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DIG DIRECTOR
Chris Hedges, the former Middle East Bureau chief for The New York Times, is a senior fellow at The Nation Institute.
Hedges has fifteen years of experience reporting from war zones in the Persian Gulf, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, the West Bank and Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Algeria, the Punjab, Bosnia and Kosovo. In 2002, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for The New York Times' coverage of global terrorism. He is the author of the bestseller "War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning."
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Israel’s Barrier to PeaceA Dig led by Chris Hedges(Page 4) I often have to leave my car behind and walk to villages, villages that have not had access to roads for two or three years. Crude barriers of dirt, trenches or torn-up strips of asphalt make the roads impassible. Weeds grow up on either side of the roads. The crude barriers will be replaced soon by walls and fences and ditches and wire. I am walking down an empty dirt road. It is covered with stones. I am walking to the farming hamlet of al-Nuaman. The farmers have been legally dispossessed, ethnic cleansing by administrative fiat. It was a specialty of the Bosnian Muslims, who did not want the ethnic Croats and Serbs to go back to their old apartments in Sarajevo. So they used the courts to strip them of their property. There are tens of thousands of Palestinians whom Israeli courts have declared squatters in their own homes, homes they were born and raised in, homes which have been in the family for generations. The cicadas sing out in a cacophonous chorus. The heat feels like the blast from a furnace. Olive groves, with rows of thick, gnarled trees, line the slope to the valley below me. The hilltops are rocky and gray. There are a few patches of light green. The road to the hamlet was closed in 1995 by the Israelis. The bulldozers blocked it with dirt and scooped out a huge trench at the edge of the village, tossing the chunks of black asphalt to the side. The Israelis changed the name of the hamlet to Mazmouria, although no Israelis live here. I see the hamlet ahead of me. It is tiny, with 26 modest homes, all with flat roofs and stucco exteriors. I walk down into the trench. Youssif Dara’wi, a large man with a heavy girth, is standing on the other side looking down at me. He helps me up. He is wearing sandals. He clutches a cellphone. There is a large ring of keys on a silver clasp fastened to his belt. I get into his car and we drive to his house. He has set out a dozen white plastic chairs under the one tree in his front yard. Older men, when they see us, come to introduce themselves and take a seat. Youssif was born in the hamlet. As far as he can tell, his family has been here for 180 years, but probably longer. He owns about 100 acres of olive groves, making him one of the largest landowners here. The farmers in the village together have 1,000 acres. When they were occupied by Israeli troops in 1967 they were given Israeli identification cards. The cards said they were residents of the West Bank. They were incorporated into the Bethlehem municipality. “It all began to change after the start of the first Palestinian uprising in 1987,” Youssif says. Israeli officials forbade any new construction. When anyone tried to build a house or expand existing ones, Israeli bulldozers tore the structures down. After the Oslo peace agreement the pressure eased, only to come back in greater force with the latest uprising. The road was closed. The children in the village, who had gone to Jerusalem for their schooling, were barred from the city. The Israelis expanded the boundaries of the Jerusalem municipality. The farmers have become West Bank squatters illegally encamped inside Israel. It is a neat little legal trick. Members of the community pooled their money to hire an Israeli lawyer. But cases, even when they get to the Supreme Court, even when they result in a decision in favor of the Palestinians, can be immediately overruled by the state on grounds of national security. National security, as in my own country, is the god that is destroying us all. “I am not allowed to be here or to meet you according to Israeli law,” Youssif says. “I am not allowed to be on my own land.” The water to the hamlet was cut three years ago. Water comes now from wells and water trucks. He pulls out a topographical map. It is marked with colored zones and colored lines to indicate settlements, the barrier under construction around Jerusalem, the land that has been confiscated, the land that will be confiscated and the new demarcation lines for the hamlet. The blue line, he explains, is the new boundary for Jerusalem. The hamlet is within the boundary. The yellow line is the barrier, which when we look up we can see being built down the hill in front of a new hilltop settlement with several hundred concrete apartment blocks. He traces his thick finger around the roads, the settlements and the barrier to show how the hamlet will be encircled, how he and his neighbors will soon lose nearly all their land and live illegally in a ghetto with no running water. I have seen this now many times. Most Palestinians carry maps. They keep them tucked into their shirt pockets and pull them out at the slightest provocation. They spread them on the ground and chart for you the course of their own demise. It happens so often it gets boring, but I always listen and nod and pretend the information is new. The ritual is repeated over and over and seems to be part of the struggle to cope with the scale and horror of what is happening. A group of Israeli soldiers appeared in the hamlet four months ago. They said Israel was willing to compensate farmers whose homes had been built before 1992. They told the farmer to submit compensation forms. The army would determine the price to be paid. The other homes, they said, would be demolished. If any home was built after 1992 the family would receive nothing. None of the farmers filed for