Judaism - Israel - Palestine - All Eleven Parts Together (Warning - Very Long) (Graphics didn't Copy Over)
As I begin this writing,
MSNBC’s (muted) screen says:
Trump, What’s Happening to Me is a Form of Navalny (or similar)
That, perhaps is a
metaphor for this writing! A Most Privileged white man, who
sees himself as “THE Victim”. This man lives in fear –
manipulated and bullied by his father. His Sadism and
Narcissism – and its Impact upon so many others reflects – both his Incredible
Privilege, as well as Anger and Hatred – arising out of his fears, most of
which I know little or nothing about. (5:35 a.m. – Wednesday,
February 21, 2024)
---
Judaism, My Judaism –
its impact upon me is, I hope, an interesting story. This is a
personal story. You, the reader, can jump ahead and learn more
about me at any time if you go to Part I – of this writing – where I began
writing – at: Judaism-Israel-Palestine: Part I – at: https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-i.html or https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-i.html .
As with some of my
writings, up at 3:30 a.m. – on my exercise bike at about 4:45 a.m. (after
stretching, putting the dishes away and more) – I knew – it was time to write
what I had just thought of.
I am deeply
grieving! I am also very angry! In the
short-term I am very pessimistic. I am deeply committed –
seeking meaning. I am Curious.
I hope that two specific
women will be curious. This story is Not about
them.
In 1987 – while living
in Madison, Wisconsin, I went to hear Louis Farrakhan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Farrakhan - speak at The University of Wisconsin –
Madison.
Ethically – Morally – I
would Never have paid an admission charge to attend. I was
curious! I wanted to better understand his Anti-Semitism and his
Charisma. He will turn 90 five days before my 73rd birthday almost
three months from now.
I’m glad I heard him
speak! I learned – from him! My respect for
him was less, after I understood more.
I hope that the
aforementioned women – who are both – white and Jewish will read – this
prologue – and perhaps, faintly perhaps – be curious to read more of my
writings – on this difficult subject. The third relevant woman
is also Jewish.
My partner converted to
Judaism over 30 years ago – totally voluntarily. She is Black,
Female and Queer Identified.
Being Jewish is very,
very different for. She is different because she is a Jew By Choice. She
is different because she is. Additionally – being Queer
Identified makes her Significantly Different.
These Differences –
reflect - Our Privilege and the Complexities of Living as a Jew who isn’t white
and who isn’t Cis/Het! This is in addition to the Anti-Semitism and
of course Sexism that all three women face.
There are also three Men
in my story: my father, my brother, and myself – also all Jewish.
My father (Menachem)
Imanuel Marx was born in Berlin, Germany on June 29th, 1918. His
father, Moses Marx, emigrated after being recruited to Cincinnati – as the
Chief Cataloger at Hebrew Union College in 1926. The three boys and
my grandmother followed a year later.
I was named after my
great-grandfather. He sold his bank to Deutsche Bank in 1904 –
he was wealthy! The family’s wealth went away with the extreme
inflation in Germany after World War I. We, were, however a
privileged family! My grandfather’s second oldest
brother Alexander Marx (mentioned below) emigrated to NYC in 1903 upon
completing his PHD at The University of Koenigsberg. He was
the chief librarian and a history professor at The Jewish Theological
Seminary. When my father was born – in 1918 – there was no
mail service between Germany and The U.S. due to World War
I. I saw correspondence at the JTS some decades ago – from
Berlin to a relative in Switzerland (neutral during The War) to my great-uncle
in NYC.
28. ”North German Credit Institute” founded by George Marx
The Jews of Königsberg at the turn of the 20th century
Marx - A successful banker
Bаnking family
Even
the “North German Credit Institute” founded by the banker George Marx in 1897
(he came from Cologne) was in reality a family business, because several of the
twelve children as well as other relatives worked at the bank, which opened
many branches in the province of East Prussia.
24. Children of the family of Gertrud und George Marx 1892
https://jewsineastprussia.de/catalog-konigsberg-05/
My grandfather is in the
lower left corner of this picture. I believe that directly
next to him is: Esther (nee Marx) Agnon.
Shmuel Yosef Agnon (Hebrew: שמואל יוסף עגנון; August 8, 1887[1] – February 17, 1970)[2] was an Austro-Hungarian-born Israeli novelist, poet,
and short-story writer. He was one of the central figures of modern Hebrew literature. In Hebrew, he is
known by the acronym Shai Agnon (ש"י עגנון).
In English, his works are published under the name S. Y. Agnon. …
In 1913, Agnon moved to Germany, where he met Esther Marx (1889-1973), the
sister of Alexander Marx.[5] They married in 1920 and had two
children. … In 1966, he was awarded the Nobel
Prize in Literature "for
his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the
Jewish people".[17]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_Yosef_Agnon
My
father’s cancer was amazingly in remission during 1962-3 – when we lived in
Zurich (he was studying – while on sabbatical). We saw many
relatives he had not seen since 1927 – including Shai Agnon.
Imanuel Marx died on
Friday, November 13, 1964 – when I was 13 years old in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
in Lafayette, Indiana. He “chose” when to die. It
was roughly 18 hours after he taught his last class at Purdue University – the
only time he was in a hospital – during the last six months of his
life. He weighed about 85 pounds when he let go!
My brother – has been
hospitalized because of his severe mental illness for the past 12 or 13
days. My brother’s life has been Very
Challenging! Until very recently, he repeatedly told me of how
happy he is with his life. I believed him! He
is Chasidic – very Orthodox Jewish. My cousins – and their
close relatives – are his “lifeline”.
For
most of my life, I have lived in fear! Depression – was at
least my “middle name” – most of the time. I am no longer
stuck in fear on many levels!
I “escaped” – starting
in November, 2018. Each month and year since then have been
increasingly amazing!
Life is meaningful
now! Life is challenging, but not
difficult. I have significant medical issues. I’m
otherwise – very healthy – and am physically very strong!
-
I have been very
fortunate! My privilege – has certainly helped! I
seek meaning – in my life! Meaning – includes experiencing
physical and emotional pain – when not overwhelming. Meaning –
includes – experiencing my feelings deeply. My heart and
spirit – are most important now!
-
As a Jew – my
traumas have gotten in my way:
1. On an individual/personal level – Three neighbors
- boys who were two years older than me – bullied me. I
would have never thought of talking about the bullying with
anyone. My parents – taught me – “learn, learn, learn” – and
learning was – factual and intellectual – not emotional. (note:
being male didn’t help!)
2. The Holocaust – was still deeply within me – and I can/will
never forget (about) it. We traveled on trains that passed
through Germany. We never stopped in Germany.
3. I have also been traumatized – by at least 2000 virulent
Anti-Semitism. (Thankfully – unlike one of the aforementioned women,
at least, I didn’t experience it profoundly at West Lafayette High School.)
As Jews – I think it
particularly important that we heal as significantly as we can from
our traumas. For most of us – they include:
1. Anti-Semitism – we have experienced,
2. The Holocaust
3. Ancestral Anti-Semitism.
Many, if not most of us
- Upper-Middle Class – white Jews – particularly – those who aren’t relatively
young - have grown up with Zionism – embedded – deeply within us!
I remember Exodus – Leon
Uris - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_(Uris_novel) – which deeply moved me for close to 20
years! I remember arriving at Haifa on a Zim passenger boat
from Naples on Passover-Eve in 1963. It was amazing – for me – to be
in a Jewish country.
Being Jewish – we have a
Deep, Deep Divide – between many of us today!
My two – aforementioned
Jewish Friends – one from childhood, and the other – from my recent days in
Chicago, are very different from me – in one important way!
For all of us – Our
Judaism is very important! They, at least, are highly
intelligent. They have done many incredible things during
their lives.
They are
Zionists. I am not!
-
When one questions –
Israel – and Zionism – within our Jewish Community – on a personal level – it
deeply affects us – in HUGE ways!
To move beyond the current limits, progressives must
embrace a more principled politics, one that begins by recognizing the
fundamental humanity of Palestinians. (p.155)
https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/05/progressives-palestine-book-review.html
I strongly believe that
when we – question – Israel and Zionism – more than extremely, extremely
superficially – we:
1. Clash – with our – Trauma – as Jews, and perhaps more
importantly,
2. Literally – face – “Excommunication” – from our Jewish
Community – our Jewish friends – our Temple/Synagogue – where we are observant,
3. Generally – we get little, if any, support from others we
are in community with - who are not Jewish.
I hope that fellow Jews
– will be curious. It is Naïve – and Not Helpful to expect
that other Jews – who strongly disagree with me here – will agree with Most of
what I say in the remainder of this set of writings.
For my partner – who is
less privileged than most other Jews that I know, this is much, much more than
a hope. She pays a Steep Price – that I don’t Face – related
to being a combination of: Black and Queer Identified.
I can see – the
Puzzlement – some of you may have! I hope that you are (still)
curious!
I live in a world of
fear! Hatred comes out of that
Fear! Anti-Semitism is real and dangerous!
“Jews
will not replace us!” This was one of the rallying cries of the white
supremacists who converged on Charlottesville, VA in August 2017.
https://www.adl.org/racists-converge-charlottesville
Some Jewish students
have justifiable fear – related to Anti-Semitism! I wish to
distinguish between two very different sets of fears that many of them
have.
1. When People are murdered in the United States – which has
happened in multiple Jewish settings, this is Anti-Semitism.
2. When one’s daughter or granddaughter – sees a room filled
with people wearing a keffiyeh – the fear is real.
3. When one hears the words: “From the River to the Sea”
-
The Fear is Real.
The issues of “impact”
and “intent” are important! When I say to another person: “I
understand what you mean” – my intention may be my relationship (or perceived
relationship) with you – and connection. If you hear me saying:
“What you said was Obvious, so why did you say it?” – the impact of my words
was far different from my intent.
I doubt that many of us
who are Jewish would believe that my wearing of my yarmulka/kippah (actually
Iranian hat- given to me circa 1960
Or other fellow Jews – wearing a more
traditional one could be perceived as threatening. It could
similarly!
I would Never advise
anyone to ignore their fears! I would also suggest that absent
– clearly more substantial – significant evidence – Not accusing – others – of
showing their Anti-Semitism by such actions.
As was eloquently said
by a visiting professor at Harvard (from Dartmouth) – that getting triggered is
a common occurrence for college students today. He noted that many
of his Black Students – came to him at times telling him that they were triggered
virtually on a daily basis by statements of fellow white students.
I learn a lot from my
curiosity! Some of it is factual. More of it is
deeper – heart-felt images.
I was curious about
Hamas. I read an incredible book about Hamas. You can
read my review at:
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/hamas-contained-tareq-baconis-excellent.html
or:
https://medium.com/@marxgeo/hamas-contained-tareq-baconi-s-excellent-book-94cc04640a1f .
I find Hamas – more
understandable – now! Reading the book did NOT make me into a
Supporter of Hamas!
You should read what you
desire to read! I would recommend that Most People – especially
fellow Jews might want to read a bestseller:
James McBride’s: “The
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” – my review is at:
https://medium.com/@marxgeo/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store-unbelievably-excellent-f52db2b1eb19
or
https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/09/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store.html
I’m pretty sure one of
my two aforementioned friends read this book upon my recommendation and loved
it! It’s (in my opinion) the best novel I’ve ever read.
We don’t need to
agree! I hope that this writing will be meaningful to readers
who are Jewish as well as others who aren’t Jewish!
The remainder of my
writings in this series (not fully completed as I complete this now) – focus
more specifically upon Israel and Palestine and in the latter parts especially
about Gaza. I would alert – some – that they could be triggered
by some of the quotes – and perhaps by some of my expressed
views! When I worked this morning as a clinic
escort in Concord, California and when I work at Planned Parenthood’s San
Francisco Office tomorrow morning – being male – in heavily female space – may
make me feel – “out of ‘my’ place” and mildly
uncomfortable. This is good for me! - MERJ –
Men for Equity and Reproductive Justice (www.JoinMERJ.org) –
came out of my discomfort – as a privileged, upper-middle-class, cis-hettish,
Autistic – white Jew!
Thanks!
The latter two specific
examples are situations where the INTENT of the “other” and the IMPACT upon you
or your daughter may be very different!
To label the latter two
examples as:
“Anti-Semitic” – without
clear – other – evidence – to me is premature.
IF – my words above are
triggering – I’m sorry that they are triggering! I hope that
you will look within yourself at why they are triggering. I hope
that IF your trauma is Deep in these moments – you will look mor deeply at it.
In saying this, this is
rarely something that one can do alone – as a single
individual! It takes time. It takes
effort. It takes others – who will listen and share with you.
PROLOGUE -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/im-jewish-im-privileged-prologue-to.html
1. Part I -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-i.html
2. Part II -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ii.html
3. Part III -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iii.html
4. Part IV -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iv.html
5. Part V -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-v.html
6. Part VI -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vi.html
7. Part VII -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vii.html
8. Part VIII -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-viii.html
9. Part IX
- https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ix.html
10. Part X - Conclusions -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/03/judaism-israel-palestine-conclusions.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/im-jewish-im-privileged-prologue-to.html
Being Jewish is
a major part of my identity. While I am
also: white, male, cis-hetish, upper-middle class, autistic,
eclectic-radical politically, 72 ½ years old, 32 inch waistline (down
significantly through diet primarily recently), 5’ 9 1/2” tall (down from
5’10), have two stents coping with a formerly nearly 100% blocked artery, fatty
liver, have recently become (hopefully no longer) almost diabetic, in
incredibly good physical shape,
my
Jewish Identity is quite important to me.
