I'm American, But to Israel I'm a Number

"Void in Israel, see Palestinian ID #." That's what an Israeli stamp states in Hebrew on my American passport. In Israel, I am a numbered Palestinian despite my American citizenship.

Although the Oslo Accords of 1993 paved the way for limited Palestinian self-governance under the Palestinian Authority, they have not led to statehood. Instead, the creation of the Palestinian Authority has consolidated Israeli control of the West Bank and Gaza and the people who live there. One method of Israeli control is the "Palestinian Hawiya," or identity cards that Palestinians are required to have. These identity cards effectively control the population within enclaves in the West Bank, trap residents in Gaza, and reduce people of Palestinian descent, even American citizens, into faceless numbers.

To visit my ill grandmother in the West Bank I am not allowed to fly into Tel Aviv, about two-hours from her home in Ramallah. Instead I fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. I spend the night in Amman due to the limited hours of operation of border crossings.

The bridge between Jordan and the West Bank usually takes about ten hours to cross, due to Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian immigration centers. This is on a good day. Many people are held longer and some are denied entry. The bridge is flimsy. I can cross it by foot in 2 minutes. Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti eloquently described it: "How was this piece of dark wood able to distance a whole nation from its dreams? To prevent entire generations to take their coffee in homes that were theirs? How did it deliver us to all this patience and all this death? How was it able to scatter us among exiles, and tents, and political parties and frightened whispers?"

Usually, I am admitted. However, because I am not given a "Tourist Visa" like other Americans, I am limited to travel on Palestinian-only roads and must go through checkpoints between Palestinian cities and towns. I am not allowed into any Israeli cities, not even Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem. It is even "illegal" for me to be in a car with a yellow Israeli license plate.

Because of my Palestinian identity, and regardless of my citizenship, I need a permit issued by Israel to visit the American Consulate in Jerusalem from the West Bank. Yes, I am required to ask permission to visit my own country's consulate. The US Consulate informed me via email that to Israel my "U.S. passport, unfortunately, is only secondary." I have asked several times what the US Consulate is doing to reverse this discriminatory policy. I am still waiting for a response.

As an American, $3 billion of my tax money goes to Israel, a country a little larger than the size of New Jersey. As a Palestinian, I am not allowed beyond checkpoints without special military permits that are virtually impossible to obtain. To vote in the US Presidential election, my dad had to meet a woman at a checkpoint to take his ballot to the Consulate.

If Palestine were an independent state, then the permits, entry requirements, etc. would make sense for Palestinian passport holders. But Palestine isn't an independent country. Israel is the occupying power in charge of the Palestinian Territories. Further, as an American I should be allowed to enter Israel as a tourist regardless of my background.

Although I must go through Jordan to visit my sick grandmother, I am lucky in that I am allowed in at all. Several thousand international volunteers or workers in the West Bank are denied entry at every border each year. My uncle, an American with no Hawiya, was held at a detention center in Tel Aviv while challenging their decision to deny him entry. The Israeli Authorities sent him back to the US after 30 days.

This policy is Israel's systemic way of separating families, stifling the development of the Palestinian economy, and scaring foreigners from entering and documenting the effects of the Israeli occupation. We must work together to make Israel accountable for how it spends our tax money, since the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention is clear that this policy is against any International Humanitarian and Human Rights law.

Israel can't forbid me from being a tourist in my ancestor's homeland forever. Perhaps in the next American election, my family in the West Bank can vote at the American Consulate in Jerusalem -- instead of questionable transfers of ballots at one of Israel's 600 checkpoints.

Comments

[EdenS]

Very interesting article, Hammad, and very sad. I hope your grandmother is okay.

I wonder what the legislative origins of this policy are.

When I enter Israel, I must do so with my Israeli passport. Even though I have an American one, there's a law stipulating that if I am an Israeli citizen, I must travel through Israel on that passport. The same is true in the US and elsewhere: if you are a citizen/resident of it, you must present that country's identification when entering. If I tried to enter Israel with my US passport, I would have the same "void" experience.

It is possible that the fact that you have to travel on your hawiya is because Israel handles immigration for the Palestinian Authority, and therefore treats both Palestinian Hawiya and Israeli passports as domestic entry documents, in the same way that the US requires my US passport when I re-enter it and will not accept my others.

