Doc's Talk: PEACE WITH TRUTH AS ITS BASE

Thursday, April 22, 2010

PEACE WITH TRUTH AS ITS BASE

GS Don Morris, Ph.D.
Published in: SPME Faculty Voices
April 17, 2010

On campuses across the United States, Israel is being accused of human rights violations. The accusations are so many and so detailed that even relatively well informed pro-Israel students are often at a loss to refute them. The damage is especially great when the charges come from Jews, such as the South African Richard Goldstone, or from actual Israelis. And when official spokespersons for Israel come to campus and attempt to set the record straight for a non-specialist audience, they are often heckled and shouted down before they can present the relevant history and geopolitical facts. Jonathan Ben-Artzi, a nephew of Netanyahu, is one of a number of Israelis who have won notoriety in recent years for denouncing Israel. In an article in the Christian Science Monitor on April 1, he compared Israel to Apartheid South Africa, and made other charges as well. These charges, although widely publicized, are false.

I am not a Jew, but many years ago I decided to make my home in Israel. Non-Jews of all ethnicities may apply to reside under the umbrella of Israeli authority, but like most other countries, Israel has rules and procedures regarding resident status and citizenship. I applied and now hold “permanent residency,” which entitles me to all the rights and privileges of citizenship except the ability to vote in the National election, the equivalent of a US “green card.”

Granted, in the world’s only Jewish state, Jews have special status. In 1950, Israel passed a Law of Return enabling Jews from around the world to immigrate. The Law was amended in 1970: "The rights of a Jew under this Law and the rights of an oleh [Jewish immigrant, literally ascender] under the Nationality Law... are also vested in a child and a grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse of a child of a Jew and the spouse of a grandchild of a Jew."[1] Over the years, the Knesset [Israeli parliament] has discussed and argued and addressed expanding specific policies. Today, Israel has 5.7 million Jewish citizens, as well as 1.5 million Arab (Muslim, Christian, Druze, etc.) citizens and 0.3 million citizens of other background.

Contrary to what many academics and others in the USA claim, the Arab citizens of Israel may and do vote and serve as Knesset members, government officials and even Supreme Court Justices. Jews, Arabs and others have and use free access to the beaches of Netanya, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Eilat. We sit in cafes together, work together, shop in malls and open-air markets, and wait together in our post office lines! Benjamin Pogrund, who moved to Israel after a career as an anti-apartheid journalist in South Africa, has addressed the use of the word apartheid as “an epithet of abuse” for Israel. “If true,” he wrote, “it would be a grave charge, justifying international condemnation and sanctions. But it isn’t true. Anyone who knows what apartheid was, and who knows Israel today, is aware of that.”[2]

One of my heroes, Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his entire life to fighting oppression. He knew a little something about apartheid and where it was authentically being employed. A few weeks before his tragic death Dr. King said, “I see Israel, and never mind saying it, as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy.”[3]

The lie about Israel’s denial of water rights to Palestinians is typical of the kind of” beating your wife accusation” that is commonly made against Israel. Here are the facts: Israel obtains 50% of its water from the Sea of Galilee and the Coastal Aquifer, both of which lie inside Israel’s pre-1967 borders. Another 30% comes from the Western and Northeastern Aquifers of the Mountain Aquifer system. These two aquifers straddle the so-called “Green Line” boundary of the West Bank, but most of their water lies under pre-1967 Israel and is easily accessible only in Israel. In the 1950s, Israel used 95% of the Western aquifer’s water, and 82% of the Northern aquifer’s water. Today, Israel uses only 83% and 80% respectively; the Palestinian share of these aquifers has actually increased. Moreover, “every year over 40 MCM (million cubic meters) of water from sources within Israel is piped over the Green Line for Palestinian use in the West Bank. Ramallah, for example, receives over 5 MCM. And despite the virtural declaration of war against Israel by the Hamas rulers of Gaza, Israel still sends to Gaza another 4 MCM of Israeli water annually.”[4]

A very popular accusation that is once again appearing monthly on USA campuses is one that most students can relate to-use of roads. This of course resonates will most of us-what better life event to complain about than the roads we travel upon. The accusation is that Israel segregates its roads and does not permit Palestinians to drive on them. In November 2009, stories claimed that Israel’s Route 505 was a Jews-only road, a settler road. Palestinian sources, when contacted, confirmed the false report.[5] In fact, no roads in the West Bank or Gaza are open only to settler traffic. However, since the violent Palestinian uprising against Israel, in which scores of Israelis have been shot on West Bank roads, use of certain roads has been prohibited to private Palestinian vehicles. The Palestinian leadership signed the Oslo Accords, which provide for Israeli jurisdiction in areas in the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria and enable Israel to stop traffic during emergencies - times of shootings, bombings and the like - for public protection, just as other governments do.

