I know I shouldn't be surprised any longer, but I still can't help it.
In a recent edition of the New York Times, after seeing 25 column inches on p. A4 devoted to an article entitled "Israel Rebukes 2 in Attack on U.N. Complex," I read a short news item two pages later. It wasn't quite eight lines long, the fourth of five items under "World Briefing."
Here are the first two (of three) sentences: "A human rights group criticized Jordan on Monday for stripping the citizenship of nearly 3,000 Jordanians of Palestinian origin in recent years. Concerned about increasing numbers of Palestinians, who make up nearly half the population, Jordan began in 2004 revoking the citizenship from Palestinians who do not have Israeli permits to reside in the West Bank."
Apart from the scanty news coverage of what is, after all, an important story -- thousands of people losing their citizenship as a country seeks to tilt its delicate demographic balance -- there is, of course, another issue.
Apart from the group that blew the whistle on this years-old policy, where is the outcry?
When Israel is accused, however unjustly, of any alleged misdeed against the Palestinians, the din is immediate and deafening. But when fellow Arabs are shown to be inflicting real damage on the Palestinians, there's hardly a peep.
Since the story surfaced nearly a week ago, I've looked in vain for editorials, columns, op-ed pieces, or letters-to-the-editor on the citizenship policy. Couldn't find a thing.
I checked on the usual addresses that profess to care about the Palestinian fate - the UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Non-Aligned Movement, among others - and found nothing.
I looked at the usually loquacious individuals and groups for whom the Palestinian issue is the alpha and omega of human rights questions - the first and last example of refugees ever produced by conflict - and met a blank slate.
Silence from the mayor of Malmo. Silence from the London School of Economics Student Union. Silence from the British trade unionists who want to boycott Israel. Silence from the Norwegian academics who wish to shun their Israeli counterparts. Silence from those who seek to remove Israeli products from Trader Joe's and Carrefour supermarkets. Silence from the media outlets that can be counted on to slam Israel for every perceived violation of Palestinian rights. Well, you get the point.
In other words, when Israel takes action to defend itself, pro-Palestinian forces around the world are ready to mobilize at a moment's notice with emergency sessions, self-righteous indignation, heated resolutions, angry protests, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, and over-the-top ads.
Yet, these very same forces are AWOL if Israel is not involved. They simply can't be bothered. Suddenly, their self-described anguish over the Palestinian plight evaporates.
And, of course, this isn't the first such instance.
Here are two other examples.
In 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered Iraqi forces to occupy Kuwait, claiming it was a province of his country. After the Iraqi military was ousted, Kuwaiti officials ordered the expulsion of 3-400,000 Palestinians who had been living in the country, in some cases for decades. The Palestinians were accused of having served as a fifth column for Iraq. Out they went.
Stop to think about it. An entire community was labeled subversive and kicked out en masse. That's a pretty heavy-duty step by a government that offered no judicial recourse, no right of appeal, and no compassion for the broken lives.
Where were pro-Palestinian forces at the time? Again, missing in action. They couldn't pin the blame directly on Israel -- although indirectly they blame everything that happens to the Palestinians on Israel's very being -- so the fate of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing Kuwait didn't cause them sleepless nights.
Or how about the situation of Palestinians living in Lebanon? According to UNRWA, there are over 400,000 Palestinians registered with the UN agency. Most have been there for decades. In line with UNRWA policy, there is no mandate to resettle these Palestinians or future generations. Rather, they are deliberately kept as "refugees," unlike any other such population in the world.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has adopted resolutions and decrees over the years effectively aimed at the Palestinians in the country. "Foreigners," meaning Palestinians, are restricted from working in over 70 different professions in Lebanon, including medicine, dentistry, law and accounting.
Moreover, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon cannot today purchase property, and those who bought land before 2001 are barred from passing it on to their children. Only Lebanese citizens have the right to form non-governmental organizations. Palestinian refugees must do so through others since they are not accorded the chance to acquire Lebanese nationality.
Pretty draconian stuff. Yet, once again, where is the moral outrage of those who claim concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people? Why the telling silence?
Oh yes, I had forgotten. It's not Israel placing the stiff restrictions on Palestinian professional activity, land purchases, or the formation of civic associations, so it doesn't pass muster as a cause worth pursuing.
If this isn't a case of rank hypocrisy and transparent double standards, then what is?
As the Palestinians threatened the existence of host countries like Jordan and Lebanon, terrorism against Israel become STOP Myopic as always, State didn't foresee that by rewarding Palestinian terrorist tactics against Israel set the stage for terrorism to be used against others, and so it has -- against the US, against Russia, in Southeast Asia, and against fellow Arabs everywhere.
This week's New Yorker has an interesting article on how social context and not drinking creates alcoholism. Similarly, the anti-Semitism of the American Right from 1888 until 1980's and the anti-Semitism of the American Left from then on set the context wherein terrorism by Arabs is legitimate, except when it reaches our shores. But as we saw after 9/11, even Arab terrorism on the American mainland only intensified the anti-Semitism of the American far Left. Reading the New Yorker's alcoholism article may help us realize that people have been inter-active in creating the present situation of Arab terrorism.
