Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance Has Strong Roots

Remarks made by Bono , New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof and President Barack Obama stating they hoped Palestinians would find their Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) or Gandhi completely ignore Palestinian nonviolent resistance to brutal oppression.

The presumption that the Palestinian struggle is mainly violent is disturbing. And the dismissal of the people who have sacrificed time, money and even their lives to fight injustice with nonviolence is callous.

Although Palestinian nonviolent resistance dates back to the early 1900’s, the image of armed and violent Palestinians still prevails.   In the 1970’s and 80’s, Palestinian refugees from camps in foreign countries, seeing no resolution after decades of displacement, chose armed struggle and  more recent suicide bombings in Israel  reinforced the perception.

Several factors have hindered a single, iconic figure from emerging or a cohesive civil disobedience movement from blooming despite its continued use by different sectors of Palestinian society.

Israeli policies are repressive and brutal.  The use of live ammunition, beatings, destruction of property,  rejection of building permits, constant threats, repeated administrative detentions and the escalation in arrests is discouraging and has been effectively obstructive.

Nongovernmental delegations, employees and individuals who are perceived as critical of Israel or sympathetic to Palestinians are increasingly denied entry or proper work permits for the Occupied Territories.

Sami Awad, Coordinator for the Holy Land Trust, a not-for-profit community support organization committed to nonviolence and the teachings of MLK and Gandhi, aptly points out, “Nonviolence is not something that happens overnight.  It’s not a means to end the conflict tomorrow. It’s something that evolves over long periods of time.”

Complicit too is the media’s noncoverage of nonviolent direct actions and damaging comments by someone of Bono’s stature that completely ignores the vital nonviolent struggle and committed activists.

Palestinian leaders like Ghassan Andoni, Mustapha BarghoutiJamal Juma’, Abdallah Abu Rahme, Mohammed Othman and Jean Zaru , among others, continue to speak publicly and organize direct actions to nonviolently protest injustices.

Israeli and Jewish activists join Palestinian initiatives regularly.  Neta Golan, Jeff Halper, Rabbi Erik Ascherman and Ezra Nawi are just a few.  “Internationals” from other countries also participate, facing beatings, arrest, bullets, teargas and even death from Israeli forces.

Many Palestinians have been killed while taking part in nonviolent protests including Basem Abu Rahme who was killed during a protest in Bil’in.  Internationals have also been killed, including Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall.  Tristan Anderson, an American, lies in a coma after being shot with a teargas canister.

Navigating children through militarized checkpoints, attempting to harvest crops while being attacked by Israeli settlers and living in a tent near the home recently taken over by settlers are all forms of  nonviolence resistance or as the Palestinians call it “sumoud” or “steadfastness”.

Bono, Kristof and President Obama should not discount the millions of Palestinians who are struggling against daily obstacles peacefully.  Nonviolence resistance in addition to protests includes blogging, boycotts, and creating youtube videos.

It would benefit Bono, Kristof and President Obama to take the time to learn about Palestinian history and meet some of the living Palestinian and Israeli Gandhi’s, MLK’s and Aung San Suu Kyi’s active today.

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

53 thoughts on “Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance Has Strong Roots

  1. "Why Nonviolent Resistance is Important for the Palestinian Intifada"
    an article published Tuesday, January 29 2002, in the Palestine Chronicle

    By Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro,

    (The founders and leaders of the International Solidarity Movement, the supposed non-violence group that sent Rachel Corrie to her death)

    "While we DO NOT advocate adopting the methods of Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr., we do believe that learning from their experience and informing a Palestinian movement with this knowledge can be quite valuable and of great utility.

    While there is no guarantee that the use of nonviolence as a strategic element of resistance as part of a larger Intifada would end the occupation, IT IS SIMPLY A STRATEGY, one that can be employed to attain specific, pre-determined goals.
    ….
    The use of nonviolence … is something that can be manipulated to present a story, a case or an image."

    Let us reiterate, we accept that Palestinians have a right to resist with arms. In actuality, NONVIOLENCE IS NOT ENOUGH."

    The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics – BOTH nonviolent AND VIOLENT. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. No other successful nonviolent movement was able to achieve what it did without a concurrent violent movement – in India militants attacked British outposts and interests while Gandhi conducted his campaign, while the Black Panther Movement and its earlier incarnations existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States."

    Palestinians too should use any means necessary, and that includes the use of nonviolent direct action."

  2. “Why Nonviolent Resistance is Important for the Palestinian Intifada”
    an article published Tuesday, January 29 2002, in the Palestine Chronicle

    By Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro,

    (The founders and leaders of the International Solidarity Movement, the supposed non-violence group that sent Rachel Corrie to her death)

    “While we DO NOT advocate adopting the methods of Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr., we do believe that learning from their experience and informing a Palestinian movement with this knowledge can be quite valuable and of great utility.

    While there is no guarantee that the use of nonviolence as a strategic element of resistance as part of a larger Intifada would end the occupation, IT IS SIMPLY A STRATEGY, one that can be employed to attain specific, pre-determined goals.
    ….
    The use of nonviolence … is something that can be manipulated to present a story, a case or an image.”

