The Holocaust and the Occupation

Over the last couple of years, especially since the intifada of 2000, there has been a worrying trend amongst Israel’s enemies to compare the Israeli occupation with the holocaust. This trend is based on lies and total ignorance on the part of many Islamist extremists who have formed a strange alliance with the new left, neo-fascists, neo-Nazis, Iran, Hamas and even Al Qaeda. Of course there are also the eternal holocaust deniers who add grist to the mill of anti-Semitism.

Nothing can be compared to the Nazi crime against the Jewish People. Those who sympathize with the Palestinian cause and make these erroneous comparisons with the Israeli occupation have no conception of the attempted genocide of European Jewry which was part of Hitler’s plan to make Europe and the world Judenrein (free of Jews).

The comparing of Israel to Nazi Germany in its treatment of the Palestinians cannot be taken seriously by knowledgeable people. The only way to combat this ridiculous comparison is by education. This could be achieved by including holocaust studies in the school curriculum of schoolchildren all over the world, including the Arab world.

Palestinian children should be granted permits under parochial supervision to visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) in Jerusalem, where they should be encouraged to ask questions about the holocaust. There will be Palestinians who are skeptical about the holocaust and may view this as a ploy to digress away from the evils of the Israeli occupation. Despite this problem, documented evidence of survivors of the holocaust as portrayed in Yad Vashem would go a long way in convincing even the hardest lined skeptics amongst the Palestinian community of the authenticity of the holocaust.

There is no doubt that the Palestinian people are suffering under Israeli occupation. The road blocks, security checks, logistic problems of movement within occupied Palestine have resulted in massive unemployment. The Israeli settlers living beyond the green line have done much damage to Palestinian property as well as abused the Palestinians. There is no justification for that under any circumstances. Much Palestinian land has been usurped by these settlers. Despite all these injustices towards the Palestinians committed by Israel, it is a long way from Nazi Germany’s treatment of the Jews.

Palestinians do not wear identification badges on their clothing as the Jews did. Palestinians are not beaten up in the streets by the Israeli Army because they are Palestinians as the Jews were in Nazi Germany. There have been incidents of abuse of the Palestinians by the Israeli Security Forces which was unjustifiable. The Nazis used to burn down shops just because they were owned by Jews. Jews were discriminated against in every sphere of life. Jewish professors and lecturers were fired from German universities, Jewish teachers from schools and Jewish judges and lawyers from law courts. The list of professions forbidden to Jews was unending. Jews were fired from their jobs just because they were Jews. They were strangled economically as all means that they had for earning a livelihood was taken away from them.

Eventually all these restrictions culminated in the “final solution” which was nothing more than genocide as the Jews were taken to concentration camps where many of them were gassed, shot in open pits, starved to death or died as a result of appalling conditions in the concentration camps where they were incarcerated. The crime – they were Jews! Six million Jews perished because of Nazi terror.

While there was tardiness on the part of Israel even before the first and second intifada in carrying out the Oslo Accords, one must bear in mind that Palestinian terrorism had begun just before PM Rabin’s assassination in November 1995. This had resulted in loss of trust between the Palestinians and Israel causing a severe setback in achieving an independent Palestinian state.

Much of Palestinian suffering (although not all) was a result of Israel’s security measures to protect its citizens from suicide bombings which had escalated into an almost daily occurrence during the years from 2000 to 2005. The security fence, with all its convolutions that divided Palestinian agricultural lands, causing much hardship, is serving its purpose. Many lives have been saved. Palestinian terror has dropped significantly but the motivation to carry out suicide attacks against Israelis still exists. The constant firing of Qassam rockets in the south of Israel into Sderot is still occurring regularly.

The Jews, who lived in Europe during Nazi rule, were never a security threat to Germany. The Nazis blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic collapse and hyperinflation. The Palestinian regimes, such as Hamas and their ally, Islamic Jihad, are dead set on “the final solution” – genocide of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel. If one were to examine the Hamas Charter, there is no doubt as to their intention.

If anything, one can find many similarities in the Hamas Charter and the Nazi Manifesto as regards the Jews and Israel. Both Hamas and the Nazis have a common aim – the destruction of the Jewish People and their homeland.

The Hebron Settler Fiasco

After the Six Day War in 1967, Hebron had also fallen into the hands of the Israeli forces. It has also been a centre of religious passions between Arabs and Jews for the last 100 years or so. According to Jewish tradition, Hebron is also the second most important city after Jerusalem.

From 1922 through 1928 the relationship between Jews and Arabs in Palestine was relatively peaceful. However, in late 1928 a new phase of violence began with minor disputes between Jews and Arabs about the right of Jews to pray at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. These arguments led to an outbreak of Arab violence in August 1929 when Haj Amin al-Husseini, Mufti of Jerusalem, fomented Arab hatred by accusing the Jews of endangering the mosques and other sites holy to Islam. Observers heard Husseini issue the call: Itback al-Yahud "Slaughter the Jews!"

