Arab-Israeli Rage

Somewhere in Tel Aviv right now there are a couple of dozen Israelis excitedly preparing for a New Years' bash that sadly will be their last. Likewise in Gaza or the West Bank there are a couple hundred Palestinians that are huddling with their families, dodging Israeli missile attacks, but only temporarily because they are inevitable statistics destined to die.

How do I know?

Not because I am privy to any inside information or intelligence, but because I am simply a student of history and sadly confident that the failed leadership on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will do what they always do.

Let me guess: Hamas will react to Israel's vicious missile attacks that have already killed hundreds by ordering a string of suicide attacks that will rip apart dozens of Israeli families. In turn, Israel will respond with even more massive aerial attacks that we are seeing now, leveling entire sections of the occupied territories, further insuring that we are looking at at least another decade with no basic infrastructure in the Palestinian homeland. We know what that means - low employment, fertile recruiting grounds for Islamic militants, and a glorious shithole for the Arab world to point toward as they galvanize another generation of angry impressionable youth to terrorize the West.

Here's my take for what it's worth. Will President Obama radically shift US foreign policy toward Israel, threaten to hold back aid, and force Israel to soften its militancy? Don't count on it.

Should Israel be blamed for these attacks when they forewarned the Palestinians that they would come if Hamas did not cease the rocket attacks they have been launching (to no meaningful affect) for the last few weeks? Yes, they should. Not a single Israeli was seriously hurt by the irritating rocket attacks. Murdering a few hundred Arabs does not seem to be an equitable response. Just because you can does not mean you should. It is not okay to kill children that have no dog in this fight and then just shrug your collective shoulders and say it was not intended. It's disgusting. Alas, since when has the state of Israel really cared about garnering criticism from the rest of the world?

Meanwhile there is Hamas, who knew exactly what Israel's response would be to their quarrelsome rocket attacks and yet continued to goad Israel with them. In other words, Hamas - which continues to have unprecedented support amongst the Palestinian people - has no problems sacrificing those same innocent children they claim to be protecting. It's even more disgusting than the Israelis gutless attacks.

So while Israel and the Palestinians continue to indulge in the same violence and viciousness that they have aimed at each other for the last few decades, the rest of us will have to pay. Why? Because so much of the Arab world has become so skilled at exploiting the Palestinians and using their struggle against Israel to justify their disgusting and callous terrorist attacks around the world. Think of the unfathomable wealth in places like Saudi and the Emirates and Dubai. Been to any of the above recently? Seen the new multi-billion dollar resorts that are creeping up and crowding the skylines in their respective cities? These same places where today so many are enraged by the murder and mayhem in Gaza, how come they have not pumped some of those billions into construction and economic growth in Gaza or the West Bank? The only real long-term solution to this conflict is a sustainable economy and self-sufficiency within the Palestinian lands such that there is an alternative to just joining the hate-fest against Israel. And that can only come about with investment in infrastructure and education. Of course, that would mean the Palestinians may actually improve their condition and in doing so not make for the perfect straw man they have come to represent for the militant Islamic world. Even more disgusting.

More than anything, it seems that the Arab world needs to produce it's version of Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi that can smartly and gracefully lead their people to a dignified future. They can't and shouldn't rely on Israel to back off, let alone concede. Alternatively if that means more Arafats and Osamas, more Hezbollahs and Hamas's, expect an endless war in pursuit of an elusive peace.

Gotham Chopra regularly blogs at www.intent.com

Follow Gotham Chopra on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gothamchopra

Comments

[dryrock]

One of the contributing factors to this very complicated situation is that the Palestinians are being used by other Arab interests in a Proxy War against Israel.

This has brought tragedy to all parties, to the muffled delight of the other Arab interests who have been funding Hamas (they wailed about not getting food and medicine, but they somehow smuggled in hundreds of rockets). Hamas is a tool of these interests; and the Palestinian people suffer.

