Following the
conflict between Israel and Palestine from the outside, is a
heartbreaking and weird activity. It is heartbreaking because the
Palestinians have been and are being forced from their land and their
homes by the Israelis. It is hearbreaking because injustice and
violence against the Palestinians are committed on a daily basis by
the Isrelis. It is heartbreaking because a nation is routinely
bombed and infrastucture detroyed whenever Israel chooses. It is
hearbreaking because a nation which was founded in order to give the
Jewish people a safe haven, is basing its existence on making life
for Palestinians unsafe. It is hearbreaking that Israel treats
Paestinians as second class citizens within their borders and operate
Open-Air-Prisons on the West Bank and in Gaza. It is weird because
Israel arrogantly assumes they have the defining power. It is even
weirder because all this could not have been possible without the
support of North America and Europe.
For years talks and efforts have circled around the two state solution based on the borders of 1967. Israel and Palestine have taken part in sundry negotiations. At the same time Israel has steadfastly stolen Palestinian land, and illegally built settlements there. The lesson learnt is that Israel as a nation is totally unrelieable. Furthermore Israels appetite is gluttenous, and Netanyahu announced that 3000 new housing units would be built on Paletinian land shortly after Palestine was accepted as a state by the UNGA the 29th of November 2012.
Treating the Palestinians as a problem and as "the other" have been a chosen media strategy by the Israelis. By so doing Israel is creating a picture of the Palestinians as faceless without a personal identity. And from what time and age do we recognize this?
Israel has consistently and tenachiously occupied Palestinian territory during the 20th century, and has blackmailed and silenced critics from European nations by referring to Holocaust. Another false argument has been their being the only democracy in the region. Democracy for whom, one might ask? And the tactic has worked, but nowadays the patience with Israel´s aggressive and supressive policy is wearing thin in many countries, not to mention the unanimous condemnation from the Arab and Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East. But the USA is still describing their support of Israel as "rock solid". But even this may change in the future as the demography and the economy of the nation change.
And why is all this a dilemma for the Israelis? I venture the following:
An irrefutable fact is that Israel has not been able to live in peace with it´s neighbours and has led a policy that has fostered frustration and aggression from the Palestinians. Their "Iron Fist" has been brutal, and their occupation strategy a catastrophy for the Palestinians and in my opinion also for the Israelis. By choosing continuous military and structural aggression every time, the Israelis have estranged themselves from other options. And there are in fact other options, not easy ones, but ranging from accepting the Palestinians as having equal rights to sorting out how a dignified co-existence for both peoples can be realised.
For years talks and efforts have circled around the two state solution based on the borders of 1967. Israel and Palestine have taken part in sundry negotiations. At the same time Israel has steadfastly stolen Palestinian land, and illegally built settlements there. The lesson learnt is that Israel as a nation is totally unrelieable. Furthermore Israels appetite is gluttenous, and Netanyahu announced that 3000 new housing units would be built on Paletinian land shortly after Palestine was accepted as a state by the UNGA the 29th of November 2012.
Treating the Palestinians as a problem and as "the other" have been a chosen media strategy by the Israelis. By so doing Israel is creating a picture of the Palestinians as faceless without a personal identity. And from what time and age do we recognize this?
Israel has consistently and tenachiously occupied Palestinian territory during the 20th century, and has blackmailed and silenced critics from European nations by referring to Holocaust. Another false argument has been their being the only democracy in the region. Democracy for whom, one might ask? And the tactic has worked, but nowadays the patience with Israel´s aggressive and supressive policy is wearing thin in many countries, not to mention the unanimous condemnation from the Arab and Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East. But the USA is still describing their support of Israel as "rock solid". But even this may change in the future as the demography and the economy of the nation change.
And why is all this a dilemma for the Israelis? I venture the following:
- Their democratic dilemma: Maintaining a democracy for
Israel while denying Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza to build
likewise institutions. The bombing of civilian targets in Gaza and
opposition to the establishing of a Palestinian state are the most
obvious examples.
- Their historical dilemma: The Israeli Government is
acting as if they have a historical right to land in Palestine.
Occupation of Palestinian land and confiscation of Palestinian homes
are the most obvious examples
- Their moral dilemma: Putting Israeli interests above
the intersts of the Palestinians
- Their psycological dilemma: Bringing up generation
after generation living in conflict with their neighbours.
- Their economic dilemma: Ajusting their economy to
accomodate for war any time
- Their military dilemma: When will their war machine
stagnate or become inferior to their neighbours´
- Their demografic dilemma: Being outnumbered by the
Arab population in the region
- Their diplomatic dilemma: Losing friends
An irrefutable fact is that Israel has not been able to live in peace with it´s neighbours and has led a policy that has fostered frustration and aggression from the Palestinians. Their "Iron Fist" has been brutal, and their occupation strategy a catastrophy for the Palestinians and in my opinion also for the Israelis. By choosing continuous military and structural aggression every time, the Israelis have estranged themselves from other options. And there are in fact other options, not easy ones, but ranging from accepting the Palestinians as having equal rights to sorting out how a dignified co-existence for both peoples can be realised.
