January 7, 2009 comment to NYT's Thomas L. Friedman - suppressed
(The Mideast's Ground Zero; Jan. 6, '09)
By Diane V. McLoughlin
The central thesis of Friedman's argument is that the only viable option is a two-state solution,
and that for this to have any possibility of occurring we ought to pray for the weakening of Hamas
because Hamas 'rejects any recognition of Israel'.
These are broad strokes with a wide brush. How is there to be two viable states when Israel has
not demonstrated any will to allow Gaza to breath free, refusing to lift the siege as it agreed to?
How is there to be two viable states when Israel, speaking out of both sides of its mouth, says on
the one hand it supports such a solution while working furiously to expand its illegal occupation
and militant settlements in the West Bank? Israel says one thing then does another.
We have an expression where I come from: Actions talk. Bullshit walks.
Hamas is the legitimate political arm of the Palestinian people. Abbas is a stooge. Hamas will not
sell out. Hamas did a remarkable job of squelching rocket attacks from Gaza during the
cease-fire. But Israel did not reciprocate as it said it would. Israel continued to starve Gaza.
Hamas offered to discuss renewal of the cease-fire. Hamas has offered proposals for peace.
Israel, unbeknownst to Hamas, instead had this current military assault on Gaza in the planning
stages for months.
The suffering Palestinians have few friends. Egypt, Jordan? Sell-outs to the U.S. They are
undemocratic regimes which oppress the will of the people. They see Hamas as representing a
popular movement and it scares the hell out of them.
It is not Hamas that holds the Palestinian people hostage for its selfish political aims. It is Israel
holding South Israel hostage, starving Gaza forcing them to fight for self-preservation, providing
Israel the excuse it needs to avoid making peace. The village of Sderot, small as it is
(pop. 20,000), collected 500 signatures on a petition - "We ask you to offer us the possibility of
political arrangement and hope and not an endless cycle of blood" - demanding Israel enter into
peace negotiations. It is not just the Palestinians who are being betrayed.
home
(The Mideast's Ground Zero; Jan. 6, '09)
By Diane V. McLoughlin
The central thesis of Friedman's argument is that the only viable option is a two-state solution,
and that for this to have any possibility of occurring we ought to pray for the weakening of Hamas
because Hamas 'rejects any recognition of Israel'.
These are broad strokes with a wide brush. How is there to be two viable states when Israel has
not demonstrated any will to allow Gaza to breath free, refusing to lift the siege as it agreed to?
How is there to be two viable states when Israel, speaking out of both sides of its mouth, says on
the one hand it supports such a solution while working furiously to expand its illegal occupation
and militant settlements in the West Bank? Israel says one thing then does another.
We have an expression where I come from: Actions talk. Bullshit walks.
Hamas is the legitimate political arm of the Palestinian people. Abbas is a stooge. Hamas will not
sell out. Hamas did a remarkable job of squelching rocket attacks from Gaza during the
cease-fire. But Israel did not reciprocate as it said it would. Israel continued to starve Gaza.
Hamas offered to discuss renewal of the cease-fire. Hamas has offered proposals for peace.
Israel, unbeknownst to Hamas, instead had this current military assault on Gaza in the planning
stages for months.
The suffering Palestinians have few friends. Egypt, Jordan? Sell-outs to the U.S. They are
undemocratic regimes which oppress the will of the people. They see Hamas as representing a
popular movement and it scares the hell out of them.
It is not Hamas that holds the Palestinian people hostage for its selfish political aims. It is Israel
holding South Israel hostage, starving Gaza forcing them to fight for self-preservation, providing
Israel the excuse it needs to avoid making peace. The village of Sderot, small as it is
(pop. 20,000), collected 500 signatures on a petition - "We ask you to offer us the possibility of
political arrangement and hope and not an endless cycle of blood" - demanding Israel enter into
peace negotiations. It is not just the Palestinians who are being betrayed.
home