I think it may be that if you were to give up your Palestinian ID and were no longer a citizen of Palestine, that you might be able to travel into/out of Israel with your American passport. As long as you have Palestinian citizenship/residency, you are required to use that form of identification when entering Israeli or Palestinian territory. I do not think this has to do with your race/descent as much as your legal nationality, though I am no expert.

Hope you are well,

Eden

[martin2]

If you want to find out who is running the show,
check out the truth about the USS LIBERTY

[BubbaC33]

Israel ackonwledged the mistake in attacking the Liberty and has paid damages and compensation to the victims of that attack. Israel had requested that the US move all of its ship from the war zone and the US did not move the Liberty. Most intell folks believe it was there to monitor Israeli radio traffic. But the bottom line is Israel accepted responsibility and paid for the mistake. How much in damages and compensation to innocent victims has any Arab nation paid for the thousands of terrorist attacks they have carried out? Not a single one, wioth the possible exception of Libya.

[WoodyTanaka]

How much compensation has Israel paid to those native Palestinians that it ethnically cleansed in '48 and the decades since then, all in violation of international law?

[jwcmass]

martin, this happened in 1967 (I believe during the 6 Day War--but i could be wrong)

The fact is that ALL militaries have friendly fire accidents-- where in the fog of war, they fire on their own troops.

I think this is an epsiode of something like that.

Israel did apologize and pay compensation.

I'm not a military person, but I can see how ANY military, in teh middle of a war, or other crisi, is very tense, and can make a mistake.

It doesn't make it "right" but people are only human, and to expect perfection is to expect the impossible--and that's under the best of times--war is the worst of times-- wihere lots of decisions have to be made quickly.



Bubba, who comments below, served on the Golan during the 73 War.

I've read about that war-- say what you want about the Israelis, but those tank men (and I know another personally) had to rush in, greatly outnumbered (because the Israeli government didn't believe the intelligence that an attack was imminent until the last moment--so it took awhile to mobilize the reserves).
Those tank troops fought very bravely and held the line --many scrificing their lives, against overwhelming odds. I have to give Bubba respect for doing that (I'd probably be cowering behind a rock--who knows) --But those first few days were grim, and the soldiers, amny of whom knew they wouldn't make it, were very brave.

[SMJA]

I think certain people on this board are missing the point:

“This all immensely unjust. Forty years of occupation…every important decision in the life of every Palestinian living in the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip in Jerusalem, for the past 40 years-TWO FULL GENERATIONS-has been taken by corporals and sergeants and generals of the Israeli army. Every single important decision in the lives of 4 million people for 40 years has been taken by the Israeli security establishment.

The Palestinians have absolutely NO CHOICE in an enormous range of things that we would never accept not having for ourselves. It’s not just self-determination though that of course. It’s not just having a state. It’s not just being free of soldiers. It is a HUGE range of decisions: can I go to the hospital? Can I go to the next village? Can I go to school? Can I send my kids to university? Can I transfer money? Can my cousin come from Amman? Every important decision in the life of every Palestinian for 40 years has been made by generals, and sergeants and security officials of the Israeli state. Every single decision. That is unacceptable, and that is unjust. “

[sababa]

Your story reminds us all that there needs to be a 2 state solution.
Is syria ready to hold peace talks with Israel? Doesn't sound too promising after listening to the comments made by Bashar al-Asad, the President of Syria.
http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/03/syria-ready-for-peace-talks-both-parties-awful.html

[chaos4700]

That's kind of ironic, considering it is Israel continues to occupy the Golan Heights. If Israel is truly sincere about peace and the two-state solution, then Israel has to stop expanding its borders and taking other people's land.

[Aziat]

It didnt take the Golan heights for no reason. It won it in a defensive war. Tough luck for Syria, shouldn't have attacked Israel then.

[gbrooks]

Seeing articles like this and all the comments by Americans who are well aware of the way Israel treats the Palestinians makes me hopeful that Palestine will someday get the state that is long overdue.

Just don't forget that our tax dollars and weapons are partially responsible for the crimes against Palestine. Those phosphorous bombs used were American. So are the fighter planes, the Apache helicopters, the Caterpillar bulldozers that destroy homes.

[mbalz]

Hammad-

This was a great piece. I remember reading something on electronic intifada some time ago that Condaleeza Rice had raised this with Livni on a visit she made to Tel Aviv. Did anything ever come of that?

Also, I think we just missed each other by a year or two at Gtown, but it seems like we know a lot of the same people. Just wanted to introduce myself (electronically, at least).

