By Chuck McLaughlin
There occurs on occasion during one’s life when a question of great moral and legal significance compels an answer and silence would betray one’s conscience. Such is the question whether the acts committed by the State of Israel against the Palestinian people in the occupied territory of Gaza constitute genocide.
The important question of intent was defined by the words of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, members of the Knesset and Cabinet, as well as other government sources. The words heard by the Court described clearly, unequivocally and without reservation the State of Israel and its policies as a racist, aparthide and genocidal State.
The charges of acts of intentional genocide brought against the State of Israel by South Africa and outlined in horrific detail before the International Court of Justice were so compelling and damning it seemed to render it virtually impossible for the Israeli defense team to overcome the preponderance of evidence presented!
I later listened to the defense presentation with great interest as to how it woud overcome the 84-page, solid evidence—backed case brought against Israel. As it were, the defense was, in my opinion, an emotional appeal in essence rather than legal. Among the lengthy rebuttal were referrinces to the history of the loss of 6 million Jewish lives in the holocaust; that Hamas was the guilty, genocidal party; a claim Israel had no knowledge of a dispute with South Africa; claiming the words attributed to those cited were not to be taken literally or were offset by other statements made; and utilizing an attempt to smear members of the South African team.
Both teams were not only presenting their case before the Court of Justice but the court of public opinion as well.. Again, in my opinion the State of Israel has lost its case in both instances. Israeli propaganda has failed to stem the swelling tide of shocked, disgusted and sickened Americans who have awakened to the charges made of genocide, even though our mainstream media refused to cover the South Afrjcan presentation before the International Court of Justice but manifested a disturbing degree of unprofessional bias by covering only the Israel’s defense team presentation!
The culpatory words indicating intent of the leaders of the State of Israel and the beyond-the-pale slaughter of the innocent: those new-born and still in incubators; at their mother’s breast or yet in the womb; and, as well, the mothers that carried them and children yet to reach adulthood, that convinced me of Israel’s guilt. This cannot be excused or assuaged in any manner by any civilized society.
So, I do not stand with Israel or with Preesident Biden, who brought the stench of genocide to America by his audacious act of declaring this Nation stands unconditionally with the State of Israel and by implication the acts of violence, the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. He has thereby befouled our Nation and by his policies made us unindicted co-conspirators in the genocidal crimes of Israel. In fact, the United States has been now formally advised by South African lawyers of their intent to file suit against the U.S. as complicit in the gemocidal acts of Israel!