Mazin Qumsiyeh, 3 May 2011
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There is a western media frenzy about the reported “taking-out” of Osama Bin
Laden (the previous ally turned enemy). Israeli papers reported a high level
US security official as saying he instruction was not to capture Bin Laden
alive but to liquidate him. But everyone already knew this since there
would be messy business if the US soldiers captured such a person alive (he
may even spill the beans on his US and Pakistani intelligence links). Most
people went about their daily lives of apathy. Even the stock market did
not go up as pundits predicted. Soon the dollar will resume its downward
spiral.
The US military may feel vindicated and Pakistanis will feel their country’s
sovereignty challenged. Some may chose to retaliate with violence giving the
neocons and neoliberals their excuse to pursue their policies. After the
collapse of the Soviet Union, the military-industrial complex needed a new
enemy to sustain its massive structure and conveniently the “Islamic
terrorism” materialized. Of course there are fanatical Muslims (and Jews and
Christians and Hindus) who are willing to kill. Yet, the US did not have to
invade Iraq and Afghanistan and create more such fanatics. But a more sober
analysis shows that things will change.
Bin Laden was killed a while ago not physically but as an idea! The idea
suffered significant blows by the Arab Spring revolutions which showed that
it does not take violence to change our societies and remove US/Israeli
backed dictators. Bin Laden’s assassination and the continued state
terrorism practiced by the US government and its allies especially Israel
attempt to entrench the idea of violence as an answer. The brutal assault on
Syrian, Yemeni, Saudi and Bahraini demonstrators and the US continued
military attacks in countries around the world are part of this human
foolishness. They represent that wing of our global society that believes
violence is the answer: the win-lose scenario. The hopeful ideas of popular
resistance, freedom, democracy and end to exploitation successfully
challenged the notions of “clash of civilization” and “might makes right”.
We thus remain hopeful despite all the false news planted around us and all
the false-flag operations, and despite the 1 million Iraqis and 50,000
Afghans killed by these wars.
Here in Palestine, most people went about their lives focusing on how to
find the next loaf of bread under Israeli colonial occupation. Hardly a
mention was made of Bin Laden. If we take just one village called Izbet
Al-Tabib, a tiny village of 247 residents (60% of them children), we see one
example of what was on people’s minds. The Israeli decision to take their
land was met with building a protest tent on the threatened land and trying
to make their story known. The Israeli military came and attacked the
villagers and the international volunteers severely injuring an elderly
American woman and arresting three other internationals (see
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/05/18071/ ). At night more than 200 soldiers
invaded the village terrorizing its population to try and stem the growing
popular resistance. Please join the villagers Thursday for solidarity
starting at 1 PM. And last night, the Israeli army arrested several
Palestinians in major cities including Bethlehem (this happens regularly in
defiance of the Oslo accords and with knowledge of “Palestinian security”
forces).
In a few days, there will be events and commemorations surrounding the Nakba
day. The Nakba is the Palestinian catastrophe etched into every living
Palestinian mind. It is the fact that from January 1948 to the end of 1949,
more than 2/3rd of our people who lived in the land that became the (Jewish)
state of Israel were ethnically cleansed. 63 years later, nearly 7 million
Palestinians are refugees or internally displaced people. This is the
largest and most tragic and persistent post world war II atrocity. For
information, visit http://PalestineRemembered.com
It is important that we all join in activities to challenge colonialism on
this anniversary of the Nakba. Below are some events but do look for events
in your area or organize your own events. In the US, you can also get some
printed material (a Nakba Pak) from here
http://ifamericansknew.org/about_us/packs.html
>From Lebanon and Jordan, see details here
http://returntopalestine.blogspot.com/
Hellerup, Kobenhavn, Denmark
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221525124531256
Israëlische ambassade, Sterrewachtlaan 40 1180 Ukkel – Avenue de
l’Observatoire 40 1180 Brussel (UCCLE)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200013603371184
Madrid. C/ Velázquez 150, 7º
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180589978657757
Ambassade d’Israel – Paris
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179953362056178
Bern (Bern, Switzerland)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168998889823873
Houston, TX
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123540217721453
Consulate General of Israel, 6380 Wilshire blvd. Suite 1700, Los Angeles CA,
90048 & Consulate General of Israel, 456 Montgomery Street, San Francisco,
94104
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140344946036616
Israeli Embassy
122 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge
Dublin, Ireland
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205349512829240
Ambasciata d’Israele, via Michele Mercati 12, Roma
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178215672227437
Israelische Botschaft Auguste-Viktoria-Str. 74-76 14193 Berlin
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118993821513426
Boston Israeli Consulate
20 Park Plaza
Boston, MA
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210024405683124
Israeli Embassy, 2 Palace Green, London W8 4QB
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197040297000383
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine. He serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour He is author of “Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle” and the forthcoming book Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment.
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://www.qumsiyeh.org
http://www.pcr.ps
Articles by Dr. Qumsiyeh on RamallahOnline.com.