Thursday, April 16, 2009

PA to label W. Bank, Gaza 'Occupied Palestine'

Apr. 16, 2009
Khaled Abu Toameh , THE JERUSALEM POST

The Palestinian Authority cabinet has decided to endorse the term "Occupied Palestine" when referring to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and has instructed its representatives and media to act accordingly. The decision was taken during the weekly meeting of the government, which is headed by Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, in Ramallah on Tuesday.

Until now, the PA used the terms Palestinian Territories and West Bank and Gaza Strip when referring to the two areas.

Hamas, Hizbullah, al-Qaida and other radical groups, on the other hand, have always called these areas (as well as Israel proper) Occupied Palestine.

The PA's decision to rename the two areas came at the request of several Palestinian journalists, writers and politicians who have long been calling for avoiding the use of Israeli and Western terminology.

In keeping with the government's decision, the PA-controlled media in the West Bank have been instructed to start using the term Occupied Palestine in their reporting.

PA foreign Minister Riad Malki accused Israel of seeking to "insert foreign phrases and terms into the Palestinian and Arab media as a way of affecting Arab mentality and international public opinion."

He said that his ministry, in cooperation with the Arab League and the Palestinian media, has been busy detecting the unwanted terms in the Arab media and alerting editors and writers to the need to get rid of them.

"We are doing our utmost to prevent this kind of unwanted terminology from infiltrating our Arab lexicon and political speech," Malki said. "We also urge the Arab countries to be on alert and foil any attempt by the occupation to insert its own terminology into their media."
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710698627&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

Comment: Forbid if we in the West apply the tactics our enemies have used for years-of course, they do not see how ignorant they are by refuting their own tactics.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Call it for what it is 'Occupied' by people who have no right to be there.. that is the definition of the word...

this is what the rest of the western world knows and sees it as, a country with people illegaly pushing themselves on another...

So yes I think Occupied Palestine is an acurate reflection of what is taking place in that country

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

Abbey,
I admit I am confused with your comment. You refer to the geographic area described in the post as a country. It is not a country-where did you ever get that idea? At best these territories are legally and practically Disputed Territories. Do you know your history? You are entitled to your opinion but not entitled to making up your own facts. doc

Anonymous said...

Dont play word games, its beneath both you and myself. I think I was clear on my thoughts

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

due respect Abbey, I was not "playing word games" with you. I was unclear -if you mean Israel as the country, then say so. If you are referring to the territories as a country then you are in error-they are still, to this day, disputed territories. Given this truth, those who still use the worn out "occupation" argument also are in denial that over 85% of these "territories" are under the control of the PA while in Gaza, Israel left some years ago. You know who is in control of Gaza-I do not play games with such a serious topic. You may not like what is stated-many of us have had enough of the distortion and will stand up to intentional misrepresentation of the facts. Now, if I have again misunderstood your position and you meant that Israel is being occupied we can have another discussion-all the best-doc

Anonymous said...

and before you mouthoff, or put your arguements in sugar.

My husband is an Israeli, he fought with the IDF, we are both committed to peace and what is right & what is going down in Israel is not right.. no matter what you convince yourself of.. with all due respect Don

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

With all due respect Abbey,
This will be my final comment to you-I have tried to have a conversation with you and your anger does not permit such a discussion. I live in Israel-does this mean I can claim to distort facts? I appreciate, although you my discount this statement, your husband 's required IDF service-does this mean he can distort facts? I realize you do not believe Israel has a right to exist-possibly you do not believe it has a right to be a Jewish state-I don't know because you have failed to make this clear. This stated, you can continue to deny the fact-Israel is an identified country-the disputed territories are not.Contrary to your statements, the "rest of the Western world" does not see this your way. Your emotion and passion for your point of view is noted. It is precisely this inability to have a constructive dialogue that continues to be part of the ongoing problem rather than move us forward to a desired peace in the region-all the more the pity.

I suspect you will characterize my reply as "mouthing off"-am I to be taken aback by these words? Is this your intent? The security of living thousands of miles away from our daily experience must be comforting for you both-may you continue to only listen and see what drives your agenda-the cycle will never shift-refuse to investigate reality-this is your endgame? If not, be available for discourse rather than verbal attacks. all the best-doc