Throughout its short life, Israel has engaged in many actions that the world democracies have deemed dubious and inconsistent with Israel's claim to be "the only democracy in the Middle East." One can mention the Israeli wall in the West Bank, Wars on Lebanon and Gaza, a choking and indiscriminate blockade on the citizens of Gaza, ethnic discrimination against Arabs and attack on and killing of a number of individuals on board a Turkish flotilla in international waters just over the past few years alone. Israel has consistently countered condemnations and repeated U.N. Security Council resolutions denouncing its actions with one argument: those actions are necessary because of the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza has refused to accept the existence of Israel and repeatedly fired rockets into Israel.
So is that Israeli claim true? Are Israel's actions truly a reaction to hostilities against its existence and security? Let's look at this claim in the context of the ongoing negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. Here is a Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, representing the Fattah Movement in the West Bank, under whose leadership not a single state-sponsored rocket has been fired at Israel from the West Bank. Here is a president who is spending a significant amount of political capital to accept President Obama's invitation to pursue renewed negotiations with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. And after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran condemned Mr. Abbas for resuming negotiations with the Israelis and called on the Palestinians to fight on, Mahmoud Abbas showed unprecedented leadership by strongly condemning Ahmadinejad, stating "He who does not represent the Iranian people, who forged elections and who suppresses the Iranian people and stole the authority, is not entitled to talk about Palestine, or the President of Palestine."
And what has President Abbas gotten in return from the Israelis? After taking office, Prime Minister Netanyahu would not even mention a Palestinian state as a solution. He only did so later and under much long-overdue pressure from the Obama administration. But at a time when there is much at stake in the current negotiations and much hope for its success, the Prime Minister refused to renew the freeze on settlements.
It is true that Netanyahu's freeze on settlements was somewhat unprecedented for Israel. But what is sorely missing in the public debate or media's reporting on the settlements is the reminder that Israel is building houses for resistance on land it has illegally and militarily occupied in 1967, has held hostage since and used as leverage in negotiations. This makes settlements undeniably and unequivocally illegal and in direct violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. These are not subjective ideas, opinions or points-of-views. These are simple, ink-on-paper facts that have not been challenged even by the Israelis.
Some are quick to say that while these facts are correct, we should still refrain from criticizing Israel to not jeopardize delicate talks. But the problem is that we have refused to condemn Israeli settlements and actions for so long that it has led to an unacceptable level of arrogance and unjustified self-righteousness among extremist Jewish settlers. At a cement-pouring ceremony to mark the end of the freeze over the past weekend, Gershon Mesika, a member of Samaria Council of Settlers said, "From this stage, I speak to Hussein Obama: The land in Israel belongs to the Israeli people." That is true, except the West Bank is not Israeli land! And if by Israel, he is referring to the patriarch Jacob, someone needs to remind him that international borders are determined in collaboration with nation states and in international conventions, not according to a small group's interpretation of a religious book.
What is outrageous is that the settlement movement is not on the fringe of Israeli politics, but receives the recognition of mainstream politicians on a regular basis. One of the people who was at the aforementioned event was Danny Dannon, a Likud member of Parliament. In response to a question from a New York Times reporter, asking "Do you want a deal [with the Palestinians] in a year [the timeframe set forth by President Obama and agreed upon by Netanyahu and Abbas]?" he said "No."
So as the State Department is currently working hard to convince the Palestinians to not walk out of negotiations, we have to ask ourselves, why is it that we continue to credit Israel with being the democracy in the conflict and give it a whopping 2.5 Billion dollars a year in military aid even as reports show that one in every seven Americans is now under the poverty line, but we expect its Palestinian counterparts to be the grown-up and put up with counter-productive and sabotaging Israeli actions?
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This has been repeated so often that people believe it. In fact, Palestine was created as a Homeland for the Jews by the League of Nations when it adopted the San Remo Convention of 1920 and the Palestine Mandate.
There has never been a recognized legal state in the West Bank until Israel conquered it, and not even then. Therefore, if you read the text, instead of the propaganda, the 4th Geneva Convention does not even apply.
In the light of these legal facts, it is not honest or true to claim the West Bank Jewish settlements are "Undeniably" or "Unequivocally" illegal.
Since there is no court to settle the dispute, negotiations between the parties seems appropriate.
In the May 28, 1993 edition of Yedioth Ahronoth, Ariel Sharon explained:
"The terms ‘democracy’ or ‘democratic’ are totally absent from the Declaration of Independence. This is not an accident. The intention of Zionism was not to bring democracy, needless to say. It was solely motivated by the creation in Eretz-Isrel of a Jewish state belonging to all the Jewish people and to the Jewish people alone. This is why any Jew of the Diaspora has the right to immigrate to Israel and to become a citizen of Israel."
