Dr. Mazin Quimseyeh, one of the most respected and self-sacrificing Palestinian activists who fights relentlessly for human rights, has posed a question: “What would YOU advise us Palestinians (including leaders) to do?”
The direct answer is that only those directly affected by the onslaught know how they can contest oppression and are able to evaluate the punishment they can sustain. The troubling answer is that, from an external perspective, there is little the Palestinians can do without finding themselves riddled with bullets. Provoking the Palestinians into retaliation has been Israel’s strategy since day “0.” By carefully designed tactics, Israel has converted Palestinians who were complacent, cooperative, and secular into being discontented, revengeful, and religiously extreme. The complacent can be subdued but remain. The revengeful must be defeated until their villages are destroyed, their memories erased, and their presence eclipsed.
Israel’s oppressive tactics are proportional to the defensive tactics displayed by the Palestinians — more Palestinian defense triggers more Israeli offense. Palestinians can remain passive and be slowly destroyed or act aggressive and be more quickly destroyed. Israel has arranged the oppression so that Palestinians have two choices, either to follow Israel’s directives and be reduced to an eventual bare subsistence or be incarcerated and eventually decimated. Most defenseless Palestinians will choose to live sparingly rather then not live at all.
Oppression of the Palestinians has moved beyond a cause for the Palestinians and emergency measures to relieve their plight.
Countering the severe persecution is an international cause that considers the dangers to all peoples from Israel’s posture — breeding terrorism, nurturing continuous conflagrations in the Middle East, and enhancing the possibility of a nuclear war.
Seemingly innocent statements, such as made by Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely in an interview on the Knesset Channel, that her “dream is to see the Israel flag flying over the Temple Mount, this is the holiest place for the Jewish people,” are planned to provoke Muslim nations and let the world know that, contrary to Netanyahu’s’ rebuttal, Israel has surrounded the Haram al-Sharif and its status under Jordan’s Waqf control will soon be challenged. Appropriate reaction to the challenge will prompt violent reprisals, which will spread and cause vast areas of destruction. Is the world to suffer because a relatively few religious fanatics among the world’s seven billion people want to satisfy their chaotic urgings and mark their place?
Organizations arguing and fighting for Palestinian rights soothe Palestinian wounds, but the deteriorating situation cannot be halted without a unified and international movement that is dedicated to modifying foreign policies of western nations on behalf of the citizens of these nations, which means subduing Israel’s ultra-nationalist aspirations and militarist activities. In the western world, only relatively small populations are aware of or sensitized to the crises afflicting others — Palestinian, Kurd, Assyrian Christian, and Bahrain Shi’a. Without feeling the impact of a foreign oppression on them, citizens are unmoved to petition their governments to halt the oppressions. Magnitudes more emphasis must be placed in demonstrating the threats posed by Israel’s policies upon the peace and stability of all the world’s peoples; this is the principal mechanism for successfully resolving the Middle East crisis.
For Americans, the Palestinian crisis is unique; it is the only crisis in which their nation actively supports the territorial expansion of another country and its destruction of an indigenous people. When Americans have their conscience and sleep disturbed by the realization they are participating in actions that destroy others, and that these actions will adversely affect their economic and social lives, they will proceed to move their government to defend them. To accomplish that task, the modeled and spurious portrayals of Israel as the leading democracy in the Middle East, as the rebirth of a near vanquished Jewish people, and as a victimized nation defending itself against powerful enemies must be personally shattered; a difficult effort for those who have had their minds shaped by decades of subtle indoctrination.
The burning issue evolves into:
(1) What is lacking in explaining to the world the seriousness of Israel’s actions?
(2) How can a complacent world become more aware of the dangers to themselves posed by the Israel challenge?
(3) How can organizations be formed that will successfully counter the propaganda mechanisms that allow Israel to proceed unimpeded; and,
(4) How can governments and institutions be forced to change positions that are assisting Israel in its illegal and unlawful actions?
