Ahh, yes, that time has come again, the time of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Is there any hope of reaching a compromise that would be beneficial to both sides of this conflict? Doubtful, as recent news basically describes it.
Here is what Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian side had to say, "The relationship has deteriorated to this stage where the U.S. is trying to save this peace process with the last attempt - by the way, mark my words - this will be the last attempt in order to see if it can be a tool to make decisions between Palestinians and Israelis.”
Saeb is right: the situation on the Palestinian side has become borderline disastrous. Palestinian leadership from the PA to Hamas has destroyed almost all avenues and hopes for the Palestinian people to get the state that would be anywhere close to the one they want.
Saeb and his friends are wrong when it comes to their veiled threats. It is as apparent as always the Palestinian leaders have not learned from past mistakes.
There is very little that Saeb Erekat and the rest of his cronies can threaten Israel with. Does he actually believe that his ISM friends are going to stay around to continue protesting if the PA starts another low intensity war with Israel? Mark my word Saeb, your ISM friends will be on the first plane back to civilization the second it gets too hot in the kitchen.
Do the Palestinians actually think they can push Israel with attempts at international delegitimization, by sparking mini riots?
Eventually someone will get killed and war will break out again.
Arafat started the last war (this has been documented by his own people) thinking he would be able to coerce the Israeli public back to the negotiating table with violence on his terms. As we know this did not happen. No matter how much the world condemned Israel we stood fast and we will stand fast again if the Palestinians continue these attempts to riot Israel back to talks on Palestinian terms.
If the negotiations break down does Mr. Erekat really believe that the EU or the USA will come in and dismantle Israel for them? I think not.
It would be wise for the Palestinians to learn and learn quickly: we have a state, it is called Israel. The Palestinians do not have a state. We do not need Mr. Erekat’s or Mahmmoud Abas’ approval for our country. Our country is here, functioning and thriving in a hostile area. Sure, we want peace and most of us are ready to compromise for peace. If the Palestinians do what they have always done and demand that we destroy our own nation, then forget it.
If there is no agreement, fine; we can continue living in our state. It is the Palestinians who will truly lose again. Sure, the Palestinians can unilaterally declare statehood. Be my guest; Israel will then annex all the land she controls in Judea and Samaria (i.e., The West Bank).
When this happens we will just shut the door on the Palestinians and focus all of our attention on continuing the dream of Zionism.
You see, Mr. Erekat needs to realize something. His people have been given an opportunity many other nations have never gotten and probably never will get. The chance to build their own state. As I have written before there are numerous other nations who also dream of statehood. Tibet, Kurdistan and the Basques are just a few examples of nations who do not have a partner who is actually willing to sit down and recognize their right of self-determination.
If the Palestinians fail to compromise this time the Israeli public will demand an end to pointless negotiations that just waste our time and money. Israel does not need to waste any more time on negotiations that lead nowhere. We have plenty of national projects, from education to infrastructure, to occupy our time and money.
This is not a threat, Saeb Erekat; this is your reality. Make the right decision this time. Stop your pathetic threats before negotiations have already started and realize another mistake could lead to the end of Palestinian hopes and dreams.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
In Response to Salaman Masalha
Enough is enough.
I have just finished reading the article published in today’s Haaretz (3/3/2010), entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Doesn’t Stop at the West Bank” by Salman Masalha.
One must truly wonder if Israeli Arabs and their leaders truly want to be a part of the state of Israel.
This article and the fact that it was printed completely contradict Mr. Masalha diatribe against Israel. The article alone is proof that Mr. Masalha is doing all he can to deceive Israelis who read Haaretz! He knows that Israel’s free press will allow something as low and propagandist as his words to be printed. He also knows that Haaretz, once a great source of unbiased information, has become nothing more than a raging outlet for Israel-bashing. He knows his deceitful rhetoric will make it to the pages of the press and into someone’s home, taking advantage of the opposite of Apartheid, which is the democracy and the freedom of speech that exists in Israel.
In his article he openly admits that Israeli Arabs are free to live and go where they wish. What he then tries to do is deceive the reader with MIS-facts about appropriated land. What he is not telling you is that much of this land was bought by the Yishuv (Pre-State government) before the Israeli War of Independence. This land is not being appropriated. He also forgets to tell his reader about the 100 million shekels the government of Israel has passed for the betterment of the Israeli Arab sector.
Salaman Masalha continues his deceitful rhetoric by not acknowledging the undeniable fact that his people are the freest Arabs in both the Arab and Muslim world. This is not an arguable point.
Nowhere in the Arab/Muslim world would Mr. Masalha get away with writing something as fictitious, critical and condemning of his country. He would find himself six feet below the ground if he wrote this in an Arab-governed country.