compensation. Then the physical harassment began. Soldiers arrived early one morning in July and roused six farmers from their beds and drove them to a nearby military outpost. They were told they would be released when they signed papers saying they would not enter Israeli territory. The farmers signed the papers. They spent the rest of the night walking home. “I signed,” Abid Ataya, 55, tells me as we sit in a half circle of chairs under a pine tree. “I didn’t realize that according to them I live in an Israeli area.” Soldiers come frequently to demand other signatures. They were there the night before, their jeeps roaring into the hamlet at 2:30 a.m.. The soldiers handcuffed 20 farmers and took them to the military outpost. All refused to sign. In the morning, after squatting all night outside the compound, they were released. “The soldiers laughed at us,” Mahmoud Ali Hussein, 43, says. “They told us when the wall was finished we would not be able to enter Israel or the West Bank. They told us we would have no land. They sent us home and told us to wait. They said our time is almost up.” The farmers sit, bewildered, trying to comprehend it all, the ability to declare reality to be one way when it is another, the ability to swiftly and irrevocably destroy their life, the only life they have known. I say nothing, so we sit like this for a long time. “Does a condemned prisoner sign an agreement authorizing his own execution?” asks Mahmoud suddenly. A boy with a tray holding glasses of lukewarm soda moves between us handing out drinks. We sip the soda. The farmers light cigarettes. Ribbons of thin bluish smoke waft toward the pine branches over our heads. Again we are silent, thinking about it all. “Too much pressure makes explosions,” my host says. “When you deny us education, medical care and work what do you think we will do? When you take our homes and our land from us, when we cannot feed our families, when you strip us of our dignity, how do you think we will behave? How can you ask us to be neighbors after this? What chance do you think there will be for peace?” The men nod. “We are going to change the name of our village,” he says. “We are going to call it Transfer 2004.” No one laughs.
And what of the good Israelis? Where are they? What are they doing? I found Allegra Pacheco mopping the floors of her small second-story apartment in Bethlehem. Her infant son is asleep. The furniture is upended in the corner of the living room. She is scrubbing away. The scent of ammonia from the tiled floor fills the room, even with the windows open. “We will have to go outside,” she says. We sit on her balcony. We look out over the cramped and squalid hovels of the Deheisha refugee camp. The camp cascades, one hovel nearly on top of the next, down a slope. The pope used the camp as a backdrop in 2000 when he visited. He was there long enough for the press to get images and cover his kind beneficence. The camp exploded into rioting five minutes after the pope departed. The local police station was badly vandalized. There was never a coherent explanation for the rioting, other than the obvious, the frustration and rage of a people used once again as a stage prop and then forgotten. Allegra is a Jew. She grew up in Long Island, where she was a member of a “Zionist-oriented family.” She visited Israel as a teenager on one of the tours designed to get Americans to bond with the Jewish state. She went to Barnard and Columbia Law School. She began to ask questions, questions many around her refused to ask. She read about the Middle East. The story of the Palestinians began to unsettle her. She began to see another side of Israel. She moved to Israel after a few years as a lawyer in New York. She studied for the Israeli bar. She looked to Lea Tsmel, the Israeli lawyer who has often defended Palestinians, as a mentor. She opened a law office in Bethlehem. She was the only Israeli ever to open a law office in Palestinian territory. She handled cases involving house demolitions, land confiscations, torture and prisoners who had been incarcerated without ever being charged. She documented some torture practices, at first denied by Israel, and took the case to the Supreme Court. Most of the practices were outlawed. The second Palestinian uprising began as she had taken a break and was writing a book as a Peace Fellow at Harvard University. She dropped the manuscript and came back. The restrictions, however, were so draconian she often could not get through the checkpoints to her office. It was hard to see clients or make court appearances. She took over the case of a Palestinian human rights activist, Abed al-Rahman al-Ahmar, being held without charge in administrative detention. “I met my husband Abed in 1996, when he was under interrogation and being tortured,” she says. “He was then sent to two and a half years of administrative detention and I continued to represent him. When he was released, he helped me set up my law office and worked with me. That’s how we fell in love.” They married. They spent their honeymoon trapped in their apartment under almost continuous curfew.
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By JSD, May 17 at 1:30 am # The SolutionThe solution to injustice against the palestilnian Arabs has to involve the U.S. As I have written so many times before, the first and most important goal is to guarantee and end to the violence. I believe that this can only be accomplished by an international peace-keeping force, and should be paid for entirely by the U.S. because it has been U.S. support for Israel and acquiescence in Israeli violence that has caused so much suffering among both Israelis and Arabs. After this start, a serious effort by the world community can begin to look for a permanent solution to all relevant problems facing these peoples, inasmuch as they have not been able to solve their poblems themselves. U.S. involvement is mandated because of our responsibility for the consequences of supporting Israel with so little reservation. The U.S. is therefore as much responsible for the suffering of these peoples as are the Israelis.