An ancient Jewish Community did live in Hebron for centuries. Their relationship with the Arab Communities was peaceful and many had friends amongst the Arab Communities. The Arab violence in Hebron was one of the worst atrocities in the modern history of Israel.

“On the afternoon of Friday, August 23, 1929 Jerusalem Arabs came to Hebron with false reports of Jews murdering Arabs during the rioting there, even saying thousands of Arabs had been killed. Despite the fact that Jews and Arabs in Hebron had been on good terms, a mass of frenzied Arab rioters formed and proceeded to the Hebron Yeshiva where a lone student was murdered. The next day, the Jewish Sabbath, the killing continued as an Arab mob of hundreds surrounded homes where Jews sought refuge, broke in and murdered scores of Jews in a bloody rampage.

The dead Jews that day included Eliezer Dan Slonim, a man highly esteemed by the Arabs. He was the director of the local English-Palestine bank whose many clients were Arabs, and was the sole Jewish member of the Hebron Municipal Council. He had many friends among the Arab elders, who had promised to protect him. Twenty-two people died in Slonim's house that day including his wife and two young children.

By the end of the riot, during which the British police did nothing to protect the Jews or stop the violence, sixty-seven Jews were dead and hundreds wounded. The survivors were isolated in a police station for three days while the Arabs rampaged through their houses, stealing and destroying Jewish property, unmolested by the British authorities. At the end of the three days the Jews were sent to Jerusalem, exiled from their homes for the crime of being a victim of the Arab riot. Hebron's ancient Jewish quarter was empty and destroyed. For the next 39 years no Jew lived in Hebron, not until after it was liberated by the Israeli military during the Six Day War in 1967.

The British Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield, announced the formation of a Commission of Inquiry, which began its investigation of the riots in September 1929. (See Shaw Commission of Inquiry) A British expert was engaged to study the matter (the Hope-Simpson Report), and a new policy whitepaper was issued by Lord Passfield (the 1930 White Paper)” (From Palestinian Facts)

However, today the situation is very different. Hebron is now a Palestinian city with only about 500 right wing Jewish religious fanatics living amongst 160 000 Palestinians. Many of these people are living in Hebron illegally. They have taken over buildings that belong to the Palestinians and created havoc. They claim to have bought property but the facts prove otherwise. Even Shimon Peres, (now President) the vice prime minister at the time, stated that these settlers have created “an unbearable situation”.

Another problem is that these settlers cannot lay claim to Hebron. Those who could lay claim are those who suffered from the riots of 1929 and who had families that lost property. Many of the settlers there are United States citizens, many of whom are imbued with a right wing, racist anti-Arab ideology and have no claim to ownership of property in Hebron. It is the hardcore neo Kahanists (followers of the late racist, Rabbi Meir Kahane, who himself was a US citizen) who are responsible for the unrest in Hebron today. They take over property that does not belong to them. The excuse, according to them is that Hebron belongs to the Jews by right because of Ephron, the Hittite, from whom Abraham purchased the land for burial of his wife, Sarah.

The settlers in Hebron have been abusing the Palestinians and their behaviour has been shocking. Incidents of verbal and physical abuse of these Palestinians are an almost everyday occurrence. The Israeli Authorities have failed to protect the Palestinians from settler violence. There have been reports of a “quiet transfer” of Palestinians out of the city. The Israeli Army is in Hebron for protecting these hard core fanatics.

According to a report by B’tzelem, “Over the years, settlers in the city have routinely abused the city's Palestinian residents, sometimes using extreme violence. Throughout the second intifada, settlers have committed physical assaults, including beatings, at times with clubs, stone throwing, and hurling of refuse, sand, water, chlorine, and empty bottles. Settlers have destroyed shops and doors, committed thefts, and chopped down fruit trees. Settlers have also been involved in gunfire, attempts to run people over, poisoning of a water well, breaking into homes, spilling of hot liquid on the face of a Palestinian, and the killing of a young Palestinian girl”.

There is no doubt that there is a certain lack of balance when dealing with the problems of Hebron between Jews and Palestinians. The right of religious Jewish fanatics to take over Palestinians homes and making false claims that these homes belong to the Jewish People is immoral, dangerous and does not serve Israel’s interests in making peace with the Palestinians. Here we have an example of unofficial Israeli colonization of the Palestinian people despite Israel’s claims to the contrary.

Those 500 fanatics in the heart of Hebron have no right to be there and the sooner the Israeli Authorities remove them the better for the future of Israel and Palestine.

The Rewriting of History

Nearly sixty years have passed since the establishment of Israel. Surely enough time has passed whereby one can review the history of Israel’s establishment and examine new sources of information in an objective and honest way. This is very important in order to gain a better understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict which is fraught with tragedy and excessive bloodshed on both sides. So many lives have been lost over this conflict. Both Palestinians and Israelis seem no closer to peace despite the numerous attempts by outside parties to bring the two peoples to negotiate a settlement.

