by Stephen Lendman

Ruthless Israeli persecution of Palestinians continues daily - unrestrained violence against defenseless civilians its notable feature, state terrorism by any standard.

World leaders able to make a difference do nothing to change things. Disingenuous rhetoric substitutes for action. After days of Israeli security forces brutalizing Palestinians throughout the West Bank along with desecrating Islam’s third holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and compound, UN Security Council members did nothing to hold Netanyahu responsible.

Instead, a tepid September 17 press release commented on violence in Jerusalem (ignoring it in across the West Bank), saying in part:

“The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern regarding escalating tensions in Jerusalem, especially surrounding the Haram al-Sharif compound, including recent clashes in and around the site.”

“The members of the Security Council called for the exercise of restraint, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric and upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the Haram al-Sharif - in word and in practice.”

“The members of the Security Council called for full respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as may be applicable in Jerusalem.”

“The members of the Security Council urged all sides to work cooperatively together to lower tensions and discourage violence at holy sites in Jerusalem.”

The strongest comment stressed “Muslim worshippers at the Haram Al-Sharif must be allowed to worship in peace, free from violence, threats and provocations” - stopping short of warning Israel punitive measures would follow otherwise.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO), representing 51 Zionist groups, lead by AIPAC and the Zionist Organization of America, supports Israel’s worst crimes, consistently justifying the unjustifiable, blaming Palestinians and other victims for its ruthless state terror.

Outgoing Israeli UN envoy Ron Prosor criticized Security Council members’ statement, calling justifiable Palestinian self-defense “violence,” claiming “the deep connection of the Jewish people to the Temple Mount, and the right of all to visit the site” - while ignoring longstanding ruthless Israeli policy.

CPMAJO supported Prosor’s remarks with a statement, saying it’s “unacceptable that the members of the United Nations Security Council continue to lend themselves to the denial and denigration of the Jewish connection to its holiest site as well as the historic associations of Christians to the Temple Mount.”

Israel bares full responsibility for provocatively continuing violence. CPMAJO lied claiming it “was organized and initiated by Palestinians” - the usual blame the victim tactic.

Occupied Palestine is a virtual war zone. Israeli rampaging continues daily - including injuring dozens of Palestinians on Friday, bombing Gaza again overnight, attacking Jenin villagers, brutalizing, shooting and/or kidnapping targeted residents.

On September 18, opposition Israeli Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog met with John Kerry in London. He lied blaming Palestinians for Israeli instigated violence.

He nonsensically said Netanyahu failed to defend Jerusalem - issuing an absurd statement claiming “(i)n order to get home safely…(city) residents have to travel in armored vehicles and under the security of thousands of Border Police officers…(T)hey and their children deserve security immediately.”

A Zionist Union party statement urged greater security in Jerusalem - wanting tougher crackdowns on defenseless Palestinians. Racist Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan outrageously accused them of turning the Al-Aqsa compound into a “warehouse of terror,” claiming a nonexistent weapons stash nowhere in sight as Israeli forces rampaged through the holy site for three straight days, brutally attacking worshipers, causing dozens of injuries, women and children affected.

Netanyahu deployed extra security forces in Jerusalem. Perhaps greater state-sponsored violence will follow.

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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.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.