by Stephen Lendman

Ruthless Israeli persecution is longstanding. Palestinian rights don't matter. Treated like subhumans.

Ignored by Western leaders. Supporting Israeli high crimes against peace. Genocidal slaughter. Barbarism writ large.

Taking so much before reacting. Erupting. Largely nonviolently. Stone-throwing is largely symbolic.

Palestinian children young as five are systematically abused. Israel is a UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) signatory.

Brazenly violating its principles. Subjecting young children to torture. Other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

Depriving them of liberty lawlessly. Arbitrarily. Trying them in military tribunals. The only nation doing so.

Treating them like adults. Declaring them guilty by accusation. Israeli conviction rates exceed 99%. Justice is a convenient illusion.

Special protections children need are denied. Consideration to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually, and socially under conditions of freedom and dignity.

Over one-third of Palestine's population is aged 14 or younger. Almost half aged 18 or under.

Under international law, adulthood begins at age 18. Israel considers children aged 16 and over adults. Military order 378 permits up to 20 years imprisonment for stone-throwing.

Pending legislation mandates minimal 10-year sentences for throwing stones or other objects at vehicles in motion. Allegedly endangering public safety.

Maximum sentences up to 20 years. For intending to cause serious bodily harm. Five years imprisonment mandated for stone or other object throwing at police vehicles or officers.

Undefined interfering with their duties. Verifiable proof not required. Guilt by accusation suffices.

Collective punishment is longstanding Israeli policy. Palestinians take so much before refusing no more.

Erupting in justifiable protests. Against policies like Netanyahu instructing security forces to use live fire against legitimate protesters using fireworks.

More symbolic than harmful. Useless against live ammunition. Other forms of Israeli brutality.

Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) lawyer Yousef Karram warned about potentially serious consequences.

Deaths and serious injuries. Escalating things out-of-control. Rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades, chemically-treated skunk water and other repressive methods are currently used.

"(S)oldiers justify" the unjustifiable. Using live ammunition against defenseless protesters.

Claiming "their lives (are) in danger." Rarely is a soldier ever injured. "Even the black rounded rubber-coated metal bullets are very dangerous and fatal," said Karram.

Rounded, thinly rubber-coated metal bullets cause numerous Palestinian fatalities. Largely ignored by media scoundrels. Focusing mainly on rare Israeli casualties.

Using live rounds isn't new. It's common Israeli practice. Now more than ever.

Based on nonexistent threats. One of the world's most powerful militaries against unarmed, defenseless Palestinians.

A mismatch and then some. Brute force is longstanding Israeli policy. Zionist ideologues justify it.

Netanyahu one of their worst, saying:

"I have been on the battlefield many times. I have risked my life for the country, and I am not prepared to make concessions that will endanger our state."

"We all have a responsibility for the security of the State of Israel, and we must continue to cooperate for the security of Israel's citizens."

Code language for Jews alone have rights. Palestinians have none. They're unwanted.

Fair game for horrific abuses. Including cold-blooded mass murder, torture, political imprisonment, and other ill-treatment.

Anything goes is official Israeli policy. On October 25, historian Ilan Pappe discussed the "ongoing Nakba."

Promoting his new book titled "The Idea of Israel: A History of Power and Knowledge."

De-Arabization is longstanding Israeli policy. It's "gotten (progressively) worst…every year since 1882," says Pappe. The first Zionist Congress.

Its goal remains "to have as much of Palestine as possible with as few Palestinians as possible."

Eliminating them any way possible. Slow-motion genocide works as intended. Palestinians suffer horrifically.

Especially children. Since the start of the September 2000 second Intifada alone, Israel arrested, brutalized or murdered over 10,000. Injured many more. Many too young to understand.

After Friday prayers, thousands of Palestinians protested Israeli ruthlessness. Including around 1,500 Israeli Arab citizens.

Enraged over struggles for Al-Aksa's sovereignty. Extremist Zionists want a Second Temple replacing Islam's third holiest site.

On November 8, Palestinian activists breached Israel's Separation Wall. Their way of commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's demolition.

Saying "(n)o matter how high walls are built, they will fall. Just as the Berlin Wall fell, the wall in Palestine will fall, along with the occupation."

Readying themselves for "the final, fateful intifada to liberate Palestine."

Kheir Hamdan's death ignited mass protests. Israeli police murdering him in cold blood. Video evidence proved it.

