| Feb 5 2009
As an American I continue to reflect on the treatment of Israel on the Palestinians and now especially Gaza. As a result of my reflections, I am horrified at the callousness and mean-spiritedness of the Israeli government. Even if one accepted the position of the Israeli government for the “disproportioned” attack on Gaza to stop rocket fire on Israeli towns, now there is a ceasefire and hopefully a continued peace effort by all involved. Despite this fact that almost all hostilities have ceased, the Israeli government refuses to allow the necessary border crossings to be opened to allow a reconstruction of the massive damage it inflicted on the population of Gaza. It is a well documented fact that before the attack on Gaza the blockade and occupation of Gaza had made life there terrible in the most basic ways. Yet now, after the very destructive attack on Gaza, the blockade continues and life in Gaza is many times more miserable because of the suffering and injury and death of the residents, extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure of the Gaza strip. Why? Why does the Israeli government continue to punish the people of Gaza. Why don’t they allow the necessary aid that is ready and available to help the people of Gaza rebuild go into Gaza? Why don’t they allow international observers assist them in monitoring the flow of aid into Gaza? To answer these whys one must conclude that the Israeli government is discriminating against the Palestinians. The Israeli government has a vendetta against these people. They must want these people to suffer greatly. It has been common practise in the past that after a war the societies damaged by the war if not directly helped, at least, were allowed to rebuild their shattered lives. These are the obvious yet true conclusions that any objective person must conclude. So where does that leave a peace process? No-where. There must be a will to resolve the conflict. In conflict resolution, a win-win attitude is necessary for both parties to believe they are getting something out of a conflict resolution process. There is no win-win mentality on the Israeli side. Only I win- you lose. There will be no peace in Palestine under those conditions no matter who goes to try to mediate a peace. Only words will be the result and no action for resolution. This is the history of the conflict. Israel is the dominate force here not Palestine. Israel continues to ignore International law and it lacks a “good will” to resolve in any win-win situation. Therefore, my reflection on the Israeli governments actions – not words- continues to show me that Israel is not intent on resolving this conflict in a just manner, in accordance with international law and humane standards, but instead it wants to persecute, humiliate, and discriminate against the Palestinian people and frankly make them suffer. Therefore, let’s stop the charades and really put pressure on Isreal to engage in a meaningful peace process. Actions speak louder than words. Let the world community make Israel act in a responsible way for peace. If they don’t sanctions or other means that are available to the world’s governments must be used to make Israel act as a responsible country that exists in a world community. |
further reflections on Israel/Palestine
11 AugContinued reflections on Israel-Palestine
11 Aug
| Jan 28, 2009
As an American I have been truly unaware of the sinister Janus approach of Israel regarding peace with Palestine -until recently. Because of the largely one sided news coverage in the USA, while most Americans truly wish for peace and justice in the region, we keep believing Israel’s promises that Israel wants the same. However, now I don’t believe that anymore. Instead I believe there are other fundamental(ist) conservative forces in Israel that really don’t care or want a just peace. I have recently been blogging and researching about the consequences of this -what I call Racism and also nationalism- of the majority of Israeli people/government. The EU and USA have continued to not forceably challenage this lie. For example, if the settlements are- and I believe for now will be- allowed to continue- Israel breaks International Law and the Palestinians will not accept the settlements in a peace agreement. So why does Israel insist? Because they only want the peace agreement their way and that is to keep Israel’s expansion in Palestine.It now seems so obvious. But when Tony Blair shakes hands with Netanyahu, us poor mortals, who try to believe in the wisdom of our leaders, think Ok these guys must have some long term plan or inside information we don’t know. But I don’t believe that anymore. Here is the article. Make up your own mind. Likud allow settlement expansion
The leader of Israel’s right-wing Likud party, Binyamin Netanyahu, says he would continue to expand settlements in the West Bank, but not build new ones. The remarks to Mid-East envoy Tony Blair come in the run-up to Israel’s general election next month which Likud is favourite to win, polls suggest. Settlements in the West Bank and Golan are considered illegal in international law, though Israel disputes this. Past Israeli governments have backed “natural growth” of settlements. Correspondents say the statement may be an attempt to placate the international community before the arrival of George Mitchell, the newly appointed US envoy to the Middle East. “I have no intention of building new settlements in the West Bank,” Netanyahu told Mr Blair in quotes carried by Haaretz newspaper. “But like all the governments there have been until now, I will have to meet the needs of natural growth in the population. I will not be able to choke the settlements.” Intensive The expansion of Jewish settlements violates the internationally-backed peace plan known as the roadmap, which has served as the basis for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that resumed in 2007. Palestinians cite Israel’s settlement activity on land captured by Israel in the 1967 war as a major obstacle to a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. However, past Israeli governments have rejected the international legal arguments and in peace talks have sought to keep their big settlement blocs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank which house hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Mr Netanyahu also reiterated his pledge to shift the focus of talks with the Palestinians to economic development rather than statehood. He reportedly told Mr Blair he would deal with the Palestinian issue “very intensively.” Mr Blair’s reaction to Mr Netanyahu’s statement is not recorded. During a visit to Ramallah on the same day, he welcomed Mr Mitchell’s appointment as US envoy. “I see this as a partnership between America on the one side and the international community on the other… to make sure that we get the help to people in Gaza, then that we set about revitalising the process toward negotiation, leading to (Palestinian) statehood,” Mr Blair said. |
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 