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Last update - 12:32 13/09/2009
Time to poll Israelis on continuing occupation
By Gideon Levy
Tags: Israel News, Occupation 

This charade really has to stop. Forty-two years into the Israeli occupation, it's time to find out once and for all, without caveats or reservations, what Israelis actually want. Governments deceive us, one after another, as with generation after generation of a seemingly apathetic public. Now we have a prime minister who talks about a two-state solution and simultaneously works to undermine any chance of realizing it. No one knows what he, or we, are striving for, other than his own survival.

The prime minister that preceded him made even more far-reaching, imaginary compromises, while simultaneously building up the settlements and leading us into two unnecessary wars. Another prime minister offered the skies to Yasser Arafat, and built 1,000 housing units in the West Bank alone. The settlements have blossomed and grown under every single Israeli government, absorbing colossal budgets, while settler leaders proclaim the public is with them. It's difficult to say whether they've been right or wrong, because the public has been as deceitful as the governments. In surveys, most of it says it supports the two-state solution, but at the same time it votes for right-wing, centrist or pseudo-leftist parties that have no intention whatsoever of ending the occupation.

Occupation is not on the Israeli agenda. Not a single Jewish MK in today's Knesset ran on a ticket calling for an end to the occupation. The media, too, is doing everything it can to blur and suppress this issue. While everyone is busy blurring and deceiving, it's time to use the one tool Israel has never employed: a referendum - Israel's first - for or against continuing the occupation, whatever either choice entails.
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If supporters of the occupation win, we should storm the West Bank, build up more settlements, and proclaim to the world that this is the will of the people. If, however, opposition wins, all activity for the occupation's entrenchment must be stopped and the occupation itself must be ended, whether as part of an agreement or unilaterally. We don't need Barack Obama, we don't need Mahmoud Abbas, we don't even need Netanyahu: Let the people speak, and then we'll see who dares defy them.

The arguments against a referendum are well-known. What's good for Switzerland, Ireland and Australia, is not necessarily good for Israel. And it's not as if we're not holding general elections every two to three years. If general elections in Israel provided an answer as to what the people want done about the occupation, a referendum would not be necessary. If Israel had a strong, determined leader - who proposed a clear choice to his voters between two states or one state, without any middle ground - elections would suffice. But Israel does not and never had such a leader.

True, the charade can continue even after a referendum, which is why the question must be razor-sharp: Do we continue the occupation, all of the occupation, yes or no? If yes, then yes, if no, then no. But let's decide what it is that we want. This will be the real Big Bang: The referendum and the campaigns leading up to it will cut across party lines, rattle the system, drive it out of its dead-end brain freeze, and result in a defining moment of truth for Israeli politics and politicians. The latter, too, will once and for all have to answer truthfully.

Without a referendum, any leader can go on deceiving, and the public can maintain its smug indifference. With the stopwatch of occupation ticking incessantly, the time has come to produce this doomsday weapon, because doomsday is very near indeed. Very soon, if not already, we'll be past the point of referenda and sentenced to live forever in a racist, bleeding, forever warring bi-national apartheid state. The government won't want the referendum and the Knesset won't like it; this is why the call must come from elsewhere - from the parched throats of the last Israelis, left and right, who still want to know what on earth we want and where we are going.

