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It's the Occupation
The Israeli side must realize that the solution for the occupation is not, nor can it ever be, more occupation, more bombings, and more state assassinations.
It's the Occupation
By Sam Bahour and Michael Dahan*
In the wake of the horrific suicide bombings in Israel over the last 48 hours hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made his address to the nation as he simultaneously increased, by yet another step, Israel's part of the violence in the ensuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Sadly, no end is in sight and it is likely to get worse, much worse. If this statement sounds like a broken record, it's because it is.
The suicide attacks, brought on by the deplorable Israeli policy of yet another state sanctioned extra-judicial assassination of a Hamas member last week, have brought Israelis and the Palestinians to the brink of total war. Unfortunately, neither Israel nor the US Administration has come to their senses to realize that, after 34 years of military Israeli occupation, the burning question is not why was there was another suicide bomb attack, but rather, why there are not more?
Some things in life are either right or wrong. Slavery and Apartheid were wrong. Not wrong until African Americans proved their worthiness of freedom. Not wrong until South Africans reached the brink of annihilation. No. These historical flaws were not partially wrong; not debatably wrong, they were outright outcasts to humanity, each worthy of abrupt termination. The Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem joins these ranks, albeit this historic wrong comes during an era of media clips, political spin, and satellite TV. Nevertheless, the time has come for the world community to bring Israeli occupation tumbling down, and with its fall will be the start of the end of the breeding grounds that suicide bombers feed upon.
More and more voices are being heard within the Israeli leadership to either kill Arafat or to remove him from the area, and to 'topple' the Palestinian Authority. Most Israelis are now firmly convinced that there is absolutely "no partner" for peace, nor is peace possible. Naively, the Israeli public is taking security refuge in the graphic missile attacks on Palestinian cities while forgetting that for each missile fired into Palestinian neighborhoods more and more potential suicide bombers make the decision to take innocent lives while taking their own. Destroying Arafat's helicopters will not bring hope to the growing number of Palestinians who have equated life under occupation to death.
The Israeli side must realize that the solution for the occupation is not, nor can it ever be, more occupation, more bombings, and more state assassinations. It is the occupation itself and the closures and the resultant levels of poverty, unemployment and utter despair that provide a fertile ground for the recruitment, deployment and support of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. It is the senseless death of children and adults that are feeding the flames of hatred on both sides.
As the legitimate elected representative of the Palestinian people, Arafat must make sure that his voice and intentions are clear, and that there is a national, not only personal, strategy for working toward a negotiated agreement. It is up to Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to convince the Palestinian and Israeli public that there is indeed hope for an agreement, that there is indeed a future neighbor on the Palestinian side. Much of the action needed to make this conviction a reality are the same issues that are being called for by Palestinians themselves, the establishment of rule of law, accountability of decision making and collective leadership - in other words, concrete progress toward the competency to establish a viable state. Occupation being 100% wrong does not give credence to chaotic, non- transparent development and solo leadership.
The only way to break the brutal circle of violence is to end the occupation immediately, unilaterally if need be, institute a peacekeeping force in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to begin to dismantle the settlements. The only solution that we can see is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the lines of the 1967 borders, with a capital in East Jerusalem, and to work toward a just, fair and creative solution for the right of return for the Palestinian refugees. The occupation, as such, is evil. Further occupation as being proposed now by senior decision-makers on the Israeli side would only increase that evil, raise the stakes on both sides, and the past 48 hours will repeat endlessly.
December 3, 2001
* Sam Bahour is a Palestinian-American living in the besieged Palestinian City of Al-Bireh in the West Bank and can be reached at sbahour [at] palnet.com. Michael Dahan is an Israeli-American political scientist living in Jerusalem and can be reached at mdahan [at] attglobal.net.
By Sam Bahour and Michael Dahan*
In the wake of the horrific suicide bombings in Israel over the last 48 hours hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made his address to the nation as he simultaneously increased, by yet another step, Israel's part of the violence in the ensuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Sadly, no end is in sight and it is likely to get worse, much worse. If this statement sounds like a broken record, it's because it is.
The suicide attacks, brought on by the deplorable Israeli policy of yet another state sanctioned extra-judicial assassination of a Hamas member last week, have brought Israelis and the Palestinians to the brink of total war. Unfortunately, neither Israel nor the US Administration has come to their senses to realize that, after 34 years of military Israeli occupation, the burning question is not why was there was another suicide bomb attack, but rather, why there are not more?
Some things in life are either right or wrong. Slavery and Apartheid were wrong. Not wrong until African Americans proved their worthiness of freedom. Not wrong until South Africans reached the brink of annihilation. No. These historical flaws were not partially wrong; not debatably wrong, they were outright outcasts to humanity, each worthy of abrupt termination. The Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem joins these ranks, albeit this historic wrong comes during an era of media clips, political spin, and satellite TV. Nevertheless, the time has come for the world community to bring Israeli occupation tumbling down, and with its fall will be the start of the end of the breeding grounds that suicide bombers feed upon.
