Introduction:
If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
– William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (Act III, Scene I)
Wrote about Israel and Palestine for the past year, leading up to, and following my visit to the region this past summer; the essays are collected here.
My intention is to not pick sides; to take sides is to entrench a position, rather than to seek understanding. It’s a complicated and emotionally-charged conflict, likely more political than religious, and many parties are complicit, including the United States.
Admittedly lean, however, towards the people who have the most to lose, the fewest rights, the least resources, and the fewest protections, in particular, reflect on the original text of the 1917 Balfour Declaration:
His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Dare I speak out. May I have an informed opinion. Is it possible to tease out the threads and arguments – to criticize Israel’s actions and policies, not its people – without being labeled anti-Semitic. It is not anti-Semitic to be against Israeli policies and aggression, and it is not Islamophobic to oppose Hamas’ violence.
- All people, including Palestinians, entitled to sovereign, recognized homeland.
- All people, including Israelis, entitled to defend its borders; United States warned Israel of increased Hamas activity three days prior to the attack.
- No one benefits from war, violence begets violence; suggested by George Santayana, “only the dead have seen the end of war.”
- Don’t support any form of terrorism; Hamas is not a form of government, it is a terrorist organization, and does not represent the free will of Palestinians; Hamas operates without regard to the Palestinians in Gaza, and I don’t condone the use of human shields (ie. hospital-based command posts).
- Neither Israel nor Palestine are entitled to all the land “from the river (Jordan) to the (Mediterranean) sea; peaceful resolution and co-existence will require compromise to share the land; half a loaf is better than none.
Israel makes itself a target by violating multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions – legally binding on member nations – and the Fourth Geneva Convention, due to its illegal annexation and occupation of territories, at various times since 1967, included Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights.
Israel also perpetuates a state of apartheid – ethnic, political, social, and economic segregation – which I did not recognize until my visit to the region.
Palestinians and Israeli settlers live in the Palestine-occupied West Bank. One region, two different populations, and two different, separate, but unequal legal systems. Israeli settlers are subject to civil law. In contrast, Palestinians living in Area B or Area C of the West Bank, are subject to the Defense (Emergency) Regulations of 1945, a carry-over of martial law from the British Mandate for Palestine, which subjects Palestinians to military courts run by Israeli soldiers and officers. Palestinians may be held on administrative detention for six-months, extended indefinitely, without trial.
Ethnic cleansing is defined as the forced removal of ethnic, racial, or religious groups, or, coercing victims to flee, with the intent to make a region ethnically homogeneous.
Examples include the subjugation of Native Americans by the United States, and the holocaust, the extermination of six million Jews by the Nazi party during World War II.
It’s argued that Israel’s actions are one of ethnic cleansing, noting the 1948 Nakba, with the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians with no right to return following the formation of the state of Israel, and the 1967 Naksa, with the expulsion of 300,000 Palestinians during the Six-Day War.
Israeli-born historian, Omer Bartov, Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, inquires if Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza continues a policy of ethnic cleansing, or worse, genocide, with the intention to slowly eradicate Palestinians from Israel and the occupied territories.
Such concerns are exacerbated by inflammatory comments by Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security; current members of the Israeli cabinet were elected in November 2022, Israel’s fifth parliamentary election in four years.
Will 7-million Israelis subjugate 5-million Palestinians. More than 1,000 Israelis were killed by Hamas on October 7th; subsequently, 14,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 6,000 children. United States provides $4-billion dollars in military aid to Israel annually, and requested an additional $14-billion following the Hamas attack; Israel may (now) be in violation of the 1997 Leahy Laws, which prohibit foreign or military aid to any state that grossly violates human rights with impunity.
Many Israelis had so dehumanized the Palestinians in their own minds and had so intimately equated the words “Palestinian” and “terrorists” that they simply lost track of the distinction between Palestinian fighters and Palestinian civilians, combatants and noncombatants. Israeli soldiers did not see innocent civilians being massacred and they did not hear the screams of innocent children going to their graves. What they saw was a “terrorist infestation” being “mopped up” and “terrorist nurses” scurrying about and “terrorist teenagers” trying to defend them, and what they heard were “terrorist women” screaming. In the Israeli psyche you don’t come to the rescue of “terrorists.” There is no such thing as “terrorists” being massacred.
