[Israeli policies constitute] a system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.

Former President Jimmy Carter in his upcoming book Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid.

For a review and commentary see Jimmy Carter – Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid from Dancing with Sprites. (Thanks to Serge for the tip on this).

Anyone see the pictures of the two little shoes, one blue, one pink, in the streets of Beit Hanoun? The pictures of pooled water tinged red with the blood of children? Our tax dollars hard at work killing families, killing eighteen, mostly women and children, killing just for the sake of killing.

The most striking comment was from a BBC article. A Palestinian policeman, a family member of the murdered, who had always worked within the system, stated —Today they made me a terrorist.—

Today’s report that the French almost shot down two Israeli planes (really our planes —“ two F-15’s) over Lebanon shows just how far the Israelis are willing to go. The French were two seconds away from pressing the button on the SAMs and shooting them down.

The Israelis are continually provoking German and French peacekeepers in Lebanon —“ as the Israeli spokesperson said, because they have to. Can you imagine the response if the planes had been shot down? The Israelis would scream anti-Semitism.

I wonder, head-to-head, whether the F-15’s could match newer Mirage fighters in an all out war? I would assume that’s what Israel wants. They’ve taken state sponsored terrorism and brinksmanship to a new level – all on our dime.