I'm not justifying or condemning either side - just saying the war is being stoked from the outside (probably by interests on BOTH sides), muting the effectiveness of a man of peace. (I'd like to include the possibility of a woman of peace, but in this part of the world, well, one could only hope . . . )

Gotham, keep thinking creatively - this path just might eventually prove fruitful in an unanticipated way.

(I guess I'm feeling optimistic today.)

[mattheweste]

Where do people get this idea that Arab countries support Palestine?

Egypt fully back the blockade that starves Gaza. They're both US allies.

[MagisterLudi]

Egypt fears and despises Hamas. Not because Egypt is U.S.ally. This is a totally incorrect analysis.Fact: Egypt consistently votes against US interests in the UN.--- about 80% of the time.
Fact: most of the moderate Muslim states struggle with their own versions of radical terrorists like Hamas.
The LAST thing Egypt wants is a radical Islamicist state on their border. Especially the one intimately tied with with Muslim Brotherhood.

[dryrock]

To clarify: I did not write that Arab countries support Palestine. I wrote that some arab (some include persian, as well) 'interests' (not states) are stoking a proxy war against Israel via Hamas.

Regarding Egypt, I just read here on Hufpo that they are caravaning in emergency food and medicine and evacuating wounded. But I get your point on their general behavior.

[MagisterLudi]

"Mr. Chopra stated:" Not a single Israeli was seriously hurt by the irritating rocket attacks."

Facts checking:
Due to rocket fire from Gaza ONLY:

May -Dec. 2007 4 Israeli civilians lose their lives. 81 people are wounded.
Feb-June 2008--- 4 Israeli civilians lose their lives. 39 civilians are wounded many seriously.
NONE of the people are involved in military operations

"irritating?"... "quarrelsome?".... hmmm...

So much for the central premise of the post.

[mattheweste]

Source: Israel.

[MagisterLudi]

I understand Mat. Any information that interferes with what you believe is has to be wrong.

Prey and who provided information on Palestinian casualties? Boutros Boutros Ghali?

[Ponovision]

Non violence is the way. Killing continues the cycle of hate and revenge. People need to remember the Buddhist monks during the Vietnam war. The images of monks in meditative positions falling over in flames was seared into the American conscience and helped stop the Vietnam war. The Palestinians should have done it like that. Blow yourself up in an empty field and film it. Announce to the media that you are doing it in protest of American policy. Don't kill innocent civilians. The American public would be grossed out seeing a teenager blowing up oneself in protest. The brave and noble Buddhist monks did it the right way and make the cowardly suicide bombers that kill innocents look like total idiots. And Zionists did no better either. They killed innocents too. It is a conflict with no end. They both are to blame. They both look like idiots that don't learn the basics in life.

[Olampean]

Well said!

[who38]

Why would anyone want to pump money into an area that has no consistent water or electricity supply and where one cannot leave their area except by the whims of adjacent countries? Israel continues to sabotage any Gazan economic gains. I recognize that they left some of the greenhouses, but didn't they also shut off the water supply that allowed those greenhouses to be productive?

[WmC]

In Thomas Friedman's first book, he quotes some old timer (maybe in Lebanon) as saying: "There will be peace in the Middle East when the people decide they love their sons more than they hate their neighbors." I believe the issue is no more complicated than that, except to say that it must hold for all sides--not just one.

[krocklin]

This post is naive. Though Gandhi and King had about the same percentage of violent opponents, an Arab leader would have no chance to mobilize the far more more passive "moderates" in the Arab world.
The hold the Jihadists have over the majority is much more threatening , brutal and powerful and poses an insurmountable barrier. And instead of new generations becoming more tolerant and shedding the prejudices of former generations, they are being bred with more hatred than ever as time goes on.
Witness the mass rallies denouncing Israel and America throughout the Muslim world, even in Pakistan.
During Gandhi's era in India and King's era in the U.S. such extremist public demonstrations were not tacitely supported by the government and were far less possible because of the collective expressed will of the majority of the population.
In the Muslim world, especially the Arab world, the majority will cannot be expressed in the same way.

