This concept negates the whole "occupation" excuse for war. Israel is ending the occupation, yet continues to be the target of violence. Israel purchased much of the land fair and square, yet continues to be vilified as occupiers. My great grandfather once owned a building in lower Manhattan. He sold the building for $20,000, which was a fortune back in 1940. Now the property is worth millions. I hate it that my grandfather sold that building but I don’t stand around lamenting that the new owners razed it and built luxury condos. I don’t claim that the land belongs to me and was stolen from my family. It was his choice to sell the land and the new owners have improved it, as was their right.
Presidents Jacques Chirac and Vladimir Putin have condemned what they called Israel’s "over-reaction." I submit that if French or Russian soldiers were being murdered and kidnapped and there were rockets poised and ready to be launched into French and Russian cities, these presidents might take the same action to defend their countries. I am certain that if Mexican militants kidnapped our National Guard troops today and pointed rockets towards my city of San Diego, the USA would bomb Tijuana without even batting an eye. It happened before during the Cuban Missile crisis.
There have been mistakes and atrocities committed by both sides during this long and horrible Intifada. Put a rifle in the hands of an overzealous teenager and there may inevitably be some tragic consequences. But Israel has tried to be as careful as possible when targeting the homes of suicide bombers. While Israel’s government and military make mistakes and continue to make mistakes, it is not condoned to go into Arab schools and blow up innocent kids. When Israel makes mistakes, they apologize or at least acknowledge the mistake. They do not get bonuses from the government for killing innocent people, the way suicide bombers families are given a bonus if they kill a bunch of Israelis.
Palestinian militants will blow themselves up in a pizza restaurant full of tourists. Hezbollah targets Israel by daylight to maximize the casualties of innocents. Palestinian fighters often booby trap Gaza and West Bank buildings with explosives, knowing full well that innocent families will die when the Israeli soldiers come into the buildings.
Palestinian children are in the streets throwing rocks at tanks during Israeli operations. Where are the mothers and fathers of these children? Why aren’t they demanding that their children come home where they are safe, instead of letting them roam the streets while tanks roll by? Why isn’t their government saying "Save your precious lives. Lets rebuild our country and fight this fight another day?" Because there is a basic difference in the value of human life; human life is expendable with Hamas and Hezbollah. Murder is justified even if it means killing other Muslims for the cause of the Intifada. You can’t negotiate with an enemy who is willing to blow themselves to smithereens and take YOU with them.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Abd'Allah
Uh anti-semitic? Which semites are you talking about ? The arabs or the jews? The arabs are the largest semitic group in existence.
2 - gman
I agree, US should give back all the land to the Indians and the Israles give back the land to palastineans
3 - US rules
how about this: US stops all aid to everyone, lets them kill each other WWII was the beginning of our charity and WWIII will be the end :)
4 - Serket
Excellent article on the crisis and good defense of Israel. I am reading "Islam Unveiled" and it argues that Judaism and Christianity foster religious freedom while Islam does not.
5 - ctbc
If I were a Mexican who bought land in Texas on the border. Could I claim that this land now belongs to Mexico? Similarly if Palestinians built all of the above in Ramallah, got their money back from Arafat's wife, prospered and got rich and bought some land from Israil. Would Israil be willing to consider that land as part of Palestine? Would Palestinians have sold their lands had they known that Israil would be built on it? You get my point.
6 - Bliffle
This article sums it up about right. The past is over and gone: if you or your family gave up a position to (what turned out to be) unfavorable terms, get over it and go on. Every one of us has made a bad deal and suffered greatly, but as adults we know that we don't get a "do over". Only the most spoiled and deluded person can believe otherwise.
7 - ctbc
Jews have longed for Israil for 2000 years (I respect that). Those who came back are now enjoying a "do over". But by the same account (not my account) they must have been of the most "spoiled" and "deluded" of people.
8 - Ashok
About why US supports Israel so much -- I don't agree with the author's point that it is about Israel's democracy alone. If US is so much of "champion of democracy all over the place", why don't they recognize Hamas government in Palestine, which was democratically elected? Or why don't they accept the fact that Hezbollah's representation in Lebanese government is through democratic route? The point is, US only believes in its own brand of democracy, which we all know doesn't work everywhere (case in point: Iraq!).
Even though Jews make up less than 4% of US population, the fact is, they are very powerful in the sense that they get to shape the middle-east policy of United States. They occupy important positions in US politics, business, and media. To me, that is the real reason why US sucks up so much to the Israelis. It's not just about Israeli democracy (which, I must agree, is way better than what all these Arab countries have!) .