    Let us reiterate, we accept that Palestinians have a right to resist with arms. In actuality, NONVIOLENCE IS NOT ENOUGH.”

    The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics – BOTH nonviolent AND VIOLENT. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. No other successful nonviolent movement was able to achieve what it did without a concurrent violent movement – in India militants attacked British outposts and interests while Gandhi conducted his campaign, while the Black Panther Movement and its earlier incarnations existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.”

    Palestinians too should use any means necessary, and that includes the use of nonviolent direct action.”

  3. For those who don't know, Gaza Freedom Marches have been held all over the world. Even on my little Cape Cod there was a small group of marchers who carried signs saying "We Will Not be Silent". No media coverage at all. If it wasn't for a local peace group I never would have known.

  4. For those who don’t know, Gaza Freedom Marches have been held all over the world. Even on my little Cape Cod there was a small group of marchers who carried signs saying “We Will Not be Silent”. No media coverage at all. If it wasn’t for a local peace group I never would have known.

  5. Edie: you are claiming groups like ISM, which sent into the conflict zone to die several of the victims you specifically name in your blog, advocates the path of non-violence as specified by Gandhi and MLK.

    This is verifiable false misinformation.

    The founders of the ISM have clearly stated in their own words in no uncertain terms that they do NOT follow MLK or Gandhi.

    They state they only want to "use" some of the tactics of non-violence as developed by these men in order to "spin" ( their words) the Palestinian image to the rest of the world, but they see this as only being effective if it is but one element inside a larger, primarily violent struggle.

    Edie, So how can you claim people are followers of Gandhi and MLK when they state in their own words they are definitely ***"NOT"*** followers of Gandhi and MLK but are only interested in borrowing some tactics of these great men while rejecting their core message of non-violence, in order to to try to "manipulate" an "image" or "tell a story" ( thier words) to the outside world of Palestinian non-violence while still advocating for those who do use violence ?

    Here is an article written by the founders of the ISM which explains this in detail.

    "Why Nonviolent Resistance is Important for the Palestinian Intifada"
    Published Tuesday, January 29 2002, in The PalestineChronicle

    By Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro, the founders of the International Solidarity Movement.

    "We offer an alternative vision and outline for how nonviolence can be used effectively, though not exclusively, in overcoming occupation.

    While we do not advocate adopting the methods of Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr., we do believe that learning from their experience and informing a Palestinian movement with this knowledge can be quite valuable and of great utility.

    First and foremost, there is no guarantee that the use of nonviolence as a strategic element of resistance as part of a larger Intifada would end the occupation, It is simply a strategy, one that can be employed to attain specific, pre-determined goals.

    The use of nonviolence …. is something that can be manipulated to present a story, a case or an image.

    Let us reiterate, we accept that Palestinians have a right to resist with arms.

    In actuality, nonviolence is not enough.First a strategy of nonviolent direct action resistance must be developed.

    The adoption of nonviolent direct action resistance would change the image of the Palestinian struggle around the world.

    The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics – both nonviolent and violent. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. No other successful nonviolent movement was able to achieve what it did without a concurrent violent movement – in India militants attacked British outposts and interests while Gandhi conducted his campaign, while the Black Panther Movement and its earlier incarnations existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

    Palestinians too should use any means necessary. "

  6. Edie: you are claiming groups like ISM, which sent into the conflict zone to die several of the victims you specifically name in your blog, advocates the path of non-violence as specified by Gandhi and MLK.

    This is verifiable false misinformation.

    The founders of the ISM have clearly stated in their own words in no uncertain terms that they do NOT follow MLK or Gandhi.

    They state they only want to “use” some of the tactics of non-violence as developed by these men in order to “spin” ( their words) the Palestinian image to the rest of the world, but they see this as only being effective if it is but one element inside a larger, primarily violent struggle.

    Edie, So how can you claim people are followers of Gandhi and MLK when they state in their own words they are definitely ***”NOT”*** followers of Gandhi and MLK but are only interested in borrowing some tactics of these great men while rejecting their core message of non-violence, in order to to try to “manipulate” an “image” or “tell a story” ( thier words) to the outside world of Palestinian non-violence while still advocating for those who do use violence ?

    Here is an article written by the founders of the ISM which explains this in detail.

    “Why Nonviolent Resistance is Important for the Palestinian Intifada”
    Published Tuesday, January 29 2002, in The PalestineChronicle

    By Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro, the founders of the International Solidarity Movement.

    “We offer an alternative vision and outline for how nonviolence can be used effectively, though not exclusively, in overcoming occupation.

    While we do not advocate adopting the methods of Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr., we do believe that learning from their experience and informing a Palestinian movement with this knowledge can be quite valuable and of great utility.

    First and foremost, there is no guarantee that the use of nonviolence as a strategic element of resistance as part of a larger Intifada would end the occupation, It is simply a strategy, one that can be employed to attain specific, pre-determined goals.

    The use of nonviolence …. is something that can be manipulated to present a story, a case or an image.

    Let us reiterate, we accept that Palestinians have a right to resist with arms.

    In actuality, nonviolence is not enough.First a strategy of nonviolent direct action resistance must be developed.

