my freedom by deciding to blindly support the occupying power called Israel?”

Exactly right. Might makes right. Forget?

"On a practical level, Erekat also predicted that the end of UNRWA would spell disaster for all the places where large numbers of Palestinians refugees reside, leaving them at risk for recruitment by extremist groups such as the Islamic State."

What webs we weave. We consistently put our noses where they don't belong. Then, bemoan the terror this generates. Think we'll ever learn?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

8-3-18

Shoot to kill or maim a Palestinian in occupied territory if you're an Israeli soldier, guess what? You're considered a hero. Slap and kick an Israeli soldier if you're a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, guess what? Do eight months in an Israeli prison gulag. Anything wrong with this picture? Anything at all?

NPR reports:

"Seventeen-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi has been released from Israeli prison after serving an eight-month sentence for slapping Israeli soldiers during a confrontation that went viral on the Internet. The teen has become a symbol of resistance for many Palestinians; for many Israelis, she's seen as a provocateur."

Since when is it a crime to fight for liberation of territory held by the Israeli aggressor the last seventy years? ... After Israelite ancestors of that very same aggressor lost it for generations due to their excesses. -- Only for survivors of the Nazi Holocaust to be conveniently bequeathed it by the United States, the United Nations, and Europe in 1948. Ironically, Nazi justice. Immediately after Hitler and his bastards had just been defeated.

"Tamini was greeted by jubilant crowds in her village of Nabi Saleh, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as she smiled and embraced family members. "Power to the people," she said. "The people can decide their way of resistance." Tamimi called for continued resistance to Israeli occupation. Last year, her mother posted a video on social media that showed her kicking and slapping Israeli soldiers outside her family home. It went viral and led to her arrest in December. Her trial opened in February at an Israeli military court and in March she agreed to plead guilty to charges including assault."

Big mistake. Should have told the Israeli aggressor to go to hell. Chosen to rot in the Israeli gulag for however long it took to get the message across. Insult to injury, her mother did the same amount of time in an Israeli gulag for posting the video. Jesus Christ. Touchy, aren't they? LOL.

"As part of her agreement, Tamimi pleaded guilty to four counts of assault, including the videotaped slapping of an Israeli soldier," according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "In addition to the eight month jail sentence, she was to pay a fine of 5,000 shekels ($1,437)." Her mother Nariman was also released on Sunday."

Always a mistake to cave in, acquiesce to an aggressor. Reinforces jackbooted nazi behavior. ... Right, Sheriff?

"Asked if she'd do it again — slap the soldiers the way she did — Tamimi said she couldn't say much for fear of re-arrest. "I hope that the occupation will be gone so I won't even think about doing these things again," she added."

That's not going to happen any time soon. Until the government of the United States finally wakes up, stops supporting the Israeli aggressor, nothing will change. Sadly, there will be more unwanted dreaded carnage. ... Think Texans themselves wouldn't fight like hell if Mexico attempted to retake our state? Think armed Texans would wait for the U.S. military to arrive?

"Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Tamimi and her family after her release. According to a statement released by the official Wafa news agency, Abbas "praised Ahed and described her as a model of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, independence and statehood."

That's right. We're on the wrong side of history. Perpetrating an unspeakable injustice on the Palestinians. Fueling ongoing conflict in the region. When will we smarten up? This could have been handled far differently in 1948. Should have been fully negotiated by all parties including the Palestinians. Should have been able to find a way to live side by side in the region. Instead, Israel will ultimately lose at some point in the future.

"Tamimi's protest gained international attention and many human rights groups were critical of her detention. Amnesty International called her release "welcome news" but stressed that other Palestinian minors are facing difficult circumstances in Israeli prisons."

Their gulags are no better than ours in Nazi America. ... Right, Sheriff?

"Ahed Tamimi's release must not obscure the familiar and continuing story of the Israeli military using discriminatory policies to lock up Palestinian children," said Saleh Higazi, the head of Amnesty's Jerusalem office. "Her unjust imprisonment is a reminder of how the Israeli occupation uses the arbitrary military courts to punish those who challenge the occupation and illegal settlements expansion policies, without any regard to age."

Same happens right here in Nazi America. ... Right, Sheriff? No justice.

The Israeli aggressor remains hopelessly clueless:

"Israeli Cabinet minister Uri Ariel told The Associated Press that he thinks Israel should respond more strictly. "I think Israel acts too mercifully with these types of terrorists. Israel should treat harshly those who hit its soldiers," he told the wire service. "We can't have a situation where there is no deterrence. Lack of deterrence leads to the reality we see now ... we must change that."

No, Mr. Ariel. Wake up. It's blatant theft of Palestinian land 70 years ago, land your ancestors rightfully lost generations ago, that is the problem. Prime mover in this ongoing struggle. Precisely, why the State of Israel will likely, needlessly, sadly be destroyed at some point in the future when the United States finally wakes up. Withdraws all financial and military support. Your nuclear stockpile won't be enough to ensure your survival. Will only take everyone in the region down with you.

"Ahed's father Bassem Tamimi, who is also a well-known activist, has told NPR that her altercation with soldiers happened shortly after her cousin was shot in the head with rubber bullet as he was climbing the wall of a complex that Israeli soldiers had taken control of. He said her protest was an understandable response to growing up watching her relatives be killed and wounded."

The Israeli aggressor is not just using rubber bullets. Wake up. We're on the wrong side of history. That entire region is a powder keg. No good will come of any of this. Just more misery and death. More injustice. No peace.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

6-15-18

Fiasco in Gaza continues. CBS News reports:

"Israeli troops fired live rounds and tear gas as thousands of Palestinians protested near the Gaza border fence Friday, and at least four demonstrators were killed, including a teenage boy, with over 600 wounded, Gaza health officials said. More than 100 of the wounded, including a photographer for the French news agency Agence Press France, were hit by live fire, the officials added, as the demonstrators burned tires, threw stones and flew flaming kites in the latest in a series of mass protests to call attention to a decade-old blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-25-18

More of the same. NBC reports:

"Israel carried out airstrikes on Hamas sites in Gaza early Thursday, hours after the militant organization said most of the protesters killed by Israeli fire this week were its members."

Think so? All those men, women and children? Believe it? Indeed, convenient propaganda for both Hamas and the Israeli aggressor. Certainly, suits both their agendas, doesn't it? Worse? Ignores reality the last seventy years in the region.

"Salah Bardawil, a senior Hamas official, told Palestinian news outlet Baladna TV that 50 out of the 60 who died on Monday were members of his organization, while the rest were civilians."

That the case? Then, why were nearly all of them unarmed?

"Hamas won elections in 2006 and has run Gaza since the end of a violent power struggle the following year. Israel has long argued that Hamas has used the protests, which began on March 30, as cover for terrorist attacks or attempts to infiltrate its border."

Convenient for the Israeli aggressor, isn't it? Anything to divert attention to the ongoing atrocity perpetrated by the aggressor the last seventy years. Forget? These bastards invaded, stole Palestinian land seventy years ago. With the blessing of the United States, the UN, and Europe. Have been stealing additional land and killing Palestinians ever since.

"Human rights groups say an affiliation with a militant group is irrelevant if they were unarmed and did not pose an immediate threat to the lives of soldiers when they were shot."

That's right. Netanyahu and his henchmen need to be hauled to The Hague and prosecuted.

"Bardawil did not elaborate on whether the 50 were fighters or associates, and his number could not be verified. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that his country's military had “similar figures” and would continue its action along the border."

Neither Hamas or the Israeli aggressor can or will be confused by the truth.

“They are not defending us from some civilian demonstrations,” he wrote. “This is a warlike move by Hamas. That is why Israel will continue to defend itself for as long as necessary and will not allow those who call for its destruction to storm its borders and threaten our communities.”

Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister. You and your henchmen are no different than your German Nazi oppressors, circa 1933. Certainly, no less evil than your Nazi oppressors at the beginning of Hitler's Third Reich. Clearly, the worst is yet to come.

"Protesters are demanding that Israel allows the millions of Palestinians whose families left or were forcibly removed from Israel at its founding to return. Refugees and their descendants make up more than two-thirds of Gaza's population."

Sadly, the above is precisely why there will be no end to the violence any time soon.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-18-18

The Israeli aggressor is increasingly out of control. CBS News reports:

"Thousands of Palestinians gathered Friday at Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, near the border fence that separates the Palestinian territory from Israel. CBS News correspondent Holly Williams said their anger and frustration was plain to see."

Indeed. The region remains a powder keg.

"For six weeks they've held these demonstrations, charging at the fence that cuts the Palestinians of Gaza off from the outside world because of a more-than-10-year blockade which has exacerbated their poverty."

-- An Israeli boot heel on the throats of the Palestinians.

"The Israelis have responded to the protesters hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails and burning tires with bullets and tear gas. They've killed at least 41 and injured almost 2,000 since the protests began on March 30. Gaza Health Ministry said one Palestinian was killed and 49 were wounded by Israeli army fire on Friday. Many of the Palestinian protesters are peaceful, and Israel says it only targets protesters who threaten the border."

Like the Trump nazi, the Israeli aggressor remains a congenital liar.

"In a statement on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said about 5,000 Palestinians were taking part in "riots" along the border. "The rioters are violent, burning tires and hurling rocks at the security fence and at IDF soldiers and launching kites with burning items attached to them with the intention of igniting fires in Israeli territory. IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means and are firing in accordance with the rules of engagement," the Israeli military said, vowing to defend the border "and ensure the security of the citizens of Israel and Israeli sovereignty, as necessary."

What the Israelis are doing is gutlessly murdering, deliberately maiming Palestinians.

"The Palestinians want the right to return to land they were forced to leave behind in 1948 when the state of Israeli was formed. There are about 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza, and two-thirds of them are refugees or decedents of refugees. The protests will culminate next Tuesday, May 15, on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Israel -- a day the Palestinians refer to as "an-Nakba," or "the catastrophe." The Hamas militant group's leader in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that protesters would be unarmed and peaceful next week, but he also compared them to a "starving tiger," and held out the possibility that tens of thousands of people could try to burst through the fence and swarm into Israel."

Should that happen, the Israeli aggressor will wholesale murder them.

"While Yehiyeh Sinwar repeatedly said he hoped to avoid bloodshed, he gave no indication that his group would try to hold back the expected large crowds -- a scenario that could trigger a potentially lethal Israeli response. In his first meeting with foreign press since taking office last year, Sinwar said residents of blockaded Gaza are so desperate their actions are impossible to predict. He also claimed that Israel's borders are not internationally recognized and do not have to be respected."

If not, your people will be murdered by the Israelis.

"What's the problem if hundreds of thousands storm this fence which is not a border of a state? What's the problem with that?" he said."

Your people will be murdered by the Israeli aggressor. Should that happen, think the Trump nazi won't be in full support of Netanyahu?

"Israel has said it will defend its border. It accuses Hamas of exploiting civilians and using the chaotic scenes to stage attacks. Sinwar said the demonstrations were aimed at breaking the blockade, and also as a protest against Monday's planned move of the U.S. Embassy to contested Jerusalem."

Insult to injury? NPR reports:

"Come Monday, Jerusalem will be the official home of the U.S. Embassy to Israel.

"By recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the seat of its government, we're recognizing reality," said new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a May meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

What you and your fuhrer are doing is determinedly, concertedly distorting it. Imposing a de facto settlement on the Palestinians.

"When Trump declared last year that the U.S. Embassy would be relocated — "the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians" — it triggered both euphoria and condemnation."

What it did is ensure there will be no peace.

"The United Nations General Assembly voted 128-9 to reject the Trump administration's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and approved a nonbinding resolution for countries to avoid moving their embassies to the city."

Remarkably, the UN stepped up. Unlike the Israeli aggressor and the Trump nazi, demonstrated some semblance of sanity.

"In the Gaza Strip, protesters immediately took to the streets to denounce the move and burn Israeli and American flags. "This is a black day for peace in the Middle East," Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.S., told NPR."

What it does is exacerbate an untenable, unsustainable status quo.

"On Wednesday, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, said that protests on the Israeli border will be "decisive" and that Hamas leaders "are ready to die along with tens of thousands," reported The Times of Israel."

That would be a terrible mistake. Horrific loss of life. The U.S. will eventually come to its senses. -- Despite the fact we've been out to lunch vis a vis this issue 70 years. Eventually, we will smarten up. Realize the horrible mistake made all these decades. When that happens, there will be change.

"But U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman praised the move from the first day, taking to Twitter to say, "Today .@POTUS displayed the ultimate test of leadership and courage by standing up for what's just and true, even in the face of stiff opposition. Jerusalem is Israel's capital today as it was 3000 years ago. Congratulations to .@realDonaldTrump for this historic decision."

This isn't 3000 years ago. Appalling, unadulterated horse shit. What we have here is a fascist dictator in what used to be a democratic republic imposing de facto settlement terms on the Palestinians. This stupidly ensures continuing violence.

Insult to injury? 1984 double-speak? Get this:

"By taking the long-overdue step of moving our embassy, we are not taking a position on final status issues. We are not taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, nor on the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved. We remain committed to advancing an agreement between the parties that leads to a lasting and comprehensive peace," Edgar Vasquez, spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told NPR."

Disingenuous bullshit. This man is either delusional or a liar. This is de facto imposition of a settlement by the Trump nazi and his henchmen that guaranties unending violence.

The slaughter continues. NPR reports:

"Tens of thousands of Palestinians are protesting the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, and Israeli army forces have killed 43 protesters, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry also says some 2,200 people have been hurt in demonstrations and clashes. More than 35,000 people are protesting along the Gaza border, the Israel Defense Forces say. The army says it killed three protesters who were trying to set a bomb next to the security fence in Rafah. It's the most deaths in one day the area has seen since the summer of 2014, when more than 2,000 Palestinians died. The number of casualties rose steadily on Monday, as the opening of the American embassy at 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) neared. The health ministry published a list of the dead, showing that their ages ranged from 14 to 39 years old."

