What an activist says about Israel
Earlier this August, new clashes erupted between Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and Israel. The same by-now usual scenario played out, replete with mortar shells and rockets fired from Gaza at Israeli settlements in southern Israel, some shells blowing up and others stopped in their tracks, and the Israeli Army retaliating by vicious air strikes on Gaza leaving a great deal of destruction, and many wounded and dead. Israeli retaliation never fails to surpass Palestinian assault, always underlining that hostile Palestinian behaviour would be met with exceedingly painful Israeli retribution. Egyptian political and intelligence apparatuses intervened, as they always do, persuading both parties to halt the conflict before it gets out of control. The Egyptians were able to attain the desired calm and a ceasefire, and the Palestinians and Israelis expressed their gratitude for Egypt’s intervention.
One remains perplexed before this recurring scenario. It literally screams in our face that Israel’s persistence in underrating the rights of Palestinians and ignoring the imperativeness of reaching a two-State agreement according to international treaties, breeds Palestinian frustration and despair which materialise in acts of violence that neither serve the issue nor bring about peace to replace the conflict.
During the visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to France last July, French President Emmanuel Macron called for direct political talks to resume between Israelis and Palestinians, warning that violence could erupt any minute. President Macron had made the same declarations earlier in July in presence of Israeli Prime Minister air Lapid, calling on Israel to put an end to its unilateral measures in the West Bank; he was alluding to the Israeli policy of eviction Palestinian families and destroying their homes to make way for Israeli settlements. President Macron said that this policy excludes the possibility of establishing a Palestinian State that would live in peace alongside Israel.
In this context I have keenly followed, as I usually do, political opinions of Western figures, the majority of who support Israel. I looked for bold opinions that go against the tide, and I came across declarations by Israeli-American human rights activist Miko Peled. Mr Peled said: “I am sure you hear a lot that whoever criticises the State of Israel or criticises ionism is considered anti-Semitic ... If you criticise Israel, you are anti-Semitic and racist. This claim is very strange for several reasons, the first is that most Jews do not live in Israel, and many Jews have always opposed Israel, and even many Jews are against ionism. Are these Jews anti-Semitic Secondly, if opposition to Israel is considered racist and anti-Semitic, what about those who support Israel Is there a special name for them
“When we support Israel, we support a country that has racist laws against non-Jews. When we support Israel, we support a country that systematically and politically pursues the killing of Palestinian civilians; this approach is far from being a mistake or a result of unintended damage. Is opposing all this anti-Semitic Is supporting such policies a good thing or does it involve a legitimate logic How does this position help the Jews
“The prevailing taboo against criticising Israel or its policies poses a blatant threat to freedom of expression, because no one wants to be accused of anti-Semitism. This is a ridiculous thing that must be resisted, because criticising Israel is the right position to take, and criticising Israel’s racism is the right thing to follow. This principle applies to any racist regime, whether Jewish, Islamic, Christian, or any other system.
We are not used to hearing this language from the western world; yet here it is. I hope it echoes through international spheres to reach decision makers, for justice and peace to come to our region.