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The following was written by Edward Said on the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel.
In the United States, celebrations of Israel’s fifty years as a state have tried to project an image of the country that went out of fashion since the Palestinian Intifada (1987-92): a pioneering state, full of hope and promise for the survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, a haven of enlightened liberalism in a sea of Arab fanaticism and reaction. On 15 April, for instance, CBS broadcast a two hour prime-time program from Hollywood hosted by Michael Douglas and Kevin Costner, featuring movie stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathy Bates (who recited passages from Golda Meir minus, of course, her most celebrated remark that there were no Palestinians) and Winona Ryder.
In the United States, celebrations of Israel’s fifty years as a state have tried to project an image of the country that went out of fashion since the Palestinian Intifada (1987-92): a pioneering state, full of hope and promise for the survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, a haven of enlightened liberalism in a sea of Arab fanaticism and reaction. On 15 April, for instance, CBS broadcast a two hour prime-time program from Hollywood hosted by Michael Douglas and Kevin Costner, featuring movie stars such as Arnol Schwarzenegger, Kathy Bates (who recited passages from Golda Meir minus, of course, her most celebrated remark that there were no Palestinians) and Winona Ryder. None of these luminaries are particularly known for their Middle Eastern expertise or enthusiasm, although all of them in one way or another praised Israel’s greatness and enduring achievements. There was even time for a cameo appearance by President Bill Clinton, who provided perhaps the least edifying, most atavistic note of the evening by complimenting Israel, “a small oasis,” for “making a once barren desert bloom,” and for ” building a thriving democracy in hostile terrain.”
What’s the BBC’s ‘Birthday’ present to Israel? A stream of propaganda following a story thats Israeli driven. Not content with 3 other, Israeli directed, Storyville documentaries (watch here), a birthday radio show (featuring 4 Israelis with one token Israeli Arab and zero Palestinians) and birthday articles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc) the BBC has gone a step further and commissioned this 60 minute film. By Jeremy Bowan, it details the founding of the State of Israel. To be fair to the BBC, the events surrounding the founding of the State of Israel are immensely interesting and have had important repercussions in the world at large. However it’s instructive that this documentary is called ‘The Birth of Israel’ and not for example ‘The Nakba’ - we get an idea of the focus from the start. In fact we might ask where all the Nakba articles (1?), audio and films are? Is it sufficient that it just happens to get a small mention in amongst all this ‘birthday’ nonsense?
Although this film is good in many places, covering the massacre of Deir Yassin for example, overall it fails to place the responsibility of the conflict firmly in the hands of the Israelis and Europeans. It fails to present the Palestinians as the victims of Zionist colonialism which was approved of by the Europeans because of guilt from the Holocaust and because 60 years ago the idea of colonialism, ‘civilised’ Europeans settling land that native ‘barbarians’ are wasting, was still acceptable. Time and again Israelis under interview blame the conflict on the Palestinians for not accepting the 1947 UN partition plan, where the UN carved up the land of Palestine and gave much of it to the colonialists. In the 21st century we should by now understand that the UN had no right to give away another mans home, the Zionists were incorrect in thinking they could colonise another peoples country and that resistance to this dispossession was legitimate. What nation would accept its land being given away to immigrants by the UN? Especially with such a bad deal: Israelis owning 10% of the land but getting 50% while only accounting for only 33% of the total population.
Counting the number of Israelis interviewed we find there were 11 with 10 Palestinians representatives. The number of times they appeared differs more: Israelis appearing 30 times and Palestinians 22. In a 60 minute film this approximately translates to about 8 minutes (15%) more air time. Personally I don’t believe balance is about giving both sides equal time - I follow Robert Fisks example of giving more time to the victims no matter who they are. In the ‘birth’ of Israel the victims were the Palestinian natives: 700,000 of whom were ethnically cleansed and many men, women and children were brutally massacred. This crime has continued as although under international law refugees have a Right of Return this has been denied. And Palestinians that remain in Israel and the Occupied Territories live in Apartheid conditions. Therefore its significant that they are not given priority.