Sadly, tragically, catastrophically, this is likely the beginning of far, far worse to come.

"As news of the violence spread, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres – who is slated to visit President Trump in Washington on Friday – said he is "particularly worried" about what he called "the high number of people killed," according to the AP. The embassy's controversial opening comes as Israel marks its creation 70 years ago – an event that Palestinians refer to as Nakba – Catastrophe – because that development also turned more than 700,000 Palestinians into refugees. "A great day for Israel!" President Trump tweeted on Monday. He also told his followers to watch Fox News for coverage of the embassy's opening."

Once again, the Trump nazi has disgraced himself and our formerly great country.

The following quote is highly representative of precisely how perverse, achingly psychotic the Israeli aggressor has become:

"Discussing the dozens of deaths today, Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that the rising number "doesn't indicate anything – just as the number of Nazis who died in the World War doesn't make Nazism something you can explain or understand. There is one truth."

Jesus Christ. Like Bebe Netanyahu, this man has lost his mind. He's insane. Quote is a non-sequitur. The Israelis have become so deluded they fail to see they're quickly becoming to the Palestinians what their German Nazi oppressors were to them circa 1933 at the beginning of the Third Reich.

Insult to injury? Height of delusion? Get this:

"That quote comes from Haaretz, which says Erdan also blames Hamas for encouraging a "cynical and malicious use of bloodshed."

Pot calling the kettle black.

"Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Trump announced last December that he would break with the consensus of America's allies and decades of tradition by recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital, and moving the embassy there from Tel Aviv."

Trump is directly responsible for this latest round of carnage.

"The rioters are hurling firebombs & explosive devices, burning tires, throwing rocks, & attempting to ignite fires in Israeli territory," the army said via Twitter. "IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means and fire, and are operating according to standard operating procedures."

What your troops are doing is murdering Palestinians. Have been murdering Palestinians since invading their land in 1948, killing them ever since. Stealing ever more territory. This land was lost generations ago due to excesses perpetrated by the Israelites. You continue to re-write history. Seem to think you're entitled to this land by divine right. That's delusional.

"We are witnessing an abhorrent violation of international law & human rights in Gaza," Amnesty International said of Monday's violence. The organization says six of the dead are under 18 years old, and more than 500 people were wounded by live ammunition, adding, "This must end immediately."

Sadly, it will not. This insanity will only end when the American public finally wakes up. Fully understands it's been bamboozled. Withdraws all aid and assistance to the Israeli aggressor. Cuts off all trade with the aggressor. Encourages the world to do the same. Until that happens, nothing changes.

"As NPR's Camila Domonoske reported when Trump announced the change in December, the president said that "his announcement does not mean the U.S. is taking a position on any possible future peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians or on the 'final status' of Jerusalem after such talks."

Delusional horse shit. Trump has, in effect, imposed a settlement. To claim otherwise is to deny reality and intent. ... Despite all lies to the contrary. His following statement is proof positive:

"Today we finally acknowledge the obvious," Trump said. "This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality."

Read it a second time. He's desperately attempting to impose a settlement on the Palestinians. Has egregiously failed. Precisely, why the Israelis are murdering them on the border en masse.

The Israeli aggressor clearly understands brown-nosing works on the Trump nazi:

"To thank Trump for his decision, Jerusalem's mayor, Nir Barkat, renamed a square near the new U.S. outpost. Secretary Mnuchin received a plaque today bearing its new name: "United States Square in honor of President Donald J. Trump."

Jesus Christ. Give me a break. LOL. Shameless.

Great evil. More of the same. A Catch-22. NPR reports:

"President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital has removed the Palestinians' "right of veto" on the move and allowed the parties to focus on more important issues, the U.S. ambassador to Israel tells NPR."

Consider his convoluted 'reasoning':

"David Friedman, in an interview with Morning Edition, says he believes, as does the president, that such a veto was for the Palestinians "an inappropriate card to play."

Think so? Here comes the rabid insanity:

"I think the move is going to permit the parties to focus on the issues that are first of all important and second of all solvable," Friedman tells host Steve Inskeep. "What the president did when he made this decision was to remove from the Palestinians the right to veto recognition by the United States and other countries of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," he said."

He's delusional. The Palestinians no longer are at the table. Will not return in the near future, -- if at all. Rightfully, claim the United States is not an honest broker of peace. We're not. Have not been since 1948. Clearly, the Palestinians prefer to die fighting the Israeli aggressor at the fence. Think the murder of these people by the Israeli aggressor is not doing great damage to Israel in the world community?

"Friedman says the Jerusalem question was standing in the way of "legitimate points" on the Palestinian side of negotiations. "Palestinians have legitimate issues. They have," he said without elaborating on them. "They have arguments that they have advanced [and] they will continue to advance." Arguing that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel is "just not ... a fair point for them to make," he said."

It's commandeered territory captured during the 1967 War. To say nothing of that stolen in 1948 at the time of the invasion. If at least part of it is not returned, there will be no peace. Clearly, Friedman is too delusional to understand this.

CBS News reports:

"Saeb Erekat, a senior Abbas aide, blasted the Trump administration Monday, saying Mr. Trump had violated a promise to hold off on moving the embassy to give peace talks a chance and that his administration is "based on lies." Erekat said the Trump administration has "become part of the problem, not part of the solution." He suggested Mr. Trump's Mideast team was unqualified, saying "the world needs real leaders, and those (White House officials) are real estate dealers, not leaders."

"Protester Mohammed Hamami, 40, said the march was a "message to Israel and its allies that we will never give up on our land." Most Gaza residents are descendants of refugees from the Mideast war over Israel's 1948 creation. Gaza's Hamas rulers said tens of thousands were expected to head to the border Monday and raised the possibility of large crowds breaking through the fence. With Israel and Hamas digging in, there has been growing concern about large numbers of casualties. Monday's march is part of a weekslong campaign, led by Hamas and fueled by despair among Gaza's 2 million people, to break the decade-old border blockade of the territory by Israel and Egypt."

We're on the wrong side of history. Will wind up profoundly regretting it. Horrendous injustice.

"Netanyahu praised Mr. Trump's "bold decision" in upending decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "It's the right thing to do," a smiling Netanyahu told the jubilant crowd at a reception in Jerusalem late Sunday."

What it does is guaranty endless violence.

"Although Mr. Trump has said his declaration does not set the final borders of the city, his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital has been perceived by both Israel and the Palestinians as taking Israel's side in the most sensitive issue in their conflict. Only two countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, have said they will follow suit. Most of the world maintains embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the Jerusalem issue must first be resolved. In a reflection of the deep sensitivities, dozens of countries -- including Britain, France and Germany -- skipped a celebration Sunday night at the Israeli Foreign Ministry."

The Washington Post reports:

"At the barrier, young men threw stones and tried to launch kites carrying flames in hopes of burning crops on the other side. Most of the demonstrators, though, were peaceful, protesting the loss of their homes and villages and the embassy move. Occasional sporadic gunfire could be heard over the noise of the crowd, and a constant stream of ambulances roared back and forth from the fence, ferrying away the wounded."

Uncommon Valor:

"Nirma Attalah, 29, said the deaths were just galvanizing Gaza residents to keep on demonstrating despite weeks of losses. “My brother was shot in the head in this place,” she said, adding that it was two weeks earlier. She had come on Monday with her whole extended family to the protest. “We are here for Jerusalem, for Palestinian land,” she said."

Height of folly? Epitome of nazi Aryan arrogance? Galling bullshit? Get this:

"Israel dropped leaflets urging Palestinians to stay away from the fence. “Save your lives and work on building your futures,” the leaflets said."

There is no future for the Palestinians. You've stolen their land. Continue to steal additional land. Continue to murder and maim them. You are no better than your German Nazi oppressors circa 1933 at the beginning of Hitler's Third Reich. Clearly, far worse is yet to come.

“People have come out of the rubble to say we will not forget our rights,” said Yousef Abu Saleh, 25. “The American administration is adopting the Israeli story and stealing our right of return.” While some said they would abide by official calls to keep the demonstrations peaceful, others talked about their enthusiasm to break into Israel and wreak havoc. “We are excited to storm and get inside,” said 23-year-old Mohammed Mansoura. When asked what he would do inside Israel, he said, “Whatever is possible, to kill, throw stones.”

The Israelis will be dealing with this indefinitely.

"The Israel Defense Forces said at least 35,000 people were protesting in 12 different places along the fence — more than twice as many locations as in past weeks of protest. “Especially violent riots” took place near the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where three people were killed after trying to plant an explosive, the army added. The military also said it would “act forcefully against any terrorist activity,” and it carried out an airstrike on Hamas military posts in northern Gaza after its troops came under fire."

The Israeli aggressor has itself become the epitome of terrorism:

"Before Monday, Israeli snipers had already killed nearly 50 Palestinians in the unrest at the fence, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and wounded 2,240 more."

Didn't end there:

"The embassy move has added extra friction to what was already a highly charged week. Scuffles broke out in Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday as Israelis celebrated the “reunification” of the city, an annexation not recognized internationally. The opening of the embassy on Monday is followed by Nakba Day on Tuesday — when Palestinians mark the anniversary of mass expulsions and flight that displaced an estimated 700,000 people when Israel was founded 70 years ago.

"The result has been the incongruous juxtaposition of a star-studded gala, including first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, in Jerusalem while Palestinians prepare for demonstrations not far away. As guests sipped wine in front of a stage with a backdrop of American and Israeli flags Sunday, the mosques in Gaza were urging people to attend protests."

Trump has done great damage internationally that will likely take generations to remedy.

"More than 70 percent of Palestinians living in Gaza are refugees or descendants of refugees from areas in Israel, and the demonstrations have rallied for their U.N.-endorsed right of return. “Our people have the right to break the walls of this big prison,” Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, said in a briefing with foreign journalists on Sunday. “We went out to knock the wall of the prison and declare it clearly that we won’t accept to die slowly.” Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza in 2005, though the United Nations still classifies it as occupied because of the level of control wielded by Israel, which restricts the movement of people and goods. Egypt has also only sporadically opened its border."

The Palestinians live under the boot heel of the Israeli aggressor. Our formerly great country is complicit in this ongoing atrocity. Without support of the United States, the Israeli aggressor would not have been able to do this, nor continue to do so.

NBC reports:

"The White House on Monday blamed Hamas for the deaths of dozens of Palestinians in clashes between protesters and the Israeli military."

Our nazi fuhrer is directly responsible for this latest clash. Here's precisely why:

"The protests on the border between the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip and Israel, in which some participants burned tires and hurled rocks, came as the U.S. held a ceremony marking the opening of its new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, reflecting the Trump administration's recognition of that city as the capital of Israel."

The nazis in the White House would not, could not, be confused with reality:

"We believe that Hamas is responsible for what's going on," White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah said when NBC's Peter Alexander asked whether the U.S. agreed with France's call for Israel to exercise "discretion" and "restraint" in its response to the Palestinian demonstrations in which tens of thousands took part. Pressed on whether that means the U.S. advice to Israel is "kill at will," Shah replied, "We believe that Hamas as an organization is engaged in cynical action that is leading to these deaths."

This fascist bastard is defending, justifying murders perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor.

"He added, "The responsibility for these tragic deaths rests squarely with Hamas. Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response. And as the Secretary of State said, Israel has the right to defend itself."

More egregious distortion of reality to justify the unjustifiable. The Trump nazi is directly responsible for this latest clash, not Hamas, the Trump nazi.

"Shah did not elaborate on why Hamas, an organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and Israel, bears responsibility for the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, opening fire on the crowd. In addition to the deaths, nearly 2,000 Palestinians were wounded."

What could this achingly clueless, fascist son of a bitch say in defense of the indefensible? That is, blatant murder and maiming of Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor?

Gets worse:

"Several high-ranking Trump administration officials, including Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and adviser, attended the embassy opening in Jerusalem Monday. Her husband, Jared Kushner, spoke briefly about the protests at the event. "As we have seen from the protests of the last month, and even today, those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution," he said."

Your father-in-law, the Trump nazi, is the problem. ... To say nothing of the Israeli aggressor.

"Those remarks, which appear to dovetail with Shah's assessment of blame, were not included in an official White House transcript of Kushner's speech."

Remarkable, isn't it?

More appalling? Consider the following:

"The White House also declined to explain why American ministers Robert Jeffress and John Hagee had been invited to participate in Monday's embassy event given past controversial statements, including a remark by Jeffress that "religions like Mormonism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism...lead people to an eternity of separation from God in Hell" and a comment by Hagee that seemed to suggest Hitler had been part of a divine plan to force Jews to move to the land of Israel. Shah did distance Trump from that rhetoric. "Those aren't remarks that the president agrees with," he said."

They're not? Then why were these two nazi bastards invited to the event?

The Washington Post reports:

"Gaza residents buried their dead Tuesday as the death toll for Palestinians killed by Israeli forces at the Gaza boundary fence climbed to at least 60 after several succumbed to injuries overnight, according to local health officials. Monday’s demonstrations, which coincided with the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, drew a level of bloodshed not seen in Gaza since a 2014 war with Israel. Israel’s use of live ammunition has drawn widespread condemnation, notably from Turkey, which expelled the Israeli ambassador on Tuesday after recalling its envoys to Israel and the United States."

Time for the world community to rise to the occasion. Isolate the Israeli aggressor. Cut off trade, all relations.

"Further protests were planned as residents buried their dead and prepared to mark the anniversary of Israel’s founding, known to Palestinians as the “Nakba,” or “Catastrophe.” More than two-thirds of Gaza’s population is descended from refugees who were displaced at the time of Israel’s creation 70 years ago."

Precisely, why this conflict will not be resolved any time soon.

"The death toll on Monday more than doubled the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza during six weeks of demonstrations, dubbed the “March of Return.” More than 2,700 people were injured Monday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, including 1,359 from live ammunition. The dead included at least six children under the age of 18, among them a 15-year-old girl, the ministry said. Her family said she was 14."

Unarmed people murdered by the Israeli aggressor.

