• Published 18:54 21.03.10
  • Latest update 18:55 21.03.10

Israelis are behaving like spoiled rich brats

Most Israelis would rather destroy their own castle than see Palestinians share their dreams, says filmmaker.

By Udi Aloni Tags: Israel news

The terrifying specter of non-violent resistance to the occupation and the apartheid regime is hovering over the State of Israel, and all the state's dignitaries have been recruited to battle it.

This non-violent resistance operates both in areas under Israel's reign of control, in the form of a popular struggle on both sides of the green line, and across the globe, through the Israeli and international affirmative response to the Palestinian call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions on Israel, until it ends the occupation and grants full equality to people from both nations living under its rule.

As an act of solidarity with the subjugated Palestinian people, a group of Jewish Israelis has decided to join those Palestinians who have chosen the non-violent struggle for civic and national justice.

This act has given politically conscientious Jewish Israelis a golden opportunity to join a campaign against their own government without forsaking their own people. Indeed, this act leads the way towards a broader joint struggle with the oppressed people, through a rebuilding of our fundamental human values, enabling us to do away with the friend/foe dichotomy, which lies at the root of Israeli racism and anxiety.

One should hope that this non-violent resistance, led by a popular Palestinian leadership, will evolve into a binational Palestinian-Jewish front for an equitable and egalitarian political solution.

Right-wing groups and government organs have joined forces with all their might at the face of this new adversary who has risen up to challenge the decades-long racist theft of land from one ethnic group and its transfer into the hands of another. This is not surprising.

It is the hysterical reaction coming from so-called "leftist" circles which ought to be considered more surprising. Those "liberals" prefer to march, shamed and humiliated, alongside the Netanyahu-Barak-Lieberman triangle, than associate themselves with enlightened Palestinians.

From their viewpoint, violating a Tel Avivian's right to listen to Elton John in concert here is equivalent to, and possibly worse than, violating a Palestinian farmer's right to cultivate his land. They accuse the "radicals" of opposing dialogue, though the support for the non-violent struggle and the boycott campaign is precisely what has breathed new life into the cooperation between action groups from both nations.The call issued to rock musicians not to perform in Israel, which has elicited angry responses in Israel, is aimed at thwarting the normalization of occupation and apartheid, a normalization reflected in the insouciant everyday life of the city of Tel Aviv.

The majority of Jewish Israelis are complicit in the perpetuation of the current state of affairs. When growing groups of conscientious people refuse to play the game of building a fictitious democratic sand castle on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Israeli Jew behaves like a spoiled rich brat, who would rather destroy his own castle than see natives share his world and his dreams.

As long as the Jewish settler who is sitting on the plundered land of Bil'in, and the contractor from uptown Tel Aviv who is making a fortune from building on that land, are free to go to the Pixies concert, while the original inhabitants of Bil'in are prevented from doing so, simply because they are Arab - the concert should be regarded as an apartheid concert.

Neither establishment-drafted artists nor the President of the Israel's Supreme Court can erase this sign of infamy from the collective face of Israeli society. Only those modest, yet determined, groups of individuals who have joined the non-violent Palestinian struggle can succeed in this. On that day, instead of smearing them as "irrelevant", "puritan", "condescending" and "self-hating", the following statement will apply to them: never was so much owed by so many to so few.

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    This story is by: Udi Aloni
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  • 37. 0 0
    Nonviolent protests are admirable, but
    • a wandering Jew
    • 23.03.10
    • 10:18

    they may not succeed unless they are backed by a political structure which has the ability to form a government. Fatah is the only party which is, available, but does it have the courage and the will?

  • 36. 0 0
    #!5, exactly what comprimises ?
    • Jerry
    • 23.03.10
    • 08:31

    That they capitulate and yield on all the land Israel has confiscated. Exactly what is Israel giving up that's theirs? The answer is nill, nadda, zero. Israel has a State, yet keeps insisting that a non State recognize their right to exist. Something the PLO did in 1993. What about Israel recognizing the rights of a Palestinian State to exist. Israeli problems are far more serious then mere spoiled brats. Try Greed for a starter.

