Rogue Israeli Lawlessness - by Stephen Lendman

Endless examples occur daily. Overnight Sunday, Maan News said Israeli forces raided homes of seven recently released prisoners as part of the October 18 exchange.

Notices were sent to Akram Mansour, Shadi Zayid and Ibrahim Yasin. They were ordered to report to Israeli intelligence for questioning.

In August 1979, Mansour was imprisoned for life. Before release, he participated in hunger strikes against harsh conditions for relief. Brain cancer's slowly killing him.

Nael and Fakhri Barghouthi's homes were also raided. Interrogation orders followed. Before release, Nael was Israel's longest serving Palestinian prisoner, held since April 1978 for alleged involvement in armed resistance. Israel criminalized his heroism.

Others affected included Adnan Zeid al-Kilani, Sumad Karaja, and Latuifa Abu Thiraa. Latuifa formerly was detained.

Since June 1967, up to 700,000 Palestinians were imprisoned for wanting to live free in their own country on their own land in peace. Israel calls legitimate resistance terrorism.

Anyone accused without evidence can be detained indefinitely, including harsh isolation for months or years to break them.

Maan also said Israel continues to withhold Palestinian Authority (PA) tax revenue transfers. After accepting full UNESCO membership, they were blocked. About $100 million monthly is involved. They're vital funds PA officials need to operate, including to pay salaries to 150,000 employees.

PLO official Saeb Erekat described Israel's "blackmailing, bullying and stealing" Palestinian money. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz insisted on withholding funds as punishment for joining UNESCO and concluding (an unfulfilled) reconciliation agreement with Hamas.

Over the weekend, Palestinian sources said Israeli soldiers clashed with dozens of Palestinians in Silwan in East Jerusalem. Tear gas canisters and concussion grenades were fired directly at protesters. Area homes were affected. Mahmoud Atiyya was kidnapped. No injuries were reported.

On November 12, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said settler attacks rose 40% in 2011 compared to 2010. Dozens of injuries and extensive property damage resulted.

Three Palestinians were killed, another 167 injured, and 127 more displaced. Over 10,000 olive trees were uprooted, damaged or destroyed. Settlers operate lawlessly with impunity. Even murder's rarely punished.

On November 14, a Haaretz editorial headlined, "Israeli leaders choosing personal interests over law," saying:

Government officials and prosecutors collaborate "with thieves and lawbreakers." Rather than protecting Palestinian landowner rights, state attorneys continue foot-dragging on issues relating to lawlessly seized land.

"This time, they asked the High Court to delay razing (illegal) structures for no less than 14 months." MKs and Netanyahu also want evacuating Givat Assaf built on private Palestinian land delayed, even though Justices ordered the outpost vacated by yearend. At the same time, Netanyahu wants lawless outposts legalized.

MKs will consider another bill to restrict human rights groups like Peace Now and Yesh Din. They and others help Palestinians regain stolen property. The Knesset's Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the measure Sunday.

"(T)he government's behavior with regard to the outposts, particularly those erected on privately owned land, demonstrates that a small group of criminals can terrorize Israel's elected public officials."

Worse still, political self-interest "ridicule(s) High Court" decisions, ignores rule of law issues, justice, and Israel's national interests.

On November 14, Haaretz headlined, "Netanyahu's 'draconian laws' are attack on Israeli democracy, say MKs," saying:

As MKs readied to vote on controversial laws, some "from both the opposition and the governing coalition have voiced strong criticism," calling them draconian and undemocratic.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni said:

"We will fight Netanyahu's draconian laws. This is an attempt to turn Israel into a dark....dictatorship. Every government minister, even if he or she opposes the laws, is part of a system that is silencing the citizens. This is not a matter of an opposition to the government. There must be a front that expresses the sane and balanced voice."

In fact, Israel abandoned sanity and democratic values long ago. Current Knesset extremists lowered both bars further. No law is too outrageous to pass. Expect free expression to be criminalized and human rights work subverted.

Other proposed legislation affects procedures for High Court appointments and asylum seeker rights. Expect further rule of law weakening throughout the session. It's been endangered for years. Death and burial may soon follow.

A Final Comment

Haaretz said "Western intelligence" officials told Time magazine that Mossad operatives caused Saturday's Iranian explosion, killing 17 and wounding 15.

At issue is sabotaging Iran's nuclear program. Time was told, "There are more bullets in the magazine."

Occurring at the Modarres Military base near Tehran, Revolutionary Guard General Hasan Moghaddam and 16 other military forces were killed.

Head of Iran's parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that the incident would be investigated.

Tehran's western suburbs felt its force, 45 km away. Some thought it was an earthquake. Some reports said an initial blast was followed by a second one.

In recent years, other explosions rocked Iran. Two years ago, a similar incident killed 20 about 500 km southwest of Tehran. The Washington-based Global Security Institute said a base used to assemble and store long-range Shihab-3 missiles was targeted.

Iran said Mossad, CIA and Britain's MI6 used Jundollah and other terrorist groups for years to commit attacks on targeted sites.

Known covert operations have gone on for years, including cyber attacks, political assassinations, sabotage, false accusations, and other destabilizing tactics.

A Bush administration Finding authorized $400 million for covert mischief and intelligence collection. CIA operatives get carte blanche authority to commit sabotage, recruit anti-regime insurgents, coordinate propaganda, spread malicious lies, manipulate Iran's currency, and conduct other lawless acts.

Iran's nuclear program is specifically targeted. Regime change plans were prepared long ago. Washington favors a "Greater Baluchistan," integrating Pakistani and Iranian Baluch areas under puppet officials subservient to America. In other words, balkanizing both countries for easier control is planned.

Moreover, Israel's longstanding Iranian hostility is palpable. At issue is regional rivalry. Israel wants unchallenged Middle East dominance.

Nothing's to extreme to get it, including all out war. Some observers think it's coming. It's just a matter of time, perhaps as soon as Christmas. Expect the entire region to explode if it happens.

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

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.