"The U.N. human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, said Tuesday that while Israel has a right to defend itself, lethal force should be a last resort and was not justified against people just approaching the fence. He condemned Monday’s “appalling deadly violence.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the continuing “massacre” of the Palestinian people. South Africa joined Turkey in announcing it was recalling its ambassador from Israel. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called on Muslim countries to review their ties with Israel in the wake of the violence. Netanyahu later attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter, saying that he “is one of the great supporters of Hamas, and there is no doubt that he understands terror and the massacres well, and I suggest that he not preach morality to us.”

Wake up, Mr. Netanyahu. You have no morality, sir. None. You and your forces murder innocent unarmed Palestinians who approach your fence. Your forebears stole land from the Palestinians in 1948, have been stealing additional land and killing Palestinians ever since. The Israeli aggressor is not immoral, it's amoral, that is, without any morals at all.

“Every country must protect its borders,” Netanyahu wrote in a tweet. “Hamas is a terrorist organization that states its intention to destroy Israel and it sends thousands of people to breach the border fence to realize this goal. We will continue to act firmly to protect our sovereignty and our citizens.”

Wake up, Mr. Netanyahu. The Israeli aggressor isn't itself a terrorist organization? Give me a break. An American-supplied Israeli F-16 dropping a 2000 lb. bomb in a highly-populated Palestinian neighborhood in direct violation of U.S. export law requiring such weapons be used only for defensive purposes is not an egregious act of terror? Murdering innocent unarmed Palestinians approaching your fence not an act of terror? Your hypocrisy? Stunning. You and your henchmen clearly demonstrate precisely who and what you are. Nazis. Highly reminiscent of Hitler's early Third Reich circa 1933.

NPR reports:

"One day after Israeli forces fired on protesters and killed 60 Palestinians along the Gaza border, the U.N.'s human rights commissioner says that those who were shot included women, children, journalists, first responders and bystanders. "We condemn the appalling, deadly violence in Gaza yesterday," said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. While acknowledging that some Palestinian demonstrators tried to damage the barbed wire fence that separates Gaza from Israel, Colville said that in the commissioner's view, attempts to cross or damage a fence "do not amount to a threat to life or serious injury and are not sufficient grounds for the use of live ammunition." Lethal force, he said, should only be a measure of last resort."

Our formerly great country has clearly lost itself. To support the Israeli aggressor as it murders innocent unarmed Palestinians en masse runs counter to everything this nation once stood for. Have once again disgraced ourselves.

In the Trump Regime, day is night, night is day, and shit smells perversely sweet. Think not? Get this. The Washington Post reports:

"The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday said Israel had reacted with restraint in its military response to protesters at the Gaza border and dismissed suggestions the violence was caused by the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem."

The Israeli aggressor murders sixty Palestinians, nearly all of them unarmed, peaceful, and approaching a fence, and you claim "Israel had reacted with restraint?" Wake up, Madam Ambassador. Aggressive stupidity remains, and is, unbecoming.

"Nikki Haley told the Security Council that Hamas, backed by Iran, had incited the violence by urging protesters over loudspeakers to burst through the fence separating the borders and flying kites into Israel with molotov cocktails attached."

Wake up, Madam Ambassador. Hamas is not ultimately responsible for this latest savagery displayed by the Israeli aggressor. Your nazi fuhrer in the Oval Office is. Conveniently, forget? The clueless narcissist moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem knowing full well carnage would result.

“I ask my colleagues here in the Security Council: Who among us would accept this type of activity on your border?” Haley said. “No one would. No country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has.”

Have you conveniently forgotten, Madam Ambassador? The Israeli aggressor invaded Palestine in 1948, stole land it rightfully lost generations ago due to its excesses. Did so with the blessing of the United States, Europe, and the UN. Continues to steal land and kill Palestinians doing their best to confront that aggressor. -- Truly believe Texans would idly stand by and do nothing should Mexico attempt to reclaim Texas?

Wake up, Ms. Haley. The aggressor you so haughtily protect and defend is becoming increasingly more and more like its Nazi Germany oppressor circa 1933 at the beginning of Hitler's Third Reich. Would not be able to commit the atrocities it does against the Palestinians without aid from the United States. Eventually, the American public will finally wake up and realize we have been, and are, on the wrong side of history. When that day finally arrives, things will finally change.

"From U.S. allies to adversaries, most ambassadors added their opposition to the U.S. Embassy move to their remarks on the violence. “The unilateral decision by the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem does nothing but inflame spirits,” said Sacha Llorenti, Bolivia’s envoy. “The United States, which supports the occupying power, has become an obstacle to peace. It has become part of the problem, not part of the solution.” Karen Pierce, the British ambassador, expressed support for an investigation into Monday’s killings, then stated London’s position on the U.S. Embassy’s opening. “Our position on the status of Jerusalem and moving the American embassy is well known,” she said. “The status of Jerusalem should be determined in a negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states.”

We're on the wrong side of history, Madam Ambassador. No one should understand that better than you. What's your problem, Ms. Haley? -- Your nazi fuhrer right or wrong?

"Haley, speaking at the beginning of the session, said the location of the U.S. Embassy has no bearing on whatever Israelis and Palestinians might negotiate and described the opening of the facility as “a cause for celebration.”

You and your fuhrer have lost your minds, Madam Ambassador.

“It reflects the will of the American people,” she said."

The hell it does, Ms. Haley. Reflects the will of your achingly clueless nazi fuhrer.

“It reflects our sovereign right to decide the location of our embassy."

Reflects profound aggressive stupidity, extreme shortsightedness.

"Importantly, moving our embassy to Jerusalem also reflects the reality that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel."

The hell it is. By whose decree? The United States? Europe? The UN? The Bible? Wake up, Madam Ambassador.

Coup de grace? Epitome of insanity?

"Recognizing this reality makes real peace more achievable, not less.”

Like it did this past week, Madam Ambassador?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-4-18

Israeli aggressor shows its murderous true colors. CBS News reports:

"Hundreds of Palestinians converged on the Gaza Strip's border fence with Israel on Friday, trying to rip through it before drawing heavy Israeli fire in one of the most violent incidents yet in five weeks of protests. Three Palestinians were killed and dozens were reported wounded. The violence came shortly after a top U.N. official urged Israel to refrain from using excessive force against the protesters. At least 38 protesters have been killed by Israeli live fire and more than 1,600 wounded in the weekly protests since they began March 30. Israel has rejected the international criticism, saying it is defending its sovereign border and accusing Gaza's Hamas leaders, who are organizing the protests, of using the crowds as cover to carry out attacks."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

5-4-18

As expected, Pompeo has been confirmed. The Washington Post reports:

"The Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as secretary of state Thursday despite lingering objections from Democrats who have questioned his record of hawkish policy positions and past controversial statements about minority groups. The split vote — 57 to 42 — reflects the political scrutiny Pompeo is likely to encounter as he moves from the CIA to the State Department, where he will face the simultaneous challenges of reinvigorating an agency beset by flagging morale and answering for a president who is prone to impulsiveness on the global stage. Only six of the 14 Democrats who backed Pompeo to be CIA director last year voted for him to become the nation’s top diplomat. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), who joined the Senate earlier this year, also supported his confirmation."

Once again, Democrats clearly demonstrated they remain out to lunch, absent without leave, -- since November 22, 1963. Pompeo is, and remains, egregiously unfit for office. Democrats should have unflinchingly united, ferociously resisted this nomination, achingly egregious abomination. Did not.

"Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and one of those who changed his vote on Pompeo since last year, said that he was “disappointed” Pompeo had not tried “to repudiate some of the extreme views he expressed during his time in Congress” — such as criticism of American Muslims and opposition to same-sex marriage."

Mealy-mouthed, equivocating bullshit. Where is your outrage, Senator? Time for you and your Democratic colleagues to get off your worthless, incompetent asses.

"Warner added that he hoped that as secretary of state, Pompeo would stand up for “American values ... like freedom, diversity, equality and tolerance” — and said that “if he does, he can count on my assistance and support.”

Jesus Christ. That, the best you have to offer, Senator? Then, you and your colleagues wonder why Democrats can't win elections?

ABC News reports:

"U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a priority for the Trump administration, despite its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and its planned move of the U.S. Embassy to the holy city over Palestinian protests."

The hell it does. Above quote is an insane non-sequitur. Proof positive Pompeo's head remains figuratively, securely lodged up his achingly clueless ass. Pompeo and his fuhrer, the Trump nazi, don't want resolution, intend to impose their will and that of the Israeli aggressor on the Palestinians. Movement of embassy remains a non-starter for the Palestinians. Precisely, why they continue to boycott meetings.

"Pompeo also said the U.S. is "fully supportive" of Israel's right to defend itself and declined to criticize the Israeli military for its use of live fire against Palestinian protesters along the Gaza border."

What he's doing is effectively confirming the fact the United States is supporting the maiming and murder of innocent Palestinian protesters by the Israeli aggressor.

"Pompeo called on the Palestinians to return to long-stalled peace talks with Israel. He said the United States is open to a two-state solution to the conflict if both parties agree, calling it a "likely outcome."

Horse shit. Like his fuhrer in the Oval Office, Pompeo is a liar. A disingenuous liar. A congenital liar. The United States and the Israeli aggressor have already imposed a de facto solution on the Palestinians. Proof positive is movement of the U.S. Embassy to contested territory.

"But he would not agree with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi's characterization of the conflict as "the main cause of instability" in the region."

Pompeo, like his fuhrer, won't be confused with the truth. ... A truth they find most unpalatable.

"The parties will ultimately make the decision as to what the correct resolution is," Pompeo told reporters at a joint news conference with Safadi. "We are certainly open to a two-party solution as a likely outcome."

Pompeo has again demonstrated in the above quote he and his fuhrer remain severely, hopelessly detached from reality. Are no more than congenital liars. The United States and the Israeli aggressor are imposing a settlement, notnegotiating one.

"But, he said, the Palestinians had to return to a political dialogue to get there."

More horse shit. The 'settlement' has already been imposed. Precisely, why the violence will end no time soon. Here is why there'll be no resolution in the near future:

"The Palestinians have essentially boycotted contacts with the U.S. since Trump announced in December that the United States was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem — captured by Israel in 1967 and then annexed — as the capital of a future state."

Pompeo and the Trump nazi remain delusional, worse, indifferent to the ongoing maiming and murder of Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor:

"Over the past month, 39 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,600 wounded in weekly border protests along the Gaza border, prompting human rights groups to ask Israel's Supreme Court on Monday to restrict or ban the use of live ammunition. They say the military's use of lethal force against unarmed protesters is unlawful. Israel's military argues that the border protests are part of a long-running conflict with Gaza's ruling Hamas, which it considers a terror group, and that the rules of armed conflict apply."

Adolf Hitler couldn't have said it better.

"Asked about the situation, Pompeo demurred, referring to "activities in Gaza over the past days and weeks." "We do believe the Israelis have the right to defend themselves and we are fully supportive of that," he said."

Pompeo is delusional, unfit for office, detached from reality.

"In addition to the Jerusalem decisions, the Trump administration has also angered the Palestinians in recent months by ordering their office in Washington closed, although it remains open for business related to negotiations, slashing funding for the U.N. agency that supports Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and elsewhere in the region, and putting on hold all bilateral assistance to the Palestinians."

Imposition of a 'settlement' by the Trump nazi and the Israeli aggressor.

"Although the White House sponsored a conference on aid to Gaza last month, the Palestinians did not attend. And, a peace plan devised by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and his special envoy for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt appears to be on hold."

How can there be resolution to this conflict when a 'settlement' is being imposed? Worse? The United States has again proven it cannot be trusted. Does not bode well for the region.

The Washington Post reports:

"Mohammad al-Ajouri is a lanky teenager who loves to run, a medal-winning track star with ambitions to compete abroad. But last month, while participating in a protest along Gaza’s border, he was struck by a bullet fired by an Israeli soldier. It penetrated his calf, shattering his leg before exiting the shin. Doctors tried to save the limb, but an infection soon spread. The leg had to be amputated. During the past month of demonstrations along the border between Gaza and Israel, at least 17 Palestinians have suffered gunshot wounds that ultimately cost them their legs, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. In at least three of the cases, Israeli authorities rejected the transfer of wounded Gazans to the West Bank, where they could receive medical care that might have saved their limbs, according to lawyers and one of the patients’ families."

No problem with this? None at all? Think Israeli troops aren't committing war crimes? Most of their victims are unarmed. Wake up.

"Since the protests began, Israeli troops have killed 43 Palestinians and wounded more than 3,500 with live ammunition, rubber bullets or shrapnel, the Health Ministry said. Of those, about 2,200 have suffered injuries to the legs. Israeli officials say the protests along the border fence are violent and provide cover for militant attacks."

The Israeli aggressor continues to boldface lie to 'justify' continuing war crimes.

"Israeli media report that troops have been ordered to initially fire warning shots at demonstrators, after which they should target protesters’ legs. “IDF troops act according to clear rules of engagement that are tailored to the scenarios they are contending with,” a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said. The spokesman declined to detail those rules but said live fire is a last resort."

Again, these officials are liars. They and their offending troops need to be hauled to The Hague and prosecuted for war crimes.

"The United Nations, however, says Israel is engaged in an “excessive use of force,” and human rights groups point to cases where soldiers have fired at unarmed protesters or at those who didn’t pose an immediate threat."

War crimes. Gutless barbarians.

“The deployment of snipers, careful planning and significant number of injuries to the lower limbs does reflect an apparent policy to target [those] limbs,” said Omar Shakir, Israel-Palestine director at Human Rights Watch in New York. But targeting protesters’ legs “does not make the policy any less illegal,” he said. “The use of live ammunition to any part of the body invariably causes serious injury and even death.”

Still don't get it? Get this:

"Doctors in Gaza are often unable to deal with such traumatic injuries, medical groups say, because hospitals there are overwhelmed and understaffed. “Even at the most advanced hospital in Gaza, it felt like the 1970s,” said Salah Haj Yahia, mobile clinic director for Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. He recently visited Gaza as part of a medical delegation. “If things remain this way, most gunshot casualties will have to undergo amputation,” he said in an email."

