Since the latest Israeli operation in Gaza began, I’ve been conflicted about it, which isn’t unusual for me. On the one hand, I find it very difficult to believe that the Gaza campaign will “work” in any meaningful sense. It’s not as bombing Palestinian territories into ruins has a particularly good track record, and there is nothing in particular that has presented itself as compelling evidence that this attack will come out differently. On the other hand, the statement “bombing doesn’t work” doesn’t distinguish the strategy of “bombing” from any other Israeli strategy, including the “dovish” ones. Withdrawing from Palestinian territory or giving concessions to Palestinian leaders “doesn’t work” either. The original Israeli withdrawal from Gaza may not have been done with entirely altruistic motives, but was a significant risk taken by Israel that was met by an increase in violence. Israelis notice this. They noticed that Hezbollah stepped up its attacks after Israel left Lebanon, and they noticed that terrorist activity increased in the years immediately following the Oslo accords compared to the years immediately preceding them. The problem is precisely that nothing seems to work. And when nothing seems to work, I find it hard for myself to articulate what I want to be seen done, and I become very suspicious of those who would condemn but either don’t provide an alternative, or whose alternative would simply shift the injustice to another plane.
These points, though, are old hat by now, and have been covered on my own blog. I don’t know what you do when nothing works, I recognize that a true friend in the White House would know when to take Israel aside and tell it to chill, I think we need to realize the difference between being foolish and being evil. Oh, and I think the settler fanatics need to be excommunicated from Judaism. Suffice to say that, insofar as I direct my words to the mainstream Jewish community, my argument is simple: The occupation can’t endure. It can’t endure because it’s unsustainable for Israel, and it can’t endure because it’s oppressive to the Palestinians. Their right to self-determination must be recognized, and it is our responsibility as a community to press Israel to take the steps necessary (whatever they might be) to realize that right.
http://www.feministe.us/blog/archiv...either-jews-privilege-and-anti-subordination/
