Renew our days
On the eve of 5771, the need to disengage from the stigma of the "occupation state" is already seen by many, even within the ranks of the realistic right, not as a luxury but as an emergency lifesaving operation.
Haaretz Editorial"Hope is the thing with feathers," wrote the American poet Emily Dickinson. In Israel, the hope for peace is today like a plucked, limp-winged bird that many people, including the foreign minister, believe is not even fit for the pre-Yom Kippur kapparot sacrifice.
Nevertheless, if there is any hope for the peace process at the dawn of the Jewish Year of 5771, it is pinned primarily on the historical irony that occasionally results in our region when the extremist turns conciliatory or the peacenik gets caught up in war, and occasionally forced the parties into doing the unavoidable.
Over the past year, however, it has been hinted that our future will be determined not by declarations and diplomatic evasiveness but rather by deep tectonic shifts. Last year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah Israel received a holiday gift, bitter as wormwood, in the form of the Goldstone report on Operation Cast Lead. The United Nations report on the Gaza aid flotilla incident is scheduled for release next week.
These two reports, problematic as they are, symbolize the shocking erosion of Israel's international image over the past year: an erosion that is gradually expanding from a performers' boycott to a popular consumer boycott and even to loathing on the part of leaders, and which sometimes no longer distinguishes between the settlements and the Green Line, between the "occupation" and Israel's very right to exist.
One can dismiss this as an atavistic wave of hatred that is linked to the latest incarnation of anti-Semitism, and to respond, as various ultranationalist groups that have cropped up in Israel this year propose, by going on the offensive in support of an inert "Zionism" that is centered around the settlements and the Israel Defense Forces, in an effort to annihilate freedom of speech in the media, academia and the Supreme Court.
One can also, on the other hand, try to break down the walls that are closing in on Israel by shaking off the foreign-policy status quo that is strangling our existence and our future.
On the eve of 5771, the need to disengage from the stigma of the "occupation state" is already seen by many, even within the ranks of the realistic right, not as a luxury but as an emergency lifesaving operation. We can only hope that it's not too late to wish that Israel, dynamic and vibrant, will once again extend its wings fully within the family of nations.
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Let me assure you that the idea of the "occupation state" is only in the mind of Israelis, formented by constant barage of Muslim and leftist propaganda. As a Canadian, born in Poland, I do not believe that i would ever hear such a bull... Israel is the most successful state of the 20th century and it will be up at the top amongs the nations of the 21st.
It's very simple... just live and let us Palestinians live. Build a wall, bring in international forces to monitor the borders and Jerusalem, let in the refugees to WB and Gaza, let money pour in, turn people so materialistic and let them live too luxuriously to even think about waging a war against anybody (example? Gulf states). Your politicians care about the stability of their government coalitions much more than they do Israel's very existence. Get it right for God's sake...LIVE AND LET LIVE.
There's only one way to end the stigma of occupation state, and that's to end the occupation.
Your article describes exactly the very problematic situation of Isarels survival. The iranian president has not announced the destruction of Israel by iranian weapons, he only referred to the inner situation of Israel, where human rights, racists laws, legalized land theft, war crimes and corruption of the polical leaders will lead to the selfdestruction of this entity. Israel has all means to avoid this developement. The survival by jewish intelligence and not by IDF warfare must win. All the world wishes that only.
Once again Haaretz blames the victims for the endless siege Israel endures.
Are you real?
In hope lies no naiveté; in its truest incarnation, it is the dinghy which holds us afloat in the stormy seas of our seemingly insurmountable animosity and despair. But as one must unyieldingly bail water out the dinghy to counteract the toxic waves which relentlessly crash over the insubstantial hull, so to must we strive to collectively banish the forces of hate and rage which so often surmount our inadequate emotional defenses, and let them never harm our sole veritable lifeline in this perfect storm. For to acquiesce to constant conflict is to acquiesce to our own eventual demise, and woe unto he who believes the ephemeral to be his only concern. And for the record, I by no means say this with an aura of idealism. I just believe we should think about it if we value our own existence.
Is to end the occupation. Nothing else will work.
You guys stil don't get it! Israel is not occupying anything. Israel is recaliming her own land from sojourners and trespassers who have 'occupied' the land for the last 2000 years. Israel is back. God has willed it. Get out of the way or you will be smashed. Haaretz is not big enough to fight with God.
