Bloodshed in Occupied Palestine

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

A Wednesday MSNBC disinformation report I viewed on air live called Friday West Bank protests less turbulent than on Thursday.

They were far more violent during a third day of rage after Friday prayers, thousands more protesters involved.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians protested across the West Bank and Gaza – including in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqiliya and Jericho. 

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported two protesters killed, around 300 injured, some savagely beaten by Israeli soldiers – as of mid-afternoon Friday. A dozen or more injuries were caused by live fire.

AP News reported only one-fourth this number, downplaying Israeli viciousness, including the number of Palestinian protesters involved. Other mainstream reports were similar.

Israeli media called legitimate Palestinian protests “riots,” giving legitimacy to police state ruthlessness.

Soldiers invaded Gaza, clashing with protesters, injuring scores of victims, some requiring hospitalization.

Hundreds of Palestinians marched from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to the Damascus Gate, the oldest entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, built in 1538.

They shouted anti-US, anti-Israeli slogans, calling Jerusalem Palestine’s capital. It’s a core issue.

Later this month, Vice President is scheduled to visit Israel and meet with Abbas on December 19. Fatah party secretary general Jibril Rajoub said he’s “unwanted in Palestine,” adding:

“In the name of Fatah, I say we will not welcome Trump’s deputy in Palestinian territory. A meeting like this won’t happen.”

Security Council members are scheduled to meet later on Friday. US veto power prevents anything constructive happening.

Ahead of the meeting, neocon US UN envoy Nikki Haley welcomed Trump’s pronouncement on Jerusalem, praising it as a “courageous and historic step,” calling the city the “rightful place” for America’s embassy.

A Journal of Palestine Studies report said the US embassy’s likely site is stolen Palestinian land, privately owned by Palestinian refugees.

The report explained “with all that Jerusalem connotes, it is, to say the least, unbecoming for the United States’ future embassy in that city to be built on land that is stolen property.”

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s exclusive capital endorses illegal occupation and settlement construction – killing any hope for peace, assuring continued conflict, exposing Washington as a dishonest broker never to be trusted by anyone.

When Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967, Security Council Resolution 267 warned “all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel which purport to alter the status of Jerusalem…are invalid and cannot change that status.” 

Security Council Resolution 478 (1980) called on all nations “not to recognize the ‘basic law’ and such other actions by Israel that, as a result of this law, seek to alter the character and status of Jerusalem.”

“(T)hose States that have established diplomatic missions at Jerusalem (should) withdraw such missions from the Holy City.”

No other nation has its embassy there, America the sole outlier if it makes the move – a contemptuous, lawless act if it happens.

UN Charter Article 25 requires nations “agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.”

It includes upholding international law, notably not attacking another country or acquiring territory through force.

Longstanding US policies flagrantly violate these principles – illegally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital the latest example.

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

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