Hypocrisy in the West over Ukraine, Israel …

hypocrisy /hɪˈpɒkrɪsi/ noun – the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.

I respond to a letter to the editor regarding Kicking Russia out of the UN? The letter reads:

I think the conflict in Yemen, exposes more directly the hypocrisy of the West. The conflict has brought enormous suffering to the civilian population and has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises. In this instance, though it is a Saudi led coalition, supported by the West, causing the damage. Their main concern seems to be objection to a government in Yemen too closely aligned with Iran. No (sic) too different really to objections by Russia of a Ukrainian government too closely aligned with NATO countries as a pretext for conflict.“

Yes, there is a lot of hypocrisy exposed by the war in Ukraine. Hypocrisy by NATO, the EU and governments in the United States, Britain and Australia. Let’s not forget France whose President is often lauded on the Australian public broadcaster as a teller of the truth as opposed to the liar we have in out Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

Firstly, we should be mindful that all four states have nuclear weapons, save for Australia (but not for the want of trying). The United States has proven its willingness to use these evil weapons.

Secondly, I drew attention to the struggle of the Palestinians because Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and the apartheid nature of its so called democracy is not called out by governments of the United States, Britain or Australia. Like Zelensky, Hamas was elected by Palestinians in Gaza to defend their homeland. But the West chose to support Israel even though it bombed a UN school with white phosphorous. So too were hospitals and other schools bombed by the Israelis in Lebanon and the West Bank. Israeli bombs fell on towns like rain. Jenin is but one example. Still the US and its allies in the UK, France and elsewhere did nothing to censure Israel, no sanctions for the people profiteering off this occupation. No mention of genocide by sage judges in the International Criminal Court till recently when the sheer scale of the crime can’t be ignored. The huge diaspora, far larger than even in the Ukraine.

And finally, at least the Houthi rebellion in Yemen has the support of Iran against the Wahhabi regime in Saudi Arabia – the staunchest pro-Western and pro-American Arab-Muslim client state in the Middle East, more so than Israel who goes on its own military adventures bombing neighbouring countries. Yes, just like Russia. No calls for regime change in the Knesset from the mouth of the US President, no utterance about the right of Palestine to exist. No membership of the United Nations, no standing ovations in that assembly for Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian leader imprisoned by Israel for his leadership of Fatah after they had poisoned Yasser Arafat.

So, who on the world stage supports the Palestinians?

Saddam Hussein? Saddam was murdered during the US occupation of Iraq.
Yasser Arafat? Arafat was poisoned by the Israelis.
Jeremy Corbyn? The former leader was suspended by his own party after supporting Palestine. The charge? Antisemitism.
Bernie Sanders? Twice overlooked as Democrat Presidential nominee in favour of pro-Israeli candidates, Clinton and Biden.
George Galloway? While a UK MP, George was savagely beaten by a man on the streets of Notting Hil in London. His assailant calling to Galloway: “(you are an) antisemitic little man, I fucking despise you” during the assault. Some time later Zionists, Tories and even a Labour MP ambushed Galloway during a BBC show called “Question Time” giving credence to the lie that Galloway is an ‘antisemite’. Why? Because George Galloway helped organise a ‘Viva Palestina’ convoy to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Palestine is not even a recognised member country of the United Nations despite having been partitioned by the UN as long ago as 1947 in order to create the nation state of Israel which is a member. The United Nations needs to repair the mistakes of the past and to recognise “One Democratic State in all of Palestine”.

But no, Palestinians stand alone in a tide of hypocrisy from the West.

Ian Curr
7 April 2022

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