Yet, the Israeli aggressor suffers no consequences. Continues to commit war crimes. With impunity.

"Some of the amputations were carried out immediately after victims were shot because of the severity of the injuries, doctors said. In other cases, victims were stabilized but needed treatment outside Gaza if the limbs were to be saved. Israeli authorities, which tightly restrict the movement of people in and out of the strip on security grounds, rejected the patients’ medical evacuation across Israeli territory to the West Bank."

The Israeli aggressor continues to occupy Palestinian territory stolen in 1948, but also additional land seized in the 1967 war, -- which clearly means there will be no end to this conflict any time soon.

“It was decided that any request for medical treatment by a terrorist or a rioter who took part in violent events would be denied,” a spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, an Israeli Defense Ministry agency that oversees policy involving Gaza, said in an emailed statement. “However, exceptional humanitarian cases are examined on the basis of an assessment of the security situation and at the discretion of the commander of the area,” the statement added."

Just like the Trump nazi, Israeli officials in charge of their government have become congenital liars.

"According to rights groups and health experts, the damage to protesters’ limbs has been unusually severe. Doctors Without Borders, based in Paris, has recorded “an extreme level of destruction to bones and soft tissue, and large exit wounds that can be the size of a fist.” Human Rights Watch says it is reviewing evidence that bullets fired by Israeli forces have caused “significant bodily injury,” including “the shattering of bones. . . and severing of veins and arteries.” Asked about the type of ammunition used, an Israeli military spokesman said, “In the context of the violent riots in Gaza, the IDF employs only standard weapons and ammunition that are lawful under international law.”

Non-sequitur by a war criminal Israeli military spokesman. Large exit wounds are usually caused by hollow point rounds.

"Israel says its armed response has been appropriate for the threat posed by Palestinians. Israeli officials accuse the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, of using civilian demonstrators as cover to “terrorize Israel.”

Unadulterated horse shit by a congenital lying Israeli aggressor.

"Hamas are “cowardly leaders who are hiding behind women and children and sending them forward as human shields,” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman wrote on Twitter. “So that they can continue to ... carry out terrorist actions against the State of Israel.” Protesters have burned tires, thrown rocks and flown kites carrying molotov cocktails over the fence."

Have to admire their tenacity and great courage fighting back as best they can an Israeli aggressor who stole their land in 1948, has continued to kill and steal additional territory ever since, right, Mr. 'Defense' Minister? How do you and your henchmen sleep nights, Mr. Liberman?

"Amputees in Gaza have few rehabilitation options. There are no doctors who can perform surgery to modify amputees’ stumps to accommodate artificial limbs, according to Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. And at the Artificial Limbs and Polio Center in Gaza City, the only facility in Gaza that manufactures prostheses, technicians say they face crippling shortages of raw materials. An inadequate power supply also hampers production, leaving many who need limbs without them."

The above is the side of life in the region Israelis and their clueless benefactors in the United States determinedly ignore. At some point, our formerly great country will finally wake up to this. When that happens, support will be withdrawn. At that time, things will drastically change in the region, -- and not for the good. To think all this could have been avoided.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

4-27-18

Natalie Portman stood tall. On principle. The Washington Post reports:

"Natalie Portman has pulled out of a ceremony in Jerusalem honoring her as the recipient of a $2 million prize, dubbed by some as the “Jewish Nobel,” the organization said Thursday. The Genesis Prize Foundation, which annually honors individuals for “Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity,” announced in November that Portman, known for her roles in films such “Black Swan” and the “Star Wars” prequels, was selected as its 2018 laureate. Portman moved to the United States as a child but was born in Israel. She still has strong ties to the country; her 2015 film, “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” is set in Israel. But a statement from the organization said the actress had pulled out of the June ceremony, where she would have officially received her prize from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after becoming distressed by recent events in the country."

For damned good reason:

“The Genesis Prize Foundation was notified by a representative of Ms. Portman that ‘recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel,’ and that ‘she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony,’ ” said the statement. It was not immediately clear what events Portman was referring to, but over the past three weeks, Israel has come under increasing pressure from international organizations and human rights groups for using excessive force in dealing with Palestinian civil unrest in the Gaza Strip. More than 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military in the weekly demonstrations held along the border fence separating the blockaded coastal enclave from Israel. The Israeli military has said the civilians are being used as a cover by the militant Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, to infiltrate Israel and carry out terrorist attacks in its border communities."

It is not anti-Semitic to stand up to the nazis now running the State of Israel. It is, and remains, anti-Israeli Government. There are many Israeli citizens themselves who do not support what their government is doing.

"This is not the first time Portman has spoken out with regard to Israel. In 2015, following the reelection of Netanyahu, she said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that she was “very much against Netanyahu.” “I am very, very upset and disappointed that he was re-elected,” she said in the article. “I find his racist comments horrific. However, I don’t — what I want to make sure is, I don’t want to use my platform [the wrong way]. I feel like there’s some people who become prominent, and then it’s out in the foreign press. You know, s--- on Israel. I do not. I don’t want to do that.”

To pointedly criticize the Government of Israel is not to shit on Israelis or anyone of Jewish heritage. It is to criticize an aggressive out of control government that abuses, kills, and steals the land of Palestinians.

"In its statement, the Genesis Prize Foundation said it was “saddened” that Portman had decided not to attend the ceremony in Jerusalem for “political reasons.” “We fear that Ms. Portman’s decision will cause our philanthropic initiative to be politicized, something we have worked hard for the past five years to avoid,” said the foundation. “The mission of the Genesis Prize is to create a space where we can cast politics aside and come together to appreciate Jewish accomplishments that continue to contribute so much to human civilization.”

To do that is to ignore continuing atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli government.

"It said hundreds of international guests had been scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem for the ceremony, set to take place in Israel’s Knesset on June 28. The organization said Portman will still receive the prize money and was planning to “re-gift” the notable sum among organizations working to promote women’s rights and empowerment."

How about using it to stand up for the rights of long-aggrieved Palestinians?

CBS News reports:

"When Portman was announced late last year as the 2018 recipient, she said in a statement released by organizers at the time that she was "proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage." In Thursday's statement, the Genesis foundation quoted a representative for Portman as saying that "recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her" and that "she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony."

Hat's off, to Ms. Portman. Indeed, a woman of principle, stature, and great courage.

The Washington Times reports:

"Actress Natalie Portman has snubbed a prestigious prize known as the “Jewish Nobel,” saying she did not want her attendance to be seen as an endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Portman was to have received the award in Israel in June and said in a statement issued early Saturday that her reasons for skipping the ceremony had been mischaracterized by others, and she is not part of the BDS, a Palestinian-led global movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. News of Portman’s decision to skip the event triggered an angry backlash Friday from some in the country’s political establishment."

(Bet it did. The Israeli aggressor easily suffers no criticism.)

"That was due to reports that Portman through a representative had told the Genesis Prize Foundation she was experiencing “extreme distress” over attending its ceremony and would “not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel.” Portman’s statement said her decision had been mischaracterized. “Let me speak for myself. I chose not to attend because I did not want to appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony,” she wrote. “Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation. I treasure my Israeli friends and family, Israeli food, books, art, cinema, and dance.’” She asked people to “not take any words that do not come directly from me as my own.”

Again it must be repeated, -- ferociously pointed criticism of the Israeli leadership is in no way criticism of the Israeli population and/or Judaism.

"Israel faces some international criticism over its use of lethal force in response to mass protests along the Gaza border led by the Islamic militant group that rules the territory."

Gross understatement from a highly-biased Extreme Right publication in our nation's capital. International criticism remains ferocious vis a vis these murderous tactics employed by the Israeli aggressor.

"One Israeli lawmaker warned that Portman’s decision is a sign of eroding support for Israel among young American Jews."

Mischaracterizes the issue. Worse? Misses the point. The criticism is directed against continued war crimes committed by the government of Israel against the Palestinians. Many Israelis themselves oppose the actions of their government. Rightfully, fear it will ultimately lead to the end of the State of Israel.

"The Jerusalem-born Portman is a dual Israeli-American citizen. The Oscar-winning actress moved to the United States as a young girl, evolving from a child actress into a widely acclaimed A-list star. Portman received the 2011 best actress Academy Award for “Black Swan,” and, in 2015, she directed and starred in “Tale of Love and Darkness,” a Hebrew-language film set in Israel based on an Amos Oz novel. Her success is a great source of pride for many Israelis."

The fact Ms. Portman holds duel citizenship compounds unbridled, growing chagrin of the Israeli government. Enhances the impact of her decision not to attend the award.

"The Genesis Prize Foundation said Thursday that it had been informed by Portman’s representative that “recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing” to Portman, though it did not refer to specific events. Since March 30, more than three dozen Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire, most of them in protests on the Gaza-Israeli border. Hundreds more have been wounded by Israeli troops during this time."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk? Get what you truly deserve.

10-20-17

Trump is hopelessly delusional. NPR reports:

"The Trump administration has announced that the U.S. will withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations' chief cultural and educational agency. In a statement released Thursday, the State Department said the move won't take effect for more than a year, noting the withdrawal will be as of Dec. 31, 2018."

Why not leave immediately, Mr. 'President?' Especially, since the United States owes this agency over a half billion bucks according to the State Department.

"This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO," department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the announcement."

This agency has taken a stand against the Israeli aggressor, who's had its boot heel on the throat of Palestinians since 1948. Can't have that, can we?

"Still, she noted the Trump administration wants the U.S. to remain engaged with the U.N. agency "as a non-member observer state in order to contribute U.S. views, perspectives and expertise on some of the important issues undertaken by the organization, including the protection of world heritage, advocating for press freedoms, and promoting scientific collaboration and education."

Disingenuous bullshit. Forget? The U.S. wishes to play but not pay since it's wishes are not being followed. This agency has courageously stood tall, challenged the oppression of the Israelis perpetrated against their Palestinian victims.

"The cultural aid agency — which seeks to coordinate international efforts in education, science and heritage remembrance — has been at odds with the U.S. since 2011, when it voted overwhelmingly to offer full membership to a state of Palestine. Just hours after that vote, the U.S. decided to cut its payments to UNESCO, while still maintaining its membership."

Sadly, rightfully, the U.S. should have immediately gotten the boot. No longer is willing to stand up to outrageous aggression and abuse perpetrated by its ally, -- who stole Palestinian land back in 1948, has been killing, abusing, bulldozing Palestinian houses, stealing additional territory ever since.

"As of this year, the U.S. government owes the agency about $550 million, according to the State Department."

When it doesn't get its way, our country does not pay its bills. Imagine that.

"Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered official notification of the plans for withdrawal to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who expressed "profound regret" at the move. "At the time when conflicts continue to tear apart societies across the world, it is deeply regrettable for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations agency promoting education for peace and protecting culture under attack," she said in an extensive statement Thursday."

Indeed, all due to justified criticism of the Israeli aggressor.

"This is a loss to UNESCO," she added. "This is a loss to the United Nations family. This is a loss for multilateralism."

Most of all, this is a loss to, and a black mark on the United States. We continue to figuratively shoot ourselves in the ass, driven by the rise of nazism in our formerly great country.

"Israel, for its part, is likely to follow U.S. out the door. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "instructed the Israeli Foreign Ministry to prepare for Israel to leave UNESCO in parallel with the U.S.," according to his office."

To be expected from the Netanyahu nazi, -- who is sadly, at least partially, emulating German Nazi oppression of the Jewish people during the Second World War.

"This is a brave and moral decision," Netanyahu said in a statement, "because UNESCO has become a theatre of the absurd and because instead of preserving history, it distorts it."

It is you, Mr. Prime Minister who do the same. While nowhere near as ruthless and murderous as Hitler's Nazis, you're well on your way. Precisely and sadly, why there will be no peace in the Middle East for quite some time to come. Clearly, the Palestinians will not roll over and acquiesce.

3-24-17

Fox News is pissing and moaning about the UN taking an increasingly hard stance against the Israeli aggressor:

"A just-published United Nations report that claims to find Israel guilty of the “crime of apartheid,” is only one element of a broader legal and propaganda offensive being pushed by an obscure U.N. regional commission to stigmatize America’s close ally and build support for the Palestinian cause, according to documents examined by Fox News."

For damned good reason. The Israeli aggressor continues to determinedly seize Palestinian land, violate Palestinian human rights, commit war crimes against the Palestinians, etc.. The list can go on and on. ... And has, in earlier editions.

"The offensive has been gestating for at least two years within the U.N.’s Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), whose entire membership are Arab states, and is timed to this year’s 50th anniversary of the 1967 war between Arab states and Israel, which resulted in Israel’s control of the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza."

What better time to do so? Expose the continuing injustice for precisely what it is.

"At least one additional report commissioned by ESCWA, attempting to create an “innovative” and “scientific” methodology for estimated the cost of Israel’s 50-year control of the territories, is still in the works, with the aim of demanding billions in reparations for Palestinians."

Great news. The aggressor has been stealing Palestinian land since it invaded Palestine in 1948. Continues to do so to this very day.

"A third aspect of the strategy is an elaborate proposed propaganda campaign against the Israeli occupation, making use of U.N. institutions and a variety of diplomatic and media channels, to create a new , sympathetic “brand” for Palestinians as victims “that would cause a snowball effect, thus altering public opinion globally in record time,” as an ESCWA background paper puts it."

"Propaganda?" How is it 'propaganda' when it's the goddamned truth? Has been the truth since the invader invaded. Only 'propaganda' to the Nazi Right in this country. ... Fascists, who determinedly ignore war crimes the Israeli aggressor continually commits against the Palestinians. ... Like using American-supplied F-16s to drop 2000 lb. bombs in highly-populated Palestinian neighborhoods during uprisings. In direct violation of U.S. export law which proscribes such weapons use for offensive purposes.