Thomas Friedman | From Beirut to Jerusalem (1989), describing the 1982 Sabra & Shatila massacre
Ironically, Israel and Palestine have a shared fate. There will likely be no peace in Israel as long as there is no recognized Palestinian homeland. Israel’s heavy-handed response risks the creation of a new generation of terrorists and further bloodshed. When the fighting in Gaza ends, the world – Israel and Palestine – will likely be in the same situation, stalemate with no path forward, that existed on October 6th 2023.
350 | FRI 16 DEC 2022 | Israel
Plan to visit Israel next summer. A country with great history, but not without political and religious turmoil. Israel does not stamp passports, but a separate piece of paper, to ensure onward travel to Islam-practicing, Arab nations.
Only two bordering countries allow unfettered access to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Anticipate flying from Beirut Lebanon to Amman Jordan. The alternative is to drive from Beirut to Amman via Damascus Syria. Plan to visit key sights in Jordan, including Petra, before crossing the border at Allenby Bridge to Israel. Anticipate returning to Amman, before traveling onward to Kuwait. It’s important to not have a Jordanian exit stamp at Allenby Bridge; stamp the visa not the passport.
The other challenge is managing the Jordanian visa, for most Americans, a 30-day, single entry, visa on arrival. U.S. State Department suggests that Americans may re-enter Jordan at Allenby Bridge using the same 30-day visa as long as it has not expired; re-confirmed by contacting the American consulate in Amman. Challenging but not impossible.
111 | FRI 21 APR 2023 | Rockets’ red glare
Visit Middle East this summer; Lebanon, Jordan, Israel. Enter Israel from Jordan, cross at Allenby Bridge. Recent hostilities in the area cause for concern. Israel attacked Palestinians worshipping at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Hezbollah in south Lebanon retaliated by firing rockets into Israel’s West Bank; Israel countered by firing rockets into Palestinian Gaza Strip. Hopefully, the parties may find peace; an eye for an eye makes the world blind.
Often look for hostel with WiFi and kitchen; maybe the hostel has a bomb shelter. Likely no such thing as a good death, but, death by rocket attack is likely as good as any other means, at least it doesn’t have the stigma of suicide.
In the Hulu serial, the Patient, Dr. Alan Strauss, played by Steve Carrell, shares a joke: an English protestant, French catholic, and Israeli Jew are sentenced to death. Captor allows each victim to choose the method of death. Englishman asks to die by firing squad…boom. Frenchman asks to die by guillotine…chop. Israeli asks to die by old age.
143 | TUE 23 MAY 2023 | Alert
Sometimes when traveling, use Google alerts. Last summer, used alert for Alaska-Canada Highway. Provided advance warning in case the highway was closed. Beneficial information that wouldn’t automatically appear in a news feed, and often times, there was no detour.
Briefly used Google alert for this trip, for rocket attacks in Israel and Gaza. Received an overwhelming number of alerts, not beneficial, and turned it off.
Received email from US State Department; email doesn’t suggest that I not visit Israel, but rather, recommends that I visit Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command website, or, download iPhone app, to receive warnings during the next rocket attack. Strangely, there is more than one app.
Scheduled to visit Israel in mid-July; hopefully, for everyone’s sake, hostilities calm down. I respect religious differences, said differently, religious freedom, and certainly respect Israel and Palestine’s desire for their own homeland.
Often amazing how mankind can’t get along. Children fight in the playground. Professionals and politicians argue at work. Are humans, not simply, a brutish beast.
189 | SAT 08 JULY 2023 | Genocide
Last day in Turkey, before departing, wish to address the topic of Armenian genocide. More than one million Armenians were murdered by the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916, World War I death march to the Syrian Desert, with little food or water. It is suggested that the genocide enabled the creation of modern Turkey in subsequent years.
Turkish government maintains that the deportation of Armenians was legitimate to combat an existential threat to its empire, and does not constitute genocide. Government perceives discussion of genocide as a threat to national security. Thirty-four countries, including the United States, recognize the events as genocide.