By ed_tru_lib, January 20 at 4:46 pm # Well I see the onlyWell I see the only responses are from the nutcase Israel-haters/anti-semites, as usual, which instantly belies any unlikely validity they might otherwise have had. The wall works because it has been made harder to kill innocent Israelis, and thus are innocent (or even not so innocent) “palestinians” also spared when Israel just doesn’t need to punish the evildoers since they were prevented from doing evil. 1drees and Frank Goebelles Sr. will never have anything constructive to add to this or I strongly suspect, any rational discussion of any issue. Anyway someday there will be no need for the wall-the haters and murderers and pseudo-religious maniacs will be gone and Israel and her law-abiding neighbors will live in the peace that has been all Israel has wanted since its creation.
By Barry, November 11, 2007 at 3:31 am # I bet about 1500 times more criminals have been subdued by police than police have been subdued by criminals. Does that mean that police are wrong to go after criminals? Israel withdrew from Gaza and had agreed to withdraw from the West Bank, and the Palestinians showed them that they couldn’t live side-by-side peacefully. Israel made a mistake occupying the West Bank and Gaza, and has spent the past 15 years trying to give them back. If the Palestinians would just take them peacefully, everyone would be a lot happier.
By neutral ned, November 10, 2007 at 8:57 pm # For Ed Tru Lib Being that I’ve decided this stuff in the region will never end, I’ll just offer a few observations. Israel, a potentially massive economic center of activity in the Middle East is wasting its energies. As for Ed’s thoughts on the necessity of Israel’s aggressive 60 year policy, my info is that appr. 1500 Palestinians have been killed for every one Israeli. Using the term terrorist makes no sense in this context. The sophistication of Palestinian warfare is such that it took them till the late 1990’s (saw some article back then) to figure out that their homes were being audio monitored and cars of the leadership radio-tagged to make them easy pickings for helicopter attack. Ed may believe what he’s saying but, to the outside observer, the occupation seems like a waste of everyone’s time.
By 1drees, September 18, 2007 at 10:50 am # Israel and peace should never even be in the same sentence, these two things are that far apart. And similarly Zionism or Zionists and Truth should never be in the same sentence either.
By ed_tru_lib, April 6, 2007 at 2:30 pm # Well its been a few months now, and what a surprise-far fewer Israelis or Arabs are being killed, there are far less instances of religious-crazed terrorists/oil & military industry puppets trying to sneak in to Israel to blow people up...AND...Israel hasn’t had to retaliate against such attacks...AKA...SURE LOOKS LIKE THE WALL IS WORKING. I guess that’s why theres been such a loss of apparent interest in posting to this dig-things have just gotten too peaceful. But the same rules always apply-all the terrorists and their supporters, as ever, have to do is lay down their rifles, rocket-launchers,suicide body-bombs, flight plans (into buildings) etc etc, and the Israelis will lay down their weapons, and soon after, when some trust has finally been established, tear down the wall. For now, and tragically the foreseeable future the wall must continue to be like the Colt 45 once had to be in the old west, when the evildoers just wouldn’t listen to any reason-the “peacemaker”
By Barry, February 9, 2007 at 1:00 am # Great point Bert! I don’t see many San Diego residents screaming to take down the wall with Mexico, or Columbia students/faculty pushing to take down the wall that closes off Columbia from Harlem.
By Bert, February 8, 2007 at 6:15 pm # I think good fences DO make good neighbors, I think borders have a purpose, and while there might be people that scream bloody murder about it all, at the end of the day, when there’s 2 countries that don’t get along, or there’s big cultural differences, or a big difference between them in terms of income or level of technological progress/religious stuff, borders are a necessary evil to keep people from going at it against each other. Like 2 kids in the same house that squabble, ‘go to your room’ still has merit, both macro, and microscale. This story is about Israel and Palestine, but the concept is pretty universal. Take care of the borders, and a lot of other problems will resolve themselves.
By gasman, December 21, 2006 at 1:32 pm # Oops...looks like I accidentally signed on to a KKK website. What a bunch of racist losers. Spend more time on blogs: I’m sure you feel like you’re a real contributor to society.
By Frank Goodman, Sr., December 5, 2006 at 6:35 pm # Comment #40827 by Frank Goodman, Sr. on 12/05 Sorry, this was intended for another site.