The other big issue I have with the film is its failure to convey the true nature of a Two State solution. Israeli colonialism has continued with the illegal gaining of territory through military force in 1967. It is by now clear the continued Israeli rejection of peace for expansion and settlement of the Occupied Territories has led to a situation where a Two State solution is now unworkable. Only a One State solution where Israelis and Palestinians have equal rights and share the land will provide any meaningful resolution to the regions problems. The idea of a predominatly Jewish State is non-inclusive and racist, it can only be maintained through further ethnic cleansing and apartheid.
The following from th Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
East Renfrewshire Council’s shameful support for ethnic cleansing.
Honour saved by protest in support of human rights for all.
Israel turns 60. Israelis Celebrate but Palestinians demonstrate. Will the refugees be allowed to return home?
Answer to this question and more on Link TV ’s Mosaic intelligence report presented by Jamal Dajani.
For more info, go to http://www.linktv.org/mosaic
The Iranian Jewish community will not mark Israel’s 60th Independence Day, incoming Iranian Jewish parliamentarian Siamak Morsadegh said Wednesday.
Speaking to Reuters, Morsadegh said this was in protest of Israel’s responsibility for the “murder of totally innocent Palestinian civilians.”
“We are in complete disagreement with Israel’s conduct,” he said. “We are Iranians. We have no relations with Israel.”
The Iranian Jewish leader told Reuters that Israel’s policies toward Palestinians, particularly Gazans, demonstrated “anti-human behavior … they kill innocent people.”
Morsadegh went on to claim that Jews in Iran enjoyed freedom of religion and other rights. “There are no specific problems for Jews in this country,” he said.
‘The world must stop standing idle while the people of Gaza are treated with such cruelty’, writes Jimmy Carter.
The world is witnessing a terrible human rights crime in Gaza, where a million and a half human beings are being imprisoned with almost no access to the outside world. An entire population is being brutally punished.
This gross mistreatment of the Palestinians in Gaza was escalated dramatically by Israel, with United States backing, after political candidates representing Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006. The election was unanimously judged to be honest and fair by all international observers.
Israel and the US refused to accept the right of Palestinians to form a unity government with Hamas and Fatah and now, after internal strife, Hamas alone controls Gaza. Forty-one of the 43 victorious Hamas candidates who lived in the West Bank have been imprisoned by Israel, plus an additional 10 who assumed positions in the short-lived coalition cabinet.
After already threatening to ethnically cleanse Israel Arabs who refuse to celebrate Avi Dichters, who recently cancelled a trip to the UK for fear of being arrested for war crimes, cronies are looking to prevent the Nakba Day parade. Thanks Ann.
Danny Danon, the chairman of World Likud, appealed to Public Security Minister Avi Dichter on Tuesday to issue a ban on the “Nakba Day” procession to be held by Israeli Arabs on Independence Day.
In a press release distributed to the news media on Tuesday, Danon said the purpose of the march is “to oppose and incite against the state.”
“This is a deliberate and subversive challenge of the Arab Israeli leadership against the existence of the State of Israel,” Danon said.
Should Dichter fail to heed Danon’s call, the World Likud chair said he intends to appeal to the district court. He also demanded the authorities arrest any Arab leader quoted as inciting against the state and its institutions, as well as anyone seen brandishing the flag of an enemy state or a terrorist organization.
Having refused to go to Israel - its still no surprises that the Queen would congradulate a racist colonial state on its criminal achievements, after all the Royals have a long history of supporting criminal States including that of the Nazis. Strange that Prince Philip a former Nazi Youth member and war time collaborator was to help celebrate Israel’s 60th at Windsor Castle. Perhaps all this has gone down Orwell’s memory hole or perhaps Nazis are ok as long as its not you they’re targeting?
Queen Elizabeth II has sent her congratulations to the government and people of Israel on the occasion of Israel’s 60th anniversary.
In a letter sent to President Shimon Peres Tuesday, the Queen wrote: “It gives me particular pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, on the sixtieth anniversary of your Independence. I extend my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of Israel in the coming year.”
Seems to be a trend across Europe that the fascists are supporting Israel (not surprising they’d support a racist colonial project) what is more alarming is that Jewish groups are starting to support them. The following from the London FT.
