Donkey to Shrek - or - Letter to Netanyahu on mass expulsions and game theory
To: B. Netanyahu
bnetanyahu@knesset.gov.il
From: Diane V. McLoughlin, writer, peace activist, Apr. 13, 2010
Re: The new IDF so-called infiltrator military order No. 1650, providing the IDF with vastly
expanded powers to expel almost all Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem with 72 hours notice; to fine them to a maximum penalty of 7,500 Israeli New Shekels
(INS - also written NIS) or the equivalent of just over $2,000 U.S., to, in effect, force the victims to
financially pay out of pocket for their persecution; or alternatively jail them for seven years - all at the
military occupation's whim.
Mr. Netanyahu,
I am writing to share frankly my views regarding the amendment to the 'infiltrator' military order
enabling vastly expanded powers to the Israeli Offensive Forces (IOF) to harass and oppress and
harm the Palestinian people.
Is the Israeli leadership oblivious to the fact that the civilized world is aware? That it is now watching,
waiting to see what the Knesset chooses to do?
This new law gives the IOF the power to expel tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes,
both in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, for want of pieces of paper referred to
as either 'legal permits' or 'certificates' issued by either the West Bank military commander or the
Interior Ministry.
The West Bank military commander has never issued such permits. Palestinians who were born in
the West Bank have no permits. This law is a farce; a transparent charade.
If this order is not immediately reversed - if, instead, the IOF begins to expel Palestinians from their
homeland - Israel will become a full-fledged pariah state.
At this point, even if the order is reversed I would argue that the chess pieces are not going to return
back to the squares from which they came; not after America's recent awakening from Vice President
Joseph Biden's visit to you.
It is clear that many of your compatriots are hermetically-sealed in a bubble of self-delusion.
I may not be the best person to try to get through to honorable members of the Knesset. In fact I
know I'm not. But somebody has got to try; the situation is too important to leave it to trust that
somebody else will.
Israel and the Palestinian people are faced with four options:
One bi-national state with equal rights for all its citizens with a shared Jerusalem;
Or, two states bordered by pre-1967 boundaries; a shared Jerusalem; possibly mutually-agreed upon
inhabited land swaps, but, with no attempt to swap good land for bad - land that has no water and no
fertile soil - thinking that anyone would be stupid enough to call that a bargain;
Or, repatriation of Gaza to Egypt and the West Bank to Jordan, still sharing Jerusalem between the
three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
Or, the continued oppression and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians - the status quo.
Should Israel continue to choose the last, Israel's reputation will be destroyed.
And no option will bring blessed calm and everlasting peace to Israel as long as
Palestinian-Israeli citizens within Israel proper continue to be treated badly as second-class citizens.
Israel is now faced with the ultimate, most monumental and moral of decisions. That is how it feels; a
moment upon which history will pivot. The world collectively waits to exhale.
Should Israel opt to continue to occupy and live amongst the Palestinians on Palestinian lands while
denying the Palestinians their civil rights; should Israel choose to implement this newest military abuse
- intensifying the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank -
Israel risks provoking a different antisemitism to arise, a new antisemitism caused by the racist
mistreatment of the Palestinians. All of the back room dealing in the West attempting to criminalize
criticism of Israel will not be able to evade, head off or squelch the inescapable logic: odious cause =
outraged effect.
Mr. Netanyahu, I have long wanted to ask you when is the last time you were able to look anyone
straight in the eye? Wouldn't you like to be able to again?
In the children's movie, 'Shrek', the true-blue hermit of an ogre calls his tirelessly talkative,
perceptively inquisitive new friend, Donkey, a stupid, annoying beast of burden. Donkey doesn't
believe that the ogre's idiosyncrasies are any big thing, and he wants to help Shrek win his true love.
But Shrek had long ago resigned himself to believing that no one would want him just as he is. But
Donkey sees the intrinsic worth of his friend's character; he believes in him.
The trouble is, when you've been without that, when you've accepted that you won't ever have it
only to have thrust upon you the hope that there is hope - for friendship, for love, for happiness -
hopes that could so easily be dashed anew - well, that hurts.
I feel like Donkey. A beast of burden plodding along wanting you to have peace. I don't see why
you shouldn't have peace. I am not the only one.
Shrek uses an onion to try to explain to Donkey that ogres have layers but that nobody ever looks
past outward appearances. You must have many layers of complexity about your character that most
people who judge you from the outside might appreciate if they only knew. As in life, as well as in
Shrek's own experience, there is only one way to win, and that is to accept the risk of losing.
The status quo is a loser. Change the game plan, maybe you'll win.
In my own defense, I would permit Donkey the final word:
Only a true friend would be so truly honest.
Sincerely,
Diane V. McLoughlin
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