Death trumps diplomacy as opening of embassy prompts mass slaughter

World of Politics with Harry McGee – harrymcgee@gmail.com

Fifty eight people were killed by Israeli troops on Monday during protests over the 70th anniversary of the State and US decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The image was a wearily familiar one – of protests in Gaza at the barren no-man’s land near the border between Israel and the piece of Palestine that is left.

Israeli troops responded to the stones and petrol bombs with live fire, cutting dozens of people down, including women and children. A reported two thousand were injured in a single day, according to aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Of course, Israel downplayed it all down with its usual unapologetic arrogance, saying many of those injured were suffering from the effects of teargas, with the usual lack of card for Arab lives.

Oh yeah, the number of Israeli casualties. Zero.

Then there were contrasting scenes from Israel; of a sumptuous occasion in a lush garden to celebrate the unilateral decision by the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

This is pure provocation. The city is contested. There is a significant Arab population and it is also claimed as the capital of Palestine.

Of course, the present US administration under President Donald Trump has no meaningful engagement with Palestinian politicians and has little interest, strategic or otherwise, in its position.

The partisan support for Israel under Trump is naked and undisguised. No wonder the right-wing president Benyamin Netanyahu looks like the cat who has got the cream.

So back to the garden party, taking place within the same geographical area, of the slaughter in Gaza.

Trump himself was not there but both his daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner, were present. Trump spoke to the delegation via a video recording in which he said the US remained “fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement.”

He forgot to add the sub clause: “in line with whatever Israel wants.”

Kushner has been entrusted by Trump to find a settlement. In a speech intended for only one audience, he used words that could hardly be described as balming.

“When there is peace in this region, we will look back upon this day and will remember that the journey to peace started with a strong America recognising the truth,” he said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.