"An ethnocracy is the opposite of a democracy, although it might incorporate some elements of democracy such as universal citizenship and elections. It arises when one particular group-the Jews in Israel, the Russians in Russia, the Protestants in pre-1972 Northern Ireland, the whites in apartheid South Africa, the Shi’ite Muslims in Iran, the Malay in Malaysia and, if they had their way, the white Christian fundamentalists in the US-seize control of the government and armed forces in order to enforce a regime of exclusive privilege over other groups in what is in fact a multi-ethnic or multi-religious society. Ethnocracy, or ethno-nationalism, privileges ethnos over demos, whereby one’s ethnic affiliation, be it defined by race, descent, religion, language or national origin, takes precedence over citizenship in determining to whom a county actually 'belongs...'"
http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1566&Itemid=228
The Israeli elections decide the Prime Minister and the Knesset (Parliament) which decides on policy and actions. This makes Israel a democracy.
The US-supplied weapons for Operation Cast Lead and we the people of the US who pay taxes provide over $3 billion annually to Israel although Israel has consistently misused U.S. weapons in violation of America's Arms Export Control and Foreign Assistance Acts.
America is the worlds largest arms supplier to Israel and under a Bush negotiated deal with Israel-which Obama signed into law just before last Christmas, we the people who pay taxes in America will also provide another $30 billion in military aid to Israel over the next decade.
"Washington provided F-16 fighter planes, Apache helicopters, tactical missiles, and a wide array of munitions, including white phosphorus and DIME. The weapons required for the Israeli assault was decided upon in June 2008, and the transfer of 1,000 bunker-buster GPS-guided Small Diameter Guided Bomb Units 39 (GBU-39) were approved by Congress in September. The GBU 39 bombs were delivered to Israel in November (prior to any claims of Hamas cease fire violation!) for use in the initial air raids on Gaza...
http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1523&Itemid=227
With these facts the world should no longer recognize the fascist state that Israel has become. TOTAL EMBARGO. It worked with apartheid South Africa, and it will with apartheid Israel. Cut them off, sell them nothing, buy nothing.Shun Israel until it can behave like a civilized state.
7. Mr. Mesika is the Governor of the Shomron (Samaria) regional council and he is referring to the region and public he was elected to represent. You are right that our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did dwell in this land, which is the land of the Bible. Shechem, Shilo, Beit El, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hevron are all here in Judea and Samaria which is the core of Jewish national homeland and the core of Zionism. But, our practical claim to the land in the simple fact that the area is under the control of the State of Israel and should continue to be so for ever. I am glad you realize that the re-settlement of the land of Israel is not a fringe group in Israel but rather well represented in our society of government.
8.Without claiming to be a genius in economics I dare ask you the following. If over 75% of the American loan guarantee to Israel (you know its not a gift, we pay for that) are being spent on products manufactured in America, how would cutting those funds improve the American un-employment situation? My math say that if Israel redirects her arms purchases back home it would do wonders for the Israeli economy but have a negative effect on American workers who would be laid off.
Bottom line is, thanks for your advice. But, I think that we'll do fine without your help.
David Ha'ivri
A couple of comments on your opinion piece.
1.The democratic structure of the State of Israel is not on trial for approval of the International community. The form that the citizens of Israel decide to choose our representatives is a totally internal issue. You can applaud or boo with little consequence.
2.Since its establishment in 1948 Israel has been under attack and threat of destruction and has dealt with these threats on her own while the world has stood back to watch and at best supplied some arms.
3.In 2005 after Israel pulled out of Gaza, it residents held democratic elections and elected the Hamas government whose first action was to take arms against the defeated PLO leaders (representatives of MR. Abbas' party). Since then they have been firing rockets into Israeli cities.
4.In July this year Mr. Abbas canceled municipal elections in the “West Bank” after it became clear to him that the Hamas would win most of those positions as well.
5.Geneva IV does not apply to the areas of Judea and Samaria which were captured by Israel from Jordan in 1967, being that Jordan's occupation of those areas for 19 years was illegal and not recognized by the international community.
6.Netanyahu and his government have acknowledged that the freeze on Jewish building was a great mistake and had no positive affect over the ten month period that Jews were not allowed to conduct their livelihood.
So are you saying that no Jews, oops I mean Israelis, are allowed to be in the "occupied land"? That sounds like apartheid to me. Can Israel remove all the so-called "Palestinian Israelis" from their state, arguing that Palestinians belong in Palestine?
The acts of the League of Nations were absorbed by UN in the UN charter.
Your claim of "No right, whatsoever..." is inaccurate and disingenuous.
The techniques utilized: Smearing/defaming critics of Israel, aka, attacking the messenger. This is even the terminology found in the Hasbara Handbook. Selective discussion of issues. Framing of issues, and setting the terminology used in discussing Israel. Harassing media about its coverage, aka, flak. Challenging the portrayal of an alternative narrative, and attempting to keep the Zionist narrative as the dominant one.