    The adoption of nonviolent direct action resistance would change the image of the Palestinian struggle around the world.

    The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics – both nonviolent and violent. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. No other successful nonviolent movement was able to achieve what it did without a concurrent violent movement – in India militants attacked British outposts and interests while Gandhi conducted his campaign, while the Black Panther Movement and its earlier incarnations existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

    Palestinians too should use any means necessary. “

  7. In Eugene, OR I have seen gatherings in a public square with people handing out pamphlets about the abuse towards Palestinians. In fact, I think they are there every Saturday during the famer's market season (spring/summer)

  8. Well good for Eugene OR. It's nice to know their are more enlightened places. I guess I wanted media coverage as a way of informing people of the situation. There are people who know nothing about Gaza, where it is, what's going on. If only a few of them could be touched by media coverage of a peaceful march, that would be terrific.

  9. Israel whines about terrorism yet their response 2 PACIFISTS is 2 JAIL THEM, TORTURE THEM & even KILL THEM. The WORLD says FREE PALESTINE NOW.

  10. In Eugene, OR I have seen gatherings in a public square with people handing out pamphlets about the abuse towards Palestinians. In fact, I think they are there every Saturday during the famer’s market season (spring/summer)

  11. Well good for Eugene OR. It’s nice to know their are more enlightened places. I guess I wanted media coverage as a way of informing people of the situation. There are people who know nothing about Gaza, where it is, what’s going on. If only a few of them could be touched by media coverage of a peaceful march, that would be terrific.

  12. Israel whines about terrorism yet their response 2 PACIFISTS is 2 JAIL THEM, TORTURE THEM & even KILL THEM. The WORLD says FREE PALESTINE NOW.

  13. Edie:

    If the Palestinians are really interested in non-violence, all they have to do is negotiate for peace with the Israelis, and find a way to end the conflict so both side can live side by side, each in his own country, in peace and quiet.

    That would be the true path of non-violence.

  14. Edie:

    If the Palestinians are really interested in non-violence, all they have to do is negotiate for peace with the Israelis, and find a way to end the conflict so both side can live side by side, each in his own country, in peace and quiet.

    That would be the true path of non-violence.

  15. Last summer, I had an opportunity to visit the West Bank. While there, I witnessed huge injustices and violations against basic human rights that would be considered outrageous if it were to occur here in the United States. Of the places I stopped at, the Aida Refugee Camp was especially heartbreaking. How can we expect humans to live in such terrible conditions? Furthermore, imposing curfews and rationing water throughout areas of Palestine holds no logic or reason whatsoever. The Israeli Government should be ashamed of themselves for breeding such oppression. It is quite ironic that a group of people who were once persecuted themselves are now targeting another group of individuals.

    Palestinians are kind, generous people, and deserve to live their lives without restriction.

  16. Last summer, I had an opportunity to visit the West Bank. While there, I witnessed huge injustices and violations against basic human rights that would be considered outrageous if it were to occur here in the United States. Of the places I stopped at, the Aida Refugee Camp was especially heartbreaking. How can we expect humans to live in such terrible conditions? Furthermore, imposing curfews and rationing water throughout areas of Palestine holds no logic or reason whatsoever. The Israeli Government should be ashamed of themselves for breeding such oppression. It is quite ironic that a group of people who were once persecuted themselves are now targeting another group of individuals.

    Palestinians are kind, generous people, and deserve to live their lives without restriction.

  17. The best way to practice non-violence would be to as fast as possible make peace, between Israel and not just Palestine, but also all the Arab and Moslem world, to find comprimise solutions to all the outstanding issues, to end the conflict completely once and for all and never again have war.

  18. The best way to practice non-violence would be to as fast as possible make peace, between Israel and not just Palestine, but also all the Arab and Moslem world, to find comprimise solutions to all the outstanding issues, to end the conflict completely once and for all and never again have war.

  19. Carolyn:

    This is one of the Palestinian guys who is really practicing non-violence and following the true path of Gandhi and MLK Jr. and deserves 10 Noble Prizes if he succeeds.

    reference: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3843477
    Published: 02.02.10

    "Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday attended a rare joint discussion in Israel about the peace process today at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

    Fayyad stressed in his address that "the state being built here is Palestinian, and who should build it rather than us? A peace process is needed, because this will lead to the end of the occupation.

    We want to be ready for a state which is about to be established, and we are ready to establish it by 2011. We are encouraged because we have made progress in creating an infrastructure in the past two years.

    Instead of returning to the Oslo Accords, we must be led by a way which will make us understand that the occupation is about to withdraw. We need a political horizon which will result in a Palestinian state. We, the Palestinians, want to live next to you, in peace, security and welfare."

  20. Carolyn:

    This is one of the Palestinian guys who is really practicing non-violence and following the true path of Gandhi and MLK Jr. and deserves 10 Noble Prizes if he succeeds.

    reference: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3843477
    Published: 02.02.10

    "Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday attended a rare joint discussion in Israel about the peace process today at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

    Fayyad stressed in his address that "the state being built here is Palestinian, and who should build it rather than us? A peace process is needed, because this will lead to the end of the occupation.