WED 19 July: one-hour bus from Amman, cross border into Israel at King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, and shared van to Jerusalem. Neither Jordan nor Israel stamp my passport, which would preclude entry into almost every Arab nation. Need to plan ahead; border is closed from sunset Friday through sunset Saturday, for Shabbat.
Hostilities among Israel, Palestine, and Hezbollah are more aggressive and more frequent than in prior years; an eye for an eye makes the entire world blind,
Hour train to Tel Aviv, a modern, cosmopolitan city, with glass and steel skyscrapers rising from the beach; old section of the city, Jaffa, feels like stepping back in time.
Day trip from Jerusalem, sunrise Masada hike; van pick-up at 3:30am, arrive 4:45am. It’s good that the sky remains dark, and can’t see the peak, elevation climbs 400-meters (to sea level) in the span of 1.5-miles; I’m competitive – Marines lead from the front – and I’m the first person to the summit in the 85-degree heat.
Continue to Ein Gedi National Park, a wildlife desert oasis in the Judaean Desert. Mid-morning, head to the Dead Sea, at 400-meters below sea level, it’s the lowest point on earth. Salinity is 35% versus 3% for the world’s oceans; it’s impossible not to float in the water. During the past century, water surface area reduced 50%, from 1,050 km2 to 500 km2. Dead Sea region is ugly, and not dissimilar to the Salton Sea located south of Palm Springs, California, and east of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
West Bank, one of two Palestinian territories (second is Gaza Strip), runs along West Bank of the Jordan River, and marks the boundary with Jordan, following the six-day Arab-Israeli War of 1967. Palestinian-occupied cities include: Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jericho, among others. Cities are identified as Zone A, B, or C, which indicate responsibility for security or infrastructure. Hebron is unique, and divided into Palestinian-occupied H1 zone (80%) and Israeli-settler H2 zone (20%); Israel controls all security access points, including Palestinian access to Ibrahimi Mosque.
Passed through Israeli-controlled checkpoints, and visited both H1 and H2 regions. Palestinians are human – no different than you or me – going about their lives. Extremists on the margin – Hamas – give rise to violence and terrorism. Border wall between Israel and Palestine is far more intimidating than any portion of the border between United States and Mexico.
Palestinian treatment is northing short of apartheid, policy of segregation and discrimination. Of 193 members of the United Nations, 139 recognize Palestine. United States does not recognize Palestine, and provides almost $4-billion in annual aid to Israel, largely in the form of military aid and missile defense; to what extent does this aid perpetuate apartheid. It’s difficult to not view Israel as anything other than a school-yard bully, with the United States in its back pocket.
State of Israel formed in 1948, following World War II, and extermination of six-million Jews during the holocaust. State of Israel is 75-years old; region is marked with political and religious conflict; it’s difficult to see any path to peace. While responsibility doesn’t rest entirely with Israel – United States plays a role, and Arabs, too – fail to understand how apartheid is perpetuated; do we not learn from history.
THU 27 July: shared taxi from Damascus Gate to King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge at the Jordan border. Israelis are not permitted to cross at this border. Palestinians are not allowed to fly through Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv; many Palestinians cross at Allenby Bridge to fly through Queen Alia Airport in Amman. Contrary to on-line travel reports, there was no mini bus to Amman; Canadian traveler was picked up by friends from Amman – travel karma – they had space in their car, and drove me into the city.
Don’t anticipate returning to Lebanon or Jordan, but, there is more to uncover, learn, and discover in Israel and Palestine. In hindsight, should have stayed longer in Israel, likely, four weeks; time to explore Gaza border region in the west, Eilat in the south, Palestine in the east, and Golan Heights in the north. Golan is recognized by the international community as Syrian territory, illegally annexed and occupied by Israel. United States, in 2019, is the only country in the world to recognize Israel sovereignty, a decision denounced by the United Nations. It’s often suggested that Israel is “America’s aircraft carrier to the Middle East.”
Traveling overseas, American tourists become the face of United States foreign policy, often viewed as aggressive and heavy-handed; I become the ugly American.
226 | MON 14 AUGUST 2023 | Judiciary
While visiting Israel, country’s legislature, the Knesset, voted to curb the powers of its Supreme Court, which risks that the executive branch may take un-checked action. There were riots and demonstrations before and after the vote on Monday July 24th.
