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Netanyahu's West Bank Nightmare -- An Exclusive Video Report
Read More:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Jewish, Obama Israel, Settlers, Silwan,
World News
JERUSALEM -- I just spent the evening in a small park overlooking occupied East Jerusalem at a gathering of the Israeli settlement movement's movers and shakers. The settlers were there to cheer three of their leaders who would be presented with the Irving Moskowitz Prize for Zionism. Few of the ultra-religious attendees seemed aware that Moskowitz was a California casino baron who has exploited cheap undocumented Mexican labor to fund the proliferation of radical settlements in the West Bank. None seemed to care. The fulfillment of Greater Israel, an ethnically cleansed Jewish homeland from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River, was paramount.
"This is the future of Israel," Kiryat Arba settlement founder Noam Arnon flatly remarked to me. "We won't let the Arabs and their propaganda network CNN confuse us into thinking anything else."
The settlers were confident that the Israeli army, and by extension, the Israeli government, remains firmly on their side. "We're brothers, we're the same people," one young settler from Gush Etzion told me of his community's relationship with the IDF. "Of course they are on our side."
Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Uzi Landau, an important cabinet member and ally of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, sat in the front row throughout the ceremony. Afterwards he told my reporting partner Jesse Rosenfeld that the land of Israel belongs to Jews, therefore settlements could never be dismantled. Can anything Benjamin Netanyahu says to Barack Obama about the settlements be taken seriously? The dozens of settlers I spoke to certainly did not think so.
The Moskowitz Prize ceremony was held next to Silwan, a thriving Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem where residents are currently confronting the Israeli government's plan to forcibly demolish 86 of their homes in order to build an archeological park. Last week, I met Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Rabbis for Human Rights in front of a Silwan home that was recently demolished. Rabbi Ascherman told me the demolition order raises the question of whether Israel values rocks more than human beings. Fakhri abu Diab, one of the 1500 residents who will be forced into the streets by Israel's home demolitions, told me he avoids discussing with his children the impending destruction of their home because he has no means of allaying their fears.
Part One
Part Two
Despite Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's criticism of the demolitions, Israel has already bulldozed two homes. The survival of the remaining homes depends entirely on international pressure. But Silwan is only the tip of the iceberg. After spending a week on the West Bank, I concluded that the recognition by the U.S. and the West of a viable Palestinian state in partnership with Israel has never seemed more like a pipe dream.
Jewish settlement of the West Bank is being consolidated and expanded. Armed resistance by Palestinian groups lies dormant -- most fighters have been arrested or killed -- while those Palestinians who employ nonviolent means to resist the Israeli government's plan to divide and annex their land are being met with draconian and sometimes lethal force (I learned this last fact the hard way when I was teargassed while covering a non-violent Palestinian protest of the Israeli separation wall). The refugee camps are increasingly overcrowded and seethe with resentment of nightly Israeli raids that seem to accomplish nothing beyond antagonism. And the Palestinian Authority is viewed as a brutal collaborationist force while Hamas is still incipient.
You can see for yourself what I experienced on the West Bank in my two part video documentary for the Daily Beast, Bibi's Big Problem.
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Read the works of the Zionist Jabotinsky the Wolf. It's been a land grab from day one.
I'm not excusing the aggressive expansionism of the followers of Jabotinsky. But I've heard plenty of Israelis say they would be eager to get out of the West Bank (and end the occupation-- which they dislike almost as much as the Palestinians) if only they could get a deal guaranteeing their security.
These were the Rabin supporters. Right now, I think they are feeling pretty dispirited. Many didn't vote in the last election (unusual in Israel). Israel has been lucky to have good political leadership, but right now, there just doesn't seem to be anybody out there.
to be ctd.
Part one-- (part two is the other--sorry for the confusdion)
I think it's more complicate than that.
Now everyone who's read my posts knows I've not been shy about criticizing the actions of the Israeli government (and certain groups--usually the settlers--when I've felt it necessary.
