Bloody Israeli campaign

The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, embarked on a massive new round of bombardment by air and sea against the helpless inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

Instead of de-escalating tensions after a week of violence that took the lives of many innocent people, Netanyahu opted for dirty politics and moved to put staying power ahead of peace interests of both Palestinians and Israelis.

The Israeli prime minister has been under pressure from Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and likeminded Israelis to opt for more forceful means against the Palestinian people. 

Unfortunately, the moderates in the Israeli government have been silenced leaving the door wide open for hardliners to dictate Israel’s policy on Gaza and the West Bank. 

This is the time for the UN Security Council to step in, before the violence reaches even more ominous proportions. 

If the main organ of the UN tasked with maintaining peace and order stays on the sidelines then it will have failed its mandate and rendered itself useless in addressing threats to regional and international peace and security. 

It is also time for Washington and other major capitals to break their silence and end their indifference in the face of the new Israeli onslaught against the Palestinian people. 

Escalation leaves the helpless Palestinian people with the only option of starting another Intifada against Israeli oppression with all the sacrifices that it might entail.

This seems the option desired by Israel, which has been for decades dodging United Nations and international legitimacy resolutions as it continued with its expansionist policy and thefts of more Palestinian lands.

Peace seems off the table for the current Israeli government, as it was the case for the many Cabinets before it.

The long-term aim of Israeli governments is to continue to subjugate the Palestinian people, confiscate their land and distract the attention of the international community from the core cause of the conflict which is the occupation of Palestine and other Arab lands, not the endless rounds of bloodshed, which are the result, not the cause.

Israel should not expect to kill more Palestinians and live in peace. Blood begets blood and injustices never bring about security.

The immediate thing that Israel should do is cease all hostilities against the Palestinian people. It should then start serious genuine effort on a just settlement of the Palestinian conflict. 

There can be no solution in more wars, destruction and killings.