Longstanding NYT articles,
op-eds, and editorials are notoriously one-sided for Israel. Palestinian
rights don't matter, only Jewish ones.
Life in Occupied Palestine harshness goes largely unreported. Crimes of
war and against humanity are ignored. An earlier If If Americans Knew
report explained "highly disturbing patterns" of distorted, one-sided
coverage.
Little changed from then to now. In February 2012, Jodi Rudoren became
Times Jerusalem bureau chief. Like earlier ones, she's Jewish. A previous
article quoted Alison Weir asking "(w)ho is Jodi Rudoren?"
Previously she reported on domestic issues. It's unclear what she knows
about Israel/Palestine. She admits having little regional knowledge. She
hopes to be a fast learner. Her marching orders are clear.
She's uncomfortable addressing Israeli torture, murder, and other lawless
policies. At best she says some call West Bank settlements "controversial."
International law calls them illegal. No ambiguity exists.
Early in her tenure, she connected with David Ha'ivri. He's an extremist
settler rabbi. He's involved with Jewish Defense League founder Meir Kahane's
Kach group.
Kahanism is known for racist, ultranationalist, terrorist policies. Israel,
America, EU nations and Canada declared Kach a terrorist organization.
Kahanists call Arabs enemies of Jews and Israel.
Times editors bear full responsibility for pro-Israeli bias. On November
4, their editorial headlined "Palestinians at the UN, Again." The title
alone expresses arrogance and dismissiveness.
"With peace negotiations at an impasse since 2008 and unlikely to resume
any time soon," it said, "the Palestinians have only one diplomatic card
left — their status at the United Nations — and once again they are trying
to play it."
Fact check
On and off for nearly four decades, so-called "peace" talks were stillborn
from inception. Illusion masks an Israeli/Washington partnership intolerant
of peace.
Israeli and US leaders don't negotiate. They demand. Palestinians get
nothing but take-it-or-leave it diplomacy. Conflict resolution isn't possible
because Palestinians have no legitimate peace partner.
Privately, Netanyahu calls talks a waste of time. Going through the motions
assures institutionalized injustice. Times editors don't notice or care.
"Last year, the Palestinian Authority toyed with submitting an application
for full United Nations membership, but backed off in the face of overwhelming
opposition from the United States and Israel."
Now they plan to seek "nonmember observer state" status. They'll likely
get it. "It is not a move that will do anyone any good. It will not change
facts on the ground, and it will come at a cost."
"Israel and the United States say unilateral moves like these by the Palestinians
violate the 1993 Oslo accords, which were intended to pave the way to
a 'final status agreement' within five years."
"And it is clear that a negotiated deal is the only way to ensure the
creation of a viable Palestinian state and guarantee Israel’s security."
Fact check
Previous articles explained that Palestinian statehood was established
on November 15, 1988. At the time, the PLO adopted the Palestinian Declaration
of Independence. It's official and binding. Palestine satisfies all essential
criteria for sovereign independence and full de jure UN membership.
On May 11, 1949, General Assembly Resolution 273 recommended UN membership
for Israel. On November 5, 1949, it was officially granted. It was conditional
on its government accepting and implementing Resolutions 181 and 194.
On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly passed Resolution 181, the
Palestine Partition Plan.
It granted 56% of historic Palestine to Jews (with one-third of the population)
and 42% to Palestinians.
It designated Jerusalem international city (a corpus separatum - separate
body) under a UN Trusteeship Council. It called for an Independent Arab
state by October 1, 1948.
It asked "all Governments and peoples to refrain from taking any action
which might hamper or delay the carrying out of these recommendations."
It called for the Security Council to be empowered with "the necessary
measures as provided for in the plan for its implementation."
Israel's 1948 "War of Independence" intervened. On May 14, 1948, a Jewish
state was proclaimed. It's on stolen land. It's on 78% of historic Palestine.
International law affirms the universal right of return. It's not negotiable.
UN Resolution 194 (December 1948) said "refugees wishing to return to
their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted
to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should
be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss
of or damage which, under the principles of international law or in equity,
should be made good by the governments or authorities responsible."
The General Assembly affirmed the right of return 135 or more times. Residents
everywhere outside their native lands for any length of time have similar
rights. Diaspora Palestinians have no fewer ones than others.
They're not negotiable. International law affirms them. They're binding
and won't change. Oslo Accord provisions represented unilateral Palestinian
surrender. Negotiating terms were vaguely defined.
Timelines and outcomes weren't specified. Israeli officials obstruct and
delay. Concessions aren't made. They never will be.
Official policy reflects occupation harshness and land theft. It's hard-wired
and unchanged. Negotiations accomplish nothing. Times reports don't explain.
Perhaps as an afterthought, its editorial admitted that Netanyahu refuses
serious compromise. Uniting with Avigdor Lieberman suggests "even more
hard-line" policies ahead.
The Times shamelessly endorsed Obama. It did so for the wrong reasons.
It ignored nearly four years of unprincipled leadership. It said, "Whatever
chance exists of a new American peace initiative after the election is
likely to vanish if Mitt Romney wins."
Implied is that Obama's reelection holds the best chance for Israel/Palestinian
conflict resolution. Ignored is why no progress occurred during his first
term.
He rejects Palestinian self-determination. He won't accept full or partial
UN membership. He's one-sidedly pro-Israel. Rhetoric alone separates him
from Romney. Both represent rogue governance.
The Times also rejects Palestinian statehood. It does so by ignoring what's
existed for 24 years. Dismissiveness defines longstanding editorial policy.
Palestinians have no friend in Times Square.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking,
Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
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
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/05/bank-of-america-outsourcing-call-center-philippines
2. GM plans to open 600 dealerships in China in 2012 | Detroit Free
Press:
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years - The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bernanke-economy-job-creation-likely-to-stay-sluggish/2012/02/29/gIQApu9BiR_story.html?wpisrc=al_economy_b
4. Franz Kafka, “The Trial” (New York: Schocken Books Inc., 1937, 1956,
1964, 1984) (Introduction copyright by George Steiner, 1992), xxi
5. Agenda 21 Plan to Downsize America - YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LzwvSM1CiA&feature=player_embedded#!
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