Moses Marx, my grandfather, lower left corner and
his
siblings - 1893 - Koenigsberg, Germany
I’m
not “religious-religious”. I’m Never ashamed of being Jewish.
Although I’ve experienced Anti-Semitism, it’s not been a frequent occurrence,
nor has it deeply affected me.
Some
years ago my partner and I were enjoying ourselves at an (outdoors) bar on an
island perhaps 50 miles from Seattle. My spouse and the bartender were
chatting about a local women’s used apparel and/or consignment store. She
told B that they had some nice things there. Then she said:
“You
don’t need to accept the asking prices. You can Jew her down”.
We
both were stunned – gut punched. We asked for the bill and left the
bar within two minutes.
The
bartender probably never knew that anything was wrong. Her words likely
weren’t intended to be Anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism though
relates to the impact of the spoken words, not the intentions of the speaker.
Many
years ago, my step-father, an engineer, worked in Northern Alabama. His
boss told a “Catholic joke”. The boss then realized that while he
knew all the long-term fellow employees were Protestant, he didn’t know
Ira’s religion. He said something like:
“Ira,
you’re not Catholic are you?” - Ira, shook his head and calmly said:
“No”.
The
boss relaxed for a brief period of time, and then then thought to question Ira
again saying something like:
“What
religion are you?”
Ira
replied:
“Jewish”.
There
was then a long silence. Clearly, being Jewish was “not okay”.
White
nationalists chanting: “The Jews will not replace us” is quite threatening
evidence of Anti-Semitism. Their common possession of weapons intended to
kill multiple people relates significantly to our fears. Shootings at Jewish
synagogues and temples are threatening. Defacing of Jewish houses
of workshop is further evidence of Anti-Semitic behavior.
Anti-Semitism
is also evident with words like: “The Jews own the world” or “Jewish Bankers
have all the power”. Hearing such words, one can be triggered,
obviously. In such cases it is helpful to listen and pay attention
to the other words of the speaker(s). The words themselves are probably
not “threatening”.
1918
Israel
is a country. While Israel’s identity is heavily tied to Judaism, it
is not a word one should “equate” with the Jewish
religion. Close to a fifth of Israeli citizens are not
Jews.
Israel
does not allow marriages between individuals of different
religions. Where a Jewish or Islamic citizen wishes to, for
example, marry a Roman Catholic individual, they, of necessity, go to Cyprus,
or Europe or elsewhere to wed. They can then return to Israel
as a married couple.
--
The
Zionist Movement began in the late 19th century. Prior
to then, a discussion about “Israel” would have referred to the ancient land
that had ceased to be when Jews were exiled after being defeated by the army of
the Roman Empire. This was well before the expansion and colonizing
of empires such as the Ottoman/Turkish British, and Portuguese
empires. Until then end of World War I, Palestine was a part of the
Ottoman/Turkish Empire where Islam was the state religion.
A
significant statement in the expansion of the Zionist Movement camee when Lord
Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary issued a significant statement that is
referred to as The Balfour Declaration.
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917
Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure
in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following
declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been
submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet
His Majesty's
Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home
for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the
achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be
done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish
communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in
any other country.
I should be grateful
if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours,
Arthur James Balfour
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/text-of-the-balfour-declaration).
Another
summary of promises made to Jews and the Native Paletinian population includes:
§ 1915 McMahon-Hussein correspondence – Britain
offered Sharif Hussein of Mecca support for an Arab State including Palestine
§ 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement – Britain,
France and Russia made a secret agreement to divide up the Middle East between
them
§ 1917 Balfour Declaration – Britain,
in promising support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine also promised to
safeguard the rights of the Arab population
§ 1918 Anglo-French Declaration – Britain
and France promised independence to the former subjects of the Ottoman Turks,
including Palestine
§ 1922 Palestine Mandate – In Article 22 Britain promised the League of
Nations that it would prepare Palestine for independence, but failed to do so.
§ 1939 White Paper – Jewish
opinion condemned the White Paper as a retreat from the promise in the Balfour
Declaration to create a Jewish National Home.
§ 1948 Mandate Surrendered –
Britain abandoned its pledge to protect Palestinian rights by withdrawing its
forces leading to 750,000 Palestinians becoming refugees, 250 -300,000 before
the British left.
https://balfourproject.org/the-contradictory-promises/
Jews,
Christians, and people with other religions were treated unequally in a sense
from the Moslems of Palestine within the pre-1918 Ottoman
Empire. They were largely “left
alone”. Most of the Jews of Palestine were very
religious. They mostly lived proximate to Jewish holy sites.
The
Jews of Palestine were hardly a local political force. They lived a
relatively primitive (economically) existence.
The
other residents of Palestine prior to the end of World War I included native
Moslem, Russian/Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Druze and other
people. A significant majority of these people had no
“home country” outside of Palestine. Their families had lived in
Palestine for at least hundreds of years.
A
large number of these people lived in small towns and rural areas, tending
animals and farming the land. Within their world(s), a
“Nation-State” did not exist. Lands were often communal or
rented from non-resident (wealthy) landlords.
Within
each religion which has ties to Palestine, there are local holy
sites. The site of the (Jewish) “Wailing Wall” is directly
adjacent to two mosques that are extremely important to Moslems of multiple
sects. Roman Catholicism has holy sites in Bethlehem,
Jerusalem, and Nazareth. Nablus contains sites holy to Muslims
and Jews.
Behind
the idea of the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine were often a
combination of Jews, as well as Western Europeans of wealth/
power. Some of the powerful leadership of Western Europe
resented the educated/ middle-class local Jewish citizens, and saw Palestine as
a convenient opportunity to rid themselves of Jews. Their
Anti-Semitism was self-evident.
The
Russian Revolution of 1917 and the intersection of
“Communism”, “counter-revolutionaries”, and Jews - with significant
Anti-Semitism further complicated things.
Palestine
and adjacent areas had native Palestinian and/or Arab people and/or Moslem
people. These people had relatively little influence in
Europe. The wealthy elites of Palestine such as the Husseini Family
often competed more with the other notable families, rather than building
allegiances in Europe. The elite Jews or Europe such as Rothschild
had far more influence than the notables of Palestine.
Additionally,
Egypt and Iran were distinct from the Palestinian People in important
ways. The Iranians are not “Arabs” and their native language
is often Farsi, not Arabic. Egypt is part of
Africa. While it is adjacent to Palestine, it is the northeastern
part of a different continent.
Rashid
Khalidi - a Palestinian American Historian - an Esteemed Scholar - Professor -
and a prolific writer far more effectively stated:
All
of these profound material shocks heightened the impact of the wrenching
postwar political changes, which obliged people to rethink long-standing senses
of identity. By the end of the fighting, people in Palestine and in much
of the Arab world found themselves under occupation by European armies.
After four hundred years, they were confronted by the disconcerting prospect of
alien rule an the swift disappearance of Ottoman control, which had been the
only system of government known for over twenty generations. It was in
the midst of this great trauma, as one era ended and another began, against a
grim background of suffering, loss, and deprivation, that Palestinians learned,
in a fragmentary fashion, of the Balfour Declaration.
( The Hundred
Years' War on PALESTINE: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance,
1917-2017 - Rashid Khalidi, page 23 )
·
Part II of this writing will continue
discussing the period beginning with 1918.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ii.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iii.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iv.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-v.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vi.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vii.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-viii.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ix.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/03/judaism-israel-palestine-conclusions.html
Part I - This is Part II
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-i.html
ONE SIDE OF THINGS: There are many Arab
countries. Prior to the creation of The State of Israel there
was not a single Jewish country. The Holocaust proved the
reality that Jews needed and continue to need a Jewish state. Israel
is the ancestral home of Judaism. It is the logical place for a
Jewish home.
Israel
has been defending itself from Arab attacks going back at least to the
1920’s. The Jewish leaders in Palestine and then in Israel
have sought peace and have acted lawfully from the
beginning. When the British were leaving Palestine, The Arabs
were offered their own independent state. They reacted by attacking
the much weaker Jewish forces who heroically won The War of Independence,
establishing the only democratic state in the Middle East. Non-Jews
in Israel have freedom of religion and are treated entirely fairly.
Israel
has made many efforts to have a just peace with the Arabs who live in the
Jewish lands which since 1967 have justly belonged to
Israel. Jerusalem is our holy city and only we can be trusted
to safely protect the sacred sites of The Old City. We respect
the rights of the Moslems, Christians and other religions who have sacred sites
(also) in Jerusalem.
The
Palestinians have repeatedly refused to acknowledge the rights of Israel to
exist. At Oslo and at other times a just peace has been
offered, and rejected. We can not safely do more than
protecting ourselves against internal and external aggression against us
because we Jews continue to be persecuted.
On
October 7, 2023 radical militant terrorists from Hamas attacked innocent
civilians and killed over 1200 of them. Many were raping and
otherwise abusing women and cruelly murdering of many innocent children.
Israel
will not be safe until Hamas is wiped out. In The United
States and elsewhere Jews are threatened by Palestinians, Muslims, and leftist
radicals who continue to blame us, while oppression continues in other
countries, totally minimized.
Anti-Semitism
persists and we are doing our best to combat it. “From the
River to the Sea” – are words from the original Hamas Charter and continue to
call for the extermination of all Jews in Israel.
Pause
for a moment please!
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE:
“In March 1919,on the eve of the post
World War I Paris Peace Conference, ‘Julius Kahn, the German-born Jewish
congressman from San Francisco, delivered to President Wilson “A Statement to
the Peace Conference” endorsed by 299 Jews. …[T]he document denounced the
Zionists for attempting to segregate Jews and to reverse the historical trend
toward emancipation.’ Its signers ‘objected to the creation of a
distinctly Jewish state in Palestine’ not only because they feared it would
jeopardize the status of Jews like themselves in the home countries, but
because they found it ‘contrary “to the principles of democracy’ to elevate
Jewish immigrants over Palestine’s Muslim and Christian native
inhabitants. They explicitly denied ‘the existence of ethnic ties among
Jews’ and ‘asserted their wish not to see Palestine “either now or at any time
in the future’ become a Jewish state.’ They petitioned instead for
Palestine to be ‘made into an independent , free, and democratic state that
would not recognize any distinctions of creed, race, or ethnic descent among
its citizens.’ “ (18) (p. xii) - https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/06/reclaiming-judaism-from-zionism.html
A key issue exists related to
contrasting the initial basic perspective(s) with the 1919 petition quoted
above. Who does the land of Israel, The West Bank and Gaza –
basically former “Palestine” – “belong to”?
Many Jews and a significant number of
“Pro-Zionist Christians” believe in a “biblical / historical” view of “Israel”
– as “The Land of The Jews”. For the Jews believing this, the
destruction of the Second Temple – exiled “the residents” of Israel and their
return is preordained.
Other scholarly, religious “believers”
feel that “the time has not yet come for a state and that exile or living in a
Non-Jewish State is the right path.
Among a significant number of
Evangelical Christians Israel is pre-ordained in the
bible. They, however, believe that when Jesus is
resurrected, those who have not take Jesus Christ as their savior will be
doomed to burning in hell – basically – as true Christians are the only
surviving humans. It should be noted that such beliefs
seemingly condemn: Buddhists, Hindi, Moslems, Atheists,
Agnostics, and others besides (of course) Jews (excluding “Messianic Jews” [aka
“Jews for li
A slightly different narrative relates
to (what I would call clear Anti-Semitism) wishing for a Jewish state – being
Israel – so one’s native Jewish population will largely, if not totally, leave
one’s country for Israel.
A noted part of the Jewish citizens of
Germany, France, and England were educated and/or upper-middle class to
wealthy. My paternal great-grandfather (who I was named after
– and whose children are pictured near the beginning of Part I of this writing)
made his first fortune buying Prussian War Bonds for the Franco-Prussian War of
1870. When the highly “favored” France, lost the War, the
bonds value skyrocketed. He then owned his own bank in
Koenigsberg, in extreme Eastern Prussia (now in an independent Soviet
republic). He sold his bank to Deutsche Bank in
1904. His second oldest son got his Phd at The University of
Koenigsberg in 1903. Alexander Marx was immediately recruited
from Koenigsberg to NYC – to The Jewish Theological Seminary (near Columbia
University) as the chief librarian and history professor where he remained into
retirement/death.
Some Jews were “competitors” for
university faculty jobs, as the owners of department stores, as physicians and
similar. Following The Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Germany
(with its required war reparations), was forced to print more and more money,
causing massive inflation.
Other European countries were
economically depressed over the 1920s, and “exporting Jews” to Palestine was
appealing – Anti-Semitism heavily connected.
Other people, particularly following
World War II, as the Holocaust became visible to them, both didn’t want Jews
coming to their own countries, and in some cases felt compassion for survivors
of The Holocaust.
Jews in the mid-to-late 1940’s in The
United States and Canada often had a combination of views in support of the
creation of The State of Israel. Some were angry at what they
saw as a coverup of the genocide. They felt that the warning
signs of the Holocaust were hidden from them.
Others may have felt guilt and shame
that they had not “done enough” to try to prevent the
Holocaust. They may have had “survivors’ guilt” related to how
their relatives had perished, while they’d been safe in their relatively recent
home countries.
