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by Ron Forthofer
Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera, November 21, 1998.
These abominable bombings show that the Palestinians have not stopped all violence against Israelis. However, it is important to remember that the perpetrators of the most recent attack came from areas under the control of the Israeli military. This fact reinforces the oft forgotten point that Israel’s vaunted military, with its far greater resources, was (and still is) unable to stop the violence.
For some perspective on fighting terrorism, Leah Rabin, widow of the former Israeli prime minister, said "I have doubt about how much terrorism can be uprooted ... We were also terrorists once and they couldn’t uproot us ... Despite all the efforts of all of the British army in the land, we went on with terrorism." Likewise, today in Hebron, where there are about three Israeli soldiers for each settler, Israel is unable to prevent Jewish violence against Palestinians. Perhaps it is not feasible for the PNA to stop all violence against Israelis.
Incredibly, in the media coverage of these negotiations, there is almost no mention of the corresponding Palestinian need for security. This is surprising, given the great threats Palestinians face daily. The following provides a thumbnail sketch of some of those threats.
- Deaths and injuries due to violence -
Although we are aware of the
attacks on Israelis since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, most
of us don’t realize that even more Palestinians have been injured and
killed by Israeli military forces and settlers. The attacks on
innocent Israelis and Palestinians must be condemned and stopped.
- Demolition of homes -
Imagine how you would feel if you had to watch
your home and most of your possessions be destroyed. Since the
signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel has demolished over 660
Palestinian homes. This year alone, over 500 Palestinians have been
made homeless. Another 1,000 Palestinian homes are on Israel’s list
for demolition. These demolitions are one way Israel prevents
Palestinian families and villages from expanding to accommodate their
natural growth.
- Confiscation of lands -
Since 1993, Israel has taken over 35,000
acres of Palestinian lands for the expansion of Israeli settlements
and Jewish-only bypass roads. How secure would you feel as you
watched your livelihood - your orchard and your olive trees - being
bulldozed and your irrigation system being uprooted? Israel claims
the land is needed to meet the natural growth needs of its illegal
settlements. However, an Israeli group, Peace Now, found almost
3,000 empty homes in Israeli settlements earlier this summer.
- Torture of prisoners -
An Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem,
issued a report earlier this year which estimated 85% of the
Palestinians prisoners interrogated by the Israeli General Security
Service are tortured. Israel is the only industrialized country whose
highest court allows torture.
- Deprivation of water - In the Hebron area, this summer has seen the worse water crisis on record. This problem stems from Israel’s control of the water sources in the West Bank. The Hebron mayor pointed out that Israel had cut in half the water allocated to Hebron, sparking the crisis. In addition, the Palestinian Water Authority reported that daily water use for Palestinians in Hebron is less than 45 liters per person compared to at least 600 liters per person in Kiryat Arba, a nearby Israeli settlement. The figure for Kiryat Arba excludes water for its swimming pools.
The Palestinians are just like the Jews and other people in that they dream of their independence and their own state. If the negotiations don’t live up to the dream, the security of both Israelis and Palestinians will be the victim. "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes says it very well.
"What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore --
And then run?
...
Or does it explode?"