"The practice of acquiring control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically".Israel is not colonialist. The West Bank is not "another country", it is not "beyond [Israel's] borders". We are not controlling another country. In all of history there never was an Arab country called Palestine or any other country in Israel. Even the Arab countries, Jordan and Egypt that occupied the West Bank and Gaza from 1948 to 1967 did not make an Arab country (Palestine) in these territories. It is our country, all of Israel is ours, at least from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Negev, the whole country. That is Zionism. Jews have lived in Israel for centuries. There was a sovereign Jewish state here years ago. Jews in the West Bank are living in their own country not colonizing some foreign place. What are the Israeli Palestinians doing? Colonizing Israel?! What are the Swedes doing in Sweden?
"Colonialism is the extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory beyond its borders by the establishment of either settler colonies or administrative dependencies in which indigenous populations are directly ruled or displaced."
To describe us as colonialists is to deny our right to be here. For most Palestinians we are colonialists anywhere and everywhere in Israel. For the Palestinians all of Israel is theirs and their aim is the removal of Jews from the area.
Please note that most Israelis, from a wide political spectrum, including right wing parties, are pragmatic and willing to compromise on the territory in exchange for peace (or at least quiet). I may believe that Nablus and Hevron are ours, but for many reasons I do not want Israeli soldiers there. About 98% of the territories that were "occupied" by Israel are now longer "occupied" -
- Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula under a peace treaty with Egypt.
- Israel withdrew from parts of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords including major cities, although some places are once again under "occupation" because of anti-Israel terrorist activity originating from there and pending further peace treaties.
- Israel withdrew unilaterally from all Lebanese territory.
- Israel withdrew unilaterally from the Gaza Strip.
- Israel withdrew from other parts of the West Bank under the peace treaty with Jordan.
I do not want or expect you to agree with me, or even understand what I have written. But, please understand that the difference of opinion between Israelis and Palestinians. Maybe it so great that there will never be peace. But the first step is to appreciate the enormous gap between us. I am astounded when talking to people like you. The one-sidedness is awful, very unhelpful and very often ignorant. Even amongst Jews and Arabs the spectrum of opinion is wide and there is an understanding of the differences. Then I meet people like you or (Thomas (anomalous)) and it is as if Israel and Jewish and Zionism is the ultimate evil. Please note that there are many things that I agree with you on: the need for Palestinian independence and the suffering of the Palestinian people caused by Israel. What do you agree with me on?
That was only part one. Part two is to follow!
S a u l
1 comment:
Zionism is not "the ultimate evil" and I have never claimed anything of the sort. And I certainly have never even slightly suggested that Jews or Judaism are evil.
You describe the conflict between you and Palestine as if it were simply a matter of differing opinion. If that is the case, then it is YOU versus the opnion of the entire world, of the UN, of every body of international law, of every human rights organization, of virtually every fundamental philosophical and moral value.
This is not just a matetr of opinion - it is also a matter of law and of basic justice. You are on the wrong side in each case. Zionism is not just a bad, racist idea. It is also a de facto criminal endeavor.
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