"But David Peretz, an Israeli felafel-maker who runs the Golani restaurant, was having none of it. “Are they joking? Felafel belongs to the world, no one can claim it,” he said." Oh, yeah? To the world? OK then. Palestine belongs to the world. No one can claim it either. Get out NOW.
Asa'ad Bou Khalil (aka Angry Arab).
www.angryarab.blogspot.com
Friday, October 17, 2008
Forgive and Forget (??)
As I was making my way slowly through London’s Imperial War Museum’s Holocaust section, I couldn’t help but feel sick to the stomach with all the pictures, videos and survivors’ testimonials. It is without any doubt that what the Nazis have done throughout the duration of their existence remains as one of the most horrendous actions against humanity. The Holocaust section of the museum is perfectly designed to stir a mixture of feelings among its visitors including anger, disgust, hatred, sympathy and sadness. Emotions usually climax to reach their peak as visitors take a turn to learn more about the steps through which the Holocaust process was completed. I left that part of the museum with a clear understanding of why Jews around the world commemorate the Nazi crime every year with tearful prayers.
But then I started looking back at the course of history and reflecting on the thousands of bloody and indescribable crimes humans have committed against each other since their existence: the Ottomans and the Armenians; the Americans and the Japanese; the Serbs and the Bosnians; the French colonialism and more recently the Americans and the Iraqis on the one hand and the Afghans on the other. So, I thought why should the Palestinians be any different from all the other persecuted nations around the world and simply forgive and forget the countless crimes committed by the Isrealis against them?
Nowadays, all I hear from educated peers and acquaintances is that the Palestinians should make an effort to end the bloodshed in their country and around the region to spare everyone the headache (!) It is a sad fact that many, and mostly fellow Arabs, look at Palestinians as true war criminals by pinpointing (after learning by heart) the number of Israeli victims who fell throughout this conflict. No one seems to remember how many Palestinians have perished in “cross-fire” (I wonder if it’s simply because they’re too many or because it’s not important anymore).
Everyone seems to settle for the new, probably more relaxing and headache relieving attitude of “lets converse with the Israelis; talk to them and make business deals or so called peace pacts with them”. Apparently, open investments with the Israelis is a key solution to hunger in the Arab world (hmm.. I will remember to thank Israel the next time I visit a poor neighborhood with enough bread to get them through the winter). So, if this theory applies then Egypt and the respectable Jordanian kingdom should have successfully eradicated starvation, malnutrition and homelessness by shaking hands with Israel (I’ll make sure I check those indicators the next time I visit either country). Well, people must realize that business deals run both ways. So, if Israel is actually giving something, it is definitely taking many things in return and the devious Mosad agents that scurry around our streets sniffing for dirt are the first indicator of this business transaction. Control over resources (land, natural, money) is the second essential reason for running such business deals.
At the end of the day, the unfortunate truth that we’re faced with is the sad fact that innocent victims fall in any kind of conflict between two rivals. Conflicts range from international opponents, to local ones (the corrupt Fatah and the radical Hamas) and even domestic disputes (children lost between their parents’ fights).
In this regard, I will only recall massacres and crimes committed against Palestinians: the Naqba in 1948; Deir Yassin; Sabra and Shatila; Tal el Zaatar; Gaza; Nablus; Khalil and Ramallah. All in addition to daily crimes (including social and economic) against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Israel, their business partners, Fatah and Hamas are to blame for all the abovementioned crimes.
So, if the Armenians cannot forgive the Ottomans; the Jews cannot forgive the German Nazis; the Bosnians cannot forgive the Serbs and the Iraqis/Afghans cannot forgive the Americans, then why should we expect the Palestinians to be any different and forgive the Israelis?
Beirut 16.10.2008
But then I started looking back at the course of history and reflecting on the thousands of bloody and indescribable crimes humans have committed against each other since their existence: the Ottomans and the Armenians; the Americans and the Japanese; the Serbs and the Bosnians; the French colonialism and more recently the Americans and the Iraqis on the one hand and the Afghans on the other. So, I thought why should the Palestinians be any different from all the other persecuted nations around the world and simply forgive and forget the countless crimes committed by the Isrealis against them?
Nowadays, all I hear from educated peers and acquaintances is that the Palestinians should make an effort to end the bloodshed in their country and around the region to spare everyone the headache (!) It is a sad fact that many, and mostly fellow Arabs, look at Palestinians as true war criminals by pinpointing (after learning by heart) the number of Israeli victims who fell throughout this conflict. No one seems to remember how many Palestinians have perished in “cross-fire” (I wonder if it’s simply because they’re too many or because it’s not important anymore).
Everyone seems to settle for the new, probably more relaxing and headache relieving attitude of “lets converse with the Israelis; talk to them and make business deals or so called peace pacts with them”. Apparently, open investments with the Israelis is a key solution to hunger in the Arab world (hmm.. I will remember to thank Israel the next time I visit a poor neighborhood with enough bread to get them through the winter). So, if this theory applies then Egypt and the respectable Jordanian kingdom should have successfully eradicated starvation, malnutrition and homelessness by shaking hands with Israel (I’ll make sure I check those indicators the next time I visit either country). Well, people must realize that business deals run both ways. So, if Israel is actually giving something, it is definitely taking many things in return and the devious Mosad agents that scurry around our streets sniffing for dirt are the first indicator of this business transaction. Control over resources (land, natural, money) is the second essential reason for running such business deals.
At the end of the day, the unfortunate truth that we’re faced with is the sad fact that innocent victims fall in any kind of conflict between two rivals. Conflicts range from international opponents, to local ones (the corrupt Fatah and the radical Hamas) and even domestic disputes (children lost between their parents’ fights).
In this regard, I will only recall massacres and crimes committed against Palestinians: the Naqba in 1948; Deir Yassin; Sabra and Shatila; Tal el Zaatar; Gaza; Nablus; Khalil and Ramallah. All in addition to daily crimes (including social and economic) against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Israel, their business partners, Fatah and Hamas are to blame for all the abovementioned crimes.
So, if the Armenians cannot forgive the Ottomans; the Jews cannot forgive the German Nazis; the Bosnians cannot forgive the Serbs and the Iraqis/Afghans cannot forgive the Americans, then why should we expect the Palestinians to be any different and forgive the Israelis?
Beirut 16.10.2008
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