Sucking Up Shamelessly to Israel

by Stephen Lendman

America's special relationship with Israel too often reflects the tail wagging the dog. Increasingly, the Jewish state is more strategic liability than asset.

Israel Uses Palestinians for Target Practice

by Stephen Lendman

Israelis do that and much more. Gazans are locked down in isolation. They live in a virtual war zone. Incursions, bombings, and border killings happen regularly. 

Netanyahu in New York

by Stephen Lendman

He's not there yet, but he's coming. Three days of torment and venomous anti-Iranian propaganda are planned. Big Apple residents will need decompression time when he leaves. 

His kind isn't welcome. He's toxic, deadly and destructive. Expect resentment to be expressed while he's there. It'll remain when he's gone.

By John Grant

The patient, by the name of Israel, walks into the room and instantly bursts into a tirade of arguments conclusively proving his credentials, and says that he is better than everyone else.

-Ofer Grosbard

Israel On The Couch: The Psychology of the Peace Process

Americans have an Israel problem.

Israeli Soldiers Break Silence

by Stephen Lendman

Breaking the Silence (BTS) is an organization comprised of Israeli combat veterans. They served since the start of the second Intifada. They refuse any longer to stay silent.

Israeli Court Legitimizes Murder

by Stephen Lendman

Cindy and Craig Corrie hoped for better. So did sister Sarah. The world knows Israel murdered their daughter, Rachel, in cold blood. On August 28, Israeli justice ruled otherwise. 

It's unsurprising in a nation contemptuous of rule of law principles, democratic values, and life itself. More on the court ruling below.

Getting Away with Torture in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Torture is illegal at all times under all circumstances with no allowed exceptions. Israel's Supreme Court ruled both ways. 

On the one hand, it banned torture. On the other, it permitted physical force in "ticking bomb" cases. At the time, Court President Aharon Barak claimed it saves lives. He authorized use of the "necessity defense" to get away with lawless practices.

Troubling Israeli Religious Fundamentalism

by Stephen Lendman

Islamic fundamentalism is vilified in the West. Extremist Jews are largely ignored. In Israel they're dangerous. They influence  government policy. They seek control of Israel's rabbinical system.

New York Times Pro-Israeli Bias

by Stephen Lendman

The New York Times has a longstanding history of pro-Israeli bias. An earlier If Americans Knew report explained "highly disturbing patterns" of distorted, one-sided coverage.

An uprising within the Israeli establishment is preventing an insane war from being started. In how many other countries could such a thing happen? This is a proud moment for Israel’s democracy.

By Larry Derfner

People don’t realize what a miracle is taking place in this country. A revolt by the Israeli military/intelligence establishment and Israel’s best reporters, helped along by President Shimon Peres and ultimately enabled by the Obama administration, is stopping an insane war from being launched by Israel’s two ideologically insane political leaders, a war they’ve been planning for years.

Israel's Neoliberal Hammer Strikes

by Stephen Lendman

In America and across Europe, austerity is official policy. It's also true in Israel. 

Among developed countries, America, Britain, and Israel are the most socially unjust. Street protests rail against public policy. Favored corporations and rich elites alone benefit. Most Jews suffer, Israeli Arabs most of all.

  Crimes Against Humanity

by Stephen Lendman

Israel commits daily crimes against humanity. Intermittently, crimes or war are committed. 

For decades, Palestinians have been ruthlessly persecuted and denied justice.

  Another Mossad False Flag?

by Stephen Lendman

America and Israel use them strategically. Timing is key. Innocent victims suffer. Fingers point the wrong way. Cui bono matters most. 

Fast forward to 2048. The world is greatly changed, and in this year China invades France, occupying Paris and a good portion of the nation. The French are massacred, evicted, raped, chased, and terrorized. Towns are destroyed. Every town and village has its name changed to a Chinese name, and its prior existence erased from any history books produced from then forward.

Portions of France not yet under Chinese control shelter refugees by the millions. French citizens captured in their homes are held as "prisoners of war" and freed to become refugees in distant parts of France. China changes the name of its occupied areas from France to Chance. The remaining parts of the country are just referred to by their local (Chinese) names, as if they were part of no nation at all and yet somehow Chinese in the end.