Many survivors of concentration camps
and soldiers who witnessed places like Dachau – were so traumatized – that they
were silent – smothered in their deep feelings.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iii.html
Part II -
This is Part III
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ii.html
I
am a white, USian Jew, whose family left Germany, Russia and Poland before the
rise of Hitler in the 20th century.
There
are deeply contrasting narratives related to Israel and
Zionism. It is can be challenging, if not totally impossible,
to contend with and be Heard when putting forth the perspective that the Jews
are not “owed” Israel because its Jewish biblical history.
Personally,
by itself, I find this perspective troubling. For fellow USians, how
do we address Native People in “our country”???
Seriously
think about the logic of stating that The United States should be “The
Confederation of Native Tribes”. Those of us who are not
accepted as tribal members (the vast majority of U.S. citizens) are citizens
(of course), however because we are a Tribal based Nation, we, in reality, own
less and less of this country, as Native Citizens reclaim their lands.
Such
a concept – would seem absurd and impossible to most, if not all, of
us. We don’t see it as absurd, however, that Israel is a
“Jewish Nation”, and that its Palestinian citizens lack various significant
rights, such as the rights to enlarge their houses, as well as the rights to
live/own in much of Israel. A Palestinian citizen of Israel
effectively can not rent an apartment or house in much of Israel, because the
Jewish owner will not rent or sell to them. This is 100%
legal!
Looking
at how modern Israel came to be is interesting.
1. The
Jews of Russia and Eastern Europe faced pogroms, other forms of extreme
Anti-Semitism, and more,
2. Do
the Jewish People “deserve” a “homeland”?
3. If
so, was/is Palestine their “logical” home?
4. Should
Israel be a “religious” state welcoming any/all Jews as “automatic” citizens
(if they choose to emigrate)?
5. If
Israel should be a religious state, What about the Palestinian People?
Historically,
I look at:
1. Palestine
2. The
United States (as well as Canada perhaps)
3. Most
of Africa, Asia and Latin America
4. Western
and Eastern Europe and Russia.
The
key questions I would look at relate to Palestine and how Israel is in relation
to the other three areas noted above.
The
land of the U.S. and its territories has been stolen from its Native
Peoples. We have violated virtually all, if not all,
treaties. We have never apologized for our appropriation,
acknowledged it, nor have we even begun to repair the harm caused.
In
much of the remainder of the world (besides Europe and Russia), the patterns
have been similar. Enslavement, extraction of natural
resources and other exploitation existed and often still exists.
Wealthy
and powerful white people are exploiting BIPOC in the U.S. The
powerful are also often using their less powerful brethren as the
“enforcers”. Poor white people were the strongest supporters
of pre-1865 U.S. slavery. Less powerful white
people continue to support racist messages. They are allies of
the wealthy who spew messages of fear. Christianity is often
weaponized.
--
Russia,
Europe and Palestine are interesting and often different. Russia had
oppressive leadership prior to 1917. Anti-Semitism pitted much
of the blame on Jews for the oppression. Eastern Europe also
had discrimination and exploitation of its Jews.
Western
European Jews had both similarities and differences. My
paternal grandfather sold his bank to Deutsche Bank in
1904. His second oldest son received his PhD from The
University of Koenigsberg in 1903. He was immediately recruited to
NYC by The Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1926 my grandfather
Moses Marx was recruited from Berlin to Cincinnati to become the Chief
Cataloger at Hebrew Union College’s library.
It
is also true that other Western European well-educated Jews were limited by
Anti-Semitism. Elite U.S. universities had quotas to limit
their percentages of Jewish students. Their faculties were mainly
the white, male Protestant elite.
After
World War I tiny U.S. Government quotas stopped the influx of non-wealthy
immigrants from Europe and elsewhere.
Prior
to World War I, the U.S. was often a haven for other (white)
immigrants. The Irish had been poor, and had better opportunities in
the U.S. starting with the great Potato Famine. Sicilians were
the “throw-aways” for the wealthy of Italy, helping build up white America.
In
the U.S. our oppression of the “less fortunate” has repeated itself over and
over and over again. Slavery, though most significant, was far
from the only oppression of working people.
--
Palestine
was the place to “solve the (Anti-Semitism based) problem” for Europe and
Russia – exporting large numbers of the victims.
Unfortunately,
the less powerful vast majority of The Native People were exploited and largely
ignored.
1. Why
are we, the Jews, “The Chosen People”?
For
me, if so, we are “chosen” - to support liberation and social justice for those
of the rest of the world, not (solely) for us – as Jews.
2. “Never
Again” – means two (often) mutually exclusive things!
a. For
many Zionists – the issue is limited to the European Holocaust.
b. For
me – and for my allies – “Never Again” – means that we will strongly oppose the
murdering of the innocent people of The World, not The Jewish World.
Similarly
– (to be later on discussed in detail) –
“From
The River to the Sea” – for me and for my allies – means Justice – a Just Peace
– for the Palestinian People. This contrasts with the often
common vision of such words calling for our Annihilation as Jews.
The
fears of Jews (and others sharing such views) are comparable to the
fears of white USians, that Black People will avenge racism, if Racism is
(ever) ended.
Most
Palestinian People have little or no desire to avenge the oppression that they
have faced from the Israeli Government and its Jewish citizenry.
Most
Black People have little or no desire to avenge slavery and racism and to kill
or oppress white people.
Where
– the oppressed – seek Revenge – it generally only comes from
– having No Other Options. The Palestinian People have tried and
tried and tried and tried to get basic rights in Israel, as well as in The West
Bank and Gaza.
Hamas
and what Hamas has done, both historically, and on October 7, 2023, can be
understood, if not approved of. Hamas has recently killed, at
the most, roughly 1200 people on October 7th and several hundred, perhaps,
since then.
The
deaths of these Israeli Jewish People are often not compared to the deaths of
far, far more Palestinian People by the Israeli Government and its Jewish
citizens. In comparing this, we should not only look at
October 7th through the
present. The Palestinian People have consistently faced this
oppression since 1948, as well as prior to then.
More
will follow beginning in Part IV of this writing.
I
would suggest that readers of this writing – watch Peter Beinart (Jewish
Currents)’s January 19, 2024 interview of Rashid Khalidi - This Moment in Palestinian History
on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDypq6cKDM
I think that most readers will find Khalidi to be fair,
as well as kind and caring. Some may disagree with some of what he
says.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iv.html
Part III -
This is Part IV
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iii.html
In
examining whether Israel should be a Jewish state, it is interesting to look at
another area where “fairness” and “entitlement” results in obvious
discrimination.
Though
not exactly the same thing, it should be noted that the below-noted Ivy League
Schools discriminate in their admissions policies to the
present. Who is discriminated against today and is it legal?
A flurry of recent news stories,
including in-depth reporting from Susan Dominus at The New York Times, has documented that colleges put a thumb on the
scale for boys. If they didn’t, the percentage of college students who are
female—58 percent—might be even higher.
This story crops up periodically
as if it were something new, but colleges have been favoring boys for years. In
2006, Kenyon College’s former dean of admissions, Jennifer Delahunty Britz,
wrote a New York Times editorial apologizing “To All the Girls I’ve Rejected” in favor of less-qualified boys. “The
reality is that because young men are rarer, they’re more valued applicants,”
she said.
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/college-admissions-gender/#:~:text=A%20flurry%20of%20recent%20news,percent%E2%80%94might%20be%20even%20higher.
Tulane University has a total
undergraduate enrollment of 7,350 (fall 2022), with a gender distribution
of 39% male students and 61% female students. (Google Search – initial listing in response to: “Tulane
student body by gender” (1/24/2024))
For the 2022-23 academic year, women
and men made up 58 percent and 42 percent of the applicant pool, respectively, but 51 percent and 49 percent of the enrolled
class. (Harvard applicants by gender 1/24/2024 Google Search top result)
--
It seems unfair to me to selectively
discriminate against others.
--
Yes, the Palestinian People had never
had an independent country of their own. I can not imagine one
would argue that a resident of New York City should freely accept being
forcibly moved to rural Mississippi. To equate the education,
cultural, and religious issues as “basically nothing” is what we are doing with
Palestinian People when we have said to them over multiple generations that
they had to leave their ancestral homes.
Wealthy absentee landowners sold the
land that many poor Palestinian People had lived on for generations in the
period starting after World War I. They grazed animals and grew
crops such as olives on relatively small pieces of property. In some
areas there were communal lands as well as areas where Druze and other peoples
moved over (often) desert lands living nomadically.
Wealthy Jews from Western Europe,
such as some of the Rothschild’s, helped purchase sizeable portions of the
land. Their relative wealth had no Palestinian counterpart.
A myth or gross “misunderstanding” was
also put forth. It posited that the Jews would
“modernize” Palestine and that the Native Population would welcome the
“increased economic opportunities”. In none of these
visions of Palestine and later on Israel was a basic idea of economic equality
and creating a true “democracy”.
The Jewish Shtetl Population of Eastern
Europe wanted to maintain the Jewish traditions and had little desire to
“integrate” into “Christian cultures”. Why Palestinians
should be different is not generally explained ??
Where Jews did want to be treated
equitably in Europe was in “integrated institutions” such as in secular schools
and universities. Significant numbers of such people
became physicians, classical musicians and similar.
I grew hearing the myth that the local
Arab leaders urged their people to abandon their homes. Purportedly
they were to await their return for after the Jews were driven out of
Palestine. Wealthy Palestinians did leave for safer areas
proximate to 1947.
Multiple Israeli academicians and others
have confirmed over past decades the roles that Jewish leaders like David
Ben-Gurion had in the fleeing of much of the Palestinian
People. Jewish leaders wanted the Palestinian People out so that
Jews could take over the land and be a majority population in what became
modern Israel. The politicians and the soldiers supported each
other.
Unfortunately most of us have been told
a lot of distortions and lies. Israeli Jews are made “heroes”
and Palestinians are viewed as cruel people with no humanity, or as misguided
ignorant individuals..
Yes, there were Jews killed by
Palestinians in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s! Such killings
related to what had been a Palestinian country becoming increasingly dominated
by Jewish immigrants. The Palestinians had nothing to do with
the rise of Hitler in Germany! Why they should
end up being essentially responsible for giving up their country for the Jews
is never satisfactorily explained. It isn’t comparably
suggested that Canadians or USians should exit the U.S. and return to Britain
and other countries, leaving the U.S. to its Native People.
I hear no blame for World War II on the
reparations Germany was required to pay starting in 1919. If we had treated
West Germany post World War II as Germany was treated after World War I, the
Germans probably would have reacted similarly with violence over time.
Obviously, Hitler’s rise to power in
1933 created urgency for Western European Jews. Hitler’s
annexation of Austria and subsequent invasions of Poland and adjacent countries
greatly stressed Eastern European Jews. They were
rarely allowed to emigrate outside of Europe, especially to the U.S. and
Canada. England accepted some children, but few adults.
The Palestinian uprising of 1936 to 1939
was not an irrational rejection of the beleaguered Jews of
Europe. It reflected the increasing threats that were coming to the
Palestinians’ economic and political power in their local communities.
The Palestinian resistance to Jews
emigrating from the mid-1930’s until 1948 was not “Anti-Semitism” nor a
rejection of Judaism and the Jewish People. Zionism, a political movement
seeking to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, was a threat to the growing
Palestinian nationalist movement. The Jewish aspirations for an
independent country directly conflicted with the Palestinian aspirations for
their own state.
The Jewish population of Palestine rose
from:
1. 11%
in 1922 to
2. 16.9%
in 1931 to
3. 28.1%
in 1936 to
4. 30%
in 1946 to
5. 32%
in 1947
As is noted above, the Jewish population
of Palestine in 1947 was 32%. Google indicates that the 1948-1948
Armistice Agreement gave Israel 77.4% of the land of
Palestine. The Negev desert is 60% of the land mass of Israel.
If one excludes the Negev, the Jewish
population of Palestine was roughly its 1947 proportional land
mass. Beersheva, with a 1950 area population of 28,000, and
Eilat, with a relatively small population (also) – were the “cities” of the Negev. Israel
wanted Eilat for its Red Sea access (an option avoiding the Suez
Canal). It remains unclear why such a large area, populated
“deliberately” by a few Kibbutzim, should belong to Israel at all.
A summary of the UN’s 1947 Partition
Plan is explained from “traditional Jewish perspective” – in the Jewish Virtual
Library which I have copied at:
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/the-1947-1948-partition-plan-for.html
Specifics of it may be noted further
along in this series of writings.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-v.html
Part IV - This is Part V
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iv.html
Jewish militants attacked several British immigration offices
in Jerusalem and other cities on February 12, 1944. The Irgun, Haganah,
and LEHI (“Stern Gang”) organizations established the United
Resistance Movement (Tenuat Hameri) against the British government in October 1945.
Jewish militants attacked and destroyed railway tracks throughout the country
on October 31-November 1, 1945, resulting in the deaths of one government
policeman, one British government soldier, and two civilians.
One might guess from significant portions of the summary
of the decades leading up to 1948 (in the referenced link above), that the
Jewish forces were “the aggressor” and that the Palestinians were the aggrieved
group. Most summaries of the period leading up to 1948 omit
(or minimize) such things and focus instead upon “The Arab Rebellion” from
1936-1939 (and similar attacks that Palestinians made upon Jewish residents of
Palestine).