Most people here are not even discussing the topic of the article or when they do, it's always a comparison to the evil treatment of Palestinians by Israel.
What few here get is that granting Palestinian refugees civil rights in Arab countries does not strip Palestinians of their right to a State.
Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza can and should pursue a peaceful path towards statehood. Giving Palestinian refugees in Lebanon the right to vote and to be an accountant has absolutely nothing to do with that.
Israel is strong and it will survive .Too bad that we live in a world so sick with anti-Semitism that it ends up actually helping the cruelty towards the Palestinians by their own Arab brothers to go on and on.
I'm not neccessarily saying that there's anything wrong with Israel receiving support on so many levels from America. But I am pointing out that perhaps that support may be why Americans feel more compelled to complain about things they may feel Israel does wrong.
1) Yes. Saudi Arabia for example has a highly structured lobby. Although not as outspoken as AIPAC, Saudis invest a lot of money in US politics.
2) Dual citizenship in America is something common or do you also consider Haitians, Mexicans, Japanese that have American citizenship to have double loyalty? And the percentage of American Jews who hold Israeli nationality does not add up to 15% of the community. obs: double loyalty argument is one of the classic anti-semitic arguments (whether you knew it or not).
3) Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia combined receive more financial aid than Israel. The big difference is Israel gives much of this "aid" back to the US with hi-tech and military innovations.
The only Palestinians they support are in lands administered by Israeli.
No other Palestinian will get time a day from these hypocrites! Period.
Half of million Palestinians ethnically cleansed form Kuwait?-- not interested.
Many Arab state explicitly deny human and civil rights to people whose only fault is to be great-grand children of Palestinian refugees-- who cares.
A million refugees are living under deplorable conditions in Lebanon and denied rights of travel-- yawn.
Hypocrisy is astonishing.
Real concern for refugees – non- existent.
Desire for revenge-- all-consuming.
"Hypocrisy is astonishing" yep Oleg especially when YOU look in the Mirror
During the Lebanese "War of the camps"-- many thousands of Palestinian refugees lost their lives. Gui9lty parties--Syrian troops/ Palestinian squabbles, Lebanese factions.
Palestinian supporters interested in this discussion---ZERO. No one cares..
Israelis let Lebanese into the VERY SAME CAMPS resulting in causalities---- a non-ending teeth gnashing and trillions of words attacking Israel..
Meanwhile-- THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED THESE CRIMES WERE NEVER ARRESTED OR PUNISHED IN LEBANON!!
Meanwhile--- Not a single one of the intrepid Palestinian supporters (usually given to detailed discussion of every olive tree cut by IDF) EVER brings up the names of Lebanese WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED THIS ATROCITY.
An International commission to address the claims of refugees created in the Middle East between 1947-2010. ALL refugees.
Framework: every refugee, Jewish, Muslim or Christian, Bahia, still alive today must receive an apology form the state from which they have escaped, be given the right to reclaim citizenship, land, money and businesses which they have lost.
N
ow That would be imminently fair.
The countries ( entities) which would be subject to ruling of this commission would be: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan Egypt,,Algiers, Tunisia, Palestinian Authority, Hamas; Morocco, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait.
There are many comments here very concerned about truth, fairness and justice for the refugees in the Middel East.
This would be an opportunity to adress the claims of ALL refugees.
I am expecting a wave of " Yeahs" on this thread.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharmine-narwani/israel-coming-unhinged-a_b_451283.html?show_comment_id=39769627#comment_39769627
it is annoying...
In essence he claims that all critics of Israel were aware of Jordan's behavior and refused to criticize it, yet by his own admission he himself barely learned of this poorly reported event. Why isn't he criticizing the NYT for burying the story? Nor could he bring himself to identify Human Rights Watch, the HR group in question. No doubt because HRW has long been on his list of usual suspects for daring to call Israel on her own criminal behavior.
Other bogus claims: I remember the expulsion of the Palestinians from Kuwait and the firestorm of criticism that ensued, much under reported in favor of the war itself. The Palestinians in Lebanon, contrary to Harris, do not want to be Lebanese. They want their homes back, their right of return.
It is bizarre to witness one who supports the perpetuation of the ethnically-cleansed theocracy of Israel, complain out of the other side of his mouth about lack of human rights granted to those he's helped deprive of human rights. The whole problem could be easily solved if Israel would just adhere to her own agreements, International Law and treaty, and 100s of UN resolutions and allow the Palestinians the exact same rights long enjoyed by the expelled Jews of Europe.
"They want their homes back, their right of return"
really? how may Palestinians alive today where born in Israel?
You're denying that fact that many Palestinians don't want their own state, they want the one they can't have.
98% of the Middle East isn't enough!
Expelled Jews from anywhere should enjoy equal rights, but why are you holding Palestinians responsible for the behavior of Egypt, Syria, Libya, etc? I suggest you take it up with the countries responsible.
Any action taken by Israel against palestinians is blown out of proportion, but any action taken by arab nations is ignored.
