This is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page.
After Gaza – that sensibility may be premature on many levels. In the last decades has there truly been an after Gaza moment – that lasted?
I remember lecturing in Geneva, Switzerland some months after the 2008-2009 siege of Gaza had(n’t) ended. I was almost hooted off the stage when I said there was more to come. In the audience mind, this was it, way too blatant, the international community wouldn’t allow such carnage and, yes, war crimes, to go unpunished.
Now we have arrived back at the beginning with more or less the same sentiments circulating. But if Israel plays its cards rights it won’t need to go back into Gaza. Especially since the international “Never Again” mantra seeks to cure Palestine’s ills by measuring out large doses of preventive medicine.
“Preventive” here means squeezing Gaza and the West Bank into a controlled militarized zone where only those who seek to discipline resistance has the firepower.
“Preventive” here means negotiating an airport and seaport which if ever built – and if either remained open for any length of time – would be so policed and restrictive it would probably be easier to walk or swim to one’s destination.
Well done, one might say, Israel should claim victory and move on. But Israel isn’t resting content with its victory. Hence the new settlement expansion and the confiscation of land in the West Bank – without leaving out the new nine story yeshiva in East Jerusalem.
So having withdrawn troops from Gaza, though still keeping its (somewhat adjusted) blockade in place, Israel is pushing the international Israel-gets-to-keep-all-it-has-taken envelope. If you noticed this was John Kerry’s envelope as well. Having thumbed its nose at Kerry and tacking on an invasion of Gaza to emphasize its point, Israel is already doing the same to the larger world.
So what to do – after Gaza? Wait and see what Israel plans to do and then watch as more land is confiscated and more settlements are built?
We’ve been there and done that. The end of Israel’s invasion of Gaza – once again – was supposed to change the script.
Yes I’m afraid the reality is wait and see and, yes, condemn. Saying, of course, that the priority has to be rebuilding the shattered lives of Gaza’s population. While understandable, it is, at the same time, an obvious diversion.
Israel thrives on diversions. As sad and painful as it is to even think that this horror is a diversion, it’s important to think the unthinkable.
Israel’s master plan is still in place. Full throttle.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled plans to build 2,500 settlement units in Jerusalem due to international pressure, according to local media reports.
Israeli officials told Walla! Netanyahu stopped the construction of new settlement homes primarily due to fear of an “international crisis”, after the US had urged him not to follow through with the plan.
The housing units had been announced after the 12 June abduction of three Israeli settler teens, who were later found dead near Hebron. 1,500 units were to be built in south Jerusalem and a further 1,000 in West Bank settlements.
“The national status after Operation Protective Edge is explosive and complicated,” an unnamed officials told Walla!. “Israel needs to act carefully and not initiate new crises that will be added to unavoidable crises created by the operation,” they added.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-cancels-settlement-plans-due-international-pressure-1015162706#sthash.Dh57cxqj.gbpl
Robert Fisk weighs in…..
It was instructive to learn the Israeli-Jewish Etzion council regarded this larceny as punishment for the murder of three Israeli teenagers in June. “The goal of the murders of those three youths was to sow fear among us, to disrupt our daily lives and to call into doubt our right [sic] to the land,” the Etzion council announced. “Our response is to strengthen settlement.” This must be the first time that land in “Palestine” has been acquired not through excuses about security or land deeds – or on God’s personal authority – but out of revenge…..
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/israels-land-for-lives-is-theft-pure-and-simple-9705378.html?utm_content=bufferdb5aa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Jen put-a-sock-in-it Psaki:
“QUESTION: Jen, at a time when you are leading a posse, an international posse to impose sanctions on Russia for allegedly or invading Ukraine and so on —
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Now we have an occupation that have gone on for a very long time where the occupying power keeps stealing land and building settlements and so on. Why can’t you lead a posse to impose sanctions on Israel in this case? Wouldn’t it make sense?
MS. PSAKI: That’s not an option being considered, Said.
QUESTION: Why is it not an option? Why is it not —
MS. PSAKI: I think I —
QUESTION: — because it was —
MS. PSAKI: Said, I think we need to move on because I don’t have unlimited time here.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: Very briefly —
MS. PSAKI: Sure.
QUESTION: — about your statement. You said you’re very concerned about possibility of new settlement in East Jerusalem construction may be – that announcements may be – come at any time. Can you be more specific? Can you elaborate on that, or is that just something that’s kind of in the ether that you’re concerned about?
MS. PSAKI: It’s – there have been news reports about in the region, so that’s why we addressed it.
QUESTION: All right. And then you said that if the appropriation in the West Bank and if these rumored or reported new announcements go ahead, it would send a very troubling message – it would send a very troubling message if they proceed.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Is there any consequence to that —
MS. PSAKI: Well —
QUESTION: — if they proceed?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any consequences to lay out for you, Matt. I think it’s important for us – not just the United States but there are a range of countries in the international community that have been clear about not only their opposition but their own intentions. I’m not going to speak to those. I speak for the United States.”
more business as usual here:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/09/231216.htm#ISRAEL