9 - Kal
"Maybe we Americans should all give up our houses to the Native Americans. Aren't we all occupiers in a sense? They lived here first and this was their land"
There's one big difference: The Palestinians were actually forced out of their lands and have not been allowed to return. Read, people, READ about the history of this. The Israelis have done everything to isolate the Arabs (withholding water, for example). It's a not-so-subtle form of racism, in my opinion.
If someone gives you something that wasn't theirs to begin with, does that make it yours? Of course not. When the British gave the lands to the Jews, it was from the basis of colonialism, and thus was not theirs to give. Now, Israel is a money laundering machine that gives U.S. taxpayer dollars to Israel and in return they line the pockets of American arms manufacturers who profit from the never-ending destruction of a people.
I'm not at all saying that I agree with the hard liners who are saying that all Jews should leave or that Israel should be anything other than a polyglot society, but Israeli politicians have a LOT to answer for, and there is a lot they could do much differently.
"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab
population." -- David Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff.
"It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten
with time. The first of these is that there is no Zionism, colonialization, or Jewish State without the eviction of the Arabs and the expropriation of their lands." -- Ariel Sharon, Israeli Foreign Minister
10 - Sisyphus
"Uh anti-semitic? Which semites are you talking about ? The arabs or the jews? The arabs are the largest semitic group in existence."
The term, anti-semitism, refers to the Jews only, not the Semitic linguistic family, which includes Arabs. Why confuse the issue?
11 - JTE
"and the new owners have improved it"
Classic argument for colonialism. No one denigrates the people, culture, and landscape of the middle east more than the ones who would forcefully occupy it. Also, none of these arguments make the murder of innocent Lebanese people okay (no, not even the argument about innocent Israelis dying in lesser numbers, not even a persecution complex that makes these attacks seem proportionate).
12 - candye kane
Nowhere in my blog does it say the anyones murder is acceptable or condonable, least of all innocent lebanese, israelis or palestinians. It does say however, that the government in any country should be accountable. Ie; If our current regime is doing things in Iraq or the rest of the world and we sit idly by and do nothing, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the ultimate outcome. Our country is being held hostage by right wing, corporate minded, Bible thumpers the same way the beautiful people of Lebanon are being held hostage by Hezbollah. The Palestinian people are also being held hostage to Hamas and their campaign of misinformation and IMO, the entire islamic world is being held hostage to an idealogy that condones murder and suicide. Subsequently, the rest of the world is also held hostage to fear and worst of all, indifference.
I am proposing a SOLUTION in my blog which is that the palestinian people could become a viable economy and a formidable opponont if they would only reject the ideology of suicide and put that energy into their own community survival.
WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE YOU SUGGESTING?
13 - AR
Apart from the comments written by Ashok and Kal, there are some other things which the author has not mentioned.
Israel has many Palestinian women and children in their jails(their release was a demand by the militant outfit which kidnapped the 2 Israeli soldiers), who do not have access to the fair proceeds of law. Besides, Israel has time and again openly said(and showed) that it does not care for any foreign civilians, when it is defending itself. The latest is the prime minister Ehud Olmert saying(shown on BBC World) that all he cares is about Jewish people and wouldn't care to distinguish between militants and Lebanese civilians. This is policy and cannot be condoned as a mistake that Israel makes.
As far as the grandfather-owned building comparison is concerned, Palestinians do not have access to the Israeli resources(unlike native Americans in the US) and do not even get the rights which Israel gives to its citizens(justice for Israel's destruction of homes, loss of life). The comparison is incorrect.
14 - janst
i like this article - but we are not looking at the big picture - there seems to be a certain hidden agenda and it clearly seems like its coming from muslim extremists - the palestinians and others are just used to gain from this - why the sudden atacks on Israel just before the G8 - we need to focus on the big seen for sure.
15 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Candye,
It is not enough to visit here to comprehend the issues here. You are a good woman with her heart in the right place, but you are terribly misinformed about reality here.
The reality is very simple. It is the aim of the Arabs to extirpate us from our homes entirely. Many, particularly the ones under the influence of Hamas or other groups that have their roots in the Wahhabi rebels who have seized Islam, HizbAllah and the Shia have as their goal, the extermination of the Jewish people - all of us. Their attitude is simple - if you are not a Moslem, you are not.
Once you comprehend who the human actors are, and what their roots are, you suddenly realize that "Palestine" is nothing but a fiction to sell a lie, like Santa Claus is a fiction to sell toys.