To people following the conflict, it is well known that Jordan has not been welcoming refugees from the west bank, just as Egypt doesn't accept refugees from Gaza.
The palestinian refugee problem (AKA "The greatest tragedy in the history of the Universe") could have been largely dealt with had the surrounding nation shown any interest in settling the people. Instead it was much more useful for them to keep the people in refugee camps and use them as a tool to bludgeon Israel and as a way to shift focus from their own failings and repression of their people.
Right of return is a myth. Under the United Nations Charter only the generation of dispossessed are legally entitled right of return. Offspring under most circumstances are not eligible. Israel was created and founded legally by the majority of member states of the United Nations in 1948. Israel is a legal nation state for the Jewish people and other residents currently physically living there. Israelis fought for the right of self-determination which is Zionism, the SAME right that Palestinians are seeking for themselves. There is nothing innately racist in self-determination, particularly since Jews have long historical roots in the land. Those are the facts.
When Arab nations expelled their Jewish communities Israel was their to receive these refugees who lost EVERYTHING! What about financial compensation for those expelled because they were Jewish? Where is the condemnation from those who conveniently forget about those injustices. Jews are the perpetual scape goat for those who do not know how to run their own house properly.
No, the right of return is their right as human beings.
They and the Palestinian expellees should have the same right to recovery for that stolen from them, be it financial compensation or return of property.
I agree.
A speciall international commission should be organized to address the subject of refugees created in the Middle East between 1947-2010.
Every refugee, Jewish, Muslim or Christian still alive today must receive an apology form the state from which they have escaped, be given the right to reclaim citizenship, land, money and businesses which they have lost.
Now That would be imminently fair.
The countries which would be subject to ruling of this commission would be: Iran, Iraq, israel, Jordan Egyrt,, Palestinian Authority;Hamas; Morocco, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Lybia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait.
Agreed?
ok if today the same UN create the Palestine would Israel accept it? if that is the case then why are we seeing constructions in E Jerusalem which is deemed illegal by the very same UN...
if UN is such important then why do we see Israeli politicians and backers...condemn UN at the drop of hat...
if UN is such important then why Israeli cheerleaders are crying foul over Goldstone report...
You cannot have 'have it my way' attitude....either follow everything or just reject everything...
Is this fair?
The very same crowd always... ALWAYS, avoids the discussion of the Jordanian occupation and annexation. It is as if the twenty years of Jordanian occupation never existed.
Case 2: 700,000 Palestinian refugees got THEIR OWN U.N. organization. Tasked exlusivedly with their affairs and support.
800,000 Jewish refugees from exactly the same time period got not a dime of U.N. support and calls for resolutions and assistance were rejected by U.N.
Case 3:
Countless pages were dedicated to support of Palestinains ad attacks on Israeli administration in Gaza.
There is NO discussion of blatant and continuous oppression and of the VERY SAME Palestinains in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Case4: All those boats and activists and mass rallies in support of Palestinians in Lebanon: NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE PEOPLE protested against the astonishing mistreatment of Palestinian JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.
This is a taboo subject among brave defenders of ( some ) Palestinians.
David Harris case is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.
What is objectionable to me is when well known israeli cheerleaders argue these facts, because their intent is not to improve the lives of the Palestinians, but to further aid and abet the israelis in the theft and occupation of Palestinian land and property and insolate Israel from the consequences of its criminal actions.
"What is objectionable to me is when well known israeli cheerleaders argue these facts, because their intent is not to improve the lives of the Palestinians, but to further aid and abet the israelis in the theft and occupation of Palestinian land and property and insolate Israel from the consequences of its criminal actions."
How do you know that is the motivation of the "cheerleaders"? Are you using Cerebro?
The discussion in not about condemnation of acts of Arab states.
The discussion is about a double standard and hypocrisy as postulated by Mr. Harris
I listed factual data proving it beyond any reasonable doubt.
Deal with it...
Sadly, in the Arab world only acts committed by non-Arabs against Arabs seem to be worthy of condemnation: if an Arab is responsible for crimes against his brethren then there is always room to debate the merits of the argument.
Saddam killed Iraqis and Kuwaitis. "Yes, but so did the Americans, why don't you condemn the Americans?"
Hizbollah and Hamas were partly responsible for hundreds of innocent deaths in 2006 and 2008 respectively. "Why don't you condemn Israel?"
Typically, talking about a crime by an Arab leader in the Middle East, one will almost always end up talking about other concerned parties. It seems to be a special built-in ability to auto-dodge accountability.
No one ever admits responsibility in the Arab states and no one is ever held accountable...
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sultan-sooud-alqassemi/a-waltz-with-president-al_b_193382.html
They conveniently forget that Palestinians are the ONLY refugees who, after over 50 years, still had not been not absorbed by their host countries and given civil rights. This is even more painful if you consider that Palestinians share the same language, religion and culture as their hosts.
By that logic, the United States 'aided and abetted' German crimes by hosting Jews who escaped N.azi Germany during the Holocaust. That doesn't make any state.