Israel left Gaza in 2005. However, another false accusation is that Israel has created the “largest open air prison.” This is right out of the “playbook” of Israel’s enemies and yet we see “academics” perpetuating the lie. A quick glance at a map will show that Gaza borders on Egypt--a Muslim-Arab state. Ask the accusers about the traffic flow, both above and below ground, between Egypt and Gaza. Or ask about the trucks carrying goods and materials that enter Gaza regularly via Israel. Or about the number of patients who travel from Gaza to Israel for free medical care. Or about how Israel provides gas and water to Gaza, even though the Gazans are our sworn enemies, who fire rockets onto Israel’s civilian population and attempt to kill its people on a weekly basis? Did you know they plant bombs to kill Israelis?

Meanwhile, thousands of West Bank Palestinians have permits to enter Israel (for work, study and other purposes), and east Jerusalem residents (other than Jews, who have access only to the Wailing Wall) have free access to the Temple Mount. During periods of heightened violence, access is usually limited to men over the age of 45 or 50 and women of all ages. One such restricted period fell earlier this month, as Hamas called a "day of rage," inciting violence on the Temple Mount and beyond. The fact that intermittent closures and restrictions are the exception, as opposed to the rule, is apparent from the media reports, which note the beginning or the end of a more restrictive period.”[6]

As is often reported, the United States provides nearly $3 billion in military aid to Israel. That is not just a handout. By law, 70% of these dollars must be spent on American made/built military material, munitions, weapons, and vehicles. Thus those dollars return to the US economy, keeping thousands of Americans employed and able to pay taxes. Israel’s high tech industry is the envy of the world and attracts US investors, again sending dollars back into the US economy.

Finally, it is true that certain governments near the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria do not offer citizenship to Palestinian Arabs. Those countries include Jordan and Lebanon. Reporting accurately and honestly the facts enables individuals to arrive at informed conclusions-people with integrity assume this responsibility.

GS Don Morris is a member of the Board of Directors of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East.

Notes

[1] Law of Return http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1950_1959/Law%20of%20Return%205710-1950

[2] Apartheid Claim. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0317/Israeli-Apartheid-Week-a-ritual-of-discrimination-and-incitement-against-Israel

[3] ibid.

[4] Water Rights. Alex Safian, PhD, October 29,2009. http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_print=1&x_context=7&x_issue=12&x_article=1756

[5] Road Only Myth. http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=55&x_article=1768

[6] Palestinian entry into Israel http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=55&x_article=1821

[7] List_of_Checkpoint.xls www.btselem.org

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The IDF’s Minorities in Numbers and Pictures

In honor of IDF Diversity Week, we present diversity through numbers and pictures. Each year, more and more Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and immigrants from around the world take on the responsibility of defending Israel.

MUSLIMS:

Muslim Arab Israelis are not required to draft in the IDF, but there are many who volunteer. In 2013, there were over 200 Muslims serving in the IDF and over 300 in the reserves.

Bedouins:

Bedouins are nomadic Muslims who were in Israel when modern borders were set in place and are now considered Israeli citizens. They are not required to draft but a growing number choose to enlist. In 2012, there were over 1,400 Bedouin Muslim soldiers doing regular IDF service and almost 1,500 in the reserves.

Read more:http://www.idfblog.com/2014/02/27/truth-idf-numbers-pictures/#more-34027

Are you aware that in 2013, Middle class taxes go up-significantly?

In January of next year, the federal income tax rate for middle-class taxpayers is scheduled to rise from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the payroll tax is scheduled to rise from 13.3 percent to 15.3 percent… This drives the marginal tax rate based on the aforementioned three taxes to 48.12 percent. Add in state and local property, corporate, excise, and other state and local taxes, and the percentage of each additional dollar that is taxed hovers around 50 percent… When half of each additional dollar earned is taxed away, taxpayers experience a disincentive to start businesses or expand existing ones. This leads to fewer jobs being created.

Why is HAMAS Inside Tampa Schools?

Clare Lopez

Kelly Miliziano, who teaches history classes at Steinbrenner High School in the Tampa, Florida area apparently thinks it’s perfectly OK to invite a senior official of a HAMAS-affiliated organization into her classroom to discuss Islam with her students. According to local media reports, not only has this been going on for years, but in spite of the civil and criminal proceedings that could result from such reckless negligence, the Hillsborough County school superintendent, Mary Ellen Elia, and the chairman of the school board, Candy Olson, also expressed approval for students under their responsibility to be exposed repeatedly to guest speaker, Hassan Shibly, who is the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Tampa area.
More...

Did You Know... Ignoring the Call to Islam will Bring Jihad

‘Conquest through Da’wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da’wa.’
-- Yousef al-Qaradawi , Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader The Arabic word ‘Da’wa’ means the “call to Islam.” But do not think that Da’wa is the same thing as an invitation to an optional holiday event. The classical Islamic doctrine of jihad mandates that enemies must be given the opportunity to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax before it is permissible to attack them.
Clare M. Lopez

Who is being discriminated-facts tell the truth

Religious bias

Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,409 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-bias offenses showed:

65.4 percent were anti-Jewish.
13.2 percent were anti-Islamic.
9.5 percent were anti-other religion, i.e., those not specified.
4.3 percent were anti-Catholic.
3.8 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
3.3 percent were anti-Protestant.
0.5 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2010/narratives/hate-crime-2010-incidents-and-offenses.

