Urgent 'Musts' Needed for Palestinians to Defeat Apartheid | Ramzy Baroud

[Tace]

Ramzy Baroud -- World News Trust

April 1, 2015

Waiting on Israeli society to change from within is a colossal waste of time, during which the suffering of an entire nation -- torn between an occupied home and a harsh diaspora -- will not cease.

But what are Palestinians and the supporters of a just peace in Palestine and Israel to do? Plenty.

Those who counted on some sort of a miracle to emerge from the outcome of the recent Israeli elections have only themselves to blame. Neither logic nor numbers were on their side, nor the long history laden with disappointing experiences of “leftist” Israelis unleashing wars and cementing occupation.

Despite a few differences between Israel’s right and the so-called left on internal matters, their positions are almost identical regarding all major issues related to Palestine. These include the Right of Return and the status of occupied Jerusalem to the illegal settlements.

But Palestinians are not without options. Sure, the odds against them are great, but such is the fate of the oppressed as they are left between two options: either a perpetual fight for justice or unending humiliation and servitude.

more

http://worldnewstrust.com/urgent-musts-needed-for-palestinians-to-defeat-apartheid-ramzy-baroud

[oberliner]

1. This article is perfect

OK, so to summarize:

1. Abbas is bad, his government is corrupt, and the PA must be overcome.

2. No more factions - all Palestinians must get behind a single collective identity.

3. Change should be gradual - beginning with conversations leading to Palestinian unity

4. The central unifying idea should be that anyone who is descended from a 1948 refugee should have the right to return.

(With a reminder that the issue isn't the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza but the initial creation of Israel in the first place)

5. Make sure Palestinian citizens of Israel are united in national identity with Palestinians in the WB and Gaza

(Interesting in light of his other recent op-ed where he compared Palestinian-Israelis to African-Americans)

6. "Resistance must be respected"

(Not even a cursory objection to violence against Israeli civilians is included here)

7. Boycott Israel, Divest from Israel, Sanction Israel.

8. The only solution is a one-state solution.

And there you have it.

The whole article is grotesque, but number 6 is absolutely chilling. One would think that anyone who supports peace and opposes violence would recoil in horror when reading that vile paragraph. A similar reaction, I would think, as one would have to the hateful violent rhetoric of the far-right in Israel.

In case there is any doubt as to where this person stands. Praise for the Hamas approach (resistance must be respected) disdain for the Abbas approach (chided for cracking down on said resistance).

This is the perfect article for anyone who wants to get some insight into what the BDS movement is really all about.

[aranthus]

3. I would bet that a plurality of Palestinians would agree with the article, if not a majority.

And remember that Baroud is no uneducated yokel. He represents Palestinian elites. They're still fighting the 1947 war with virtually the same war aims as almost 70 years ago.

[oberliner]

5. The "elites" often are the more radical ones

Especially the educated folks like Baroud and that guy who runs Electronic Intifada (Abuminah).

They like to speak on behalf of the people who live there and actually have to deal with the reality of day to day life that they themselves do not need to worry about.

Even more extreme sometimes are the White Europeans and Americans who Know What Is Best for the Palestinian people.

[hack89]

2. So does right of return mean Palestianians becoming Israeli citizens

as they return to ancestral lands? Or is it return to the new Palestian state? Do they have a choice?

[oberliner]

4. He is arguing for one state, so there would be no more Israel in this scenario

It would be a single state comprised of all of the ancestors of Palestinian refugees who wish to return along with, presumably, the people who are living there now.

I would imagine that this new unitary state would not maintain the name of Israel as the vast majority of Palestinians reject that as a national identity, even the ones who are Israeli citizens.