But part of the problem here is that there are two strains of Zionism here, and Jabotinsky's has always been more tied to the settler movement (which is a MINORITY) in Israel. I'ts also plagued by a tie to a religious tie to the land (God as real estate agent--"This land is ours because God gave it to us") which the original, mainstream Zionists never had (they were decidedly non-religious, which is what the majority of the country 80%! is).
A big part of the problem (for years) is that Israel's political partisan system is flawed in that it is all but impossible (it's never happened in Israel's history --even in the years when the Labor pary dominated the state) for one party to get a majority in the 120 seat Knesset.
So to form a government, the leading parties (which are shrinking in election after election-- not a healthy sign) have to make coalition deals with small, fringe parties --and that means concessions --and these constituencies are able to hold the majority of the country hostage--they can take down a government if they don't get their way.
No matter what they say/insist/demand - Israel cannot continue the current path, or any path, without the constant arrival of boatload after boatload of American money. The Obama Administration can quietly tell them that they will get serious about a Palestine state, about withdrawing from conquered lands - or be cut off. Craft whatever public message they want to put on it, as long as it gets done.
It's even worse than that. It's like the old saying, when you are in a hole, first rule is to stop digging.
They are just digging themselves deeper and deeper. Some (not all-- bear in mind that there are some Israelis who are standing in solidarity with the Palestinians. ) seem blithely unaware that the Palestinians wil soon outnumber them, and if Israel is determined to annex the West Bank--which is most definitely the Settlers goal, will spell doom for Israel as a Jewish , democratic state.
It would have to make some unpleasant choices -- become a multi-ethnic, secular state by granting ALL Palestinians citizenship. (I know whis sounds so simple, but people have to understand the role that the Holocaust plays in the psyche of Israelis to understand how problematic this would be)
OR Israel would become an apartheid state, permanently (in the short -run anyway) denying Palestinians citizenship, and trying to keep them in essentially refugee camps --, while evermore Plestinian land is seized, and homes are bulldozed,
Or, forced relocation --which I think is a non-starter, because I can't see ANY of Israel's neighbors allowing this. Israel could adopt the tactics of the settlers and try in small ways to make the lives of teh Palestinians so miserable that they will voluntarily leave (personally I think this IS the current policy of the current government, --- though they would never admit it aloud, But actions speak louder than words.)
.
thaks Max. Please send this report and the videos to Hillary Clinton on behalf of the American people.
Normally I look at news reports with heightened skepticism. It is very easy to twist a bit of propaganda with a few well placed camera shots and selected interviews and get an empathetic reaction.
However you can not fake attacks with clubs like that or the actions of those Israeli thugs in uniform.
Overall an excellent piece and a good counter to the "Its all the Palestinians own fault" line.
Oh, and don't you just love Hagee preaching that the Anti-Christ is going to be a Homosexual Jew and then giving the settlement a gym. On so many levels that is just so wrong! Perhaps he wants to give the up and coming Anti-Christ a nice place to cruise in a speedo???
What I think the report shows so well--in powerfull images, is the misery of the Palestinians, right next to the luxurious life of those Settlers.
This, more than anything els is what fuels Palestinan anger. They see how the Israelis live.
It's more effective than any Hamas propaganda.
It's one thing when everyone is all poor together. But when one group, living in dire poverty (and complete restriction of liberty) sees how "the other half lives" --how do you think they are going to react?
It astounds me that Israelis are surprised at teh rage, and think it must come from propaganda videos and pamphlets. People can see what's in front of their eyes.
This report brings out that contrast superbly. (and tragically)
By god,
His eyes are finally wide open...I am not sure of what o think of this...
should feel elated or sad...that the truth is finally out about Israel's dealings..
Though your observation will not carry too far in the media...
So a lot of work remains to be done and this can only be achieved
by creating an arab-jewish association lobbying for a piece for both parties...
Arabs and Jews association for Peace.... AJAP...
Wow, Max, just wow. This is seriously getting into the shnitt to chase that jones you got for exposing hypocrisy. Please stay safe, my friend.