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      1.   Israel did, just this year 02:04  |  Mark Lincoln 13/09/09
      2.   Mr. Levy..Israel will never want PEACE.. 02:41  |  ali 13/09/09
      3.   Yo, Gideon: There was an election! (it was in all the papers) 02:50  |  down with lefties 13/09/09
      4.   Silly article since what Israel wants depends on what Arabs want 02:50  |  McQueen 13/09/09
      5.   What a good idea! 02:51  |  Manny Goldstein 13/09/09
      6.   Gideon speaks from the whirlwind, or really Tel Aviv 02:53  |  Mark 13/09/09
      7.   referendum 03:19  |  steve 13/09/09
      8.   Naive article: Israel l;eft gaza and things got worse 03:31  |  bernard ross 13/09/09
      9.   Israeli referenda have nothing to do with Palestinian rights 03:58  |  John E. Smoke 13/09/09
      10.   Referendum 04:13  |  Edifice 13/09/09
      11.   Gideon Levy - I SALUTE YOU! 04:28  |  Haaretz Fan 13/09/09
      12.   Referendi are not that Simple 04:39  |  Simmo 13/09/09
      13.   A NICE SIMPLE THEORY NOT BASED ON HOW THINGS REALLY WORK 04:46  |  ZIONIST FOREVER 13/09/09
      14.   Eretz Israel or not? 05:06  |  HPL 13/09/09
      15.   Between a rock and a hard place 05:08  |  Arieh Zimmerman 13/09/09
      16.   Like asking for census in Lebenon, or healthcare reform in US 05:22  |  Nancy DeMarche Plume 13/09/09
      17.   they want it both ways and can`t 05:27  |  peterr ouget 13/09/09
      18.   One Thing Before The Referendum 05:28  |  Brad 13/09/09
      19.   Not referendum, Israel`s fate depends on talks 05:30  |  Hillary Spencer 13/09/09
      20.   It will trigger a Palestinian referendum 05:36  |  Carl Finnstein 13/09/09
      21.   #3 Perhaps try reading the article..... 05:40  |  Johnboy 13/09/09
      22.   Referendum on stopping the settler movement, not on 2 state solut 05:41  |  Burt 13/09/09
      23.   Rule by Referendum? Not Wise 06:02  |  Jasper 13/09/09
      24.   The Outcome Of Such A Referendum Will Depend... 06:03  |  Jeff Northridge 13/09/09
      25.   Just because Likud is at the helm doesn`t mean the country 06:04  |  Smadar 13/09/09
      26.   Gideon what about the Arabs or are u a Golda Meir?! 06:29  |  arthur 13/09/09
      27.   occupation 06:34  |  colin 13/09/09
      28.   Referendum on settlemen ts 06:40  |  al 13/09/09
      29.   Excellent proposal. A choice between peace or sanctions! 06:40  |  Ivar 13/09/09
      30.   Like asking for census in Lebenon, or healthcare reform in US 06:50  |  Mark Lincoln 13/09/09
      31.   Levy: You are confused! 06:53  |  Sean 13/09/09
      32.   the majority is never right 06:55  |  pesach avrum 13/09/09
      33.   Talkbackers - You`ve been had 06:56  |  Fish 13/09/09
      34.   Pointless 07:25  |  Jewchai 13/09/09
      35.   Why does everyone take Gideon so seriously this morning?! 07:32  |  Esther 13/09/09
      36.   There cannot be a referendum on what is wrong only! 07:33  |  Kris Lazar 13/09/09
      37.   Define occupation first 07:39  |  Danny 13/09/09
      38.   Define what is meant by "occupatio" 07:45  |  Alexander M. Ospovat 13/09/09
      39.   Ivar is right, time for sanctions against Palestinians 08:10  |  Joe Sittizen 13/09/09
      40.   THIS is not a CHARADE 08:14  |  Israel very serious 13/09/09
      41.   how about a Palestinian referendum? 08:30  |  Chris 13/09/09
      42.   Levy`s selective understanding of democracy 08:49  |  Michael Dar 13/09/09
      43.   Irrelevant 08:50  |  Northern 13/09/09
      44.   I support a referendum on acupuncture too 08:51  |  Ron 13/09/09