Many attempts have been made by various Israeli academics (also known as the “New Historians”) to reexamine the archives and review the history of Israel’s establishment. Some academics who have attempted this are Dr. Ilan Pappe (from Haifa University, presently a lecturer at Exeter University in England), the late Dr Baruch Kimmerling, a sociologist-anthropologist turned historian, Benny Morris, Tom Segev and Avi Shlaim.

The main arguments of the new historians were summarized by Avi Shlaim as follows:

• The official version said that Britain tried to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state; the New Historians claimed that it tried to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state
• The official version said that the Palestinians fled their homes of their own free will; the New Historians said that the refugees were chased out or expelled
• The official version said that the balance of power was in favor of the Arabs; the New Historians said that Israel had the advantage both in manpower and in arms
• The official version said that the Arabs had a coordinated plan to destroy Israel; the New Historians said that the Arabs were divided
• The official version said that Arab intransigence prevented peace; the New Historians said that Israel is primarily to blame for the dead end. ^[1]

The New Historians' publications present the Zionist movement as aimed in such a way that Jewish statehood could only be possible through the displacement of at least some Palestinian Arabs. This is in line with the prevailing Palestinian view - the traditional Israeli view is that the displacement was neither necessary for Israel's establishment nor desired by those establishing it. In particular, the New Historians claim that a majority of the Palestinian refugees were driven away from their homes during the 1948 war, rather than fleeing of their own free choice, as traditional Israeli histories had claimed. Nevertheless, not all of the New Historians see this process as the result of a pre-determined policy of expulsion.

New Historian Ilan Pappé claims ^[2], in sharp contrast to the recollections and myths of both sides, that the military events of 1948 were not decisive. The victory of the Zionist organization and the fate of the Palestinians were determined by politicians on both sides—in the discussions and decisions of the United Nations in 1947–8 and in the Arab League—long before a shot had been fired. Pappé argues that Israel's failure to take advantage of the genuine opportunity for peace with the Arabs at the UN-sponsored Lausanne Conference in 1949 resulted in the prolonged and tragic conflict between Israel and the Arab states still very much alive today.

According to the New Historians, Israel and Arab countries have therefore each their own share of responsibility for the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian plight, though larger the responsibility for the present impasse lies with Israel. ^{[3] From Wikipedia.}

The findings of these academics created great controversy in Israel and are widely unacceptable. Despite the general attitude of the Israeli public towards their revolutionary findings, the truth of what happened in 1948 and prior to that lies somewhere in between the two versions – the official Israeli version, which somehow does overlook and underplay the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem to a large extent in the attempt to justify Israel’s establishment as a homeland for the Jewish People and the Palestinian version of events which are viewed as Al Naqba or catastrophe.

In a way, the new historians are now making some impact on the way history is to be taught in schools. Prof Yuli Tamir the Minister of Education has decided to introduce the Palestinian interpretation of what happened in 1948 to the Arab school curriculum. However she does not go far enough. It should be introduced into the Israeli Jewish school curriculum as well alongside the official version. This means that Israel’s educational policy is showing signs, despite widespread opposition of the right wing, to come to terms with Palestinian sentiments and this is very significant. It is a positive development. This could help to promote understanding of the Palestinian people. Most of what is happening between Israel and the Palestinians is due to ignorance and an inability to come to terms with the Palestinians’ tragic history. Both sides need to meet and discuss each other’s pain and ask forgiveness from each other for the wrongs that both sides have committed towards each other. A parallel to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa under the auspices of Archbishop Desmond Tutu could perhaps be applied here even though the situation is different.

However, over the years, especially since the victory of Israel in June 1967, there has been an erosion of human values especially towards the Palestinians living in the occupied areas. There was massive encouragement of Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Golan Heights and the Gaza strip. The latter was returned to the Palestinians unilaterally resulting in a total fiasco and the strengthening of Hamas which eventually took over from Fatah in Gaza.

A solution to the situation has become more complex now with the rise of extremist Islamic elements coming from Iran under the notorious Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinajad, who has expressed his intention of destroying Israel. Iran is developing its nuclear capability, which is a threat not only to Israel, but also to all the moderate Arab states in the region. Al Qaeda remains a threat and nobody knows when and where it is going to strike again. Syria and Sheik Nasralla’s Hezbollah in Lebanon are Iran’s proxies in the region. They are uncompromising in their attitude towards Israel. This could be the reason why the Saudis have expressed their willingness to Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, to attend a peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The date for this conference and its venue is still to be decided.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not only a conflict of land but also of religion. The fiery, rabble rousing speeches of imams, expressing hatred for Jews, is further evidence of their uncompromising attitudes towards Israel. These sentiments expressed by religious extremists are so uncompromising and intolerant. It proves the insurmountable difficulties in order to come to terms with Israel’s existence as illustrated by Hamas attitudes. Fundamental Islam views Israel as non-Moslem entity that has occupied Moslem land. This is unacceptable from their point of view and this is one of the reasons for the uncompromising attitudes and stalemates in peace negotiations. An extremist mindset will be hard to overcome.

