American Analyst Calls US, Israel ‘Their Own Worst Enemies’

“Israel gets away with mass murder and much more because of US support, uncaring about what other nations may think as long as Washington backs whatever it does,” Chicago-based Stephen Lendman told the Tasnim News Agency in an interview. 

“Israel and America are their own worst enemies. Accountability one day for their high crimes is coming. All imperial projects in history ended badly. Washington and Israel will not be exceptions,” he said.

Stephen Lendman is a writer, syndicated columnist, activist, News TV personality, and radio show host. He currently writes for MoneyNewsNow.com and VeteransToday.com and hosts, since 2007, a progressive radio show at The Progressive Radio News Hour on The Progressive Radio Network.

The following is the full text of the interview:

Tasnim: As you know, Gazans staged a third consecutive Friday of protests along the border with Israel, after mass demonstrations since March 30 that have sparked violence in which Israeli forces have killed 35 Palestinians and injured more than 1,500 others. For the past three Fridays, tens of thousands of Palestinians have gathered near the border at five main sites across the Gaza Strip for what has been dubbed the “Great March of Return”. Israel has responded with snipers firing live ammunition, as well as tank shelling and airstrikes. What do you think about the developments and the Israeli regime’s crimes?

Lendman: I do not know how I stay calm in light of all going on, high crimes committed by my country, Israel and their rogue allies. I wrote about the third Great March of Return Friday, more coming weekly through mid-May Nakba Day, the world community doing nothing to stop the carnage. Israel gets away with mass murder and much more because of US support, uncaring about what other nations may think as long as Washington backs whatever it does. What cannot go on forever, will not. The longer its rogue agenda continues, exposed to the light of day, the sooner it will be defeated. The same goes for America’s imperial rage, ultimately doomed, maybe humanity with it when it goes down as it will one day. Israel and America are their own worst enemies. Accountability one day for their high crimes is coming. All imperial projects in history ended badly. Washington and Israel will not be exceptions. But it is vital to continue contesting them. My way is through writing and speaking out. Everyone can do something by refusing to accept what is intolerable. I am committed to continuing what I do as long as my health holds out. In my 80s, I will not last forever. My spirit remains strong.

Tasnim: Israel has rejected international calls for probes into recent deaths and insisted that its open-fire rules for Gaza will not change. Some Western states, particularly the US and Britain, who call themselves champions of human rights, have supported the Tel Aviv regime’s crimes against Palestinians. The UN has also failed to restore the rights of the people. What is your assessment? What role can Muslim countries play in protecting the rights of the oppressed people of Palestine?

Lendman: There is no chance that Washington, the EU, and despotic regional monarchies will do anything to hold Israel responsible for its high crimes. The UN is especially reprehensible, violating its own Charter. Secretary-General Guterres one-sidedly supports Israel and Western imperialism while pretending otherwise. His actions belie his lofty rhetoric. All he usually says about incidents like Gaza violence is for both sides to show restraint - almost pretending two equally matched adversaries are contesting against each other instead of condemning Israeli high crimes he consistently fails to do.

Among regional Muslim countries, only Iran and Syria support the liberating struggle of Palestinians, along with Hezbollah. So they remain largely on their own, getting increased support from ordinary people including young US Jews, an encouraging sign.

Tasnim: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, has recently said that Israelis “have the right to have their own land” and that formal relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh could be mutually beneficial. Given the fact that the Saudi regime once opposed Israel’s right to exist, what do the comments signal to the world’s public opinion? Do the remarks have an impact on the oppression against Palestinians?

Lendman: The Saudis began normalizing relations with Israel before Mohammad bin Salman’s near ascension to power. For many years, they only paid lip service to Palestinian rights. Now they have abandoned them altogether. Most other regional Muslim states act the same way. What is ongoing is a deplorable situation for Palestinians, especially blockaded Gazans. I see nothing positive happening near-term. I am more hopeful ahead one day. I hope I live long enough to see Palestinian liberation finally achieved.