"The resolution also called for an “ESCWA media and communications strategy aimed at increasing global awareness,” of, among other things, “Israeli violations of Palestinian rights and international law,” and orders the bureaucracy to “increase activities on Palestine and organize special activities to mark” the 1967 anniversary."

Again, good news. What are they bitching about? An inconvenient truth?

"The apartheid report caused an eruption of outrage from U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley when it was officially published under U.N. auspices on March 15. She noted it came “from a body whose membership nearly universally does not recognize Israel,” and demanded the U.N. officially “withdraw” the report from circulation."

Tough shit. Why should they withdraw a report that exposes the truth to the light of day? Indeed, an inconvenient truth nazis in the Republican Party remain loathe to address.

"Haley heaped additional scorn on the co-author of the 306-page document: Richard Falk, a notoriously anti-Israel academic who often provoked U.S. irritation for his anti-Semitic statements and anti-U.S. diatribes during a six-year term as U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of the Palestinian people."

Criticizing the State of Israel, that is, the Israeli government, is not necessarily one and the same as anti-Semitism. Forget? There are many Israelis themselves who ferociously disagree with their government vis a vis Israeli victimization of the Palestinians. Does this make these Israelis anti-Semitic?

"Falk has, among other things, cast doubt on the “official version” of the 9/11 attacks as the work of Islamic terrorists and after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings remarked that the “American global domination project is bound to generate all kinds of resistance in the post-colonial world.”

This is also most indicative of a most inconvenient truth, we as Americans, determinedly, concertedly fail to understand. Blinders remain on. Can't see the forest for the trees. Precisely, why we've fought war after war since 1950 to line the pockets of corporate war profiteers. Yet, we continue to delude ourselves, haughtily claiming 'exceptionalism.'

Nazis in the Republican Party still falsely claim we did native Americans and slaves a favor. Supposedly, 'improved' them culturally. That's not to say, however, that Falk himself is supported by this publication. Or, his views regarding a re-write of history vis a vis the 9/11 attacks. Only that we, as Americans, have been too quick to overlook war crimes committed by the Israelis.

In follow up to the above, Fox News reports:

"The Trump administration said Monday that it is boycotting a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, amid growing concerns by the administration over the U.N.’s anti-Israel stance."

What's that? What in particular? What for? Upholding the truth? Holding the Israeli aggressor responsible for its atrocities?

"The boycott, first reported by The Washington Free Beacon, comes as the council was expected to adopt a number of anti-Israel resolutions Monday. The council has long been criticized as one of the U.N.’s most anti-Israel bodies."

Why? For holding the aggressor responsible for stealing Palestinian land? Killing Palestinians who resist the aggressor? Doing so on a continuous basis since Holocaust survivors invaded Palestine in 1948? -- This invasion, sanctioned not only by the United States and Europe, but the UN as well.

"State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that one particular agenda item -- "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories” – was “yet another reminder of that body's long-standing bias against Israel.”

Why? What for? What are you so opposed to? The truth? Standing up against atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor against the Palestinians? Such as using American-supplied F-16s to drop 2,000 lb. bombs in highly-populated civilian areas in direct violation of U.S. export law proscribing such weapons use for offensive purposes? Wake up.

“As an expression of our deeply-held conviction that this bias must be addressed in order for the Council to realize its legitimate purpose, the United States decided not to attend the Council's Item Seven General Debate session,” Toner said, adding that the U.S. will vote against every resolution under the agenda item, and encourage other countries to do the same."

The Trump nazi and his henchmen will not, under any circumstances, be confused by the truth.

3-10-17

Seems the Trump nazi and his henchmen may be finally smartening up on the unresolved Israeli annexation of Palestinian land issue. ABC News reports:

"The Trump administration has explicitly warned Israel against annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, saying it would trigger an "immediate crisis" between the two close allies, Israel's defense minister said Monday. It was the latest indication that President Donald Trump is returning to more traditional U.S. policy and will not give Israel free rein to expand its control over the West Bank and sideline the Palestinians, as Israeli nationalists had hoped."

If true, about time.

"Speaking in parliament, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said U.S. officials had been clear in their opposition to Israeli annexation of West Bank land — a notion that has gained steam in far-right Israeli circles since Trump's election. "We received a direct message — not an indirect message and not a hint — from the United States. Imposing Israeli sovereignty on Judea and Samaria would mean an immediate crisis with the new administration," Lieberman said, shortly before departing for a working visit to the U.S. Judea and Samaria is the biblical term for the West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek the West Bank as the heartland of a future state, a position that has wide international backing."

The Israelis clearly do not want a two-state solution. Want it all. They're not going to get it all. Their intransigence guaranties continual warfare, that is, terror.

Palestinians will never settle for the following:

"The angry U.S. reaction was sparked by comments by Miki Zohar, a junior lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist Likud Party. Zohar is among a growing number of coalition members who reject the internationally backed idea of a Palestinian state and instead suggested that Israel annex the West Bank. Under this version of a "one-state" scenario, the West Bank's more than 2 million Palestinians would receive expanded autonomy, but not hold full Israeli citizenship or be allowed to vote for the Knesset, or parliament. Although Netanyahu has not endorsed the one-state vision, many in his coalition do. "The two-state solution is dead," Zohar told i24NEWS, an Israeli TV channel. "What is left is a one-state solution with the Arabs here as, not as full citizenship, because full citizenship can let them to vote to the Knesset."

Goddamned bullshit. If enacted, guaranties Israelis will one day wind up in the sea as sadly threatened by their Arab neighbors for decades.

"One state at this moment means apartheid," Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List of Arab parties in parliament, told foreign reporters Monday. "I think there needs to be great pressure for a Palestinian state to be established on the 1967 borders."

If not, Israel has no chance of peace. Now or in the future. Will ultimately wind up with no country at all.

1-27-17

The Israeli aggressor wasted no time stomping its jackboot into the throats of the Palestinians after the Trump nazi took office. The Washington Post reports:

"Israel approved the construction of 2,500 housing units in Jewish settlements in the West Bank on Tuesday, just two days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Trump. Netanyahu and members of his right-wing government have bristled at the harsh condemnations of settlement growth by the Obama administration, which condemned the Jewish communities as “illegitimate” and “an obstacle to peace.”

It's called the truth. Something the Trump nazi, his henchmen, and the Israeli aggressor cannot seem to understand.

"Trump, however, has signaled more accommodating policies toward Israel and has called for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a city claimed as the capital of both Israel and a potential future Palestinian state. The Jewish settlements have grown to house more than 400,000 Jewish residents in the West Bank."

Should the Israeli capital be moved to Jerusalem, certainly guaranties war in the Middle East will continue indefinitely. ... A war Israel will ultimately lose, --even with American military support. As the entire region winds up in escalated conflict.

“We’re building — and will continue to build,” Netanyahu said following the announcement."

This, sadly, will result in ultimate destruction of the State of Israel. ... Again, with or without American involvement.

"There was no initial reaction to the announcement by the Trump White House or the State Department."

Interesting, isn't it? What's the Trump nazi waiting for? The shit to hit the fan?

At time of writing, no reaction from Trump, his henchmen to the following from Fox News:

"Officials said Monday that the Obama administration-- in its waning hours-- defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking. A State Department official and several congressional aides told The Associated Press that the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday.
The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office."

Fascinating, isn't it? Must have infuriated the nazi and his henchmen.

"In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said."

1-13-17

The Trump nazi had better be very, very careful about whom he supports overseas and why. Could certainly wind up making him appear hopelessly ignorant, aggressively stupid. In follow up to an earlier report regarding Israeli Prime Minister Bebe Netanyahu, NBC News reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has weathered no shortage of scandals — including controversy over a $127,000 plane upgrade for a single flight and criticism over his family's spending on everything from laundry to ice cream. But some analysts are now wondering whether he can survive the latest storm."

We'll see, won't we? The Prime Minister is indeed a politician's politician who should certainly make GOP national socialists in Congress proud. Has certainly lived off the Israeli taxpayers' tit. Firmly planted.

"Netanyahu was grilled by police investigators for more than three hours at his official residence this week on suspicion of receiving illicit gifts and favors from wealthy donors."

Couldn't be, could it? Ole Bebe couldn't be bribed, could he?

"Police said Netanyahu was questioned "under caution," a term signaling that anything he said could potentially be used as evidence against him. The Israeli Ministry of Justice confirmed that investigators from a police fraud investigation and prosecution unit met with him on Monday. They had received authorization from the country's attorney general."

Doesn't your heart bleed for the blowhard fascist?

"His family's lifestyle — at taxpayers' expense — has also previously come under scrutiny. In 2013, he was chided for reportedly spending $127,000 in public funds for a special sleeping cabin for a five-and-a-half hour flight to London for Margaret Thatcher's funeral. That came just months after the Netanyahu household's $2,700 annual budget for artisanal pistachio and French vanilla ice cream also made front-page news."

He certainly would fit in perfectly with our hopelessly patrician United States Senate. Might even teach them a thing or two about how to better loot American taxpayers.

"In the first instance, Netanyahu is suspected of receiving favors and gifts from wealthy businesspeople. Police suspect that the value of the gifts Netanyahu received to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Few details have been made public about the second investigation."

Interesting, isn't it?

Our elected representatives in Congress still remain clueless, oblivious to the atrocities committed by the Israeli aggressor since Palestine was invaded in 1948 by Holocaust survivors, granted carte blanche by the United States, Europe, and the Security Council to do so. Rep. Mike Conaway opines:

"Israel is our strongest ally in an increasingly unstable region, and to allow a resolution to pass the United Nations Security Council that states that Judaism’s holiest sites are an ‘occupied territory’ is absolutely unacceptable. The United States has a long history of voting down anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council- in fact, the United States has vetoed 42 anti-Israel resolutions since 1972. Unfortunately, President Obama and his Administration have chosen to ignore the special relationship between the United States and Israel, which is reprehensible. We must continue our nation’s long tradition of standing with Israel."

Why? To what end? We're on the wrong side of history. The Congressman cannot understand it is the invasion of Palestine by the Israelis in 1948 that made this part of the world "an increasingly unstable region." About time, the United States finally did the right thing and stood up against the Israeli aggressor for continuing to steal Palestinian territory. What is achingly "reprehensible" is the fact the United States stood by and did nothing about this until recently.

Sen. Ted "Screws Loose" Cruz opined in a recent newsletter:

"The anti-Israel U.N. Security Council resolution that passed during Chanukah with President Obama's and Secretary of State John Kerry’s active acquiescence is absurd. It declares much of Israel’s sovereign territory to be illegal and illegitimate. It declares the Temple Mount - the holiest place in Jerusalem for the Jewish people – not a part of Israel. It declares the Western Wall - where travelers from all over the world go to pray – not a part of Israel. For decades, the United States has stood as an ally against anti-Semitism, and I am committed to reversing the Obama administration’s despicable approach to our relationship with Israel and working with President-elect Trump’s incoming administration to restore the unshakable alliance between our two nations."

The Senator's head is so far up his national socialist, achingly fascist ass, his eyeballs are turning inside out, blinding his vision, to say nothing of his perverse judgment, irrational thought processes. This sad excuse for a U.S. Senator remains a hopeless fanatic. Blinded by tunnel vision, distortion of reality, re-write of history. That is, what went down in 1948 and why.

The Senator cannot seem to grasp the fact the Israelis lost this land generations ago due to their egregious excesses. Still seems to perversely believe the Israelis are somehow, someway, entitled to this land. Apparently, by Divine Right. They lost it, Senator. Many, many, many years ago. Their invasion of Palestinian land in 1948 is directly responsible for the origin of modern-day terrorism.

Their enemies quickly learned and embraced the terroristic tactics used by the Israelis to seize land they lost generations ago, continue to use to this very day to hold on to their spoils of the 1948 war and every subsequent one fought since. Should Mexico invade Texas to recapture territory it once owned, think Texans wouldn't fight like hell? Well before the United States military had a chance to react?

The Senator, as all hopelessly ignorant fascists, stupidly equates anti-Israeli government criticism with anti-Semitism. They are not one and the same. Just as it is not anti-Germanic to criticize Hitler and The Third Reich. The criticism is directed against the atrocities committed by the Israeli aggressor, not a class of people.

The Senator remains so fanatical, short-sighted, hopelessly jaded he clearly doesn't understand the consequences of what he is proposing:

"Sens. Cruz, Heller, and Rubio Seek to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel

"On Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz, along with Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), introduced the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act, legislation that would fulfill America’s commitment to Israel to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

This would likely quickly, ultimately lead to all Arab countries putting aside their differences to fight the Israeli aggressor.

“Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of Israel,” Sen. Cruz said. “Unfortunately, the Obama administration's vendetta against the Jewish state has been so vicious that to even utter this simple truth - let alone the reality that Jerusalem is the appropriate venue for the American embassy in Israel - is shocking in some circles."

To whom, Senator? A clueless, shortsighted, fanatical national socialist like yourself, sir?

"But it is finally time to cut through the double-speak and broken promises and do what Congress said we should do in 1995: formally move our embassy to the capital of our great ally Israel. I am pleased to co-sponsor this legislation with Senator Heller and Senator Rubio, and I look forward to working with the Trump administration to make this happen.”

You're a fool, Senator. Doing so would likely wind up leading to ultimate demise of the State of Israel. If all countries in the region unite, put aside all personal differences, this is not a war Israel could ultimately win, -- even with U.S. military involvement. Would at best quickly become a quagmire. A tragic mistake.

1-6-16

Trump may be in store for some tough times vis a vis his support of Israel no matter what the aggressor does or doesn't do. Especially interesting, is a pending investigation of the Israeli Prime Minister. ABC News reports:

"An Israeli TV channel reported Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suspected of receiving valuable gifts from two businessmen."

Couldn't be, could it? The American educated, highly U.S. savvy, Israeli Prime Minister wouldn't accept bribes, would he?

"The Channel 2 segment was the latest in a series of reports in Israeli media saying that police are close to opening a criminal investigation against the prime minister."

Is that right? Hope it's true. Would certainly expose Netanyahu and his activities to the glaring light of day.