The Jewish side’s efforts tended to be the “radical”
Jewish forces who were selectively pursued by the British, oft times relatively
unsuccessfully. The Palestinian’s efforts were less organized,
and the repression was often collective punishment.
On the eve of May 14, the Arabs
launched an air attack on Tel Aviv, which the Israelis resisted. This action
was followed by the invasion of the former Palestinian mandate by Arab armies
from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Saudi Arabia sent a formation that fought
under the Egyptian command. British trained forces from Transjordan eventually
intervened in the conflict, but only in areas that had been designated as part
of the Arab state under the United Nations Partition Plan and the corpus
separatum of Jerusalem.
Between 1947 and 1949, at least 750,000
Palestinians from a 1.9 million population were made refugees beyond the
borders of the state. Zionist forces had taken more than 78 percent of historic
Palestine, ethnically cleansed and destroyed about 530 villages and cities, and
killed about 15,000 Palestinians in a series of mass atrocities, including more
than 70 massacres.
Though May 15, 1948, became the official day for
commemorating the Nakba, armed Zionist groups had launched the process of
displacement of Palestinians much earlier. In fact, by May 15, half of the
total number of Palestinian refugees had already been forcefully expelled from
their country.
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/5/23/the-nakba-did-not-start-or-end-in-1948
Jewish mortars and loudspeaker trucks shook Arab
neighborhoods in early 1948 as sectarian fighting consumed the newly
partitioned land that would soon become Israel. Amid the prolonged shelling,
the trucks would broadcast the threatening sounds of wailing sirens, fake screams and evacuation warnings. …
“The element of
surprise, long stints of shelling with extremely loud blasts, and loudspeakers
in Arabic proved very effective when properly used,” reads an Israel Defense
Forces intelligence report from June 1948 that called Jewish combatants
“the main factor” in the exodus.
“Each and every
district underwent a wave of migration as our actions in that area intensified
and expanded,” the report stated, adding later that sometimes Arabs would
attempt to return home shortly after fleeing, “which forced us to engage, on
more than one occasion, in expelling residents.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/11/03/israel-nakba-history-1948/
Some may argue that the quotes above point to Israel as
having been created in ways that cast doubt upon the fairness of what
transpired from 1947-1949.
I would argue that Israel (and its creation) has been
unfairly viewed predominantly as “the underdog” and The Palestinians as
essentially “pawns” of Israel’s neighbors. Egypt, Syria,
Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq are viewed as “the villains”.
The Arab Legion was the only military force that seriously
was a potential threat to the Israeli military. They also did
not, by choice, seek to “invade” beyond the West Bank and
Jerusalem. Within Jerusalem, the Legion did not attack
(Jewish) West Jerusalem.
None of what is noted (by me) above is intended to minimize
the intensity of the warfare. None of this minimizes the loss
of life Israel’s had.
My cousin Daniel died in this war. My
brother was named after him. His brother’s wife Ilana was
wheelchair bound for the last 30+ years of her life. I was
unable to visit her circa 1981, because she committed suicide after her husband
Benjamin (where my son’s name came from) died of cancer. She did not
want to “be dependent” on others. Ilana was a wonderful person.
The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory,
but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and the territory was divided into 3
parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza
Strip.
Over
the following years, tensions rose in the region, particularly between Israel
and Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Following the 1956 Suez Crisis and Israel’s invasion of the Sinai
Peninsula, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria signed mutual defense pacts in anticipation
of a possible mobilization of Israeli troops. In June 1967, following a series of maneuvers by Egyptian President Abdel
Gamal Nasser, Israel preemptively attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces,
starting the Six-Day War. After the war, Israel gained territorial control over
the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt; the West Bank and East Jerusalem
from Jordan; and the Golan Heights from Syria.
Six
years later, in what is referred to as the Yom Kippur War or the October War,
Egypt and Syria launched a surprise two-front attack on Israel to regain their
lost territory; the conflict did not result in significant gains for Egypt,
Israel, or Syria, but Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat declared the war a
victory for Egypt as it allowed Egypt and Syria to negotiate over previously ceded territory. Finally,
in 1979, following a series of cease-fires and peace negotiations,
representatives from Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty that ended the
thirty-year conflict between Egypt and Israel.
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict#:~:text=The%20war%20ended%20in%201949,Egypt%2C%20Jordan%2C%20and%20Syria.
Succeeding sections of this writing will address a lot of
this in more detail.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vi.html
Part V - This is Part VI
The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory,
but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and the territory was divided into 3
parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza
Strip.
Growing up in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, I have clear
memories of:
Palestinian fedayeen (from the Arabic fidā'ī, plural fidā'iyūn, فدائيون) are
militants or guerrillas of a nationalist
orientation from among the Palestinian
people.[1][2] Most Palestinians
consider the fedayeen to be "freedom
fighters",[3] while most
Israelis consider them to be "terrorists".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_fedayeen
The “fedayeen” I heard about were described as what I
would characterize as: “crazed, violent, murderous men” who crossed from The
West Bank and sought to kill innocent Israeli’s (Jews) out of pure hatred
(alone).
The fedayeen I heard about were never spoken of as men,
or their sons, who had been forced out of their villages. They and
their families have never been allowed to return anywhere in
Israel. They have never received compensation for their
losses, which go well beyond simply their family house.
The 1949–1956
Palestinian expulsions were a continuation of the 1948 expulsion and flight of Palestinian Arabs from Israeli-controlled
territory that occurred after the signing of the ceasefire agreements.[1][2][3][4] This period of
the exodus[5] was
characterised predominantly by forced expulsion during the consolidation of the
state of Israel and
ever increasing tension along the ceasefire lines ultimately leading to the
1956 Suez
Crisis.[6]
Between 1949 and
1950, according to historian Benny Morris,
Israel had displaced and expelled between 30,000 and 40,000 Palestinians and Bedouin.[7] Many villages
along the ceasefire lines and the Lebanon border area were also leveled, many
emptied villages were resettled by new Jewish immigrants and demobilized
Israeli military forces.[8][9]
Israel argued this
was motivated by security considerations linked with the situation at the borders. During the consolidation
period, Israel was more intent on gaining control of the demilitarized zones on
the Syrian, Jordanian and Egyptian fronts than on her image abroad.[10][11][12][13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949%E2%80%931956_Palestinian_expulsions
The United Nations General Assembly adopts
resolution 194 (III), resolving that “refugees wishing to return to their homes
and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the
earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the
property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property
which, under principles of international law or equity, should be made good by
the Governments or authorities responsible.”
(December
11, 1948)
https://www.unrwa.org/content/resolution-194 -
From 1948 to 1966,
martial law was officially imposed on the Arab minority in Israel, but
continues to be intermittently enforced to this day. The military government,
in effect, imposed various restrictions on Palestinians. Palestinians were
required to apply for permits to travel from area to area, regardless of
destination. Security checkpoints were set up to enforce these permits. Those
who disobeyed these regulations
were jailed or fined.
All petitions or requests for government services were directed to military
courts instead of civil courts (Weil, 2007).
I am a little unclear
about what the Palestinians – within Israel – citizens of Israel were supposed
to do during the time period from 1948-1966?
They seemingly had
“collective punishment” in a variety of ways. To the present
day Israel has no constitution guaranteeing All its citizens basic
rights. Palestinian Israeli citizens have no rights to basic
things like: housing renting or purchasing, equal employment
opportunity – equal pay for equal work and much more. They are
not allowed to be in the Israeli military, which Jewish citizens (without
religious exemption) are required to do. Where Jewish citizens
are exempted from military service, they do not lose basic
rights. Non-Jewish Israeli citizens lack some rights because
they have Not served in the military. There are some
exceptions regarding military service such as from Druze citizens, but even
they face discrimination in various areas.
Any Jewish resident
of anywhere in the world is – by being Jewish – allowed to emigrate and become
a citizen.
It is unclear to me
what Palestinian citizens of Israel are supposed to do? They
can’t gain rights through anything that they may do.
At the same time,
Palestinian Israeli citizens are actively involved in working and living in
Israel.
According to official figures from the Health
Ministry and the Central Bureau of Statistics provided at the request of
Haaretz, 17 percent of Israel's physicians, 24 percent of its nurses and 47 percent of
its pharmacists are Arabs.Mar
17, 2020
(1st entry from Google
search of February 6, 2024 – “percentage of Israeli pharmacists who are
Palestinian”
I
find information such as I have shared above – strongly supportive of –
boycotts – as in BDS, condemnation. I am reminded of racism in the
United States and how South Africa ended Apartheid decades ago.
I
suggest reading up on the subjects addressed above and much
more. Reading my reviews of two books is one potential starting
point.
Stories
of Personal Transformation: RECLAIMNG JUDAISM From ZIONISM, edited by Carolyn L Karcher has 40 stories of
Jewish authors
https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/06/reclaiming-judaism-from-zionism.html
Except for Palestine:
The Limits of Progressive Politics – Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick –
discusses how “progressives” often are seemingly “open minded” and progressive
in most, if not all areas, except related to the Palestinian People.
https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/05/progressives-palestine-book-review.html
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vii.html
Part VI - This is Part VII
The Jewish Virtual Library – has a mainstream view of
1967’s: “The Six Day War”.
Israel consistently
expressed a desire to negotiate with its neighbors. In an address to the UN General Assembly on
October 10, 1960, Foreign Minister Golda Meir challenged
Arab leaders to meet with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to
negotiate a peace settlement. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser answered
on October 15, saying that Israel was trying to deceive world opinion and
reiterating that his country would never recognize the Jewish State. (1)
The Arabs were equally adamant in their refusal to
negotiate a separate settlement for the refugees. As Nasser told the United
Arab Republic National Assembly on March 26, 1964:
Israel and the imperialism around us, which confront us, are two
separate things. There have been attempts to separate them, in order to break
up the problems and present them in an imaginary light as if the problem of
Israel is the problem of the refugees, by the solution of which the problem of
Palestine will also be solved and no residue of the problem will remain. The
danger of Israel lies in the very existence of Israel as it is in the present
and in what she represents. (2)
The Palestinian Liberation
Organization
In 1963, the Arab League decided
to introduce a new weapon in its war against Israel — the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO).
In September 1965, Arab leaders and
their military and intelligence chiefs met secretly at the Casablanca Hotel
in Morocco to discuss whether they were ready to go to war
against Israel and, if so, whether they should create a joint Arab command. The
host of the meeting, King
Hassan II, did not trust his Arab
League guests and initially planned to allow a joint Shin
Bet-Mossad unit known as “The Birds” to spy on the conference. A
day before the conference was scheduled to begin, however, the king told them
to leave out of fear they would be noticed by the Arab guests. Hassan secretly
recorded the meeting and gave it to the Israelis, who learned the Arabs were
gearing up for war, but were divided and unprepared.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/background-and-overview-six-day-war
A somewhat different perspective was expressed by another
knowledgeable Israeli Jewish individual.
Professor Meron Medzini served
as the Director of Israel’s Government Press Office (GPO) in Jerusalem during
the Six-Day War. …
In the mid-1960s
Israel was suffering from a major economic recession with unemployment at 10
per cent, and morale so low that people joked that the last person to leave the
airport should please turn out the lights. The ruling party Mapai was taking a
beating in opinion polls, especially from a new breakaway part called Rafi,
which was headed by Shimon Peres and Moshe Dayan. In general, though, Israel
simply did not feature in the international news.
Early in 1967, there
was little sense that something was about to erupt. In April, the IDF
intelligence branch assessed that the earliest war was possible was in 1970-71.
…
On 23 May, Egyptian
President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the re-imposition of the blockade on the
Straits of Tiran, which the Prime Minister’s Chief of Bureau told me caused
Eshkol to say “kinderlach, (children), this is war”. …
The journalists
realised that the IDF’s mobilisation could not continue indefinitely without
the economy collapsing. …
A day or two later, Ben-Gurion said Israel should give
back all the territories apart from East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
https://fathomjournal.org/1967-the-international-media-and-the-six-day-war/
The story I
summarized with some bits and pieces is NOT one of Israel under direct threat
of attack. It is instead deliberate deception where Israel, through
the media, “hoodwinked” the public, which resulted in Israel’s military
initially destroying the Egyptian air force and seizing all of Jerusalem, The
West Bank, The Golan Heights, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula.
The 1967 War – was a
“HUGE” Triumph for those – wanting Israel 100% and a HUGE Disaster for the
Palestinian People.
Personally – I was
sent at the last minute – with my maternal grandfather for a tour in August,
1968 – which was meaningful for me at age 17. We were the
first Jewish Tour to have part of us stay in a hotel in East
Jerusalem. The only other participant under about 70, was a
young lady of perhaps 20.
I walked in the
darkness each evening to meet her at the King David Hotel in West
Jerusalem. I never saw Palestinian People until she and I were
in the Old City – they were asleep. I didn’t feel any danger –
fear – whatsoever. No others – did what I was doing.
The Old City was
fascinating! There was so much for sale – from
Jordan and other parts of the Middle East – as well as locally made things –
and they were bargained for usually and inexpensive!
I remember the young
Palestinian Boys – when we were in The West Bank – seeking to sell us – chewing
gum – and similar and begging.
It was a “safe time”
in so many ways – for me as a Jew – and a period where I was totally innocent.
