"Israel and the Nightmare of Occupation" Robert Manne
I was sent this article yesterday by an acquaintance and it seemed to encapsulate my thoughts on the Palestine - Israel conflict.
My, (very uninformed) opinion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has
always been to have great sympathy for the Palestinian cause.
I acknowledge that anti-semitism and the demonisation of Jews is an ongoing issue and can understand the desire for a homeland however we are in a position now where Palestinians who defend themselves against an invading force are simplistically labeled terrorists. I think people need to open their eyes and see the conflict for what it is, a war and a rich powerful nation (Israel) invading for a combination of economic and ideological purposes.
I also resent not feeling free to express my opinion on the war
for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic!
While I would never be an apologist for terrorism we need to appreciate
that suicide bombings are an effective and efficient method for the
Palestinians to defend themselves against a much more powerful and well equipped enemy. It is unrealistic for us to expect the bombings to stop while Israel continues to encroach further into Palestinian territory
building new settlements and walls that stop Palestinians accessing employment, schools and in many cases their own land.
I'm really not an expert but I agree with Robert Manne's article, it is
Israel's actions that have led us to this point. And the international
community supporting the invasion of Palestine continues to be something we should be ashamed of.
I also doubt the Israeli government's commitment to peace. It would seem to me that all of the compromise is being required by the Palestinians and they seem to have compromised enough if you ask me.
If emptying the full clip of your machine gun into a 13 year old
Palestinian girl on her way home from school isn't terrorism. I don't know what is.
posted by Puffin @ Tuesday, December 07, 2004
3 Comments:
You doubt the idea that Israel wants peace, though a substantial majority of Israelis have said so. And the Palestinians" the most recent poll (after the deathof Arafat) states that a majority of Arabs to continue terror attacks! Indeed, you ought to read into thesubject before you so readily dismiss the cause of Israel. After all, they have been attacked 4 times to exterminate the state. Israel captured land "owned" by Jordan and Egypt (not by Palestinians, who have and never have had a state)..why would Israel give back land to a people when there has yet been a peace agreed upon? Merely to give something back? What a silly notion. Has any country winning a war in the modern world ever given back land taken in war without a treaty between contending parties?
Thanks for your comment Fred. While I don't agree with your opinions I certainly appreciate you sharing them.
I certainly appreciate that the majority of Israeli's would like to see an end to violence, however I think this needs to be demonstrated through government actions not opinion polls. Indeed I think it is perfectly natural for the Palestinian people to support the continuation of attacks given the attacks continually made against them. Over 500 Palestinian children were killed in the last year by Israeli forces. Some of these were killed sitting inside their UN school classrooms. Only slightly over 100 Israeli children were killed in Palestinian attacks. I think it is important that we don't simplify all Palestinian attacks as terrorist and all Israeli attacks as legitimate warfare, it is all terrorism.
As for your comment regarding whether I think Israel should return land well yes I think that is exactly what they should do. Regardless of what nation the land was a part of Palestinian's were settled there, thier homes and lands were stolen from them. Israel should give the land back or give the Palestinian people full political rights.I don't think it is silly. I think it is just! It is probably wishful thinking and naive but I still believe that the Israeli government should do what is right.
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