| Genocide directed against Palestinians has become a “New Normal” according to the Times of Israel. Under certain circumstances –according to the Times of Israel article–“Genocide is Permissible” because it is directed against Palestinians who are “terrorists” and who should be “obliterated”. Implementing a policy of genocide against terrorists including innocent civilians is permissible to ”achieve responsible goals” as formulated by the Netanyahu government. “What other way then is there to deal with an enemy of this nature other than obliterate them completely? … If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals? ” (See The Times of Israel: Genocide is Permissible “to Achieve Responsible Goals?” Global Research, August 01, 2014) The following data (carefully compiled by Lesley Bravery, scroll down) confirm the central objective behind Israel’s military strategy which consists in “implementing genocide”, in carrying out “a strategy of obliteration”. While killing civilians is a central objective, destroying the Palestinian economy, wrecking the institutions of civil society and making life impossible and unbearable for those who survive the bombings are an integral part of the military campaign: Residential areas are singled out for bombing and shelling campaigns. Most of the buildings destroyed or damaged are people’s homes.The Unspoken objective is Genocide directed against the People of Palestine. The Expulsion of Palestinians from their Homeland Let us be under no illusions. The central objective of the Zionist State is expulsion and territorial expansion Powerful voices in Israel’s Knesset (parliament) have called upon the government to expel the Palestinian population and resettle the territory with Jews. (Statement of the deputy speaker of the Knesset Moshe Feiglin): “After the IDF completes the ‘softening’ of the targets with its firepower, the IDF will conquer the entire Gaza, using all the means necessary to minimize any harm to our soldiers, with no other considerations,…Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever, ... Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel.” (Moshe Feiglin quoted in Ali Abunimah, Expel Palestinians, Populate Gaza with Jews, Says Knesset Deputy Speaker , July 28, 2014The underlying premise is “Greater Israel”: ” Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever” Complicity of the West Western leaders are not only complicit, they have blood on their hands. This carefully planned Israeli military undertaking was coordinated with the Pentagon and NATO. It has broad geopolitical and economic ramifications (which are beyond the scope of this article). Israel’s military actions are supportive of Washington’s Middle East strategy which consists in destabilizing and fragmenting Israel’s neighboring Arab States. It is also part of the road map of US-NATO-Israel war plans directed against Iran. The timing of Israel’s attack on Gaza coincides with the militarization of Eastern Europe and relentless war threats directed against Russia. “Paying Lip Service” to Israeli War Crimes The “Washington Consensus” pays lip service to Israeli war crimes. According to the powerful Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) which overshadows the US State Department, prime minister Netanyahu is said to have a profound “dislike for military conflict”. According to the CFR, Netanyahu “is at the mercy of events” which are “beyond his control“. The victims of Israeli war crimes are said to be responsible for their own deaths. Netanyahu is “safe and reliable”, he is committed to peace, he was “politically compelled to act”. He is portrayed as the victim. Genocide is the “New Normal” In turn, the US media has also embraced the “New Normal” which intimates that “genocide is permissible” under certain circumstances. According to the Wall Street Journal, the solution is the outright elimination and/or expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland: What did Gazans think was going to happen? Surely they must have understood on election night that their lives would now be suspended in a state of utter chaos. Life expectancy would be miserably low; children would be without a future. Staying alive would be a challenge, if staying alive even mattered anymore. (Professor Thane Rosenbaum, WSJ, July 21, 2014, emphasis added) Data Compiled by Leslie Bravery of the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign, Auckland, New Zealand The death and destruction to midnight on 31st July are:
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