My sister Novi, Nevine Shalaby, shared with me the following video campaign by Avaaz that aims to gather support for the recognition of Palestine as a state with a spot in the United Nations.
[youtube width=”520″ height=”317″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDqgH6jsnUA[/youtube]
At first, the video appears as an astute method to simplify a bit of a pickle in the heart of the Arab world. After all, a dense Chomsky-style essay is not going to do a great deal in gearing the average Joe’s attention to a matter of such importance.
There were a number of points brought forward in the video, and I’d like to go over some of them:
- Both Palestinians and Israelis call it the homeland
- After WWII Western nations divided the land, but the Arabs rejected
- Wars broke out, Israel won, taking control of Palestinian land
- Israel has built settlements, which are like colonies, that are illegal
- Palestinians have to go through checkpoints
- Palestinians don’t have a place to call home
- Situation resulted in violence, killing 1,000 Israelis and 6,000 Palestinians
- Millions of Jews were murdered during the holocaust, and are fighting harder for a safe homeland out of fear
- Palestinians are desperate for freedom and an independent state
- Most Israelis and Palestinians agree on the two-state solution, and so does Obama
- Powerful extremists in the Middle East, and Washington, are standing in the way of change
- A global campaign is needed for peace between both sides
Do you see the problem? For the sake of this post, let’s ignore the fact that the people behind this video engage in dubious pro-Zionist activities and receive very sketchy funding. Let’s revisit the points and read between the lines
- Both Palestinians and Israelis call it the homeland
For starters, both sides are longing for the same land because they believe it’s their land. It’s not like Palestinians lived there long before Britain decided to hand over the territories to a group of Zionists or anything. It’s simply two sides after the same target. - After WWII Western nations divided the land, but the Arabs rejected
Had the Arabs agreed, we wouldn’t have had any problems. But it is the Arabs who would not agree to accept a new country installed amongst them. Why they gotta be like dat?! - Wars broke out, Israel won, taking control of Palestinian land
When a war breaks out, you win or you lose. Israel was fortunate enough to win, so they take control. It’s a fair deal. - Israel has built settlements, which are like colonies, that are illegal
Nevermind Israel itself, no need to look at the pre-1967 borders, let’s focus our attention on the settlements, because that’s the only problem, really, - Palestinians have to go through checkpoints
It’s fine to have checkpoints, even if they ‘sometimes’ last for hours? Thankfully, none of them are within Palestinian territories, and no humiliation takes place. It’s just an inconvenience. - Palestinians don’t have a place to call home
The problem is that there isn’t a place the Palestinians can call their own, so we need to find them a place. Don’t be naive to think that they DO have a place to call, it’s just occupied by people who don’t belong there! - Situation resulted in violence, killing 1,000 Israelis and 6,000 Palestinians
The situation become ‘complicated’. Naturally, both sides start to fight against each other, and people die on both sides. It’s a normal one-on-one with casualties on either end, the small differences in numbers is not the issue. The numbers could’ve been reversed, you know? With over 3,000 dead in a single wave of attacks on Gaza in 2009 – we’re certain that the total casualties of all years is about 6,000! - Millions of Jews were murdered during the holocaust, and are fighting harder for a safe homeland out of fear
That’s it! I knew they’d pull the Holocaust card, works like a charm! All they want is a safe homeland, they just don’t want to suffer another genocide, is that too much to ask for? The Palestinians, on the other hand, didn’t suffer from any genocide, so what are they scared of? Why can’t they give peace a chance? Why do they have to resort to terrorism? - Palestinians are desperate for freedom and an independent state
Don’t worry, they’re not after the right to return (because they have no interest). All they want, is to have a state recognized by the UN because we all know how well Israel has abided by the resolutions, and becoming part of the UN is the perfect solution. Also, the last thing on their mind is having direct access to their own resources, they just want to print post cards that say ‘We’re a state now, bitchezzz!’ - Most Israelis and Palestinians agree on the two-state solution, and so does Obama
Unless by ‘Palestinians’ they mean ‘Moderate’ Jews living in settlements, then I’m not sure from which British tabloid did they dig out the stats. Also, isn’t that the same Obama that, in his first appearance after winning the primaries, spoke at AIPAC and declared Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel? I’m sorry, I thought it was the same guy. - Powerful extremists in the Middle East, and Washington, are standing in the way of change
As the visuals clearly suggest, the Arabs are all in ‘terrorist’ uniforms holding weapons, while the Israelis are in suits. One side is acting barbarically, and the other is reverting to diplomacy. Which team will you rout for? - A global campaign is needed for peace between both sides
We don’t want anything from Israel. Both sides are having issues, even though many civilians on both ends wish for peace. What we need to do is to take the streets with the Palestinian and Israeli flags side-by-side and just be cute for a change. Both sides are equally responsible for the sticky situation they find themselves in, and they just need to learn to get along, and collectively hug a teddy bear.
You don’t need to put this video in the context of pro-Zionist Avaaz to understand the real aim behind it. With a campaign as such, any question of Israel’s legitimacy is discarded, any chances of return to pre-1967 borders is abolished, and anyone thinking that this is an illegal Israeli occupation resulting in an inhumane apartheid is absolutely insane. Even some of those who oppose the Israeli government are bound to fall for this and think it’s for everyone’s good. Clearly it’s not.
And just in case you brush off my interpretation as a rejection of any Western media’s attempt to improve the Palestinian situation, here’s a video by a white man, on an American channel, tackling the same issue. Only this time, the aim is to reveal the brutal occupation, not solidify the legitimacy of illegal Israel. It’s brilliant:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7XtT91yO6g[/youtube]
Zionists are a minority. Those who get a kick out of watching the Palestinians crumble as they expand their territory are actually quiet small in numbers. Even if main stream media (especially in the US) tells a story that’s almost unrecognizable with bias, alternative and independent sources of news and opinions are strong enough to combat. At the end of the day, it’s the numbers that matter, and with a network across the web and on the ground mobilizing, we’ll bring an end to the apartheid regime.
Power to the people – victory’s within reach, and justice will prevail.
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