Palestine – Hands Up Those Who Hate Jews
The Jew-hating genie has been spectacularly unleashed onto the world stage once again following the decision by 138 of the 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly to accord non-member observer State status to the non-existent state of Palestine…writes David Singer.
That vote also endorsed another paragraph contained in the Resolution reaffirming
” the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to independence in their State of Palestine on the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967;”
Such majority consensus supporting the view that all of this territory – not just some part of it – should comprise the State of Palestine – is destined to cause untold suffering among Jews, Arabs and other States caught up in the ensuing turmoil and conflict that is set to follow the passing of this insidious resolution – unless it is quickly reversed.
There are several reasons to justify this gloomy prediction.
Firstly – these 138 States were effectively signing the eviction notices for 600000 Jews who have been legally living in these areas for up to 40 years pursuant to the rights conferred on the Jewish People under Article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and Article 80 of the United Nations Charter.
Jews had been living in these same areas for many decades and in some cases centuries until they were driven out by six invading Arab armies in 1948.
Jews had returned there to settle after the Six Day War in 1967 – ending 19 years of uninterrupted occupation by Jordan and Egypt.
8000 Jews moved or were forcibly removed from Gaza in 2005 in a fruitless effort to advance the peace process.
Now all Jews in these territories will once again have to voluntarily pack up and get out or be forcibly removed by the Government of Palestine.
Palestinian President and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has made this “Judenrein” (Jew-free) objective and its successful implementation very clear – telling reporters in Ramallah on 25 December 2010:
“We have frankly said, and always will say: If there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, we won’t agree to the presence of one Israeli in it,”
Supporting the current Resolution without seeking a specific retraction has effectively given Abbas the green light to pursue his racist policy.
Secondly – there is no mention in the Resolution of the recognition of the right of the Jewish people to self- determination and independence in their own State – and for good reason – since President Abbas is not prepared to countenance a Jewish State alongside the State of Palestine.
He has made this position manifestly clear on many occasions.
On 1 December 2007 he declared:
“Historically there are two states, Israel and Palestine. Israel is inhabited by Jews and others. We are willing to recognize that and nothing else.”
His view was supported by his Prime Minister – Salam Fayad – who said in an interview at the time with Al-Arabiya TV, that:
“Israel can call itself whatever it wants, but the Palestinians will not recognize it as a Jewish state.”
On 28 August 2011 during a speech to Islamic clerics in Ramallah Abbas defiantly stated:
“The international community cannot force us to recognize the nature of the Israeli state. Do not force us to recognize a Jewish state. We will not accept it.”
His statement provoked Israel’s Foreign Minister Liebermann to declare:
“Countries around the world must make it clear to Abbas that the only way the Palestinians will be able to have a state is by stopping their attempt to destroy the only Jewish state in the world,”
Those countries around the world had their opportunity force Abbas to recognise the Jewish State before casting their votes – yet failed to do so.
Thirdly – this infamous Resolution negates the decision of the very same General Assembly in 1947 recommending the creation of one Arab State and one Jewish State in Palestine.
Indeed the refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish State has been one of the principal stumbling blocks to the successful conclusion of negotiations under the Oslo Accords and the Bush Roadmap.
The majority vote has – deliberately or unwittingly – given oxygen to those who continue to deny the right of the Jews to have their own State – 65 years after the United Nations had first recommended it.
Fourthly – this Resolution makes a mockery of the United Nations Charter which aims:
“To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;”
How any member State can believe these objectives can be advanced by supporting a resolution that will result in:
• Jews being denied any right to live in the State of Palestine as equal citizens in that State
• The Jewish People being denied the right to independence and self-determination in their own State alongside the State of Palestine
– is totally beyond comprehension.
The passing of this Resolution is bound to set in train acts of aggression and breaches of the peace as the State of Palestine and its supporters – armed with the text of this Resolution – flex their collective muscles to undo decisions and actions undertaken pursuant to:
• the San Remo Conference and the Treaty of Sevres in 1920,
• the Mandate for Palestine in 1922,
• The granting of independence to Transjordan by Great Britain in 1946
• Article 80 of the United Nations Charter
• The United Nations decision to partition Palestine in 1947
• Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338
• The Oslo Accords1993
• The Bush Road Map 2004
Abbas says he now wants to resume negotiations with Israel after his unilateral and ill-advised foray into the United Nations.
What is there to negotiate about but the terms on which those 600000 Jews must leave the State of Palestine and their possible relocation to a State where the Jewish people has no right to independence and self determination.
That is the political and diplomatic nightmare that 138 countries have foisted on the world.
Hopefully those 55 nations that failed to swallow this poisoned pill will take steps to have the General Assembly negate this Resolution – as happened when a Resolution equating Zionism with Racism was rescinded.
The sooner this latest Resolution endorsing policies of hatred against Jews is reversed – the better.