  • 35. 0 0
    Question
    • Experticus nihilli
    • 23.03.10
    • 05:58

    Do the Palestinians have no right to resist the Israeli occupation? Israel withdraws from Gaza but increases its settlement building in the WB, and you try to convince the rest of the world that the Palestinians should be greatful for the withdrawal from Gaza and live as if they are now free? The occupation continues, the Palestinians don't want a free Gaza, they also want a free WB, which the rest of the world rather agrees with (yes, I know, we're all pretty horrible people, aren't we?), why would anyone think withdrawing from one part but not the rest should see the Palestinians blurt out unceasing gratitude? What is that Israel ultimately wants from the Palestinians, to respect them and wish them long life and prosperity? Perhaps to stop resisting and go away? Or maybe what Israel really wants to hear is that the Palestinians love them and are happy that they came along? Of course, the Palestinians should also believe this when they say it, shouldn't they?

  • 34. 0 0
    #31 Miggy
    • Sarah
    • 22.03.10
    • 20:13

    Ignorance is nothing to be proud about! How difficult can it be to read Wikipedia? The inhabitants of the Gaza Strip were given a chance to improve their situation in 2005 when the settlers were removed. The greenhouses were left as a sign of good will, also some of the buildings. The Gazans chose to destroy everything instead of developing their economy. They also chose to elect a terrorist government, the Hamas. THEN and only then did Israel and Egypt close the crossings, to make the life harder for terrorists. Again, check your knowledge and don't write slogans

  • 33. 0 0
    Aloni get your facts straights
    • Eric Wood
    • 22.03.10
    • 19:44

    The leftist Jews happen to forget that when a Palestinian terrorist blows up a bus he does not care how many leftist Jews are in it. The Arabs continually initiate the violence. The Israelis have not fired the first shots. Do the Palestinians expect not to be fired back on? Its ok for them to blow up school children and civilians intentionally? Someone please explain to me how the Israelis could possibly live next to such a violent people. I personally don't see how it can be done at this point. All I see is the Palestinians provoking war and using any method they can to get all of Israel. How can there be peace among a people, that have no value for men women and children. I propose you try this little test. Get a gun then surround yourself with 100-200 children throwing stones with Palestinian gunmen using them as shields as they fire at you. See how long it is before you open fire. If you raise children for martyrdom through the Mosques, schools and OFFICIAL media what do you think is going to happen? The Palestinians have DEMONSTRATED they do not want peace. The goal of Fatah (in their own words) is very clear on their website: http://www.e-fateh.org/paper_full_3.aspx Article (12) - total liberation of Palestine and the liquidation of the Zionist state economically and politically, militarily and culturally. Article (13) - the establishment of independent democratic Palestinian state with full sovereignty over all Palestinian territories [no two state solution anywhere in the goals of Fatah] ALL Islamic nations only use Israel as a foil to divert attention to the corrupt rule. If Israel wanted Mogadishu as it Capitol suddenly there would be uproar throughout the Islamic world because Muhammad's horse slept there. We must make a strong and unequivocal direct declaration to the world delivered to all nations that Jerusalem is the UNDIVIDED Capitol of Israel and that no nation can or will divide its Capitol with its enemy and expect to survive. Jerusalem is ours and the Arabs can pound sand!!!

  • 32. 0 0
    spot on
    • directrob
    • 22.03.10
    • 17:47

    " the friend/foe dichotomy, which lies at the root of Israeli racism and anxiety. " Peace is not a zero sum game! both parties profit even in a one sided conflict like this.

  • 31. 0 0
    #22 Palestinians did not get a chance in Gaza
    • Miggy
    • 22.03.10
    • 15:12

    Israel tightened the noose as soon as they withdrew the Jewish settlers. They stopped exports, it became almost impossible to leave. They started over flying the territory at night creating deafening sonic booms, waking and terrifying children. In short they took the Jewish settlers out so they could ramp up the persecution of the people in Gaza without any of their own citizens being affected.

  • 30. 0 0
    JEWISHNESS, place stop ranting,
    • Non Jew
    • 22.03.10
    • 14:58

    and demonize and being a total jerk. It is not Jewish at all! It is living 1.2 million Palestinians, driven out from their lands living like refugees in Gaza. Israel has put an aggressive siege on the place for years and Hamas is loosing control over angry youths. Is this a sign of evil from their part? Look into your own hart and judge, that is the Jewish way!

