[Peace-discuss] Qumsiyeh: U.S. policies re. Palestine

[Morton K. Brussel]

Hanging to straws in Gaza and in Washington
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/hangingtostrawsingazaandinwashington/
By Mazin Qumsiyeh

After 9/11/2001, President Bush told us two important things: a)  
Americans are in danger and “we” (i.e. the government) will take care  
of it, and b) go shopping.  Indeed many heeded the advice and allowed  
a government run by extremist neo-conservatives do what it pleases.  
The administration continues to claim we are succeeding in Iraq even  
though the violence is not only not subsiding but ihas now spilled  
over into nearby countries (Jordan).  Attempts to find other  
successes were "dead on arrival": the summit in South America, the  
media PR efforts to "gain the hearts and minds" of people we are  
bombing and oppressing, the effort to convince the American public  
that this administration did not lie (2/3rd of Americans believe  
otherwise), social security "reform", failure to capture Bin Laden  
coupled with growth of Al Qaeda terror network (admitted by the CIA),  
and more.

With a seemingly endless slide in public support, the administration  
is looking to novel diversions. Rejected in the backyard of the  
Americas, Bush also tried his luck in the Far East (lowering  
expectations and achievig nothing).  Meanwhile he dispatched  
Secretary Rice to the Middle East to see if there is anything that  
can be salvaged there. After unusually extending her visit, she  
succeeded only in clinching a deal between the leaders of the  
Palestinian authority and Israel on the opening of the Rafah crossing  
between Egypt and Gaza.  The agreement was not publicly released.   
 From the little we know, it will maintain Gaza as a large open-air  
prison.  The airport will not be rebuilt or opened and the seaport  
can be built but not open until further "agreements" are reached.   
The passengers allowed through the Gaza-Egypt crossing will be only  
Palestinians holding ID cards issues/approved by Israel and elite  
diplomats and businesspeople. All traffic will be "monitored" by  
Israel through cameras. One commentator in a Palestinian newspaper  
likened this agreement to "a mountain in labor which gave birth to a  
mouse" and most Israeli papers explained it as driven by US needs of  
a PR success.

While this charade goes on, Israel has been consolidating its control  
of Palestinian lands in the West Bank and will be developing the  
Negev and the Galilee in such a way to adversely effect Israeli Arab  
citizens (openly having policies to make these two remaining Arab  
areas “more Jewish”).  As for Jerusalem veteran Israeli journalist  
Amira Hass stated in Haaretz: “Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is not  
dividing Jerusalem. Neither is Minister Haim Ramon. They have simply  
found a faster and more efficient way than those tried before to get  
rid of tens of thousands of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem -  
after the process of robbing them of their lands for the benefit of  
the Jewish residents has been exhausted.”  Bethlehem will celebrate  
Christmas with its Christian and Muslim community jailed behind he  
walls (see openbethlehem.org).

Republican leadership is interested in Israel for more than small PR  
successes.  They believed it is good for campaign coffers and in  
relationship with Israeli apologists in the mainstream media.  This  
message is also clear to leading Democrats.  Hillary Clinton was in  
Israel (the first campaign stop for aspiring presidential candidates)  
speaking in support of the war on Iraq, uttered no word about freedom  
for Palestinians but instead supported the segregation barrier.  The  
apartheid wall is being built on Palestinian lands to finish  
maximizing Palestinian lands confiscated and reduce as many  
Palestinians in those areas coveted by Israel (including East  
Jerusalem).  The International Court of Justice condemned the barrier  
a flagrant violation of International Law.  Among leading Democrats  
and leading Republicans, political expediency has long trumpeted  
national interests and basic human rights. Alternative rising voices  
include the anti-war movement (now a majority of the population), the  
Green Party, and some voices of conscience among Democrats (e.g.  
Cynthia McKinney and Dennis Kucinich) and Republicans (e.g. Richard  
Clark, Paul O’Neill, Paul Findley).

The conflicts in the Middle East will continue unless the US  
government reverses course and stops supporting violations of  
International law and ths is dependent on the growing movement among  
informed citizens.

The "breakthrough" touted by Rice will be added to other failed  
documents and plans (Rogers, Oslo, Zinni, Tenet, Mitchel, Road Map).   
It is clear that more and more people are rejecting the efforts of  
those who want us to abdicate our civic responsibilities and push us  
to be merely "consumers" rather than engaged citizens.  We already  
footed the bills of $250 billion to support the occupation of  
Palestine and $225 billion for Iraq's occupation.  American citizens  
are made to pay not only in money but also in lives.  Taxpayers are  
now demanding truth and accountability from the media, elected  
officials, and special interests ranging from the Israeli lobby to  
corporate profiteers such as United Technologies and Haliburton. We  
must ensure that US Foreign policy comply with International law and  
basic human rights rather than serve special interests.

It is obviously up to us to reclaim our rights and obligations as  
citizens.  If we are going to buy a gift this season for a friend or  
a relative, let us make it a book that enlightens others.  Better  
yet, take the time to talk to them and bring them on board to your  
group (and if you don't have one, you can start it).

http://qumsiyeh.org