Nizar Sakinini
The recent round of violence in Palestine started as a direct reaction to the orchestrated provocative visit of Ariel Sharon to Haram al Sharif. The visit was the spark that triggered the explosion. However, its real causes go back to the mid-Nineteenth century when the early seeds of the Zionist- Arab conflict were sown.
Looking at what's going on in the area as a result of specific recent actions and/or reactions is too simplistic.
Referring to the Palestinian anger as an outcome of orchestrated incitement by Arafat to gain political dividends reflects Israeli government's arrogance and blindness and the inability to admit the truth and act accordingly.
Use of tanks and military helicopters to fire missiles against angry and frustrated civilians protesting the continued oppression, dispossession, humiliation and all kinds of human rights violations that was part and parcel of the Zionist colonization settlement in Palestine all along, reflects the only language supporting Zionist claims: brutal force.
Zionist successes, so far, were the result of the use of brutal force with full and unconditional support of the Western Imperialist and Colonialist powers who entered with the Zionist movement into an agreement that was reflected in the Balfour Declaration. According to this Imperialist-Zionist agreement, the "Exclusive Jewish State" would form an outpost for Western imperialists in the area in return for the unlimited Imperialist support to the Zionists for the mutual benefit of both parties.
This is the crux of the problem that led to mistrust and walls of hatred between the two peoples and led to the bloodshed and the tragic, regrettable and condemnable loss of life on both sides.
The Israeli side has the might. On the other hand, the Palestinian side has the right. Israeli might could never be able to create a friendly atmosphere that would lead to a peaceful co-existence and neighborhood. Admitting the wrong done by denial of the Palestinian right and a sincere will to c orrect the wrongdoing is the only way to break the vicious circle of violent and bloody reprisals a nd anti-reprisals with all its tragic consequences.
The following articles were published on page 1 in Yediot Aharonot on 3 October 2000. The first art icle reflects a Palestinian point of view while the other article reflects a Zionist point of view. It is interesting to read them and start a soul searching effort to find a way out of the madness and insanity that the Zionist-Imperialist "strategic alliance" is exploiting to perpetuate their co ntrol and hegemony in the area at the expense of all the victims spelling their blood in this tragi c conflict.
BARAK'S FAILURE by Azmi Bishara
Ariel Sharon tested Barak's seriousness regarding Israeli sovereignty over the mosques on the Templ e Mount [Haram al Sharif]. Barak met the challenge and showed how serious he was by means of 3,000 policemen who accompanied the visit.
Barak perhaps passed Sharon's test but failed the test of peace. He opened up the question of sover eignty over the mosques in order to push all of the other questions, such as the settlements and th e refugees, to the sidelines. But in practice he channeled all of the contradictions toward the Tem ple Mount.
Sharon's incursion onto the Temple Mount, with a heavy police detail, brought about the explosion t hat brought all of the contradictions out to the fore and turned into a battle against Barak's atte mpt to dictate the principles of the final status arrangement to the Palestinians. This Intifada is against Barak's dictates. Over night, the al-Aksa Intifada did away with all of Barak's diplomatic achievements that he bragged about so much recently.
The Palestinian people are paying a heavy price. It looks like General Barak has given General Mofa z "free rein." The weapons that Israel is using attest to the use of a contingency plan that was pr epared in advance in the event that the Palestinians should declare an independent Palestinian stat e, and was geared to cause a large number of casualties. Israel has not balked at using combat heli copters or rockets, just as it has not balked at shooting directly at 12 year olds and infants only a year and a half old. This is the first time that the Arab public in Israel has gone to the stree ts en masse in such a manner, and over an issue that does not directly affect it or its rights. The Arab public wanted to protest Israel's brutal behavior toward Palestinian civilians and to place d irect pressure on the government on the issue of al-Aksa.
The Arab citizens of Israel have now taken a position of dual responsibility. The Arab citizens exp ress political solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for a just solution against Barak' s dictates, both as citizens and as members of the Palestinian people. Instead of a dual identity, we have here dual responsibility. This is an important political change whose importance must not b e underestimated.
Police Minister, Professor Ben-Ami, gave Alik Ron the very same "free rein" that Mofaz received in the [occupied] territories. The Arabs' right to block roads and to demonstrate has been refused the m and the "enlightened" Professor Ben-Ami backs up Alik Ron, who wants to use force in order to rea lize his theories. The results are catastrophic: policemen firing rubber-coated bullets and live am munition at demonstrators in Umm el-Fahm, Sakhnin and Nazareth -- firing and killing. Sharpshooters killed an innocent boy in a demonstration in Jat.
Just as Israel began a new chapter by declaring war on the Intifada instead of repressing it, so ha ve the Israeli Police begun a new chapter in violence against the Arab public and its oppression.
WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE by Ariel Sharon
Everything is burning and the citizens of Israel are arguing as to what caused the escalation - ins tead of standing together facing the danger. The Jews, as they are wont to do, are looking for othe r Jews to blame.
The chief of staff and the chief of police have already stated that what is going on here is an "al l out campaign" by the PA. Under the leadership of Arafat and at his instructions, the Palestinians want to achieve more than what the Israeli government is willing to give. And being Arafat, he doe s this through violence. He is joined by the principal inciters - Arab MKs and members of anti-Isra eli and anti-Zionist parties. They are working together - both in Kalkilya near Kfar Saba and Kocha v Yair, as well as in Jerusalem, Netzarim, Wadi Ara, Nazareth and Jaffa - and are blocking the main arteries throughout the country. They go to the intersections and attack the security forces. Betw een throwing firebombs at Megiddo intersection and shooting at police in Umm el-Fahm, they mislead and cry.
I sent a letter yesterday to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright whose spokesman erred and did no t know the whole truth, as he was fed by Palestinian propaganda backed up by ministers Dalia Itzik, Yossi Beilin and Shlomo Ben-Ami, and MK Yossi Sarid. Even when everything is burning they do not h esitate to once again join wild Palestinian incitement.
It was not the visit to the Temple Mount that lit the fire. The fire was lit by Arafat already ten days ago. It began at Netzarim and spread. Beyond that, as an Israeli citizen, I am allowed to visi t all places. I do not need any special permission, as does not Ahmed Tibi or any other MK who wish es to visit the Western Wall or Yad Vashem without asking permission. It is every individual's righ t to visit any place in the country that is under Israeli sovereignty. The Prime Minister made this perfectly clear. All of Jerusalem is Israeli sovereign territory and the Temple Mount is a holy si te, the most sacred to Jews all over the world.
I regret the casualties on both sides, but we must remember that this is a struggle whose results w ill decide to what degree Israel will continue to maintain its character as a Jewish and democratic state, in the spirit of the declaration of independence. There are those who want it to be somethi ng else: certainly not a Jewish state; but it is not certain that, under the conditions that will b e created, it will be a strong democratic state that can protect the lives of all its citizens and their basic rights. Despite the violent events, I still believe that peace can be achieved, and tha t we can coexist with our Arab neighbors.
But a peace that can last for generations can only come about when the Palestinians cease using vio lence and terror and recognize the historic and legitimate rights of the Jews in their country, in their undivided capital and over the Temple Mount, the root of the existence of the Jewish people. Peace can be achieved, but not at the price of collective suicide.