Israel, in dovish gestures of reconciliation, is now saying that those activist arrested today after noon onboard the MV Rachel Corrie are real human beings, with whom dialogue and reason is possible.
"We saw today the difference between a ship of peace activists, with whom we don't agree but respect their right to a different opinion from ours, and between a ship of hate organised by violent Turkish terror extremists ... waiting for our soldiers on the deck with axes and knives," the Israeli prime minister's office announced.
Less than a week after Israel's early morning commando raid of the Turkish-flagged humanitarian aid ship Mavi Marmara - part of the Free Gaza Freedom Flotilla designed to break the 3-year naval blockade of the Gaza Strip - Israel's defenders have gone from brutally murdering peace activists to becoming the judges of who is a really a "peace" activist and who is not.
Israeli talking-heads cited that activists "complied" with Israeli marines' requests to board the ship shortly after 9am on Saturday morning, the Apartheid state opting for ladders to board the vessel instead of masked-commandos dropped from helicopters. Of course, while Israel may disagree with these activists, it will be shown as proof positive that Israel tolerate disagreements with its policies as long as you submit to its methods and procedures. The activists aboard the MV Rachel Corrie, though they disobeyed Israeli calls to "voluntarily" reroute to the port of Ashdod, surely knew that any resistance to Israeli attempts to board their ship would be crushed with deadly violence.
However, let's be clear that it was only because of overwhelming world-wide condemnation of Israel (with the obvious exception of the United States) following the May 31st massacre onboard the Mavi Marmara that Israel's trigger fingers were calmed. That, and the fact that close to half of the activists onboard the MV Rachel Corrie were of Western European citizenship (the rest were Malaysian citizens); it's more uncomfortable for Israel when white people are killed or injured. EVERYDAY in Palestine - in the West Bank and Gaza - people are shot, maimed, tortured and imprisoned for peacefully resisting occupation. In demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank, it doesn't matter if you throw stones or you throw your hands in the air, Israeli soldiers aim at your head with live bullets or rubber-coated steel bullets. They will beat you, they will maim you, and if they can get away with it, they will kill you. The only reason that they are allowed to continue is because most of the world does not care about Palestine or Palestinians.
The ending of the occupation in Palestine and the breaking of the siege on Gaza will not come about only by passive resistance to Israeli crimes and massacres. Sabotage, property destruction and self-defense, while they should not be the primary focus of struggle, are legitimate responses to occupation, invasion and racism, and should be employed. We should salute activists aboard the Rachel Corrie and the Mavi Marmara, as well as Palestinians and peoples around the world engaged in struggles of liberation, for their courageous and heroic stances.
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And now they're mocking the flotilla: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/05/gaza.flotilla.mock.video/index.html?hpt=T2
ReplyDeleteNice post, but a few thoughts... First, "most of the world does not care about Palestine or Palestinians..." in my view, it is not that most don't care, that is not an accurate statement. I think a lot of people do care. What I think does portrait the problem is that a wealthier group of people that lash out as anyone who does not agree with their rights to this land as anti-semitic have a total chokehold on the internationally recognized peacekeeping organizations in the UN and of course the US. It does us all no good to point an angry finger saying that "nobody cares" when this is not the case; people are dominated by an invisible force that silences the media and reshapes history to justify the Israeli cause. Most people, if and when informed correctly, would think much differently if they had the opportunity.
And as usual I will contest your claim that sabotage and property destruction play any role in legitimate responses to occupation. If someone were to destroy your property, this would only make you angrier, and would solidify your view that that person was out to get you and evil. If, instead of hurting you, your family, your house, etc, this person showed all of your friends and family that you had wronged them, they would feel ashamed. I think the current course of action in the West Bank and Gaza is moving towards shaming Israel by showing their brutality and demonstrating the hate crimes utilized to the world. By shaming them, they lose support all over the world. By not allowing them to control how the media reports their views, we win. I do agree that self-defense is necessary, however, and fully support anyone that needs to do so... But to me, breaking things out of anger seems childish compared to rational, well-thought approaches towards international recognition of the cause.
All those that have been hurt by this long conflict are on my mind as I type this, including the most recent tragic example of Emily Henochowicz. Thanks for this interesting post of your thoughts, though.
hola hermano, thanks for your comment. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the first point. I think you're right on point. Most people just don't know.
I know what you're talking about in your second point, but I'm not referring to destroying small farmers' crops or mom-and-pop stores. But I'll leave it at that out of prudence. :)
and by the way, property destruction and sabotage is possibly the most minimal part of struggle. the greatest bit is talking to people, building connections, organizing, informing and chilling and talking and dancing and loving.
ReplyDeleteNicholas, the point missed is that the Jewish State did not expect resistance or thought resistance would be in the form they are used to. They believe that their State is a "righteous state" not the hopelessly lost state of "apartheid and racism." Note that they have ignored 29 UN Resolutions, knowing that their paymaster the US will stand squarely behind them. Perhaps this latest event may change attitudes but then again on the other hand they may only respond to force? Tragic as the murders are,the world finally sees the sheer injustice and inhumanity of these Pirates and murderers,perhaps they may ease somewhat on the illegal "blockade" until real change comes in the future. Do not expect any change of attitude on the part of a W.H. with Rahm at its head and the Pentagon under zionist influence.Do keep in mind that as long as Palestine is under occupation,and as long as the US is not directly affected,there will be no change.
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