Israel Works Hard to Stoke the Fires of their Conflict with Palestinians

The Washington Post today (Jan 19, 2016) reported that Israel is destroying homes of relatives of Palestinians who might have been involved in some sort of attack on an Israeli citizen or property.  World Bulletin reported that they are even destroying a family home of a boy who was accused of stabbing an Israeli.  This is clearly a form of "Collective Punishment" which is just another form of terrorism.  The Israeli government, by punishing extended families and neighbors tries to terrorize the Palestinians into compliance with their harsh policies.  All of this is done without fair trials or any reasonable form of just due process.  I'm pretty sure that Israel knows that this won't stop reactions from Palestinians --but probably hopes it will actually make the Palestinian citizens more angry and stir up even more hatred and resentment.  Israel wants the conflict to continue, so they can continue to receive the $1 Billion per year from the US, and financial support from so many other countries.  Israel continues to build more of their settlements on prime Palestinian territory and continues to blockade the Palestinian controlled territories so those people will not have the capability to build a viable economy and government.

During this Syrian refugee crisis, Israel has an opportunity to be a good world citizen.  They could take on Syrian refugees.  They could help refugees come across the border from Syria and help them get on safe boats to get to other countries of refuge.  But it appears they have only provided some assistance to refugees when they arrive at locations like Greek Island of Lesbos.  Instead, they are participating in treatment of Syrian refugees similar to how WW2 Jewish refugees were treated.  

Israeli officer shoots Palestinian youth in the back, and lies about it!

An article by Peter Beaumont in today's "The Guardian" (see this link) describes how video at the scene of a shooting of Mohammed Kasbeh, a 17 yr old Palestinian boy by an Israeli Army Colonel, Yisrael Shomer, contradicts what the Colonel said.  Colonel Shomer said he thought his life was endangered by the rock-throwing youth, but apparently the youth was running away, and the Colonel shot him in the back.  He then kicked the body and drove off, offering no medical help.  It is clear that video recording is starting to bring out the truth in many police and military actions, and hopefully will help bring about a new era of civility among everyone.  Police, Military and Civilians should be always thinking that whatever we say or do, our actions and words are probably being recorded by someone. If we do something wrong, the video evidence will make it difficult to deny.

Israel's military and police have continually been unjust towards the Palestinians, whether living within Israel, or in the neighboring territories.  The actions and words of Israel's high ranking leaders and the high-ranking military officers set the tone for all of the civilians and military.  This action by an Israeli Colonel clearly demonstrates that Israelis have little regard for the lives of Palestinians.  Israel also been somewhat bad neighbors to adjoining countries.  Many times, Israel has attacked neighboring countries before being attacked, or attacked other countries based upon some very minor incursion from the other side.  When Israel does attack their neighbors, they seem to always try to extract 10 times the amount of damages and deaths as they have lost. I feel certain that Israel's "Ten eyes for an eye" policy is an attempt to "terrorize" their neighbors into not attacking them, rather than just stopping a war and bringing peace.    Israel's bad behaviour throughout most of my lifetime, has been the main cause for the continuous unrest in the region,  If Israel had acted better, would Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah,  or ISIS been able to recruit and mobilize so many people?  Would the neighboring countries want nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, if they didn't know that Israel already has them and would use them if threatened?

When the US attacked Iraq or Afghanistan, we then helped them rebuild infrastructure and establish a government.  When Israel attacked neighbors, they have seemed to abandon them afterward.  They don't help their neighbors rebuild, they don't provide medical care or other aid.  In fact, they try to set up severe restrictions to inhibit help.  Even though they are one of the wealthiest and best educated countries in the region, they expect other countries to help their neighbors.  Then they complain when Saudi Arabia, or Iran donates food, clothing, housing, money or weapons to help the neighbors.  

American news media seems to be very "pro-Israel" and does not seem to do a very good job of reporting on the Palestinian side of news.  Conversely, it appears that Israel's government and "friendly organizations" spend tens of millions of dollars on billboard, television, radio, and internet advertising to try and convince Americans and the rest of the world that Israel is truly threatened by their neighbors and deserves the billions of dollars we send to Israel to subsidize them.