Who's next, they wonder. They're fair game. Guilty of not being Jews. Praying to the wrong God.

Wanting to live free on their own land in their own country. Rejecting Israeli sovereignty over their lives.

On Friday, dozens of Palestinians crossed over Israel's Separation Wall. Around six meters high. Near Qalandiya's military checkpoint.

Symbolically protesting. Using makeshift ramps and ladders. Cutting wall-topping barbed wire.

Part of an "On2Jerusalem" campaign. Organized by Popular Resistance Committees. Facebook postings calling for a Jerusalem day of "revolution, fire and rage."

On Thursday, Kerry met with Netanyahu and Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman. Separately with Abbas.

Claiming a unified commitment to "concrete steps." To ease Jerusalem Old City strife. Refusing to elaborate further.

Kerry and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh commented fat a joint news conference.

Kerry saying "specific and practical actions (were proposed) to restore calm. Without elaborating.

Like similar claims numerous times before. Followed by business as usual. Israeli promises are meaningless. Big Lies.

Breached straightaway every time. So-called "firm commitments" Kerry claimed reflect pure fantasy.

Instigated Friday Israeli violence reveals what Palestinians can expect going forward. Its forces attacked Gazan farmers east of Khuza'a.

Palestinian neighborhoods near Bethlehem. Hebron. East Jerusalem. Other West Bank communities. Issawiya's council member Mohammed Khader Abu el-Hummus perhaps spoke for others saying:

"(Y)ouths have no future" here. "The town has no future." Near-daily clashes remain ongoing. In July, extremist settlers burned a Palestinian teenager alive.

Revenge for three Israeli teenager deaths in June. Wrongfully blaming Hamas. Netanyahu holding its officials responsible. For crimes they didn't commit.

Saying they'll "pay." Taking full advantage. Terrorizing West Bank residents. Arresting hundreds. Brutalizing them.

Launching Operation Protective Edge. Cold, calculated, well-planned long in advance naked aggression. Genocidal high crimes against peace.

Turning Gaza into rubble. Collectively punishing 1.8 million Palestinians.

Murdering over 2,200. Injuring over 11,000. Over 80% civilians. Including hundreds of non-combatant women and children. Claiming self-defense.

Since July, over 800 Palestinians were arrested in East Jerusalem alone. Hundreds more throughout Occupied Palestine.

In August, UN Human Rights Council president Baudelaire Ndong Ella announced an "independent, international commission of inquiry."

Into war crimes committed during Operation Protective Edge. On November 12, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights said Israel banned its members from entering Gaza.

"(T)he scene of the crime." They called on international community members to take all steps necessary to prevent Israeli obstructionism.

Compelling it to permit unlimited access. To investigate Israeli genocidal high crimes against peace.

Otherwise, survivors, witnesses and human rights groups will be denied. Their testimonies will be excluded.

A joint statement welcomed the Commission. Supports its work. At the same time "(e)xpress(ed) reservations for the unjustified delay in the formation of the Commission, as the resolution to establish it was issued on 23 July, 16 weeks ago and 11, and 11 weeks have passed since the end of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip."

"This delay constitutes a major technical and professional mistake, especially in regards to the scene of the crime, evidence, weapons and victims."

"Stress(ed) that it is not possible to conduct an objective, professional and independent investigation without the actual presence of the Commission in the main scene of the crime - the Gaza Strip - and without first-hand view of the crimes committed against Palestinian civilians and civilian objects."

"Strongly condemn(ed) the ban imposed by Israel, the occupying power, on the Commission's access to the OPT, especially the occupied Gaza Strip."

"Call(ed) upon the international community, especially the United Nations and Human Rights Council, to denunciate Israel's blatant interference and prevention of the Commission's access to the OPT, and hence obstruct(e) its work."

"Believe that inviting human rights organizations, victims and eyewitnesses in the Gaza Strip to travel to Amman to meet with the Commission is impractical and impossible because of the blockade imposed by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip."

"Reiterate(d) their willingness and readiness to provide all the information and results of investigations they have when the Commission is allowed into the Gaza Strip."

"Stress(ed) that failing to promptly contain these problems and the continuous denial of the Commission's access to the Gaza Strip will raise doubts concerning its work and undermine its credibility and that of the UN mechanisms."

"Believe that the absence from the scene of the crime is a disappointment for victims in the Gaza Strip as it sends them a clear message that there is no accountability and the crimes committed against them will go unpunished."