    We want to be ready for a state which is about to be established, and we are ready to establish it by 2011. We are encouraged because we have made progress in creating an infrastructure in the past two years.

    Instead of returning to the Oslo Accords, we must be led by a way which will make us understand that the occupation is about to withdraw. We need a political horizon which will result in a Palestinian state. We, the Palestinians, want to live next to you, in peace, security and welfare."

  21. Carolyn:

    This is one of the Palestinian guys who is really practicing non-violence and following the true path of Gandhi and MLK Jr. and deserves 10 Noble Prizes if he succeeds.

    reference: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3843477
    Published: 02.02.10

    "Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday attended a rare joint discussion in Israel about the peace process today at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

    Fayyad stressed in his address that "the state being built here is Palestinian, and who should build it rather than us? A peace process is needed, because this will lead to the end of the occupation.

    We want to be ready for a state which is about to be established, and we are ready to establish it by 2011. We are encouraged because we have made progress in creating an infrastructure in the past two years.

    Instead of returning to the Oslo Accords, we must be led by a way which will make us understand that the occupation is about to withdraw. We need a political horizon which will result in a Palestinian state. We, the Palestinians, want to live next to you, in peace, security and welfare."

  22. Carolyn:

    This is one of the Palestinian guys who is really practicing non-violence and following the true path of Gandhi and MLK Jr. and deserves 10 Noble Prizes if he succeeds.

    reference:
    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3843477,00.html
    Published: 02.02.10

    “Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday attended a rare joint discussion in Israel about the peace process today at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

    Fayyad stressed in his address that “the state being built here is Palestinian, and who should build it rather than us? A peace process is needed, because this will lead to the end of the occupation.

    We want to be ready for a state which is about to be established, and we are ready to establish it by 2011. We are encouraged because we have made progress in creating an infrastructure in the past two years.

    Instead of returning to the Oslo Accords, we must be led by a way which will make us understand that the occupation is about to withdraw. We need a political horizon which will result in a Palestinian state. We, the Palestinians, want to live next to you, in peace, security and welfare.”

  23. As Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have rightly emphasized over the years, a just implementation of the rights of refugees of the 1947-1949 conflict in Palestine/Israel is a critical element of the road map to real peace. While such a peace might take shape in a Palestine/Israel with various forms of political organization, the imperative, as stated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, that refugees and their descendants have the right to return to the vicinity of their original homes will call for a solution based on integration rather than "separation" between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews — including, of course, the 1.5 million or so Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel as well as refugees who wish to become Israeli citizens.
    Once a goal of equal citizenship is defined, nonviolent means are clearly the logical means that goal — but this will require nonviolent action not only by Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews of good will, but also, as in South Africa, by concerned world citizens at large.
    To conclude, I should emphasize that supporting the basic human rights of Palestinian and Jewish refugees does not necessarily imply any specific number of states in Palestine/Israel, let alone require any one form of constitutional structuring. As in South Africa, once the commitment to "Peace Through Integration" is made, the specifics can emerge through the difficult but fruitful process of negotiations between the immediate parties, with the support of the international community.

  24. As Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have rightly emphasized over the years, a just implementation of the rights of refugees of the 1947-1949 conflict in Palestine/Israel is a critical element of the road map to real peace. While such a peace might take shape in a Palestine/Israel with various forms of political organization, the imperative, as stated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, that refugees and their descendants have the right to return to the vicinity of their original homes will call for a solution based on integration rather than “separation” between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews — including, of course, the 1.5 million or so Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel as well as refugees who wish to become Israeli citizens.
    Once a goal of equal citizenship is defined, nonviolent means are clearly the logical means that goal — but this will require nonviolent action not only by Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews of good will, but also, as in South Africa, by concerned world citizens at large.
    To conclude, I should emphasize that supporting the basic human rights of Palestinian and Jewish refugees does not necessarily imply any specific number of states in Palestine/Israel, let alone require any one form of constitutional structuring. As in South Africa, once the commitment to “Peace Through Integration” is made, the specifics can emerge through the difficult but fruitful process of negotiations between the immediate parties, with the support of the international community.

  25. I went to Israel and Palestine in January of 1996, and brought peace and healing tthe area by visiting Yad Vashem The Holocaust museum, and by buying souvenirs from Palestinians. I also believe readers should know about and support the Seeds of Peace program in Maine, USA. The young who have lost the most in the conflict there are brought to a camp in Maine to learn each others languages and religions and make friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.
    I was the founder and president of the AI undergraduate group at The Catholic University of America 1987-89, and recently attended the Amnesty International meeting with Group #74 in Garden City/Westbury, and sent in my membership card with a letter because the National group is not supporting the local groups with the propaganda needed by volunteers to carry out the campaigns. The Budget was cut by the Board of Directors of AI, although the group has millions of dollars from dues payers and over 2 million members worldwide, and the budget should never have been cut. I am now The Nassau County Executive Committee Chairman to The Constitution Party and am considering a campaign for The US Congress 4th Federal District NY State this year. Please check http://www.constitutionparty.com for our platform, and respond to my offer of public service.