More and more voices are being heard within the Israeli leadership to either kill Arafat or to remove him from the area, and to 'topple' the Palestinian Authority. Most Israelis are now firmly convinced that there is absolutely "no partner" for peace, nor is peace possible. Naively, the Israeli public is taking security refuge in the graphic missile attacks on Palestinian cities while forgetting that for each missile fired into Palestinian neighborhoods more and more potential suicide bombers make the decision to take innocent lives while taking their own. Destroying Arafat's helicopters will not bring hope to the growing number of Palestinians who have equated life under occupation to death.
The Israeli side must realize that the solution for the occupation is not, nor can it ever be, more occupation, more bombings, and more state assassinations. It is the occupation itself and the closures and the resultant levels of poverty, unemployment and utter despair that provide a fertile ground for the recruitment, deployment and support of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. It is the senseless death of children and adults that are feeding the flames of hatred on both sides.
As the legitimate elected representative of the Palestinian people, Arafat must make sure that his voice and intentions are clear, and that there is a national, not only personal, strategy for working toward a negotiated agreement. It is up to Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to convince the Palestinian and Israeli public that there is indeed hope for an agreement, that there is indeed a future neighbor on the Palestinian side. Much of the action needed to make this conviction a reality are the same issues that are being called for by Palestinians themselves, the establishment of rule of law, accountability of decision making and collective leadership - in other words, concrete progress toward the competency to establish a viable state. Occupation being 100% wrong does not give credence to chaotic, non- transparent development and solo leadership.
The only way to break the brutal circle of violence is to end the occupation immediately, unilaterally if need be, institute a peacekeeping force in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to begin to dismantle the settlements. The only solution that we can see is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the lines of the 1967 borders, with a capital in East Jerusalem, and to work toward a just, fair and creative solution for the right of return for the Palestinian refugees. The occupation, as such, is evil. Further occupation as being proposed now by senior decision-makers on the Israeli side would only increase that evil, raise the stakes on both sides, and the past 48 hours will repeat endlessly.
December 3, 2001
* Sam Bahour is a Palestinian-American living in the besieged Palestinian City of Al-Bireh in the West Bank and can be reached at sbahour [at] palnet.com. Michael Dahan is an Israeli-American political scientist living in Jerusalem and can be reached at mdahan [at] attglobal.net.
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A sincere and meaningful offer by Arafat to partner with Israel in pursuing and punishing terrorist would shift world opinion dramatically in favor of the Palestinians, forcing Israel to withdraw. But that’s not going to happen. Its now clear that Arafat does not have the support of the Palestinians to take such action.
The hatred of Palestinians for Israelis clearly runs deep. And as you know, it was rooted well before the occupation.
The Palestinians desperately need a new leader who sincerely wants peace and an end to the occupation. The new leader would convince the majority of the Palestinian people that Hamas is the real enemy and that the organization is preventing them from enjoying true peace and prosperity. Palestinians must recognize Israel as a sovereign state. Although the hatred will not go away, they must stop teaching their children to hate so that future generations of Palestinians and Israelis.
Its obvious that the Palestinian people can’t be lead to that result by Arafat.
The central point of my response to the piece, albeit not articulated very well based on nessie’s response, was that peace and prosperity will not come to Palestine without strong Arab leader willing to partner with Israel. It was not intended to focus on Arabs hatred for Jews, only to address that reality and put the “occupation” issue in perspective.
Arabs have always hated Jews and disputes over the territory of Palestine have raged for thousands of years. As we have seen during our lifetime (at least us baby boomers), Arabs more recent hatred for Jews is rooted in the United Nations’ division of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Jews accepted the division but the Arabs did not. We have seen several major wars between Arab states and Israel since the 1947 UN decision and Israel always wins. Maybe the parallel of Arabs hating Jews is similar to hating the New York Yankees.
Ending the occupation is a much to simplistic solution. Many may say agree and say “yes, but it would be a great start.” I would agree as well if there were a strong partner on the other side to establish meaningful coexistence policies. That partner is clearly not Arafat. A new leader with the strength and desire for peace and prosperity for his or her country, such as an Anwar al-Sadat, is desperately needed.
However, I don't agree that the Palestinian masses can represent a meaningful partner to Israel without a strong leader to represent them, particularly with Hamas becoming stronger. And please don't say that Palestinians wll rise against Hamas if the occupation is ended tomorrow. I don't believe that any rational person would argue that Hamas is anti-Zionist.
Nessie's response refers to a wonderful clip that shows Israelis and Palestinians working together to build homes to replace some that were bulldozed. I am familiar with such one-on-one diplomacy as my sister has been working in Hebron and involved in similar projects during the past year. Although these examples are heartwarming, we will never see peace in Palestine relying solely on ad hoc groups coming together. Governments must work together.