by Stephen Lendman

On November 6, Americans vote for president, Congress, and regional candidates. On matters concerning Israel, virtually every officeholder and aspirant expresses wholehearted support.

One-sided bipartisan platform language endorses it. Rock solid commitment defines it. Obama and Romney practically fall over each other affirming it. Doing so lets Israel to get away with crimes of war, against humanity, and genocide with impunity. It's no exaggeration.

Longstanding US policy permits it. Palestinians were thrown under the bus decades ago. Israel considers them lesser beings. So does America. Policies in both countries show it.

Human suffering is out of sight and mind. In late August, a UN report said Gaza won't be "livable" by 2020 without urgent help. At issue is improving water supply and safety, power, healthcare, education, other essential services, and rebuilding what war and regular Israeli attacks destroy.

UN humanitarian coordinator Maxwell Gaylard said conditions already are too severe to bear. Gaza's been suffocating under Israel's blockade for over five years.

It's democratically elected government is unrecognized. At the behest of Israel, Washington declared it a terrorist organization. Isolation renders Gaza's economy nonviable.

Peace and security don't exist because Israel prevents it. Land, sea and air attacks happen regularly. No one knows from day to day who'll live, die, or become permanently disabled.

Rapid population growth assures much worse ahead without help. Pathetically little so far is forthcoming. Talk substitutes for policies, condemnation of Israel, demands to end the blockade, and other actions to free Palestine from lawless militarized occupation and oppression.

Israeli crimes happen daily. Some matter more than others. All deserve international condemnation. Palestinian liberation and self-determination are long overdue.

Volumes can be written daily on what's wrong and needs correcting. On September 6, 30 Israeli intelligence community members, Likudnik Moshe Feiglin, and extremist settlers violated the Al-Aqsa Mosque's sanctity. It happened early at 8AM.

They entered forcefully, defiled it, and performed Talmudic rituals. Israeli security forces protected them. Imagine world headlines and outrage if Palestinians entered a synagogue, prayed peacefully, and just left. Condemnation too vocal to miss would follow.

An Al-Aqsa Institute press release accused Israel of "profanation of the mosque….in which the occupation attempts to (force a Jewish) presence" where it doesn't belong, impose its will lawlessly, and try "to divide Al-Aqsa between Palestinians and Jews."

It called on Palestinians to increase their presence and protect holy ground. That much and more is essential.

Little is done to help political prisoners rotting in Israel's gulag.

On September 2, Addameer headlined "Imminent danger to lives of hunger strikers Samer Al-Barq and Hassan Safadi." As of September 10, Samer's been hunger striking for 112 days. It followed his previous 30 day abstinence.

Hassan's on his 82nd day. Previously he hunger struck for 71 days. At issue is long denied justice. Both men risk dying for it. On August 30, Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad visited them and Ayman Sharawna. He's refused food for 72 days.

Samer was too weak to meet with Fares or get out of bed. All three are in imminent danger. Hassan experiences extreme fatigue, can't sleep, and instead falls unconscious two or three times daily. He suffers from numerous life-threatening problems. He's also experiencing chronic upper waist and joint pain.

When hospitalized, their arms and legs are painfully shackled to beds. Soldiers guard them at all times. Israel bears full responsibility for their condition and death if they don't survive.

On September 7, Samer's father protested at Egypt's Ramallah embassy. "Every minute matters," he said. He's been hunger striking since April 17. Dignity and freedom matter more than food.

Israel won't let family members see him. Samer's father is bearing up best he can. His mother is traumatized and depressed. She's been hospitalized over what's happened to her son. He's held lawlessly uncharged.

International pressure for him, Hassan, Ayman, and a fourth hunger striker is absent. World leaders able to make a difference don't care if they live or die. They've said nothing about torture, other physical abuse, isolation, and denial of adequate medical care.

Israel renewed Samer's uncharged administrative detention seven times. He can be kept imprisoned lawlessly indefinitely. Perhaps death alone can free him. His father believes only a miracle can save him. Israel is slowly killing him.

Addameer, Al Haq and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel urge immediate international community intervention to help him and others refusing food. They want justice long denied.

One phone call from Obama could do it. Instead, he lets Netanyahu roll him over. He caves on Palestinian issues. They're off his radar. He doesn't give a damn. The Democrat party platform threw them under the bus. AIPAC demanded it. They complied.

DNC chair Debbie Wasserman obliquely reflected it saying "I bring my love of Israel to work every day." Saying it relegates Palestinians to sub-human status. Republicans and Democrats both express no concern for Palestinian suffering.

On September 8, Israeli soldiers violently assaulted four Palestinian workers. They were traveling to their construction jobs in Israel.

Their car was stopped. Soldiers beat them viciously. All four required hospitalization. They have arm, leg and head injuries.

The previous day, Israeli soldiers kidnapped four Palestinians, including two young children. They were playing near the Hebron City Council in Hebron's Old City. Their whereabouts is unknown. Two men were seized. Soldiers forcibly entered their homes and arrested them. No reasons why are known.

Also on September 7, soldiers violently attacked dozens of nonviolent Bil'in village protesters. They do it weekly. Israel's Annexation Wall is stealing their land and isolating them.

Villagers, Israeli peace activists, and German delegates were attacked. Soldiers used tear gas, rubber bullets, toxic spray, and gas bombs. Dozens were injured.

They resist courageously. They raised Palestinian flags. They marched, chanted supportive slogans, urged unity among all Palestinian factions, demanded release of political prisoners, and called for ending Israel's lawless occupation.

Kufr Qaddoum village had its own large demonstration. Ramallah and Bethlehem ones were held. Soldiers also attacked them. Injuries were reported. Western media ignore what goes on and say nothing. Political Washington supports the worst of Israeli crimes. They're ongoing daily like clockwork.

On September 9, dozens of protesters blocked Wadi al-bar road. It's the main artery connecting north and south West Bank areas. At issue is growing economic hardship. High unemployment, low pay for those able to find work, and rising prices put enormous pressure on Palestinians struggling to survive.

Help isn't forthcoming. PA leaders Abbas and Fayyad are shameless Israeli collaborators. They contribute to their own people's misery. Subservience benefits them greatly. They're traitors.

As appointed prime minister, rage aimed mainly at Fayyad. He's a former World Bank/IMF/Federal Reserve official. LIke Abbas, he's Israel's man in Palestine.

He's a political opportunist. He's contemptuous of his own people. He serves without authority. So does Abbas. His presidential term expired in January 2009. Israel keeps them both in power. They're useful imperial tools. Expect greater public rage as conditions worsen. Fayyad is unapologetic.

Justice delayed denies it. Palestinians have been waiting since 1948. Under occupation, it's since 1967. No relief looks imminent. No one able to help cares. Israeli lawlessness is immunized. The worst of its crimes go unpunished. Political Washington endorses them.

Republicans and Democrats pledge fealty to Israel. Its tail wags America's dog most often. Isn't it about time sucking up shamelessly ended? Progressive change more than ever is needed.

Political Washington won't budge. It's too corrupted, dysfunctional and lawless. It doesn't give a damn about ordinary people. They're on their own sink or swim.

Perhaps they'll awaken one day and realize it. Perhaps they'll act on their own behalf. They better or they'll be no better off than Palestinians. Their futures lie in their own hands. Without activism they'll have none. There's no in between.

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

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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