Why were the
Palestinians – kind to me as well as simply tolerating me without
complaints. Where was the violence?
Obvious answer: There
was No Threat!
Israeli Soldier approaching The Dome of the Rock
A Most Holy Site for
Muslims - in The Old City - Jerusalem
--
Pieces of the 1973
War – from:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/israels-1973-october-war-a-50-year-perspective/
Egypt
and Syria launched the October War on October 6, 1973. The Egyptian-Syrian
partnership was limited. Syria’s President Hafez al-Assad did not fully share
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s war aims. Sadat had in mind a limited war, a
crossing of the Suez Canal, and the establishment of an Egyptian presence on
the canal’s eastern bank in order to force Israel and the United States to
enter into a diplomatic process designed to redress the consequences of the
1967 Six-Day War. he initial attack was unexpectedly successful. …The October
War inflicted a national trauma on Israel. The intelligence failure, the
surprise, the weak performance of the Israel Defense Forces during the war’s
first few days, the large number of casualties, the dependence on resupply from
the United States, and the huge economic cost mobilized the Israeli public
against the Golda Meir government. There was a recognition that the massive
victory of 1967 created in Israel a hubris that contributed to the setback of
1973. It also realized that the war could have been prevented had Israel
accepted Sadat’s peace feelers between 1971 and 1973. …
The
post-October War diplomacy, led by the U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,
also marked the beginning of an Arab-Israeli peace process. All previous
efforts to settle the conflict, beginning in 1948, were short-lived and
unsuccessful.
It
should be noted that “The Peace Process” – was: Israel, Egypt and
Jordan. https://www.refworld.org/reference/countryrep/mrgi/2008/en/65027 +
Although Palestinians
constitute around half of the population, they remain vastly under-represented
in Jordanian government. Nine of the 55 Senators appointed by the king are
Palestinian, and in the 110-seat Chamber of Deputies, Palestinians have only 18
seats. Of Jordan's 12 governates, none are led by Palestinians.
Discrimination against
Palestinians in private and state-sector employment remains common and a quota
system limits the number of university admissions for Palestinian youth.
The
Palestinians – with No Army, No Air Force, No Navy – didn’t have a seat at the
Table. Syria – became – “The Enemy” in important ways for Israel,
while Jordan and Egypt were new allies.
Part VIII - continues here:
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-viii.html
Link to Part VII -
This is Part VIII
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vii.html
On September 13, 1993, Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) Negotiator Mahmoud
Abbas signed a Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, commonly referred to as the “Oslo Accord,” at the White House.
Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians, and the PLO
renounced terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace. Both sides
agreed that a Palestinian Authority (PA) would be established and assume
governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five-year
period. Then, permanent status talks on the issues of borders, refugees, and
Jerusalem would be held. ….
In November 1995, Rabin was assassinated
by Yigal Amir, an Israeli who opposed the
Oslo Accords on religious grounds. Rabin’s murder was followed by a string of
terrorist attacks by Hamas, which undermined support for the Labor Party in
Israel’s May 1996 elections. ….
((1999)) ->
In Israel’s May 1999 elections, the
Labor Party’s Ehud Barak decisively
defeated Netanyahu. Barak predicted that he could reach agreements with both
Syria and the Palestinians in 12 to 15 months, and pledged to withdraw Israeli
troops from southern Lebanon. In September, Barak signed the Sharm al-Shaykh
Memorandum with Arafat, which committed both sides to begin permanent status
negotiations. An initial round of meetings, however, achieved nothing, and by
December the Palestinians suspended talks over settlement-building in the
occupied territories. ….
Thus, by the end of 2000, the prospect
of ending the Arab-Israeli conflict looked more distant than it had eight years
earlier.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1993-2000/oslo
During these secret negotiations in 1993, Israel
capitalised on Arafat's weakness in the wake of the Gulf War. …. Arafat entered
the negotiations with Israel with few options and even less clout. …. Among
Palestinians, supporters of the Oslo Accords reasoned it was a compromise that
could lead to peace. …. As the US, European and Arab nations continued to
invest their hopes in the talks as a means of producing a final agreement,
settlement building in the occupied West Bank tripled, growing at unprecedented
rates. …. The Palestinian
leadership has accused Israel of not offering them a viable state, but rather a
non-contiguous entity devoid of the natural resources necessary for a
functioning economy.
Meanwhile, Israeli
leaders have called for the annexation of the entire West Bank, ignoring the
rights of its 2.5 million Palestinians living under occupation, along with
nearly 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip living under Israeli siege.
https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/the-price-of-oslo.html#/14
Yasir Arafat and his successor Mahmood Abbas – have
“lead” the Palestinian People in the West Bank since the agreements were
concluded in 1993 and 1995 and moved “forward” beyond then.
It appears obvious to me that there is NO Jewish Israel
intent to create a just Palestinian State. For me a “state” includes
where at least most of the land mass is not surrounded by other states.
Look at The West Bank on the map below. An
explanation of its situation follows:
The table below shows the three areas: “A” (grey)
(“Palestinian Control”), “B”(Black) (similar except that there is “shared
Israeli / Palestinian Authority Security Control” , and “C” – under Israeli
Control.
https://www.anera.org/what-are-area-a-area-b-and-area-c-in-the-west-bank/
A clearly “Palestinian Friendly” summary of things is
shown at:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/27/palestine-and-israel-brief-history-maps-and-charts
It provides a lot of maps, numbers and clear conclusions!
One needn’t accept it as 100% “correct”! I hope
that most readers won’t find it tokenly correct, or totally incorrect!
The West Bank includes what I think we might agree are
primarily “radical, Orthodox Jewish Settlers”. Other Jews live in
what has become “suburban Jerusalem”. There are “Israeli
Expressways” – that “safely” connect it to “historic Jerusalem”.
These roads are not roads that Palestinians who are not Israeli Citizens can
travel on.
I think those of us reading and thinking can now safely
be split into fairly distinct groups:
1. 1. (Radical)
Anti-Zionists – who see a “Settler-Colonialist” State. We see major
systemic issues that have continued over the past 75 to 100+ years, or
2. 2. Those who are curious
– and intend to learn more,
3. 3. Others – who see
things as being – 50/50 – both sides at fault,
4. 4. Those who are
apathetic,
5. 5. Those who believe
that Netanyahu and his government are The Problem – and things will be
resolvable when they are no longer in charge,
6. 6. Those who remain
proudly Zionist. Israel is 99+% correct.
AA. I’m interested in 1.
and 2!
BB. I
hope that some in 3. and 5. – have or will move to 2.
CC. 4 and 6. – I doubt that this
writing has been worth reading.
*****
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ix.html
Link to Part VIII - This is Part IX
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-viii.html
I
would recommend starting by reading my reviews of two incredible books - which
I hope - will help change your views of:
Palestine
+ Palestinians
and
Specifically
- Hamas
and
Notably - (our) United States Government -
Woodrow
Wilson - to Harry Truman
to
Lyndon Baines Johnson
to
Joe Biden
-
I doubt that many of you will buy this book (I did - upon the recommendation of
Rashid Khalidi - so my review - in its entirety is going to follow:
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/hamas-contained-tareq-baconis-excellent.html
Columbia University’s: Edward Said Professor of Modern
Arab Studies Professor Rashid Khalidi ( - incredible
interview by Peter Beinart --- www.journalism
https://.cuny.edu/faculty/peter-beinart/ --- of
January 19, 2024) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDypq6cKDM), is the author of
multiple excellent books on the Palestinian People, including:
The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for
Statehood -------
( https://www.georgemarx.org/2022/12/the-iron-cage-must-read-on-palestine.html ) .
On December 6, 2024 – I emailed both: Peter
Beinart and Professor Khalidi asking: Do either of you know of any good resources- written,
oral or visual (such as on YouTube) in English to learn from and share/refer
others to?
Professor Khalidi
responded suggesting: Tareq Baconi's book, Hamas Contained, and Sara
Roy’s Hamas and Civil Society
in Gaza.
Baconi accomplishes a
number of important things in: Hamas Contained: The Rise
and Pacification of Palestinian Resistance (written in 2017 and
published in 2018). As I write on Super Bowl Sunday,
February 11, 2024, this book is a perfect introduction to understanding and
putting into perspective what has happened from October 7, 2023, through the
present day.
I’m not optimistic! I hope, against
hope, that the Bidens and Blinkens and Schumers of this world will do an “about
face” and sincerely: read, listen and deeply hear – what I would
call “Extremely Close to The Truth”.
Sitting in the darkness of the theater, I
thought of Palestine. Lacking the clarity of historical hindsight,
the Palestinian struggle for self-determination seems frozen in time, in many
ways an anticolonial struggle unfolding in a postcolonial world. …
“Palestinians have a culture of hate,”
commentators blast on American TV screens. “They are a people who
celebrate death.” These familiar accusations, quick to roll
off of tongues, are both highly effective at framing public discourse and
insulting as racist epithets. On the other end of the spectrum, I
recalled conversations with Europeans and Palestinians who critiqued my
reference to Palestinian armed struggle as “violence.” They saw this
framing as a form of condemnation, casting armed struggle in a negative
light. (x - Preface)
During the summer of 2014, when global
newsrooms were covering Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip, I watched
Palestinian analysts being rudely silenced on the air for failing to condemn
Hamas as a terrorist organization outright. 1 This condemnation was
demanded as a prerequisite for the right of these analysts to engage in any
debate about the events on the ground. (xi – Preface)
In Peter Beinart’s January 19, 2024 interview with Rashid
Khalidi, there is a “strange” parallel.
Khalidi spoke on January 19, 2024 as to how No television
networks or local stations or similar had sought his comments from October 7,
2023 through the (then) present. I have heard Professor Rashid
Khalidi multiple times on Amy Goodman’s show on: Democracy Now - https://www.democracynow.org/ -
which most readers of this have probably never heard of as well as on KPFA –
perhaps the most alternative/radical leftist radio station in the U.S.
(Berkeley).
It's not “censorship”. Most people never
hear – Khalidi – because: MSNBC, CNN, FOX, PBS, The New York Times,
The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal +++ ignore – him and a lot of
others who “dissent” in serious ways that are not based upon fear-mongering or
profit.
Baconi summarizes the history of Palestine leading up to
the founding of Hamas in an effective manner. He notes as the
first Intifada was building on December 9, 1987:
After intense discussions, it was decided
that the brotherhood would finally leverage all its preparatory work and spin
off a small militarized offshoot that would join the likes of Islamic Jihad in
armed confrontation against Israel. The Islamic Resistance Movement,
HAMAS , was officially launched in January 1988 96 . Although
intended as an offshoot, Hamas rapidly subsumed the parent organization’s
institutional infrastructure. (p.20-1)
The charter spoke of how such an Islamic
polity would allow for Christians and Jews to live in peace and harmony under
Muslim rule. 103 . Despite this assertion, the rest of the charter
shed light on Hamas’s understanding of Israel, Judaism, and Zionism at the time
it was released. 104 The text was replete with anti-Semitic
references that build on age-old stereotypes about the Jewish people, including
their alleged accumulation of immense wealth, their treacherous and devious
nature, and their ability to influence global media. (p.22)
This book documents in detail the history of Gaza, Hamas,
and the PLO (and later on The Palestinian Authority) in opposition to Israel.
Patterns seemingly repeat themselves over and over
again. The moderate forces – PLO/Palestinian Authority have
sought a peace agreement with Israel with no success. Whenever
it seems at least faintly possible, Israel (not Hamas) attacks (generally) Gaza
– breaking truces. Islamic Jihad – and others – send rockets
into Israel – and a purported chance for peace disappears.
Similarly, whenever Hamas and the PLO/Palestinian
Authority are close to a binding agreement to work cooperatively, Israel and
the U.S. and others refuse to continue working for peace because Hamas is “a
terrorist organization”.
Hamas is not a simple, united
organization with a clear, obvious basic structure. Most
commonly it has significant influence on other radical forces in
Gaza. At different times it both encourages, and discourages forces
such as Islamic Jihad in their rocket attacks into Israel. It
has a “political” side and a side that is openly engaging in military or
military-like efforts at “liberating” Palestine.
Commonly there are endless pressures upon Hamas, and the
Palestinian People to compromise and: “recognize Israel”, “renounce claims to
Palestine”, “renounce terrorism”, “renounce violence” and similar.
Where there are agreements, nearly uniformly they either
are token or are broken by Israel (and sometimes by Hamas, particularly in
response to Israeli duplicity and avoidance of clear agreements).
Critically, critically important in all of this are facts
such as:
1. The seizing of more and more and more
Palestinian land in the West Bank and in Jerusalem,
2. The stranglehold on Gaza – including
making self-sufficiency impossible there, increasing destruction of residences,
the power supply, and other possible ways Hamas could “succeed” in leading Gaza,
3. Gaza is “independent” in the way(s)
that a Native Reservation is in the U.S. is and/or in the ways that Black
communities have been “free” in the U.S. over many decades.
4. All – the – non-violent options – have
been tried both by Hamas, and other Palestinian
entities. Appeals to the U.S, the U.N., filing lawsuits,
negotiating with Israel, periods of no “terrorism”, unilateral “ceasefires” of
Hamas itself and more - all have been tried. Despite all of
this, there has never been a “fair” or “close to fair” offer made for a lasting
peace agreement which allows any type of true autonomy for the Palestinian
People – whether de-militarized or not – etc. etc.
