Friends, if you ignore the background this is a very beautiful, peaceful photograph (thanks to Al Jazeera).
It shows a Palestinian farmer tending to his olive trees much as his ancestors have done for centuries. What a shame that so many humans turned their backs on the land and the simplicity of farming and the rural environment and chose instead to move to soulless cities some of which are fairly described as ugly concrete jungles where evil and crime proliferates. But that’s another issue for another time.
In the background of the photograph is one of the settlements built by Israel on Palestinian land in the West Bank, land illegally seized in the 1967 war and occupied by Israel ever since. And not only have the Israelis occupied the land but they have built hundreds of settlements and roads often destroying olive farms and/or Palestinian homes in the process.
As you would be aware, the U.S., which previously has allowed Israel to carry out its illegal settlement building (and genocide) without criticism or condemnation, is currently trying to put a peace together. But, surprise, surprise, an Israeli moratorium on settlement building (which saw many transgressions) has ceased now and the Settler Movement, with Israeli Government approval and assistance, is back in full swing .
Yes folks, the seizing of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem has accelerated as has the extending of existing settlements and the creation of new ones, which means that the land which Palestinians have control of keeps shrinking even while talks are underway about forming a Palestinian State. What a joke.
These talks are bullshit! Israel will not be happy until every Palestinian is gone from the West Bank and Gaza.
That achieved, Israel will then set its sights on land belonging to its neighbours and its plans for a Greater Israel will be brought into play which means endless war in the Middle East, war aided and abetted by the U.S. which has its own imperial plans for the Middle East re Iran and Pakistan.
In fact it’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that Israel and America are working together to become the dominant power players in the Middle East where all that lovely oil is!
I have, over the years, written extensively about the Palestinian issue. And, deeply frustrated, I have watched while Israel and America have acted out the political farce of pretending to be serious about giving the Palestinians a State. Neither of them had any real intention of seeing this happen.
Friends, the photograph, in the foreground, shows how things should be. The background shows the reality of what happens when imperialism is allowed free reign. The Palestinian farmer lives in a brutal prison and has never know freedom.
The imperial powers of the U.S. and Israel, which both employ Hitler-style tactics, are endangering the world.
They must be stopped by boycotts, protests, trade embargoes, and, if necessary, revolution!
I find it hard to believe this circus is ongoing. Who benefits? The Palistinians don’t even recognise Abbas as their leader. It’s a joke. Who is buying this crap? I am totally ashamed of the American government. Israel can lie to us, kill an American in international waters, steal land, and disobey UN mandates and Obama does’nt even ask Bibi to use vasoline. I no longer have any respect for those who (claim) to be in authority. We are definately in the twilight zone. David, I could’nt have spelled it out any better than you did. W T F?…. Peace and goodwill to all!
Reply
I really don’t know who is the leader: America or Israel? 76-water! They are both so involved in deceit and using excessive military force and genocide to achieve their objectives that they must be equally guilty.
Of course, America is supposed to be the Beacon on the Hill but Israel is supposedly peopled by the Children of God! Neither nation has covered themselves with glory, only the blood of other people!
Reply
I was born in 1963. Let’s say I began consciousness in ’67; One could pick a newspaper – and the headline from any year between then and now, would be the same. I find it comical in a, ‘they can’t be serious,’ way when NEW PEACE TALKS are announced. I find the stories of Palestinians that still have the key to the door of their stolen homes, human and touching. As a student of Christ, I have had strong feelings of wanting to visit the Holy Land, but because of the tensions there and the real threat of being abused by an Israeli – for my unpopular points of view – but, because of my delicate health, I am too afraid of pain and abuse to visit there. I have sympathy for the Palestinians and any Jew who disagrees with Zionazi State entity. ZioNazis don’t care for Jews either. It is a full on cult – and total obedience is expected or there is sure punishment.
Thank you David for talking about the most serious threat to World harmony and peace: Israel.
Reply
David G Reply:
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Israel and America are both serious threats to World harmony and peace, Grace. They both think that war will achieve World harmony and peace which is completely insane!
Reply
Yes, David, it is both US and Israel that are the serious threats to World Peace. The War Machine that they have become. An alliance of high tech killing and World Domination.
The system we speak of, the Special Relationship, unfortunately excludes a majority of the World human population. The size of humanity is a problem, but statistics show that in times of war and real threats, the birth rates sky-rocket! Life wants to live. Guerilla gardening could provide the food for all. Then, we could move forward to reduce the human pop.
A healthy garden, does not need pesticides.
Reply
“An alliance of high tech killing and World Domination.” Well said, Grace. That just about sums it up!
Reply