Saturday 23 April 2016

Israelis Rally for Release of Killer Soldier


Israeli society is deplorably racist. Anti-Arab sentiment is institutionalized. Palestinian lives don’t matter. Extrajudicial killing them is officially OK’d. 
Last month, Israeli sergeant Elor Azaria murdered ‘Abd al-Fatah al-Sharif in cold blood as he lay helpless, wounded on the ground.
Video evidence showed Azaria lethally shooting al-Sharif in the head at point-blank range. Another nearby soldier said he “did the right thing.”
He’s charged with manslaughter instead of obvious first-degree murder. At trial, he’ll likely get wrist-slap punishment at most - perhaps exoneration for “d(oing) the right thing.”
On Tuesday evening, thousands of supporters rallied in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, expressing solidarity with a cold-blooded killer, demanding his release.
Signs said “KILL THEM ALL,” Nazi SS slogan “My honor is loyalty,” and “Free Elor.” Extremists chanted nationalist slogans, including “death to Arabs.” Israeli flags were displayed.
A poll taken in March found 57% of Israeli Jews believe Azaria never should have been arrested. Almost 60,000 signed a petition demanding he be decorated for “heroism.”
A separate poll conducted last November found 53% of Israeli Jews support “on-the-spot” extrajudicial executions - even if a Palestinian was apprehended and/or poses no threat.
Media scoundrels suppress what demands feature reports, exposing apartheid worse than South Africa’s, soldiers authorized to kill with impunity. Rare exceptions prove the rule.
Ahead of Tuesday evening’s deplorable public display of support for cold-blooded murder, Netanyahu issued a statement, expressing support for the IDF, saying “(o)ur soldiers are not murderers.”
The so-called world’s most moral army myth was debunked long ago. Israeli soldiers are taught and trained to hate Arabs, to kill with impunity.
The Jewish Passover holiday period begins April 22 at sundown. Azaria isn’t imprisoned awaiting trial. He’s confined to base, able to move around freely, afforded privileges. 
On Friday, he was released to go home for Passover, running through nightfall April 30. Family and friends welcomed him like a hero.
Israeli soldiers extrajudicially executed well over 200 Palestinians since last October alone. Azaria is being prosecuted because video showing his crime aroused international outrage - most everywhere except in Israel where Arab killers are honored as heroes.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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