  • 29. 0 0
    Good man Udi
    • Festy Blake
    • 22.03.10
    • 14:01

    This is the unheard voice of Israel. More conscientious Israeli Jews need to voice their opinions. The world needs to hear you. All we hear is the right wing, ultra-nationalist jingoism of an apartheid state. Newspapers like Haaretz are testament to the rational side of Israel.

  • 28. 0 0
    As you see by the talkbacks, no peaceful resistance will work
    • Philip
    • 22.03.10
    • 12:12

    Israelis only understand the language of terrorism and violence. Other languages do not exist for them. Peaceful protests will be crushed and those participating will be labeled as traitors.

  • 27. 0 0
    What are you Aloni, a spokesman for the local Nazi party?
    • Gilad144
    • 22.03.10
    • 11:13

    Aloni is representative of the success anti-Semitic and communist rhetoric has had on the Israeli Left. Aloni and friends are willing to forgo the Jewish state for a state for all its people, devoid of religious connection. What Aloni does not understand is that he is only demanding this from Jews. He would never do the same for Muslims. Maybe someone should remind Aloni just how successful communism really is and that no matter how much he tries to hide the fact that somewhere he is Jewish, those who hate Jews will never allow this to happen.

  • 26. 0 0
  • 25. 0 0
    Author is delusional
    • Proud Zionist
    • 22.03.10
    • 05:40

    Summary of the article: Palestinian farmers just want to cultivate their land; average Israelis want to oppress Palestinians. Israelis have consistently sought peace (accepting the UN partition plan in 1947; Rabin and Oslo; Barak accepting Clinton's peace plan; Olmert offering Abbas peace). the Palestinians have consistently chosen the path of Islamic terror (and teamed with the USSR and Saddam, among others!).

  • 24. 0 0
    Armed resistence is the only thing that Jews understand.
    • Lou Medel
    • 22.03.10
    • 04:47

    Too many innocent people have died and revenge is something Semitic people excel at. Only only Jew said, "turn the other cheek." He was killed. Salaam/Shalom

  • 23. 0 0
    Aloni clan
    • H. Smith
    • 22.03.10
    • 04:39

    We are all familiar with the murderous Aloni clan.

  • 22. 0 0
    Palestinian dreams
    • arnold
    • 22.03.10
    • 04:11

    The writer mentions the dreams of the palestinians. They had a great chance with Gaza. Not a jew living there. What did they do for their dream. They set up rocket launchers closer to Israel and destroyed the hot houses. Therefore the Palestinian dream is to attack Israelis till the Israelis are gone out of Palestine completely. Their dream will not become a reality.

  • 21. 0 0
    who the heck is Udi Aloni?
    • Ralph
    • 22.03.10
    • 02:57

    And why should anyone care what he thinks when he publishes a rant like this?

  • 20. 0 0
    A true Jewish conscience
    • Mitch Katz
    • 22.03.10
    • 02:52

    In the finest tradition of Ghandi and King, a true Jewish conscience still exists.

  • 19. 0 0
    Those non-violent rockets from Gaza and gun shots in Hebron
    • Eve
    • 22.03.10
    • 00:57

    Udi, are you writing from Hawai, or some other far away place?

  • 18. 0 0
    IT'S HARD NOT TO BEHAVE BADLY WHEN 12 ROCKETS HIT IN 1 WEEK
    • JEWISHNESS
    • 22.03.10
    • 00:54

    IF that is the only thing the PALS/gazanists understand then ISRAEL needs to BEHAVE as badly as THEY DO...become an animal, a beast, unthinking about humanity...hate everyone unlike you...beat your wives to death in public, stone your people to death who you think are "impure", send your people to their deaths by stealing their votes, dress your children with bomb vests to bring more death...that's behaving like spoiled brats... become the lowest form of human...become the lowest of the low...become a gazan...or go lower and become a PAL, or reach the very bottom and become an IRANTian voter....and never win. This filmaker is very impressed...with himself...too bad he is so much of an uncreative copycat and a moral myopic hacker!