And, thank you.
Great work Max.
It's sad that this excellent photo journalistic / documentary work isn't made available to a wider audience.
Shooting at the innocent refugees from the hilltops, I couldn't take it. Their conditions are just awful, they shouldn't live this way.
Blumenthal, thank you as always, and please be careful.
"This is the future of Israel," Kiryat Arba settlement founder Noam Arnon flatly remarked to me. "We won't let the Arabs and their propaganda network CNN confuse us into thinking anything else."
CNN an Arab "propaganda network"? Anderson? Wolf? You've got to be kidding! During the Israeli war on Gaza, all the major American networks, most assuredly CNN among them, tried to get away with the same old, same old story lines about the Palestinians. Euro News provided a completely different view of the same war along with American satellite Link TV's nightly Mosaic & AJE correspondents reporting right from Gaza itself. That's why most of the world isn't still buying the old Israeli line. We've got satellite TV, cell phones, vid cameras, online access & the like to bypass the old American media imposed bottlenecks!
Blitzer is a former AIPAC spokesperson and Schneider is a Fellow of The American Enterprise Institute, a neocon think tank.
this shows us following: on one side you have a ghetto and other side you have modern habitat, funded by Haggee and a convicted junk bond dealer Milken...t
Mr. Obama please end the occupation: NOW
I know, I know, the Palestinians are 100% victims, 100% of the time.
Consider that Ehud Barak offered them 96% of the West Bank and instead of making a counter offer, they started a war. Like all other ME wars, the Palestinians lost. Consider that they were offered an even larger piece of the West Bank in 1948 but....tur
Now, I don't agree with most of the settlers actions, and I personally would like to turn over the West Bank to the Palestinians in return for actual peace, but maybe, just maybe the Palestinians, and their supporters, might try a different tack. Maybe they ought to admit that their misery is the consequence of their own actions. That might elicit a different response from the Israelis than Palestinian cries of victimhood. Think about it. You may now resume your usual "Blame Israel for everything" ranting.
misaacm - You are misleading when you say that Camp David offerred the Palestinians 96% of the West Bank. First of all there was NO OFFER. The entire negotiation consisted of discussions and where there was an agreement on a particular point, it was written down on a piece of scratch paper. In the end, Camp David was nothing more than a disjointed jumble of pieces of paper. Read Clayton Swisher's book on the subject since he was there.
Second, before negotiations broke up the last discussion Barak had was an offer of 70% of the land, with a remainder of 23% (not 26%) turned over to the Palestinians in 20-25 years subject to rather vague conditions. In addition, the Jordan border was subject to Israel's control as was Gaza's boders to Egypt and the sea. Essentially what Israel offerred was two very large open air prisons with Israel controlling everyone and everything that entered or exited the Palestinian "state".
That 2000 offer was meant to be declined. Had they accepted this offer it meant they would not have any control over their borders, neither airspace, and nor any access to their major water aquifer resources.
The state would remain criss-crossed by Israeli-only roads and settlements that Israel had no intention of dismantling. It also did not offer Palestinians access to their holy sites, nor did it offer a solution to the 3 Mill UNRWA documented refugees in neighboring countries.
Stop bringing up this offer. This two state offer would not dismember the occupation it would only consolidate it. Instead of negotiating how to implement international law and human rights, negotiations are now bargaining with the Palestinians universal human rights and I find that very sad and obviously won't go nowhere.
Actually, both of your are wrong, so say Clinton and Dennis Ross. You can believe Arafat's lies if you want but they were there, you weren't,
But even if they were offered 70% of the land in the West Bank, they should have taken it and moved on. The Arabs own 99+% of the land in the middle east; over 10% of the Earth's land mass. I know you can't get your little minds around this concept but let me try anyways. Why don't the Palestinians move elsewhere? if you are miserable where you are then move. People do it all the time. My ancestors did, yours probably did too. One out of every 10 Americans was born elsewhere, one out of 12 British. Move out, move on, get over the fact that you lost the war. Live in the vast Middle East, anywhere else.