By Frank Goodman, Sr., December 5, 2006 at 6:57 am # (Continuation of previous comment) You can purchase your oil needs from anyone who has it to sell. For that, you can export products needed by those who have too much oil, but not enough oranges and high definition TV. You can manufacture automobiles rather than machine guns to sell to people who need transportation more than they need to defend themselves from rabid humans who invade their land. When most Jews get used to living with others, they can join the United Nations with the promise to abide by all UN resolutions. The best way to fight against any threat to destroy Israel is to prove by peaceful means that Judaphobia is unjustified. And do not mistake defense of Islam, as Judaphobia. Also, do not mistake US resolve for imperialism unless we promote the idea that our president is the ‘leader of the free world’. If America proclaims or claims to be the ‘only remaining superpower’, put her in her place in the United Nations and make her behave in a civilized world of peaceful intent. Don’t give up an inch of Israel to Russia, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia. Let all the Palestinians come home to help defend that land from all encroachments by militants and violent Zionist regimes. Let us join in the condemnation of Fascism, Nazism, totalitarianism wherever it is found. Then, we shall surely enjoy peace and prosperity ever after.
By Tony Wicher, November 25, 2006 at 8:45 am # Comment #39266 by Robert on 11/22 at 9:21 am
By Fadel Abdallah, November 25, 2006 at 4:13 am # To the enlightened individuals on TruthDig Blog, please check the hard facts on Zionism as presented by Alen Heart in his new two-volume book, “Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews,” on the Web Site: OpposingDigitsVlog Manchester, England. 2nd November 2006. Alan Hart speaks at a public meeting of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). He speaks about his two volume book “Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews”. The original venue, St Peter’s Chaplaincy, informed PSC that it was unwilling to host the meeting–2 days before the event–despite the fact that the booking had been paid for many weeks in advance. Anticipating this, the PSC booked a reserve venue–the Friends Meeting House. This is the first of four 10 minute clips of Hart’s opening presentation. Alan Hart, a young 63, has been engaged with events in the Middle East and their global consequences and terrifying implications - the possibility of a Clash of Civilisations, Judeo-Christian v Islamic, and, along the way, another great turning against the Jews - for nearly 40 years: * As a correspondent for ITN’s News At Ten and the BBC’s Panorama programme (covering wars and conflicts wherever they were taking place in the world). * As a researcher and author. (His first book Arafat, Terrorist or Peacemaker? was published by Sidgwick & Jackson in 1984 and subsequently in several updated editions over a decade). * As a participant at leadership level, working to a Security Council background briefing, in the covert diplomacy of the search for peace. Alan Hart thus brings to the pages of his latest book, Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews, and to the debating chamber, a deep understanding of why, really, the Countdown to Armageddon is on and how it can be stopped.
By Tony Wicher, November 24, 2006 at 6:03 pm # “Reply to Comment #39159 by Robert on 11/21 at 6:12 pm Chris Hedges: Bring Down that Wall. FYI, Chris Hedges has a new report, “Bring Down that Wall”, on truthdig.com, posted November 20, 2006. It already has a forum / discussion. “ Thanks, Robert. I’ll post there - Tony.
By Robert, November 22, 2006 at 9:21 am # Guess where “Ken Schreier” who exited this forum is at these days? He has surfaced at Chris Hedges: “Bring Down That Wall” report forum. He is spewing the same ole line of, you guessed it, “anti-semitism” and that high moral route.
By Spinoza, November 21, 2006 at 6:35 pm # There is a connection between sex and war.
By Robert, November 21, 2006 at 6:12 pm # Chris Hedges: Bring Down that Wall. FYI, Chris Hedges has a new report, “Bring Down that Wall”, on truthdig.com, posted November 20, 2006. It already has a forum / discussion.
By yours truly, November 21, 2006 at 1:04 pm # When a revolution comes it’s as if time is compressed, with changes that previously might have taken centuries, instead occurring seemingly at the blink of an eye. And at the time always unexpected, as in Eastern Europe two decades ago. Which is why “we got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative” (from a popular song fifty or so years ago), or we’ll miss the boat on the Kucinich bill to cut off all spending on the Iraq war. True, up to now, we’ve always been out-foxed by the powers that be &/or sold-out by our so-called leaders. But doesn’t have to be so, because we (each and every one of us, that is) make sure that Congress passes Kucinich’s bill and we’ll be into one of those accelerated phases of history, with TROOPS OUT NOW at the top of our agenda, followed by Congress impeaching our president plus his subsequent trial at the International Court of Criminal Justice for his crimes against humanity. And after that? Empire collapses. And then? It’ll be up to us. Afterwards, of course, there’ll be the usual, “Who would have thought? .
By Spinoza, November 21, 2006 at 7:23 am # I don’t know exactly about energy forces but that can have a psychic effect. Zeitgeist refers to the “climate of the times”, “the buzz in the air” the intellectual climate, the main idea, the idea that ideas matter. Sex is part of that climate and one of the most positive feelings and ideas that motivate mankind. Pleasant sex is most always associated with peace. Rape is most always associated with war.