[102010]

Hammad: I am sorry for your difficulties. I hope Palestinians and Israelis can move past radicalism for peace and a long lasting two state solution.

[SergeantRoss45]

Americans are always interrogated in that state, most recently Alvin Ailey made headlines. You can Google for more.

Failure by Israel to promptly report the detention of an American citizen: Israel routinely hijacks or kidnaps American citizens and fails to notify the American Consular authorities that the American citizen is detained. In case after case there is evidence that this is not an occasional lapse, but a routine practice especially for Palestinian Americans (mostly Christians who reside here) who are trying to reconnect with loved ones back home.

The State Department has failed to vigorously protect the rights of American citizens of Arab origin when the visit the country or when they exit it.

[ssunduko]

I do not suppose you can provide any references. I would like to see references of Americans being kidnapped. I have been to Israel a dozen times. As a US citizen I had absolutely no issues

[jwcmass]

Are you of Arab descent? I believe the satement was that the Americans in question were of Arab descent.

[ThemisDike]

For those of you who are asking the Palestinians to use nonviolence means of resistance. I would like to point out that the Palestinians did try nonviolence action to resist the Israeli occupation during the first uprising in 1987. If you take the case of Mubarak Awad, you will find the erroneous facts. Israel deported him because he advocated, in writing and in actions, for nonviolence. Yet Israel promoted Hamas to become stronger against other factions in the first uprising. The whole discussion of the call of nonviolence practice onto the Palestinians as means to gain freedom from the Israeli occupation is actually an exercise in shifting the blame from the occupier to the occupied. How about requiring Israel to practice its nonviolence action by treating people, including all the Palestinians, with respect, dignity and full human rights, instead of bombardment, roadblocks, imprisonment without due process, home demolition, siege and so on and so forth..

[kerpin]

Nonsense.
How about giving a real historical perspective instead of picking and choosing the facts that suit you?

The Munich Massacre - 1972
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre

Coastal Road massacre - 1978
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_Road_massacre

1979 Nahariya attack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Nahariya_attack

[bermanator]

Here are a couple more:

Lufthansa Flight 181 - 1977
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogadishu_hijacking

Swissair 330 - 1970
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swissair_Flight_330

Palestinian Fedayeen - 260 Israelis killed in 1955 alone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_Fedayeen

[chaos4700]

Funny that you mention Munich.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wrath_of_God

[jwcmass]

You are missin g the point.

ThemisDike isn't saying that Palestinians haven't used violence (although Israel should know as recipient of American aid that the US recognizes the right of insurrection when one's rights are being oppressed.) Also, dodn't Israel use violence in its War of Independence?

But the point being made is that Israel deported a Palestinian leader who advocated the use of nonviolence (I'm not surprised--such a leader is in many ways a bigger threat to Israel than a terrorist).

Also that Israel help to found Hamas and gave it early monetary support.

Some people might find this astonishing, but there is a certain cold logic to it.

As long as Israel has enemies like Hamas leading the Palestinians , she can sacntimoniously claim that she cannot negotiate witht terrorists and those who refuse to recognize her

All the while, of course, the Settlements in the West Bank increase and expand and the roads that connect them , and now a Wall to wall the Palestiinains in (do not imagine for a minute that this wall runs along the Green Line -- It runs deep through Palestinan territory cutting one sector off from the other making a Palestinain state impossible.

As I said above, let's pay each other the compliment of being honest nad not deceive each oother--you know tthat what I have said is true--

I am here neither as a progpagandist for one side or the other --

But facts are stubborn things

[ThemisDike]

For you education this is a partial list of massacres were perpetrated by Israeli state terror:
Massacre at Dair Yasin - 9/4/1948
Massacre at Qibya - 14-15/10/1953
Massacre at Kafr Qasem - 10/29/1956
Massacre at Khan Yunis - 3/11/1956
Massacre in Gaza City - 5/4/1956
Massacre at the Sabra and Shatila Camps- September 1982 ( go see the Israeli film Waltz with Bahsir).
Massacre at Qana - 4/18/1996
The recent Massacre in Gaza strip - December 2008

[DiscernTruth]

ThemisDike, here's an example of a peaceful Palestinian: www.shoebat.com

Please do go to this link. This person has appeared on CNN and in other news.