Expressed "confidence that the Commission will make all possible efforts to overcome the difficulties it is facing because of being prevented by Israel from entering the oPt and the complications of the so-called 'UN security procedures' in finding alternatives."

"Believe that failing to allow the Commission to assume its duties will raise questions as regarding the feasibility and efficiency of the UN human rights mechanisms."

"Call(ed) upon the UN Secretary-General and President of the Human Rights Council to declare Israel as the party that is obstructing the Commission's work, and suggest(ed) practical steps to compel Israel to facilitate the Commission's Work."

"Appreciate(s) Egypt's willingness to cooperate with the Commission and guarantee its access to the Gaza Strip through Egypt."

On November 14, Norwegian web site The Local reported Israel banning noted Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert from Gaza for life.

Outrageously claiming security reasons. In 2009, he treated Israeli Operation Cast Lead victims. Many with horrific wounds he never saw before.

Severe internal chemical, biological and radiological burns. Effects of toxic gases. Severed arms and legs. Abdomens sliced open. Various other type horrific wounds.

During Operation Protective Edge, he returned to Gaza's killing fields. Expressed in his comments below, saying:

"(L)ast night was extreme. The 'ground invasion' of Gaza resulted in scores and carloads with (the) maimed, torn apart, bleeding, shivering, dying - all sorts of injured Palestinians, all ages, all civilians, all innocent."

"The heroes in the ambulances and in all of Gaza's hospitals are working 12-24hrs shifts, grey from fatigue and inhuman workloads (without payment (at) all in Shifa (hospital) for the last four months)."

"They care, triage, try to understand the incomprehensible chaos of bodies, sizes, limbs, walking, not walking, breathing, not breathing, bleeding, not bleeding humans."

"HUMANS! Now, once more treated like animals by 'the most moral army in the world (sic).' "

"My respect for the wounded is endless, in their contained determination in the midst of pain, agony and shock; my admiration for the staff and volunteers is endless."

"My closeness to the Palestinian sumud (steadfastness) gives me strength, although in (some of the) glimpses I just want to scream, hold someone tight, cry, smell the skin and hair of the warm child, covered in blood, protect ourselves in an endless embrace - but we cannot afford that. Nor can they."

"Ashy grey faces - oh NO! Not one more load of tens of maimed and bleeding: We still have lakes of blood on the floor in the ER, piles of dripping, blood-soaked bandages to clear out."

"The cleaners (are) everywhere, swiftly shoveling the blood and discarded tissues, hair, clothes, cannulas - the leftovers from death - all taken away…(only) to be prepared again, to be repeated all over."

"More than 100 cases came to Shifa (in the) last 24 hrs, enough for a large well trained hospital with everything, but here (there is) almost nothing:"

"Electricity, water, disposables, drugs, OR-tables, instruments, monitors - all rusted and as if taken from museums of yesterdays hospitals."

"But they do not complain, these heroes. They get on with it, like warriors, head on, enormous(ly) resolute."

"And as I write these words to you, alone, on a bed, my tears flow, the warm but useless tears of pain and grief, of anger and fear. This is not happening!"

"And then, just now, the orchestra of the Israeli war-machine starts its gruesome symphony again. Salvos of artillery from the navy boats just down on the shores, the roaring F16, the sickening drones (Arabic ’Zennanis’, the hummers), and the cluttering Apaches."

"So much made and paid in and by US."

"Mr. Obama - do you have a heart?"

"I invite you - spend one night - just one night - with us in Shifa. Disguised as a cleaner, maybe."

"I am convinced, 100%, it would change history. Nobody with a heart AND power could ever walk away from a night in Shifa without being determined to end the slaughter of the Palestinian people."

"But the heartless and merciless have done their calculations and planned another Dahiya onslaught on Gaza."

"The rivers of blood will keep running the coming night. I can hear they have tuned their instruments of death."

"Please. Do what you can…This cannot continue."

It did for 51 genocidal days. Horrific mass slaughter by any standard.

Words don't come in an easy way explaining Israeli barbarism.

Monstrous by any standard. Unaccountable for 67 years. Whatever human rights investigations say.

Mass murder is OK. Palestinian lives don't matter. Israel is free to kill again. Whenever it wants. For any reason.

Palestinians have no place to hide. No safe havens. No refuges from Israeli ravaging. No alternatives.

Israeli ruthlessness at its discretion. Daily repression. Gulag harshness. One genocidal war after another.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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