Arab, Islamic states must force US’s hand on Palestine

OVER the past 73 years since the unjust formation of the Zionist State of Israel, it has conducted a systematic campaign against a civilian population to drive them out of their homeland.

More than 500 villages have been destroyed and more than 70% of the total land previously owned by Arab Palestinians has been stolen from them.

The international community recognises the rights of Palestinians to use all means at their disposal to fight this state-sponsored terror and oppression.

However, the US-dominated mass media portrays the actions of Palestinians, who are only justifiably defending themselves from acts of aggression and injustice committed by Israel, as acts of terror.

Thus the US government and the American people are just as morally responsible for the oppression of the Palestinian people as the government and people of Israel.

There would be no need for

Palestinian suicide bombers if Israel were to respect the international law and treat the Palestinians with justice.

There would be no “security problem” for Israel if it did not oppress the Palestinian people.

Peace is only possible if it is based on justice and respect for international law.

Ending the cycle of ongoing and systemic human rights violations by Israel cannot be effective until the root causes of such violations are recognised and combated.

Parallels can be drawn between Zionist Israel and apartheid South Africa.

In the occupied Palestinian territories, cruel methods are employed to “exhaust” the communities, exploit and subjugate them, to make life so unbearable that Palestinians will leave or communities be destroyed.

Continued Israeli military aggression against Palestinian civilians amounts to grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention (namely, war crimes) and systemic gross violations of human rights.

A disproportionate number of women and children have been killed and maimed.

Crimes perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians are usually inadequately investigated or prosecuted, and there is a bias in the sentencing of Palestinians. What a travesty of justice. Apartheid is a crime.

How Israel treats Palestinian citizens is a crime against humanity.

If Arab and Islamic governments refused to support America because of its massive and uncritical support of Israel and for the US not criticising Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, American foreign policy would be forced to change.

American foreign policy and $30 billion (R426bn) economic and military aid to Israel, are prolonging the suffering and oppression of the Palestinian people.

SAMAOEN OSMAN | Crawford