[Hazbara]

I dont know how its called in Arabic , but the Arabic Hazbara has been in full strenght on these blogs for a few months.
Work in the Arabic Hazbara department and pretend to be offended by People making a case for their cause, by labeling them, agents of a manipulated source of info.
I noticed people waking up to the false drum beat of anti semitismandhate

[jwcmass]

I don't know what you are talking about.

My concern (though I doubt you will believe this) is for bOTH the Israelis and the Palestinains.

The path I see Israel going is one that I fear may lead to her destruction.

The other point I would wish to make is this, criticizing the actions of the government of Israel does NOT make one an anti-Semite.

I happen to know that many ISRAELIS are highly critical of the actions of their government.

But it must also be clear (in THIS forum, which is an article about an AMERICAN CITIZEN being denied entrance to ISRAEL ONLY because he is a Palestinian)-- that iti is important to point out that while there are many instances where Israel's interets a re coincidental to the US. this is not always the case.

Hurling accusations won't change that.

[ssunduko]

Criticizing actions of the Israeli government does not make one an Antisemitic. However, singling out Israel and Jews for criticism and demonization in any context does. Any government in the world would do what Israel does if put in the situation that Israel faced with. In fact I know some governments and some countries that would do a lot more and a lot worse. America put a wall between itself and Mexico to prevent people from coming to work in US ille. What do you think America would do if Mexicans started to lobby rockets across the border to reclaim California.

[chaos4700]

"Arabic hasbara," "Arabist," "Islamofascist".... even "hasbara" was originally a phrase coined by your lobby, not anyone else's. This routine of self-victimization coupled with outright bigotry and dehumanization of whole ethnic groups and religions is getting very worn and ineffectual the more you overplay it.

[BubbaC33]

FYI, Arabist was a term first used by the Brits, not by an Israeli lobby.

[Hazbara]

To many , who might not know the intricacies of the military industrial complex.
Israel receives the same as Egypt.
From that aid, they buy 2/3 of it, for weapons " made in USA"
I would really love the Israelis consider canceling the Aid.
It would show understanding of the American difficulties and a desire to go at it alone.
Believe it or not, the israelis do what they are told by the USA , not the other way around.

[jwcmass]

As I said below, I don't care if it's made by tinkerttoys--I think it ought to end--we pour entirely too much money into the region in the form of weapons sales.

I don't like the US being (by far) the largest arms dealer on the planet.

[ssunduko]

Your comment show a complete lack of understanding of Military Industry dynamics. America is giving weapons to Israel to stop Israel from developing them endogenously and in turn competing with America. I am aware of a dozen projects that America stopped Israel from pursuing by simply offering Israel these weapons for free. In addition America gets significant improvements to its weapons systems that it gives to Israel, which Israel is obligated to give back to America for free. Here are some weapons systems that had received significant improvement or where outright invented in Israel; Bradley Fighting Vehicle, F-16 A/B/C, Integrated Apache Helicopter Helmet,(just to name a few)

[ssunduko]

This is very arguable. It works out great until you are attacked. Also, military complex drives great innovation.

[chaos4700]

Number one? Israel receives /more/ than Egypt. Number two? Egypt only receives anything at all because of the Camp David Accords negotiated between the US, Egypt and Israel. Accords we're footing the bill for that Israel isn't even in full compliance -- but of course, Egypt under Mubarak could care less, as long as Israel doesn't flagrantly violate any section of the accords that impacts their interests directly nor costs them their US taxpayer funded hush money.

[BubbaC33]

Arab nations receive more US aid than Israel. Even Kuwait and Saudi Arabia get aid from the US, which is beyond silly.

[ssunduko]

Israel cannot refuse American aid. The aid that America gives to Israel are the subsidies to its own Defense Industry. If these money were given to American Military directly Congress would demand oversight. The money that flows through Israel are not audited by Congress. Israel would love not to take this money. See my earlier posts for more detailed explanation. Israel is only hurt by American monetary help. However, if it refuses the money is will lose American cover at the UN, which it cannot afford to do.

[chaos4700]

That has to be the most nonsensical explanation I have ever read. Israel only takes THREE BILLION DOLLARS because they have no choice, huh? And it has absolutely nothing to do with AIPAC and its lobbies, or the special status extended to Israeli charities whereby they are the only charities outside of North America that US citizens can donate to and claim tax deduction?

[jwcmass]

here's a link ot Eisenhower's farewell address http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdeisenhowerfarewell.html

tak a little time a read what he says about his concern about the grwoing power of the military industrial complex.