By Spinoza, November 21, 2006 at 7:12 am # > THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO NEED TO WAKE UP! The Jewish People need to wake up. We are being manipulated by severe right wing forces. Fight Fascism
By Robert, November 20, 2006 at 6:44 pm # Frank, I am an American, living in North Carolina, who had worked in the Middle-East about 12 years ago. I have visited the Holy Land and have seen with my own eyes some of what the Palestinians have to endure with Israel’s brutal occupation. It was only after reading “They Dare To Speak Out” by former congressman Paul Findley, that I began to understand why our U.S. policy & most of our elected representatives support Israel’s brutal policies in the Middle-East. ITS AIPAC CONTROL & MANIPULATION OF CONGRESS WITH DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ISRAEL & MID-EAST. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE IN THE DARK WITH RESPECT TO AIPAC & OUR MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO NEED TO WAKE UP!
By Spinoza, November 20, 2006 at 3:00 pm # There is a need to rethink left and right.
By Tony Wicher, November 20, 2006 at 2:44 pm # Reply to Comment #38979 by Spinoza on 11/20 at 11:15 am I checked out the Global Orgasm web site. Spinoza, you surprise me! You really believe in such a global energy field. Oh, how unscientific of you! This is some sort of childish superstition. Some sort of psychic nonsense. Now no one will take you seriously. Except me, I guess. I find the paradigm of a field of mental or conscious energy that blankets the globe and is powered by the individual brains of all humans on the planet - indeed, by every organism on the planet - to be most useful. This natural field which has always been there is greatly magnified and intensified by the Internet. Information is flying all over the place from one mind to another. We can use this theory to spread our idea of the secular multi-ethnic democracy in the Holy Land. Now that I know I am dealing with a fellow “mystic”, I will continue to post elements of this theory. I think what Global Orgasm is doing can be developed much further. I dare to hope that we can really make a difference this way.
By Donald Tilley, November 20, 2006 at 1:08 pm # I just wanted to voice a word of support for Tony Wicher’s idea of declaring a “hudna” until both Palestinians and Israel’s can seriously consider the one, multi-ethnic, secular state solution. Building a wall is certainly not the right, long-term approach. It didn’t work in Berlin, it won’t work along the U.S. Mexico border, and it won’t work in Israel. Instead of building walls, both sides should be building bridges of mutual understanding and respect. This wall is an ugly scar on the Holy Land, and, in my option, is an affront to all three Abrahamic religions.
By Spinoza, November 20, 2006 at 11:15 am # This is a very good idea. Change the zeitgeist
By Tony Wicher, November 20, 2006 at 9:58 am # Reply to Comment #38938 by Kwagmyre on 11/20 at 8:25 am My current location in time and space is: 640 E 4th St. Feel free to contact me any time. Kwaggy, we live only a short drive apart. Perhaps we will meet in person some time. You sound like my kind of Jew. Do you and your cousin ever do Thanksgiving as well as Jewish holidays? I have my Thanksgiving every year with a huge family of secular Jewish-Americans and it’s our biggest holiday of the year. In any case, next time you sit down with your cousin, it would be a most interesting and valuable experiment to see if you could discuss the subject at the dinner table in a full and honest way without acrimony but as two people who really love each other as they love the whole world and its people. What matters most is that there be deep communication between you, and that you depart with love.
By Kwagmyre, November 20, 2006 at 8:25 am # Posted by Frank, #38873: “I am American living in Florida. Could each of us give a general geographic identity without danger to our person? I sense that we are from widely different national origins.” I’m a native of L.A.,Calif., Jewish(but non-religious like many are), live in the San Fernando Valley section and mentioned earlier that only in recent years did I become progressively enlightened about the true state of affairs in Israel. Apparently I kept hearing how Israel “had stolen” territory from the Palestinians from so many sources, all of them credible I might add. But I have a religious cousin, we’re on close terms(in fact the closest among the cousins I have on that side of the family) lives nearby, and when she invites me over for such occasions as the Passover or Rosh Hashonah, the subject of Israel doesn’t come up for the most part. I often fantasize about how I’d “confront” her if we ever DID get into a serious discussion about this, but in the interests of maintaining some semblance of family unity we most likely would have an amicable exchange I’d hope.