Martin Schlaf, an Austrian millionaire, has the right to build ca$inos in the areas controlled by the "Palestinian" Authority. The last time there was a ca$ino - in Jericho - the profits were divided by a bunch of Israeli politicians and the then Raïs, Yassir Arafat.
Do you want to make these kind of scum rich with a ca$ino?
Candye,
When you have time, look up Martin Schlaf and discover what evil people I'm telling you about.
16 - candye kane
If Palestinians do not have access to Israeli resources, blowing up tourists at Sbarro pizza restaurants and college kids in the Frank Sinatra cafeteria at the Hebrew University will certainly NOT gain them access. Furthermore, in 1948, Jews came home to Israel where they had lived for centuries prior, with little more than steely determination. They used guts, brains and ingenuity to irrigate the land, plant produce, and build a nation. They built and created their own resources. They didnt force anyone off any land. They purchased land from willing participants.
The palestinians have been used and exploited by their own government and terrorist organizations, that much is clear. What isnt clear is why palestinians, the arab nations and people like AR and Kal, are content to blame others for their problems instead of doing something about it? Again, my blog was just one provocative solution to a huge problem.
As far as palestinian children and women being jailed, this is a separate issue. There are people unjustly jailed here in the usa and worldwide. Again, if Palestine were a viable economic force to be reckoned with, they could use economic means and diplomacy to gain access to their prisoners. However, if these people have commited crimes, which is likely if they are still in jail, maybe they belong there. If I break a law in a foreign country, I might end up in jail, unable to get access to lawyers from my country. Thats a chance I take if I break the law anywhere. Innocent people are killed in suicide bombings all over the place in what unfortunately seems to becoming an epidemic. They are not given due process either. I would rather be sitting in an israeli jail than blown up at a bus stop. Thats just my personal preference. Clearly, many militants are willing to blow themselves up for all kinds of causes. These people belong in jails or mental hospitals where they cant hurt themselves or others.
Kidnapping soldiers and trying to use them as barter to negotiate prisoners out of jails is like taking the local market hostage until they give you free groceries for life. Its not going to work. EVER.
And one quick answer to ashok, Israel and the USA wont recognize Hamas because Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organizations who vow to kill all Jews period. I guess you can also describe George Bush as "democratically elected" but there are those who disagree with that assessment. Hamas, however, can hardly be described as "democratically elected," when the people who voted live in tent cities and are given no real empowerment or education. Their former leader Arafat, did nothing for them and now Hamas will do nothing for them. Hamas doesnt want to educate the palestinian people or better their status or lot in life. They want to continue a cycle of violence until all Jews are driven into the sea. Nothing democratic about that.
17 - pramod nair
I fully support and endorse israel's offensive against hezbollah(lebanon).Arab countries still live in the dark middle ages.They are only interested in jihad(not in the welfare of their people).If not for oil they would have been worse than africa.Hezbollah and hamas are terrorist outfits they target iinocent civilians so it is neccessary to put an end to these outfits.Muslims are not saints they happily kill people of other religions but when their own die they cry foul.As you sow you shall reap.
18 - David Osah
The Arab nation is to blame for all the killings and destructions in Lebanon and Palestine by the nation of Israel. As long as they refuse to recognise Israel sovereignty, the end of this problem may not be at sight at the moment. Israel is a nation and she deserves that respect. The present situation in the middle east is created by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran to divert attention from his nuclear weapon activity,I believe it is not going to escalate into a world war 111 as generally feared. Iran and Syria would not want to make the grave mistake of attacking Israel because they know that will be very regretable on their part.
19 - Dave Nalle
It's innaccurate to say it's the 'arab nation', because Iran is not an arab nation at all. What would be correct is to say that it's the work of radical Islam, since that's the one thing they all have in common.
Dave
20 - Silas Kain
Sons and daughters of Abraham, your Patriarch wails in the wilderness, mourning the blood spilled upon the Holy Lands. This is not how it should have come to pass. A handful of fanatical despots over the years from temples to mosques and the Christian churches in between, have held dominion over the masses. Has this been done to serve God or Allah? Hells, no! Wake up, Lemmings. Scripture is not being fulfilled at God's hand. Quite the contrary.