  26. I went to Israel and Palestine in January of 1996, and brought peace and healing tthe area by visiting Yad Vashem The Holocaust museum, and by buying souvenirs from Palestinians. I also believe readers should know about and support the Seeds of Peace program in Maine, USA. The young who have lost the most in the conflict there are brought to a camp in Maine to learn each others languages and religions and make friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.
    I was the founder and president of the AI undergraduate group at The Catholic University of America 1987-89, and recently attended the Amnesty International meeting with Group #74 in Garden City/Westbury, and sent in my membership card with a letter because the National group is not supporting the local groups with the propaganda needed by volunteers to carry out the campaigns. The Budget was cut by the Board of Directors of AI, although the group has millions of dollars from dues payers and over 2 million members worldwide, and the budget should never have been cut. I am now The Nassau County Executive Committee Chairman to The Constitution Party and am considering a campaign for The US Congress 4th Federal District NY State this year. Please check http://www.constitutionparty.com for our platform, and respond to my offer of public service.

  27. I went to Israel and Palestine in January of 1996, and brought peace and healing tthe area by visiting Yad Vashem The Holocaust museum, and by buying souvenirs from Palestinians. I also believe readers should know about and support the Seeds of Peace program in Maine, USA. The young who have lost the most in the conflict there are brought to a camp in Maine to learn each others languages and religions and make friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.
    I was the founder and president of the AI undergraduate group at The Catholic University of America 1987-89, and recently attended the Amnesty International meeting with Group #74 in Garden City/Westbury, and sent in my membership card with a letter because the National group is not supporting the local groups with the propaganda needed by volunteers to carry out the campaigns. The Budget was cut by the Board of Directors of AI, although the group has millions of dollars from dues payers and over 2 million members worldwide, and the budget should never have been cut. I am now The Nassau County Executive Committee Chairman to The Constitution Party and am considering a campaign for The US Congress 4th Federal District NY State this year. Please check http://www.constitutionparty.com for our platform, and respond to my offer of public service.

  28. I went to Israel and Palestine in January of 1996, and brought peace and healing tthe area by visiting Yad Vashem The Holocaust museum, and by buying souvenirs from Palestinians. I also believe readers should know about and support the Seeds of Peace program in Maine, USA. The young who have lost the most in the conflict there are brought to a camp in Maine to learn each others languages and religions and make friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.
    I was the founder and president of the AI undergraduate group at The Catholic University of America 1987-89, and recently attended the Amnesty International meeting with Group #74 in Garden City/Westbury, and sent in my membership card with a letter because the National group is not supporting the local groups with the propaganda needed by volunteers to carry out the campaigns. The Budget was cut by the Board of Directors of AI, although the group has millions of dollars from dues payers and over 2 million members worldwide, and the budget should never have been cut. I am now The Nassau County Executive Committee Chairman to The Constitution Party and am considering a campaign for The US Congress 4th Federal District NY State this year. Please check http://www.constitutionparty.com for our platform, and respond to my offer of public service.

  29. The best way for The United States to help broker a peace agreement is to stop sending $3 Billion per year for the Israeli army, and for Hezbollah and Hamas to stop training suicide bombers and paying life insurance for the bombers who believe they are bringing people to the 72 doe eyed virgins in Heaven. The Arab League should stop paying lip service to the Palestinian cause and recognize the State of Israel as Egypt has since President Carter's Peace Talks at Camp David, and the agreement signed at the White House in the late 70's.

  30. The best way for The United States to help broker a peace agreement is to stop sending $3 Billion per year for the Israeli army, and for Hezbollah and Hamas to stop training suicide bombers and paying life insurance for the bombers who believe they are bringing people to the 72 doe eyed virgins in Heaven. The Arab League should stop paying lip service to the Palestinian cause and recognize the State of Israel as Egypt has since President Carter's Peace Talks at Camp David, and the agreement signed at the White House in the late 70's.
    I hate to tell the truth about MLK-I read a book about him years ago, and he was an self-admitted Marxist-Leninist and devoted skirt-chaser. He may have marched for civil rights but was not as much a hero in my eyes as Rosa Parks, who did not give up her bus seat in defiance of unjust Jim Crow laws. As far as Ghandi goes, he was a self-admitted "Super-Atheist" who allowed fellow Indians to be slaughtered on the great salt march because the broken bodies and blood would eventually prick the consciences of the British colonial forces who would then stop the brutality. He was naive, but effective in throwing off the British colonial forces, but the English language, commerce and common law has triumphed elsewhere and India is now the world's largest English speaking democracy, and an ally of The United States.

  31. The best way for The United States to help broker a peace agreement is to stop sending $3 Billion per year for the Israeli army, and for Hezbollah and Hamas to stop training suicide bombers and paying life insurance for the bombers who believe they are bringing people to the 72 doe eyed virgins in Heaven. The Arab League should stop paying lip service to the Palestinian cause and recognize the State of Israel as Egypt has since President Carter’s Peace Talks at Camp David, and the agreement signed at the White House in the late 70’s.

