Two Wars, Five Losing Nations – By Melvin Goodman (Counterpunch) / March 1, 2023
There are only losers in the wars between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East. The increased brutalization of the Russian and Israeli military forces against the innocent civilian populations of Ukraine and Gaza has exposed the cruelty and violence that President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have unleashed. Ukrainian and Gazan civilians and their infrastructures have become the primary targets of both Russia and Israel, respectively. As a result, Ukraine and Gaza are suffering huge civilian losses, and Russia and Israel are suffering a moral and political defeat in terms of isolation and international opposition.
The United States, complicit in Israel’s genocidal actions and sending conflicting signals regarding Ukraine and Gaza, is also losing in terms of influence and standing. The international community understands the hypocrisy of the Biden administration that condemns the terrorism of Russia but allows the terrorism of Israel. The United States has been Israel’s political shield on the global stage for the past 75 years. A New York Times editorial on Monday continued to support Biden’s most recent veto of a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war against the civilians and children of Gaza have isolated Israel with only the United States blocking the UN Security Council’s demands for a cease fire. As a result, Israel is in decline legally, morally, and economically. Israel is isolated at the International Court of Justice, which warned Israel not to resort to genocidal operations in Gaza. This week the Court will also hear testimony on the illegality of Israel’s “occupation, settlement and annexation” of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition to bringing the case of Israeli genocide to the Court, South Africa has labeled Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians an “extreme form of apartheid.
CONTINUE > https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/03/01/two-wars-five-losing-nations/
