Israeli Violence on International Women's Day

by Stephen Lendman

Police state harshness reflects official Israeli policy. Palestinians are ruthlessly targeted. On March 8, Israeli security forces stormed the Al Aqsa mosque.

It wasn't the first time. It won't be last. They did so on International Women's Day. They commemorated it violently. More on that below.

On December 20, 1993 the UN General Assembly (GA) adopted Resolution 48/104 - Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. It includes:

"Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation."

Rogue states commit and condone similar abuses within communities, educational institutions and elsewhere. Israel's one of the worst.

On December 17, 1999, the General Assembly passed Resolution 54/134. Doing so designated November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Adoption occurred on February 7, 2000.

Doing so "invited, as appropriate, Governments, the relevant agencies, bodies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, to organize on that day activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem of violence against women."

Palestinian women endure horrendous Israeli abuse. It's gone on for decades. It reflects occupation harshness. Exceptional suffering follows.

It persists without relief. Israel scorns anyone not Jewish. Racism is institutionalized. It's part of Israel's culture. It's violent and extreme.

National Women's Day dates from February 28, 1909. It followed a Socialist Party of America declaration. Gender equality was stressed.

On March 8, 1975, the UN began celebrating International Women's Day. In December 1977, the General Assembly proclaimed a UN day for Women's Rights and International Peace.

In February 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched: "UNiTe to End Violence against Women.”

Doing so began a campaign "to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world." Punishing violators was stressed.

Policy never followed rhetoric. Women are systematically abused. UN officials do nothing to stop it. They don't give a damn, and it shows.

Ban's an unconscionable imperial tool. He shames the office he holds. He supports what demands condemnation.

He's done it throughout his tenure. He's not alone. Other top UN officials are no better. They're in bed with imperial Washington. They support Israel's worst crimes.

On March 7, Gideon Levy headlined "Netanyahu's violent fingerprint."

He's a world class thug. He's an unindicted war criminal. He's guilty of high crimes. They include crimes of war, against humanity and slow-motion genocide.

He belongs in prison, not high office. Israelis are stuck with him. They have themselves to blame.

"The fruits of his policies are now on parade," said Levy. "The recent wave of attacks on Arabs are directly related to the devastating impact of his tenure."

Incidents occur regularly. Every day is Kristallnacht in Palestine. Israeli extremists attacked an Arab waiter in a Tel Aviv restaurant. They did so with chairs and fists.

An Upper Nazareth Arab was assaulted. " 'Netanyahu's children' (his ideological offspring) waved hated-filled signs." They heard him speaking Arabic.

They "attacked an Arab woman on a Jerusalem light rail train just because she was an Arab."

"(T)hese events took place in Israel within a few days." So do many others. Settlers attack Palestinians freely. They do so with impunity. Israeli security forces do nothing to stop them. Palestinian self-defense is called terrorism.

Racist hate increased greatly under Netanyahu. His extremism inspires it. He viscerally hates Arabs. His policies show it. He's contemptuous of fundamental human rights.

Israeli children are weaned on racist hate. Arabs are different, they're taught. They're lesser beings. They don't deserve equal rights. They're fifth column threats.

Impressionable minds believe it. It sticks. Kids become racists. They know nothing about Nakba suffering. They're blind to occupation harshness.

They're "disciples of what they were taught, and now they think they must act."

"To attack an Arab woman they run across, to beat up a cleaner sweeping the streets of their city, or to attack a passenger wearing a head scarf."

"They know that they are allowed to do so since no one will enforce the law against them."

"They even think they are required to do so. And they are right: That is what they were taught during the cursed Netanyahu years."

They continue unabated. They're worsening. Netanyahu has lots more oppression in mind. Violence, viciousness, and war define him. He menaces Jews and regional neighbors.

He orders assaults on Palestinian civilians. On International Women's Day, Israeli security forces stormed the Al Aqsa mosque. They did so to disperse Palestinian worshipers.

Al Aqsa is Islam's third holiest site. It ranks after Mecca's Sacred Mosque and Madina's Mosque of the Prophet. Israel treats it disdainfully.

Israeli security fired stun grenades. They did so maliciously. Palestinian youths responded. They threw with and other projectiles. At least 15 were hurt.

Tension's high ahead of Obama's planned visit. In late March, he'll visit Israel. He'll briefly visit Ramallah. He won't stay long enough to matter.

Security forces injured Atta Awisat. He's a news photographer. His video showed Israeli security forces treating Palestinian women violently.

It covers worshippers praying peacefully. Israelis assaulted them violently. Incidents like this are commonplace. Palestinians are attacked for being Muslims.

Racist policies make them vulnerable. Israeli viciousness leaves no one safe.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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