That is what Bush did? Is that all Israelis want? How will that damage the peace process or make more trouble? Obama might run against Romney, a Mormon. Both are friends of Israel; however, you will have to deal with what americans vote for and the outcome on Israel. American presidents and foreign policy I am sure will have an affect on the Middle East. Which one do you think would be better and why? Has it all got to do with settlements?
After WWII, Europe was ashamed of the Holocaust, and therefore suppressed antisemitic feelings. The same thing happened after the six day war: Europe made an embargo on Israel, assuming we would be annihilated. After we won the war, the shame turned into a temporary sympathy for Israel, due to a cognitive dissonance effect. But the true antisemitic feelings did reappear after a while. Today, they are under the form of denying Jews any historical rights to live in Israel. Thus, all Jews living in Israel are considered as occupiers. Even if we will make peace, and give Judea and Samaria to a Palestinian state, Europe will continue in denying Jews rights to have an independent state in Israel. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't make a peace accord with Abbas. We should try to get peace with Palestinians in Judea and Samaria for our own interests. But to think that even if we return to 67' green line, we will be accepted in Europe is so naive. You can't believe that a continent who made the Holocaust only 68 tears ago, did this by accident, and will treat Israel fairly today. Not as long as kids in Poland or France see each Passover the fabricated story, of how Jews supposedly killed Jesus, in theater shows. Lets make peace for our own practical interests, without illusions about getting world media sympathy.
The rest of the world has seen thru the use of hysterical claims on anti-semitism evry time israle is held to account for its action. You have cried wolf too many times and no one is listening any more.
most people who call Israel an occupier - including jewish people (morons) have no sense of ther own history - just go to josephs tomb and put 2+2 together - please !!
israel as we know it today won't exist in the next decade or so and that will be thanks to Iran, Syria and Obama. Enjoy while u can israelis.
It seems most unlikely that Israel will disappear within the next decade. But look longer ahead, and it gets worryingly likely. And the main people responsible for that will be the settlers and those who encourage them.
There is no doubt that some of the hatred shown to Isarel is just old fashioned Anti-semitism. We must continue to fight that without compromise. But much of the 'hanger's on' to these people are not inherently anti-semites. The majority just do not like to see one people oppressing another. It is just a value in today's world. Israel could help disengage these 'hangers on' from the real anti-semites by simply always being seen to try to treat the reasonable aspirations of the Palestinians fairly and by doing good deeds in the world as Israel was renowned for doing before 1967. If that is not good enough for the Palestinians then at least the 'hangers on' will see who is the unreasonable one out of the two peoples!
The invasion of Egypt to get the Suez canal, together with the UK and France?
...Lied to Israelis and the rest of the world .. dissed it's own Declaration, the UN Charter, the Laws of War.... it is no different now than it was before '67. http://wp.me/pDB7k-tM
Although I agree with you that the world, for the most part, does not approve of the oppression of occupation, I fail to see the coherence of your argument. Israel, prior to '67 was 'doing good deeds'? Where? The refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their himes after the '48 war? The Suez crisis, the Lavon affair, Deir Yassin? Israel, unfortunately, was born in blood and discrimination against the non-Jewish population. And it soesn't seem to be improving but rather following and even accelerating the path to an 'ethnically and religiously pure' fascism. There are paths away from the situation Israel finds itself in, yet most Israelis still want to blame the world and call all criticism antisemitism. Did you ever ask yourself why a 'Jewish' state is preferable to a state of all its citizens?
one can't just rely on PR and empty gestures to 'be seen' as the good guys, one actually needs to be DOING things, and it gets harder and harder to pretend Israel is doing more than others in terms of dooing good deeds in the world when such is being tracked, and when the Chekovs start spouting off, they are beaten back by the facts. And just judging how well you're doing in the PR department by how CNN covers you also is a problem because the world is changing, and Washington is sliding towards just another seat at the table status, from its some are more equal than others position.
..... while Turkey is leaving it for joining Iran and North Korea, Venezuela and friends (Cuba for instance) is getting deeper into the mud of leftist misery, Europe is busy with strikes by millions of organized rich workers (while all others must pay for everybody else), leftist China is laughing at everybody else, and God is taking a hundred years vacation, enabling Hamas, Hezbollah, Goldstone and the flotillas to act .....like there were no God at all........
"necessity for Israel to catch the ball of peace ,when ,and if ,Nasser casts it " and Israeli diplomats reporting their fellow colleagues hurrying out from the elevators in the UN building as soon as they have seen Israelis entering elevators ,smiling uneasy as if encountering a Dead Man Walking . Yes,the Good Old Times prior to the "occupation.".