  32. The best way for The United States to help broker a peace agreement is to stop sending $3 Billion per year for the Israeli army, and for Hezbollah and Hamas to stop training suicide bombers and paying life insurance for the bombers who believe they are bringing people to the 72 doe eyed virgins in Heaven. The Arab League should stop paying lip service to the Palestinian cause and recognize the State of Israel as Egypt has since President Carter’s Peace Talks at Camp David, and the agreement signed at the White House in the late 70’s.
    I hate to tell the truth about MLK-I read a book about him years ago, and he was an self-admitted Marxist-Leninist and devoted skirt-chaser. He may have marched for civil rights but was not as much a hero in my eyes as Rosa Parks, who did not give up her bus seat in defiance of unjust Jim Crow laws. As far as Ghandi goes, he was a self-admitted “Super-Atheist” who allowed fellow Indians to be slaughtered on the great salt march because the broken bodies and blood would eventually prick the consciences of the British colonial forces who would then stop the brutality. He was naive, but effective in throwing off the British colonial forces, but the English language, commerce and common law has triumphed elsewhere and India is now the world’s largest English speaking democracy, and an ally of The United States.

  33. Margo Schulter:

    So in other words. what you are saying is that Israel, a country of 5 million Jews and 1.5 million Arabs, must increase its Arab population by 7 million Arabs who call themselves refugees or there won't be peace.

    Obviously the State of Israel would not exist any more after that so you can hardly expect them to go along with your proposal for their national suicide.

    The whole point of making peace is that both sides must compromise in order to get to the end goal of two countries living side by side in peace and quiet, one a Jewish democratic state of Israel with full equality rights for its Arab citizens, and a state of Palestine living beside it in prosperity and mutual respect. That is what peace will look like, not the extermination of Israel as your idea would necessarily entail.

    Making insane demands of Israel that it must agree to commit suicide ( returning 7 million so-called refugees) right at the start of negotiations is not going to get anyone peace on either side because it is not a compromise position but is instead an *extremist* position, like saying in other words the end goal is the destruction of the other side, and not of peaceful coexistence.

    A compromise is needed, like for example Israel could agree not to seek compensation for the 800,000 Jews forcibly ethnically cleansed, all their property stolen, post 1948 by the racist Arab countries after living thousands of years in those Arab countries in return for the Arabs finally allowing the decendents of the 700,000 Palestinian refugees to emigrate or gain citizenship in Arab countries.

    The Arabs must also agree to stop oppressing Palestinians in worse than apartheid conditions, locking them in refugee camps for 60 years in some cases. Amnesty has repeatedly condemned Lebanon for its disgusting treatment of its Palestinian refugees. Lebanon is the only country on earth that in its constitution specifically excludes one racial group, Palestinians from all human rights, such as to gain citizenship, marry citizens, own property, speech, movement, education employment, medical treatment, etc.
    all this Lebanon forbids Palestinians, that have now lived 4 generations on its soil, locked up in horrid conditions while the rest of Lebanon gets rich and prospers.

    Is there one other case in the history of the world where a group of refugees arrived in a country sharing the same language, religion, and ethnic background and were then held prisoner, them and their children and grandchildren forever and ever in squalid camps?

    Only the Palestinians, of all the 100s of millions of refugees the world over that have moved around from country to country in the last 60 years have been treated thus, and by whom ? By their so-called Arab brothers that who. And it is about time, as Amnesty has repeated demanded for the apartheid regime of Lebanon to stop their cruel racist treatment of Palestinian refugees and stop now.

  34. Margo Schulter:

    So in other words. what you are saying is that Israel, a country of 5 million Jews and 1.5 million Arabs, must increase its Arab population by 7 million Arabs who call themselves refugees or there won’t be peace.

    Obviously the State of Israel would not exist any more after that so you can hardly expect them to go along with your proposal for their national suicide.

    The whole point of making peace is that both sides must compromise in order to get to the end goal of two countries living side by side in peace and quiet, one a Jewish democratic state of Israel with full equality rights for its Arab citizens, and a state of Palestine living beside it in prosperity and mutual respect. That is what peace will look like, not the extermination of Israel as your idea would necessarily entail.

    Making insane demands of Israel that it must agree to commit suicide ( returning 7 million so-called refugees) right at the start of negotiations is not going to get anyone peace on either side because it is not a compromise position but is instead an *extremist* position, like saying in other words the end goal is the destruction of the other side, and not of peaceful coexistence.

    A compromise is needed, like for example Israel could agree not to seek compensation for the 800,000 Jews forcibly ethnically cleansed, all their property stolen, post 1948 by the racist Arab countries after living thousands of years in those Arab countries in return for the Arabs finally allowing the decendents of the 700,000 Palestinian refugees to emigrate or gain citizenship in Arab countries.

    The Arabs must also agree to stop oppressing Palestinians in worse than apartheid conditions, locking them in refugee camps for 60 years in some cases. Amnesty has repeatedly condemned Lebanon for its disgusting treatment of its Palestinian refugees. Lebanon is the only country on earth that in its constitution specifically excludes one racial group, Palestinians from all human rights, such as to gain citizenship, marry citizens, own property, speech, movement, education employment, medical treatment, etc.
    all this Lebanon forbids Palestinians, that have now lived 4 generations on its soil, locked up in horrid conditions while the rest of Lebanon gets rich and prospers.