He again admits that Israeli Arabs can vote, an admission that totally contradicts his use of the word Apartheid. What makes matters worse is his failure to recognize that Israeli Arabs don’t just have the right to vote, they have this right and can use it, unlike others who have lived in highly-touted democracies. A good example is African Americans of the South during Segregation. The African Americans had the right to vote, but white Southerners made sure they didn’t. Another good example would be any Arab nation where people threaten, abduct and kill their fellow Arabs to ensure they do not vote – and there have been several documented, recently!
Moreover Mr. Masalha neglects to mention Israel’s other minorities. He behaves like many in the Arab world, as if the whole universe circles only around his people. He wouldn’t mention the Druze to his readers, because he knows well enough that they feel one hundred percent Israeli. He knows the Druze love Israel and except it as both a democracy that is there for them as well as being a Jewish State.
I ask Salaman Masalha: Do you really want to be a part of Israel? If you do, then you know you can be a part of Israel. I also ask the Israeli Arabs of my nation, do you truly want to be a part of Israel? If you do, then stop trying to destroy her. Recognize you live in a democratic state, a true democratic state. It’s fine to offer constructive criticism, but I can’t think of a single nation in the world that allows its citizens to promote sedition. Your words, Mr. Masalha, border on sedition.
Israel might not be perfect and we must always work hard to unite both Jews and Arabs, but you must recognize our right to preserve what we have built here. If you cannot, then you do not wish to be part of this nation project. If you do not recognize our right to preserve the one Jewish nation, a democracy that represents all her people, then you have turned your back on reconciliation and peace between the two peoples.
I believe we can come together, but not until people like Salaman Masalha stop spreading lies and misinformation. Israel must always do all she can to provide for all her people, but all her people -- Israeli Arabs included -- must be willing to both accept her and do all they can to preserve her.
I have just finished reading the article published in today’s Haaretz (3/3/2010), entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Doesn’t Stop at the West Bank” by Salman Masalha.
One must truly wonder if Israeli Arabs and their leaders truly want to be a part of the state of Israel.
This article and the fact that it was printed completely contradict Mr. Masalha diatribe against Israel. The article alone is proof that Mr. Masalha is doing all he can to deceive Israelis who read Haaretz! He knows that Israel’s free press will allow something as low and propagandist as his words to be printed. He also knows that Haaretz, once a great source of unbiased information, has become nothing more than a raging outlet for Israel-bashing. He knows his deceitful rhetoric will make it to the pages of the press and into someone’s home, taking advantage of the opposite of Apartheid, which is the democracy and the freedom of speech that exists in Israel.
In his article he openly admits that Israeli Arabs are free to live and go where they wish. What he then tries to do is deceive the reader with MIS-facts about appropriated land. What he is not telling you is that much of this land was bought by the Yishuv (Pre-State government) before the Israeli War of Independence. This land is not being appropriated. He also forgets to tell his reader about the 100 million shekels the government of Israel has passed for the betterment of the Israeli Arab sector.
Salaman Masalha continues his deceitful rhetoric by not acknowledging the undeniable fact that his people are the freest Arabs in both the Arab and Muslim world. This is not an arguable point.
Nowhere in the Arab/Muslim world would Mr. Masalha get away with writing something as fictitious, critical and condemning of his country. He would find himself six feet below the ground if he wrote this in an Arab-governed country.
He again admits that Israeli Arabs can vote, an admission that totally contradicts his use of the word Apartheid. What makes matters worse is his failure to recognize that Israeli Arabs don’t just have the right to vote, they have this right and can use it, unlike others who have lived in highly-touted democracies. A good example is African Americans of the South during Segregation. The African Americans had the right to vote, but white Southerners made sure they didn’t. Another good example would be any Arab nation where people threaten, abduct and kill their fellow Arabs to ensure they do not vote – and there have been several documented, recently!
Moreover Mr. Masalha neglects to mention Israel’s other minorities. He behaves like many in the Arab world, as if the whole universe circles only around his people. He wouldn’t mention the Druze to his readers, because he knows well enough that they feel one hundred percent Israeli. He knows the Druze love Israel and except it as both a democracy that is there for them as well as being a Jewish State.
I ask Salaman Masalha: Do you really want to be a part of Israel? If you do, then you know you can be a part of Israel. I also ask the Israeli Arabs of my nation, do you truly want to be a part of Israel? If you do, then stop trying to destroy her. Recognize you live in a democratic state, a true democratic state. It’s fine to offer constructive criticism, but I can’t think of a single nation in the world that allows its citizens to promote sedition. Your words, Mr. Masalha, border on sedition.
Israel might not be perfect and we must always work hard to unite both Jews and Arabs, but you must recognize our right to preserve what we have built here. If you cannot, then you do not wish to be part of this nation project. If you do not recognize our right to preserve the one Jewish nation, a democracy that represents all her people, then you have turned your back on reconciliation and peace between the two peoples.
I believe we can come together, but not until people like Salaman Masalha stop spreading lies and misinformation. Israel must always do all she can to provide for all her people, but all her people -- Israeli Arabs included -- must be willing to both accept her and do all they can to preserve her.
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