Saturday, April 9, 2011

Gaza and the Arab revolutions

Israel's bombardments in Gaza are to be firmly condemned. The actions of the Israeli right wing are symptomatic of a society which refuses its middle eastern destiny which would see it melt in the rich Middle Eastern soil anchoring the Jewish tradition in its 'new' Jewish-Arab context and thus end the occupation.
For the only solution for both Palestinians and Israelis is an end to the apartheid state and the creation of a multi ethnic democratic and secular state not the creation of a poor Arab state build in the image of other Arab/Muslim autocracies.
Even if a two state solution is adopted, the two states (or even more the Palestinian state) will not be able to survive without each other. Perhaps this vision is utopian but the alternative is even less realistic. A peace process leading to a failed state would be further recipe for war and instability.
The success of the Arab revolutions is a precondition for this to happen. As long as Arab countries remain ruled by murderous despots Israel will have a pretext to keep living in a bubble. For even Israel's actions pale in front of the barbarity of some Arab regimes.
Ironically repressive Arab governments like that of Assad, who have often used anti zionism as a pretext to alienate the masses, are now providing a spectacle of themselves which gives Israel cover for its actions against Palestinians.
Not to mention Hamas and even more radical groups who resist by throwing rockets on Israeli civilians... Am not surprised that the latest onslaught of rockets and bombardments came in the wake of a rebellion against Hamas by young people in Gaza...It seems that Hamas and the Israeli right wing exist to justify each others actions.
For the sake of both Israel and Palestinians, may the Arab revolutions prevail...
That does not mean that democracy will not come with its pitfalls.
Ultimately the victory of the Arab tyrants (or Islamic fundamentalism and Iranian imperialism) will only bolster the Israeli right wing.

0 comments:

Post a Comment