    Is there one other case in the history of the world where a group of refugees arrived in a country sharing the same language, religion, and ethnic background and were then held prisoner, them and their children and grandchildren forever and ever in squalid camps?

    Only the Palestinians, of all the 100s of millions of refugees the world over that have moved around from country to country in the last 60 years have been treated thus, and by whom ? By their so-called Arab brothers that who. And it is about time, as Amnesty has repeated demanded for the apartheid regime of Lebanon to stop their cruel racist treatment of Palestinian refugees and stop now.

  35. Judo,

    Nowhere in the blog post do I make claims concerning specific groups, but I do highlight individuals who are actively involved in nonviolent direct actions as well as those who have been injured or killed while involved in nonviolent protest so your accusation that false information is being shared is without foundation.

    And although I do not mention the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) specifically, nor does Amnesty endorse any specific organization, your misleading statements about the organization require clarification. Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf, whom you reference, are only two of several individuals, International, Palestinian and Israeli, who founded the ISM. The statements made by Adam and his wife, Huwaida, are their personal opinions and not ISM’s position or mandate or meant to be construed as such.

    The ISM website states, “The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded by a small group of activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international protection and a voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force.” The organization’s commitment to non-violence is reiterated throughout the website and in their training conducted with volunteers before they participate in direct actions. The dangerous environment in which volunteers will be operating is also stressed and the choice to participate or decline is left for the volunteers to make.

    Amnesty takes no position on resistance strategy as long as international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) is followed. IHL does protect the right of an occupied people to resist an occupying force and to self-determination. Of course, under no circumstances should civilians ever be targeted and all necessary steps must be taken by all parties to minimize civilian injuries or death. Targets must be legitimate, military objectives only.

  36. Judo,

    Nowhere in the blog post do I make claims concerning specific groups, but I do highlight individuals who are actively involved in nonviolent direct actions as well as those who have been injured or killed while involved in nonviolent protest so your accusation that false information is being shared is without foundation.

    And although I do not mention the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) specifically, nor does Amnesty endorse any specific organization, your misleading statements about the organization require clarification. Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf, whom you reference, are only two of several individuals, International, Palestinian and Israeli, who founded the ISM. The statements made by Adam and his wife, Huwaida, are their personal opinions and not ISM’s position or mandate or meant to be construed as such.

    The ISM website states, “The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded by a small group of activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international protection and a voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force.” The organization’s commitment to non-violence is reiterated throughout the website and in their training conducted with volunteers before they participate in direct actions. The dangerous environment in which volunteers will be operating is also stressed and the choice to participate or decline is left for the volunteers to make.

    Amnesty takes no position on resistance strategy as long as international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) is followed. IHL does protect the right of an occupied people to resist an occupying force and to self-determination. Of course, under no circumstances should civilians ever be targeted and all necessary steps must be taken by all parties to minimize civilian injuries or death. Targets must be legitimate, military objectives only.

  37. Edie:

    I am not arguing about if it is legal for Palestinians to attack Israeli soldiers on active duty, or vise versa.

    In the case of the West Bank which is ruled by the PA that signed the Interum Agreement with Israel, it is illegal for either side to kill the armed forces of the other. In the case of Gaza, Hamas has publicly disavowed the agreements signed by the PA and both Hamas and Israel certified to the UN several years ago that there exists a state of armed conflict between the two sides so it is therfore legal under international law for each side to try to kill armed forces of the other.

    But we are talking here about if one of the groups you claim are non-violent and and you above claim follow the teachings of Gandhi and MLK jr. was in fact founded and is still run by people who publicly support and defend violence in direct opposition to everything those two great men stood for, making some of your claims in your blog above therfore false.

    The article by Shapiro and Arruf, founders of one of the groups you claim to be non-violent, did defend the rights of groups like Islamic Jihad and Hamas to use violence. And Shapiro and Arruf never once said they only supported violence of a legal non-criminal type targeting non-civilians.

    Those are your words Edie, not what they wrote.
    Shapiro and Arruf wrote they supported violence. period.

    And, worst of all, the article defending violence published by the Shapiro and Arruf January 29 2002, was during the exact peak of the waves of Palestinian suicide attacks and bombings against Israeli civilians, the deliberately selected victims being mostly Jewish elderly, women and children. These Palestinian mass murders targeted at Israeli civilians were repeatedly called Crimes Against Humanity by Amnesty.

    This is the context of January 2002 ISM founder's defence of violence as a tactic:

    January 27, 2002: A suicide bombing in the center of Jerusalem killed one Jewish civilian and wounded more than 150.

    January 25, 2002: A suicide bombing outside a cafe on a pedestrian mall in Tel Aviv injured 25 Jewish civilians.

    January 22, 2002: A Palestinian opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle near a bus stop in downtown Jerusalem, killing two Jewish women and injuring about 40 others.

    January 17, 2002: A Palestinian gunman burst into a bat mitzvah celebration in a banquet hall in Hadera, opening fire on the 180 guests with an M-16 assault rifle, killing 6 people and injuring 35 people.

    December 12, 2001: Palestinian gunmen attacked a No. 189 Dan bus and several passenger cars near the entrance to the settlement of Emmanuel, killing 10 Jewish civilians and injuring about 30.