Military reservists threatened to not report to duty, there is concern that this contamination could spread to activity duty personnel. Israel depends on its military as the Middle East is politically unstable. Perceived military weakness could prompt Lebanon or Syria to take advantage and strike Israel.
228 | WED 16 AUGUST 2023 | Hamas
Understand little about Hamas before – and after – travel to Israel and Palestine.
Hamas, an acronym, Ḥarakah al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmiyyah (Islamic Resistance Movement), is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, organization, and committed to establish an independent Islamic state in Palestine.
Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, and became governing authority following the 2007 Battle of Gaza, for 2-million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Iran is one of Hamas’ biggest benefactors, contributing funds, weapons, and training. Turkey is also known to support Hamas, and is known to house several of its leaders.
Canada, European Union, Israel, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom and United States designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
288 | SUN 15 OCTOBER 2023 | Israel
Nir Avishai Cohen is a Major in the Israel Defense Forces reserves, and author of the book “Love Israel, Support Palestine.”
His guest opinion piece appeared in October 13th 2023 New York Times, “I’m Going to War for Israel. Palestinians Are Not My Enemy,” excerpted below.
I’d like to say one thing, before I go to battle: There’s no such thing as “unavoidable.” This war could have been avoided; no one did enough to prevent it.
For 56-years Israel has been subjecting Palestinians to oppressive military rule.
Palestinians aren’t the enemy. Millions of Palestinians who live right here next to us, between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan, are not our enemy. Just like the majority of Israelis want to live a calm, peaceful, dignified life, so do Palestinians.
In this already unstoppable new war, we cannot allow the massacre of innocent Israelis to result in the massacre of innocent Palestinians. Israelis must realize that there is no greater security asset than peace. After all of the dead Israelis and Palestinians are buried, after we have finished washing away the rivers of blood, the people who share a home in this land will have to understand that there is no other choice but to follow the path of peace.
290 | TUE 17 OCTOBER 2023 | Israel
War is not merely a political act, but a continuation of policy by other means.
– Karl von Clausewitz
This summer, privileged to visit Israel and Palestine. Since World War II, a two-state nation has been contemplated, but never agreed upon by the region’s constituents.
Earlier this month, Hamas, a terrorist organization, executed an un-provoked attack against Israel. In response, Israel has promulgated a ground invasion of Gaza, home to two-million Palestinians.
Egypt’s land border with Gaza remains closed, fearing contamination of terrorist attack. If Palestinians are not allowed to flee, it’s difficult to see anything but genocide in Gaza, similar to the World War I Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman empire. History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.
Ground assault in Gaza risks escalation of hostilities in northern Israel and Golan Heights by Hezbollah and Syria; further, if Iran steps-up military involvement, all of Israel may become engulfed in war. An eye for an eye makes the entire world blind.
Israeli novelist, Amos Oz, is quoted, “At the end of Shakespeare the stage is strewn with dead bodies and maybe there is a measure of justice hovering high above. A Chekhovian tragedy, on the other hand, ends with everybody disillusioned, embittered, heartbroken, disappointed – indeed, absolutely shattered, but still alive.”
291 | WED 18 OCTOBER 2023 | Two-state solution
The region that I most wanted to visit this summer was Israel and Palestine, to better understand its storied conflict. Visited in July, and asked anyone who would listen, “what is the solution.” Many times, there was no response, no reply, just silence.
A two-state, Israel-Palestine, solution has been contemplated since the end of World War II. During the past seventy-five years, plans have been supported and opposed.
Some authorities believe that if a two-state solution isn’t reached, the result will be continued apartheid. Alternatively, the one-state solution, would extend equal rights for Jews and Arabs, with representative government.
How many more Israelis and Palestinians must die; the path to peace is not war.
292 | THU 19 OCTOBER 2023 | Choose peace
In response to Hamas, Israel could choose not to invade Gaza, it could choose peace.
Israel’s Prime Minister could call vested parties to meet at a neutral location, with a neutral arbiter, and remain until a mutually agreed-upon solution is reached for Jews and Arabs. A solution isn’t reached by taking sides, as likely, all parties are complicit and share responsibility. A solution requires mutual sacrifice, negotiated by understanding inherent interests, rather than deeply entrenched positions.
