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.