    December 2, 2001: A suicide bombing on a No. 16 Egged bus in Haifa killed 15 Jewish civilians and injured about 40.

    December 1, 2001: A double suicide bombing at the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall in Jerusalem at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night killed 11 Jewish civilians, aged 12-21, and injured 188. A car bomb exploded 20 minutes later.

    November 29, 2001: A suicide bombing of a bus on its way from Nazareth to Hadera killed three Jewish civilians.

    November 27, 2001: Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a crowd of people near the central bus station in the city of Afula, killing two Jewish civilians.

    October 28, 2001: Two Palestinian gunmen killed four Jewish women at a crowded bus stop in the city of Hadera.

    etc.
    etc.

  38. Edie:

    I am not arguing about if it is legal for Palestinians to attack Israeli soldiers on active duty, or vise versa.

    In the case of the West Bank which is ruled by the PA that signed the Interum Agreement with Israel, it is illegal for either side to kill the armed forces of the other. In the case of Gaza, Hamas has publicly disavowed the agreements signed by the PA and both Hamas and Israel certified to the UN several years ago that there exists a state of armed conflict between the two sides so it is therfore legal under international law for each side to try to kill armed forces of the other.

    But we are talking here about if one of the groups you claim are non-violent and and you above claim follow the teachings of Gandhi and MLK jr. was in fact founded and is still run by people who publicly support and defend violence in direct opposition to everything those two great men stood for, making some of your claims in your blog above therfore false.

    The article by Shapiro and Arruf, founders of one of the groups you claim to be non-violent, did defend the rights of groups like Islamic Jihad and Hamas to use violence. And Shapiro and Arruf never once said they only supported violence of a legal non-criminal type targeting non-civilians.

    Those are your words Edie, not what they wrote.
    Shapiro and Arruf wrote they supported violence. period.

    And, worst of all, the article defending violence published by the Shapiro and Arruf January 29 2002, was during the exact peak of the waves of Palestinian suicide attacks and bombings against Israeli civilians, the deliberately selected victims being mostly Jewish elderly, women and children. These Palestinian mass murders targeted at Israeli civilians were repeatedly called Crimes Against Humanity by Amnesty.

    This is the context of January 2002 ISM founder’s defence of violence as a tactic:

    January 27, 2002: A suicide bombing in the center of Jerusalem killed one Jewish civilian and wounded more than 150.

    January 25, 2002: A suicide bombing outside a cafe on a pedestrian mall in Tel Aviv injured 25 Jewish civilians.

    January 22, 2002: A Palestinian opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle near a bus stop in downtown Jerusalem, killing two Jewish women and injuring about 40 others.

    January 17, 2002: A Palestinian gunman burst into a bat mitzvah celebration in a banquet hall in Hadera, opening fire on the 180 guests with an M-16 assault rifle, killing 6 people and injuring 35 people.

    December 12, 2001: Palestinian gunmen attacked a No. 189 Dan bus and several passenger cars near the entrance to the settlement of Emmanuel, killing 10 Jewish civilians and injuring about 30.

    December 2, 2001: A suicide bombing on a No. 16 Egged bus in Haifa killed 15 Jewish civilians and injured about 40.

    December 1, 2001: A double suicide bombing at the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall in Jerusalem at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night killed 11 Jewish civilians, aged 12-21, and injured 188. A car bomb exploded 20 minutes later.

    November 29, 2001: A suicide bombing of a bus on its way from Nazareth to Hadera killed three Jewish civilians.

    November 27, 2001: Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a crowd of people near the central bus station in the city of Afula, killing two Jewish civilians.

    October 28, 2001: Two Palestinian gunmen killed four Jewish women at a crowded bus stop in the city of Hadera.

    etc.
    etc.

  39. Elton John and Leonard Cohen may be in trouble for playing concerts in favor of oppression, but unfortunately the "liberal"media did not expose Lionel Richie for playing a concert in the terrorist state of Libya. He should have been charged with aiding a known terrorist and have his citizenship taken from him. Unfortunately the Bush administration was soft on Libya and listened to big oil companies which wanted lucrative oil and petroleum contracts in Libya, where sweet crude is abundant and tempting for the soulless who will turn a blind eye to the genocide perpetrated by "colonel"Mumamar Gaddaffi who has enjoyed 40 years of bloody dictatorship there, and influencing other Arab states, African states, and supporting violent revolutionaries around the globe.

  40. Elton John and Leonard Cohen may be in trouble for playing concerts in favor of oppression, but unfortunately the “liberal”media did not expose Lionel Richie for playing a concert in the terrorist state of Libya. He should have been charged with aiding a known terrorist and have his citizenship taken from him. Unfortunately the Bush administration was soft on Libya and listened to big oil companies which wanted lucrative oil and petroleum contracts in Libya, where sweet crude is abundant and tempting for the soulless who will turn a blind eye to the genocide perpetrated by “colonel”Mumamar Gaddaffi who has enjoyed 40 years of bloody dictatorship there, and influencing other Arab states, African states, and supporting violent revolutionaries around the globe.

Comments are closed.