The Palestinians' big achievement
Here's the dilemma. Now things are quiet, we have a hudna, there is no terrorism, the number of warnings about possible terrorist attacks have fallen dramatically, so what's our rush to start negotiations? If the Palestinians lose their patience and if the hudna is canceled after three months and the terrorist attacks resume, there will certainly be no need to conduct negotiations, as it's well known that we don't negotiate under terrorism. If they decide to extend the hudna so they won't have to bear the blame for violating the road map, there is also no need to hurry to the negotiating table. In short, our political situation has never been better.
The Israeli government appears to be adopting the current quiet as a permanent situation that does not oblige action of any kind. The release of prisoners can wait - after all, nowhere does the road map state that Israel has to release prisoners - and the removal of the illegal outposts is being delayed. True, there was a minor motion a month ago, an involuntary reflex action that brought about the removal of two or
three outposts, but that has passed.
The IDF left most of the Gaza Strip and removed itself from the heart of Bethlehem, but the rest of the West Bank remains under full occupation. Freedom of movement, removal of checkpoints, going to work, transit of
merchandise - no real change has occurred in any of these areas. After all, why change old habits, especially if things are quiet and there's no terror?
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Palestinians angry after Sharon blocks progress at talks
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, almost walked out of a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Ariel Sharon, yesterday over Israel's refusal to carry out its commitments under the "road map" peace process.
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Humiliating Arafat
Abbas' meagre achievement, lack of credibility and unpopularity among the people he was imposed on are forcing Israel to look for an alternative explanation for the dramatic failure of their plan. The handy scapegoat is, as usual, Arafat, who is accused of undermining Abbas' mission. Naturally, Israel's refusal to implement any of the roadmap's requirements, whether it is a freeze on settlements, the release of prisoners or an end to incitement and violence against Palestinians, is not thought to have anything to do with the crisis.
Abbas has been described as a weak leader by American and Israeli officials, and indeed he is. Throughout his long political career, any influence he had was derived from and dependent upon support from Arafat. It is ironic, therefore, that the Americans now think they can get anywhere by placing Abbas in a position where he is supposed to rival and challenge Arafat.
Even if Arafat does not take any steps to actively obstruct Abbas, and he has not, his mere presence makes Abbas' position all but impossible. But his removal is by no means a better alternative.
Perhaps it is for this reason that the Israelis have been escalating their campaign against Arafat. They may truly believe that with Arafat out of the way, Abbas will transform himself into a strong leader. This is another fallacy which will be instantly disproved if the Israelis carry out their threats against Arafat. Abbas will simply be further weakened and his authority further challenged by people who have so far been restrained only by Arafat's presence at the head of the Palestinian National Authority.
[more]
thanks to Aron's Israel Peace Weblog
Deconstructing the Roadmap
Poverty of spirit and moral obtuseness are the salient characteristics of current Israeli policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians in the context of the road map.
Why else would the government stage a big show of “dismantling” or “evacuating” settlement outposts (that are largely vacant and makeshift), then look the other way when more outposts are established on nearby hilltops?
Why else would Sharon urge his partners in land-theft to continue settlement construction and expansion, but to do so in silence and in secrecy?
Why else would the hundreds of checkposts, permanent and ad hoc, continue to besiege our towns and villages like a burning necklace stealthily stealing all our life force, freedom, and vitality?
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While Israel would like the world to think they represent all Jews, there are Jews who disagree.
Declaration on ‘the Palestine issue’ by
Neturei Karta of the UK
The Neturei Karta group is a spearhead group within the Jewish People, who are prepared to stand up and express openly a religious and humanitarian philosophy held in essence by large numbers (hundreds of thousands) and possibly the majority of authentic Orthodox Jews. A philosophy totally opposed to the attitude adopted by the Zionists and to Zionism as a whole.
The philosophy in essence is that for the last two thousand years or so the Jewish people have been in a state of exile decreed by the A-lmighty. The Jews were exiled from their land because they did not maintain the standards expected of them. This state of exile is the situation that exists right up to the present day. It is a basic part of our belief to accept willingly the Heavenly decree of exile and not to try and fight against it or to end it by our own hands. In practical terms, exile for us means that Jews must be loyal subjects of the countries in which they live and not attempt to rule over the established indigenous populations of those countries. And of course this includes Palestine.
The Zionist movement founded approximately 100 years ago based on secular nationalistic aims, was a complete abandonment of our religious teachings and faith - in general - and in particular regarding our approach to our state of exile and to the peoples among whom we live.
[more]
thanks to Politics in the Zeros
Jews Against Zionism
thanks to Politics in the Zeros
www.JewsNotZionists.org
thanks to Politics in the Zeros
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