A Persian Gulf ‘Hot Line’ Proposed

With tensions again rising in the Persian Gulf, an accident or provocation around the narrow Strait of Hormuz could precipitate a war. In this memo for President Obama, 11 former U.S. intelligence officials urge a U.S.-Iranian system for communications — a “hot line” — in case of crisis.

MEMORANDUM FOR: The President

FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

SUBJECT: Avoiding Spiraling Violence in the Persian Gulf

We write respectfully to call your attention to the clear and present danger of escalation in the Persian Gulf and to suggest ways to lessen that likelihood. There needs to be a reliable way for our Navy to communicate at a sufficiently high level with Iranian naval counterparts. Otherwise, incidents occasioned by accident or provocation can readily escalate in ways neither side intends.

  CIA Calls Israel Main US Regional Spy Threat

by Stephen Lendman

On July 28, AP reported it. Anonymous sources were cited. The CIA's Tel Aviv station chief discovered "sensitive equipment he used (at home) to communicate with" headquarters personnel in Langley, VA was compromised.

By AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that the Obama administration's top security official has briefed Israel on U.S. plans for a possible attack on Iran, seeking to reassure it that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, said the article in the Haaretz daily was incorrect.

Haaretz said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon laid out the plans before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner at a visit to Israel earlier this month. It cited an unidentified senior American official as the source of its report, which came out as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was telling Israel he would back an Israeli military strike against Iran.

  New York Times on Israel's Democracy

by Stephen Lendman

The Times is a longtime imperial apologist. It's no different on Israel. On July 21, its editorial headlined "Israel's Embattled Democracy." 

  Torturing Children: Official Israeli Policy

by Stephen Lendman

Israel treats children like adults. Only two countries impose life without parole (LWOP) sentences on minors - America and Israel.

Israel is a signatory to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It's explicit and binding provisions state:

  Dying for Justice in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Among developed countries, Israel is one of the world's most socially, politically, and economically unjust. It mocks democratic values and social justice. 

  Spoiling for Another Lebanon War

by Stephen Lendman

Lebanon has the misfortune of bordering Israel. The IDF attacked its northern neighbor in 1978, 1982, 1996, and 2006. More on the most recent war below.

Israel still illegally occupies Sheba Farms and Ghajar Lebanese territory.

  Israel Likely Behind Bulgaria False Flag

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's history is odious. State terror is policy. It's a dagger pointed at humanity's heart. False flags and targeted assassinations are specialties.

  Divorce Scuttles Shotgun Likud/Kadima Wedding

by Stephen Lendman

Shotgun weddings often produce quick and/or ugly divorces. This one was no exception. When announced, public outrage greeted it. 

  Protesting Social Injustice by Self-Immolation

by Stephen Lendman

Social justice in Israel is just a figure of speech. It's entirely lacking. Neoliberal harshness is policy.

Israel replicates the worst Western society policies. Little about it gets reported.

  Criminalizing Dissent in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Netanyahu's government is its most extremist ever. Fundamental freedoms are threatened. 

Repressive Knesset bills target speech, assembly, association, and the right to dissent.

  International Law Revisionism

by Stephen Lendman

In January 2012, Netanyahu appointed a three-member committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy. 

Included were former Foreign Ministry legal adviser Alan Baker and former Tel Aviv District Court president Tchia Shapira.

  Whitewashing Criminal Fraud

by Stephen Lendman

Wall Street crooks walk away free every time. So do their London counterparts and other corporate bosses. 

Crime pays so why not commit it. The only penalty is nasty headlines for a few days and minor slap on the wrist fines or admonishments about promising no repeats. At least not until next week.

Total run time: 29:00

Host: David Swanson.
Producer: David Swanson.
Engineer: Christiane Brown.
Music by Duke Ellington.

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  Maligned for Doing the Right Thing

by Stephen Lendman

Twice Cynthia McKinney lost her congressional seat for supporting Palestinian rights.

Doing the right thing is costly. Going along with what's wrong pays well. Staying in government depends on it. McKinney is too principled to play that game.