“Norman Finkelstein: Outrage over Israeli Massacre Shows Power of Nonviolent Palestinian Resistance”

Democracy Now!, 16 May 2018:

The United States is refusing to criticize Israel after Israeli forces shot dead at least 61 unarmed Palestinian protesters taking part in the Great March of Return in Gaza Monday, May 14th. More than 2,700 Palestinians were injured. At the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley has blocked a call for an international investigation into Israel’s actions. On Tuesday, she repeatedly blamed the violence on Hamas while praising Israel for showing restraint. During her remarks, Nikki Haley refused to place any blame on Israel. She later walked out of the Security Council chamber when the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, addressed the council. Since Palestinian protests began on March 30, Israel forces have killed at least 112 Palestinians and injured more than 12,000. On Tuesday, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said she was closely following the situation in Gaza and would “take any action warranted” to prosecute crimes. Meanwhile, the UN human rights office has condemned the “appalling deadly violence” by Israeli security forces in Gaza. For more, we speak with Norman Finkelstein, author and scholar whose most recent book is titled “Gaza: An Inquest into Its Martyrdom.”

Norman Finkelstein:

“The world is expressing outrage because the protest was non-violent and Israel had no pretext to justify its attacks.”

   
U.S. Ambassador to The UN, Nikki Haley, praised Israel for showing restraint.


UN human rights spokesperson Rupert Colville:

“Lethal force may only be used as a measure of last, not a first resort, and only when there is an immediate threat to life or serious injury. An attempt to approach, or crossing, or damaging the “green line” fence do not amount to a threat to life or serous injury and are not sufficient grounds for the use of live ammunition.”