@ #13 I understand your effort to put historical events in context, but it’s hard to swallow the moral equivalence you draw between Palestinian extremists and Israel. Israelis have killed countless Palestinians. But these tragic deaths are usually the unintentional consequence of battling extremists who hide among civilians. The killing of civilians by Israel is not welcomed. It’s usually regretted, regarded as a mistake, and commonly brings protests. On the other hand, Palestinian extremists specifically target civilians. The killing of Jews is seen as a victory, and usually brings cheers. It’s reprehensible when any civilian is killed. But there’s a difference between manslaughter and murder. I do feel sorry for the misery the Palestinian people have suffered. But it’s hard to empathize with a people who show no remorse at their own acts of cruelty.
It’s true that both Arabs and Jews have a right to a homeland. But while Jews accepted the 1947 Partition Plan -which would’ve created a homeland for each- the Arabs rejected it, as they considered all of Palestine Arab land. (On the other hand, they had no problem supporting the British partition of India to create Muslim Pakistan…) What made the coastal plains of Palestine so particularly “Arab”? They may have been land OWNERS, but they did not have land SOVEREINGTY. There were already 600,000 Jews living there by 1947, many land owners as well. And it was clear long before WWII that the Jews and Arabs would be ungovernable under a single state. Whether the Israelis would have kept to the UN plan and it’s poorly defensible borders is debatable. It’s a moot point, however, given the state of civil war Palestine was in after the partition plan was announced in 1947. Taking advantage of the war, and in the name of “security,” the Jews expelled thousands of Arabs and destroyed their villages. But then again, this is a people who were being threatened by Arabs that they would be obliterated, and “pushed into the sea,” a people who had heard similar threats come true before, by the Nazis, the Russians, and countless others who over the centuries have slaughtered Jews.
Though tragic, the Palestinian refugee crisis was hardly unique. The period between 1946-1952 saw many such injustices, involving millions of refugees. The difference is that other refugees were absorbed, while the Palestinians were left to fester in camps. For example, the losing Germans saw Poland and the Soviets annex one quarter of their country. 12 million ethnic Germans – Polish, Czech, Hungarian citizens- living in centuries-old eastern European communities were expelled by the Allies and shipped to Germany. 3 million died en route. Other upheavals of that period included how 14 million Hindus/Muslims were forced to flee after the partition of Pakistan/India (500,00 died in the process), the 800,000 Jews forced to flee centuries-old communities across the Arab world, and the thousands who fled or were killed by the Chinese after the 1950 invasion of Tibet. All these tragic acts saw land takings, expulsions, and the creation of millions of refugees, most of which were never repatriated, nor compensated for their losses. They were, however, absorbed by their kin in neighboring countries. Contrast this to the 711,000 Palestinians refugees (and their descendants), who have been left to rot in Arab refugee camps, in many cases with no citizenship (despite being born on Arab soil), limited mobility and limited access to employment and healthcare. The Nakba was provoked by the creation of Israel, but it has been perpetuated by the very Arab governments who hypocritically claim to fight for the refugees’ rights.
Israel’s objectives may at times be suspect. But the Palestinians’ objectives have always been clear: the destruction of Israel. There is no Palestinian partner for true peace negotiations. If they believe all of Palestine is theirs, what is there left to negotiate about?
In truth, if the Palestinians laid down their weapons, there would be a chance for peace. If Israel laid down its weapons, there would be no chance for Israel. Because in the end, Israel goes to war, but would rather live in peace. The Palestinians would simply rather Israel just die.
Finally, I do agree that the only definitve stop to the conflict will come when one of the two peoples has been completely annihilated. As of now, Israel has the weapons but not the will. Radicals like Hamas have the will but not the weapons. One day this equation will change. If peace is not achieved before that day when Hamas acquires the weapons for complete annihilation (with the help of Iran?), or Israel develops the will for complete annihilation, there will be so much blood spilled, we may look back at days like today with fondness.
