Israeli War on Palestinians Without Declaring It

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

A state of Israeli war against defenseless Palestinians has existed throughout Jewish state history.

It began long before the 1947-48 Nakba, the "catastrophe" setting the stage for endless state terror to follow.

Apartheid rule following the Jewish state's creation includes mass killings of Palestinians, illegal occupation, land theft, ethnic cleansing, bulldozed homes, mass arrests and imprisonments, torture, economic strangulation, institutionalized racism, denial of fundamental rights, and slow-motion genocide against an unwanted/persecuted people for praying to the wrong god.

Israeli viciousness also features targeted assassinations, Mossad and IDF specialties, the latest incidents happening overnight.

Israeli warplanes terror-bombed the home of Islamic Jihad Movement senior official Baha' Abu al-'Ata, killing him, his wife Asma, wounding their siblings and a neighbor.

Confirming Abu al-"Ata's death, Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigade called him one of the Movement's prominent leaders, explaining that many other Israeli attempts to kill him failed," adding:

"Our response will be huge. The enemy is responsible for the outcome of its crimes, and will pay for them."

A similar statement by Hamas and its al-Qassam Brigades vowed "fierce and painful retaliation."

A joint Hamas/Islamic Jihad statement said Israel "crossed all the red lines and will bear the consequences of the crimes in Gaza and Damascus." See below on an overnight IDF attack on the Syrian capital.

On Tuesday, Haaretz reported that 50 rockets were fired from Gaza at southern and central Israel, citing the IDF saying 20 alone were intercepted, adding:

"Israel is preparing for further escalation. Schools and all non-essential work were cancelled throughout the targeted areas. Local authorities have ordered the opening of shelters wherever necessary."

Crossings between Israel and Gaza were closed, offshore fishing waters reduced to six nautical miles. 

Oslo (1993) affirmed them up to 20 nautical miles, what Gazan fishermen most often have been denied, attacked by Israeli forces time and again for the "crime" of fishing in their own waters.

Following the preemptive overnight IDF attacks, Netanyahu said he'll order whatever he considers necessary. IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi said "we are preparing for an escalation."

On Tuesday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Israeli warplanes fired missiles from occupied Galilee at a "residential building in (the) Mezza area in Damascus."

The pre-dawn Tuesday terror-bombing attack killed two civilians, wounding 10 others.

One missile was intercepted and destroyed by Syria's air defense system. Two others hit the home of  Palestinian Jihad Leader Akram al-Ajouri, killing his son Moaz and another individual, injuring his daughter Batoul and others.

The building struck was near many diplomatic missions in the Syrian capital and Damascus University, apparently failing to kill the mission's intended target, causing extensive damage to his home.

Time and again the US and EU blame Palestinians for Israeli crimes against them.

Ignoring overnight Israeli aggression, an EU statement called (retaliatory) rockets fired on Israel "totally unacceptable and must stop immediately," adding:

"(O)nly a political solution can put an end to these continuing cycles of violence."

Decades of no-peace/peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli officials achieved nothing. Each time initiated, they're exercises in futility because the US and Israel reject regional peace and stability.

Restoring it defeats their agenda — served by endless undeclared wars, including against Palestinians, the US and Israel partnering in their wars of aggression.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu security officials met to discuss what's going on. He faces likely indictment on one or more charges of bribery, fraud, and/or breach of trust — perhaps to be announced before end of November.

Arab Knesset members accused him of escalating violence for his political survival.

Joint (Arab) List leader Ayman Odeh tweeted: "The man who lost consecutive elections will leave the ground burned in a desperate attempt to stay in his position," adding:

"For a decade, (Netanyahu) worked every morning to prolong the occupation and undermine prospects for peace and this is what he did today as well."

Palestinian Knesset member Walid Taha warned that overnight Israeli aggression risks escalation of a "real disaster," adding:

"What is happening threatens the security of the entire region and the lives of millions of innocent people in Gaza Strip. Israel is in danger as a result of Netanyahu's aggressive policies."

Addressing Palestinians in Gaza, Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh said "Netanyahu will pay a hefty price for the assassination of Abu al-Ata," adding:

"His troops and settlers will pay a hefty price for these crimes. Today, we tell our people, the only option available is to face" Israeli aggression."

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said its leadership is coordinating a Palestinian response among resistance factions to Israeli "occupation crimes."

Does Israeli overnight aggression suggest Netanyahu has another war on Gaza in mind to divert attention from indictment, trying to avoid what reports indicate is coming?

Escalated Israeli violence in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem could happen any time, threatening millions of long-suffering Palestinians.

Throughout Jewish state history, the world community failed to hold its ruling authorities and military accountable for their high crimes of war, against humanity, and other hostile actions against the Palestinian people.

Since the infamous 1917 Balfour Declaration called for establishment of a nation for Jews (on stolen Palestinian land), endless conflict, occupation, dispossession, and repression, along with social and cultural fragmentation, followed — over 100 years of suffering, no end of it in prospect, the world community dismissive of their rights.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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