Former Pentagon officer: Silence on Israeli atrocities 'deafening'

Press TV- Israeli troops have opened fire on people who were demonstrating this year's "Nakba Day," in various locations throughout occupied Palestine. This year's Nakba Day was attended by a lot more people across the world.

PressTV has interviewed Michael Maloof, from Washington to discuss the increasing support for the Palestinian cause.

PressTV: Israel has killed at least twenty five protesters as they were marking the Nakba. Why do you think that the West keeps basically mum when it comes to these Israeli atrocities?

Maloof: Well it's a very sad development frankly and I think what the world really needs to be doing something, in certainly the countries in the region; they need to file a form of protest with the United Nations. It was just an excuse that the Israelis fire on unarmed Palestinians like that and if people crawl over the fence and got in, you detain them but don't shoot them. That's reminiscent of what the Nazis do in World War II as far as I'm concerned.

I think that the world is silent because first of all it's not their problem and they don't probably understand the issue and also the fact that certain Western countries are supporting the Israelis and that's a real problem as far as I'm concerned.

PressTV: You said that certain Western countries are supporting Israel. Do you think that the average American really understands the Palestinian, Israeli situation?

Maloof: Not at all! This is one of the problems I see that has developed and as the consequence, they have remained mum. They listen to their leadership, and support the Israelis, particularly influential members of congress, many of whom are supporters of Israel, are Jewish and at the instant there is opposition against Israel, they are jumping up and down and making comment before the House and in the Senate. And that's what people hear and that's the only thing people see. But there is no effort made to try and bring up balance to what this real problem is. There is a consequence. The silence is deafening in this case, and I think it's an unfortunate thing that the Palestinians don't have their right to return to their homeland. They certainly have a need for a Palestinian state and hopefully the Palestinians can regain much of their homeland. Read more