Rome’s election last week of its first rightwing mayor since the time of Benito Mussolini has been celebrated by fascists as a historic victory over the left.
Packs of young, thuggish supporters of Gianni Alemanno greeted the new mayor’s appearance at the Campidoglio city hall with straight-armed “Roman” salutes, shouting abuse at communists and foreign immigrants.
“Before, if you were a fascist you had to pretend to be part of the mainstream to have respectability. Now they are coming out of the closet,” said an aide to defeated centre-left candidate Francesco Rutelli.
Debate over the significance of the National Alliance’s first election victory in a major city has been intense - especially among the capital’s small but important Jewish commun-ity, which is widely thought to have swung in Mr Alemanno’s favour. Rome’s Jewish voters, numbering about 9,000, explain their shift to the right in various ways, most often because they see the National Alliance as firmly pro-Israel.
An article, report on past actions and report of future actions against the Turin Book Fair / celebrations in Italy.
“Gaza will sink – declared the president of the Popular Committee against Blockade, Jamal al-Khoudari – and the whole world bears responsibility for this. Immediate actions must be taken to put pressure on the occupation, in order to end this crisis.”
The situation of the Palestinian population is getting worse day by day. From the blockade/embargo against the Gaza Strip and Israeli raids by land and air in all the Palestinian occupied territories, to building the Apartheid Wall and the deteriorating living conditions of refugees and Palestinian residents in Israel, the Israeli authorities are persistently committing war crimes and violations of civil rights, ignoring dozens of UN resolutions and forcing millions to live in disastrous conditions.
Every day, at every checkpoint, soldiers humiliate elderly people, women and children, robbing the Palestinians of their daily life and of the time necessary to work, study, participate in politics, and plan their future. Scarcity and even sheer lack of food and fuel, produce a situation of intolerable poverty, while sanitary conditions in the refugee camps remain appalling.
(more…)
The BBC have a fine feature on Israel’s 60th Anniversary I wonder if they’ll also give the same space to the Nakba ( the catastrophe: the ethnic cleansing of Palestine). Some how I doubt it. They also had the following article inviting Israelis to submit comments to the site about the anniversary. Here at Israels60thbirthday we’d like to do the same except we want to hear from Palestinians leave a comment below.
As Israel approaches its 60th anniversary, the BBC News website would like to hear the views of Israelis about their country.
Do you have memories of 1948 or the time before the state? What are your hopes for the next 60 years of Israel? What can Israelis do to settle their country’s borders and reach peace with its neighbours?
Were you born in Israel, or have you moved there from somewhere else? What do you value most about your country? What things would you change if you could?
Bill Slavick, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006, on the US / Israeli relationship saying “no good has come of it for 60 years except to assist Israel in becoming the bully of the block and giving us trouble.”
Recently, George W. Bush committed some $30 billion in U.S. taxpayer money to Israel over 10 years, subject to congressional appropriations. This would be a significant increase in Israeli aid, along with a comparable increase in companion aid to Egypt and other Arab countries — by far our largest foreign aid outlays.
When we cannot meet our own health, education, infrastructure and energy challenges, how can Congress continue to justify giving billions annually to Israel and its Arab neighbors?
Despite our objections, this funding is used to demolish Palestinian homes, build settlements and a confiscation wall, and for military attacks on Palestinians and Lebanese. On March 31, Condoleezza Rice had barely left Israel after nudging Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert toward a peace agreement before he announced 1,400 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank — in violation of international law and Israel’s commitment at Annapolis to stop settlement construction. Other settlements are being enlarged. In Arab countries, our aid sustains repressive regimes. As a consequence, our international reputation is mud.
The following from Global Research:
On May 14, Israelis will commemorate the 60th anniversary of their “War of Independence” and founding of the Jewish State. It also marks 60 years of Palestinian Nakba suffering. The web site www.alnakba.org recounts the history:
– from the late Ottoman empire period; to
– the birth of Zionism; to
– the early Jewish colonization of Palestine; to
– the 1917 Balfour Declaration support for a “Jewish national home in Palestine;” to
– the simultaneous British betrayal of the indigenous Arabs; to
– the British occupation; to
– its delayed promised end; to
