Thousands of decent people marched in freezing temperatures in the streets of London, New York, Rabat, Beirut, Istanbul, etc. to protest the Israeli war on Gaza. No one would believe that John Rees, Tony Benn, George Galloway, former London Mayor Ken Livingston, and last but not least Bianca Jager, are supporters of militants and terrorists.
Those brave men and women who were not afraid of showing their disgust at the massacre taking place in Gaza are color-blind when it comes to basic human rights that are denied to Gaza and its inhabitants. Some are Christians, some are Jews, others are secular and atheists, some are artists Hamas people may not appreciate, but the one thing uniting them is that they are brave in denouncing what is wrong and I can’t say the same thing about myself or my people and our rulers.
I have to admit that I am appalled by the reaction of the Arab/Muslim world both at the official and popular levels. The shamefully passive reaction and silent acceptance of the US-backed Israeli atrocities should end. The issue is not Israel’s disproportionate reaction or killing of civilians while chasing Hamas militia or the long siege of Gaza and blockading Rafah. The issue is clear and simple: Occupation, an occupying force punishing an entire population for daring to fight their occupiers to free their own land. The rockets they are sending to Israel are targeting settlers in the territories that not long ago belonged to Palestinians. They forget to mention that those “militants” are not originally from Gaza but from other parts of Palestine who were cramped to a tiny piece of land called Gaza by force during the past 60 years of Israeli occupation.
They also forget to mention that the US and Israel blocked every peace initiative that may bring fair resolution to the inhabitants of this land. But the one-sided nature of the conflict is becoming more pronounced. Time after time the US-controlled UN appears impotent, Europe is more divided than the Arab countries when it comes to the Middle East, and the Arab League is still in coma waiting for mercy bullet. The US’ one-sided media leave no opportunity to magnify the “suffering” of the Israelis as a result of the “fire crackers” sent by Hamas. Hamas has become a “terrorist” group ostracized by the US government. This may justify any violent actions against the group and its supporters.
Arabs should use all their cards to pressure Israel not only to end this attack but to go back to the negotiation table without preconditions. From the first moments ties should have been severed with Israel and trade mission closed, and possibility of an oil embargo evaluated. How shameful that it is non-Arab Venezuela that has done it. Arab governments should allow for peaceful demonstrations if not encouraging it.
Finally all parties should pursue a peaceful resolution to this bloody conflict and revisit an old proposal of forming one secular state that encompasses Muslims, Christians and Jews. The conflict over Jerusalem will be eased as this holy city will be open to all religions.
I wonder if the fate of this attack on Gaza would be similar to the fate of Iraq’s invaders in 2003. What would happen to the new Middle East that Condoleezza Rice predicted? We will know before the end of her boss’ term.