'The Hasbara Handbook: Promoting Israel on Campus', is now available online (http://www.middle-east-info.org/take/wujshasbara.pdf). Here is an interesting admission (page 31 onwards):
'Propaganda is used by those who want to communicate in ways that engage the emotions and downplay rationality, in an attempt to promote a certain message.'
The manual goes on to describe seven propaganda techniques:
1. Name calling: see name calling (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Name_calling)
2. Glittering generality: see glittering generality (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Glittering_generalities)
3. Transfer: see Transfer (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Transfer)
4. Testimonial: see Testimonial (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Testimonial)
5. Plain folks: see plain folks (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Plain_folks)
6. Fear: See fear. (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fear)
7. Bandwagon: See bandwagon. (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bandwagon)
You mean the way calling anyone who supports Israel a "hasbarist"?
Most Middle Eastern countries hold Palestinians at arms-length and very tightly controlled within their borders. For a very good reason.
Middle Eastern people have long memories. Lebanese remember Palestinian betrayals. Jordanians remember Palestinian betrayals. Egyptian and even Syrians do too.
Kuwait will NEVER forget how Palestinians repaid billions of dollars of aid by applauding and supporting Hussein's invasion of their country Israelis remember Arafat's betrayals.
I think Israel should negotiate with Palestinians. As long as Israels don't make a mistake to accept whatever Palestinains pitching at face value. One Arafat Trojan Horse was enough, thank you.
That's why a right-wing government is more appropriate for negotiations than liberals. They had their chance. Alas, Arafat's Martyr Brigades made short work of those chances.
True.
But it's primarily Palestinian Muslims that were,and are involved in terrorism in the Middle East.
Sorry, I can't take your sanctimony seriously.
The settler movement is numerically smaller than israeli arabs. The reason there is not a palestinian state is because most israelis saw what happened upon the unilateral disengagement of gaza; hamas and other terrorists claimed that terrorism had won a great victory, and increased rocket and terror attacks against neighboring israeli civilians.
Doing the same thing twice and expecting different results is lunacy, and most israelis don't want to withdraw from the west bank until they can be ASSURED that this withdrawal will not put them and their families in danger (most israelis live within rocket range of the west bank). So when pregnant woman are shot in an effort to derail peace talks, or when the supposed moderate sellout to israel refuses to even negotiate with israel until just before the settlement freeze is scheduled to end (knowing he would have an excuse to end negotiations then), israelis become convinced that giving the palestinians their own state will not lead to peace, so why should they give up the west bank for nothing.
Israel-haters can whine that, since they still control the airspace and border crossings, they never withdrew from gaza. This is, of course, ridiculous. No israelis live in gaza, and no soldiers are stationed there. Besides, if you're only trying to get full control over your airspace and borders, why would you resort to terrorism, the original justification for control of the airspace and borders!
Ok, let's suppose that's the "reason" for the past 3 years; how about the reason for the spike in settlements and settlers during the peace breakthrough and interim agreements for 7 years after Oslo Accords (1993-2000)? And the reasons why Palestinian rights were utterly denied and its people brutalized for almost 50 years before that (1947-1993)?
Zionist ideology has systematically sought to destroy Palestinian national existence and nationalism. Hamas is only your fig leaf.
Palestinian nationalism was created as a response to Zionism, it did not exist before that. And it was moribund and pathetic until the external Arab states decided to pump it up after the 1967 war.
There just wardens and corrections officers :) and they don't need to be stationed there since they can just dump white phosphorus on them from the safety of their US gifted F-16?
So let me try to understand. If we're rommies and you move out but ctrl everything that comes in or out of the house you supposedly withdrew fro, including me how in the heck is that giving me my house back???
Israel also did not use white phosphorus as a weapon in gaza; they used it as a smoke creating agent; the only alternative if you want to provide cover in an urban environment is heavy artillery. Every single analysis by objective parties has come to this conclusion.
Lastly, please tell me why it is in the best interest of the average israeli to withdraw from the west bank if there is the slightest chance it would lead to rocket attacks on their homes and families.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/TheRethuggery?page=2&action=comments&display=all&sort=oldest
LOL....Now THAT takes some chutzpah!
http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.4511363/k.8999/Photo_Gallery.htm
Click on August 27th, 2010 Images from Gaza...
Advice; instead of wasting time in envy and powerless rage about Israeli success. from New Jersey; Dearborn in L.A. basements,
why not go to your former countries , teach English, learn Arabic, try translating maybe some Voltaire and Derrida into Arabic. Do something productive for your people.
Why not?
Palestine was part Ottoman Empire for centuries. After that it was British. At no point in time Palestine was a country. Ever.
Palestinain Arabs were given several opportunities to form their own state.
Astonishingly they declined every one.
Never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity.