Thursday, August 04, 2005

Is Gaza withdrawal a step towards liberation?


Posted August 04, 2005 - http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0804/p25s01-cogn.html

Is Gaza withdrawal a step towards liberation? By Ghassan Rubeiz


The agony and violence associated with the process of withdrawal from Gaza illustrate how Israelis and Palestinians continue to fulfill each other's worst dreams. Israel plans to terminate occupation of Gaza on August 17. Some Palestinians see this move as a 'diabolical' scheme to justify further annexation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. But regardless of the motivation for withdrawal, by attacking settlements during the process of disengagement, militant Palestinians are not serving their people's interests. Jihadists are giving Israelis reasons to resist future withdrawals and to empathize with settlers' demonstrations in Gaza.
Gaza is the most populated and economically deprived area of the Palestinian Territories. This narrow seacoast area is inhabited by 1.4 million Palestinians and about eight thousand Jewish settlers. Israel's occupation of Gaza has been very costly, in money and lives. Economically, the settlers have a much higher standard of living than almost all Gazans. The settlers are separated from the Palestinian community by barbed wires and heavy fortification; military security is intense, yet often unreliable.
Currently, most Palestinians, including their official leadership, the Palestinian Authority, are exhausted from the counterproductive results of the previous disordered and bloody intifada. It is not strange that they tolerate Israeli disengagement from Gaza, and anticipate negotiating total withdrawal from the West Bank in the future.
In Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the crucial question is whether Gaza is being liberated from occupation or is it is merely being cleared of settlers?
Israel demands strict control of Gazan borders and air space after its withdrawal. To what extent will travel, export, defense and industry also be regulated? Will the settlers leave the rubble of their deliberately destroyed houses for the Gazans to clear with no compensation? Will the Israelis, for instance, hand over settlers' greenhouses intact for future employment of youth? And on a broader scale, will exit from Gaza lead to exit from the West Bank? (Four smaller West Bank communities are also included in the current disengagement plan.)
If Israel does not withdraw from the West Bank in the near future it risks becoming a de-facto military state. Within a military regime, a growing Palestinian population would ultimately make Israelis a ruling minority. Increasingly Israelis are becoming aware of this reality.
At a moment of Palestinian vulnerability (especially with the new leadership confronting radical elements), it may sound harsh to say that the key to their liberation is largely in their own hands. To effectively counter the Israeli occupation, the Palestinians need to adopt a comprehensive peace strategy of liberation.
Suicidal violence has changed the rules and values of combat to justify indiscriminate killing. A more creative alternative for political struggle would be to change the "medium" of combat, not the rules of combat, from violence to peace, from chaos to organization, from covert to overt, and from despair to hope.
By choosing to liberate their homeland by force through suicide bombings, Palestinians have opted for the weakest weapon at their disposal in their struggle. Since the Palestinians have a peace-oriented leadership, a formidable sense of self-determination, a recognized right for statehood, a strong demography and a wealth of intellect, why do they tolerate violence as a strategy of liberation?
(It's also worthwhile noting that suicide bombing and settlement expansion have something in common. Of all the forms of fighting between the Palestinians and the Israelis, over the past several decades, suicide bombing and settlement expansion have proven to be the two most effective reciprocal tactics of sabotage of conflict resolution.)
Palestinian leaders have learned that the creation of a state requires planning free elections, crafting government transparent institutions and organizing civic society. Such effective state building can only occur within a culture of nonviolence, teamwork, and an absolute respect for life, be it Arab or Jewish.
A positive shift from one side would cause a similar helpful shift on the other side. When Palestinians focus their energy to organize a new democratic society, they may provide Israelis the security they need to facilitate the formation of a viable Palestinian state. Reciprocally, when Israelis withdraw from occupied territories and close settlements they give Palestinians confidence that negotiating for peace is more fruitful than exploding bombs.

5 Comments:

Blogger oakleyses said...

ray ban outlet, prada handbags, tory burch outlet online, christian louboutin, michael kors outlet online, coach purses, coach outlet, christian louboutin outlet, kate spade outlet, burberry outlet online, christian louboutin shoes, longchamp outlet, nike free, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren, michael kors outlet store, jordan shoes, red bottom shoes, louis vuitton outlet online, burberry outlet online, longchamp outlet online, coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, louis vuitton handbags, oakley vault, oakley sunglasses, gucci handbags, polo ralph lauren outlet, tiffany and co jewelry, prada outlet, louis vuitton outlet, chanel handbags, louis vuitton, kate spade outlet online, nike air max, true religion outlet, michael kors outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, nike outlet, nike air max, true religion, cheap oakley sunglasses, longchamp handbags, louis vuitton outlet, coach outlet store online, michael kors handbags, tiffany jewelry

10:45 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

wedding dresses, mac cosmetics, soccer shoes, soccer jerseys, canada goose outlet, insanity workout, canada goose, p90x workout, abercrombie and fitch, longchamp, nfl jerseys, ugg soldes, instyler ionic styler, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose outlet, reebok shoes, ghd, herve leger, nike huarache, ugg outlet, bottega veneta, jimmy choo shoes, celine handbags, ferragamo shoes, ugg, canada goose outlet, babyliss, mcm handbags, uggs outlet, asics shoes, north face jackets, lululemon outlet, north face jackets, hollister, marc jacobs outlet, replica watches, valentino shoes, uggs on sale, birkin bag, uggs outlet, nike roshe, vans outlet, chi flat iron, new balance outlet, nike trainers, beats headphones, ugg boots, mont blanc pens, ugg boots

10:49 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

moncler outlet, wedding dress, supra shoes, uggs canada, louboutin, coach outlet, canada goose, air max, ugg, lancel, moncler, converse, moncler outlet, louis vuitton canada, thomas sabo uk, moncler, pandora charms, canada goose, juicy couture outlet, links of london uk, swarovski uk, replica watches, juicy couture outlet, moncler, nike air max, swarovski jewelry, timberland shoes, montre femme, hollister, oakley, moncler, hollister clothing, ray ban, hollister canada, pandora uk, vans, pandora jewelry, baseball bats, ralph lauren, gucci, parajumpers outlet, converse shoes, moncler, canada goose pas cher, iphone 6 case, karen millen, canada goose, toms outlet

10:51 PM  
Anonymous Cara Mengobati Sakit Dada Secara Alami said...



It is great to have visited your website. Thanks for sharing useful information. And also visit my website about health. God willing it will be useful too

Pengobatan efektif Menghilangkan Benjolan di Payudara
Cara Mengobati sakit Telinga Secara Alami
Penyebab Ginjal Bengkak dan Pengobatannya
Obat Tradisional Radang Tenggorokan

6:26 AM  
Blogger شركه تنظيف said...

فحص فلل
طرق ترميم و صيانة منازل بالرياض
تنسيق حدائق بالرياض
شركة تنسيق حدائق بالرياض
خدمات منزلية بالدمام
شركة فحص بالرياض
شركة ترميم بالرياض

4:29 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home