Israeli troops killed six Palestinians and wounded 200 others today in the occupied West Bank, when some 10,000 of them rallied to protest against the ongoing Israeli invasion of Gaza.
In addition to protesting against the war, they were intending to go to the al-Aqsa Mosque for an important commemoration during the month of Ramadan, and were stopped at a checkpoint.
The Israeli military claims the protesters attacked the checkpoint, while the protesters say the military move against them almost immediately after they arrived at the checkpoint.
While Israel is trying to portray the massive civilian toll in Gaza as damning to Hamas, the West Bank Palestinians are increasingly responding with sympathy for the slain, and anger at the Israeli attackers.
For Israeli strategy, I keep remembering that scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Vader tortures Han Solo … thus enticing Luke to the rescue. It's psychological torture of Arabs & Muslims –or just humans– all over the world. And any response, however appropriate, is going to be met in the JMSM with a Drowning Out The Name of Haman type ritual: noise, insinuation, and absurd accusation. And since everyone sorta knows that, they may have to make up a more exaggerated response themselves… but Khameni may have provided some fodder today.
A third Intifada is the only solution to this crisis. Israel refused to comply with Security Council Resolutions in the past known very well that the US will veto every last one.