Adam Horowitz has spent a lot more time in Israel than I have. He’s collecting string on a dangerous new trend in Israeli culture/politics:
Welcome to the Israeli settler movement, the 2008 model: the growing priority of settling Palestinian areas inside Israel.
This is not a totally new phenomenon, having been seen since the founding of the state in places like Nazareth Illit, but
these two important articles in Ha’aretz
and the Middle
East Report outline the recent efforts to “judaize” the Palestinian centers
of the ancient cities of Jaffa and Akko.
A similar trend has been seen throughout the Galilee, Negev, the Triangle and
any other Palestinian and Arab parts of the country.
A choice quote is from Rabbi Eliyahu Mali, who has
set up a yeshiva in the middle of the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa:
“Our conclusion [in 2005]…was for us to move
from Beit El [settlement in the West Bank] to metropolitan Tel Aviv [that means Jaffa] along with additional families and start
to take action. We talked to friends and the idea struck a chord in many
families. We explained to them that we had carried out a great project in the
settlements for the past 30 years, but that now the struggle needs to be moved
to a different place.”
Meanwhile, Rabbi Mali’s brother is carrying out a similar plan in
the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem–what a family. In Jaffa,
the development of the yeshiva is happening as hundreds of Palestinian
residents of Ajami are being forced out of their homes to clear the way for
“development.” As Peter Lagerquist points out in his MERIP article “In Jaffa,
development is code for developing Arabs off their land and out of their
homes.”
The results of this activity were seen in October, in the five days of riots that shook Akko, a town held up as the model of coexistence. As in Jaffa, settlers relocated in the heart of Akko–this time from Gaza. “Coexistence is
a slogan. Ultimately, Akko is a town like Raanana, Kfar Saba or and must safeguard
its Jewish identity,” Rabbi Yosef Stern, the director the “Spirit of the North” yeshiva in
Akko, explained to the settler news service Arutz Sheva. “I think everyone would agree that Akko is the capital city
of Galilee,, of
thousands of years of Jewish history. We are here to preserve that Jewish
identity and to reinforce that spirit, to stand for our nation’s honor.”
Lagerquist also quotes Akko resident Taysir Khatib as saying Palestinians in Akko are “reliving the nakba every day.”
This activity is not strictly a settler initiative; it has been actively promoted by the Israeli government
and Zionist institutions. Nazareth-based journalist Jonathan Cook points out
that Ariel Sharon’s government approved 14 settlements in the Negev and Galilee
(both primarily Palestinian areas inside Israel) in 2003. These settlements
were to be funded by the World Zionist Organization, marking the first time “the
body has worked on settlements within Israel rather than in the occupied
territories.” This policy has received a full endorsement from the
Bush Administration, which actually treats the plan as part of the peace process, with Bush describing it as an alternative to West Bank settlement.
green line”? For Palestinian citizens of the state of Israel? What does it mean for the
two-state solution when Jaffa and Akko start
looking like Hebron? And–perhaps most importantly–why do the U.S. advocates
for the two-state solution refuse to talk about this?
Phil, do you agree with the transfer of Arab areas of Israel that have virtually no Jews (Umm al-Fahm, the Triangle, Sakhnin) to Palestine? Or does Israel get to give up areas of the territories that are ONLY Jews (like Ma'ale Edumim, Hebron 2) while keeping its areas that are ONLY Arabs? Does the land come with the citizenship or with the ethnicity of the residents, so that "Arab land" on the West Bank and in Israel (Akko, Jaffa, Be'erSheva) must be evacuated by Jews? While housing shortages may occur (cf. Akko) in practice, only JEWS have been transferred out of settlements since '82. Also, "Judaization of the Galilee" is to proceed by developing uninhabited land, while the Negev 2015 development plan intends to expand housing for Jews and Arabs.
Balad, Sikkui, Shatil etc. talk the talk, but they do not walk the walk. Citizenship gives one land in Jaffa but takes it away in Hebron. What's mine is mine, what's yours is mine. Biladi Falastin, min al-nahr ila al-bahr.
Imagine the press, were large groups of Christians to act this way, say on the West Side of Manhattan. Imagine for a second a group of white Christians saying that certain parts of prime real estate in this country needed a Christian presence.
Once again, I have to ask why this country is supporting to the nth degree a racist supremicist state that supports radicals that act in ways that we would never, ever accept in this country?
Eurosabra, you fail to internalise the fact, alas obvious to most worldwide, that your state, 'the jewish state', is a failed state, not because of external but because of internal contradictions – it has become impossible to govern, due to its inability to deal with either its religious or its diasporic élites.
It looks from afar like the land generally on either side of the green line runs with the ethnicity-religion, which classification determines
whether over to or over fro. It's hard to dream up a scheme less American in principle, content, process, and implementation in fact.
Is there anything faintly resembling a "Bill Of rights" in Israel/Palestine? If so, what is it?
So. Jews can't live on either side of the green line. Palestinian areas are inviolate and Jewish areas are up for grabs. Got it.
Congratulations Phil. Joechim, Eva, Anon, Leander and all the rest of you. You got another one of us. Celebrate today for tomorrow its going to be one of yours.
12-03) 19:53 PST — San Francisco police have all but concluded that pro-Israel activist Daniel Kliman got stuck in an elevator between floors last week, pried open the doors and accidentally fell nearly seven stories to his death, an investigator said Wednesday.
IMAGES
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ELEVATOR PLUNGE
Police think doctor was stuck in elevator (12/3)
Doctor killed in mysterious fall (12/2)
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"The opening he probably fell through was between the base of the elevator and the floor of the building, and it was absolutely big enough for a person to fall through," police Inspector Matt Krimsky said. "We think this is probably what happened, and there is no indication of foul play."