The first observation is that Israel is not a complete state and uses its incompleteness to its own advantage.
- Israel has not defined its borders or settled its border disputes with other nations. It advances borders by seizing land owned by others.
- Israel has no constitution and is guided by inconsistent laws — religious doctrines, civil laws, codes from the Ottoman era, and edicts from the British Mandate — which are brought into play and used to suit an agenda rather than provide justice.
- Israel does not have a capital that is recognized by almost all the world’s nations. Its own defined capital, Jerusalem, contradicts the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine (Resolution 181), which established Jerusalem as a “separated body” with a special legal and political status, administered by the United Nations. Zionist representatives accepted that plan.
- Israel has disobeyed a multitude of United Nations (UN) Resolutions. Too numerous to properly categorize, here are a few examples: Since its creation in 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned Israel in 45 resolutions. Between the years of 1972-2011, the United States vetoed 42 Security Council Resolutions against Israel. From 1955-2011, the UN Assembly passed 102 Resolutions, and on November, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted six resolutions against Israel.
- Israel does not have a police force that always protects its minorities; just the opposite, its policing is often used to protect those who offend its minorities.
If Israel is not a complete state, what defines the area it occupies? As of now, Israel can be perceived as having a form of rule that advances a privileged ethnicity by exploitation and oppression — for want of a better word, call it a national kleptocracy. From its actions, the Israel government gives the impression of housing elements of the criminally inclined. Here are just a small portion of examples that are well known and cannot be contradicted.
Land, bank accounts, small factories and material goods have been seized from the Palestinians and never been returned. More than 400 Palestinian villages, intentionally destroyed by Israeli governments, remain as rubble in barren fields. Under a spurious “Absentee Property Law,” Israel seized innumerable Palestinian homes, made its occupants destitute, and gave the housing to its “right of return” immigrants. Competition from Palestinians in production of competitive goods, such as olives, minerals from rock quarries, and agriculture has been suppressed with Palestinian resources destroyed and water diverted. The tourist industry, especially in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, has been manipulated to prefer Israeli business interests. Records and legacy of previous generations that inhabited the land have been intentionally destroyed. Palestinians have been killed, imprisoned and threatened only because they contested the illegal actions. Israel’s intelligence agencies have engaged in assassinations of adversaries, both belligerent and innocent. Its elected leaders have been involved in assassinations, such as the killing of Swedish diplomat Count Folke Bernadotte in 1948. Treating that criminal action as a daily affair, Zvi Zameret, a former official of Israel’s education ministry, published an op-ed in Makor Rishon, Sheldon Adelson’s pro-settler newspaper, implying that present Swedish diplomat, Margot Wallström, deserved the same fate as Count Folke Bernadotte. He wrote that “I am certain that her [Margot Wallström] intentions will be defeated, just as were those of the disreputable Count Bernadotte.” All these illegal actions continued in year 2016.
In addition, although occurring much less after the first decade of 2000, the Israel government has allowed excessive money laundering1, given citizenship to individuals labeled criminals in other nations, and has had an inordinate proportion of its citizens involved in the drug trade.2 This news seldom appears in U.S. media.
It should be noted that Israel has a “star role” in the World Drug Report for 2013 issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and released last June.
Israel Plays Key Role in N.J. Corruption Case, But Holds Off on Own Probe, by Nathan Jeffay, July 29, 2009.
Israelis at Center of Ecstasy Drug Trade, by Nathan Guttman, April 06, 2003.
In recent years, organized crime in Israel, some with links to criminal organizations in Russia, have come to control the distribution of the drug in Europe, according to a Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs document,
A possible description for Israel is derived from the actions of the Zionists who formed the state. The characterization is not meant to be absolute but only to stimulate a thought: does Israel represent this type of portrayal? Robert Paxton, in The Anatomy of Fascism, outlines his concept of the extreme ideological system.