      45.   #37, #36 There is already a definition of "occupation" 09:11  |  Johnboy 13/09/09
      46.   to bernard ross #8 09:22  |  zeev 13/09/09
      47.   Let the Iranians have a referendum first 09:26  |  Realist 13/09/09
      48.   the israeli public is confused 09:26  |  bored crustacean 13/09/09
      49.   You already got your vote Gideon Levy 09:27  |  Proud Israeli 13/09/09
      50.   Thank You Mr Levy 09:28  |  As`ad - Angry Arab 13/09/09
      51.   Levy`s Referendum 09:37  |  Walid 13/09/09
      52.   ALL Israelis want Peace and Security. A referendum should ask... 09:55  |  S 13/09/09
      53.   The latest elections to Israel`s parliament, Kenneset, say it all 10:05  |  Sarale 13/09/09
      54.   @ 35 10:13  |  Sarah 13/09/09
      55.   Time to hold referendum on recognition of Israel by the Palestini 10:21  |  real time 13/09/09
      56.   Bravo for putting the obvious out there 10:30  |  harvey 13/09/09
      57.   Then we`ll all know 10:38  |  AngelaJerusalem 13/09/09
      58.   to bernard ross #8 - 2nd try 10:39  |  zeev 13/09/09
      59.   Let "the world" have a referendum instead of Israel !!! :) 11:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/09/09
      60.   There is no solution.. 11:15  |  EW 13/09/09
      61.   for how long will journalists on the outer fringes 11:15  |  ombudsman 13/09/09
      62.   REFERENDUM 11:15  |  Carl Perkal 13/09/09
      63.   to bernard ross #8 - and something else 11:24  |  zeev 13/09/09
      64.   Liberals in Quebec have no referendum on separating from Canada 11:26  |  Sam 13/09/09
      65.   johnboy there is no problem 11:28  |  ombudsman 13/09/09
      66.   peter rouget moves back to ramle from latrum(sic) 11:34  |  mrsmalaprop 13/09/09
      67.   ramle yet again bored again scorpion 11:40  |  jeanbrody 13/09/09
      68.   the jewish people have built up israel 11:51  |  erwin honigstein 13/09/09
      69.   More fuzzy thinking 11:57  |  Richard 13/09/09
      70.   poll 12:53  |  Yaron 13/09/09
      71.   A lot of people suggesting Israel had elections last year 13:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/09/09
      72.   all or nothing 13:24  |  oz 13/09/09
      73.   It is not taht easy 13:52  |  Paula 13/09/09
      74.   A Yes would not legitimise settlements 14:05  |  Keith T. 13/09/09
      75.   Israel cannot change international laws 14:10  |  BDS 13/09/09
      76.   whether the majority 15:08  |  Joe 13/09/09
      77.   Well, Mark #1, that`s not quite what happened... 15:09  |  Esther 13/09/09
      78.   At any rate, S #52... peace-and-security will elude us... 16:13  |  Esther 13/09/09
      79.   Occupation illegal, great idea to know what we all think 16:14  |  Rachel Rabin 13/09/09
      80.   Start the healing now...Choose Coexistence! 16:24  |  Issa Dadoush 13/09/09
      81.   We dont like the lisbon treaty---should we poll Israelis. 16:57  |  Orla 13/09/09
      82.   make it clearer 17:19  |  michael 13/09/09
      83.   um...guys? 18:27  |  Zach Wheat 13/09/09
      84.   Who is to be polled? 19:05  |  Mike 13/09/09
      85.   @Erwin Honigstein 19:09  |  Goy 13/09/09
      86.   Poll ? What for 19:13  |  Robert 13/09/09
      87.   Rachel Rabin 20:44  |  rich 13/09/09
      88.   ombudsman to johnboy #65 20:57  |  Roo 13/09/09
      89.   I agree Esther #78. There is no conflict with my #52... 21:03  |  S 13/09/09
      90.   You ignore basic problem 21:28  |  jackie 13/09/09
      91.   goy "so you want to talk numbers" 21:34  |  erwin honigstein 13/09/09