On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview

with PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

In March 1977, Zahir Muhsein, a PLO executive, said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct Palestinian people to oppose Zionism."

"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

The Arab Apartheid

Ben-Dror Yemini
In 1948, the Arab countries refused to accept the UN partition proposal and they launched a war of annihilation against the State of Israel which had barely been established. All precedents in this matter showed that the party that starts the war - and with a declaration of annihilation, yet - pays a price for it. Between 550,000 and 710,000 Arabs fled because of the war and a larger number of 850,000 Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries (the "Jewish nakba").
Population exchanges and expulsions were the norm at that time, occurring in dozens of other conflict points and affecting about 52 million people. In all the population exchange precedents that occurred during or at the end of an armed conflict, there was no return of refugees to the previous region, which had turned into a new national state.
Only the Arab states acted completely differently from the rest of the world. Instead of assimilating the refugees, they crushed them despite the fact that they were their coreligionists and members of the Arab nation - instituting a regime of apartheid. So the "nakba" was not caused by the actual dispossession, which had also been experienced by tens of millions of others. The "nakba" is the story of the apartheid, oppression, abuse and denial of rights suffered by the Arab refugees at the hands of the Arab countries. (Maariv)

International Law and Military Operations in Practice - Col. Richard Kemp

"Islamist fighting groups study the international laws of armed conflict carefully and they understand it well. They know that a British or Israeli commander and his men are bound by international law and the rules of engagement that flow from it. They then do their utmost to exploit what they view as one of their enemy's main weaknesses. Their very modus operandi is built on the correct assumption that Western armies will normally abide by the rules, while these insurgents employ a deliberate policy of operating consistently outside international law. "

Lost Historical Moments

What Rabin’s last Knesset speech really said:repudiation of a Palestinian state

Rabin ruled out a fully sovereign Palestinian state :

“We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.”

Rabin ruled out a total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders :

“The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.”

Rabin ruled out withdrawing form the Jordan Valley:

“The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”

Rabin ruled out uprooting settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (which was subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon):

“The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

AND

Rabin ruled out removing any settlement before coming to a full peace agreement with the Palestinians:

“I want to remind you: we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.”

Rabin insisted on Israel retaining full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan, contrary to Israel’s relinquishment of the Philadelphia Corridor on the border with Egypt:

“The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.”

Correcting Oslo Myths-Part 2

3) Kuttab laments that the post-1993 Oslo process resulted in a Palestinian Authority "whose ministers and legislators are not guaranteed passage between Gaza and the West Bank ...."

Before free passage or other perquisites, PA leaders were obligated, among other things, to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, end anti-Israeli, antisemitic incitement in schools, mosques, and communications media, and resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. They met none of these commitments, sometimes bolstering terrorism and greatly increasing incitement.

4) Kuttab complains that under Oslo the PA got "lightly armed police ---- but no real sovereignty over the land or contiguity between our communities in Gaza and the West Bank."

Oslo agreements repeatedly were revised, regardless of Palestinian non-compliance, until the authorized number of police grew from 8,000 to 40,000. Though they were to be the only armed forces in the territories, Israeli estimates early in the second intifada put the number of gunmen - police, "security services," terrorists, and armed gangs - at 85,000. Their armament reportedly included not only heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but also anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Sovereignty was to be negotiated in the envisioned 1998 "final status" talks - after a five-year period of confidence-building. Palestinian leadership chronically undermined the process. Palestinian terrorism made the 1993 - 1998 Oslo period more deadly for Israelis than the 15 years preceding it.

The United States doesn't have contiguity between the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii; territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip - that is, through the 20 miles of Israeli territory between them - was never promised and would destroy Israeli contiguity.

5) "Palestinians have been made to endure hundreds of checkpoints in the West Bank, an eight-foot wall deep in our territories, and tight Israeli control over borders."

The security barrier is not "deep in Palestinian territories," but rather encompasses less than 8 percent of Judea and Samaria, and is mostly a fence, rarely a wall; the land in question is not "our [Palestinian] territories" but disputed territory to which, according to the authors of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, Jews as well as Arabs have claims; and there are no international borders, only the 1949 armistice lines with Jordan. Under 242, borders remain to be negotiated. As for checkpoints - like the security barrier and "tight Israeli control" - Palestinian Arabs precipitated these measures themselves. No terrorism and there would be no fence or tight Israeli control and few checkpoints - like before the first intifada.

Correcting Some Oslo Myths

1) In Oslo "Israeli, Palestinian and other world leaders promised that ... Palestinian sovereignty would be solidified."

No, they didn't. The 1993 Declaration of Principles and subsequent Oslo agreements outlined a process by which final status negotiations about the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be reached. The process required an end to anti-Israel terrorism and incitement and a commitment to peaceful negotiations. The PA, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other terrorist groups, sabotaged the process from the start.

2) "The reality is that, in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which states that it is inadmissible to occupy land by force, Palestinian territories are still under foreign military occupation."
Wrong again. Resolution 242 (1967) does note "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war." It also affirms the right of every state in the area "to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." There were no "Palestinian territories." Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have "secure and recognized boundaries," so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a "foreign" military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.

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