This post is about how Palestine is being occupied by the State of Israel, about the human rights abuses that REGULARLY take place there, about the oppression, about the sadness, the fear and...I don't even know how to express it all. But what I do need to express is that I cannot understand how this has gone on for so long and that the State of Israel has not been held accountable (punished) in a concrete manner by the international community. I simply don't get it - even if I understand/recognize the underlying politics.
Why am I writing about this here? Because Theo doesn't just need to know what he did while he was small, but also about us - what influenced his parents and why we acted and said what we are saying. Weird sentence. I'll fix this later.
In recent weeks in particular the international community HAS responded. Finally! Ambassadors were either withdrawn or expelled. Statements were made. More flotillas will follow - from various destinations and comprized of various organizations (including Jewish Voice for Peace) and potentially accompanied by various governments (eg. Turkey)! Which is great. And dangerous. And will lead to who knows what - my hope is that it will lead to an end on the siege of Gaza. But will hopefully not lead to a third World War. Please do NOT let it come to that!
In recent weeks other things have happened as well. ANY criticism of the State of Israel have led to widespread (ok, not widespread - but by the State of Israel and prominent right wing North American Jewish Organizations) condemnations of anyone not in support of what the State of Israel has done. Of the human rights violations committed by the IDF soldiers who boarded the Gaza Freedom Flotilla (the assaults and murders that took place) - of what is happening in Gaza/Palestine in general.
Things have gotten so bad that Jewish critics in Israel are now being threatened with charges of TREASON and INCARCERATION for simply speaking out against this horror - in any form! This is appalling! A female Palestinian Knesset member has been openly threatened with death, insulted, assaulted and had her rights revoked for speaking out and for reporing on the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
And outside of Israel - well anyone who is a critic is immediately branded an anti-semmite. Which is also ridiculous! I for one cannot deny or oppose the existence of the State of Israel. But things have to change! The abuse and murder of Palestinians has to stop! NOW! Their land is NOT up for grabs! The wall separating Israel and Palestine must come down! The ghettoization of the Palestinian population HAS TO STOP! And an Arab life HAS TO COUNT - be valued - mean something to EVERYONE!!! Human Rights must apply to ALL HUMANS, and not just to those the State of Israel/the US government values!!!!!
I have had it with the violence and horror perpetrated in the world today! Anywhere! But I am very affected by what is happening in Palestine as our family heritage is Jewish, Arab, German, American...and Canadian of course.
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos in the past couple of weeks - about the situation in Palestine - about peaceful and unarmed demonstrations that were violently broken up by IDF soldiers. For no good reason do these soldiers uncaringly risk/threaten/shoot at women and men of all ages and CHILDREN! It is beyond comprehension why this is ok!
Peoples' houses are invaded/destroyed with no provocation and for no good reason and people die. For no good reason other than that they are Palestinian. People are taunted, tortured, hindered from getting their wounded to hospitals on time, children are left hurt/dying in the streets or in their houses - which are supposed to be their safe spaces. There are simply NO SAFE SPACES in Palestine if you're an Arab! It is sad. It makes me cry and it makes me outraged. And these days, after watching and reading about all of this each night I dream of getting shot. All night. For the past three nights...
How can any of this be ok? And if there is any doubt in a reader's mind, please ask yourself the following question. Would you want your child to have to endure conditions such as these? My guess is that the answer would be a resounding 'NO'!
So why do Palestinian children have to endure this?
Photo: Soha Kneen for Rabble.ca at the June 3, 2010 Ottawa Demo against the Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
Photo: Soha Kneen for Rabble.ca at the June 5, 2010 Ottawa Demo against the Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the Rachel Corrie
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