Can we agree that calls for a government to violate international law are not a helpful contribution to the public debate? That’s what the New York Times (7/6/10) offered when it published a call for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land in a letter from Richard Gertler of Teaneck, New Jersey.
Gertler argues against the “two-state solution” because it would lead to “the dissolution of Jewish sovereignty” and would amount to the “ethnic cleansing” of Jews living in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. He concludes by saying: “If the creation of a Palestinian state necessitates transfer of Jews from [the settlement of] Har Bracha in the West Bank, then the creation of the redefined Israel ought to necessitate the transfer of its Arab minority as well.”
Israeli settlements in the West Bank, though, are built illegally on Palestinian land and violate the Fourth Geneva Conventions, which prohibit countries from transferring “parts of its own civilian population into territories it occupies” (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions). On the other hand, Palestinian officials have indicated that Israeli settlers living on land that became a Palestinian state would be offered Palestinian citizenship if they were to stay there (Ha’aretz, 5/26/09).
Gertler’s letter is nothing less than a call to kick out Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up 20 percent of the total population there. Palestinian citizens of Israel are the remnants of the indigenous Palestinian population that at one point were the overwhelming majority in historic Palestine until the 1947-49 wars that lead to the creation of Israel and resulted in the expulsion and flight of over 700,000 Palestinians from their land.
Gertlerâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s notion of a “two-state solution” is straight from the playbook of the far-right foreign minister of Israel, Avigdor Lieberman (Electronic Intifada, 6/29/10), who has in the past called for “loyalty” oaths that would strip Palestinians of their Israeli citizenship if they didn’t pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish state (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 2/10/09).
Regard for free expression does not require the Times to publish calls for nations to commit war crimes, any more than the paper is obligated to provide a platform for those who see lynching or assassination as solutions to domestic problems. But when the proposed victims are Palestinian, corporate media seem to have a different standard (Extra! Update, 4/02).
I love how FAIR is, on one hand, an advocate for diverse and on the other hand can turn around and rail against a news outlet for printing an opinion. Keep in mind, it’s just that, AN OPINION. and labeling it as ethnic cleansing is outrageously misleading.
Yet another example of how unfair FAIR is.
This article is the perfect example of what another FAIR article, the one on torture and the US, is describing. Israel does ethnic cleansing? No problem, it’s all in self-defense and because they have a right to exist. The Palestinians so much as hint at the idea of having their own country? Well, by god (the god of the jews that is), it is Holocaust(tm), anti-semitism(tm), terrorism and, without a doubt, the Palestinians calling for the annihilation of the jews.
How about one democratic and secular state like the US, or how about the Swiss model with 3 sections, etc?
See Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh’s book – Sharing the Land of Canaan.
Onward to peace with justice for all in Israel-Palestine,
Joe Mustich & Ken Cornet, Justices of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
Until 1948, Palestine was “one state.” If we are to have justice in the Middle East, that is what we should revert to today. Two states can’t work, not when fairness demands the one state Palestine had before the Israel folly of the United Nations. – George Beres
Israel has no right to exist, and Hamas has every right to resist them. If the United States and Great Britain hadn’t backed Israel, they would not exist today. And now they are like leaches on the back of America, taking, taking, taking, giving nothing in return but trouble. They must have a lot of dirt on us, to get away with such butchery and still continue to enjoy the special relationship.
Two things
7OO thousand Palestinians did not leave the land of Israel following the UN action.When you say “left their land” lets be honest about where 85% of that land was.Arab lands…. (syria-Egypt-Libia-Jordan etc held the mother load of so called historic Palestinian lands.And they are not giving it back.Ever!Look up how few Palestinians lived their at the time of Israeli’s inception.And how many millions do now. if the Israelis have to go home…so do the Palestinians.Then that little strip of land can go back to the few nomads who crossed its wastes and everybody will be happy?What a load of bunk.
New york times is a rag.It holds no power.It is just a lot of mouth.It does not indicate anything about the direction this country will take.
I have long thought it selfish and hypocritical that neighboring countries like Jordan and Syria have been unwilling to shoulder some responsibility and offer to join Israel in the land for peace principal. What about, say, a large Palestinian homeland on the East Bank taking up a nice chunk of Jordan? But I also think it may be time for Israel to give up its “Jewish state” identity politically. Quaker State is still a motor oil brand, but Pennsylvania doesn’t try to function with different laws/status for Quakers and non-Quakers. Okay, maybe not the best example, but hopefully you take my point. Political America was historically founded by Puritans, settling in other â┚¬“ native â┚¬“ nations’ land, and while it’s still a rather puritanical place, politically it came to recognize early on the necessity of at least trying to keep government and religion separate. Israel’s largely a secular state with a particular and large religious minority and an important historical religious identity; but it also contains significant other minorities. What will be its future identity or existence?
Pity the poor rapist, she was just too damn pretty!!!
Israel is an illegitimate state, an illegal/stolen property. Yet the world in all it’s guilt and timidity accept it’s foulness, even the victimized Palestinians.
But the zionists are too dense and greedy, too hateful to quit when they’ve won.
Only Israel can destroy Israel.
Just as only the US could, and ARE destroying the US/us.
~John L.
The Israelies are the new Nazies. “The only good Palestinian is a dead Palestinian!” The only thing missing are the ovens. The Israelis have been carrying out ethnic cleansing since 1948! A “two state solution” is just so much crap! ONE STATE IS THE ONLY REALISTIC SOLUTION!
I’m a 72 year old veteran of 28 years active duty in the US Air Force, 1958-1986.
I’m old enough to remember the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty! The Israelies tried to kill every single US sailor on the Liberty. The Israelis attacked the life boats! They only broke off the attack because a US carrier in the MED, launched their planes!
The Israelies REALLY ARE JUST LIKE THE NAZIES!
Did you ever get the feeling that a lot of people on these blogs don’t like the sound,the breath,the look or feel of anyone who may be Jewish? And that their arguments and hyperbole are just manifest hatred running under the radar?
PS- Ginger- some good thoughts above!
Frank67- Thanks for your service. I’m sure you were good at what you did, but I think your enemy identification leads something to be desired. Calling Israelis Nazis? And attributing national socialist methods to the state of Israel is really…screwy. Dredging back into past military mistakes decades old to paint the Jewish state a certain color is also disturbing. The Israelis have the means to “cleanse” the Palestinians anytime they desire. That they do not do so, even after decades of attack and declarations for their destruction by the Palestinian leadership, says something. Let us hope that the good people of Palestine and Israel will find peace in their time. And hopefully, we can get you to hope for that.
I think FAIR has taken an overreactive stance. I see nothing in the call that calls for “ethnic cleansing”! Sounds more like FAIR stirring up trouble.