Dear Berkeley students and the ASUC Senate:
I commend the effort of the wide coalition at Berkeley to pass the Bill in Support of UC Divestment from War Crimes. American students can play a powerful role in Palestinian liberation by supporting divestment from companies that enable the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory.
I urge you to seize this moment as an opportunity to help secure Palestinian freedom and a just peace, but most particularly as an opportunity to help Palestinian students you may never meet. These students struggle to achieve their educational aspirations under an occupation that blocks opportunities and destroys dreams. Embrace your freedom and your incredible opportunities at one of America's finest schools by doing your utmost to protect the many Palestinian students working by candlelight in Gaza to reach where you are today. The war crimes they were subjected to by the Israeli military in 2008-2009 were appalling. Their perseverance will be aided by your vote tonight against war crimes.
Palestinian voices are too rarely heard in the United States. We have too few opportunities to present our narrative of loss and dispossession. Hear us tonight along with our Jewish friends and colleagues who are speaking up and saying that there is nothing anti-Semitic in backing Palestinian freedom and an end to complicity with a military occupation that strips us of our rights and dignity and many Israelis of their humanity. Both peoples need a just peace and this bill helps speed that day.
Look at the student coalition before you tonight. From my time at Stanford, I firmly believe that such coalitions are one of the most beautiful aspects of American life. It is not uniquely American, but it is to be treasured. And for all those students who are not part of the coalition, but fearful of it, I say we mean you no harm. We seek only to live in freedom and as equals. Israel's military repression of us must end eventually. Do not stand in the way like those angry Alabama students 50 years ago blocking integration. You have, I trust, nothing in common with those students, but misplaced fear.
And to student supporters of the divestment resolution remember your fellow students' fear. It is misplaced, but real. Whatever the outcome tonight, I urge you not to be angry or over-joyous. There is a long road ahead of us still, and we do not know which among those who oppose us tonight may, five years from now, stand with us. I have seen it happen time and time again and at an increasingly rapid pace as Israel's excesses and human rights violations become more and more evident to the entire world.
I have lived my entire adult life under this occupation. I have worked this entire time -- over 40 years -- to bring about an end to this system of Israeli rule and Palestinian subjugation. Despite the remarkable allies and courageous individuals who have worked on our behalf, often at great risk to themselves, we have not yet prevailed in securing Palestinian freedom. With your help, tonight, I believe we can bring this day of freedom closer.
However you vote, and whatever you think you know about this conflict, I urge you to come and see for yourself. But do not just go to Israel. Visit us in the occupied West Bank and witness for yourself the dual system of law applied by Israeli occupation forces here -- one for Jewish settlers and one for Palestinians. I believe you will find young people here anxious to tell you their stories and hopeful that when you return to the United States you will work to convince Americans that Palestinians, like people everywhere, should live in freedom.
Finally, to the students who have worked so hard for so many weeks to bring about this vote, thank you, and may you have the energy to continue your vital work for peace and justice. We, on the far side of Israel's apartheid wall, are inspired by your actions and your solidarity.
Salaam,
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and nominee for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
Oh, also accept that Israel is no Apartheid Suid-Afrika, and that in Israel's sovereign territory, Arabs and Jews have all the same rights.
I am one of the people who actually did what you asked: I traveled in both Israel and Palestine. I spoke with both peoples. I am familiar with both narratives. And I believe that (if we leave aside the extremists' point of view) part of the problem is in how little each understands the other's. For you, calling for boycott is a legitimate tactic in the "PR war". To many moderate Israelis, it not only revives memories of the Arab "rejection front", "the 3 No's" and other intollerant attempts to "strangle" their state. It will actually bring up even older and more painful atavic memories of anti-Jewish boycotts in pre-war Europe. Do you REALLY believe, Mr. Barghouti, that THIS will make Israelis more amenable to a peaceful agreement (if THAT is what you wish)? If anything, it will make them harder to deal with. Most Israelis still believe in the idea of two national states, living in peace, if not friendship. If you TALK to them, you will get your state, as long as you let them have theirs. If you call for boycotts, I'm afraid they'll boycott YOU.
Thank you. I am exhausted with hearing exclusive Israel supporters constantly reference the sort of diehard rhetoric that desperate Palestinians have engaged in to make a point or out of anger or fifty years ago as an excuse from making peace while simultanenously denying their equally inflammatory rhetoric.
You assume that the Israeli government is interested in status-quo. That is like saying they are complete idiots. I'm telling you they are not.