If historical trends prove consistent, the world and Europe in particular will find cause to dislike Israel no matter what it does. But that doesn't mean the occupation is right. Israel must end the occupation because it's the right thing for Israelis and Palestinians.
I notice your choice of word "occupation " implying that it's palastinian land and the jews need to leave. It's what all the ememies of Israel call it, "occupation ". The palastinians won't stop with having east Jerusalem as their capitol. Next, they'll want west Jerusalem - the "palestinians " do not really want peace. This is proven over and over by the way that obama always has to force abbas to come to the table to discuss a peace agreement with Israel. Their goal is actually for the whole of Israel, and the jews pushed into the sea.They have said this over and over. Now that they have a muslim in white house, they have have become increasingly more bold. If Israel's leaders decided to go leftist and listened to Haaretz editors, then you can be sure that the occupation of the Jewish homeland by Jews will be history in the very near future.
IF his father and mother were practicing their religions at all, and not atheists. Many in America know the story of slaves who were brought here from Africa. Many countries in Africa are muslim, and, in fact, the black Africans, sold their own people into slavery. "Roots" was a popular show about an American's black history. After being brought to america from muslim countries, they lived on the plantations and took up the religion of their masters, Christianity. Many black nationalists also take muslim names to link them with their past history. Muhammed Ali, a boxer, converted to Islam. Islam and black people are no strangers to americans. They understand the background of the slaves. Obama is no child of a slave, but born a free man. However, his father came from Kenya, and was a muslim, or rather an atheist? Obama goes to Church everyday. What is malicious is to accuse him of being a muslim. That seems prejudiced against muslims. If he can be a bridge between people, he does a great service to his country. We are tolerant of other religions. Should not make any difference what religion our President follows. What if a Jew were to become President. You cannot imagine what the antisemities would say, dear Chafeeka. How would you deal with that. Would you rather have an ultra religious Christian, rather than the liberal Obama, become President, would you prefer one who calls america a Christian country, wants Christianity to become a state religion, wants to convert all the Jews to Christianity. You just don't know a good thing when you see it, meaning Obama. Actually, Obama has little say in Palestinians and Israelis reconciling. It is between you and the Palestinians. You should interact more; conflicts are resolved by the parties conflicting, not intermediaries. The mud slinging against Obama has begun; it has nothing to do with any of the issues. It is very unfair, since he is trying to be a balanced mediator, and many muslims still like him, as well as many Jews.
Even the Israeli High Court has ruled that Israel is in belligerent occupation of the West Bank. "Occupation" is indeed the word.
Chafeeka is correct 100%.
UNSCR 242 Unanimously passed by the entire UN Security Council: "Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" Note the word "occupied". If it is only enemies that call it "occupation", then your whole world is your enemy. Also, it looks like you had a problem with your shift key when you write the nationality Palestinians. Or perhaps you enjoy denigrating ethnic groups other than your own?
If you were any more right-wing, you'd drop off the scale. Why not get some perspective?!
Occupation. It's what the whole world calls it, even Israel's friends. And how many remain?
Describing the territories as "Palestinian" may serve the political agenda of one side in the dispute, but it prejudges the outcome of future territorial negotiations that were envisioned under UN Security Council Resolution 242. It also represents a total denial of Israel's fundamental rights. Furthermore, reference to "resisting occupation" has simply become a ploy advanced by Palestinian and Arab spokesmen to justify an ongoing terrorist campaign against Israel, despite the new global consensus against terrorism that has been formed since September 11, 2001. It would be far more accurate to describe the West Bank and Gaza Strip as "disputed territories" to which both Israelis and Palestinians have claims. As U.S. Ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright stated in March 1994: "We simply do not support the description of the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 War as occupied Palestinian territory."
Israeli government needs to show more clarity and unity. For eg your foreign minister is no International diplomat. He is too inward looking also when one reads Israeli newspapers one feels that your defence minister and PM are the foreign ministers. Its a pity to see a nation which produced a BenGurion, a Gold Mier , a Begin , a Shamir struggling to find out leaders who can carry not only the government but the country as a whole. One shudders to think what would have a happened in the 60's and 70's if the above said leaders were not around and instead it was peopled by the set that has come into Israeli politics in the last 10 years or so. Also need of the hour is to project and practice the fact that Israel is not like other religion controlled countries but a secular one. A difficult task but one that must be done else what is the difference between say a Saudi government and an Israeli one? The former is only for Muslims while the latter is only for Jews.