'Indiscriminate, Unrestrained, Brutal': Former Israeli PM Calls Gaza Assault 'War Crimes'

[Jilly_in_VA]

Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he now believes his country’s relentless assault on the Palestinian people amounts to “war crimes” and must be stopped.

Addressing the people of Israel in an article written in Hebrew and published by Haaretz on Thursday, Olmert, who served from 2006 to 2009, condemned current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for “waging a pointless war, without a clear goal or plan, and with no chance of success,” according to Google’s translation of the piece.

While Olmert wrote that he had previously defended his country against “accusations of genocide and war crimes,” the Israeli politician said he can no longer see the widespread slaughter of civilians, including women, children and the elderly, or the campaign to starve Gaza as mere collateral damage in “a brutal war.”

“What we are doing in Gaza is a war of extermination: indiscriminate, unrestrained, brutal, and criminal killing of civilians,” he said.

“We are doing this not because of an accidental loss of control in a particular sector, not because of a disproportionate outburst of fighters in some unit — but as a result of a policy dictated by the government, knowingly, intentionally, viciously, maliciously, recklessly,” Olmert’s op-ed continued. “Yes, we are committing war crimes.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-former-prime-minister-ehud-olmert-war-crimes-gaza_n_68333494e4b0b20a268ade65

Thank you, sir, for speaking the truth

[wolfie001]

1. Agreed! Netanyahu should've resigned long ago

After the surprise attack to be specific. Horrific person. Israel's tRUMP.

[Goddessartist]

2. Excellent!

I'm so glad he's speaking up.

[dchill]

3. Well, there you have it.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

4. How long before

The Trump administration accuses Olmert of antisemitism?

[Jack Valentino]

8. How long before a few posters HERE do it ??

[surfered]

5. It's indefensible, but I've learned that feelings run strong and many on DU will still defend it.

It is the most divisive issue on DU.

[lees1975]

6. This is long overdue.

"One day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this."--Omar El Akkad, author and journalist

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

"Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Jesus Christ, John 19:42

[Orrex]

7. Perhaps Bibi's apologists will label Olmert a pro-Hamas antisemite...

the way they label anyone who takes issue with Netanyahu's year-long campaign of deliberate child murder.

[Martin68]

9. Absolutely. Wake up! This is a travesty. Israel has squandered the moral high ground in a quest to eradicate resistance

in Gaza at all costs, and annex the territory for their own settlers. As a life-long supporter of the Jewish people, I see this as rogue action against everything that that Judaism stands for. I know many Jews and Israelis feel the same.