David Singer is a Sydney Lawyer and Foundation Member of the International Analysts Network
Hello Mr Singer
I posted a longer reply on how Israel was conducting talks with Hamas leader Al Jabari through Gherson Baskin and that Jabari had agrred to the pact on a long term ceasefire before he was killed. Basking was talking with Al Jabari with the full knowledge of the Israeli government and documents scrutinied by Yehud Barak. Israeli decided to kill him two days after an intial ceasefire. The editors have removed the comment. If you are editing the site, you might have seen it anyway.
A two state solution and ‘agreement’ can’t and won’t work while hatred permeates the Palestinian leadership and society, and while it is taught and inculcated in the schools. Hatred does matter.
You’re absolutely right but my point was that you can’t make it a condition for negotiations.
David
The 1975 resolution was revoked by a majority of the GA. That odious resolution had nowhere near the level of support as the 29 Nov Resolution and it will be cold day in hell before its revoked. The resolution will only be a catalyst for violence if Israel chooses it to be one. No boarders has been determined or issues prejudged and it reflects the end result that the entire world is striving for, namely a 2 state solution.
Abbas will have to fold on some settlements and even some of Israel hardened critics (eg Norman Finklestein) are realists on this issue.
Whether he’s a Jew hater and holocaust denier is irrelevant. Its what he agrees to thats significant and if he agrees to a 2 state solution with security for Israel let him hate all he likes.
I would like to know what makes Palestinians SO special. This isn’t done for Kurds, Karens, or Tibetans. We all know the real reason. Israel is the homeland of the Jews! Screw them!
The dead horse will not even stir however hard you flog it. Anti-semitism is largely confined to Europe and was stronger in Eastern Europe. Jews have been replaced by Muslims, Africans, Turks and Asians in the West as targets of the right.
The rest of the world has little history of organised anti-semitism and Jews have lived in Africa nad Asia as part of their communities for centuries until the formation of Israel and the resulting animosities in some parts of the world.
The UN votew has noting to do with anti-semitism. Netanyahu wouldn’t go to Germany if that was the case.
Ben
Take your blinkers off and listen to what Khaled Meshaal said overnight:
“”Palestine is our land and nation from the [Mediterranean] sea to the [Jordan] river, from north to south, and we cannot cede an inch or any part of it,” he said.
“We fight Zionists, not Jews. We fight whoever occupied our land, regardless of religion … Statehood will be the fruit of resistance, not negotiations,”
Get real.
Dear David,
Reversing the resolution would require a majority GA vote which you know will never happen; even more so when Israel is merrily alienating the world (incl. the US and Canada) over its plans for E1.
Re – ” Jews being denied any right to live in the State of Palestine as equal citizens in that State”:
Will the refugees be allowed to return back to Israel and live as equal citizens ? Of course not, and how can you expect people, who have lost their homes, to accept settlers implanted in their midst, against their wishes and in violation of international law – Lord Caradon would turn in his grave if he saw the size of the settlements today and the impact they are having.
Re ” The Jewish People being denied the right to independence and self-determination in their own State alongside the State of Palestine”.
With respect, you are arguing on a pin-head here. Recognition of 2-state solution implicitly acknowledges that the state of Israel will have rights of independence and self-determination. It’s a fait accompli.
As for the plight of the 600,000 Jews in the WB, there is not much world sympathy for them as they moved in with their eyes wide open.
Clearly, however, not all 600,000 can go, but settlements that are major obstructions to a viable state will have to come under consideration. The settlers cannot hold the peace process hostage. Goes without saying that further expansions only compound the problem.
The insistence that the PA accept Israel as a Jewish State has taken on an inflated significance and should not be an obstacle. So long as the refugees cannot return and Isr’s borders are secure, what difference does it make ?
The Palestinian’s fear is that by acknowledging Israel’s Jewish nature, Isr has a pretext to expel the remaining 25%. Whether this fear in well founded or not (I think its unlikely), the psychological barrier of accepting Israel’s Jewish nature is their problem. Let them get therapy – as long as Israel has security and the WB is disarmed why do you care ? I think this is the view of Ehud Olmert.
Shabbat Shalom
Ben
Ben
How can you say the General Assembly vote will never be reversed?
The 1975 General Assembly “Zionism is Racism” resolution was reversed in 1991.
If the General Assembly does not rectify its grossly irresponsible vote on 29 November 2012 a lot faster than than the Zionism is Racism reversal – then its latest decision will become the catalyst for continuing and increased violence between Arabs and Jews – not a source for ending the conflict that has gone on for 130 years.
You say “Clearly however not all 600000 (Jewish residents of the West Bank and Gaza)can go”. President Abbas does not agree with you. He wants all the Jews out – every single one.
Abbas is a Jew hater and Holocaust denier out and out.
The General Assembly that welcomed him with euphoric applause ( as it did with Yasser Arafat) has made another historic error of judgement and should be ashamed.