Archive for the ‘Palestine’ Category

A recent Palestinian Center for Public Opinion Poll sought to understand whether or not Palestinians are in support of Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to bring the Palestinian case before the UN again, later this month.  Equally importantly, the poll also examined what the people think will come of this decision.   The results, pasted below, show that over 86% of Palestinians disapprove of the US attempt to recognize the Palestinian state, and provide insight into other commonly held sentiments as well:

83.6%) of the Palestinians evaluate the US efforts on recognizing the Palestinian state as  

              negative.

(59.3%) prefer to resume the negotiations with Israel.

(45.2%) expect Palestine to become a new UN member

(48.8%) oppose holding peaceful demonstrations after proclaiming the recognition of the

              State of Palestine at the UN.

(49.2%) believe that the PA President, Mahmoud Abbas, should exert more effort to

obtain international support for the recognition of the Palestinian state.

(52.7%) oppose at various degrees any decision taken by the PA President to retreat from

              going to the UN.

(41.7%) appreciate the UN role in the efforts aiming at the recognition of the Palestinian

              state.

 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This recent article, by Daniel’s friend Gershon Baskin, adds valuable insight to the conversation about determining borders in the Mideast. Baskin explains that when creating borders, if a partition becomes undesirable, a territorial conflict becomes an identity-conflict, which is when there are two separate national or ethnic groups fighting to dominate the territory. The example that Baskin gives is as follows: When the former Yugoslavia was fragmented, various areas with obvious identities were able to become nation states; however, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s identities were muddled with various cultures and ethnicities, and a battle for control began.  Baskin goes on to conclude that a one state solution for the Palestinian and Israeli conflict is not a solution at all.  This option will only lead to a struggle over which identity will dominate that singular state, and for as long as Palestinians and Israelis are unwilling to compromise their identity, a two state solution is the only viable one.

 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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An op-ed in Friday’s New York Times argues that Palestinian UN recognition could advance not only Palestinian goals, both those of the Israelis as well, if certain components are included.

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This video is very well done, regardless if one thinks that Israel should return to her 1967 borders. As the video describes, some Israelis are very concerned about returning to their previous borders from a defense perspective, and it is important to understand their viewpoint.

 

 

Others feel that Israel would be able to adequately defend herself (as seen in the 1967 war), and that the West Bank is not crucial to doing so.  As Mr. van Creveld, an Israeli military historian said in an article in the New York Times: “Strategically speaking . . . the risk of giving up the West Bank “is negligible.” He continued: “What is not negligible is the demographic, social, cultural and political challenge that ruling over 2.5 million — nobody knows exactly how many — occupied Palestinians in the West Bank poses. Should Israeli rule over them continue, then the country will definitely turn into what it is already fast becoming: namely, an apartheid state that can only maintain its control by means of repressive secret police actions.”

 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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Although this article by Tom Friedman over simplifies the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, it promotes a laudable lesson: Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to come together over a share goal, instead of working separately to advance their own agendas. The lessons learned from Mubarak’s ousting from Egypt teach that non-violence and leveraging  political and economic advantages will save the day.

by Adeena Schlussel

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Below is an interview between two OneVoice Youth Leaders, Danny Shaket and Ahmad Omeir, that was featured on NPR.  The two Youth Leaders, along with host Michel Martin, discussed their perspectives about the President’s meeting with Netanyahu. This clip shows the insights and potential change that can come from youth leading grassroots movements on the ground.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This weekend, President Obama addressed the AIPAC community at their annual Policy Conference.  The President reaffirmed America and Israel’s valuable friendship and discussed the pressing need for striking peace in the region.  Read the full remarks below.

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Samer, the Executive Director of OVP saw this near his village and shared it because it really captures the challenges of how Palestinians and Israelis are attending to the conflict:

“We are living in a fantasy, they are living in denial.”

clip_image001

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An interesting read

Published under Israel, Middle East, Palestine, Religion May 05, 2011

This New York Times article about the effects of Hamas and Fatah’s recent union is worth reading:

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OneVoice Palestinian supporters attended the unity rallies in the West Bank on Tuesday, demanding reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.  Many believe that cooperation between the two factions is the first and necessary step to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

EzzeldinMasri@PalestinianDemoRamallah

Abdullah Hamarshe@PalestinianDemoRamallah

YestoReconciliation

 

PalestinianDemoRamallah5

 

PalestinianDemoRamallah3

 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, redacted by Adeena Schlussel

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