Israeli and world Jewish leaders are tripping over themselves to describe their horror at the brutalization of Naama. Naama is an eight-year-old Israeli girl from an observant Jewish family. She was spit on and called a prostitute by a group of Orthodox Jewish men as she walked to school. These men, it seems, believed her modest dress was not modest enough. Days of this traumatic humiliation made little Naama petrified for her life.
Outrage is the proper response. Prime Minister Netanyahu rightfully declared: "In a Western, liberal democracy the public realm is safe for men and women both, and neither harassment or discrimination has any place there." Similar outcries have been heard from President Shimon Peres, and other senior leaders. Commentators, such as David Harris of the American Jewish Committee, are repulsed by members of the religious right taking the law into their own hands.
But what about the Naamas in the West Bank? Hardly a day passes when Palestinian kids are not attacked with rocks or worse by extremist Jewish settlers on the occupied West Bank. When upset by Israel's (decidedly tepid) efforts to restrain settlement growth, militant settlers burn down Palestinian fields, and worse. In Hebron, a twelve-year-old Arab boy was blinded by a vial of acid thrown from the Jewish settlement sitting atop the Arab market. Even worse than base violence is the treatment of Palestinian teenagers who are arrested -- they can often be jailed for up to a year with no charges filed. Further, human rights organizations in Israel tell us that prisoners who disappear into the vast Israeli detention system are neither informed of the charges against them nor told how long they will be detained. Their families scramble to discover the fate of their loved ones.
My heart breaks for Naama, but also for the hundreds of thousands of Arab children imprisoned in the West Bank and Gaza. These children are born into lives of hopelessness and desperation. Denied freedom of movement, proper education and medical care, they suffer not from a frightening incident, but from lives stunted by an imbroglio not of their creation; citizens of nowhere.
The Israeli government does little to stop the harassment of Palestinians by the Jewish settlers. Israeli leaders turn away as Arab kids are stoned, yet erupt in pious platitudes when Jewish children are humiliated. When will Israeli and American Jewish leaders see that all these events are connected? Societies that imprison their neighbors inevitably become more chauvinistic and less democratic. Occupying the land of 4 million Palestinians for over forty years predictably empowers Israel's least democratic elements. There is a clear link between the stifling of Arab voices in Israel's democratic institutions and the oppressions of other elements of its society -- in this case, women. Because the Israeli government traditionally has not included Arab parties in its governing coalitions, it must rely on ultra-orthodox parties that use their place in government to oppress women in the public square. Not only are government policies then subject to the whims of parties like Shas, but the government then also subsidizes ultra-orthodox housing within the green line, thus building an ultra-orthodox stake in the occupation.
The subjugation of Palestinians and the intolerance of ultra-orthodox Jews are not disparate phenomena. Demanding that women sit in the back of buses is tied to diminishing human rights in the West Bank. If Israel does not extend its promise of equal citizenship to the non-Jews under its domain (as is the current trend), it will betray that promise of equality to its Jewish citizens as well. It is good that we feel Naama's pain, but we must feel the pain of all those oppressed in this troubled land. If we do not, Israel will never be a place where its citizens can claim to be truly moral -- or claim to be secure. Israel expresses concern about efforts to de-legitimatize it in world opinion; it must be careful not to validate this effort.
In the words of Ernest Hemmingway: "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."
Stephen Robert
Link? Reference? Proof?
But, for Israel to ever be sanctioned for their inhumanity and injustices, America has to remember her basic Principles and adhere to them instead of selling them out for individual political aspirations / campaigns.
It isn't right to support a country, and call her our ally, when they are guilty of so completely eschewing the basic Principles of right vs. wrong as they oppress their victims, relentlessly.
America is forcing our support of Israel upon the world. Their trade and other economic considerations are held against them if they don't comply, and support our Israeli policies.
We are using all of our political and economic clout to support the wrong side. And now, as we enter the second decade of our "War on Terrorism", we are continuing to waste our own resources and military to support the oppression of millions of people, by our "allies", like Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Sadly, our Achilles Heel appears to be the Dollar, which has too much influence in our government. So, I am very concerned that nothing can superscede that power even as we slowly rescede from our position of the "Home of Justice for ALL".
God save America, and remind us of what our true strengths are. Justice for ALL, and equality under the law. Only these principles can save us, and are the best hope for the oppressed people described in this article.
As for the "article", this was a one-sided editorial. There are extremists on the Palestinian side as well and they are very much to blame for the situation Palestinian children have found themselves in for decades.
settle for nothing less than everything?
Our American "leaders" consistently promise to unwaveringly maintain their 100% support of Israel as they cash the campaign contributions from AIPAC, year after year, millions of dollars on top of millions of dollars.
Apparently, money does talk, especially in Washington; to the point that even our American Principles, i.e., Justice for ALL, can be sold off to the highest bidder.
But not by the incredibly rich pro-arab oil lobby, or the saudis, or anything like that.
See what a little critical thinking can do?
...are the myriad crimes against humanity perpetrated by the palestinians.
Yes, but I imagine you don't see that many of those "oppressed" are Israelis and Palestinians victimized by Palestinians, too. We need to place the onus for change on ALL responsible parties, both Israeli AND Palestinian. This kind of emotion-laden, tunnel-vision plea does nothing if it focuses only on the "sins" of one side.
So how about exhorting BOTH sides to rein in their extremists, quit demonizing the other, and commit to compromising for a peaceful solution to the problem? Giving a pass to one side with the excuse that they're "victims" or "powerless" not only is incorrect, it does a disservice to them as well.
To the point that Washington turns a blind eye to their ongoing oppression and all the other abuses which have brought all of this inhumanity to these people?
What is needed is a healthy dose of Justice for ALL, to resolve the pathos and the suffering of BOTH sides; not just more bullets for the victims, from the oppressors.
And any "Justice for ALL" principles and laws, must be initiated by the government in power there, and that would be the Israelis.
Saying the Israelis "must" do their part first either is an attempt to absolve the Palestinians from taking any responsibility at all for their own destiny or a vote of no-confidence in their desire or ability to do so.
Although to be honest I believe that Israel is well aware of that already and likes things just the way they are as it steals more and more Palestinian land.
Please do not try to defend this by saying the IDF isn't "in charge", because everyone, including God, knows Israel is the only power in charge in the whole area.
Also, even at the highest number - Israel did not displace even one million people - please don't talk about millions.
If the Palestinians and Gazans want peace they know how to get it - NEGOTIATE - with Israel.
-air space controlled by israel
-sea outlets controlled by israel
-trade controlled by israel
-etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.......
By your definition, America was occupying iraq...during much of the mid 90s.
Israel must, eventually, address this injustice themselves as the surrounding nations can never repair the injustices of the Israeli Zionists' greed and avarice perpetrated upon the human beings they have so poorly dealt with.
However, over twice as many jewish refugees did flee or were cleansed from arab lands. They are now happy and productive citizens of israel.
See how things could have been?
i don't get your connection.
Especially since the desire for 'greater israel' among the the ultra-orthodox is completely independent of their role in government.
We might be worthy of our Statue of Liberty again, someday, if this keeps up.
How about the immams who call for the killin of Jews and Christians in Muslim countries. AND IT'S HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS
You wouldn't be writing this just to be inflammatory - would you?
There is no defense of these injustices and the pathos of the refugees. Be humane and look for the resolution instead of debating them.
If it is "inflammatory" that is a GOOD THING, since this screams for something to offset the "turning a blind eye" which seems to be the policy from Washington, over all these decades.