5. As of the conclusion of the book’s
writing in 2017 – there was both:
a. A status quo – that – was not changing
substantially beyond Palestinian land possession decreasing endlessly, as
Israeli (illegal) settlements expanded, and as the author succinctly states,
b. The increasing impossibility of the status
quo remaining – endlessly – that at some point – significant Palestinian
violence – such as from Hamas and/or other Palestinian causes or supportive
others – such as from other Middle Eastern Nations – would – seek to break the
status quo.
Israel
has had a huge advantage in maintaining a split between Hamas in Gaza and The
Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Israel has a
difficult, long-term issue with its Jewish population becoming a minority in a
“Greater Israel” including both Gaza and The West Bank. Where
Gaza is (allegedly) separate, its over two million population “severed” from
The West Bank can maintain an illusion of “majority rule” of Jews vs. Non-Jews.
A
simple example of the patterns follows with quotes below:
While the Palestinian leadership offered full support, the
Israeli government boycotted the investigation and prevented the investigators/
access into the Gaza Strip 75 The UN’s investigation accused
both Hamas and Israel of carrying out war crimes. In response,
Israel retaliated that the United Nations was “taken hostage by terrorist
organizations” given its anti-Israel bias. 76
A domestic investigation by Israel’s state comptroller, released
in 2017, highlighted troubling findings regarding this operation. 77 The
report noted that in 2013, during the period of calm that Hamas had
successfully instituted from Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government was
warned explicitly and repeatedly that Gaza was on the brink of a humanitarian
catastrophe, and that the situation had to be addressed to prevent another
conflagration between Hamas and Israel. Such warnings went
unheeded. Rather than meeting its obligations under the 2012
ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which necessitated easing the crossings into
Gaza, Israel’s political leaders appeared willing to maintain the blockade
while expecting calm to prevail in return. (p.222)
As
Tareq Baconi moved into his conclusions, his explanations became more and more
significant for me as a reader.
Instead of Palestinian reconciliation, the outcome is two
administrative authorities operating under an unyielding
occupation. The crucial difference between Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority, however is that Hamas performs its role of managing resistance in
language that remains ideologically pure, leaving room for future
escalation. While in the West Bank the Palestinian Authority’s
interim nature has effectively been made permanent, the situation is likely to
be temporary within the Gaza Strip. 139 The Palestinian
Authority’s permanence has been drive by the illusion of sovereignty and
economic development that leaders such as former prime minister
Salaam Fayyad have cultivated. There is no such illusion in the Gaza
Strip, where there will more likely be an expiration date for Israel’s ability
to manage what has become one of the globe’s bleakest humanitarian
catastrophes. (p.234-5)
I
would note that this by itself in 2017 – can be seen in retrospect as being
relevant for October 7, 2023.
The
author noted a number of times a clear issue that has been distorted by most of
the media and politicians for some time Hamas has fairly
consistently in the past 10-15 years at least a willingness to recognize Israel
and accept a permanent peace settlement if it would include a return to the
pre-1967 boundaries allowing a Palestinian State to be established which would
include: Gaza, The West Bank and probably most significantly East
Jerusalem including The Old City.
Israel
has consistently responded that it will not negotiate with “terrorists” – which
means Hamas. It has also indicated that IF Hamas settles, that this
will only be a starting point – quoting the original Gazan
“charter”. This plays on common fears – e.g. “From the River
to the Sea” and “Intifada” and similar. Such fears are
that Hamas and the Palestinian People will force its Jewish population either
out of what is now Israel or attempt to kill all of them.
Obviously,
the return to prior borders is made “unrealistic” in that:
1. this would
require Jewish Israeli’s to move out of the Settlements and much of the
“expanded” Jerusalem, or
2. for many of these
Jews to live within the to-be-formed Palestinian state.
In early 2017, Hamas issued a new “Political
Document” after months of speculation that it was looking to revise its
problematic charter. … It demonstrated that on the most
official level, Hamas accepted creatioin of a Palestinian state on the 1967
border, UN Resolution 194 selfor the right of return, and notion of restricting
armed struggle to operate within the limits of international
law. Although not breaking any new ground in terms of political
concessions, the document was a powerful intervention that restated more
forcefully than before the position that Hamas has adopted since at least 2007,
if not since the 1990’s. (p.245)
Hamas’s document was released without a
formal renunciation of the movement’s charter, alluding to internal power
struggles. (p.245)
One of Baconi’s 2017 – concluding written statements
sounds, in retrospect to ironically “predict” October 7, 2023.
But there is little doubt that another
conflagration is forthcoming. This will mark the continuation of
Israel’s strategy of “mowing the lawn” as well as the perseverance of the
Palestinian struggle for self-determination. The manner in which the
next war unfolds will be event-specific, but the underlying drivers remain
unchanged. 162 (p.248)
The book concludes aptly:
This status quo allows Hamas to sustain its
power and Israel to maintain its colonization of the West Bank and its
stranglehold on the Gaza Strip, where the besieged Palestinians continue to pay
the highest price of all. (p.249)
This is an excellent book for
anyone who is not extremely, extremely extremely knowledgeable about Hamas, and
who is open to listening and hearing a lot. I’m one of those
people and I hope many others are as well!
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/the-hundred-years-war-rashid-khalidi.html
A M A Z I N G B O O
K -
link to review - and shown above also
“In March 1919,on the eve of the post
World War I Paris Peace Conference, ‘Julius Kahn, the German-born Jewish
congressman from San Francisco, delivered to President Wilson “A Statement to
the Peace Conference” endorsed by 299 Jews. …[T]he document denounced the
Zionists for attempting to segregate Jews and to reverse the historical trend
toward emancipation.’ Its signers ‘objected to the creation of a
distinctly Jewish state in Palestine’ not only because they feared it would
jeopardize the status of Jews like themselves in the home countries, but
because they found it ‘contrary “to the principles of democracy’ to elevate
Jewish immigrants over Palestine’s Muslim and Christian native
inhabitants. They explicitly denied ‘the existence of ethnic ties among
Jews’ and ‘asserted their wish not to see Palestine “either now or at any time
in the future’ become a Jewish state.’ They petitioned instead for
Palestine to be ‘made into an independent , free, and democratic state that
would not recognize any distinctions of creed, race, or ethnic descent among
its citizens.’ “ (18) (p. xii) - quoted - see my review of
another excellent book -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/06/reclaiming-judaism-from-zionism.html
Rashid Khalidi - This
Moment in Palestinian History
Peter Beinart interview of Rashid Khalidi -
January 19, 2024
https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/05/progressives-palestine-book-review.html
- EXCEPT FOR
PALESTINE: The Limits of Progressive Politics by: Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick
Professor
Marc Lamont Hill is leaving Temple for CUNY
He says
he could have stayed at his alma mater another 20 years, but a great
opportunity knocked
https://www.inquirer.com/education/temple-university-marc-lamont-hill-leaving-cuny-20230822.html
The embattled City
University of New York is facing another backlash as being
hostile to Israel and condoning antisemitism for hiring
controversial professor Marc Lamont Hill.
Hill was appointed a
“presidential professor” for Urban Education at CUNY’s Graduate Center.
“It’s something I’ve
always dreamed of,” Hill, 44, told the Philadelphia Inquirer of his jump
from his alma mater of Temple University to CUNY and teaching graduate studies.
In 2018, Hill was fired
from CNN after his speech on Israel drew outrage from the Anti-Defamation
League and other groups.
https://nypost.com/2023/08/23/cuny-hires-anti-israel-professor-marc-lamont-hill/
Oh,
My, My - is it a coincidence that he is Black?!
https://www.georgemarx.org/2019/03/dr-marc-lamont-hill-american-muslims.html
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill,
American Muslims For Palestine and Respect - March 4, 2019
The American Muslims For Palestine's Chicago Chapter
Annual Dinner on March 3, 2019 was a most significant event for me.
I am a white, Jewish man, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago,
seeking a better world for Jews, Palestinians, Black people and others.
Most of my father's family lives in
Israel. My great-uncle S.Y. Agnon was Israel's first Nobel Laureate
and is a beloved, well-known figure to (virtually) all Israeli Jews.
While I have opposed Israeli government policies towards Palestinians for
over 30 years, only now am I really seriously trying to help bring about
positive change.
I came last evening
hoping to hear inspiring words from Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, a man I greatly
admire. I experienced Dr. Hill's brilliance and warm heart far more
than I could have hoped for. I also was welcomed and loved by the warmth
of many members of the greater Chicago Muslims for Palestine, who gave me far,
far more than I could possibly have imagined.
Respect is important
to me. I was shown so much from so many people. I am
thankful! I am blessed!
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
gave a powerful, impassioned speech! He spoke directly to
Palestinian Muslims. His speech was far different than his
incredible November 29, 2019 speech at the United Nations.
where he spoke to all of us. While Dr. Hill did not speak directly to
me as an American Jew, his words resonated in their inclusivity. He
explicity made clear that he was not speaking against Jews and
white people. Dr. Hill was very clear that Israeli governmental policy is
the problem.
Dr. Hill's love for
the Palestinian people was made very clear in the speech. He also
spoke strongly about the importance of both Black (and White) people supporting
Palestinians and for Palestinians to support the struggles Black people including
in cities like Chicago and Detroit. His words were powerful,
emphasizing non-violent struggles that may of necessity take more than our own
lifetimes to succeed.
Equally significant to
me was how well we were treated by both our hosts of American Muslims for
Palestine and the others who attended the dinner. Our hosts
included both women and men of varying ages. Many, if not most of
the women's heads were covered. I surmised that they were devout
Muslims. References to the Muslim religion were made throughout the
presentation.
The people I met were
far, far more caring of us than I could have imagined they would be.
We were shown to our table by several very helpful people.
Before the proceedings begun, a man came to our table thanking us as
Jewish Voice for Peace Members for doing our work. The American
Muslims for Palestine Annual Report in its page on the Chicago Chapter included
a picture showing Jewish Voice for Peace members demonstrating with
Palestinians.
While many people we
met were exceptional individuals, they were also wonderful in talking with us,
in the varied parts of the presentation and in other ways . This pointed
clearly to the lies we face daily of the violent, not
to be trusted Arabs, who allegedly prevent peace in Israel. Yes,
there are extremists who kill, but they are dwarfed by far more who seek a
just, lasting peace. It was very sad for me to hear that the
"Volunteer for the Year" had never been in Palestine. It
was also uplifting to hear and feel the warmth and spirit of so many.
I am reminded of
stories I've heard in the past. I remember hearing of Palestinians
in 1948, who warned neighboring Jews, preventing them from being killed.
I am reminded of the story one of my Israeli relatives told me circa 1980
in Jerusalem. Her sister in Tel Aviv lived in a protected world
where she spoke primarily German with her peers and English with her nieces and
nephews and those younger. Her husband and she had a fancy dress
shop in Jerusalem dating back to well before the 1948 war. She told
me of how their customers had been both well off Palestinians and Jews who
wanted custom made women's apparel.
My cousin told me of
how in 1967, after the Six Day War, an older Arab man came to her shop, asking
for her husband. She told him that he had died. The man
wept. She hadn't recognized him. He had been their porter in the store,
until the War separated him, putting him in then Jordanian run East
Jerusalem. My relative spoke admiringly of how this man insisted on
carrying her bags when she went into the Old City until he died several years
later. He would not take any money from her.
I can not possibly
understand the loss that Palestinians have faced for over 70 years losing their
homeland. I do admire their dignity in continuing the struggle for
justice through (mostly) non-violent resistance. I hope that a lasting,
just peace will be achieved sooner, rather than later.
Thank you!
What follows is NOT -
a Resource. It reflects a Cry to be Heard - to STOP the Silencing - the
IGNORING - of the Voices of the Palestinian People - in this case reflected in
a 25 year old - religious, military member - NOT - a "radical" not -
a "Muslim" - Not - "A HAMAS Murderer" - not a Palestinian -
an individual - troubled by - the Genocide and the SILENCE of Joe Biden and
most of the Democrats - and All, or Virtually All of the Republicans!
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/2/28/who-was-aaron-bushnell-the-us-airman-who-died-protesting-over-gaza
Desperate for
Peace: From Libya to Gaza
Twenty-five-year-old
Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, died on
Sunday after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in
Washington DC as an act of protest against the slaughter in Gaza.
Unfortunately, the act is noteworthy not because of the resulting suicide but
for the underlying motivation behind it. That underlying motivation—and his
last words, “Free Palestine”—was initially missing in American media coverage
of the tragic incident until social media prompted mainstream coverage.
There is a growing sense that corporate
America and our politicians just don’t care about our youth, especially those
who serve in the military. This extreme form of protest took the life of a
serviceman, not in combat abroad, but here at home in defiance of American
foreign policy.
For those politicians who profess to
genuinely care about our men and women in the armed services, answer this: How
many active-duty personnel and veterans took their own lives since 1980 when
the U.S. started documenting military suicides? Some estimate it’s in the six
figures. That’s double the fifty-eight thousand killed in combat in Vietnam.
America’s enemies don’t have to go to war to kill American soldiers. We are
doing it to ourselves when we send our boys and girls to go fight in Syria,
Iraq, and Afghanistan under false pretenses. They come back with PTSD, moral
quandaries, and a host of other issues that prevent them from successfully
reintegrating into society. Urinating on dead Taliban bodies doesn’t make
America great.
