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07/25/02

Israel's "heavy-handed" tactics

The Bush administration has reached a new low in dispensing propaganda to
protect Israel, labeling as merely "heavy-handed" Israel's latest brutal
assault -- in which a rocket fired from an F-16 killed nine children and
wounded 147 other people. Ari Fleischer, Bush's spokesman, tempered the
already timid criticism by assuring Israel and her lobbyists that "the
president is and will always be a great friend of Israel."

By providing unconditional military aid and unqualified support to Israel,
America has created a monster -- a pariah in the international community.
President Bush's absence of involvement has given Ariel Sharon free rein to
brutally suppress resistance among the Palestinians, which only increases
the likelihood of violent retaliation.

America will continue to suffer from our blind support of Israel's
oppressive tactics. As the supplier of weapons, we are naturally considered
at least indirectly responsible for Israel's actions. The recent downturn in
financial markets reflects, in part, a concern over the instability in the
Middle East and the threat of retaliation against American targets.

Israel's actions in Palestine -- denial of basic human rights, expropriation
of property, confinement into concentration camps, disregard for human
life -- closely parallel the historical developments in Nazi Germany. If
Israel progresses to a similar "final solution" to the Palestinian problem,
our propaganda machine will probably label it "harsh and unfortunate."

John Crane

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