Compare Responses to Israeli Massacres and Syrian Massacres

The Israeli human-rights organization B’Tselem filed a complaint, and the Israeli military opened an inquiry into the attack on the Samouni family.

Bodies of children in Gaza killed by Israel during 'Operation Cast Lead' left, dwarfed the number of dead at Houla even when adults are included in the count.

(RICHMOND, R.I.) - The U.N. Security Council unanimously condemned the massacre of more than 100 people in Houla, Syria.

But no Security Council resolution condemned Israel’s killing of 1,417 Palestinians, including 313 children, in Gaza in 2008/2009. (The lesser-known Human Rights Council, where the U.S. has no veto, did adopt such a resolution.)

One particularly horrifying 2009 incident in Gaza involved the Samouni family. Israeli forces ordered the extended family, including women, children and babies, to take shelter in a house. The following day the Israelis rained missiles on the house killing more than 20 members of the family. Moreover, for several days Israeli forces prevented medics from aiding the dozens of injured.

The Israeli human-rights organization B’Tselem filed a complaint, and the Israeli military opened an inquiry into the attack on the Samouni family. Just last month (May 2012) the military closed its inquiry, finding no grounds for disciplinary action against those responsible.

Rod Driver studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Minnesota, receiving a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1960. He worked at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque for six years before taking a teaching position at the University of Rhode Island for 30 years. Rod says he became a 'peacenik' in 1951 (thanks to a few weeks on Pariss Island). He became particularly active in opposition to U.S. wars in Indochina and U.S. involvement in overthrowing governments and supporting dictators in Latin America and Iran. As the Vietnam war was winding down Rod began paying attention to the abuse of Palestinians - enabled with U.S. weapons and dollars, which has never stopped. Rod is the founder and president of the non-profit Justice First Foundation.

In Rhode Island Rod was an elected delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1986, Then he was elected a state representative for 10 years. At this time he is not in office. You can write to Rod Driver at this address: rod@roddriver.com