If things are not bad enough with
growing economic disparities between the rich and the poor, the opioid
epidemic, the $34 trillion national debt, mass shootings, a growing divide in
American society that are turning into battle lines, our best and brightest are
killing themselves over a failed foreign policy that is polarizing the world
against us. And Aaron is not the first to set himself on fire over the carnage
in Gaza. Last December, a woman did something similar in front of the Israeli
consulate in Atlanta.
It’s almost thirteen years to the date
that Tunisian vendor Tarek Bouazizi self-immolated, igniting the “Arab Spring”
in March 2011. He was harassed and humiliated, and had his wares confiscated by
municipal officials. Many Arabs and Muslims live under corrupt authoritarian
regimes that oppress their people. Those same broken promises of wealth,
freedom, and democracy are robbing Americans of their dignity.
Before engaging in such an extreme act
of protest documented on social media, Aaron said, “I will no longer be
complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but
compared to what people are experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their
colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided
will be normal.” Indeed, AIPAC-bought politicians have decided death and
destruction, even at home, is the new norm.
All these acts are born of desperation.
If young American men are willing to die in their pursuit of freedom and
justice, our politicians should take heed. Yet the Joe Biden administration and
Congress continue to green light Israel’s atrocities as it fails to achieve any
of its stated goals like destroying Hamas, returning the captives, or bringing
security to Israelis.
The entire world is fearful of a wider
regional conflict. The worse it gets for Israel the more it will want the
United States to get involved militarily on its behalf. Israel is drowning, and
it has no problem in taking us down with it. America cannot afford more wars,
especially in the Middle East.
All too often our elected officials
have been hearing from their constituents, “How many Palestinians have to die
before you call for a ceasefire?” The question now is, “How many Americans have
to die before you call for a ceasefire?”
Ashraf W. Nubani is a
Palestinian-American attorney based in the Washington DC area. He holds a
Master’s degree in history and writes on Muslim issues and the West.
Link to: Conclusions
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/03/judaism-israel-palestine-conclusions.html
INTRO – TO – CONCLUSIONS – A
STORY:
Looking at being Jewish – Usian Jewish – reflecting upon
– Gaza today, Palestine and Israel – and “Old Palestine” – before 1917 - I have
many thoughts and Deep feelings! I don’t think of many things that
many fellow Jews think of.
I think in this moment – of a woman – who is meaningful
in my life. I told her of the severe current mental health issues
of my brother, “the other Marx brother” (our last name is Marx).
I emailed her a day or two ago that my brother’s mental
health issues began in childhood.
-
They, probably began over a year before our father died –
when he was 11. At age 9 – he arrived with me – Zim Lines – Naples
to Haifa (perhaps we were even on The Theodor Herzl (I just found ships
listed: https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/zim.shtml -
discovered reparations from West Germany helped fund the line).
We were privileged – freely visiting – many of our
father’s relatives my father hadn’t seen since his move from Berlin to
Cincinnati in 1927.
My ally – told me – I cried then and – am crying now– Mine has also been struggling with mental
illness all his adult life, so, sadly, that is one thing you and I share.
I was driving home
this afternoon – when I burst into tears! There was a Roman
Catholic Church – (not in a trendy Area) of Berkeley, California – with large
banners – saying - C E A S E F I R E NOW –
and similar.
What is the
connection – why these seemingly random words?
I left out a few
really important things:
1. She
lacks a lot of the privilege I have!
2. She
is a devout Roman Catholic
3. She
is Palestinian, an Israeli citizen, and lives in the Middle East
and if you are already with me - at
least Mostly - you can jump to the END of this Writing - before - the Resources
to learn more about her.
ON TO MY CONCLUSIONS BELOW:
-(1)- Many of us who are Jewish – lack – a personal
connection – with anyone who is Palestinian and/or Muslim. Many
Israeli Jews contact with Palestinians is solely superficial.
We don’t trust – the Palestinian People!
Regarding Israel’s Jews who are 80% of the “citizens” –
and were barely 50% of the pre-October 7th – residents of – Gaza+Israel+The
West Bank.
New data: 47% of new doctors in #Israel are
Israeli Arabs and Druze. 48% of all pharmacists in Israel are Arabs. 24% of all
nurses in Israel are Arabs.
https://twitter.com/GonenYonatan/status/1435486454432608256
Perhaps - these figures are high? Even so –
do Israeli Jews trust their pharmacists, doctors and nurses? - Strange!
-(2)- Fear – hatred – Manipulation of Others – is so, so,
so prevalent in The United States today!
Historic Myth: “Black Men are a huge danger!
They rape so, so many innocent white women”!
Thomas Jefferson’s power over one Black Slave (rape) –
lead to his Black Descendants.
Strom Thurmond – a noted clearly racist US Senator:
In 1925, Thurmond had
an affair with Carrie Butler, an African-American teenager who worked as his
family's housekeeper. In 2003, the Thurmond family confirmed that Thurmond
fathered a mixed-race daughter named Essie Mae Williams with Butler. While her paternity
was long hidden, he helped support her and paid for her college education.[21][22]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond
-(3)- It is also not
coincidental – that the dominant narrative – related to Palestine and Israel –
is significantly upside down from the clear reality.
a. Yes – there has been and continues to be
violence – perpetrated by Palestinians against Jewish Israelis.
b. In general, however, the dominant real
narrative – is of the Powerful – murdering and otherwise oppressing – those –
who “lack the weapons”.
The dominant
narrative has related to Jews – from Theodor Hertzl – starting in the 1890’s to
Israel today. Israeli Jews were viewed as reasonable, deserving allies of
those in Great Britain from 1917 until things spun out of control in
1947. Then the United States became our/their “ally” circa
1948. From 1967 on – Israel – has been “The Ally” – receiving
increasing direct military and other financial assistance.
-(4)- Totally ignored
in this narrative was Why? – Why was what became Israel wanted
by Great Britain’s elite leadership? Why did other Western European
countries want Israel?
Why was there/is
there little or no interest in the Palestinian People?
Oil – and Saudi
Arabia – at first – were initially not that important.
-(5)- Anti-Semitism –
was – “the issue”. Jews – were often – “a pain”. While
they weren’t “the bankers” – that we are stereotyped as (and my paternal
great-grandfather was!), they were a significant problem!
It went well beyond
Germany – where they were often Educated, Cultured, and Upper-Middle Class – in
the midst of often massive (financial) depression.
Anti-Semitism –
was the way for the Elites of Western Europe to Not have to deal with “Their
Problem”. “The Jewish Problem” – was a bother for them, because it
would require them to either:
1. Affirm
– oppression – affirm (support) Anti-Semitism – directly or in more subtle ways,
Or:
2. Deal with
oppression – and work seriously towards ending it – what it should have
done. Dealing with oppression – this is a great example is taking a
major risk! The oppressed, in this case, The Jews, might ally
with other oppressed groups – and united – might be a threat to the continued
systemic oppression – the power of the Elites (against the rest of the people).
-
Why not – instead –
“export” – the problem?! Push – this issue upon – Palestine – a
convenient answer!
Before you “laugh” –
recognize – how often Elites – Powerful Interests – find the ways to divide and
conquer. In this case – focusing upon Palestine – using Zionism –
neatly solved the problem.
The concept of “White
People” – began in the second-half of the 17th Century as poor white indentured
servants began allying themselves with Black People – both enslaved and
not.
The concept of
“whiteness” – as opposed to being: “Irish” or “Irish-American” – where
one’s family had come from – helped the powerful – keep the threat of unified:
poor white people and poor Black People overpowering the large landowners of
much of the Southern United States.
The British –
“taught” – the Hindu (religioned) people of India – that the Moslem
(religioned) people were – “different”. This idea of “being
different” meant that they should be aware that “the others”- were their
enemies. Using this logic, both those who were “Hindus” should
therefore rely upon the British, because they were there to help
them. Similarly, the “Muslims” or “Moslems” – should (also)
similarly rely upon the British.
Obviously, both those
of the Hindu faith and those of the Moslem faith clearly, if acting in their
self-interest – as well as for ethical/moral reasons – should/would have
recognized that mutual tolerance and acceptance of each other was the right way
to go. In doing that they could have sought together to force the
British to leave what would have thus been a UNITED India – which included
collectively people of both faiths, as well as other smaller faiths within the
areas that they lived in.
If they had
(successfully) done this, India wouldn’t have been first divided into Pakistan
(vs.) and India. Bangladesh would also have not (needed to) come into
existence. Kashmir would not now be facing Indian Government
oppression. India, unfortunately, is modeling Israel’s treatment of
the Palestinian People, on how it should control the Kashmiri People.
India has
approximately 1.4 billion people – the largest population in the
world. Pakistan has about 230 million people.
https://en.wikipedia.org ›
wiki › Demographics_of_Ban...
About (91.04%) of Bangladeshis are
Muslims, followed by Hindus (largest-minority) at
(7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%) and Christians (0.30%) and others (0.12%) as
per ...
Bangladesh has about 170 million People.
India 1.4 billion minus 200 million Muslim People = 1.2
billion people
Pakistan 230 million (over 95% Muslim) + 200 million
Indian Muslims + Bangladesh – over 150 Muslims = roughly 550 + million Muslims
combined
India and Pakistan – are both nuclear powers
** Anti-Semitism – was real then.
Unfortunately “the chosen solution”
+ Was a solution for Some European People – whose
solution seemed like a win-win – for them – it Got Rid – of what they wanted to
get rid of – having influential and significant people in Germany – which had a
relatively small population, supported the well-off Jews of Great Britain – not
that many of whom went to live there anyway, and Devastated the Jewish
Populations of Eastern Europe
++ Told the Palestinians – both in the villages and rural
areas – that they didn’t matter – and given – that they lacked
a. the Money – the
Wealth – that Wealthy Jews brought in along with the Hard Work of many
immigrants – believing in Zionism - and the Relevancy,
b. and Connections and
Talent and Influence – with Europeans – especially those with power and:
c. the fact – that both
The – wealthy elites in Palestine were split – between those who didn’t care
and a few – who really did care – but were minimized by the British and:
d. the Arab Leadership +
their British and French “Protectors” – both resented the Palestinian People –
abandoning them – while many in their countries cared, but had no way of
supporting the Palestinian People
Zionism – helped Plenty of Jews – in the short-term – at
the Expense of the Palestinian People – and really set them up for – resentment
and resistance from the Palestinian People CHANGING:
1. Real – Deep –
Anti-Semitism in Palestine – where it hadn’t been a major issue while it lead
to:
2. Fear – the both the
Palestinians and Arabs – and now – today – Iran – which is Neither Palestinian
– nor Arab (though many of us both confuse Iran with Iraq and don’t know – than
Iran – ancient Persia – the land of Farsi (which the U.S. intervened with
and messed it up royally – leading to its – OPPRESSION – which began- for real
- is the most feared
ANTI-SEMITISM - can become linked with FEAR – and
Fear with HATRED – and we shouldn’t and needn’t be stuck – as many of us are –
stuck in our Fear–FEAR – F E A R !
-(6)- Yes, there were major
Palestinian riots against Jews from 1936-1939. When we seriously example
the history, this is understandable!
-(7)-
-(8)- Personally, I was wearing my hoodie – recently complete on
Sproul Plaza at the University of California,
Berkeley. A fellow
Jew was:
1.) extremely
triggered.
2.) He
was clearly scared (of Palestinians)!
3.) He
was very angry!
4.) He
clearly threatened to physically attack me.
5.) He
also threatened several college students.
For
this man and many other Jews, the words: “Free Palestine” – translate into:
“Annihilate the Jews!” The words: “From the River to The Sea” – bring
similar fear.
-(9)-
Israel is, and has been, a nuclear power for decades. Its military is
stronger than all but the armed forces of a few countries in the world.
· The reality is that
Palestinian People live in danger!
· Jews generally don’t!
· The fear is real!
-(10)-
There is a myth, and it is a myth, that we Jewish People are in constant danger
of (another) genocide. Terrorists – within our fears – are Only Kept Back
by Israel’s and USian military might from obliterating most, if not all, Jewish
People!
In
1995, Yitzhak Rabin, was murdered by a Jewish Terrorist. Few, if
other noted Israelis or U.S. citizens have been murdered.
Palestinian potential leaders have been murdered by the Israelis numerous times.
A year ago today, Palestinian American
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed while doing her job, reporting in the
West Bank. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, her death was not
a tragic one-time event but actually part of a long, deadly pattern. A new
report from the group says at least 20 journalists have been killed by Israeli
military fire since 2001. And it says, quote, "to date, no one has been
held accountable."
Morning Edition, the host speaking, May
11, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/11/1175403626/palestinian-american-journalist-shireen-abu-akleh-was-killed-a-year-ago
-(11)-
Many of the major attacks in Gaza and The West Bank have been “preemptive” or
“collective punishment”. Those attacking have been overwhelmingly
Israeli Jews against Palestinians.
What
is the aim or intention here? If it is:
a. To
Stop the Violence and through that – to STOP – Our Fear?
· If so, it clearly,
clearly, clearly, has – EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE EFFECT!
b. Is
it for ethical or moral reasons?
· If so, I would
encourage you - “my reader” – to look seriously at pieces of at least
more than one of my writings – in this series. I’m curious – IF you
will hear – some of my message? If you don’t, because – “I’m wrong”
– we disagree – and perhaps you are wasting your time reading this now!
