If we are wise, we will see in this a dual liberation from the paralyzing chains of occupation: for the Palestinians in their land, as well as for us in our land, free of the internal dangers of enslaving another nation.
In the wake of the declining social protest, Israeli politicians and officials from various security agencies have been flooding the media with warnings of terrible calamities that will befall Israel following the Palestinians’ appeal to the United Nations.
Everyone – from ministers to members of the security forces – has been quick to reassure the public that Israel is capable of withstanding any attack that may take place. In fact, these assurances are calculated to create an atmosphere of panic rather than dispel it, given that such events have not taken place.
But it is crucial to listen to other voices, usually softer yet still extremely important.
Many Palestinian officials and organizations have stated that their best and most fruitful path is non-violent struggle. Such a trend means replacing guns and stones with peaceful demonstrations and slogans, standing in public squares to create a massive collective demand for independence, not shedding blood. And this is the real threat for the Israeli government and the army: They do not know how to handle a non-violent struggle, and so they inflame public opinion.
The Palestinian appeal to the United Nations is considered by many Israelis to be a threat, but it can – and should – be seen otherwise. It is an attempt to take a new direction, for diplomacy rather than the violence that has proven to be so destructive and counterproductive.
And in light of this turn to a non-violent struggle, the Palestinian appeal to the United Nations may present the whole region with a genuine opportunity for change, a move toward a different reality with a new kind of discussion between equals, not between conqueror and conquered, master and slave.
The Palestinian petition to the UN is not simple, and will likely have long-term impact in many respects. But dismissing it solely because it is a unilateral measure is an example of hypocrisy and our blindness toward the actions of our own government. What is building and expanding the settlements if not a unilateral step?
We are accusing the Palestinians of trying to establish facts on the ground while ignoring the fact that our own government is doing precisely that. With each tractor cultivating Palestinian land, with each Palestinian family evicted and replaced by Jewish settlers, with every violent act by settlers mishandled by Israeli law enforcement. Their land is ploughed, maps are marked, and a solution becomes less and less possible.
And along with all of this, the occupation is being cemented in our minds and in public discourse as an irreversible fact, an indelible reality, a necessary part of our lives here. This is an alarming process of legitimizing the occupation and normalizing it. The occupation is not our inevitable destiny, but it has been going on for the past 44 years, evolving and expanding, becoming more and more sophisticated, and preventing any real chance for peace.
It is simply untrue that the Palestinians do not have a right to independence; we are not in a position to bestow it – freedom and self-determination are basic rights, not a privilege. This territory is not ours to give, and they are not required to pass a test in order to prove their worthiness. The Palestinians do not need to ask our permission, which is why they are not doing so. Years of attempts at bilateral discussions have resulted in stagnation, and have become another tool in perpetuating the occupation.
So therefore the Palestinians are taking their own destiny into their own hands and asking the international community to acknowledge their status as a people and therefore their right to establish a free and independent state. Looking at our own history, it is not difficult to see where they got such an idea.
It is also important to note that not all Israelis are terrified of Palestinian independence. A series of joint Palestinian-Israeli events have expressed support and solidarity for the Palestinians’ unilateral move. From the July 15th march in Jerusalem and the recent women’s demonstration in Qalandiya to tomorrow’s rally in Bet Jala, a growing number of Israelis and Palestinians have joined hands to show each other, their communities, and the world at large that Palestinian independence is a necessary first step in any future process of reconciliation.
If we stop for a moment to consider this bold move, we may see it as an opportunity to be welcomed. And if we are wise, we will see in this a dual liberation from the paralyzing chains of occupation: for the Palestinians in their land, as well as for us in our land, free of the internal dangers of enslaving another nation. This is an opportunity to start concentrating on building the foundations of a just civil society in Israel, based on principles we have neglected for too long.
This article was published in Haaretz
Israelis and Palestinians celebrate Palestinian independence together, Thursday, September 22nd, 6 PM