Despite these obstacles, the path for peace and negotiation must remain open. The ordinary Israeli and Palestinian are concerned with an end to war and bloodshed and the striving for peace. If the Palestinian and Israeli people could find paths of communication between each other and this could be done by making greater use of the internet for communication between each other by discussing each other’s pain in an open and honest way. This could be done by exchanging historical material on the net. On both sides of the conflict there are moderate Palestinians and Israelis who do have an attentive and sympathetic ear for genuine dialogue.

Israeli society has become demoralized and this can be seen in the number of young people who refuse to serve in the IDF. Gush Shalom has put it briefly as follows:

“To Return Pride and motivation

To service in the army!”-

Demand the Chief of Staff

And the Defense Minister.

Pride and motivation-

To guard the settlers?

To steal the land of the villagers?

To run after stone-throwing children?

To harass inhabitants at the checkpoints?

To carry out “targeted killings”?

The IDL must become again

An Israeli Defense Force!

Gush Shalom (Haaretz 3^rd August 2007)

Israel is slipping into Racism

Many of us had left our countries of origin for Israel imbued with ideology of being part of a country full of challenges. We all felt that we could make our contribution and bring up our families here. Zionism, which is the national liberation movement of the Jewish People sought to bring the Jews back to their historical homeland where they could live in dignity, equality and under democratic rule. This is all very nice, ideological and pure – for whom?

There were all kinds of bodies in the past (and present) which were involved in fund raising for various Jewish projects in Israel in order to improve Jewish quality of life as well as resettlement projects for Jews.

Over the years, the truth of the matter comes out. Israel has an indigenous Arab population as well who are citizens of Israel, are entitled to equality, and have the right to buy homes as well as land within Israel no less than its Jewish citizens.

It is a very sad day indeed when bills are discussed that is racist. A case in point is the bill entitled "the Jewish National Fund Law". This is an extension of what the JNF (Jewish National Fund) really is. No matter which way one views it. The usual self righteous Zionists justify their racism, and it should come as no surprise that lobbying in the Knesset for passing racist bills preventing Arab citizens from buying land reserved for Jews. The clause in the bill stating that "the leasing of JNF lands for the purpose of settling Jews will not be seen as unacceptable discrimination," even though it involves 13 percent of state-controlled lands and allows for further expressions of discrimination. This could mean that eventually cinemas, hospitals and universities could be established for Jews only. Racial discrimination once started can snowball into the lexicon of Israeli legitimacy and there will always be the right wing “herrenvolk” that will justify Jewish purity and settlement expansion at the expense of the indigenous Arab peoples within and beyond the green line. There are plenty right wingers in the Knesset who will support this.

This bill should be rejected by all those who believe in the equality of all Israel’s citizens, irrespective of race, colour and creed. This bill adds grist to the mill of equating Zionism with racism. This would further tarnish Israel’s image in the world. Even though the Jewish National Fund purchased the lands for the Jewish people in the Diaspora, the State of Israel has already been established and these lands must now serve all its citizens.

There would be an outcry of Diaspora Jewry if certain property projects were reserved for non-Jews only. Can one imagine what would happen if Jews were forbidden to buy homes or property in certain areas of France, Britain, the US or any other country for that matter? Why does the JNF justify this discrimination in Israel – a country that arose from the ashes of those who suffered severe discrimination and genocide in Nazi Germany?

“The Jewish National Fund

Behaves as if

The State of Israel

Did not exist.

In a democratic State,

Land is not allotted

According to

Race, Nation, Religion or Gender.

A bill aimed at

Permitting this

Is a disgrace

To all Knesset members

Who vote for it.”

Gush Shalom

27^th July 2007-07-28

President Bush’s Speech and its Significance

In the midst of the frustrations and futility between the Palestinians and the Israelis, President Bush gave a speech on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from the White House on Monday, July 18, 2007– a sort of a sequel since his last major speech on the subject about 5 years ago. This sequel seems to be a desperate attempt on his part to leave some form of his legacy in the Middle-East, much of which he botched. He botched up in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the chances of him being a facilitator in this conflict is close to zero. He has little credibility and the Palestinians do not have much love for him or confidence in him at all. Whenever he talks about the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, one feels like cringing in shame because of his total naivety and lack of understanding of the problems in this conflict.

He spoke about a new vision between the Palestinians and Israelis which he rehashed from his previous speech in the Rose Garden five years previously. This vision is still far from being attained. Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, who is now a special envoy to the Middle East, is also not the ideal choice. The fact that he and Bush were partners in botching up Iraq after the downfall of Saddam Hussein does not add much to Blair’s credentials either. Both leaders are held with suspicion by the Palestinians, especially the extremist Hamas faction that dominates Gaza. Hamas is also a threat to the West Bank under Fatah control. They view President Mahmoud Abbas and P.M. Salam Fayyad as Israeli agents. They refuse to recognize the emergency government. A situation like this has many dangers. Hamas is uncompromising in its stance towards recognizing Israel. It remains to be seen whether Abbas and his emergency government will be able to resist Hamas control of the West Bank. The possibilities of a Hamas take over in the West Bank remains a viable danger. The security forces of Abbas would collapse like a pack of cards as they did in Gaza without Israel’s help in preventing Hamas from seizing power in the West Bank.

