De Israelische Terreur 733

Kwaliteits Journalistiek zoals we die in Nederland niet kennen.

'Le Monde diplomatique
-----------------------------------------------------
February 2009
A people abandoned
by Serge Halimi

By 14 January Israeli troops had killed more than a thousand
Palestinians confined to a narrow strip of land and subjected
to land, sea and air bombardment by one of the most
formidable armies in the world. A Palestinian school
converted into a United Nations refuge had been bombed (1), a
resolution - issued by the only organisation that really
represents the "international community" people are so fond
of talking about - had called in vain for a halt to the
military operations in Gaza. So, on 14 January, the European
Union showed just how firmly it was prepared to react to this
mixed display of violence and arrogance. It decided to
suspend the process of rapprochement with Israel! But to
lessen the impact of what might, even so, have been seen as
gentle reproach to Tel Aviv, it explained that this was a
"technical"measure, not a "political"one. And that the
decision was taken by "both parties".
Israel is free to do as it likes. Its army had already
destroyed most of the Palestinian infrastructure funded by
the EU and there had been little or no reaction, no legal
action, no call for reparations (2). It then imposed a
blockade on people already living in poverty, with no water,
food or medical supplies. Still no response, only endless
admonitions and a general refusal to become involved in the
argument, on the pretext that violence of the strong is not
always accompanied by submission of the weak. So why should
Israel suppose that it cannot continue to act with impunity?
Twenty years ago, the Jewish state took the precaution of
encouraging the rise of Hamas against the Palestine
Liberation Organisation (PLO). Hamas was a dream adversary,
with a medieval charter, doubtful military potential and no
inclination to "communicate" with western public opinion.
Having no "partner for peace"is a perfect excuse to bomb and
colonise ad lib. But even now, there are still newspaper
editors in Europe complaining that Israel one day lose the
moral high ground" (3).
The United States too has nothing against the Tel Aviv
government's plans. On 9 January, the House of
Representatives passed a resolution recognising Israel's
"right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza". A few
hours earlier the Senate had "reaffirmed the United States'
strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas". Perhaps
with the idea of striking some sort of "balance", the House
of Representatives resolution also expresses to innocent
Israeli and Palestinian victims and their families". That
resolution was adopted by 390 votes to five. The Senate
resolution was adopted unanimously. The US executive also
held firm: a few hours after announcing a unilateral
ceasefire, Ehud Olmert rang the US president to thank him for
his support. Support also includes non-refundable aid
amounting to $3 billion a year, which no-one including Obama
has thought of questioning.
With this sort of backing, the main Israeli parties' aim
seems to be clear: to destroy any prospect of achieving the
internationally recognised aim of establishing a genuine
Palestinian state. The West Bank will continue to be an
amorphous collection of homelands, criss-crossed with walls
and roadblocks, dotted with settlements, and drip-fed by the
European Union. And Gaza will be bombed whenever its
neighbour has a mind to unleash a disproportionate "response"
to rocket or other attacks. In fact, after 60 years of
defeat, humiliation, exile, violation of signed agreements,
colonisation and internecine feuding, after governments all
over the world have abandoned them to their fate and allowed
international law, including international humanitarian law,
to be ridden over roughshod, it is nothing short of a miracle
that the Palestinians are still determined to assert their
national identity in real terms.
If they succeed, it will not be thanks to the Europeans, or
to the Americans or to most Arab states. In Gaza, these
powers have all conspired once again in the interminable
spoliation of a nation.
________________________________________________________
(1) Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner admitted that
there had been what he called "a few blips" (France Inter, 8
January 2009).
(2) See Pierre Avril, "L'Europe paie, Israël détruit", Le
Figaro, 16 January 2009.
(3) Laurent Joffrin, "Victimes", Libération, 29 December
2008.
Translated by Barbara Wilson'

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