Often, the pro-Palestine movement becomes so caught up in debates over disputed historical facts, fending off claims that pro-Palestine left is anti-Semitic, or arguing over the definition of key-words such as ‘terrorism’ or ‘occupation’ that it fails to expose and exploit fundamental incoherencies and inconsistencies in the Zionist narrative about the situation. If the situation is viewed from the perspective of an Israeli citizen, for example, these incoherencies become apparent.
Key to the Israeli Narratives, as I have argued in the article ‘Reflexive Racism in Israel and America,’ is the erroneous assertion that all Arabs intrinsically hate Jews and that they are incapable of every living in peace with Arabs. While this idea completely disregards the fact that anti-Semitism is an entirely European concept, and that the Ottoman Empire was quite a bit more tolerant of Jews than those in Europe, it is still quite affective in convincing Jews, who rightfully fear those who wish to annihilate them, that the Palestinians are racist and villainous. In complete denial of historical facts, the narrative often attempts to portray Palestinians as the modern day equivalent to the Nazis.
However, even if this extremely offensive and completely incorrect version of the situation is accepted, Israel’s actions are still far from coherent. Why for instance, does it continue to send settlers into Palestinian territory? By the far-right Israeli narrative, despicable and hateful as it is, would this not be the equivalent of sending Jews, proudly displaying the Star of David, into Nazi strongholds? If Palestinians are so racist and dangerous, why does Israel insist on sending its citizens to occupy their territory?
What about the apartheid wall? The original plan would have enclosed 200,000 Palestinians within the de facto Israeli border? How can anyone maintain that this wall is for security, when 200,000 of the very people it is supposedly securing Israel against are actually enclosed within Israel? Wouldn’t it be much safer to build the wall on the 1967 border, and then have the settlers return within the border?
By asking these simple questions of Israel’s version of the situation, questions that any Israeli citizen might want to ask about his or her own security, the cynical nature and incoherency of the Israeli narrative becomes apparent. Israel continues to make decision that put its citizens in more danger and cause more suffering among both Israelis and Palestinians.
Although I do agree with you that the Expansion of settlements is not the smartest move played by the Israeli part, the Israeli's must make the borders of the wall defensible, say a hill is contolled by the arabs, they have been know to launch firebombs and Jewish citites, and killing the Jewish people. You cant leave that kind of terrain unguarded. Again, I have never said that every palastinian is a nazi, but the ones in power, especially the religious leaders and the goverenment, are very anti-semetic. And since they are the ones in power, they are the ones who tell the Palestinians what to do and such. And don't give me that shit about arguing about minute historical facts when you are the one saying the reason they have more rights to that land than Jews s because they have been living there for 1000's of years (even though there was a Jewish mijority in Jerusalem, always. And the mijority of the "Palestinians" haven't shown up until the 1920's after Jewsih landlords irregated ditches, drained swamps, built cities, and made something of that shithole of a land. Most of the Palestinians are accually eqyptian and Syrian Immagrants, look at Ed Said, a fucking lying Egyptian who claimed he lived there for centuries.
Ok, umm, back to the settlements, the reason they keep expanding them is because history has shown us that when Israel pushes over, the suicide bombings increase, and when Israel takes a more aggressive approach, the opposite happens. So, to just push over and remove all settlers, especially when the wall isn't finished, and give Palestinians a reason to say they get stuff when they do bad things is just stupid. They have to stay stong until the very end, and that is the only way to reduce casualitites. Plus they are trying to make the poin that that land is as much the Jews land as it is the Arabs, if not more.
Comment by You know who I am— 2005/03/28 @ 08:41 AM — (Reply)
err, Ed said claim to be an native to the area... misword, sorry
Comment by You know who I am— 2005/03/28 @ 10:15 AM — (Reply)