Ike was trained by the military, so he knew how they thought, yet he found it hard to keep them on a short leash.

He wondered what would happen when a President who din't have that background would be trying to handle them-- 50 years later we have seen.

The military spending in this country is out of control--building weapons and weapons systems that we don't need (like the F 22)

The system that show the ridiculousnes of it all is the "missle defens shield" in the eastern Europe, which we tell the Russians -- who havwe always been nervous--that its supposed to protect these countries against attack from Iran1?!?!? -- I doubt bey much the thing would ven work--ever try to stop a speeding bullet with another speeding bullet?

But it sure has made a lot of businessmne rich--and that was the point of the whole business in the first place-- Hence Ike's warning.

Your repeated assurances are not really reassuring --And Israel cannot indefintely spend so much of its GDP in Defense (that's why US aid is important) indefinely.

Issrael would (without US aid) be living with rationing and in deep austerity, not with luxuries and with a first world lifestyle--you can't have both guns and butter.

[Hazbara]

Amazing story.
Mine starts in an Arab country from which I was expelled as a Jew.

Its a long story.

[jwcmass]

Of course this is reprehensible--it also happened in England, France Spain

Lots of my amcestors (the Irish) were expelled from their homeland (you'll find us in America, Australia, New Zealand) and unfortunately we participated in expelling the native inhabitants of those lands.

But, as my mother used to say, two wrongs don't make a right--it's a cliche, I know--but most of those cliches beome cliches because they're true.

The reality here (and remember, we can't go back and undo history) is that there are two peoples and one small bit of land-- the best solution to me seems to be to split it in a two state way. Perfect--No, far from it--and not everyone will get what they want--

but both sides need to learn to compromise

Your only othr alternative is a one state solution, and with that you'll soon be outnumbered by the Palestinians, and you won't have a Jewish state.

The longer this goes one, the more difficult the 2 state option becomes

Ball's in your court.

[alexa07]

Two very important points you describe jump out from your narrative:
1) How the Palestinian Authority consolidates the occupation by participating in the separatist IDs & other evidence of unequal status even though this is NOT what they are supposed to be doing & how this cruelly has affected your ability to see your relatives in Palestine.
2) How your American passport is described as "secondary" by the U.S. Consulate which is supposed to be representing your interests as an American citizen, NOT serving as a buttress for the occupation.

Despite all such barriers, your family does continue to reconnect. What has impressed me most about the Palestinian society in general & families like yours in particular, are the strong familial ties & loyalty to Palestine. You guys just keep hanging in there! I wonder how many other nations would have given up?Thanks again for sharing your story. Please continue to speak out on these topics..

[Hugh Bothwell]

I can't agree with this article - you're not an Israeli citizen, you don't have a "right" to go there. If you do go, it is at their pleasure and following their rules. Try showing up at a North Korean checkpoint and arguing that your American passport entitles you to go there.
I agree that it is awful that Israel has virtually closed off travel to the West Bank and to Gaza; but I cannot see any other successful solution to control terrorist shootings, suicide bombings and rocket attacks. Furthermore, this oppression is equally supported by the Syrian, Jordanian and Egyptian governments - it gives the despots such a useful scapegoat.

[Archie1955]

Oh I think a successful solution has been around for a very long time but Israel won't have it. Ever hear of the two nation idea? You know the one the US has posited and the UN has suggested for many years. Now do you remember?

[chaos4700]

Here's a couple of links to back up what you're saying, Archie...

The two-state solution as presented by the Arab Peace Plan, first drafted in 2002, which now has everyone -- even Iran and Hamas -- signing on. Except, of course, Israel and the US.
http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm

A snippet from a documentary pointing out that the cease fire did indeed work, and that Hamas stopped the rocket attacks until Israel violated the cease fire on November 4th. Note that not even the Israeli Prime Minister's spokesperson refutes this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfFMZ7Y-s_c

An interview with one Ismail Haniyeh, the Prime Minister and member of Hamas' political wing, very apty named titled.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022402317_pf.html

Conversely, an interview with the Sharon's chief of staff where he tells us what Israel really intended to accomplish with the pullout of settlements from Gaza (of special note are the mentions of "formaldehyde")
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=485929

Also from Haaretz, speaking to Israel's motives and techniques for trying to destroy the Palestinian identity
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/878851.html

[ssunduko]

Two Sate solution has been rejected by so called Palestinians on many occasions. I am presuming you have heard of Oslo Accords

[jwcmass]

The United States taxpayers don't give $3 billion in aid to North Korea every year.

