Stephen Lendman's blog

Waging War on Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

Palestinians know what they're up against. UN success changed nothing on the ground. Daily Israeli state terror continues. World leaders do nothing to help. 

Rhetorical Palestinian support rings hollow. Americans like to say: Put your money where your mouth is. World leaders able to change things put theirs on Israel. They're complicit with US/Israeli imperial crimes.

Susan Rice's Imperial Credentials

by Stephen Lendman

She's favored to replace Hillary Clinton next year as secretary of state. Obama calls her "extraordinary." She matches the current incumbent's bullying, bluster and arrogance.

Both deplore peace, nonviolence, and social justice. They're pro-war, contemptuous of rule of law principles, and brazenly anti-democratic.

Punishing Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

Terror-bombing Gaza ended. Occupation harshness continues unabated.

Israel didn't wait long to violate memorandum of understanding truce terms. They went further. They exacted revenge. They punished Palestinians for getting overwhelming nonmember observer status UN support.

Secret US Construction in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Washington and Israel partner in jointly planned imperial wars and related activities. 

Walter Pincus reports on national security issues for the Washington Post. He's been at it many years. In late December he'll turn 80.

UN Vote on Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

Haaretz said Israel suffered a humiliating defeat in New York. So did truth about what actually happened, what it means, and what's likely going forward. More on that below.

Palestine UN Vote Postmortems

by Stephen Lendman

Pillar of Cloud echoes are still audible. Cast Lead crimes aren't forgotten. Nor is Gaza's siege, occupation harshness, expanding settlements, and horrific daily persecution.

Palestine remains locked down and isolated. UN voting changed nothing. Partial or full membership grants no immunity. Israel takes full advantage. That's how rogue states operate. Palestinian suffering continues.

Obama Wants State-Sponsored Murder Legalized

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article discussed Obama's kill list. Another explained his "disposition matrix." Both constitute elevating Murder, Inc. to a higher level. 

Israel's Genocidal War on Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

Longstanding Israeli policy reflects slow-motion genocide. Non-Jews aren't wanted. Israel considers them subhuman.

Peace, nonviolence, diplomacy, human and civil rights, as well as fundamental rule of law principles are systematically spurned. That's now rogue states operate.

Arafat's Body Exhumed

by Stephen Lendman

On November 27, Arafat's body was exhumed. Samples were taken from his remains and surrounding soil. Tests are being conducted. International experts are involved. 

Earlier evidence proved he died from radioactive polonium poisoning. Tests will check for all possible toxic substances. 

Bangladesh Sweatshop Fire

by Stephen Lendman

Corporate predators seek cheap labor worldwide. Countries like China, India, Honduras, Jordan, Haiti, and Bangladesh provide it.

Transnational giants are unaccountable. Global sweatshops supply them. Workers endure horrific conditions. Some work up to 90 or more hours weekly. 

Abbas Submits Weak UN Status Bid

by Stephen Lendman

Palestine deserves full UN membership. It's entitled to all rights and privileges afforded other Member States. Getting them is simple. It should have happened years ago. 

Palestine satisfies all essential criteria. On November 15, 1988, it achieved statehood. 

World Social Forum Free Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

The World Social Forum calls itself "an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neoliberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action."

Israel Signals Hardline Policy Intentions

by Stephen Lendman

Observers thinking Palestinians gained from Pillar of Cloud might think again. 

Nothing changed. Hardline Netanyahu policies continue. Expect worse ahead. Palestinian peace, reconciliation and unity advocates are murdered or arrested.

ACLU Challenges Warrantless Wiretapping

by Stephen Lendman

Throughout its history, America always governed extrajudicially. Post-9/11, it became more repressive than ever. Modern technology makes it easy.

Big Brother has lots of ways to spy. It can be done from space, eyes in the sky on drones, secret agents, neighborhood snoops, or electronic monitoring of phones, emails, and other personal communications.

Gaza Still Boils

by Stephen Lendman

Pillar of Cloud settled nothing. Little changed for 1.7 million Gazans. Suffocating siege continues. Israel provoked two border incidents. 

One Palestinian was shot and killed. Others were wounded. They threatened no one. These type incidents are commonplace. They won't end. Palestinians are blamed for Israeli crimes. 

Netanyahu Plans More War

by Stephen Lendman

He admitted it. He's not finished. He has lots more killing and destruction to do. He "will not hesitate to do what is necessary to defend our people," he said. 