21 - janst
big picture remain - not just the jews but all the non muslims - is a must go.
maybe nostradamus was right - 3rd world war is here
22 - Nancy
In a gallows-humor way, I think it's highly amusing that, having started the war by kidnapping Israeli soldiers, Syria is now in the forefront of whining about needing outsiders to come to the rescue to save the "innocent" Lebanese from Israeli brutality & over-reaction. 'Scuse me? Who started it? If Lebanon (read: Syria) really wants a cease-fire so bad, where are those soldiers? Part of the blame lies squarely with all those "innocent" Lebanese, most of whom support Hezbollah, which in turn is just an attack dog for Syria & (thru Syria) for Iran, the ultimate puppetmaster here. I'm quite sure if Hezbollah were getting the better of the beating, there would be no crying or demanding of cease-fires, by anyone except perhaps the US. Hmph. They started it, but they can't take their own BS. Tough. As for the "innocent" population, when they stop supporting terrorist groups openly sponsored by alien states like Syria & Iran, then I'll maybe cry for their losses.
Meanwhile, I continue to marvel at the persistant stupidity of the arab/muslim groups who carry out kidnappings. 70+ years of kidnappings, they KNOW no western nation will negotiate with kidnappers because in all that time, none have, yet they still continue with this very non-productive activity, apparently in hopes that this time they'll get a hearing? I admire stubbornness, but not when it gets into an inability to learn anything from past experience, especially 70 years' worth. I can only conclude therefore, that arabs/muslims are incredibly resistant to learning anything involving common sense. Personally, I doubt Hezbollah CAN give those soldiers back. I don't think they're alive anymore, and haven't been for some time. In the meantime, it would be nice if someone would dump something in the water so none of them could breed anymore in the future. That would definitely engender peace in a generation or so.
23 - gazelle
I like this article. there is good thinking here around issues although with an american/jewish tilt and perspective.
++
other comments
occupied territories = indian reservations = bantustans (south africa)
historically there have always been churches and synagogies in muslim lands. It is only after the creation of israel and the following atrocities that life for jews in muslim countries, esp after the inftifada became difficult, because of the bad publicity and complicity of the british - the colonial occupiers. hence the continuation of "occupation" by arab regimes and especially the israeli one to top all the rest - a decracy to oppress dictatorships! and minorities within.
Churches have always been there in muslim lands.
in fact some of the most tolerant societies for jews and christians have been under muslim governance such as in jerusalem, whereas the crusaders are notorious for massscreing all the jews of jerusalem, or isabella an ferdinand in spain. no doubt there have also been bad examples. The record of jews and christians comparatively is terrible.
people blow up things only when there are genuine problems. one should look at underlying reasons to defuse the violence exploding on the surface.
best
24 - Ashok
Candye, I'm no big fan of either Hezbollah or Hamas killing/kidnapping civilians in Israel. And by that, I also mean I am no big fan of Israel killing arab civilians in Palestine or Lebanaon. The life of an innocent person is equally precious, no matter which side of the border they are on, period.
Now, you said Israel or US will never recognize these two organzations. You chose the word "terrorist" to describe them, but there are lot of people out there who see them as legit resistance movements (just like there are people who see/do not see George W. as a democratically elected leader in US).
The point I am trying to make here is, once these organizations are elected by the people in Palestine or Lebabon in a democratic process, US and Israel should have engaged them in a dialogue, if they had even a scant respect for democratic wishes of people that don't necessarily agree with them. People chose those organizations to represent their government because the existing leaders failed them, and Hamand/Hezbollah have used it for their advantage. Instead, what US and Israel did was to squeeze their governments to near bankruptcy, and in that process, just played into the hands of the hardliners in Hamas and Hezbollah.
US and Israel should start dealing with this menace as more of a socio-economic problem, if they are really serious about solving this. Help the Palestines and Lebanese people build a real economy, help them channel their energies in that, rather than blasting themselves up. Whether US and Israel like it or not, that's what they have to do to solve this problem once for all.
At the moment, they are doing exactly the opposite of it. If you continue to treat this as just a military problem, there WILL BE NO END to what we are seeing right now. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people are now pissed off with what happened to their lives in the past 2,3 weeks -- I'm sure Hezbollah will be able to recruit at least a thousand of those to be prospective suicide bombers or whatever! And do you think that leaves Israel any safer than they are right now??
Fifty or hundread years down the line, you would still be looking at the same problem, perhaps with different actors on both sides. The basic problem will still remain, unless there is a fundamental change of attitude from US and Israel. These two being the most powerful and influencial players in the conflict, it is in their best interest to take the initiative.
25 - Victor Plenty
Why only call on Israel and the U.S. to help economically develop the Palestinians? Why absolve the oil-wealthy Arab states and oil-wealthy Iran from all responsibility?
Poverty among the Palestinians would not be nearly so grinding if all the oil money spent on rockets and suicide bombs for Hezbollah and Hamas had instead been spent on developing a thriving Palestinian economy.
Why continue pretending the only people who could possibly help the Palestinians are the Israelis and the Americans?