By Tony Wicher, November 20, 2006 at 8:06 am # (continuation of previous post) Lieberman’s defection would appeal to Bush as one of those middle-
By Tony Wicher, November 20, 2006 at 8:04 am # Here’s an interesting post about the U.S. political situation right now. Lieberman certainly is in a key postion, unfortunately. If only he could be convinced that Israelis would really be a whole lot better off if they adopted our one multi-ethnic democracy policy! Then it would be adopted with bipartisan support. Of course, this would require a miracle of God! Joe Lieberman is smiling. (continued)
By Spinoza, November 19, 2006 at 9:18 pm # I signed the petition Lewis Beyman --------------------------------- I recommend the following: ---------------------------------- EMPATHY
By Frank Goodman, Sr., November 19, 2006 at 7:51 pm # To all who supported justice and peace with honor and human rights. I am among those who see a one democratic secular state as the answer. It seems that those of us who challenged the idea of Zionism as the cause of the disruption of the lives of all the people in the Middle East, have at least for the time being in this comment space, which has turned into a kind of a forum on Palestine, have driven off the dogs. It has made me wonder who we are individually. Where do we call home? I have seen minor differences in our approach, but no major barrier to peace in our responses. I am American living in Florida. Could each of us give a general geographic identity without danger to our person? I sense that we are from widely different national origins. It shows that the world could come together in peace after all. That was the promise of the United States in its inception and it was the promise of the United Nations in its inception. The world does tend to approach the ideal of democratic justice for all over time. I wonder why it takes so long. Robert Kennedy said, “I see things as they are and wonder why. I dream of things as they could be and wonder why not.” I have lived to see descendants of former African slaves gain equal rights with all other Americans under law, though not in personal experience. I have seen women move up the ladders of success. I have seen civil rights gains over all of America in my lifetime. I have seen the rise of Jews to safety and security where anti-Semitism ruled only 50 to 60 years ago. I have seen the arrival of people from all over the world until America is truly a multi-cultural nation with civil rights for all. We have a setback now with the rise of George Bush to challenge American values, but he too will pass. There is a strong movement to return to the values we had prior to 9/11. The day of practical Zionism to get the Jews out of Europe and America by giving them a ghetto state of their own is over. There is no more talk of sending the ‘Negros’ back to Africa. And no talk of driving the Native Americans back to their reservations. This is one nation with diversity and justice for all. Thank you all. If this fizzles out for lack of opposition, we have all won. Please place one more comment telling where you are home.
By Kwagmyre, November 19, 2006 at 10:09 am # I wrote in post #38641: “It points to just how tall an order it will be to change the thinking of those who would already seem most disposed to a change of heart or attitude on Israel/Palestine.” So to put my money where my mouth is, I later emailed Nancy Pelosi and recommended she read “One Country” so she might acquire a more balanced view on the Israel/Palestine issue. We’ll see if she follows through. I ain’t holding my breath though.
By Fadel Abdallah, November 19, 2006 at 8:14 am # To all the Noble Warriors for Peace with Justice for the Palestinians on this forum,, please consider signing the following petition so we can become part of a larger movement. deliberately shifting focus away from Israel’s war crimes and its supremacist Zionist ideology; As ethical human beings we consider it our obligation to: do all we can to allow the information to be diffused as widely and as quickly as possible; Any attempts at censoring reasoned critique of Israel and Zionism must be refused a priori, as it is in conflict with the goal of seeking to protect and support the Palestinian people - as their empowerment is the only way to peaceful coexistence for all the populations of the Middle East. Any attempts at dictating what the Palestinians should do will be looked upon with great circumspection and suspicion. Palestinians themselves wish to construct their own future and are not pawns to be shifted on the chessboard. We demand free speech for sincere critics of Zionism and call for an end to campaigns created in order to ostracise its most vocal critics. Smear campaigns will not be tolerated, as we recognise that they are the instrument of choice of Zionists, and detract energy from our work. We will not hesitate to expose the instrumental usage of them, no matter the claimed principles of those who are engaged in creating such campaigns. On the other hand, open dialogue and reasoned argumentation is welcome and greatly encouraged as a tool to understanding and collaboration. The indigenous people of Palestine are facing extermination by the hands of the Jewish State, and the world keeps silent. The sooner we draw public attention to Israel’s needless wanton destruction, the sooner we can do away with this horrifying, insufferable situation. PLEASE, sign the petition if you share our concerns.
By Robert, November 19, 2006 at 6:27 am # Swedish Human Rights worker viciously attacked by Israeli settlers. They were confronted by 100 settlers in small groups, who started chanting in Hebrew “We killed Jesus, we’ll kill you too!” Take a look at the horrifying bloody pictures & read the details of how brutal Zionism really is among the settlers & IDF.
By Geronimo, November 18, 2006 at 9:46 pm # Hmm, downstream now nearly four months plus a thousand comments from where “Isreal’s Barrier To Peace” started its truthdig run, seems there not only are no more postings from supporters of the Jewish settler-state Israel, but that instead those of us still hanging around on this thread all see justice for the Palestinian people (along with TROOPS OUT NOW) as the key to peace on earth and goodwill to all living beings. And what’s more, that it’s up to us.
By Kwagmyre, November 18, 2006 at 8:53 am # Posted by Robert #38660: “Frank, Tony, Kwag, Justice4all, Fadel, Geronimo & others, your hardwork, efforts, integrity & focus during this journey defending the TRUTH, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, UN CHARTER, INTERNATIONAL LAW, PEACE & Equality to all MANKIND is to be commended. I am honored to be amongst you & to be on your side. The side of TRUTH, JUSTICE & PEACE for ALL.” Rob......... Speaking for myself and the rest, I can assure you it’s mutual. Our strength lies not just in numbers here but in getting out the necessary message in this forum and however we can do it so that it progressively resonates with more and more people.
