Palestine, occupation and self-criticism (By Lawrence Smallman)

[Saeba]

After 42 violent deaths, dozens of destroyed Palestinian homes and a critical UN resolution, even prominent Israelis are adding their voice to a chorus of world outrage.

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More recently, Israeli tactics have come in for severe criticism from the very people ordered into the occupied Palestinian territories to "prevent terrorism".

On 4 April 2002, a reservist who refused to serve - Ishai Rosen-Zvi – questioned his own army's tactics.

"We are at war again, what is this war intended for? Preventing terrorism? This isn't even an unfunny joke. It is clear and embarrassing to repeat that these operations are the ultimate laboratories for the creation of terrorism."

<snip>

"We're told all the time the Palestinians want to throw us into the sea. We have six million people in the strongest Army in the region yet we speak of them as if they were two equal powers. It's just manipulating people's fears."

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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9810F710-617B-4CB3-BEC4-71060CEF21F0.htm">Full article here

[Gimel]

1. For the sake of both peoples

peace should be sought for by both. This was the vision of Rabin. Unfortunately, there is no partner for peace on the Arab side.

Israel cannot give them land that doesn't exist. There is not way to add extra dunims to the area. It's just going to have to be a process of working it out.

The response to the Camp David was suicide bombing attacks. Not very hopeful for the future.

[number6]

2. fear and oppression in the occupied Palestinian territories

Unfortunately, there is no partner for peace on the Israeli side.