It is in this background that Bush made his futile speech. He emphasized Hamas cruelty and violence but he has not offered any solutions. It was an exercise in polemics – saying the obvious but offering nothing. He reiterated the various moves Israel took towards compromise, including the unilateral disengagement from Gaza in August 2005 – an absolute mess which achieved nothing. This proved once again that unilateral actions without a water tight agreement with the Palestinian leadership will only exacerbate the conflict and add unwanted players to the conflict such as Iran, maybe even Al Qaeda (Hamas denies this). Each player has its own agenda and it is not the well being of the Palestinian people. It is a matter of power and exploitation of the Palestinians for the achievement of a form of strong Islamist domination of the Middle East with Iran at the helm.

Bush made another impotent and naïve call for an international meeting in autumn of nations that support a two state solution and give support to the new Hamas-free Palestinian government under Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad. He also said that Secretary Condoleezza Rice would chair the meeting. A final date for this meeting or summit is still to be set.

The speech does not seem convincing especially coming from a lame duck president nearing the end of his term. P.M. Olmert and President Mahmoud Abbas found the speech agreeable, but the rest of the Arab World has mixed feelings towards the speech and the rejectionists, such as Hamas, found the speech unacceptable.

This speech like so many of Bush’s speeches on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict will be another speech that will fill the dustbin of history. The Hamas hate for Bush, Blair and Olmert is uncompromising. Hamas is adamant in not recognizing Israel’s right to exist and will continue to be a major obstacle towards any movement towards a settlement of the conflict. One cannot conduct any form of negotiations successfully without Hamas participation. Burying one’s head in the sand and boycotting Hamas, which does have great influence amongst the Palestinians is an error of judgment. The main players, who talk about peace in the Middle East, are very weak whether it is Bush, Blair, Abbas and Olmert. The Iraqi crisis has weakened Bush and Blair’s credibility, adding strength to Hamas. Iraq has become the US’s second Vietnam. Olmert’s credibility is also poor, not only amongst the Palestinians, but also in Israel. He has his own private vendetta against the State Comptroller, Micha Lindenstraus, for his conduct during the Lebanese War of July-August 2006 as well as personal problems of his acquisition of a home in Cremieux St, Jerusalem.

Bush has no understanding of the people’s of the Middle East. His speech illustrated that very well. His vision of future peace is unrealistic and is a total non starter.

According to a report in Haaretz, June 2007–07–20, “U.S. President George W. Bush's vision of two states for two nations, which he repeated during his speech early this week, is a messianic vision. And it is being shattered against the walls of the Islamic resistance he is unfamiliar with, and which even great America under his leadership cannot breach despite its power and wealth. And from the pro-Israeli declarations in his speech we can see how far behind the times he is, even regarding Israel's transparent situation. Israel, he said, has to be a Jewish state "and the national home of the Jewish people." What he doesn't know is that many Israelis, including MK Menahem Ben-Sasson, the chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee - and other Jewish Knesset members - no longer agree with this Zionist conclusion.

Suicide bombers and Qassam rockets, which caused death and destruction in Israel, were the Palestinian responses to Bush's famous speech about the "vision of the Palestinian state," which is five years old this summer. But these things, including the intensification of Qassam terrorism after the destruction of the Jewish settlements in Gush Katif, did not teach a lesson either to the U.S. president or the political leaders in Israel.”

Bush’s vision of a two state solution – Palestinian State alongside Israel seems to have reached the end of the road. What is the alternative? There have been ideas of a binational state. This idea would be unacceptable to Israel and unworkable at this stage. Many would say that we are now at the stage of post-Zionism. This is not an ideology but rather a period after the advent of Zionism. However, discussion of the binational state issue and its pitfalls could be useful if the parties to the conflict are prepared to be objective and fair – a possibility that is remote.

The idea of Israel and the US bolstering Abbas and Fayyad could so easily boomerang. Their open support of Abbas and Fayyad would weaken them even further. This would encourage extremist action on the part of Hamas and its Islamic Jihad allies. It could create mass hysteria in Palestinian street. The Hamas propaganda machine would come out in full force against the emergency Palestinian government. It would not serve the interests of Abbas and Fayyad if they were labeled as stooges or lackeys of Israel and the US. Their response would be further violence in the form of suicide bombings and an acceleration of Qassam rocket fire in the south. The situation is “catch 22”.

Democracy will not be achieved and the vacuum caused by the eventual withdrawal of Israel from the West Bank will be filled rapidly by Islamist Hamas extremists that would pose a great danger to Israel’s security. Iran and Al Qaeda are waiting on the sidelines for this eventuality. The situation in the West Bank and Gaza would slide into lawlessness, bloodshed and suicide terror resembling Iraq. This could threaten the moderate Arab states as well. Even the Saudi Peace Plan will not be accepted by Hamas ruled Palestine as provisions are made for Israel’s recognition.