However, Krimsky said that "to be as complete as we can be," a task force including officers from the department's hate crimes and homicide units has been formed to look into Kliman's death.
There has been speculation in San Francisco's activist community that Kliman's death might not have been accidental, given the number of people who friends say were angered by his protests. But Krimsky said the evidence points toward nothing but a "tragic accident."
"This investigation is by no means closed, and we will continue to pursue it until there is no stone unturned," he said. "We want to be very clear about that."
Kliman, 38, was a doctor with a practice in Alameda. But the Oakland resident was best known as the co-founder the 4-year-old activist group S.F. Voice for Israel.
His body was found Monday at the bottom of an elevator shaft at the historic Sharon Building at 55 New Montgomery St., where he had taken Arabic language lessons for three years.
Kliman was last seen in the building Nov. 25 at about 8 p.m., police said. The Arabic class that night had been canceled, but friends say he may not have known that.
Police theorize that he got stuck in the elevator between the sixth and seventh floors that night, tried to get out and fell to his death.
Rabbi Judah Dardik of Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, where Kliman was an active member, said inspectors told him Kliman's laptop computer and "a fair amount of money" were found at the scene, effectively ruling out the possibility that Kliman had been robbed.
Friends of Kliman, who lived alone, did not file a missing person report with police because they thought he had gone on a scheduled vacation to Israel.
Brad Bernheim, who manages the Sharon Building, said his staff told him the elevator was malfunctioning Nov. 25. He added, however, that employees did not report hearing any alarms from the elevator.
Krimsky said that as part of the investigation, police are trying to determine whether alarm buttons in the elevator were working. Investigators did not say whether the elevator was malfunctioning before Kliman got in it.
Bernheim said he learned Nov. 26 that there were problems with the elevator, but that with the Thanksgiving Day holiday approaching, workers were not brought in until the following Monday. A repair crew found Kliman's body that day.
The malfunctioning elevator is one of three in the building, side by side, and on Wednesday it was barricaded with a yellow cone as police examined the scene. Cal/OSHA, which regulates elevators, said it was last inspected Nov. 4 and found to be sound.
News of an intensified police investigation was welcomed by Kliman's friends and fellow activists, some of whom continue to suspect wrongdoing. In addition to his advocacy of Israeli issues, Kliman campaigned on behalf of gay rights.
"I'm still suspicious, even though I really want this to have been an accident," said Faith Meltzer, a member of S.F. Voice for Israel.
Dardik said that investigators' strong suspicions that Kliman's death was unintentional was, in a way, reassuring.
"Knowing this is a horrible, horrible accident may offer some sort of comfort for those of us who are grieving," Dardik said. "Maybe we can stop wondering if there was foul play."
Investigators urged anyone with knowledge of Kliman's activities or whereabouts on the day of his death, or in the days immediately before, to contact police Lt. James Spillane at (415) 553-1975.
Congratulations Phil. Joechim, Eva, Anon, Leander and all the rest of you. You got another one of us. Celebrate today for tomorrow its going to be one of yours.
– you're swearing an oath of vengeance against the commentators here assembled because some dude got stuck in an elevator?
It's ok sword, I understand Phil thinks Jews can still live in Brooklyn, as long as they stay out of Bed-Stuy, Bushwick or Bay Ridge.
IDF, Israel does not have a bill of rights or even a constitution. The closest thing they have are "basic laws" which serve a similar purpose, you can find them here (link to knesset.gov.il
There is also a rundown here – link to en.wikipedia.org
You will notice that there is no protection of equality for all Israeli citizens under the law. And also, "freedom of occupation" doesn't mean what you think it means.
Rowan: It's been a failed state since David HaMelech, under every regime that ever ruled. None of the Levantines ever noticed or cared.
well, then … let's put it back under a mandate of some sort, for its own good.
Molon labé.
Mind you the PLO Charter and the whole status of the Organization 1964-67 indicate that Palestinians feel pretty much the same way.
I can't figure out Molon labé, but never mind. I am just expressing the classic British view regarding all sorts of other nations : "they're splendid people, you know, as long as they're properly governed."
Rowan Berkeley,
You are absolutely correct in saying that Israel is a failed state because of internal contradictions. Noam Chomsky said so at a symposium at the Holy Cross College in Massachussetts in February 1971, and again in June 1972. Palestinians and Arabs generally have been saying so since the very first colonialists/settlers set foot in Palestine, and have been repeating it on and off for the past 60 years…
Best joke of the century:
Israel called a "failed state" by someone who calls him/her self a "Blogger from Lebanon."
LEBANON! for fucks sake!
What's so funny, Noam? Lebanon is a failed state too. Ditto for all the Arab so-called "states", for that matter.
I imagine "Blogger from Lebanon" belongs to the Happy Land of Bliss Street rather than identifying overly much with Arab-ness, the Lebanese state, Maronite Christianity, Sunni or Shi'a Islam, or any of the other markers of mainstream Lebanese identity. Being an ethnic minority or from a socially-select subculture in a confessional state has its advantages. Including the chance to rage at both Lebanese and Israelis for our"communitarianism/communalism/confessionalism."
That earns you a big stinking zero, Eurosabra. Next time remember to do your homework before raising your hand thinking you know the answer!
In fact, I belong to no "subculture", and rarely set foot in the so-called "Happy Land of Bliss Street".
Oh, so you're that mythical creature, the non-sectarian Lebanese. Pass my greetings along to the unicorns you hang out with…
Actually, as I said on this blog before, I am not Lebanese. What part of that did you not understand?
Just another outsider using Beirut as a base for the war against Israel, this time in cyberspace.
"the war against israel" – what's that? something metaphysical, maybe?
Another existential threat. Antisemitism. Hitler. Nazi. Mel Gibson.
And LOL@SoG. Some guy dies in an elevator and you threaten us?