It is happening.
The Israel-Palestine world as we knew it is passing away. I thought it might come in my lifetime. I did not foresee it happening this soon. Israel will once again attempt to bomb and siege its way out of this confrontation. They may succeed, temporarily. Soon after however, does anyone doubt that we will be right back where we are today?
Of the 15 million or so people that make up the Israel-Palestine world, about half are Israelis and half are Palestinian. How long can one half of a population suppress the legitimate aspirations of the other half, and expect to “manage” the situation?
The vast majority of Israelis have never been to the West Bank or Gaza. Many are ignorant of their suppression of Palestinians. For them, the “Palestinian situation” was a vague reality they did not need to deal with directly. It was “out there.”
No longer.
Make no mistake.
- Hamas is not Palestine. It does not represent Palestinians. And no one can now question whether or not it is “terrorist.” The violence and atrocities perpetrated by Hamas are counter-productive to justice, peace and security for the peoples of Israel-Palestine.
- Do not confuse sympathy with Palestinians as support for Hamas!
- Iran is not the root cause of this violence. It is exploiting and supporting this instability for its own purposes.
There are the two significant actors that could bring an end to this insanity. (Insanity: Implementing the same failed policy again and again, yet expecting a different result each time.) Both the State of Israel and the United States hold the “power of empire” and are in positions of enough strength and influence to effect change. Is 75 years too short a time to realize that past policies have not and will not bring peace and justice to all peoples? Do Israelis feel secure today? Do Palestinians enjoy equal human rights? Is American foreign policy served by regional instability?
Settler colonialism, apartheid policies, an oppressive occupation and a siege of Gaza are the core realities in which this violence erupted, and lead to the question, “Which parties are actually interested in peace with justice?” Regional stability, Israeli security, and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people will come only by addressing these core issues.
Bart Den Boer
KWM Executive Director
Join Us Thursday, Nov. 2
Dinner with Mark Braverman
Event is free, but tickets required.
More Info Here