So if you want to deny our citizens right of access, then kinldy return our money.

We can use it here. out economy is in trouble --I'm sure we can find PLENTY of other uses for it.

If Israel wants to claim our friendship, then act like a friend.--It you want ot act like No. Korea, well , then --Best Wishes--do it on your own nickel.

You see here we treat people qually (at least in theory--and many people have struggled to make that theory a reality) .

Mr. Hammad is a US citizen, and should be treated as any other.

Now if a guest commitsa crime, then that's a different matter.

But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

[ssunduko]

Aid that United States gives to Israel are subsidies to its own Defense Industry. Israel accepts this money in exchange for political cover US gives it at the UN. Israel looses billions of dollars by accepting US money. US always ups its aid to Israel when it needs to evade Congress on one of its Defense Projects. Also US ups aid to Israel to stop development of indigenous weapon systems that would compete with US. In addition Israel saves countless lives of American GIs by improving American weapon systems that is receives as aid. Most notable one is Bradly Fighting Vehicle.

[jajenkins]

He is visiting Palestine, not Israel.

[alexa07]

Thank you for sharing your family's situation as well as your personal status. As an American citizen you have every right to be outraged at your situation. Many Americans are ready to pull the plug on Israel. Just such racist policies that hark back to the Afrikaaner state, or worse. Please continue to speak out & describe your treatment when you visit your family in Palestine. Time will tell but more people are taking a second look at abandoning the two state for the one state solution where a multicultural, multiethnic state would exist for all citizens, Jews, Muslims & Christians. As I have said before, the European colonials didn't want to leave India, Egypt, Algeria et all, but they did. The Afrikaaner settlers had several hundred yrs. of white supremacy, but they gave it up. We fought a civil war in this country that was terribly divisive with some families fighting on both sides. The Israelis & Palestinians will have to come to some kind of tolerable arrangement--one or two state, but status quo is intolerable for all concerned, even the Israelis themselves. Since the American govt is bankrolling the Israelis, we get to have a say in how they conduct themselves & the record hasn't very good in regard to Lebanon & Gaza.

[ssunduko]

Wrong again. America has a symbiotic relationship with Israel. Nations do not have friends, only interests. America gives more money to the enemies of Israel than to Israel itself. America simply would not allow Israel to refuse its money. As a matter of fact America buys total control over Israel for its help at the UN. In other words America uses Israel to launder its money that otherwise would require accountability to Congress. America is getting a great deal. Israel is getting shafted because it cannot afford to be left without a political cover

[chaos4700]

Oh sure. America gives more money to /the rest of the world/ than Israel itself. That's an apples to apples comparison. Kind of like how Israel gets more money from the US than the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa.

[102010]

A one-state solution couldn't work. The entire creation of the state of Israel is predicated on the idea of a Jewish state. This is easy to dismiss as racist or apartheid, but it's far more complicated than that.

Israel was dreamed up by Jews in Europe who saw the effects of anti-Semitism. Inquisitions, harsh restrictions, the Holocaust proved that Jews must have one place where they won't be persecuted by their government. How could the interests of Jews be represented in a multiethnic state? They wouldn't be. A "multiethnic" state would just mean that Israel/Palestine would become another Islamic country. Could not the Jews have 1/100th of the land of the middle east?

If other Arab states are so disgusted by the treatment of the Palestinians, why wouldn't they offer them residency in their countries in peace?

[alexa07]

Because the two-state solution has been delayed by such obstruction by Israeli interests in the US, it is being put under the microscope by many. The choice now seems to be for many whether the Palestinians should quit advocating for the truncated two state "solution," & simply work as Blacks & Mixed race did in So. Africa for one man/woman one vote. The Israelis have simply not been forthcoming by doing their part to promote an equitable solution all the while engaging in these huge land grabs. I am sure that many Palestinians would prefer their own viable, contiguous state side by side, but this simply is not happening. Instead we see the huge barrier wall with many watch towers that according to Jimmy Carter is built on the Palestinian side, confiscating the land in Palestine between the barrier & what is considered to be the border. The world has watched for more than 60 yrs. how the European dream of a Zionist state has been realized at the expense of the many & . The Israelis could have acted judiciously, but they have chosen to value getting more land at the cost of losing the respect of a a growing number of people around the world.