By Robert, November 17, 2006 at 6:41 pm # Greetings to all!!! Frank, Tony, Kwag, Justice4all, Fadel, Geronimo & others, your hardwork, efforts, integrity & focus during this journey defending the TRUTH, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, UN CHARTER, INTERNATIONAL LAW, PEACE & Equality to all MANKIND is to be commended. I am honored to be amongst you & to be on your side. The side of TRUTH, JUSTICE & PEACE for ALL. Here is an interesting piece of news coming out of Scotland. “Israeli ambassador visit to Scotland cancelled in face of planned protests - We will protest every visit by Israeli state agents to Scotland.” Here is the link:
By Kwagmyre, November 17, 2006 at 4:20 pm # Posted by Tony #38489: “This has to be the one. How do we get to them? How do we put a bug in the ear of leading Democrats?” Tony......... I’m with ya 100% on this. But I read only yesterday that Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean and at least a few other Democrats have disassociated themselves from ex-Pres. Jimmy Carter since the latter has just now come out with a book on Israel’s Apartheid policies. Also, I was so “smitten” by Barack Obama until I read in “One Country” that he too hasn’t been so sympathetic with the Palestinians cause. It points to just how tall an order it will be to change the thinking of those who would already seem most disposed to a change of heart or attitude on Israel/Palestine.
By Frank Goodman, Sr., November 17, 2006 at 2:41 pm # To all of you who remain glued to this site, Salaam. To Ken (Comment #38254 by Ken Schreier on 11/15)if he is still with us, Salaam. I do not know if we influenced you for the better, but you certainly filled a need as Kwagmyre says. (Comment #38323 by Kwagmyre on 11/16) I feel that you all complemented me in presenting my theme of peace and justice for all. That includes Ken and other Zionist oriented respondents who did not seem to understand that this is not against Jews in a state on the land of Palestine. It is not even against the name being called Israel. It is and was always for a state for all people who wish to call it their promised land, homeland, holy land, or home. The challenge was to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. We aroused Ken et al when we undertook to ridicule the notion of Zionism as it applies to that land in violation of those principles. I also rejected an Islamic or a Christian state there as I would reject similar religious interference in secular affairs in my own nation, even when it is the religion I have chosen to represent my relationship with God. Any state is a system to recognize and to regulate the relationships among human beings and their environment. By incorporating common concepts of decency and respect for the person of human beings, I believe that we serve God, our Creator and Sustainer. With God’s help, we redeem ourselves with honor to our fellow citizens of the world and to God. Peace! Wa aleikum salaam.
By Tony Wicher, November 17, 2006 at 1:32 pm # Further Reply to Comment #38535 by Jack Clegg on 11/17 at 8:44 am So, what is so radical about the idea of a multi-ethnic, secular, American-style democracy in the Holy Land? I mean, how mainstream can you get? Properly explained, the great majority of the country would get behind it. It’s so all-American, there would be bipartisan support - like the civil rights movement of the 60’s in the heyday of the Democratic party. If somebody could buttonhole Bill Clinton and propose it to him, I just know he would go for it. But the idea seems so radical that most people would not seriously consider it. Why is this? Well, it is radical because it is inconsistent with the existence of Israel in its current political form. It is inconsistent with the concept of “Jewish self-defense” which is the founding idea of Israel, unfortunately. This idea is that Jews should live in a majority Jewish state and be defended by a Jewish army. This idea, understandable given the Holocaust, cannot be the basis for a modern state. At this point, Zionism is deservedly in the worst disrepute world-wide of its whole disreputable existence. The whole world hates them, as well they should. Their only ally is lying phony Bush, who has been exposed to the whole world, even the American people, as beneath contempt. Why in the world should a new Democratic administration support them? The U.S. need oil. Israel does not have any. So the only use Israel has is as an ally to take over Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. and control the Middle East oil supply. So when the Democrats get in will they continue the Republican policy, which has also, unfortunately, been a bipartisan policy under Democrats and Republicans for more than 50 years? If they do, God help us. We’re probably doomed. But on the other hand, Democrats could become a real peace party. They may conclude that attacking Iran, etc. and continuing the military alliance with Israel are not the way to go. I do believe that is the natural inclination of the Clintons (both of them) Barak Obama, and other leading Democrats. Maybe they have already thought of this idea of supporting a one multiethnic democracy solution instead of a two-state solution. If not, somebody has to explain it to them. We have to get this message out now, because with the change in power the political situation is fluid and it is the time for new ideas. If the U.S. adopts this policy, the whole world will support it. Seeing this, I believe the Israeli people would throw out their own phony lying murdering bastards and elect some leaders who would negotiate a real peace based on real justice and equality.