[mattheweste]

That and Israel shots peaceful protesters dead.

[Horst]

Starting with Mohamed, Islam has been a political movement based on military violence. The Arab conquests, the Mughals in India, etc had little use for a non-violence. Womens' rights and education might have a greater impact on the Islamic world.

[who38]

That is true for all cultures. Failure to promote gender equality results in illiterate children who are easily swayed by leaders who profess violence. Look at Africa.

[Rao]

Thank you Mr. Chopra. I understand what you are saying:
This problem cannot be solved for a looong time.

It is impossible to produce any non-violent political protest when the majority of the population believe in violence supported by their religion and neighbors. This is not to support or condone Israelis, thieves and rogues that they are. The only way the oppressed and weak could succeed is through non-violence, it gives you the moral and spiritual strength.

Fortunately we are the majority.
Arabs and Muslims I wonder why they cannot do anything to improve the fate of their cousins?

[terry52]

Amen!

[who38]

Both groups appear to be commited to violence via their religions.

[LillianB]

Maybe they did produce him/her. And he/she was killed before finishing kindergarten. Because that is what is happening to Palestinian civilians, these days.

I don't think the Israeli-Palestinian crisis can be solved within the borders of Israel and Palestine, any longer. I think the world has to intervene. Or this violence will never end.

[who38]

Hear, hear.

[rmblnmike]

Both Ghandi and King enjoyed extensive media coverage. In fact, there are many non-violent actions undertaken by Palestinians. Sadly, most are only reported in the alternative media. The Israeli response to these actions, like the ongoing carnage is Gaza, is brutal and disproportionate.

I was at a demonstration in Bil'in where Israelis solders were firing rubber-coated steel bullets across the path of non-violent demonstrators retreating from clouds of tear gas. More recently, on December 28, Israeli soldiers fired on unarmed demonstrators in the village of Nil'in, killing one demonsrtator, and seriously injuring two more. I could cite more examples, but the important fact is there was no mention of any of these incidents in teh main-stream media.

Contrast this with the media attention to Ghandi's salt march or to King's actions in Selma.

[Eclectic Radical]

There are 'non-violent' Palestinian 'leaders' out there. One of them, Dr. Barghouti, posted a statement on this very site that was put in the blog.

The problem is that, while advocating non-violence, they repeat the talking points of Hamas rather than formulate a truly 'peaceful' message. Israel is wholly evil, the Palestinian people are innocent victims, and Hamas are provoked and justified in their action and morally superior to Israel. This kind of 'non-violence' will never accomplish anything.

Martin Luther King's dream was not that all white Americans go back to Europe. His dream was an America in which white and black Americans were equal partners.

The hardcore element of the Palestinian liberation movement wishes to turn back the clock and for all non-Arab Jews to leave the Middle East entirely.

[MagisterLudi]

More facts;
During most recent demonstration:" Participants raised Palestinian flags and banners condemning Israeli actions." Israeli military police did nothing.
Then normal protesters left and palestinian youth strated throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli military police. In the scuffle one Israeli policeman and three Palestinian attackers were wounded No other demonstrator was hurt..
Duh ... Try doin' this stuff with NYPD or LAPD,, and see what happens.

[MagisterLudi]

"More recently, on December 28, Israeli soldiers fired on unarmed demonstrators in the village of Nil'in, killing one demonsrtator, and seriously injuring two more."

Facts from the ground"...The protest wound down and as International, Israeli activists, and most Palestinians returned to the village, a few Palestinian youth remained behind and were trying to dismantle a section of the barrier and destroy the detecting sensor .....one of the them was wounded."

[noseysniper]

Great post.

[lollylolly]

If Ghandi and King, is Mr Chopra's solution: pray tell us, - how do you make a Ghandi, or a King?

