Palestine-Israel conflict: Fact or Fiction?

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the chaos of today's media war, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate myth from reality. In light of this, we'd like to present a few common myths about Israel's occupation of Palestine.

FICTION
1. Israel only reacts to terrorism from groups like Hamas. If the Palestinians stopped advocating violence, there could be a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
2. The land of Israel has always belonged to the Jewish people, and Israel has the right to exist as Jewish state.
3. Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East.
4. Israel is not guilty of war crimes or breaking international law.
5. Israel is nothing like South Africa. To call it an apartheid state is a gross exaggeration and misleading.

FACT
1. Israel is occupying Palestine- not the other way around. Thus, when Palestinians resist, it is because they are being occupied: they are acting in defense, while Israel, the occupying forces, is acting in aggression. Hamas and other groups were created as a reaction to the Israeli occupation. Hamas was incepted in 1987; almost 40 years after Israel declared independence and 20 after its occupation. Further, Israel has the strongest military in the region, while Hamas has to resort to whatever they have.

2. Jews, Muslims and Christians all have a long and rich history in the region of Palestine. However, Jews have not always made up the majority of the population is Palestine (and did not in 1948). After the horror of the Nazi genocide, the world was full of regret and a Jewish homeland was created in Palestine, against the will of the indigenous population, who were displaced and ethnically cleansed. To say that Israel has the right to exist is to say that one has the right to invade a place against the will of the indigenous population.

3. Since 1985, Israel has officially characterized itself as a "Jewish and democratic" state. While some aspects of Israel are democratic, Israel treat Jews as with superiority- and this is not characteristic of a true democratic state. For example, Jews all around the world can immigrate to Israel and become nationalized, while Palestinians refugees cannot return to their homes. Further, the 4 million Palestinians who bearn the brunt of Israel's decisions under occupation have no input into Israel politics. Although they have no right to vote, and are not recognized as citizens, Israel includes these occupied territories on its official maps.

4. Israel has been found guilty of war crimes by the United Nations and numerous human rights organizations (including Amnesty International). Additionally, it is in contravention of numerous UN resolutions, ICJ rulings and faces no penalties. In 2006, Israel was found guilty of killing at least 900 Lebanese civilians, and of committing genocide in Gaza in late 2008-early 2009, 2012 and right now. Despite international law demanding a withdrawal from the West Bank, and an end to the siege of Gaza, Israel continues to act with impunity.

5. Israel is not South Africa. However, this does not mean it is immune from committing the crime of apartheid. If we look at the facts on the ground, and the broader definition of apartheid, Israel is heading in a very scary direction. Different laws apply to Palestinians and Israelis, and special privilege is granted to the Jewish people. There are Israeli only roads, facilities, land etc. There are also Israeli only buses, Palestinian only tunnels etc. If this isn't apartheid, what is?

FICTION
Criticism of Israel is anti Semitic. The only reason people are so against Israel is because they hate the Jewish people.

FACT
6. Before the Zionist project to colonize Palestine, Palestinians and Jews had been living together for hundreds of years alongside one another, with very few skirmishes. In fact, in the 1929 massacres in Hebron, many Palestinians sheltered and saved 435 of their Jewish neighbours. Palestinians and Arabs are also Semites; to call them anti-semitic is silly. Palestinians hate the occupation of their land, and want their own sovereign state, Their ill feeling against the Israeli state are not because of its Jewish nature, but rather because of Israel's many aggressions.

FICTION
Palestinians hate all Jews and supported Hitler in WWII. They teach their children to hate, while Israelis teach their children to love and seek resolution.

FACT
7. Palestinians do not hate Jews. And they did not support Hitler. There is no evidence to suggest that the majority of Palestinians supported Hitler. Jews were not persecuted or arrested in Palestine for being Jew. In fact, even now, there are many Jewish people who live peacefully and work with Palestinians in an effort to end the occupation. Palestinians are only upset with the aggressions against them. To ask Palestinians why they hate the government that ethnically cleansed them and continues to act in aggression towards isn't really fair. What needs to be asked is what is being demanded for peace and resolution? If this means that Palestinians must give up their right to return to their homes and their right to self-determination, then yes, they are not seeking a 'resolution'. If it means ending the occupation and human rights abuses, then Palestinians would be more than willing.

"a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything"
-Malcolm X

Source: www.veritashandbook.org


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