Palestinian boy's arm cut off by Jewish settlers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/jul/30/beaumont.palestine
Start by having a look at the above video. A lot of us have seen some of this footage before. (I saw the illegal settler child spitting at the caged Palestinian woman last year, as did many others).
What gives this footage power now is that it is featured in the Guardian. This is a shift. I’m not sure I’m smart enough to figure out why it’s suddenly OK to show the Israeli occupation for the murderers-with-no-connection-to-the-holocaust that they are, but if more people in the UK can wake up to what’s been going on since the nakbah of 1948, then perhaps we are witnessing the birth of a genuinely unified movement against the oppression of the murderous Zionist regime, in the same way that the anti-apartheid movement of the ’80s and early ’90s built up steam to become a truly global phenomenon.
That movement achieved success through a serious of crippling boycotts against South African business directly, and those that did business with the Apartheid regime indirectly. It’s much harder to achieve the same result now that the economies of the world are so inter-dependent and particularly when the Zionist-controlled USA is so ready to kill more if its children (in illegal wars that serve Zionist interests) and bankrupt more of its people (to fund the illegal wars that serve Zionist interests) to support Israel.
I often wonder why the truth of the holocaust visited on the Palestinians over 60 years is so ignored by the media here and I can only think of a few things actually:
1. They actually don’t think that the Palestinians are worth as much as the Zionist terrorists. We’ve already heard our own Zionist embarrassment Maureen (Oberst) Lipman confess to as much and not be pulled up on it. Here’s what she said in 2006 in case you’ve forgotten:
“What’s proportion got to do with it? It’ s not about proportion is it? Human life is not cheap to the Israelis. And human life on the other side is quite cheap actually because they strap bombs to people and send them to blow themselves up”.
2. They are embarrassed about the fact that the state of Israel was founded by repeated acts of terrorism and that Britain (King David Hotel) cravenly caved in. So suddenly, a land with people (Arab Palestine) was purged of those people (ethnic cleansing) through the agency of Zionist terror gangs (stormtroopers, terrorists) and replaced with Jews. A land was taken away from its people by a third party and given to another. Imagine of America decided to give Britain away to the Gypsies.
3. They hate Palestinians and Arabs and Muslims. This is obvious from the blatant bias towards the terrorist state of Israel for several decades and the constant rewriting of history to present the Israelis as perpetual victims, living in the shadow of another holocaust, despite being the most heavily armed (NUKES!) country in the Middle East. All the while, ignoring the actual holocaust that continues to this day.
4. They created this mess and for that reason, they have to carry on lying and can never accept that they’re wrong. Even if it means collusion in genocide. What holocaust? Who said “Balfour”?
It’s a shocking conclusion. Only racism and hatred, concealed by weasel words and self-assuring chicanery can produce such a distorted picture of the reality of the holocaust in Palestine. Decade in, decade out, same old same old. And it works. Most people in this country think that the illegal settlers are Palestinians!
it goes right to the top. Our Prime Minister, Gordon BrNWO, surely not an uneducated man got to address the Knesset, on his knees. How embarrassing that he is our country’s representative. How embarrassing that such a holocaust-denying racist Zionist can ignore the wholesale theft and disaster of the last 60 years. He only speaks for hateful racists, not for decent people who care about the truth. (Whose side are you on?)
Only racism, hatred and sheer evil can explain the unprecedented bias displayed by our media and our leaders.
{ 6 comments }
I love the Lipman quote, of which you have completely missed the point. She is making the case that people who strap bombs to their own have no right to speak of life being cheap to Israelis. You have relayed that to your readers – though it’s a powerful attack on your own position.
Can I suggest you read John Gee’s “Unequal Conflict?” (http://www.amazon.com/Unequal-Conflict-Palestinians-John-Gee/dp/1566563038). He’s pro-Palestinian and worked alongside them (he was a press officer for CABU and was part of the Palestinian delegation to Oslo) but explains how they lost. It’s very largely to do with their failure (like yours) to engage with the world and make their case. Just like you, they alienate all around them with abuse, rather than intelligent argument.
Compare and contrast with Israeli diplomacy. From the foundation of the State of Israel they had people from all over the world, who could engage with other nations persuasively, intelligently and often in their own languages. The Palestinians on the other hand were organised tribally and followed leaders who happened to be the heads of the right families, however stupid they might be. Of course they were outclassed and outmanoeuvred throughout. They still are.
They lost the world’s sympathy forever when they stupidly went onto the streets to rejoice at 9/11. At that moment the world’s mental image of Palestinians (whom I accept have had a very raw deal) was fixed for all time. Sad, but true. Writing like yours in their support merely reinforces that impression.
Re-read what you wrote, Shahid. If it was by anyone else about any other issue, would YOU be persuaded? Would you honestly expect anyone to have their mind changed by such words? Frankly, the Israelis could hardly find anyone to make their case better.
So because a handful of foolish Palestinians played up to the cameras, and some Western media agencies thought it made meaningful news, fairness and balance must now come to an end? Don’t be daft.
I don’t deny that the Palestinians have no eye for the Western liberal zeitgeist, but even Fox viewing Americans have the power to view events dispassionately. I hope if a robber throws you out of your house, the police use factual evidence not astrology to decide on the right action to take.
The Palestinains largest visible political errors were made in the 70s when they pissed off other Arab nations. It was nothing to do with Israeli diplomacy. Israel resorts to violence quicker than the Mafia if they feel wronged in any way. The brave Jews in evil Muselmen lands makes good TV, but if they were a South American nation, they would be written off as just another banana republic.
I think Shahid told it as it is. The Zionists are monsters, but most of the world pretends they’re actually victims. The Zionist media machine has been extremely effective, and the Palestinian response has been troubled by corruption, but I think the reason people in the West have not been convinced is more a matter of decadence than anything else. Most people can’t be bothered to dig deep enough past the dirt and their own self-interest to see the truth. To dismiss 60 years of genocide as a ‘raw deal’ and somehow fault the Palestinians for this crime against humanity is morally repugnant. As for Grim Reaper Lipman, I watched the interview, and I have no doubt what she meant was ‘Jewish lives are worth more than those of darkies’.
I am sure you are right guys. Calling people names will certainly change their minds. Keep up the good work.
Ah, I see, you want the Palestinians to shut their mouths and stop screaming before the Zionist oppressor considers removing his boot from their face.
Funny how we have to stop the “name-calling” before Zionists and “Anglo Saxons” will stop the murder, rape, occupation and oppression. (Do point out the name-calling in this post though…)
You naively talk of the Palestinians celebrating 9/11. Did you personally witness every Palestinian celebrating? Do you expect me to believe that a man as intelligent and mature as yourself bought that garbage? I take it you turn a blind eye to all the Americans rejoicing at the deaths and rapes and murders committed by US soldiers, pilots, politicians and their paid military and corporate mercenaries in Iraq? Of course you do.
You want me to engage how, like Abu Mazen? How has his obsequiousness helped his people? Of course they are disorganised and tribal. That’s what 60 years of occupation, oppression, infiltration, interference and divide and rule leads to. So please, drop the hypocrisy, and don’t patronise me.
I’m not here to persuade anyone. It is you who misses the point entirely. My job is to convey the message.
(BTW, glad you’re enjoying Lyon. I’m there every year, it’s my favourite French city.)
an interesting discussion can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barrybar/358239139/
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