"The station said Netanyahu had accepted large-scale "favors" from businessmen in Israel and abroad. It said there had been a breakthrough in the case three weeks ago, but gave no further details."

Interesting, isn't it? Hope it's true.

"Channel 2 said Netanyahu was the central suspect in a second investigation that also involves members of his family. It said some 50 witnesses were involved in the case."

How about that? Couldn't be, could it?

"The station, along with the Ynet news site, said a formal criminal probe is expected to be opened next week."

Netanyahu has again shown his true colors. What he stands for. Fox News reports:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called for a pardon of the Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting a knife-wielding Palestinian attacker in the head, in a case that has deeply divided the country. Sgt. Elor Azaria, an Israeli army medic who had been deployed to the West Bank at the age of 19, shot and killed the Palestinian attacker who lay wounded and motionless on the ground -- nearly 15 minutes after he tried to stab a soldier in Hebron. Azaria's supporters claimed the military made him into a scapegoat."

It's called murder. The Palestinian attacker was wounded, incapacitated. Yet, this bastard executed him with a round to the head. Became judge, jury, and executioner.

12-30-16

The charade in Israel continues unabated. Fox News reports:

"The Israeli government asked President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure on the Obama administration and the United Nations to prevent a Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Reuters reported late Thursday."

The Aryan arrogance of the Israeli aggressor remains bottomless, hopelessly profound. The nazi bastard is not even President. Yet, the Israeli aggressor attempts to interfere with American policy through a nazi who has not even been sworn into office?

"The news agency, citing a senior Israeli official, reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government contacted "high level" members of Trump's transition team after failing to persuade the Obama administration to veto the resolution. Allowing the resolution to pass would have reignited a dispute with a key Middle Eastern ally in the waning days of Obama's tenure."

The Israelis clearly cannot seem to understand the United States only has one President at a time.

"The Israeli official told Reuters Obama's intended abstention from the vote was "a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N."

That's a crock of shit. The United States has no obligation to support an aggressor that murders Palestinians, continues to commandeer Palestinian territory it's been stealing since 1948, uses American-supplied fighter jets to drop ordnance in highly-populated civilian areas in direct violation of U.S. export law the 'Justice' Department gutlessly refuses to enforce.

"Hours before the planned Security Council vote, Trump released a statement urging that the U.S. veto the resolution. "As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," the statement read, in part. "This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."

What about the Palestinians the Israelis have murdered since 1948, you clueless, fascist son of a bitch? How about the land they've stolen starting in 1948 right up to the present? Think if the Mexicans did the same to Texas we would have tolerated it?

Israel reacted strongly. CNN reports:

"Israel slammed the Obama administration on Friday for failing to voice opposition to a draft UN resolution condemning settlement construction. "President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN," a senior Israeli official told CNN. "President Obama could declare his willingness to veto this resolution in an instant but instead is pushing it. This is an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN and undermines the prospects of working with the next administration of advancing peace."

The Israeli aggressor remains determinedly clueless. The aggressor has stolen land that does not belong to it. Has not for generations. The President finally grows a pair and the aggressor is piqued? Tough shit.

"The US administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory," a senior Israeli official said."

Paranoid, isn't it? Based on fear, without question. Certainly, indicates the world is finally beginning to smarten up. Had Palestine not been invaded in 1948, think all the turmoil in the Middle East could not have been avoided? At least, minimized? If there is any further terror, it is directly caused by continued Israeli intransigence. Refusal to return land belonging to others, subsequent to the end of the 1967 Six Day War.

To say nothing of all Palestinian territory stolen from 1948 to the present. Israel has finally gotten its comeuppance. Consequently, is not a happy camper. Tough shit. Karma, indeed a bitch. Live with it.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," Trump said. "This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."

Trump has his head up his ass. Remains determinedly clueless. There is no peace agreement because Israel does not want one. Continually proves that day after day after year after year by continuing to steal Palestinian territory. There is no negotiation possible with such an aggressor. None at all.

What right did they have to land they legitimately lost many, many years ago due to their excesses? How are they entitled to invade and occupy land they lost generations ago? By Divine Right? What about the rights of Palestinians? This, means shit squat to the Israeli aggressor and the United States.

The true shame is that our formerly great country and achingly gullible public couldn't see through the sham. Including this writer who did not smarten up until some thirty years ago. Had been an ardent, clueless supporter of the aggressor. Took all the appalling war crimes committed by the Israeli aggressor to wise some of us up, including this writer.

With U.S. refusal to veto the measure, action was finally taken at the UN. NPR reports:

"The U.N. Security Council has approved a resolution condemning construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after the U.S. abstained from the vote rather than vetoing the resolution outright."

About time our country finally did the right thing. What took so long? Have we lost our minds? Forgotten all principles this country was founded on? To mindlessly support an aggressor that has stolen land that no longer belongs to it? Has not for generations? Too bad the President didn't have the courage to vote rather than abstain. Then again, this is progress which will almost certainly be reversed when the Trump nazi and his henchmen take office in January.

"In explaining the U.S. abstention, Ambassador Samantha Power said the move doesn't signal diminished U.S. support for Israel; she later added that the continued construction of settlements "seriously undermines Israel's security."

Indeed, they do. Should they continue unabated, will likely result in dissolution of the State of Israel as the overwhelming majority of Arab nations in the region put aside differences, join forces, and fight the aggressor. Finally, some measure of sanity expressed by our government. A willingness to face reality, courageously embrace the truth.

"Power said, "The United States has been sending the message that the settlements must stop, privately and publicly, for nearly five decades."

She's right. To determinedly deaf Israeli aggressor ears. All to no avail since we continue to militarily support the aggressor no matter what. Continue to provide the aggressor with foreign aid, weapons. Amusingly, Netanyahu has his panties in a wad over the U.S. abstention. Tough shit. The Extreme Right fascist bastard is threatening to reconsider millions it gives the UN in aid. Re-think it's relationship with the UN. Go ahead, Bebe. Do so. Do it now. Don't waste any time.

At the same time, however, how about doing the right thing by U.S. taxpayers and say no to any further U.S. foreign aid? No more than blood money used to finance your continued aggression against the Palestinians. The world community is tired of the duplicity. Continued bullshit all these decades. Eventually, the duped, achingly bamboozled American public will finally wake up and say no more.

How many more killed Palestinians will it take? How much more of their land stolen by you before Americans finally wake up? Be interesting to see, right, Mr. Prime Minister?

The continued expansion of settlements by the Israeli aggressor, interestingly, goes against long-term thinking embraced by Republicans themselves. At the risk of hopelessly confusing GOP nazis currently in power with the truth, consider the following:

"At the start of Power's remarks explaining the U.S. position on the resolution, the ambassador read aloud a quote she said was from President Ronald Reagan, in 1982:

"The United States will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements during the transitional period. Indeed, the immediate adoption of a settlement freeze by Israel, more than any other action, could create the confidence needed for wider participation in these talks. Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel, and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that a final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated."

Reagan certainly had his head on straight regarding at least this issue. What ever happened to his GOP contemporaries and their successors who still view the late President as a god? Think ole Ronnie got it wrong on the settlements? Was horribly misguided? Wake up. You hopelessly fascist GOP bastards have lost your minds. Abandoned all reason. Have drunk the Kool Aide. Certainly become an embarrassment to our formerly great country.

"The subject of fairness came up in Power's remarks, as well — as she said Israel has long been the victim of bias in the U.N. Power said: "In reality, this vote, for us, was not straightforward, because of where it's taking place: at the United Nations. For the simple truth is that for as long as Israel has been a member of this institution, Israel has been treated differently from other nations at the United Nations."

That's been so for damned good reason, Madam Ambassador. Conveniently forget? In 1948, the highest echelons of the UN, Europe, and the United States granted survivors of Hitler's death camps carte blanche to invade Palestine, steal territory it had lost generations before due to its excesses. The General Assembly has indeed fought back against this travesty all these decades. Are to be commended for doing so. Are simply reflecting reality on the ground, in the region. -- A reality, the United States and the Israeli aggressor remain determinedly blind to.

"And not only in decades past, such as the infamous resolution that the General Assembly adopted in 1975 with the support of the majority of member states, officially determining that Zionism is a form of racism. But also in 2016, this year. One need only look at the 18 resolutions against Israel adopted during the General Assembly in September, or the 12 Israel-specific resolutions adopted this year in the [U.N.] human rights council — more than those focused on Syria; North Korea; Iran and South Sudan put together."

The reason for the ongoing General Assembly resolutions against the Israeli aggressor is continued Israeli intransigence to stop stealing land, negotiate a two-state solution. -- Which fascists in the Israeli government continue to refuse to do. Zionism has certainly become a form of racism. To deny such is to deny reality, what is happening on the ground in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. Why is it the rest of the world can so easily see this, but not the United States and the State of Israel?

"Power stated that "such unequal treatment not only hurts Israel; it undermines the legitimacy of the United Nations itself."

That's bullshit. The direct opposite is clearly the case. The United States has repeatedly used its veto power in the Security Council to favor its ally at expense of the Palestinians. Has willfully turned a blind eye to atrocities committed by the Israeli aggressor, while condemning the Palestinians for returning the favor.

Has disingenuously talked out both sides its ass to support the aggressor while f--king the Palestinians. Then, we wonder where all the terrorism in the region originated and why? We're determinedly clueless. Precisely, why the unsustainable continues. We won't even enforce U.S. export law that forbids offensive use of American-supplied F-16s and ordnance used to bomb highly-populated Palestinian neighborhoods.

These are war crimes committed by the Israeli aggressor we continue to turn a blind eye to. Until this changes, the violence will be endless. With a nazi about to take office in January, conditions in the Middle East will likely continue to deteriorate. There is no way this nazi son of a bitch can force peace in Palestine. Would be like Mexico trying to re-take Texas. Texans would fight like hell. Not wait for the U.S. military. Yet, we expect Palestinians to compliantly, docilely drop trou and take the ungreased shaft? That's not going to happen.

In follow up to the above, NPR reports:

"In remarks at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "anger and frustration" over the U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank."

Tough, isn't it? Think what the Palestinians have had to endure since 1948.

"Israel summoned 10 ambassadors to Israel from countries that voted in favor of the resolution, as well as the U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro. Netanyahu escalated his criticism of the U.S. for abstaining, even accusing President Obama of orchestrating the resolution himself."

The Israeli Prime Minister seems a bit paranoid, doesn't he? Accusing the President of "orchestrating the resolution" is over the top. The President has finally found some modicum of courage as he prepares to leave office. Better late than never. The Prime Minister appears to be growing increasingly desperate.

Knows full well the world is tiring of Israeli intransigence vis a vis a two-state solution. Rightfully, so. A two-state solution remains the only way to resolve this issue. If Israel continues to remain intransigent, it likely assures its ultimate dissolution. Movement of the Israeli capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would likely trigger an all out war, -- as all Arab countries in the Middle East likely put aside all their differences to fight and defeat the aggressor. With or without U.S. military power backing the aggressor.

"From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed," Netanyahu said in Hebrew."

Further proof of Israeli intransigence, increased paranoia, unbridled fear, Aryan arrogance.

"He added the following in English:

"Over decades, American administrations and Israeli governments had disagreed about settlements, but we agreed that the Security Council was not the place to resolve this issue. We knew that going there would make negotiations harder and drive peace further away."

"Agreed" by whom, Mr. Prime Minister? You're talking out your ass, sir. Worse? You miss the point. The Security Council is ineffective since any one of the permanent members can stonewall anything through use of the veto. For any reason or excuse at all. Precisely, why the Security Council remains as ineffective as it does.

The General Assembly, on the other hand, remains ineffective because it does not enjoy the power of the Security Council. Precisely, why the UN remains ineffective as a world body. Indeed, a remarkable "Catch-22" that leaves the UN virtually powerless and subject to the whim of the five permanent members of the Security Council. What is surprising is the fact the UN remains in existence decades after the old League of Nations went defunct.

"And, as I told John Kerry on Thursday, friends don't take friends to the Security Council. I'm encouraged by the statements of our friends in the United States, Republicans and Democrats alike. They understand how reckless and destructive this U.N. resolution was, they understand that the Western Wall isn't occupied territory."

That's goddamned psychotic, delusional, abject bullshit, Mr. Prime Minister. The General Assembly knows it. So does the rest of the world community with increasingly rare exception. Israel does not want a two-state solution. Has not for years, if ever. The Prime Minister and his henchmen remain the impediment to peace. They want Palestinians to capitulate, bend over, drop trou, and take the ungreased shaft. Then praise the f--ker for the f--king. That's not going to happen.

Insult to injury to the hopelessly clueless, increasingly psychotic Prime Minister? With the exception of the United States which abstained, all 14 of the remaining members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. Netanyahu still doesn't get it. Can't seem to get a grasp on reality. The Statesman reports:

"In turning his anger toward Israel's closest ally, Netanyahu has underplayed the embarrassment that all 14 other nations on the Security Council voted in favor of the measure. Those votes came from countries that Netanyahu loves loves to boast of cultivating relations with, including Russian and China and nations across the developing world."

The jig is up, Mr. Prime Minister. Wake up. The world doesn't buy the bullshit any longer.

"This is the same prime minister who told us dozens of states are on board with us," former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Channel 2 TV on Saturday. "I looked for Russia, China, England, France. Where are all the friends that were meant to stand with us?"

They've smartened up. No longer buy the ruse. See it for what it is. Appalling injustice. Continuous repression. Heartless oppression. Egregious war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli aggressor every time the Palestinians rise up against it.

Sen. Ted "Screws Loose" Cruz remains as determinedly clueless as Netanyahu:

"Sen. Cruz: The UNSC Has No Authority Over Israel's Sovereignty"

That's not even the issue. Not even close.

"Sen. Cruz released the following statement rebuking the United Nations Security Council for its latest attempt to delegitimize the nation of Israel: "With hundreds of thousands dead in Syria, jihadist refugees mowing down Christmas shoppers in Berlin and the People's Republic of China weaponizing its artificial islands in the South China Sea, it is ridiculous that the United Nations Security Council would even consider wasting its time condemning Israel for building on its own sovereign territory," Senator Cruz said."

