Look at the photos, Netanyahu

The reality in the occupied territories is conveyed to the citizens of Israel almost exclusively via the Israeli army spokesman. But photographs and video clips of confrontations between the Israeli army and Palestinians make it possible to demonstrate the horrifying discrepancy between the statements the army feeds Israelis, and the reality.

Take this statement from the spokesman: ‘‘Last Thursday, there was a violent disturbance of the peace in the area of the village of Tuqu . . . which endangered the lives of the civilians and the [army] forces. The soldiers responded using means to disperse demonstrations, and arrested one of those disturbing the peace, who tried to flee following his arrest . . . The soldiers carried out pursuit, in the course of which they fired at the lower portion of

his body . . . The incident will be investigated.’’

From the standpoint of Israelis, it’s just another routine day in the occupied territories. But seeing the photos, it is clear there was no real reason to shoot the Palestinian, a 15-year-old youth named Osama Hajajeh. His hands were tied. He was blindfolded and surrounded by armed soldiers.

Yet the photos not only document violent action on the army’s part. These are also X-rays of 52 years of occupation, images of a chronic absence of Israeli initiative to solve the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just elected to a fifth term, must take a good look at these photos and come to the realisation that this will be the real legacy of a man who is proudly steering a policy of maintaining the status quo, which could ultimately lead to the destruction of the Zionist project.