Fascism rested not upon the truth of its doctrine but upon the leader’s mystical union with the historic destiny of his people, a notion related to romanticist ideas of national historic flowering and of individual artistic or spiritual genius, though fascism otherwise denied romanticism’s exaltation of unfettered personal creativity. The fascist leader wanted to bring his people into a higher realm of politics that they would experience sensually the warmth of belonging to a race now fully aware of its identity, historic destiny, and power; the excitement of participating in a wave of shared feelings, and of sacrificing one’s petty concerns for the group’s good; and the thrill of domination.
Other serious conditions for world engagement exist.
A moral duty to protect the Palestinian people is obvious. The continuous encroachment on their lands, livelihoods and security is a necessary and sufficient condition for galvanizing a world into action against the constant oppression. Greater danger has become apparent — endless war until the explosion that ends all. Israel’s leaders have often spoken of war for decades, nice of them. Wherever Israel goes, it will find enemies, whom Israel will silence before borders are moved for “security reasons.” One day Israel will face a massive and strengthened foe that cannot be easily defeated. The foe could be Iran’s 75 million and growing population, which inhabits a vast and well-protected area, serves an autocratic government, and is prepared to draw the line that challenges Israel. That Iran can only be defeated by weapons of mass destruction, by nuclear bombs that obliterate large segments of its nation. No doubt, when a Middle East antagonist faces extinction, and that will happen, that nation will use the nuclear alternative.
To delay the day and prepare for it, Israel advances the subduing of any nation that might challenge it. Despite the absence of a “smoking gun,” it cannot be a coincidence that Hussein’s Iraq and Gadaffi’s Libya have been destroyed and Assad’s Syria is under a similar attack. None of the actions against these leaders significantly benefited the U.S. and western nations, but they have had enormous benefits to Israel. The same goes for the Middle East turmoil and the Sunni/Shi’a divide — it is in Israel’s interests to constantly provoke and support the continuation of all conflagrations in the Middle East. In none of these does Israel provide a solution; in all of them Israel is a problem.
Most baffling is the attitude of Israel’s greatest supporters.
The Religious Right in the United States, Zionist Jews, and the U.S. Congress do not realize they are harming those they claim to defend.
A supposedly Christian organization has shown more support for Israel than has Prime Minister Netanyahu. Evidently, this “Christian” organization is not aware that, due to Israel’s policies, Christians in large numbers have been forced to leave what they consider their Holy Land, Christian religious sites are being defiled and subordinated, and Christian influence in the area is being reduced to nil.
The ardent Zionist supporters of Israel have intensified antagonisms toward Jews throughout the world, have made them perceived as disloyal to the nations of which they are citizens, and have situated them so they are more vulnerable to attack. Zionism is to Jews what all extreme ideologies are to ethnic minorities; shaping them with unique and superior identity, presenting their followers as being victims and outcasts in a an envious world while isolating them, forcing them to aggressively engage others, and leading them to eventual catastrophe.
The U.S. Congress reinforces a nation that acquires military capability to challenge the U.S. in the Middle East and influence the U.S. government to follow its directives. Overlooked and underplayed is Israel’s’ role in spreading international terrorism. Severe subjugation of the Palestinian people has led to their despair, hopelessness and desperation. From these conditions emerge radicalization and in many cases acts of revenge and retribution associated with terrorism.
Reports seem to indicate that due to a world that is complacent to their suffering, some Palestinians are now being attracted to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Only a relatively few persons have become members of these terrorist groups, but it only takes a few to commit many violent acts.
Whether it is planned or accidental, radicalization of the Palestinian community serves Israel’s interests. Fortress Israel is well protected against severe terrorist attacks and links of Palestinians to terrorism, especially to ISIS, benefit Israel.
Europe and, to a lesser degree, the United States are not as immune to ISIS attacks, and their citizens suffer the calamities provoked by Israel’s policies. Examine this carefully and it appears incomprehensible: why would legislators sell their souls to increase election chances when they are placing their constituencies in jeopardy and participating in genocide of the Palestinian people? Why would anyone support these legislators? Something is so drastically wrong that making it correct seems natural. The U.S. Congress has not served its own people well, and it’s time to shove that knowledge into the minds and hearts of the American people and those throughout the western world.
