People's Rights Magazine - August 1997

Whenever violence erupts as a consequence of occupation, the Likud led government behaves as though its actions are invisible to others.

For the last 30 years successive Israeli governments have blamed violent eruptions on Palestinians themselves. They bury their heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich, without thinking objectively or trying to find the real reasons. Palestinian discontent is a direct result of occupation which violates international accords and UN resolutions. The international community has strongly opposed this occupation in the name of self determination and political justice.

The Israeli rejection of international resolutions is the real cause of violence in the region. It seems that the world has conspired against Palestinians and is blinded by one image only: “Palestinian Terror”. The Israeli state terror is intentionally overlooked or justified while Palestinians, their human rights violated, pay a dear price.

It has become customary for the Israeli government to clamp down on the Palestinian territories in the aftermath of a suicide bombing. Collective punishment has become a legacy no matter who is responsible.

Regardless of the identity of the perpetrators, the Israeli government has no right to impose a collective punishment on Palestinians which prevents freedom of movement and trade and only pushes the population into desperation, hunger and humiliation.

It has been a month since the declaration of the closure. The world can only imagine the disastrous consequences of this siege. People have been denied access to hospitals while waiting for special permits. They have suffered humiliation at checkpoints. Laborers have been prevented from working by the closures and those who tried to “sneak in” have been caught, fined and detained.

We will not weep over our misfortunes. We are used to these measures but we ask: Who is responsible for this condition? Is it the tyrant or the victim? Is it the occupier or the occupied? Is it the oppressed or the oppressor that buries its head in the sand? Is the closure the genuine action of a victim? Is this equality and justice?

The policy of collective punishment only reflects a deep Israeli inability to deal with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict or the Israeli/Arab conflict. The real reasons behind the eruption of violence stem from these conflicts. This is the naked truth that cannot be hidden. The cause of violence is simply because Israel is occupying the land of others. Without admitting to this truth and responding to international calls for justice, Israel will always be considered the occupying force which needs to be fought and removed. Israel should realize that all suppressive measures during the last thirty years will not eliminate violence in this region. It will erupt again and again. It will increase people’s determination to get rid of their occupiers. It will bring the public closer to their leadership.

The heart of the matter is our refusal to be occupied. Unless Israel realizes this truth, and unless it follows international resolutions, it will always be the prisoner of its own mentality and violence will continue. The only way to jump out of this vicious circle is to grant us our long overdue rights..
Return to contents August 1997