      92.   First, define occupation, then dont ignore arab occupatioon of 21:38  |  jj 13/09/09
      93.   would a referendum REALLY reflect "true" opinion? 21:42  |  eric 13/09/09
      94.   Good Idea ,Too late . 22:24  |  Yaser 13/09/09
      95.   jj 22:45  |  bs spotter 13/09/09
      96.   #91 You DO want war 22:59  |  Carl 13/09/09
      97.   Let`s wait till Bibi shoots himself in the foot 23:36  |  Marc Leb 13/09/09
      98.   Clear and to the point 23:47  |  sh 13/09/09
      99.   To Mark Lincoln 00:02  |  Geroge W 14/09/09
      100.   roo thank you for the effort 00:13  |  ombudsman 14/09/09
      101.   roo "you sound like you know little of archaeology" 00:22  |  ombudsman 14/09/09
      102.   Wakey wakey! 00:25  |  sh 14/09/09
      103.   What occupation? 03:12  |  Brod 14/09/09
      104.   So what happened before the "occupation"? 03:15  |  TOMY 14/09/09
      105.   Is Bibi having a nervous breakdown? 03:17  |  Gully Foyle 14/09/09
      106.   The total misscruing of the reality 03:25  |  TOMY 14/09/09
      107.   # 26 Arthur 03:25  |  MArtin 14/09/09
      108.   The subject of occupation 04:31  |  Brod 14/09/09
      109.   Lets start with a full and uncompromising apology 05:18  |  kiwi girl 14/09/09
      110.   Israel Provokes Aggression 06:01  |  Vladek 14/09/09
      111.   would a referendum REALLY reflect "true" opinion? 06:07  |  eric 14/09/09
      112.   Its no occupation Gideon 06:09  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 14/09/09
      113.   Time for a referendum 06:11  |  Barak H Obama 14/09/09
      114.   #3 Kadima received the most votes 06:35  |  Susan 14/09/09
      115.   A Refurendum? That could only happen in democracy 07:04  |  Toronto 14/09/09
      116.   referendum 07:23  |  bill treistman 14/09/09
      117.   This is a brilliant idea 07:40  |  AB 14/09/09
      118.   #101 eric with a touch of the sun again- on voting 08:20  |  vhardman 14/09/09
      119.   TIME TO POLL for 08:28  |  two state solution 14/09/09
      120.   to ombudsman #65 - 3rd try 09:17  |  zeev 14/09/09
      121.   JOHNBOY The PA exerts authority in the West Bank as well 09:17  |  PETER SM 14/09/09
      122.   referendum 09:17  |  captain grumpy 14/09/09
      123.   to mrsmalaprop #66 - 3rd try 09:19  |  zeev 14/09/09
      124.   How about this for a Referendum? 09:37  |  Fire and Water 14/09/09
      125.   Mr gideon levvy 09:46  |  captain grumpy 14/09/09
      126.   Issa #80, I respect co-existence, however 10:27  |  Palestinian Prince 14/09/09
      127.   The real question for a referendum is: 10:33  |  r cummings 14/09/09
      128.   Brod - Easy answers 10:54  |  r cummings 14/09/09
      129.   won`t happen 11:06  |  Ernst 14/09/09
      130.   Kiwi girl No.99,first of all,who are the "palestinian people"? 11:10  |  Hastaroth 14/09/09
      131.   Yes Gideon, your charade must stop. 11:32  |  Justin White 14/09/09
      132.   Do we not exist? 11:51  |  Palestinian Flower 14/09/09
      133.   It`s time 12:06  |  sh 14/09/09
      134.   To # 112 - Stand up for Peace 15:28  |  Issa Dadoush 14/09/09
      135.   to Sarale #53 - 3rd try 18:15  |  zeev 14/09/09
      136.   to Mark #6 - perfectly right - 5th try 18:16  |  zeev 14/09/09
      137.   poll on ocupation 18:38  |  Dr. Bähr 14/09/09
      138.   Time to poll Israelis on continuing occupation 19:20  |  Ronald Kennedy 14/09/09
      139.   to rich #87 13:02  |  zeev 26/09/09
      140.   to Chaim Ben Kahan #112 19:43  |  zeev 30/09/09
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