The Israeli government and its supporters conduct these days a strenuous public relations campaign and disinformation against what they call “Palestinian terror” alleging they are working also for the security of Israel and Israelis.
In 1947, the United Nations adopted Resolution 181 that called for the partition of Historic Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish. The Resolution was not implemented. In 1967, Israel occupied the remainder of Historic Palestine. This prompted the adoption of Resolutions 242 and 338 (later on) by the UN Security Council that called for immediate Israeli withdrawal from the Territories it occupied in June 1967. In 1988, the PLO proclaimed a new political agenda calling for recognition of Israel and the establishment of the state of Palestine on 1/5th of Historic Palestine. In 1993, Yasser Arafat and Yitzhaq Rabin signed the Oslo Declaration of Principles in Washington DC. Yet, successive Israeli governments failed to honor Israel’s part of this agreement also.
A significant part of Israeli society, represented by a front of Jewish �religious and national- fundamentalism is the real reason for not implementing Resolution 181 in addition to a plethora of other UN resolutions besides the Oslo Agreement. This front -in unison with militaristic fanaticism- and governing Israel these days, clearly and publicly calls for usurpation of all Palestinian land and the establishment of Greater Israel. This front also calls for the transfer of all Palestinians outside their land. This philosophy has provoked grave fears and compelled the Jordanian government recently to endorse several measures restricting movement of Palestinians through Jordan.
Several key elements helped this Israeli extremist front pursue its aggressive policies. Among such elements: Arab vulnerability, failure by the international community to honor ethical and legal obligations, and the imbalance of power in favor of Israel with its international influence and its army which is considered one of the strongest in the world.
The Palestinian struggle was characterized, throughout 34 years, as a laborious unarmed resistance to protest humiliation, occupation, usurpation of land, and oppression. But, perseverance of Israeli extremist elements in their strategy to eternalize occupation and fortify control over the land compelled the Palestinian people towards despair. Such despair gave birth to certain elements, among Palestinians, who carried out suicide attacks against Israeli civilians. The PLO had always rejected this form of retaliatory attacks considering it harmful to the Palestinian struggle. Suicide attacks represented the magnitude of despondency inflicted upon the Palestinians by Jewish fundamentalism. Palestinians, for over fifty years, felt extremely hopeless of achieving the bare minimum of viable justice. Furthermore, these attacks represent Palestinian rejection of Israeli efforts aiming to turn them into the “Red Indians” of the Middle East or a people without an identity and a homeland. They also represent adamant repudiation, by a people of seven millions, to succumb to whims of extremist and undeterred Generals and Rabbis. Suicide attacks are a result of desperation of an unarmed people confronting an oppressively tyrannical army and an impotent international community watching, for over half a century, the agony of a people. Both Israeli extremism and the ineffectiveness of the international community drive the Palestinian people suicidal. Conscientious elements around the world should campaign against Israeli extremists the real enemy of peace.
Israeli leaders do not demand security for the state of Israel recognized by the United Nations in 1947 but for the state that continues to occupy the Palestinian Territories and usurp Palestinian property for the past 34 years. Conscientious individuals, on both official and popular levels, must clearly point out the enemies of peace.
Provision of international protection for the people of Palestine is the most needed step. Practically, it constitutes the beginning of a real effort to end the occupation and to achieve peace.
The Palestinian Council for Justice and Peace (PCJP) is based in Ramallah, Palestine.