The Palestinian people will be subjected to a very orthodox, uncompromising sharia (Moslem religious law) which would limit their freedom of choice and personal freedom.

Another problem is who will attend the so-called Bush convened conference apart from Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians. Perhaps it would be a good idea to insist on the participation of Hamas in this conference because of their strong support amongst the Palestinian people. Without Hamas participation, there will never be any form of rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians.

An international conference must address all the issues and obstacles so that peace could be achieved and this could only be achieved by including all the parties involved in the conflict including those parties who are boycotted. All gestures offered by Israel without Palestinian agreement or acknowledgement would create further terror in the West Bank.

Post-Zionism and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

Prof. Shlomo Avineri wrote a rather thought provoking article on post–Zionism, equating it with anti-Zionism and non-recognition of Israel. He maintains that post-Zionism does not exist.

According to his article, the idea of post-Zionism “is a radical criticism not just of Israel's policy; at its base is total denial of the Zionist project and of the very legitimacy of the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish nation-state.

The arguments called "post-Zionist" have various aspects - not only political but also cultural. They view Zionism as a colonial phenomenon, not as a national movement that is contending with another, Palestinian, national movement over its claim to the same territory. Some of those who are called "post-Zionists" go even further in their argument that the very existence of a Jewish people is a "narrative" that was invented in the 19th century, and that the Jews are at base a religious community. The attitude of Zionism, which has most of its roots in Europe, toward Jews from the Muslim countries is also perceived in the context of colonial exploitation.”

Somehow, there seems to be a problem with the term post-Zionism. Post-Zionism is actually the period after Zionism. It is not a theory or philosophy as Prof Avineri states. Zionism is the “national revival movement of the Jewish people. It holds that the Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture. Historically, Zionism strove to create a legally recognized national home for the Jews in their historical homeland. This goal was implemented by the creation of the State of Israel. Today, Zionism supports the existence of the state of Israel and helps to inspire a revival of Jewish national life, culture and language.” (From Zionism – Definition of Zionism).

Zionism played an important historic role in the establishment of Israel. The idea of post-Zionism is the period after Zionism, of which the latter has become irrelevant today. It was a Jewish liberation movement in the Diaspora where Jews had been a persecuted minority for many years because of anti-Semitism.

Now that Israel exists, Zionism has become history. The term non-Zionist is probably more accurate than post-Zionism, which according to Prof. Avineri is a development for delegitimizing Israel. While this may or may not be true, it is a misleading term.

Zionism is a term that is bandied about in Zionist Conferences but has no relevance to Israelis today. Many Zionists, who live in the Diaspora, meet at World Zionist Conferences in Jerusalem in order to salve their consciences by fundraising for causes whose impact on Israel is marginal (they are mostly wealthy people who have no intention of ever living in Israel, or at least, they intend to retire in Israel after achieving financial success in the Diaspora). They also have no clue as to the major problems facing Israel – not least of all, the corruption in government including what was Israel’s first citizen – ex-President Moshe Katzav - who has left office in disgrace after being accused of sexual offences bordering on rape. He has been offered a plea bargain if he admits to his sexual assault offences. This will wipe his slate clean of close to 90% of his sexual offences according to Katzav’s statement in an interview with Israel TV 2^nd Channel. The conclusion reached is that with much money for legal defense, one can buy justice. The Diaspora Zionists hobnob with VIPs in the Israeli establishment and indulge in familial backslapping of each other, exuding self praise for their efforts of churning out hot air. Zionism has now been relegated to the wealthy, sitting in armchairs in living rooms, polluted with expensive cigar smoke, where their platitudes of solidarity with Israel is expressed and many conscience-salving financial donations are discussed. The World Zionist Conferences held in Jerusalem are becoming less and less relevant every year. These conferences are not given any prominence in the Israeli Press. Surely this is a barometer of its irrelevance!

Israel’s faults and its treatment of the Arab minorities, not to mention the Palestinians, are not even addressed. This is not their problem. It is the problem of the Arab World according to their thinking.

The greatest contribution that could be made to Israel is also dependent on the contribution made to the wellbeing of the Palestinians. After all the Palestinian People is an integral part of the Middle East, including Israel. They will not disappear. Neglect of the Palestinians will only result in the development of further extremism, hate and terrorism against Israel. Israel had occupied the Palestinian People in the 1967 Six Day War. This makes Israel responsible for Palestinian wellbeing which they neglected. Israel, despite its claims to the contrary, is a “colonial phenomenon” because it occupied another people. It also “colonized” territory by allowing settlers to build their homes in the occupied West Bank. Surely it makes Israel’s claims of not wanting to colonize the Palestinian People a farce. Settlers, amongst them religious Zealots, uproot Palestinian olive plantations, take over Palestinian agricultural lands, and get away with it. Is this Zionism – the usurping of Palestinian lands? The Palestinians view Israelis as the SS (Soldiers and Settlers).

