Israeli War Criminal Shimon Peres Passes

by Stephen Lendman

Scorn, don't mourn an enforcer of Israeli apartheid brutishness, a member of the generation of thugs responsible for Nakba mass slaughter and displacement, the rape of Palestinian women, the murder of their children, infants and fetuses. 

Their survivors were victimized by continued Israeli high crimes of war and against humanity, millions brutalized for not being Jewish. Peres' notorious rap sheet is eternally blood-drenched. 

Eulogizing him as a man of peace mocks the tormented souls of countless Palestinians slaughtered in cold blood. Throughout his tenure in various capacities, including prime minister and president, he bore direct responsibility for horrific crimes of war, against humanity and slow-motion genocide.

He was involved in decades of colonialism, apartheid, occupation and regional wars of aggression - Nuremberg-level crimes.

He helped pioneer Israel's nuclear weapons program. In his memoir, "Battling for Peace," he said, "(m)y contribution (in its development is) something that I still cannot write about openly for reasons of state security."

He oversaw Dimona's construction and operations, Israel's nuclear weapons development and production facility.

In June 1967, he supported Israel's settlements project on stolen Palestinian land. In 1985 as prime minister, he criminalized contact with PLO representatives - spurning peace and reconciliation, fostering endless conflict and persecution of an entire population, including its own Arab citizens, estimated at about 1.7 million people today.

In March 2011, the Swiss-based Rights for All group issued a press release, stating Swiss authorities "are obliged to arrest Peres on the grounds of the crimes he has committed in the wake of the 22 day Israeli (Cast Lead) war on Gaza which killed more than a 1,450 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children."

"The UN Goldstone report on Israel's (premeditated aggression) accused Tel Aviv and its leaders of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity."

In March 2012, over 20 human rights groups and other organizations demonstrated in front of Swiss government offices in Geneva - protesting against Peres' visit, demanded he be arrested, not feted.

His criminal record was notorious, including the highest of high crimes against peace. He helped institutionalize militarism, state terror, fascism, colonialism, apartheid, occupation harshness, targeted assassinations, torture as official policy, racism and what Edward Said called "refined viciousness."

In April 1996 as prime minister, he launched Operation Grapes of Wrath. For 16 days, hundreds of air and ground attacks terrorized South Lebanon, Beirut, its surrounding areas and the Bekaa Valley.

Beirut, Sidon and Tyre were blockaded. Dozens were killed, many more injured. Around 400,000 Lebanonese were displaced.

On April 18, 1996, Qana's UN shelter was shelled. More than 100 civilians were slaughtered, many more injured - mainly women, children and elderly occupants.

Operation Grapes of Wrath was premeditated aggression. Human rights groups accused Israel of crimes of war and against humanity. Peres disgracefully said "(i)n my opinion, everything was done according to clear logic and in a responsible way. I am at peace."

He's a serial killer, now gone - no elder statesman as Haaretz called him, suppressing his high crimes from its report on his stroke and death. 

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel earlier condemned him as follows, saying:

He's "on record for being responsible for other war crimes, from building colonies on occupied Arab land to endorsing a policy of extrajudicial killings, which murders Palestinians and other Arabs without the benefit of a trial or, in fact, any proof other than that provided by Israeli Intelligence, the Shin Bet."

"He also support(ed) the siege on Gaza, the destruction of its airport, and the elaborate system of checkpoints all across the West Bank."

He was "on record for defending land gained during war, claiming that Israel has the right to the Golan Heights because it was gained during war."

As much as anyone throughout Israel's sordid history, Peres reflected its institutionalized contempt for democratic values, rule of law principles and humanity. He bore direct responsibility for crimes too grave to ignore - yet never once said he was sorry.

His life and legacy bore testimony to Israeli viciousness. The New York Times and other media scoundrels ignored it - reinventing history, whitewashing his high crimes. 

A Times report wrongfully claiming he "worked…hard to establish a lasting peace with Israel's Arab neighbors" - suppressing his involvement in numerous Israeli wars, its endless one on defenseless Palestinians.

Known as one of "Ben-Gurion's boys," he died two weeks after suffering a stroke. A special place in hell awaits him!

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: How the 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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