The question answers itself: “How can a complacent world remain unaware of the dangers to themselves posed by Israel’s extreme efforts?”
Irael cannot be defeated internally by armed resistance or externally by war. However, those desiring peace in the Middle East and justice for the Palestinians are not asking that Israel be totally defeated and succumb to the dictates of a victor. They are asking that Israel change its policies, become a peace loving nation and realize its obligations to the Palestinians and the world community. And the peaceniks are not, as Israel propagandists want the world to believe, denying the state of Israel. That is being done by an Israel that does not define its borders, does not have a constitution, and defies UN Resolutions. Israel needs a complete makeover, which apparently can only occur by refusing Israel the resources that fuel its aggressive attitude.
States have a culture and approach that includes compromising through diplomacy and recognizing that self-interest has its limitations and cannot aggressively clash with the interests of others. A self-absorbed enterprise has a psychological bent that eschews any interference, believes in its own destiny, proceeds without compromise, and uses all power to achieve ends. Noting the weapons used and wanton killings that Israel has been guilty of in Lebanon and Gaza, the use of nuclear weapons in a conflict, which wipes out the adversary, does not endanger Israel’s population, and will solve Israel’s objectives, is highly probable. Supporting Israel in its deliberate drive to expand and control is a sure route to eventual disaster. Because people might gamble with money but few will gamble with their lives, it is imperative to impress on the public that they are being placed in a situation that may envelop them in fallout from a nuclear holocaust. An intensive and well financed campaign of words and challenges that expose the counterproductive actions of the Religious Right, Israel’s supporters, and the U.S. Congress can have a great effect. People do not remain dumb when it is more in their interest to become aware, smart and remain alive.
Israel mainly succeeds in its endeavors because it has a worldwide contingent of dedicated loyalists who obey a quasi central authority, follow the same line and have the same focus — advance Israel’s interests. Their actions are efficient and carefully guided by a prepared agenda — when Israel attacks bring in the Holocaust; when Israel is revenged, bring in terrorism and/or anti-Semitism.
Individuals and organizations that counter Israel operate independently and without a unified focus. They have insufficient funds to convince audiences of Israel’s treachery. Most of the audiences are already educated in the situation but powerless to use the information for decisive action. Many organizations duplicate each other’s thrust and followers, dissipate effectiveness, and behave in competition. All serve a valuable purpose, have a place in the discussion, and succeed in letting everyone know they are not alone; that there is a movement to right the situation and their efforts are noticed. However, the efforts are miniscule compared to what is needed and the result is obvious — Israel’s continuous occupation and increased expansion; a trajectory toward absolute destruction of the Palestinian community and endless violence in the Middle East. The catastrophic situation demands a fresh and more unified approach to STOP ASSISTING ISRAEL AGGRESSION and OPPRESSION.
Senator Bernie Sanders’ success in energizing a mass of the population, which previously refused to recognize the words Bernie speaks and the policies he advocates, has shown that a unified voice can awaken a dormant electorate. The STOP ASSISTING ISRAEL AGGRESSION and OPPRESSION movement needs several worldwide organizations, which are dedicated to informing citizens of the detrimental effects of Israel’s policies on their lives, which means reshaping information about the crisis and policies concerning the Middle East, and constituting to counter the propaganda that misshapes policies. The numbers are there; those who vehemently disapprove Israel’s policies far outnumber its adherents — probably by a factor of 10:1, billions of people from Indonesia to Canada, compared to hundreds of millions from Israel to the United States. So, what’s the problem and where are they?
- William A. Orme Jr. “Israel Seen as Paradise for Money Laundering“, February 21, 2000.
- Yaniv Kubovich. “Blue, White and White, Israel Becomes Major Hub in International Cocaine Trade”, October 19, 2013.