by Stephen Lendman

Israel considers unrestrained viciousness against Palestinians defending law and order. Legitimate Palestinian resistance against ruthless Israeli persecution is called terrorism.

Justice is upside down. Militarized rule denies longtime suffering people fundamental rights everyone deserves.

They’re considered enemies of the state for demanding them - in greater danger after Netanyahu authorized police to use live fire against Palestinian protesters (using .22 caliber Ruger rifles allegedly less lethal than heavier weapons) and new legislation mandating harsh prison sentences for stone-throwers, subjecting youths and young children to years behind bars in one of the world’s most dehumanizing and brutal gulags.

Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein objected. His criticism fell on deaf ears. Justice minister Ayelet Shaked responded, saying “it’s his right and his duty to give his opinion. At the end of the day, if something is not unconstitutional law, the cabinet decides whether to legislate the law or not.”

Israel has no constitution. Basic laws substitute. Ruling regimes pay them lip service, ignoring them in practice, including pertaining to “Human Dignity and Liberty,” stating:

“1. The purpose of this Basic Law is to protect human dignity and liberty, in order to establish in a Basic Law the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

2. There shall be no violation of the life, body or dignity of any person as such.

3. There shall be no violation of the property of a person.

4. All persons are entitled to protection of their life, body and dignity.

5. There shall be no deprivation or restriction of the liberty of a person by imprisonment, arrest, extradition or otherwise.

6. (a) All persons are free to leave Israel.

(b) Every Israel national has the right of entry into Israel from abroad.

7. (a) All persons have the right to privacy and to intimacy.

(b) There shall be no entry into the private premises of a person who has not consented thereto.

(c) No search shall be conducted on the private premises of a person, nor in the body or personal effects.

(d) There shall be no violation of the confidentiality of conversation, or of the writings or records of a person.

8. There shall be no violation of rights under this Basic Law except by a law befitting the values of the State of Israel, enacted for a proper purpose, and to an extent no greater than is required.

9. There shall be no restriction of rights under this Basic Law held by persons serving in the Israel Defence Forces, the Israel Police, the Prisons Service and other security organizations of the State, nor shall such rights be subject to conditions, except by virtue of a law, or by regulation enacted by virtue of a law, and to an extent no greater than is required by the nature and character of the service.

10. This Basic Law shall not affect the validity of any law (din) in force prior to the commencement of the Basic Law.

11. All governmental authorities are bound to respect the rights under this Basic Law.

12. This Basic Law cannot be varied, suspended or made subject to conditions by emergency regulations; notwithstanding, when a state of emergency exists, by virtue of a declaration under section 9 of the Law and Administration Ordinance, 5708-1948, emergency regulations may be enacted by virtue of said section to deny or restrict rights under this Basic Law, provided the denial or restriction shall be for a proper purpose and for a period and extent no greater than is required.”

Israeli officials are obliged to obey these laws - except when they decide not to.

Israel’s attorney general is its executive branch’s highest legal authority. Duties include reviewing and advising on the legality of proposed legislation, as well as providing guidelines on interpreting laws and legal procedures - to assure ruling officials don’t overstep their authority.

What happens in practice often diverges from what’s mandated in principle. Shaked is a notorious Arab-hater, a member of the fascist HaBayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) party, infamous for calling Palestinian children “little snakes.” Appointing her justice minister was tantamount to having a serial killer as police commissioner.

She defended long prison terms for stone-throwers - up to 20 years if convicted of intending to cause harm. Israel infamously treats young children like adults, subjecting them to harsh treatment, including cold-blooded murder.

Shaked wants parents held accountable for alleged offenses their children commit - subjecting them to stiff fines.

Netanyahu vowed greater heavy-handed toughness than already - dismissing Weinstein’s objections, claiming without justification a new reality, demanding draconian harshness, continuing merciless war on Palestine.

Israel bears full responsible for daily violence and other forms of brutality against defenseless Palestinians. New Knesset legislation and rules Netanyahu instituted made things tougher. Expect greater bloodshed than already. Permitting security forces to use live fire is giving them license to kill, wound or maim without restraint.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and 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 World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.