  • 17. 0 0
    What is this person smoking. The whole world must be pretty???
    • Alfred
    • 22.03.10
    • 00:42

    Israel has a "decent" std of living, because Jews concern more with creating rather than destroying. This article fails to say that if the money given to get weapons for the Pals, was used to build houses, hospitals, schools etc, they would have the best in the world. Now, whose fault is that?. Is the fault of Israel that holds the Golan that Syria is just a poor country, together with Egypt, Iran etc? Again if they spent more on education etc, those coutries would also have a better std, but, you people are blinded and brainwashed by advertising created by........ Good luck to you and may G-d help you, noone else should - not when you judge like a traitor your own gov. and people

  • 16. 0 0
    Pretty simple choice really
    • r cummings
    • 22.03.10
    • 00:33

    Stand for racial supremacy/advantage like Obsolete Sweden or stand with Udi on principle/pragmatism. Which does the Torah advocate I wonder?

  • 15. 0 0
    After you "end the occupation" terror will continue...
    • McQueen
    • 21.03.10
    • 23:46

    over the "right of return." And then what will you say, Aloni. The Palestinians can end the occupation if they at long last make some reasonable compromises.

  • 14. 0 0
    They are not forbidden because they are Arab...
    • McQueen
    • 21.03.10
    • 23:44

    ...but because they belong to a hostile enemy that has perpetrated many violent attacks against civilians. Be honest -- or is that against your ideology.

  • 13. 0 0
    israel cleanse yourself
    • matteo d'agostino,it
    • 21.03.10
    • 23:20

    it's time for israel to find its real identity. israel in the past has always been cleansed after washing its sins. netanyahu is taking israel farther and farther away from a good path.

  • 12. 0 0
    Udi is an idiot
    • Bernard
    • 21.03.10
    • 22:56

  • 11. 0 0
  • 10. 0 0
    aloni say
    • gideon ben yoash
    • 21.03.10
    • 22:14

    you write "Most Israelis would rather destroy their own castle than see Palestinians share their dreams" you are as stupid as any leftist and maybe more dummy if i do not he kill me and get my castle. menin ani lo khoshev.

  • 9. 0 0
    Yes
    • Cesare
    • 21.03.10
    • 21:24

    a non violent resistence against the occupation should be the right answer to win soul and whatever, globally, and pereps force Israel's government fo a better policy.

  • 8. 0 0
    Amen
    • peacelover
    • 21.03.10
    • 21:18

  • 7. 0 0
    Harmony Is Required Yes
    • Ken
    • 21.03.10
    • 21:18

    But name calling and bringing up the past is sure to keep the wounds open; Start A new and Go ForeWard

  • 6. 0 0
    Harmony Is Required Yes
    • Ken
    • 21.03.10
    • 21:18

    But name calling and bringing up the past is sure to keep the wounds open; Start A new and Go ForeWard

  • 5. 0 0
    So much owed by so many to so few.....
    • Hemingway
    • 21.03.10
    • 20:58

    If the 'so few' allude to the Palestinians who are as you must know Arabs, you are mistaken Mr. Aloni because they are among if not the most prolific people in the world.

  • 4. 0 0
    Right ON!
    • Victor
    • 21.03.10
    • 20:48

    Reminds one of the various international "feel good" Israeli PR campaigns going on ... Hey look at what Israel has to offer, forget that pesky occupation thingee!

  • 3. 0 0
    How long?
    • Heineberg
    • 21.03.10
    • 20:43

    How long will Israel survive? How long will an era of apartheid and ethnic cleansing from the "only democracy" stand? How long will the Israel nomenklatura hear the cries from the destitute away, but not the poor souls next door?

  • 2. 0 0
    where is udi
    • yonah
    • 21.03.10
    • 19:29

    Last I heard Udi Aloni was in North America. Talk about spoiled Israelis!

  • 1. 0 0
    Udi Aloni ,none of your flock would dream of employing a pal na-
    • Absolute Sweden
    • 21.03.10
    • 19:18

    -nny for your rich ,spoiled kids .Too dangerous . None of you takes a bus either . Pals had been allowed to go anywhere they pleased in Israel-until they started blowing up busess and Cofee places.Period.