Is that right, Senator? Have you ignored the fact survivors of Hitler's concentration camps were granted carte blanche by Europe, the United States, and the United Nations back in 1948 to invade Palestine, steal Palestinian territory? After rightfully losing this land generations ago due to excesses by the Israelites who originally occupied the land. Then again, wouldn't want to confuse a clueless nazi with the truth, would we?

This clueless fascist son of a bitch also conveniently ignores the fact Palestinians have fought back since 1948 against the aggressor who has killed them and stolen their land. All, because they had the guts to fight back. Can't have that, can we, Senator? Think if the Mexicans invaded Texas, territory they formerly owned, we wouldn't fight back like hell?

"The UNSC, which over and over has pursued avenues to delegitimize the nation of Israel, has no authority on this matter. The Obama Administration should be ashamed for not immediately signaling our intent to veto this resolution and any others like it, which should be emphatically and unconditionally opposed by all member states who value our alliance with Israel."

Senator? With all due respect, your head remains securely lodged up your ass. Precisely, why you cannot see straight. Ignore reality. The President finally did the right thing. Stood up to the Israeli aggressor. Those of us who value liberty, justice applaud the President's courage in doing so. He did the right thing.

Should have long since enforced U.S. export law that prohibits use of weapons sold to the aggressor to be used offensively. An American-supplied F-16 used to drop a 2,000 lb. bomb in a highly-populated civilian area not only violates export law, but is a war crime. Yet, Republican nazis ignore this fact. Support the aggressor not matter what it does or doesn't do.

Then again, wouldn't want clueless Republicans or Democrats to be confused with the truth, would we?

Subsequent to writing the above, CBS News reports:

"Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday defended the United States’ decision to abstain on a United Nations Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement activity, saying the U.S. could not “allow a viable two-state solution to be destroyed before our eyes.” “This is a time to stand up for what is right,” Kerry said, speaking at the State Department. “We have long known what two states living side by side in peace and security looks like. We should not be afraid to say so.”

Not surprisingly, the Israeli aggressor does not agree:

"Netanyahu denounced Kerry’s speech Wednesday from his office in Jerusalem, calling it “a great disappointment.” “It concerns itself obsessively with settlements instead of focusing on the root -- the Palestinians’ continuing refusal to recognize a Jewish state in any borders,” he said."

You stole their land starting back in 1948, have been stealing ever more right up to the present, Mr. Prime Minister. What do you expect, sir? Why would they recognize an aggressor that steals their land and kills them? The best Israel can hope for is, indeed, a two-state solution. Recognition of Israel by the Palestinians is highly unlikely. Why would they? Conveniently forget? Once again and ad nauseum, you've stolen their land, occupy their territory, kill them, then expect them to recognize the State of Israel, you clueless son of a bitch?

The President of the United States is now being accused of being anti-Semitic for failing to veto the resolution. That's goddamned bullshit. Criticism of Israeli settlements on occupied territory is not bigotry directed against a religion, race, or ethnic group. It's criticism of the Israeli government and its atrocities. The Israeli government and its defenders cannot seem to understand this.

The Washington Times reports:

"In a statement, Netanyahu’s office says the speech “barely touched upon the root of the conflict — Palestinian opposition to a Jewish state in any boundaries.”

Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister. The root of the conflict, sir, is the theft of Palestinian land starting in 1948, continuing right up to the present. To say nothing of all the atrocities committed by both sides, particularly those perpetrated by the Israelis who enjoy overwhelming military superiority thanks to the United States. ... Which until recently believed the Israeli aggressor could do no wrong.

12-23-16

Once again, Trump displayed abject ignorance of the Middle East, no understanding of what is likely to set off a powder keg in the region. The Washington Times reports:

"President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate attorney David Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel, selecting an envoy who supports Israeli settlements and other changes to U.S. policies in the region. Friedman said he looked forward to carrying out his duties from “the U.S. embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem,” even though the embassy is in Tel Aviv."

This idiot obviously wants renewal of widespread fighting in the region which such policy will certainly trigger.

"Like some of his predecessors, Trump has vowed to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, a politically charged act that would anger Palestinians who want east Jerusalem as part of their sovereign territory. The move would also distance the U.S. from most of the international community, including its closest allies in Western Europe and the Arab world."

Should this happen, would likely eventually sadly result in the ultimate demise of the State of Israel. With or without continued support of the Israeli aggressor by the United States. This would quickly force all Arab countries in the Middle East to put aside their differences, concertedly fight the aggressor.

12-16-16

Why is the United States selling, and now delivering, F-35 stealth fighters to the Israeli aggressor? The aggressor has used American-supplied F-16s to bomb civilians in highly-populated Palestinian neighborhoods in direct violation of U.S. export law that requires these weapons to be used only for defensive purposes. ABC News reports:

"The vanguard of Israel's new fleet of F-35 fighter jets roared onto the Nevatim air base Monday, ushering in a new era for Israeli air power and sharpening its military edge in a volatile Mideast. The arrival of Israel's first two F-35 stealth aircraft also highlighted the Obama administration's commitment to providing its ally with the latest U.S. military advances."

The question is why. The Israelis are using American-supplied weapons to commit atrocities against Palestinian civilians. Why won't the 'Justice' Department enforce U.S. weapons export law? The aggressor plans to buy 50 of these warplanes. Think this won't further enflame relations between Israel and its neighbors? Especially, when the Israelis use these weapons against civilian targets.

11-18-16

Fascists in the Israeli government are already taking advantage of the fact the American public has elected a national socialist 'President.' The Washington Post reports:

"Right-wing leaders in the Israeli government have seized on the election of Donald Trump to push forward assertive new legislation that would legalize Jewish settlements in the West Bank built on privately owned Palestinian land."

Think this won't increase terrorism?

"Believing that the time to act is now, as the U.S. president-elect begins to shape his foreign policy, top Israeli ministers voted unanimously Sunday in favor of a bill that would allow Israeli settlements and outposts that were built on property owned by Palestinians to avoid court-ordered demolitions. On Monday, Israeli politicians dug in for a fight over the legislation, which would retroactively offer legal protection to thousands of homes built both in long-established settlements and in newer wildcat outposts that were constructed on private Palestinian land."

This ensures terror will continue in the region.

11-11-16

Bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, sadly, remain alive and well in our formerly great country. Appalling. The aching level of ignorance is stunning. CBS News reports:

"Curt Schilling doesn’t even need his controversial social media posts to go viral. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the former Red Sox pitcher (who says he plans to challenge Elizabeth Warren for her Senate seat in 2018) said to Tapper that he “wanted to ask you something as a person who is practicing the Jewish faith and have since you were young.” “I don’t understand, and maybe this is the amateur, non-politician in me, I don’t understand how people of Jewish faith can back the Democratic Party, which over the last 50 years has been so clearly anti-Israel, so clearly anti-Jewish Israel,” Schilling said."

How does someone grow up in this country and wind up so achingly ignorant, ill-informed? Where and how does this level of misinformation rise? This country unquestioningly supported Israel no matter what it did or didn't do to Palestinians for decades. Despite the fact, Holocaust survivors of Hitler's death camps were granted carte blanche by Europe, the United States, and the United Nations back in 1948 to invade and steal territory belonging to the Palestinians for generations.

Used the Bible to 'justify' theft of this land. -- Land ancient Israel lost generations ago due to its excesses. Democrats have never "been so clearly anti-Israel, so clearly anti-Jewish Israel,” That's false. Not the truth. Never been the truth. For decades, Democrats went along with Republicans in strong support of Israel. Again, no matter what Israel did. No matter its tactics. No matter the fact it commandeered Palestinian territory. Murdered Palestinians defending their territory.

Egregiously abused Palestinians. Bulldozed down the houses belonging to the families of Palestinians who the Israeli aggressor determined to be 'terrorists.' Made no difference the United States supplied the F-16s and bombs the Israelis routinely used during uprisings in highly-populated civilian areas. War crimes, the Israelis have never been prosecuted for.

Nor has the American government, -- for selling arms to an aggressor that used these weapons offensively. In direct violation of U.S. export law. Now, the Israeli aggressor is routinely extending settlements throughout Palestinian territory. Have decided they no longer support a two-state solution. They never did. Think the United States would tolerate Mexico commandeering areas of Texas it formerly owned? Think Texans themselves wouldn't fight like hell?

Why is it a hopelessly ignorant former baseball player equates ferocious opposition to Israeli-perpetrated atrocities with anti-Semitism? They're not one and the same. Never have been. They are what they are, that is, determined, pointed, ferocious criticism of an aggressor that perpetrates war crimes to remain in power. How is it Republican national socialists remain equally clueless, determinedly, concertedly ignorant of this fact? Convenience? Political expediency? Blatant pandering? Or, is it achingly hopeless, aggressive stupidity?

Schilling's determined ignorance extends to transgenders:

"Schilling, who led both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox to World Series victories, was fired by ESPN in April for posting offensive content on social media about transgender individuals."

Pitiful, isn't it? This, now, the best Republican national socialists have to offer? Appalling.

9-23-16

Seems political correctness has replaced good judgment as well as truth in our formerly great country. Ardent supporters of Israel, no matter what atrocities it commits, have unjustly succeeded in falsely equating criticism of the Israeli State with anti-Semitism. They are not one and the same, however. To claim so is to engage in egregious sophistry.

Fox News reports:

"The University of California at Berkeley has suspended a course amid accusations it shared anti-Semitic viewpoints and was designed to indoctrinate students against Israel. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Berkeley suspended "Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis" on Tuesday. The newspaper reports Thursday that a syllabus for the one-credit course taught by an undergraduate student says it examines the history of Palestine "through the lens of settler colonialism."

While I have no direct knowledge of this course and its offerings, there is no question the modern day State of Israel was in fact established through "settler colonialism." Survivors of the Holocaust were indeed granted carte blanche in 1948 to occupy Palestine by Europe, the United States, and the United Nations. That's not in dispute. It is fact.

Israelis accomplished this occupation through development and implementation of modern day terroristic tactics. ... Tactics which Palestinians and others in the region quickly adopted and implemented themselves. Why? Simple. Because, sadly, they worked. Since 1948, the State of Israel has indeed deliberately, intentionally, concertedly subjugated the Palestinians under its boot heel. Again, this is not conjecture, it is fact. Catastrophic history. ... Fact, which we in this country cannot accept. Cannot and will not, comprehend, truly understand. We remain determinedly blind.

"The course has been suspended pending completion of the mandated review and approval process," according to a campus statement that expressed concern about a course that "espoused a single political viewpoint and appeared to offer a forum for political organizing." The suspension came on the same day 43 Jewish, civil rights and education advocacy groups sent a letter to Chancellor Nicholas Dirks office raising concerns about the course. The letter says the class encourages students to accept the idea "that Israel is an illegitimate settler colonial state" and that course readings have "a blatantly anti-Israel bias."

They, the invaders back in 1948, are illegitimate occupiers of Palestinian territory. Have been. They lost Biblical Israel generations ago due to egregious excess. Now wish to re-write history. This college course may indeed have an "anti-Israel bias." That doesn't, however, make the readings or the course anti-Semitic. -- Despite the fact Israel is indeed a theocracy.

There is a conceptual difference here. A profound difference. Criticism of the actions of a rogue state doesn't necessarily imply criticism of the religion it may be based on. Fascists on the Extreme Right seem to clearly, determinedly miss this point vis a vis their condemnation of Islamic theocracies. These goddamned clueless national socialists are pointedly reminded the current President, as well as his Republican predecessor, rightfully took great pains to insist this is not a war against Islam, per se. It is a war against Islamic jihad, that is, terrorism.

They now display blatant hypocrisy when they conveniently apply the very same illogic on someone who offers a course on Israeli excesses and unbridled brutality. We seem to conveniently miss this most salient point in our formerly great country. Be interesting to see where this all goes. Looking forward to additional information as it becomes available from the school.

Most pointedly, since when is it anti-Semitic to ferociously criticize, condemn the brutally vicious fascists who run and own the State of Israel? The Israeli public, itself, is not happy with its leadership. Has itself condemned the brutal excesses of the Israeli leadership. Are they, the Israeli public, anti-Semitic as well? Give me a break. The clueless in our formerly great country need to finally wake up. Smell the coffee. Embrace reality. Instead of the bullshit they're being spoon fed by partisans in both major political parties.

7-29-16

The Israeli aggressor is growing increasingly desperate. So much so, it's repressing free speech rights of Arab Israeli citizens. Arresting innocent protesting citizens in the middle of the night, courtesy of jackbooted nazi storm troopers. Dareen Tatour posted a poem to Facebook regarding her increasing frustration vis a vis violence between Palestinians and the goddamned Israeli aggressor.

The bastards would have none of that. Like Nazi Gestapo storm troopers, hauled her to jail. Falsely, accused her of inciting violence. A goddamned bullshit charge. There is no free speech in national socialist Israel. They certainly have adopted some of the tactics of their Nazi oppressors during the Second World War.

Yet, we continue to support and finance the fascist bastards. Worse, Israel intends to pass a new law reining in content on all social media, including Facebook. Yet, we support this increasingly fascist oppressor. Continue to be on the wrong side of history. Tatour remains unrepentant. As she should be. An opinion is not incitement. Even if it challenges the aggressor's brutal tactics and inhumanity.

The Israeli aggressor intends to hold Facebook accountable for regulating content, that is, censoring Facebook posts. Think that will fly? Do you GOP nazis here in our formerly great country think it should?

7-22-16

The hypocritical bullshit never seems to end. The Washington Times reports:

"The State Department paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers grants to an Israeli group that used the money to build a campaign to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in last year’s Israeli parliamentary elections, a congressional investigation concluded Tuesday.

