Lately at Daily Kos I/P we have gotten into many arguments regarding the potential to end the occupation of The West Bank and what are the best ways to do so. For some it is through a Palestinian initiated non-violent movement called Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS in short). For others, myself included it is through the Progressive Zionist Wing of the Israeli Polity combined with help from President Obama and the Democratic Party.
This diary is about the latter movement. Today post Israeli Independence celebrations we have the American Government backing away from the Mid-East Peace Process. The Foreign Minister who in direct conflict with a statement (albeit just for the press) from the Defense Minister, stating no compromise on Jerusalem AND a very strong message from a columnist pretty much summing up Israeli angst over the occupation.
A few days ago in my Fry'd Daze diary I mentioned that Salam Fayyad the Palestinian Prime Minister has set August 11, 2011 as a date to declare Independence and seek international recognition for a formal state. I saw this story: http://www.ynetnews.com/...
So today with my computer finally holding my favorite newspaper from Israel I get this from my favorite columnist Brad Burston
..... Years past on Independence Day, I used to wonder if my generation would survive the Occupation.
Now I wonder if Israel will.
This is perhaps Israel's most dismal Independence Day in memory. Not because of war. Nor terrorism, nor economic crisis.
In a country where polls show that nearly two-thirds of the population would cede the West Bank under a future peace deal, Israelis are hostages to the nightmare scenario of permanent Occupation.
Today, after 62 years of furious effort, Israelis and Palestinians are in many respects farther from true independence than ever before. The reason becomes clearer by the year. Both peoples are prisoners of the Occupation.
The Headline to this story is: Declare Independence. Free Israel. End the Occupation. Pretty powerful thought there. Particularly coming from a person who signs the column: Bradley Burston, Sgt., res., IDF Serial #3369089.
Now I don't know anyone who supports the Occupation but how to end is where we all seem to fall to pieces. But Burston makes a great point. The Occupation is not only causing great harm to the Palestinian People it is tearing the Jewish community apart. In Israel a group called Im Tirzu which is an extremely Right-wing and I would argue Facistic / McCarthyite group has already decided to take on the Left and Center of the Israeli polity.
Just recently on Memorial Day in Israel:
the Im Tirtzu organization, which promotes the Occupation through division, libel and graphic and verbal obscenity, distributed pamphlets in synagogues aimed at changing the Yizkor memorial prayer for fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, to include an attack on leftist Israelis.
This coupled with recent hostile meetings between Peace Now and Deputy FM Danny Ayalon; and a book banning of left wing politics by a bookstore threatened by Rightists is illustrating the need for outside help to aid the The Israeli Center and Left in their fight against the darker forces involved in their political system.
Many Israelis and their allies in the Peace Movement were looking at President Obama to be just that source of help. Those of us in the Zionist Progressive Wing and who favor an equitable and fair Two-State solution praised his Cairo Speech as a recognition of Israeli and Palestinian righs.
With the latest arguments between the countries we hoped this would open up the administrations eyes to the problems posed by the Rightist Government of Benyamin Netanyahu. Instead we get this:
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said in an interview on Monday that the time has not come yet for a new U.S. Mideast peace proposal.
In an interview with Charlie Rose on Bloomberg Television, Emanuel emphasized that a new U.S. plan isn't the correct move at this time.
"A number of people have advocated that. That time is not now. The time now is to get back to the proximity talks [and] have those conversations that eventually will lead to direct negotiations, start to make the hard decisions to bring a balance between the aspirations of the Israelis for security and make that blend with the aspirations of the Palestinian people for their sovereignty," Emanuel said.
http://www.haaretz.com
I can't see the whole article because now my computer which was holding Ha'aretz decided to crap out on me.
BUT my message to Mr. Emanuel is... NO, NOW IS THE TIME.
How bad are things getting in Israel regarding this... The settlers are even turning on the Israel Defense Forces - their main protectors.
As Progressive Zionists who want strong relations with the United States we are appealing to the President and the American Public to help. As the main benefactor and principle ally of Israel - the time is now for America to help settle this issue. Our foreign prestige is higher than it has been in years. President Obama is turning things around. Now that he has this international boost why not take advantage of this.
What can we as Americans do to help. Well first showing solidarity and support to J Street - a pro peace anti occupation lobby group send them emails or correspondence supporting a call for the President to be firm with Israel.
Write or call your congressperson asking them to call on the President to help advance Middle East Peace or if they won't do that work towards ending U.S. subsidies for Settlements. The Israelis listen to the U.S. and American Jews know we have a friend in President Obama. We have assured the Israelis we are committed to their defense. We need to maintain that committment, but, as their allies we need support their efforts to bring Peace to the Mid-East.
One thing is that in my opinion and the opinion of many Progressive Zionists here, Israel will only end the occupation with the help of friends. Over 60% of Israelis support pulling back from most of the settlements in the West Bank and providing for a Two-State Solution. They are held captive by the coalition that runs the country however. If they know we "have their backs" I believe that the average Israeli will come to realize that the American Government are their friends and that is the exteme elements of their political system that are destroying them.
In advance: Your comments and questions are appreciated.