In other words, he'll ignore memorandum of understanding ceasefire terms, maintain Gaza's siege, manufacture pretexts to eliminate Israeli enemies, and kill Palestinian civilians he calls threats.

Abbas: Collaborating with the Enemy

by Stephen Lendman

Previous articles explained Abbas' longtime collaboration with Israel. He sold out long ago for whatever benefits he derives.

He's Israel's enforcer. He ill serves and insults Palestinians. His presidency is illegitimate. Israel rigged his 2005 election. In January 2009, his term expired. 

Drums of More War

by Stephen Lendman

Cast Lead and Pillar of Cloud represent skirmishes. Syria's one on a higher boil. Expect full-scale war ahead. It could happen any time or perhaps next year. 

These conflicts portend more to come. Washington, Israel, and NATO plan them. Regional collaborators go along. One or more of them ahead may become targets. 

Israel's War on Palestine

by Stephen Lendman

Operation Pillar of Cloud reflects the latest chapter in Israel's decades-long, slow-motion, genocidal war on Palestine.

So-called memorandum of understanding terms changed nothing. They're nonbinding, meaningless, and insulting. 

Righteous Condemnation of Israeli Mass Murder

by Stephen Lendman

Media scoundrels feature pro-Israeli supporters. Doing so makes them complicit with Israeli crimes. 

Palestinians: Dying to Live Free

by Stephen Lendman

Occupied Palestine is the longest unresolved conflict of our time. After 64 years, Palestinians remain largely isolated on their own.

Their suffering continues. Their rights don't matter. Western nations scorn them. Rhetorical support only is provided. It's insulting, demeaning and meaningless. 

Gaza Postmortems

by Stephen Lendman

Discussion ranges from who won, who lost, who cares, what's next. Media scoundrels support Israeli aggression like they always do. More on that below.

Operation Pillar of Cloud, like decades of similar Israeli aggression, wasn't about self-defense in response to Palestinian rockets or other incidents. 

Gaza: Victimized by Israeli Terror Bombing 

by Stephen Lendman

Tuesday night, Israel and Hamas agreed to halt hostilities. Midnight local time was chosen. Hamas didn't want conflict in the first place. 

Israel is a rogue state. It's a serial provocateur. Multiple attacks were launched. Hamas responded defensively. It's their right and responsibility under international law. It had no other choice. 

Israeli Terror Attacks: Day 8

by Stephen Lendman

What can't go on forever, won't. As long as world leaders let Israel get away with murder, killing Palestinians won't stop.

Wednesday marks Operation Pillar of Cloud day 8. Ceasefire deals don't stop Israel's killing machine. It's a weapon of mass destruction.

We're All Gazans Now

by Stephen Lendman

The whole world's watching. Growing millions know. Israel’s a rogue terror state. It's amoral, brutish, and ruthless. Arabs are murdered for not being Jews. 

Gazans suffer most of all. Israel's been terror-bombing them daily. Civilians are maliciously targeted.

Israeli Terror Attacks: Day 7

by Stephen Lendman

When will Israel decide enough's enough? When will enough dead Palestinian men, women, children, infants, and elderly satisfy Netanyahu's blood lust? He'll have to explain.

Death and injury totals keep rising. Perhaps hundreds already perished. Those injured approach 1,000. Many are in serious condition. Some won't survive. Others are maimed for life.

Israeli Aggression: Dress Rehearsal for Iran?

by Stephen Lendman

Longstanding US and Israeli policies call for regime change in Iran. Replacing its independent government with a pro-Western puppet one is planned.

Israeli Terror Attacks: Day 6

by Stephen Lendman

Israeli terror attacks continue. They're merciless. Defenseless civilians are targeted. It's official policy in all Israeli conflicts. Besieged Gazans are sitting ducks.

Where can they go? How can they hide? What can they do but pray they'll survive? Many won't. Through midday Monday, Haaretz reported 95 Gazan deaths. Another report said 97. These numbers will rise.

Did Israel Overstep This Time?

by Stephen Lendman

Rogue states get away with murder only so long. Eventually their crimes catch up with them. Israeli policies are self-defeating. How long can killing civilian men, women, children, infants, and the elderly be called self-defense?

Israeli Terror Attacks: Day 5

by Stephen Lendman

Sunday as this is written is day 5. Monday when it's read will be day 6. How much longer will this continue? How much more death, destruction, and human misery is tolerable?

Seventy-two confirmed Palestinian deaths were reported. Sunday attacks killed 24. Most are civilians. They include 14 children and eight women.