EACH side has a history, not just one. EACH side perceives a "right", in accordance with its own narrative. As long as the Palestinians (like Dr. Barghouthi here) will hold on to their "right to return" to all "historic Palestine", the Israeli government will insist on the right of Jews to "return" (i.e. settle) all "historic Israel". For a 2-state solution to be possible, these "rights" need to be traded. In my experience, most Israelis accept this. Most Palestinians (like Dr. Barghouthi here) still do not. THAT is the problem.
There is nothing terribly new in this approach. The Arab countries have boycotted Israel from its very inception and most still do. Occasionally (Suez Canal, 1956; Tiran Straits, 1967) they also attempted to blockade it. They also attempted to persuade others to do the same and occasionally succeeded (before the collapse of Soviet Union, Israelis could not travel or do business with 'the communist bloc'; even their airspace was closed to Israeli passenger traffic).
The problem with this approach is that it's a step back towards conflict, not solving it. The proponents of this "new" idea are still seeking a way to "force" the other side into taking a certain course. This does not work: people do not make concessions when they are "pushed"; they push right back.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/29/students-measure-is-critical-of-israel/
Strike 2.
Hence, the extreme irritability, and inability to discuss rather than argue, that you see here time and again. At least one kinder and gentler avatar-that's my positive comment.
I'm quoting StCuthbert in full as he (she?) argues that boycott and blockade are morally equivalent.
"On the contrary, a boycott and a blockade have the same goal, weakening the target. The only difference is how the people committing the action sugarcoat their intentions.
If you, GuiltyBystander, decide to stop buying Israeli goods, that's your decision. But that's not the goal of BDS. The goal of BDS is stop as many people from trading with Israel with the intention of damaging Israel's economy. There is little difference between that and a blockade."
There is a critical difference between the two. Boycott is promoted by argument, which can be rejected by a free majority, while blockade is enforced by a navy and cannot be rejected. One proposes to change people's minds while the other proposes to destroy their lives.
I feel like an idiot for even responding to you on this question.
You claim the goal of BDS is to "change people's minds". It's not, it's to weaken Israel's economy in order to strongarm Israel into doing what the BDSers want. Likewise, the blockade is to weaken Hamas so that it can't attack Israel. "Changing minds" is all well and good, but that's not the goal of both of these things.
The difference between the two, however, is in the usage of force. No one is forced to boycott Israeli products, and no penalties are attached to anyone who refuses to follow this. On the other hand, trying to go against a blockade often result in harsh punishment by the blockade-r, which is why a blockade is an act of war and a boycott is not (unpleasant as it may be).
When Israel ends the settlements, the pressure would stop. That is the entire point of applying pressure.
The reason that you fail to see the efficacy of this mechanism is because you do not (unlike the vast majority of the world and even of Israelis) see the settlements as fundamentally morally indefensible and an avoidable human rights disaster.
Israelis often complain that they can't deal with Palestinians because Palestinians are uneducated, religious zealots. Now, it seems, Israelis can't deal with them because they are over-educated doctors who have a degree in business.
Despite the occupation, blockade and military attacks, a few Palestinians get and education and prosper while the majority simply live peacefully. We should listen to them.
The BDS movement certainly does accuse Israel and US companies with forms of terrorism. (I'm using the word in the sense of "political violence", although I think there are more useful definitions.) That does not mean that the BDS makes the association itself. That association has been around since the IDF was established.
There are a number of reasons for that.
The palestinians are not perceived as angels. Their long history of terrorism, from the Olympic murders to brutal skyjackings to the bombings of toddlers in restaurants.
The fact that Israel has a vibrant technological economy connected to much of the world's economic activity.
The fact that the companies these students want divestment from secure the retirement of many and also help in developing much of the third world ( IE. Caterpillar, etc.).
Yes, the long history of terrorism is shared. The Israeli Irgun and Haganah were terrorist organizations fighting for Zionist supremacy by killing Palestinians. Then, in 1948, the UN made Israel a legal nation.
Most "terrorists", including the black South African who advocated and practiced violence, disappear very quickly when they are legitimized. That's why Menachem Begin, who commanded Irgun in its worst years, became Israel's sixth Prime Minister.
It is Israel's connection to the world economy that makes it vulnerable to boycott. Otherwise, we would all be protesting Palestinian terrorism by boycotting Palestinian olive oil and strawberries. Well, if the IDF stopped destroying olive trees and blockading strawberry farmers, I'm sure that's what we would do.