[jwcmass]

I agree with you that Israelis would not be receptive to a one state solution for the reasons you laid out.

however, if Israel continues to build settlements and roads and the wall (in its current location deep in the West Bank) -- in an effort to establish "facts on the ground" , then the day will come, indeed, I have heard Israeli experts say it is not far off, when a two stae solution will be impossible (or logistically a nightmare).

But if this happens, it's not just teh Palestinians living in refugee camps OUTSIDE the country that Israel will have to worry about-- Just thoe Palestinians and Israeli Arabs alone will outnumber the Jewish population, and Israel will find itself with a multiethnic state whether she wants one or not!


This is why it is in Israel's interest to withdraw from teh West Bank ASAP , and to pull out of the Settlements (actually, I think the buildings could be the compensation to the Palestinians who lost their homes in Israel proper in the 1948 war)

Israel will also have to pull out of East Jerusalem--and as far as the Old City--i would have it jointly governed by the two states--and the residents could choose which state they wished to have citizenship with. Religious sites would, as now, be overseen by the various religious leaders.

This is not a perfect solution for everybody--nobody gets ALL that they want--

[Hasur]

After the 1936 arab revolt, the british enacted a series of emergency regulations that imposed martial law on the arab population. These policies were then imposed against the entire population, including the Zionists in 1945. These laws, amongst other things, were designed to subjugate the jewish population to which the zionist protested. In daily life, these laws were manifest in restrictions on mobility. Permits were required for every purpose, whether for work, medical treatment, to visit relatives, movies, funerals, moving from one town to the next. Permits often entailed standing in lines for hours on end, extensive interrogation and petitions, and where granted or withheld at the whim of the military governor whose office granted these permits. Punishment was often meted out by orders forbidding residents to leave their homes or even through deportation orders.

These practices were rightly condemned against the British Mandate authorities by the Zionists. These policies are enacted by Israel in the Occupied Territories. The effect on the economy is devastating to say the least. Not to mention the degradation and humiliation of having to prove to an Israeli soldier at every checkpoint that you are not a security threat. For information on the scope of restrictions on Palestinians in the Occupied Territories please see the following link.

http://www.btselem.org/English/Freedom_of_Movement/

[ssunduko]

Wrong. Checkpoints were instituted as a result of suicide bombings in Israel. Checkpoints is an effect not the cause. If what you are saying was true Israel would have to be conducting a systematic policy. However, let's look at another so called occupied area, Golan Heights. There are no checkpoints there. Druze community lives in prosperity that Syrian in Syria proper can only dream about. This inconsistency proves the rule, that Israel only response in kind. The so called Palestinian cause has been hijacked by radicalized Muslims. Miserable state of so called Palestinians has been caused by the Arab world. Ironically Israel cares about so called Palestinians more than entire Muslim World combined. Prior to Intifadas standard of living in Judea and Samaria (so called West Bank) was higher than in most of the Muslim world

[chaos4700]

The Golan is enclosed by checkpoints and is hardly as prosperous for the Druze as you make it out to be. Even putting that aside, that land was stolen from Syria.

Your attempts to paint the entirety of the Palestinian cause for sovereignty is a transparent feint intended to demonize them. And is hypocritical in the extreme, considering that the founders of Israel resorted to the same extents of terrorism -- and worse -- in their so-called war for independence.

[jwcmass]

ssunduko

The problem with this argument is that the checkpoints are not on the border between the West Bank and Israel (which is what you would expect if the goal was to stop suicide bombimg--Palestinians aren't permitted to enter Israel proper) the checkpoints exist within the West Bank and prevent or greatly delay travel from point to point within the West Bank-- so it doesn't maake any sense regarding suicide bombing.--There are also many "roadblocks --basically large boulders blocking the roads Palestinians are permitted to use, and also have the effect of restricting and hampering Palestinian freedom of movement.

Israelis , by the way, with their differently colored license plates, are just waved through the check points, and also have roads that only they are permitted to use.

The worst problem is that these checkpoints are closed at night, which means if a Palestinian has a medical emergency, and needs to get to a hospital--they are SOL --out of luck.--and many have died as a result.

Somehow, these stories don't get the media coverage of teh suicide bombings or rocket attacks-- but this is the daily life of Palestinians--spending hours waiting at these checkpoints.