Sojourners about to be illegal in their own land
What to make of this from Ha’aretz?
“IDF order will enable mass deportation from West Bank
“A new military order aimed at preventing infiltration will come into force this week, enabling the deportation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank, or their indictment on charges carrying prison terms of up to seven years.
“When the order comes into effect, tens of thousands of Palestinians will automatically become criminal offenders liable to be severely punished.”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1162075.html
April 12: Here is the Times’s version of the story (note the military’s defense of the “amendment” to a 1969 ruling): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/world/middleeast/12mideast.html?scp=1&sq=Isabel%20Kerschner&st=cse
Wonkish: We’ve had a back and forth previously about Daniel Pipes and the mission of his Middle East Forum; here is news about another think tank, Washington Institute on Near East Policy, that shares those pro-Israeli views. This account by MJ Rosenberg of WINEP tells us about its origins (he was there) and orientations. Rosenberg links to recent criticisms of WINEP and a defense by its current director.
“There was no question that WINEP was to be AIPAC’s cutout. It was funded by AIPAC donors, staffed by AIPAC employees, and located one door away, down the hall, from AIPAC Headquarters (no more. It has its own digs). It would also hire all kinds of people not identified with Israel as a cover and would encourage them to write whatever they liked on matters not related to Israel. “Say what you want on Morocco, kid.” But on Israel, never deviate more than a degree or two.
“So why does it matter?
“It matters because the media has totally fallen for this sleight of hand and WINEP spokespersons appear (especially on PBS) as if WINEP was not part of the Israel lobby. David Makovsky is a terrific commentator but he is an American who emigrated to Israel and is now back at WINEP which is an AIPAC cutout. As much as I like David, and as much as I think his voice is worth hearing, some truth-in-labeling is necessary.”
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/11/is_israel_preparing_for_transfer_why_the_aipac_was/
Your US tax dollars at work!
As pressure mounts for a settlement, we’re going to see many attempts to prevent one. See this call in today’s Washington Post from Zbigniew Brzezinski and Stephen Solarz for a dramatic gesture from President Obama:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/09/AR2010040903263.html
Interesting op-ed from two people who know something. The big drawback (politically speaking) is that Obama puts his presidency on the line for a gesture that may well, even likely would, fail.
The last months of Clinton’s presidency were dedicated to this kind of effort, and it did not turn out well. I always wonder about the statement: we can’t want peace more than the Israeli and Palestinians do. Unless we were prepared to put a lot of leverage (threats) into pressing both sides (and perhaps the Israeli government more than the PA), this could seem like a mere gesture in a long line of dramatic gestures that didn’t work.
To “give assistance in order to achieve an end” (definition of aid), one should always begin by clearly defining the goal they wish to achieve. Least our support be simply wasted or end up as an obstacle in achieving that goal, all aid given should be restricted to that which we jointly agree will work towards that goal.
What is the possibilty that The West Bank could offer co-citizenship along with joint governing of that area to all those who reside there and wish to Live in Peace?
With all the money we give out there can’t we build something for the Palestinians that will satisfy them. The Israelis are a a major disappointment. This area, there are plenty of others, is a good example how humanity remains in a juvenile state.
Nancy,
For many years now a significant number of Palestinians have declared their preparedness to accept Israelis as citizen-residents in the Occupied Territories/ West Bank/Palestine – (we know where we mean). After all, before 1948 some Jewish communities lived in the land in reasonable amity with their Islamic and Christian neighbours; some groups even got on together with genuine mutual respect.
Unfortunately, Israelis are not willing to accept the offer/suggestion for the sharing of the Land. Many Israelis have no experience of the West Bank today as they are not allowed into the Occupied Territories, where the Israelis have built segregated roads to facilitate the access for settlers, the military and the militarised Israeli police. Over the past 12 months or so, the Israeli Government has permitted access to the Occupied Territories by the “Fortyeighters,” citizens of israel who lived in the area before the declared establishment of the state of Israel. The depressed economic state of the OPT makes shopping in Ramallah, Nablus and other towns an agreeable option.
However, with each passing day of injustice and lying propaganda by the Israeli government, fear on both sides increases and future co-habitation in the Land becomes ever more unlikely. We Christians all owe much to Judaism, but Israel and radical Judaism is destroying its own soul.
They, and we and the Palestinians are the poorer by far in consequence.