Nor will it, because their will never be a successful "divestment" campaign.
Despite years of propaganda, the palestinians are not perceived as sympathetic characters.
They have been offered a state of their own for over 60 years. It is they who have refused that state instead opting for the goal of the destruction of another state.
Any comparison to the citizens of South Africa is completely without merit.
Example: Speech by Abdallah Jarbu,Hamas Deputy Minister of Rlegious Endowens speech. Translated by Gaza TVm, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbebxsmWxUQ
You think Israeli electorate will give you what you want, when majority of Palestinains elect that to lead them?!
Think again.
When Palestinian community ( most of it!) is ready to co exist with their neighbors, Palestinain state will be yours for the taking. Not before.
And no amount of vilification of Israeli people and will change that.
Bet on it.
This is incorrect. Israelis stopped electing doves when Palestinian rejected negotiations and began a bloody guerrilla warfare against Israeli people. The peace camp in Israeli politics never recovered from that.
Arafat strategy of softening Israeli dove government with a wave of terrorism turned out to be incomprehensibly and astonishingly incorrect analysis. On par with Arafat's disastrous decision to support Saddam Hussein over Kuwaitis and Saudis. May be even worse.
Mustafa Barghouthi,
The Palestinian narratives have been long suppressed from full view of the American public. Thank you for all the work you do to inform, educate & enlighten us about Palestine. During your occasional & (not nearly enough) appearances tolerated by the American media, you do an incredibly excellent job with your very limited access by describing the conditions of occupation, mass incarceration, siege, eviction that occur in Palestine. Please do not allow your detractors or the vested interests stop your advocacies for the Palestinian people as your voice is gaining new listeners as every day the injustices & civil inequalities in Palestine are becoming more evident.
Palestinain narrative is in full view for all to see. But that is the crux of the problem.
Troughout the years Americans have seen Palestinain support for American enemies. Like Soviet Union ( Dr. Barghouthi and Abbas were trained and indoctrinated in the Soviet Union); support for Saddam Hussein and invasion of Kuwait, CNN reported jubilant celebrations on Palestinians streets on 9/11.
It is not that Palestinain narrative is not elucidated. It is. The problem is that common Americans know what they see and reject the mythology behind it
At any rate...CNN vid bites are NOT Palestinian narratives...unless the vid bite becomes a full documentary where the videographer asks, "hey, why are you celebrating?" and then the Palestinian shows him a bull-dozed house, a razed olive/orchard field, and many many graves.
I believe the answer have been demonstrated many, many times here.
The people on here who are Israeli have such an extraordinarily different viewpoint to that of anyone else. I don't know whether it is their media, or the central role the military plays in their culture, or what. I think, for many, they really just want the Palestinians to go away forever. I have yet to be convinced by any right wing Israeli that they really care about anything else, ultimately.
Its a controversial comment, yours, but I think its a very important one because it doesn't allow a shutdown of their viewpoint based on the tired old "terrorism" stick. This is how the Arab people, including Hezbollah, see it. It is seen as a natural resistance against a relentless invader. Of course, it isn't working in their favour, but it is a lot to ask of the Palestinian people to sit down and be reasonable after all that has happened.
OK, don't. You choose war? Fine. Then don't complain when Palestinain lose yet another military conflict.
I can imagine how hard it would be for Palestinians or some Israeli's to sit down and be reasonable. Yet how far is the status quo getting any of them?
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/29/headlines/uc_berkeley_student_senate_fails_to_override_veto_of_israel_divestment_measure
BTW, if the blockade of Gaza is "collective punishment" than surely the BDS movement against Israel is the same.
Occam's Razor indicates that the Berkeley student government simply didn't want to divest. Either way, it's over and BDS loses.
Even when non-violent means are used the’re met with extreme violence from the IDF & "settlers"; witness the killing of American Rachel Corrie & critical wounding of Tristan Anderson, along with numerous Palestinian & international peace activists. The Israeli regime has no real incentive to actually work for peace, rather, they continue to stall, deceive, & show contempt for world opinion & Obama’s moves, albeit very weak ones, toward peace. If we divested, boycotted & ended our aid entirely & military collusion, we might impress on the Israeli regime that we are finally serious about peace & will not remain lap-dog to Israeli racism & expansionism; the main reason we do not is the power of pro-Israel agents in America, who have subverted & manipulated our politics & foreign policy to Israeli goals, at the expense of American morality, treasure & blood.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=TRE20060828&articleId=3085
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_13-4-2003_pg3_1