There has never been an Arab Palestine, the previous rulers of the West Bank were the Jordanians, the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Tell the Palestinians to live in another Arab country, its not like there is a distinct Palestinian culture, language or race. They are Arabs, there are 22 Arab countries. Pick one. People who have started and lost wars have moved on, since the beginning of man. Only the Palestinians can't seem to get over their failure.
"We offered them everything and they refused" has long-since been discredited, and not just by the Palestinians.
But also, among others, by former Israeli Foreign Minister and negotiator at Camp David, Shlomo Ben Ami, who said: "if I were a Palestinian I would have rejected Camp David, as well".
By Robert Malley, a member of the US delegation at Camp David who said: "The Camp David process was the victim of failings on the Palestinian side; but it was also, and importantly, the victim of failings on Israel's (and the United States') part".
By his colleague in the US delegation, Aaron Miller, who said of Camp David: "we listened to and followed Israel's lead without critically examining what that would mean for our own interests, for those on the Arab side and for the overall success of the negotiatio
By Amos Malka, head of Israeli military intelligence, who said that "we offered Arafat everything but he refused" was deliberate Israeli misinforma
We can disagree about what they were offered, I think you are misinformed and Clinton agrees with me. Leaving that aside, Arafat could have made a counter offer. Instead he started a terrorist war which he was planning all along.
Oh, and one more thing.
Palestinian leadership has said it's willing to accept the pre '67 borders as basis for negotiation. Israel rejectionism has been the greatest deterrent to peace over the last 40 years.
The Palestinians are overwhelmingly blamed for rejecting Barack's "generous offer", Israeli revisionist history tries to, again, to shed Palestinians in a negative light.
Here are the FACTS about the Camp David "offer."
Palestinians conceded their claim to 78% of historical Palestine, and agreed to form a new state on the remaining 22%, which is comprised of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Israel proposed that 69 settlements, populated by 85% of West Bank settlers would be annexed by Israel. These settlements would reduce the Palestinian state by 10%, not to mention severely disrupt travel and daily life in the West Bank.
- Israel proposed "temporary control" of yet another 10% of land that housed the most extreme of settlers. Essentially this means that a foreign power would control the land of another sovereign nation.
- The remaining areas would be broken up by Israeli bypass roads and checkpoints, forcing Palestinians to live on bantustans or reservations (like South Africans or Native Americans), in a non-contiguous state.
- Palestinians were also expected to relinquish land considered most essential for trade and tourism.
- Israel would maintain very vital controls over Palestinian water, Palestinian borders, and Palestinian airspace.
The "offer" made to Palestinians was nothing more than subjecting them to live on bantustans, like those of
Generous of them to "concede their claim on 78% of Palestine". The land was never theirs, it was previously ruled by Jordan, The British Empire, the Ottoman Empire and other empires, but there was never an Arab Palestine. It's easy to concede what was never yours.
Jewish Woman Addresses Obama
http://www
Very moving....
I doubt it very much. Only some Israeli human rights groups try to raise awareness, while those on the right don't give a "dam" and left-leaning Israelis prefer to discuss "other issues" and bury their head in the sand, or rather live in denial and tacitly support the crimes against humanity which Israel is inflicting on Palestinians.
go.d bless this woman and people like Max who are risking their lives for the sake of people who they have no relations.
The only pipe dream is the one that criminals have when they commit a crime thinking that justice will never catch up.
Great work, Blumenthal.
There is a fundamental problem with the attitude of these Jewish settlers, for it is nothing more than a state sponsored land grab. Despite world condemnation, these settlers consider their actions as innocuous, their instilled “entitlement”. There will never be peace in the Middle East until the Jewish settlers realize “human rights” are not just for the Jews but for everyone, despite soliciting sympathy from rest of the world, as portraying themselves as the “victim”, this time is not going to work anymore.
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