Army check posts, barriers to Palestinian movement as well as army excesses is not going to bring security to Israel. The only solution is an agreement between the two sides to lay down their arms and start negotiating a permanent settlement for the good of both nations.

Zionistic platitudes by rich Diaspora Zionists in conference halls discussing marginal issues to salve their “tortured consciences” will knock the last nail into the Zionist coffin. This will herald the era of post-Zionism or non-Zionism. Zionism is an integral part of Israel’s history but it is irrelevant to Israel’s future and the future of peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours.

The Split between Gaza and the West Bank

From the outside it looks like a fait accompli. The occupied territories are now split into two Palestinian entities. Gaza is consolidating itself under Hamas control, and the West Bank is still under Fatah control. This split will not work to Israel or Palestine’s advantage. Gaza will be isolated and will become a massive prison of human suffering. Hamas has proved to be a non-compromising terrorist organization with no signs of pragmatism in redeeming the situation for the good of the Gazan Palestinian. Israel and the EU have promised to send humanitarian assistance but this will not solve the human suffering in the future.

The situation in the Gaza strip can only deteriorate even further. This will serve Hamas’s interests. Hamas can only survive on hatred of Israel and Palestinian suffering. The blame for this intolerable situation must be laid on the doorstop of the corrupt Fatah leadership under the late Yasser Arafat which led to massive Palestinian support for Hamas as a counter balance. World funds that were directed for the improvement of the Palestinian infrastructure and the building of a Palestinian state alongside Israel that would be viable economically found their way to Swiss bank accounts of a very corrupt Palestinian leadership. This was excellent fodder for Hamas who then proved their incorruptibility to their Palestinian supporters.

Hamas never showed pragmatism. They made maximum use of their hate propaganda for Israel in the hope of uniting the Palestinian people against Fatah. They increased their strength militarily and ruthlessly killed all opposition in Gaza. They stooped to murdering Fatah opposition using cruel tactics such as shooting at kneecaps of Fatah supporters and throwing Fatah supporters off rooftops where they were found. They also increased Gaza’s isolation and successfully took over power in a military coup.

Hamas is dead set on an agenda that is genocidal and terrorist. Even within Hamas, there are extremist groups such as those responsible for the kidnap of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit and the British BBC correspondent, Alan Johnston. The release of these captives remains uncertain and cynical use of psychological warfare is being used by Hamas by threats of death to these captives if their demands are not met indefinitely.

It is doubtful if Hamas does intend to rule Gaza responsibly. They are incapable of that! Gaza will eventually become the killing fields of the Middle East and the Palestinian people living there will be subjected to the most violent cruelty and torture if they do not tow the extremist Hamas line. Hamas wishes to install an extremist Islamist regime that will be uncompromising towards Israel’s existence. They believe that hate of Israel will unite the Palestinians.

The danger of a Hamas take over of the West Bank cannot be ruled out. The Fatah organization under Abu Mazen is stronger there. However, this balance could easily be tipped in Hamas’s favor if Abu Mazen is viewed as an Israeli and US stooge by Palestinian mainstream. Israel and the US have paid lip service on almost every occasion to support Abu Mazen’s emergency government under Salam Fayyad, whose wide-scale recognition by the Palestinian people is questionable.

It remains to be seen whether the recent Sharm-el-Sheik Summit co-hosted by Egypt and Jordan will be successful. Most Palestinians and Israelis have strong doubts. The speeches by King Abdullah of Jordan, PM Olmert and Mubarak oozed reasonableness and everybody said the right things at the right time. The test of course is decision making to carry out the ideas expressed. Otherwise this summit, like all the previous summits, will remain a photo opportunity and nothing will change. Unfortunately, time will prove that actual decision making in the spirit of this summit will just not occur. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict will remain a festering sore in the Middle East for the future. This sore will be further complicated by Hamas which has cancerous tendencies to create a metastasis in the West Bank if the economic situation of the Palestinian people living there is not improved dramatically.

Emergency governments are not usually supported by the people. The air should be cleared by Abu Mazen by moving towards new Palestinian elections which could improve his power base. Gaza is now a different entity separated from the West Bank and Hamas would never agree to elections there. We need to come to terms with the existence of two Palestinian entities. How this will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state or two Palestinian states remains an unanswerable question for the immediate and distant future.

Two States for One People

The situation in the occupied territories is deteriorating from day to day. After a Hamas coup d’etat in Gaza, took Israel, the US and the EU by surprise a new situation was created. The violence accompanying the Hamas take over of Gaza has shown the world the depth of hatred existing between Hamas and Fatah.

No mercy is shown towards Fatah and those who oppose Hamas. Fatah members have been shot at mercilessly and thrown off the roof tops of buildings to their deaths. The Fatah Security Forces have been overpowered and destroyed by the highly motivated Hamas militias. Many have fled to Egypt. Some are trying to make their way to the West Bank. Over 100 Palestinians were killed in this Hamas led insurrection and now they control Gaza.