Transform the atrocious attack to lasting peace, an outcome that benefits everyone.
Hate begets hate; violence begets violence. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. Violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness.
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
293 | FRI 20 OCTOBER 2023 | Fatah
Fatah, founded by Yasser Arafat, is the largest faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and came to power following the 1967 Six-Day War.
In 2006 elections, Fatah lost its majority to Hamas, leading to conflict between the two sides. Fatah retains authority over three-million Palestinians in the West Bank, whereas Hamas retains authority over two-million Palestinians in Gaza; it was Hamas, not Fatah, that launched the pre-meditated strikes in to Israel earlier this month.
294 | SAT 21 OCTOBER 2023 | Choosing
The Hamas attack occurred two weeks ago; does a person “choose” sides; is a person anti-Semitic, or, pro-Palestine. I remind myself of a teaching by Norman Fisher.
The true way is not difficult.
Just avoid picking and choosing.
When you don’t grasp or reject,
The way enlightens itself.
Basic point of Buddhism, is that all conditioned existence is suffering. Grasping and rejecting is the cause of suffering. Trying to keep what will inevitably be lost; trying to eliminate what cannot be eradicated.
The emptiness teachings suggest that there never was anything that a person could grasp or reject. Discriminative consciousness is based on a fallacy, based on an erroneous projection of separation.
A Zen master suggests, “Not always so.” Maybe it was so before; maybe it is so right now; but it won’t always be so
313 THU 09 NOVEMBER 2023 | Keret
Enjoy the writing of Israeli author, Etgar Keret; his parents immigrated to Israel following the holocaust. Keret wrote June 24th 2016, New York Times Op-Ed, titled, “I’m not Anti-Israel, I’m Ambi-Israel” excerpted below:
I was recently honored to learn that I had won the Charles Bronfman Prize. It’s an award that recognizes humanitarian work inspired by Jewish values. Several news outlets reported on the announcement; one headline caught my attention: “Anti-Israel Author Etgar Keret Awarded Bronfman Prize.”
I found myself contemplating the term “anti-Israel.” Apparently a person cannot engage in Middle Eastern political issues without being labeled “anti-Israeli” or “anti-Palestinian” or sometimes, if his or her opinions are complicated enough, both. What does “anti-Israel” mean. Israel is a state, and we rarely encounter someone who is “anti-Switzerland” or “anti-Netherlands.”To lend a helping hand to those who are fond of simplified labels, I would like to suggest a third option. Let’s call it “ambi.” The terms “ambi-Israeli” or “ambi-Palestinian” will simply indicate that our opinions on Middle Eastern affairs, while they may be resolute, are complex.
Those with “ambi” positions will be allowed to support an end to the occupation while still condemning Hamas; they may believe that the Jewish people deserve a state, but also maintain that Israel should not occupy territories that do not belong to it. Careful application of this new label might enable us to delve deeper into the essential arguments around the conflict and its resolution.
328 | FRI 24 NOVEMBER 2023 | Exchange
Today, Hamas exchanged 50 Israeli hostages for a four-day cease fire and supplies. Why did the exchange take seven weeks; why weren’t all 250 hostages released.
In June 2006, Hamas abducted Corporal Gilad Shalit, a member of the Israeli Defense Force, during a cross-border raid along the Gaza Strip that penetrated into Israel.
Negotiations occurred over five years; in October 2011, Sergeant Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, and approved by Prime Minister Netanyahu; 79% of Israeli citizens approved in public opinion polls.
Precedent that Israel negotiates with terrorists, indeed, negotiates with Hamas.
Conclusion:
Naive, no. Closet idealist, yes.
Wore the uniform of United States Marine; swore an oath to defend the nation. Experience influenced me to believe that war, fighting, killing, and maiming is not a solution or strategy for peace, quite the opposite; it is easier to fight than to forgive. Revenge may “feel” good, but, it is not often an appropriate response.
Israel-Palestine is complicated and polarizing issue; peel the onion, one layer at a time; travel, for me, is to become an informed world citizen.
garthmonroe 