· If you hear some of my
message, I hope that you will – be CURIOUS – and – despite any triggering – or
other feelings of Displeasure – you will – “do your own research”.
It can be using references I’m giving you – or finding your own sources.
· You may agree or
disagree with me then! I would suggest that you Not simply seek
sources or delve deeply into sources that you know, or should know that will
agree with you (then) – expressing the dominant narrative. (I’m not
saying Only seek sources such as I suggest reading.)
-(12)-
It is NO surprise to me and yet is deeply shocking to me that Rashid Khalidi
stated to Peter Beinart on January 19, 2024 basically that No Mainstream
(USian) Television Networks/Stations – have sought to interview him since
October 7, 2023. (Note: watch on YouTube – if curious - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDypq6cKDM – to see and hear this yourself.)
Rashid Ismail Khalidi (Arabic: رشيد
خالدي; born 1948) is a Palestinian-American historian of the Middle East and
the Edward Said Professor of
Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University.[2]… Khalidi has written
dozens of scholarly articles on Middle East history and politics, as well as
op-ed pieces in many U.S. newspapers.[38] He has also been a guest
on radio and TV shows including All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, Morning Edition, Worldview, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Charlie
Rose, and Nightline, and has appeared on the BBC, the CBC, France Inter and the Voice of America. He
served as president of the American Committee on Jerusalem, now known as
the American Task Force on
Palestine, and advised the Palestinian delegation at
the Madrid Conference of 1991.[39]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashid_KhalidiHistory
repeats itself – in North America, in India, in Africa, as well as in Greater
Palestine!
-(13)-
“The savages” words often commonly used in our past referring to – The Indians
– now referred to as: “Native Americans”. In The United States
- the “compromises” and “reasonableness” never stopped as the Native
People’s lands vanished, and their often dysfunctional lives evolved.
-(14)-
The dominant narrative in Palestine was commonly that the standard of living
was being raised by the Jews, so The Arabs should welcome progress; ungrateful,
uncivilized people reacting with violence in totally unjustified ways.
-(15)-
The Palestinian People have Never – been given an opportunity – for
justice! The dominant narrative of greedy or stupid Arafat – vs.
the benevolent Israelis is common. Related to this our presidents have
acted as mediators and have been – not favoring one side - is at best a gross
distortion.
-(16)-
The very basic idea of: A “Binary” - Palestinians vs.
Israelis – as implying that there are “two reasonable sides” or “two
(equal) views” is generally a myth.
Yes
– the binary is real in one critical way! The
Israeli (Jewish) People are going to remain in at least part of Palestine/
Greater Israel. The Palestinian People are also (intending to)
remain in Palestine/Greater Israel.
A
“War” is not taking place now in Gaza!
If
one believes that this is a “War” – on should similarly view – the World War II
– attack by Hitler’s Forces upon the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto – as having been a
“War”. The Jews – fought on – courageously, despite having – Zero –
chance of – “winning” or forcing a “truce”.
Hamas
– and the Gazan People as a whole have Zero chance of “winning” or forcing a
“truce” currently! Their – only sources of real – “power” include:
a. The
hostages they hold,
b. The
resistance – in– most particularly – the current Alliance – in The United
States – of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, Jews – and a growing systemic
multi-racial/ multi-ethnic – alliance generally lead by Our (the diverse) Youth
– who are confronting oppression in a holistic – unifying way
(NOTE: I emphasize the U.S. – because – if/when Joe Biden and the U.S.
Government – HONESTLY – “pull the plug” – stopping ALL support of – the Israeli
Government – it will be forced – forced – to change if it continues its current
path (at all).
c. The
fact that most countries are strongly against U.S. support of Israel, and those
who support Israel largely due it for “strategic” ($ - related) reasons and/or
concerns related to their own – vulnerabilities to U.S. military power and
perceived fears of Russian and perhaps also Chinese economic/military power).
d. Their
own spirit – strength – core beliefs – which have kept them resisting others
for over 100 years – and most strongly since 1947-1948-1949 + 1967.
Jordan’s
King Abdullah didn’t want an independent Palestine any more than Israel’s
leadership does. Autocratic – Middle Eastern Governments – Iran –
(U.S. interference), Egypt – the British and later on multiple countries, are
not an option for The Palestinians in general. They have no “home”
to go to any more than most European-American USian People have “home” in
Sicily or France or Germany or Great Britain or even Ireland. In
reality – to go back home – for Most U.S. People would be to return our land to
its Native People.
-(17)
– The fears of Israeli and worldwide Jewry – will accelerate, not get less – as
the current conflict in Gaza continues. If a Ceasefire – a real one
– starts – it will be doomed to failures – unless there is a significant push –
strong pressure – to do much, much more – than stop the killing and property
destruction.
-(18)
– Starvation is a HUGE issue! There are many, many, many other
issues. Similar to how we have neglected our Military Veterans for
quite a few decades- the traumas of the Gazans and the Palestinians go
extremely deep. Political prisoners are a problem.
Healthcare – is a disaster now – and will be for years if not decades. –
The Jews impacted by the Holocaust – did not “get back to normal” at
all. Their “recovery” took years and in important ways decades and
for many, it never came.
-(19)
– A Lasting Peace – will require a Just Peace. A Just Peace will
require both Urgency and Patience. The Palestinian People have been VERY
Patient! Their patience is not Limitless! There are
many wonderful groups and individuals proposing possible solutions to the
issues – pre-dating October 7th. October 7th has complicated
things – a huge amount.
-(20)-
Curiosity – Love – Caring – Community – Alliances – Forgiveness – Restorative
Justice – Economic Efforts that are Not simply “charity” – but are done in
Community with others – Mutual Aid and Support – Listening and really hearing –
is really, really, really important!
--
I
really don't have THE ANSWER!
I
do know that if there is an answer - it will come from the hearts and wisdom of
a lot of people - cooperating with each other. It won't come - from
- The Status - Quo - where:
1. The United States - is - NUMBER ONE
and while we are the Most Powerful "Force" in
the World - we're beginning to - "lose it" - in multiple senses of
the Word. We aren't dealing with OUR Issues - and some (if not all)
of the Elite - the Powerful Ones - are Manipulating - the Others - and Our
Oppression of Others (Native People + Black People (including Slaves) + Poor
white People - dating from 1492 - at least - through the Present - Seems to be
Expanding Rapidly - threatening to move us into - if we're not already there -
Into Fascism!
2. The United States - while Professing - Neutrality and
"Fairness" - CAN - and SHOULD -
P U L L T H E P L U G - 1
0 0 % -
STOP SUPPORTING ISRAEL - STOP SUPPORTING ZIONISM
and Perhaps - might also look at how it similarly
mistreats - much of the world - and begin a path towards healing -
towards
True - Lasting - Peace - which WILL Last!
True - Lasting - Peace - which WILL Last!
True - Lasting - Peace - WILL Last!
True - Lasting Peace - WILL - Last!
True - Lasting - Peace - WILL - Last
if it isn't already too - late - if what we have done -
destroys - both our Hope and the Possibility - of Literal and Figurative- of
our Survival - Our Humanity - Our Love - Life!
F R E E P A L E S T I N E !
FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA
YES - I DO HAVE FEAR - I AM AFRAID!
I AM AFRAID - I HAVE FEAR
OF US - THE JEWS
TOO MANY OF US HAVE ASKED FOR
IN OUR FEARS
OUR FEARS TO TRIUMPH
OUR TRIUMPH IS THROUGH OUR FEARS
AND OUR HOPES
TO ALLOW - THE PALESTINIANS
TO BE FREE - COOPERATING
WITH - MOST OF THE WORLD
WHO SUPPORT THE PALESTINIANS
THE PALESTINIANS DO NOT
WANT TO KILL US
THEY WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE
LET'S TRY!
=
RESOURCES - FOR ALL OF US
FOLLOW - BELOW:
MORE ARE WELCOME!
i hope you are curious
i hope your curiosity will lead us forward
as - ALLIES - AS COLLABORATORS
FOR - A JUST PEACE - A LASTING PEACE:
see one - you choose,
if helpful, choose another
and so on ...
THANKS!
-
Fida Jiryis - https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/03/stranger-in-my-own-land-fida-jiryis.html
(initial words of titles shown below – where relevant my
reviews)
1. Hamas Contained – Tareq
Baconi -
If
Gaza – is your primary concern
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/hamas-contained-tareq-baconis-excellent.html
2. THE
HUNDRED YEARS WAR ON PALESTINE –
Rashid
Khalidi
The best
history of Palestine – and through this perspective on Israel
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/the-hundred-years-war-rashid-khalidi.html
3. STRANGER
IN MY OWN LAND – Fida Jiryis – Personal Story – For your Heart #1
https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/03/stranger-in-my-own-land-fida-jiryis.html
4. RECLAIMING JUDAISM –
Karcher (editor) – Most Relevant Quote: From-1919! Proven Correct since then! - https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/06/reclaiming-judaism-from-zionism.html
5. Peter
Beinart – January 19, 2024 – Interview with Rashid Khalidi
Most
Relevant Interview (YouTube) as I complete this now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDypq6cKDM
GREAT
SOURCES – OF ONGOING INFORMATION
ON GAZA
AND A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE
1. Jewish
Currents - https://jewishcurrents.org/ - related to JC –
Peter Beinart - https://peterbeinart.substack.com/about ($=not
free)
2. The Electronic Intifada - https://electronicintifada.net/
3. Democracy
Now - https://www.democracynow.org/
4. Al
Jazeera English- https://www.aljazeera.com/
5. Jewish Voice for Peace - https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
(self
defined as: “Anti-Zionist” – allow allyship with – Palestinian Causes – not
directly with many Jewish Groups)
6. If Not Now – https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/
(Not
Self-Defined as Anti-Zionist – can talk with many Jewish Groups – can’t be
allied with Palestinian Causes (directly)
7. Israelism - https://www.israelismfilm.com/ -
When
two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the
brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.
8. Noura Erakat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYoYGgi2bg
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/palestine-important-noura-erakat.html
-
February 23, 2024 - a Review of the Interview - links to both
above
They
join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine
Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide
over modern Jewish identity.
(note: One changed in college – after multiple trips to Israel –
when she re-examined her perspective through listening on The West Bank in
another trip – the other went into the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) after high
school – intending to remain in Israel and through what he saw – drastically
changed his perspective – also note: This film shows – detailed
statements of Noted: Jewish Zionist leaders – not – “clips” – they are talking
for minutes generally)
8. Links to a Lot
of my own writings – reviews – etc. –
https://www.georgemarx.org/2022/12/palestine-israel-judiasm-posts-links-my.html
(There are Many, Many other excellent sources of great
information – but not: CNN and MSNBC and generally not NPR.)
FINALLY: I have hundreds, if not over one thousand
relatives in Israel – all of whom are Jewish. I care about
them. I also care – about – Genocide – and do not support – the
oppression of Palestinians and/or Arabs and/or Muslims. My journey
began growing up in a Zionist Family – born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, raised
mostly in West Lafayette, Indiana – and dearly love my current home – Richmond,
California as well as where I left in 2022 – Chicago, IL – Our Fears are Real –
Let’s Not Hate Others – My work – began at birth (if not before then – my
healing is ancestral from The Holocaust and the HUGE MASSIVE Anti-Semitism –
and resulting deaths of Jews – going back 2000 Years! Never Again –
includes: The Palestinian People (as well as Native USian People, and others
who’ve faced Settler Colonialism – and too often – murder – in Mexico, The
Philippines, Haiti, Cuba – and many other places! I do not feel
guilty! I do feel ashamed-when I am silent–when I should speak up!
(excuse my typos and errors)!
Thanks!
LINKS
TO ENTIRE SERIES OF WRITING
PROLOGUE -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/im-jewish-im-privileged-prologue-to.html
1. Part I -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-i.html
2. Part II -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ii.html
3. Part III -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iii.html
4. Part IV -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/01/judaism-israel-palestine-part-iv.html
5. Part V -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-v.html
6. Part VI -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vi.html
7. Part VII -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-vii.html
8. Part VIII -
https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-viii.html
9. Part IX - https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/judaism-israel-palestine-part-ix.html
NOTE: I reprint a lot on Medium. My blogging includes foci of: Reproductive Justice, Racism, Masculinity, Rape, Book Reviews in General (mostly non-fiction), (my) Pets, Personal Writings — including the very personal — e.g. Erectile Dysfunction — related to this — NPR (National Public Radio — where I was interviewed) — https://www.wunc.org/show/embodied-radio-show/2024-01-12/erectile-dysfunction-mens-health-viagra-intimacy )
I’m born in 1951, white, cis, male, Jewish, Autistic-Asperger’s, Privileged-Upper-Middle Class, living in Richmond, California — near Oakland-Berkeley-San Francisco, am a Badger (fan) Duplicate Bridge Player, partnered with three children and one GrandDaughter.
I seek Meaning in my life — which includes: happiness, sadness, anger — moving (thankfully) on my journey — out of my head — where I was “born” — into my heart and spirit.
I have amazing energy — a deep commitment to Systemic Justice — Allyship — on a Path — never there — making Mistakes on the Way — offending some — while developing Community with Others! I’ve “stolen” pictures with attribution — quoted at great length (with attribution) and hopefully not plagiarized or hurt others!
I welcome Constructive Criticism! I learn from Listening! Thanks!!!!!
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