Impunity always leads to greater crimes
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=315523
By JAMAL KANJ
, Posted on » Sunday, October 16, 2011
THE Israeli newspaper Haaretz was flashing on October 2 with harsh
remarks made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel over Israel's decision
to build more illegal settlements in occupied Palestine.
Senior German officials revealed that Merkel was "furious" and "does not believe a word (Netanyahu) says".
This came just two months after "ungrateful" Netanyahu enlisted
German's support to thwart Palestinian membership at the UN General
Assembly.
Late last month, former US president Bill Clinton declared in a newspaper interview "Netanyahu killed the peace process."
Clinton was the sponsor of the Wye River agreement between the Palestinians and the Israeli government under Netanyahu in 1998.
The US financed implementation of the agreement by reimbursing Israel
with $400 million (BD151m) to "redeploy" from Palestinian towns. While
it was paid, Israel is yet to fulfil its obligations under the deal.
This comes on the heels of news reports from earlier last month that
previous US secretary of defence called Israel an "ungrateful ally."
Gate served when the US was hoodwinked by Israeli Defence Minister
Ehud Barak last January to provide Israel with unprecedented military
aid worth almost additional $2 billion in 2011, special security
arraignments, free access to US military emergency stockpiles, and
further $205m to finance Israeli technology to develop short-range
rocket defence system.
Barak promised the US with this incentive package, prime minister
Netanyahu would approve a three-month freeze on building illegal
settlements and restart negotiations with the Palestinians.
According to media reports, US officials were outraged with Barak's
failed promises: "We put all our money on him" but "(he) didn't deliver
the goods."
The recent outburst from Merkel is not new. She expressed similar
frustration with Netanyahu last February when he authorised another
illegal settlement expansion.
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me," she said.
Merkel, other Western leaders and the Palestinian leadership have
been deceived repeatedly by Israeli governments with no regard to basic
human morality and international norms.
Through its 63-year history, amoral Israeli leaders have skillfully
demonstrated mastery in habitual deceit and political con-artistry.
Despite intermittent indignation at cunning Israeli officials,
impotent Western leaders, mostly for political expediency, have cosseted
Israel at the expense of their self-professed values.
For instance, the US makes a mockery of its overuse of the UN veto power at the whim of Israeli lobby.
Instead of enticing Israel to take the required risk to achieve
peace, impunity has emboldened "ungrateful" Israel to ignore its
obligations as a UN member while indulging in the building of illegal
settlements and oppression of the Palestinian people.