By Tony Wicher, November 17, 2006 at 1:25 pm # Reply to Comment #38535 by Jack Clegg on 11/17 at 8:44 am The U.S./Israeli alliance in its current form is a devil’s bargain, like some marriages. It brings out the worst in both. They encourage each other in their moral depravity, and in the end they pull each other down to destruction. This is a generation of vipers, both here and there. They are both hypocrites, lying phonies using each other. So what shall we do? Here’s the idea that has come to me and others independently, and which we are trying to spread: a secular, multi-ethnic democracy in the Holy Land. I prefer to put it this way, rather than call it “Israel” because everything, including the name of the place and its flag, would be up for negotiations. Whatever is necessary to achieve peace and justice should be done. To change a stupid flag or a stupid name is nothing by comparison. I favor a written constitution, which Israel does not have at this time. This would be written by a consitutional congress made up from representatives of all religions and ethnicities. The first principles written into it would be guarantees of nondiscrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, gender, etc, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and above all, the separation of church and state. You know, like we have here in the good old USA. You know, the reason that lying phony Bush has been claiming he attacked Iraq - to spread “freedom and democracy” while the same lying phony Bush does everything possible to undermine freedom and democracy both here at home and all over the world. Oh yes, and lying phony Bush also says he did this to protect our “noble ally” “the only democracy in the Middle East”, Israel, whose leaders like Netanyahu, Olmert, etc. are another bunch of lying phony murdering bastards. But now, at long last, the tide is turning. I would not say they have woken up, but the American people have at least been slighly disturbed in their slumber. They put in the Democrats, hoping at least for something better than Bush. Democrats do have at least some sense and are somewhat more competent and less corrupt, but they have very little balls. They want a new idea, but they are also typical political cowards who are afraid to really lead the country. They always want to take a poll first. It is their worst weakness. (Continued in next remark - this one is too long)
By Frank Goodman, Sr., November 17, 2006 at 11:07 am # Harris’s article is where we are. This is where we are from. It is the way to where we should be going. Not the one sided or even the multi-sided compromise with values to satisfy selfish and parochial prejudice, but justice as a one size fits all solution. Equal justice is the answer and the solution. Let equal justice be the fact and the political expediency to the resolution of this aching problem. I take a quote from a longer article: “Only equality and respect for justice and international law can guarantee peaceful community and are the only guarantors of a permanent and secure existence of the State of Israel and the future State of Palestine – and of the safety of Jews among us and all over the world. The human rights formulated in the UN Charter and the UN declaration of human rights emerged against the backdrop of Nazi barbarism, in particular the industrialised racial mass murder of Jews, Sinti, Roma, and other minorities. Both documents recognise only the equality of people without exception. That must also apply for the parties to the conflict in the Near East.”
By Jack Clegg, November 17, 2006 at 8:44 am # As long as America is seen as the supporting structure for Israel, the Arab states and their people will never see America as a friend but will see us as the enemy. Israel doesn’t care one lick about us, but uses us as a supporter, a defender and even a lightening rod. We supply them the weapons. We are always one sided at the UN. We take on their enemies. To the Arab nations, Israel and the U.S. are one. A more even-handed approach could possibly reduce the hate of Islamic fundamentalists towards us and their desire to kill us.
By Tony Wicher, November 16, 2006 at 10:36 pm # Reply Comment #38323 by Kwagmyre on 11/16 at 9:33 am Kwag and Justice, This particular discussion may have died down, but the idea which we have been supporting, vis., a new peace initiative for a multi-ethnic democracy in the Israel, is what must be kept alive and spread. Now is the time for this idea. The Democrats are looking for a new idea. This has to be the one. How do we get to them? How do we put a bug in the ear of leading Democrats? Anybody you know able to buttonhole Bill Clinton for an hour or so? For now, we can keep checking back here in case there are any interesting new posts, and also look around the Truthdig site for other interesting digs and discussions on this or related topics.
By Tony Wicher, November 16, 2006 at 10:25 pm # Reply to Comment #38254 by Ken Schreier on 11/15 at 6:27 pm Ken, Thank you for being a part of this discussion. May we see eye to eye and find peace together. Tony
By Justice4All, November 16, 2006 at 11:55 am # Comment #38323 by Kwagmyre Maybe some can refer us to other challenging forums we can participate in. Regards.
By Justice4All, November 16, 2006 at 10:57 am # Comment #38276 by Tony Wicher My sincere apologies. I guess I did not read it thoroughly. Best.
By Kwagmyre, November 16, 2006 at 9:33 am # Well, with Ken now departed, this topic will run out of steam and we’d only have the like minded rational people posting. Don’t know if that’s enough to keep things alive. If it is coming to an imminent end, just want to say it’s been a pleasure sharing sentiments with the rest. Kwag Add Your Comment |
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