International law expert William Schabas. (Photo: Bangor University)
[O]ne of the most important strikes in the propaganda war for Israel in the last month was dealt by the New York Times and CNN when they ran long pieces giving credence to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas was building tunnels out of Gaza aimed at kindergartens in nearby kibbutzes.
Back on July 22, Netanyahu asserted– on the basis of this cartoon drawing he tweeted– that the tunnels were aimed at Israeli kindergartens.
Stephen Lendman
Baudelaire Ndong Ella: If you never heard of him, it’s because the American media have completely ignored him. (Credit: HRC)
[O]n August 11, Human Rights Council (HRC) President Baudelaire Ndong Ella announced the formation of an “independent, international commission of inquiry” into war crimes committed during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge.
The AP dispatch summed it up efficiently:
Cuomo” “Israel has the right to defend itself.”
ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and top state legislators are heading to Israel this week for a two-day visit as a “demonstration of solidarity” with that country in the conflict in Gaza, the Democratic governor announced Sunday.
Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate co-leaders Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein will travel to Israel on Tuesday. Cuomo said the delegation would meet with Israeli leaders and visit residents affected by the fighting.
“Friends stand together in times of crisis, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan delegation to Israael to reaffirm our friendship and support,” Cuomo said in a statement emailed to reporters.
PATRICE GREANVILLE
[S]ocial activist “Mother” Mary Jones, borrowing from Finley Peter Dunne, was once quoted as saying “My business is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” A noble feeling. Sadly, and with disastrous consequences for all of humanity, for most American politicians, so accustomed to kissing the butt of the powerful, the opposite is true. Their pre-eminent mission, for which they carefully prepare (and are vetted) is to defend and apologize for the powerful, facilitating their extended rule and total impunity.
By Stephen Gowans
[A]fter 26 days of Israeli aggression against the 1.8 million people of the Gaza Strip, the right-to-protect (R2P) advocates are conspicuously silent. Israeli occupation forces have slaughtered 1,669 Palestinians, possibly as many as 1,405 of them civilians, according to the United Nations, and 363 of them children. [1] The aggressor state has destroyed civilian infrastructure including Gaza’s lone power plant, disrupting power needed to run machinery to desalinate drinking water and pump human waste. Sewage, along with blood, runs in the streets.