Monday, December 7, 2009
Al Jazeera show on Jerusalem shows the future of the Israel/Palestine debate
This very interesting article by Ahmed Noor(a 25-year-old Palestinian-American from the Rafah refugee camp. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Beirut), on Mondoweiss discusses the debate that took place:
"Sunday’s Inside Story on Al Jazeera highlighted several positive trends related to the struggle for equal rights in Palestine/Israel. Mordechai Kedar of Bar Ilan University, Ian Black of the Guardian newspaper, and Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada convened to discuss the European Union’s (EU) evolving role in Palestine/Israel in light of a recent EU report on Jerusalem. Three developments struck me as I watched the program: 1) The EU is discussing banning Israeli nationals from 27 European countries, 2) the Palestinians were being represented by a strong, authoritative voice possessed of an independent historical narrative, 3) Mr. Abunimah employed a new empiricism in describing the conflict; his speech lacked euphemistic turns of phrase."
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"This is a new front in the battle to end Zionist apartheid in Palestine/Israel. The implications of the measure, if adopted, are profound. Anti-Zionist lawyers already confront Zionists in European courts on a variety of issues, most notably war crimes and the apartheid wall in the West Bank. Now the EU may be creating opportunities to petition the entire bloc against issuing visas to individual violent Zionist colonists. The definition of ‘violence’ opens up exciting new vistas. I can plausibly argue that by purchasing a house in a racially pure, illegally constituted community in East Jerusalem or the West Bank, a Zionist is engaging in violence. Imagine a scenario where American Zionists eager to promote Zionist colonization of the West Bank by donating to settler organizations are barred from entering the EU. I am getting ahead of myself, but this seems like a good, nonviolent way of augmenting the BDS efforts already underway."
ReplyDeleteAnd a very interesting point here:
ReplyDelete"The second positive development I’d like to highlight is the increased visibility of truly independent Palestinian voices. Ali Abunimah provides the best example of this phenomenon. He performs his advocacy work independently of the United States Department of State. The sooner the Abbasnik’s disappear from the airwaves, the better. The viewer gains nothing from hearing Saeb Erekat’s repetitious and unimaginative views on the ‘two-state solution’ which persist, year-after-year, as if encased in formaldehyde. Mr. Abunimah forcefully promotes the one-state view – which I subscribe to – with an eloquent recital of the facts on the ground."
"What is happening in Jerusalem today is “ethnic cleansing” not “changing the demographics.” The phrase “changing the demographics” is factually correct, but serves to elide reality. Euphemisms retard the pursuit of justice. The language that serves to obscure is language that permits the oppressor to persist in his lie. “Zionism is Jewish supremacy” is the antidote to “Zionism is Jewish self-determination.” The battle over narrative is important because language conveys values, determinations of right and wrong. Widespread recognition that Zionist Israel is Racist Israel will come through a more empirical descriptive approach to the conflict."
ReplyDeletegreat article, tgia.
ReplyDelete