A heart rending refugee problem has been created with the elderly, women and their children waiting for days at the Erez check post to cross over into the West Bank. The wait is long and interrupted with sporadic shooting by Hamas who are trying to kill these desperate Palestinians seeking refuge.

The new Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has given orders to allow the wounded Palestinians to be treated in Israeli hospitals. Hamas has embarked on a reign of terror. Not only do they hate Israel, they also hate their own people as well. It is paradoxical that stranded and wounded Palestinians in Gaza are looking to Israel for help. Hamas has committed grave crimes against their own people and has murdered many Palestinians. They are creating a situation whereby the Palestinians will suffer human rights abuses and torture. The true colours of Hamas are now visible by their terrorist activity towards the Palestinians with the overflow going into Israel in the form of Qassam rocket launches. Hamas has created a human tragedy of great proportions and they will not stop at Gaza. If anything, Hamas is a genocidal, terrorist organization with ethnic cleansing being their top priority.

The only way to prevent the West Bank from being overtaken by Hamas is to help Abu Mazen. Israel should release many prisoners and this would serve to strengthen a rather weak Abu Mazen as well. According to Haaretz 21^st June 2007:

” Marwan Barghouti one of the leaders of the Palestinian people has been incarcerated for approximately five years now in Hadarim Prison, in central Israel. The time has come to release him. For years, Marwan Barghouti has tried to persuade Israelis to end the occupation through negotiation. He has gone from one Israeli party headquarters to the next, meeting with politicians across the political spectrum. He tried to persuade them in order to preempt the next confrontation.

Barghouti failed, the second intifada broke out, and he himself turned to the path of violent struggle. After going underground for months, during which he still tried to address the Israeli public through its own media, Barghouti was arrested in April 2002 and prosecuted. He was sentenced for five life terms in prison, plus 40 years.

It is doubtful whether arresting and prosecuting him was diplomatically wise, but there is no doubting the political wisdom of releasing him”.

The possibility that the trial of Marwan Barghouti was a show trial cannot be ruled out. If this leader is released it would contribute to clearing the way for a final peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Time has proved that the Palestinian people have backed the wrong horse to lead them. Hamas gained ground root support from the Palestinians as they appeared to be clean and free from corruption in comparison to the Fatah ruled Palestinian Authority. Now, with their ruthless take over of Gaza and their desire to turn Gaza into a religious Islamic entity, proves that Hamas is nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They have no agenda apart from instilling violence and cruelty towards those who oppose them. They have the backing of Iran and Al Qaeda is waiting in the shadows to help them as well.

Most moderate people who share the interests of Israelis and Palestinians alike should be aware that any take over of the West Bank by Hamas would spell the end of Palestinian aspirations for an independent Palestinian state side by side with Israel.

Hamas has created an entity that will spell the ruin of Palestinian aspirations for an independent Palestinian state. If this situation continues with Palestine becoming two states for one people, the future for such a development remains unclear. The West Bank will remain amenable to negotiations with Israel while Gaza will not be prepared to negotiate for the moment. Haaretz , 2007-06-23 in a very thought provoking article expressed the situation as follows:

The aching heart of the Palestinian national poet, Mahmoud Darwish, could be heard this week throughout the Middle East as his feelings on the situation were published on the front page of the Al Hayat newspaper, published in London. "Did we have to fall from such lofty heights and did we have to see our blood dripping from our own hands so that we could know we are not the angels we thought we were?" he asked. "Did we have to expose our nudity in public so that our reality would not remain virginal? Oh, how we lied to ourselves when we said: We are something special. It is worse to believe yourself than to lie to your fellow man..."

"The month of June has inflamed us with the memory of 40 years of defeat. For if we did not find someone to defeat us a second time, we have managed to defeat ourselves by our own hands, let us not forget. It is not the religious zealots who anger me, because after all, they believe in their own special way. It is their secular supporters who anger me and the infidels among their supporters who do not believe in anything else but one religion - their pictures on television."

This deep soul-searching on the part of Darwish is the refined essence of the Palestinian national wailing that found expression in dozens of articles, forums, talkbacks and sermons in the mosques. It was reminiscent of some kind of tremendous Shi'ite self-flagellation - in memory of the Day of Ashura, the day of mourning that has its roots in the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson in the seventh century. "Arab society has in the past been faced with difficult days," the eminent columnist Abdel Rahman Al-Rashed wrote in the popular newspaper Asharq Alawsat, "but this is the most difficult time it has faced."

Not everything
that is bad
For Palestine
is good for Israel.

The split in
Palestine
is bad for
Israel.

We need peace
With the entire
Palestinian people -
All their sections,
All their territories,
Supporters of Fatah
And supporters of Hamas,
In the West Bank
And in the Gaza Strip.

Gush Shalom Ad published in Haaretz, June 22, 2007