"Some $350,000 was sent to OneVoice, ostensibly to support the group’s efforts to back Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement negotiations. But OneVoice used the money to build a voter database, train activists and hire a political consulting firm with ties to President Obama’s campaign — all of which set the stage for an anti-Netanyahu campaign, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said in a bipartisan staff report."

The Israeli aggressor continues to be supported no matter what it does. The real problem that remains is the fact no one is completely sure precisely how much the aggressor continues to receive from the United States Government.

7-8-16

The insanity in Israel continues unabated. Fox reports:

"A 13-year-old Jewish girl who was stabbed to death in her bed by a Palestinian attacker on Thursday was an American citizen, the State Department said.

"Hallel Yaffa Ariel was asleep in her home in a West Bank settlement when a 17-year-old assailant broke in to the house and killed her before he was shot by security guards.

"The horrifying murder of a young girl in her bed underscores the bloodlust and inhumanity of the incitement-driven terrorists that we are facing," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after an emergency meeting with his defense minister. "The entire nation deeply identifies with the family's pain and declares to the murderers: you will not break us."

Yes, this an appalling murder. Yes, there is no excuse for it. Absolutely nothing reasonable about it. Horrendously, heartless. Insane. Yet, the Israeli aggressor can expect far more of the same. It remains the only way Palestinians can fight back against the aggressor that continues to wantonly kill Palestinians, stole its land in 1948, and continues to steal additional territory. Denies it statehood.

The United States continues to supply the Israeli aggressor with arms it continues to employ in direct violation of U.S. export law, that is, offensively. Does so with impunity. When the Israelis commit an atrocity, like drop an F-16-delivered bomb in a highly-populated Palestinian neighborhood, their American benefactor simply tells them not to do it again. Pitiful. Forget? The Palestinians don't have U.S.-supplied F-16s that drop bombs in highly-populated Israeli occupied areas, do they?

They do have knives, however, and seem more than willing to use them. Much to the chagrin of the Israelis who expect the Palestinians to peacefully accept the Israeli jackboot on their throats. We wouldn't tolerate Israeli atrocities here, why should the Palestinians? Why are the Israelis quick to condemn all criticism as anti-Semitic?

It's fact the Israeli aggressor is not comfortable with and won't accept. The jackbooted bastards are hopelessly blind to the truth. Expect everyone else to be as well. They're not. That's why the terror continues unabated. So will the criticism. It's directed at the war criminals who run the State of Israel. Not all Jews. Just the war criminals who continue to murder Palestinians and steal their land.

It's amazing the horribly unjust criticism British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn received for the following true statement he made:

"Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for those of various self-styled Islamic states or organizations."

You can imagine the firestorm this elicited in Israel after the murder of the young girl. Corbyn was quickly and ferociously accused of anti-Semitism by the Israelis. That's abject bullshit. The Israeli aggressor needs to look in the mirror. Yes, the murder of this girl is horrendous. Horrific. Yet, the killing will continue unabated because of the intransigence of the Israelis and Israeli war crimes continually committed by the aggressor who falsely believes it has Divine Right to Palestine.

While there is indeed no moral equivalency between the Israelis and ISIS, the Israelis are ultimately responsible, along with the U.S., Europe, and the UN for granting the Israeli aggressor carte blanche to invade Palestine in 1948, steal its land, continue to steal Palestinian territory, kill Palestinians since 1948 and ever since. Vis a vis modern terrorist tactics, techniques, and strategy Israeli commandos invented and implemented at the time the aggressor invaded Palestine and, again, sadly ever since. That's the truth the Israelis and their shills will apparently never understand or accept.

Then, the Israelis wonder why Palestinians and others in the Middle East have followed their example and used the very same terroristic tactics? Amazing. Fascinating. Worse? Sadly, that not only the Israelis, but we in the United States remain as hopelessly and determinedly clueless as we are. The situation in the Middle East will not improve until the aggressor is reined in.

Subsequent to writing the above, Elie Wiesel died 7-2-16. Mr. Wiesel was a survivor of Buchenwald and Auschwitz. Won a Nobel Peace Prize. Migrated to the United States in 1956 and became a U.S. citizen some seven years later. Was enormously influential promulgating the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington. President Obama paid the following tribute to this truly great man:

“Elie was not just the world’s most prominent Holocaust survivor, he was a living memorial. He raised his voice, not just against anti-Semitism, but against hatred, bigotry and intolerance in all its forms.

“His life, and the power of his example, urges us to be better. In the face of evil, we must summon our capacity for good. In the face of hate, we must love. In the face of cruelty, we must live with empathy and compassion. We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering.”

Here, here. Wiesel was indeed the conscience of the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opined in tribute:

"Elie Wiesel, of blessed memory, embodied the determination of the human spirit to overcome the darkest of evils, and survive against all the odds. His life was dedicated to the fight against all hatred, and for the sake of man as created in the image of God — he was a guide for us all."

Sadly, Mr. Prime Minister, you yourself have egregiously failed to follow his example. You have clearly demonstrated, sir, you are no more than a war criminal. The theft of Palestinian land since the invasion of Palestine by Holocaust survivors in 1948 with the blessing of the United States, Europe, and the UN was the beginning of 68 years of atrocities committed against the Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor.

Not only have you stolen their land and continue to steal their land, Mr. Prime Minister, you and your cohorts continue to kill them as they fight their occupiers, sir. Sadly, Mr. Prime Minister, you can expect far more of this terroristic insanity as your occupation continues. Sooner or later your U.S. benefactor will wake up. Refuse to continue to financially and militarily support the carnage you and your jackbooted stormtroopers continue to wreak.

Only a matter of time, Mr. Prime Minister. This will not continue forever, sir. Without support of your U.S. benefactor, the State of Israel cannot survive on its own, -- if you continue on the path you are on. As you well know, you are surrounded by enemies who are determined to defeat Israel and drive its people out of the region.

This would literally be a tragedy of biblical proportions. Continue as you are, that could and would sadly become reality. Certainly, hope not, sir. What makes you still think Israel is owed Palestine by Divine Right? The Israelites forfeited any claim to this land generations ago through their excesses. What makes you still believe you're entitled to someone else's land? The most convenient rubber stamp of the United States, Europe, and the UN who had no right in the first place to grant you carte blanche in 1948? Have been paying the price for this haughty egregious mistake for decades now.

President Obama's statement, "We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering,” is stunning. Egregiously, untrue. Shamelessly, achingly hypocritical. The President has done precisely the opposite. Not only vis a vis war crimes committed against the Palestinians by the Israeli aggressor, but lip service paid by the Chief Executive to the enormous number of murders wantonly committed by police on the job in the United States. To say nothing of corruption, other violence, shake downs, ineptness of the law enforcement community in our formerly great country.

Interestingly, Israeli journalists have been highly critical of Israeli officials. Yet, have not been considered to be anti-Semitic. On NPR, one of them was recently asked why Mr. Wiesel never criticized the Israeli leadership for its atrocious treatment of Palestinians. He (Wiesel) answered he did not live in Israel, therefore, would not do so. Mr. Wiesel did not live in Rwanda and yet wisely, courageously condemned the carnage that occurred there.

Many, if not most, of the Israeli public also do not think treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli leadership to be morally acceptable and in the best interests of the State of Israel. They're right. It's not. This remains an ongoing problem that continues to threaten the existence of Israel. Yet, the fascist bastards in charge in Israel consider all criticism to be anti-Semitic.

That's goddamned bullshit. Only Israeli citizens can criticize you and other war criminals in Israel without being falsely labeled as anti-Semitic? That's Aryan arrogance, Mr. Prime Minister. Expected of your Nazi oppressors during the Second World War. Not the leadership of the State of Israel. Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister. Continue as you are, and you will lose your country.

7-1-16

Israeli atrocities continue unabated. CNN reports:

"Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian teenager early Tuesday in the West Bank, mistakenly believing he was involved in an earlier stone-throwing incident, the Israel Defense Forces said."

These bastards murder innocent Palestinians. Are not held accountable for their crimes. Yet, we continue to support the Israeli aggressor that invaded Palestine in 1948 with the blessing of the United States, Europe, and the United Nations. Stole their land. Continues to steal their land. Killed Palestinians on nearly a continuous basis from 1948 to the present. Yet, we continue to financially and militarily support the war criminals who run and own the State of Israel.

Insult to injury? Israeli jackbooted bastards bulldozed the home of Palestinian Bashar Masalha. Masalha killed an American and injured ten others in a knife attack earlier this year. What the hell does the aggressor expect? Palestinians not to fight back? Are they so stupid to believe bulldozing down a domicile housing other family members is not going to inspire further acts of aggression?

These ignorant, clueless bastards truly believe collective punishment works? If so, why do Palestinian attacks continue unabated? Think they won't exponentially increase should the Israeli aggressor move Palestinians en masse as planned and permanently deny them a state as also planned by the nazis who run and own Israel? Equally pointedly? What will these fascist bastards do when the American public finally smartens up, recognizes them for the aggressor they truly are, and demands all funding end? Think it will never happen? That aggressive stupidity will always rein supreme?

6-24-16

Why do we continue to finance the Israeli aggressor? Israeli Prime Minister Bebe Netanyahu spent over $600,000 in public funds to finance his 6-day trip to the UN last fall. Imagine that. This murderer of Palestinians indeed takes good care of himself. ABC reports:

"Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent more than $600,000 of public funds on a six-day trip to New York, including $1,600 on a personal hairdresser, according to a newly released expense report.

"The trip to the U.N. General Assembly last fall also included $210 in laundry services, $1,862 in meals and nearly $20,000 to move and store furniture."

The Israeli aggressor receives over $10 billion a year from looted U.S. taxpayers. Why? ... So they can continue killing Palestinians and stealing their land? Wake up. You're being fleeced. Worse? Bamboozled.

6-17-16

The Washington Post reports:

"A top Israeli minister said he wants the government to take complete control of more than half of the West Bank and remove the Palestinian residents of the territory. While traveling with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a state visit to Russia on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel told the Times of Israel that the world should forget about a Palestinian state. “We have to aspire to the annexation of Area C; these are areas where there are no Arabs at all,” Ariel said. “We would remove a few thousand, who do not constitute a significant numerical factor.”

Why are we supporting these Israeli fascist bastards militarily and with financial aid? Why? They're war criminals. Stole Palestinian territory in 1948 and ever since. This war will not end. The Palestinians will continue to fight. Why wouldn't they? We would if Canada or Mexico invaded and commandeered U.S. territory. Why should the Palestinians act or think any differently?

6-17-16

Texas U.S. Sen. Ted "Screws Loose" Cruz has clearly lost his mind. This national socialist, unabashed fascist has his head lodged so far up his ass his eyeballs are turning inside out. The following is part of his most recent newsletter 6-10-16:

"Sen. Cruz on Tuesday spoke on the Senate floor, bolstering three of his amendments that would secure our homeland and protect American interests abroad. Specifically, Sen. Cruz urged his colleagues to take up and pass amendments supporting Israel Missile Defense programs, halting the Obama administration’s plan to give away the Internet, and stripping citizenship from any American who takes up arms against the United States of America."

The Senator supports the Israeli aggressor no matter what it does in direct violation of U.S. export law which prohibits Israeli offensive use of American-supplied weapons. Yet, this fascist bastard wants to give them more. Why? So they can kill more Palestinians and steal more of their land? The President has no plans of giving away the Internet. The Senator is a boldfaced liar. His plan to strip U.S. citizenship is unconstitutional. The Constitution is clear. This piece of shit is bastardizing the Constitution he has taken an oath to protect and defend. To further his nazi agenda. Pitiful. Galling. Treasonous Achingly, un-American. Nazi.

6-10-16

NPR reports:

"On Sunday, we lost one of our own.

David Gilkey, an NPR photojournalist who documented both tragedy and hope, was killed in Afghanistan along with NPR's Afghan interpreter and fellow journalist Zabihullah Tamanna."

This is a problem. An ongoing problem. Begs the question why are we still there? What do we hope to accomplish? What are we accomplishing? We have no reason to be there any longer. Why are we there? Lining the pockets of war profiteers? The corporate management suite that never gets enough?

There is no exigent threat to the United States. Not from Afghanistan. Not from Iraq. Not from Syria. Not from anywhere in the Middle East. There is no exigent threat from ISIS to the U.S. mainland. Do something novel. Let the Middle East solve its own problems. F--k Big Oil. Why weren't we completely energy independent 60 years ago? Wake up. Unbridled corporate greed.

We seem to have conveniently forgotten our continuing mindless support of the Israeli aggressor no matter what it does is what caused the scourge of modern terrorism. The fact the Middle East remains war torn. In turmoil. As long as our noses remain where they don't belong, nothing will improve. Profound problems and issues will remain unresolved. In fact, sadly, continue to be exacerbated.

Until this changes, expect more of the same. The Israelis want no peace. No longer, if ever, support a two-state solution. Were Aryan arrogantly, callously given carte blanche by Europe, the United States, and the UN to do as they please. Unfettered. ... Since all three entities supported what turned out to be an invasion of Palestine at the time the State of Israel was formed in 1948.

Palestinians fought back ever since. Will continue to do so. Rightfully, so. Had we been invaded by Canada or Mexico think we wouldn't have done the same? The Israelis lost Palestine generations ago due to egregious excesses. Now consider it theirs for all eternity. Why? By Divine Right? Bullshit. They've conveniently, gutlessly, cluelessly bastardized the Bible. To get their way. Consequently, the conflict will continue indefinitely. Until the United States wakes up. Smells the coffee. Stops supporting the Israeli aggressor unconditionally.

5-27-16

Things don't look good in Israel. Our ally is certainly going nazi. That is, is moving to the Extreme Right under American-educated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So much so, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon resigned in protest, 5-20-16. When are the United States and fascists in both major political parties here in our formerly great country finally going to rein in the Israeli aggressor? Instead of allowing it carte blanche to do as it pleases. When will U.S. export law prohibiting offensive use of weapons systems sold and/or given the Israelis finally be rigorously enforced?

Tim Chorney, Publisher
Liberty In Peril

Tim Chorney, Publisher
Liberty In Peril
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