[MagisterLudi]

Example: Sadat. Example: Rabin. Study their biographies.
How do make Gandhi? First take enormous amounts of courage and and a mountain of sensible thinking AND add people who willing to follow. Stir!

[lollylolly]

bull-Ludi,

you are listing two guys assassinated by their own. But the question remains, a solution is a path you can control, a goal is not a solution and you cannot control a man's character. Study psychology, - might help you with your overblown self image.

[thesheriffisa]

Palestinians in the territories, however, have lived under a brutal military dictatorship, or like the Gazans today, under a brutal military squeeze. Israelis have never recognized these people as having any rights or claims to equality, which was the only real leverage King and Gandhi had. I don't know if the tactics of a King or a Gandhi would be laughed at and ignored, or if the Israelis would just kill or imprison such a person, but I'm sure that in any case, Israelis would go back to comfortably building settlements and pushing the silly peaceniks off more land. Mandela tried to go the peaceful route, but turned to violence when he realized how absurd it was to make appeals to an inhumane and indecent government.

I'm sure writing this is wasted effort because, unlike the the good Mr. Chopra, most of the commentators are not really serious about all this. It's just another of the many ways to justify the history of the Israeli people.

[who38]

Laughed at. Turning the other cheek or being non-violent doesn't fit into the religious rubric of either group. The would be better served by the tooth fairy.

[MagisterLudi]

Ok Who38m if you don't believe in negotiations--then let the strongest win.
So stop whining.

[thesheriffisa]

I do enjoy reading the comments of people who are so blinded by hatred that they can blithely justify the mass muder and maiming of thousands of human beings, and then claim they want the Enemy to produce a King or a Gandhi. If only Mark Twain were here to write about it.

That said, I think Mr. Chopra is a well-meaning person who does not have a very strong grasp of history or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. King and Gandhi are exceptions to the rule that people generally meet oppression with violence. (How come no one ever wants the Palestinians to produce a Mandela? Just saying.) Most importantly, both men only got this opportunity because both were fighting from within political systems, namely the USA and the British Empire, that proclaimed a respect for the rule of law and the rights of man. That both systems were imperfect and did not fully live up to their ideals is beside the point. Palestinian citizens of Israel also live under an essentially decent system, and I would point out to the haters that they are pursuing their civil and human rights in a peaceful and democratic way. If Palestinians have some unique "pathology," how does one explain this fact?

[davidly]

You make a good point here. It occurred to me while reading Mr. Chopra's piece that Israel could produce a King or Gandhi while we're at it. Then, for historical perspective, I have to look at Sadat and Rabin - and they were anything but Gandhi and King, but still - look where it got them.

I think their are too many interested in violence - emotionally or financially - not just there, but the world over. On the other hand, like those Palestinians, there are also Jews who want to live with them. To think, that amidst this mess, there are those who want to live together. And if this is so, how do we explain the meme that "they hate each other"?

[who38]

LOL. Wouldn't Twain have a field day? Think Faulkner or Kafka would as well.

[Eclectic Radical]

If the Palestinian leadership were to somehow produce a legitimate Mandela, that would be a vast improvement over the current situation. Mandela knew when to accept his victory.

The Palestinians have had multiple chances to make peace and claim victory. They walked out on the Oslo Accords and they were unable to come to a meaningful, lasting agreement with the governments of Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon despite the fact that both made every attempt. At the greatest moment of impending victory, when the Palestinian Authority was established, Hamas stepped into the picture with the deliberate agenda of wrecking the Palestinian Authority and the peace process.

Americans and Europeans, whether pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian, need to stop looking at this conflict in Manichean terms of good guys and bad guys. Legitimate sympathy for the Palestinians and legitimate sympathy for Israelis equally worried rockets will fall on their heads should not be incompatible. Nor should legitimate anger with the 'leadership' of the Palestinian 'liberation' movement, who have steadfastly refused to make meaningful peace, be incompatible with legitimate frustration with failed Israeli policy. There are victims on both sides, but neither side is THE victim as each wishes to portray itself.