In yet another sign of Netanyahu's commitment to what is called "the peace process", Human Rights Watch is reporting that Israel is arbitrarily destroying the homes of Palestinians in the West Bank at a record pace.
Is this what they call a "confidence-building" measure?
Israeli authorities destroyed 141 Palestinian homes and other buildings in July 2010, the largest number in any month since at least 2005, and have already carried out dozens of demolitions in August. HRW
Who knows, maybe August can surpass the old 2005 record... maybe be an all-time record! Wouldn't that be special? Your tax-dollars at work!
(Jerusalem) - The Israeli government should immediately stop the arbitrary destruction of Palestinian homes and other property in the West Bank and compensate the people it has displaced, Human Rights Watch said today. Israeli authorities destroyed 141 Palestinian homes and other buildings in July 2010, the largest number in any month since at least 2005, and have already carried out dozens of demolitions in August.
"While Israel is demolishing more and more Palestinian homes, it continues to subsidize the Jewish settlements nearby," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Israel has flouted international law not only by supporting settlements on occupied territory, but also by erasing longstanding Palestinian communities next door." HRW
Please read the whole release.
Is it any wonder that Netanyahu and Obama insisted that Palestinians have no preconditions to entering direct negotiations? after all, if the Palestinians insisted that Israel comply with international law, even for the weeks that proceed these talks, either demolitions would have to stop (heaven forbid!) or the photo-ops that these two leaders so much covet would not occur on September 2nd.
That's why Obama saw fit to threaten Abbas with a complete cut-off of aid if the PA did not comply. While i have been very critical of Abbas, I also see his point of view. It is clear that what Israel has done to Gaza, the complete and utter destruction of its economy by military siege that still causes great misery... can also be done to the West Bank, quite easily. Certainly the US would not stand in the way, as we can see by its continued support of Gaza siege (mumbling things about it being "unsustainable" is not doing the people of Gaza a bit of good, they need action, not words)
As far as the US government is concerned, it is the Palestinians duty to be grateful for every home Israel allows to stand. They have no rights that Israel or the US are bound to respect.
That is why it is more important than ever that civil society take action. This is not the time for business as usual. Peace will not come when the oppressed are expected to peacefully accommodate the whims of their oppressors. Peace will come from justice. When a movement in the US finally succeeded, after decades of work, to bring to the attention of millions of Americans a clear picture of South African apartheid, ordinary people demanded that business as usual with South Africa changed. As Israel escalates day by day its oppression of Palestinians, the picture for many Americans is becoming clear. This is not an ancient feud, but a present-day struggle for justice and liberation. We value all the peoples of the Middle East, we must reject however the systematic oppression ordinary Palestinians face. so we join Palestinians and Israelis who want to build a decent future and work for a fundamental change, not a minor adjustment that will allow this injustice to continue.
I discuss some skepticism from the Israeli peace camp regarding the peace talks here Like Uri Avnery, i expect that the direct talks, as long as they last, will produce as much for peace as the so-called "proximity talks" ... that is ZERO. You can also take a look at this fine resource from a US peace group.
Here is an example of citizen action that can make a difference.
The US could help get the Middle East on track for peace if the White House replaced political election consultants who seem to be guiding the show with human rights and international law experts. If that were the case, we would see that Israel also had consequences for attacking ordinary Palestinians who have done them no harm. Instead we see record amounts of military aid.