Secular-Democratic State Solution

[CHUQ]

IMO, this guy has some good ideas in the past and he may have a point here.


When I saw some of the images coming out of the infighting in Gaza last week, I suppressed my anguish and steaming anger, recalling the wise, almost prophetic, words of the great Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, who wrote:

"The central problem is this: How can the oppressed, as divided, unauthentic beings, participate in developing the pedagogy of their liberation? Only as they discover themselves to be 'hosts' of the oppressor can they contribute to the midwifery of their liberating pedagogy. As long as they live in the duality in which to be is to be like, and to be like is to be like the oppressor, this contribution is impossible. The pedagogy of the oppressed is an instrument for their critical discovery that both they and their oppressors are manifestations of dehumanization."


http://www.counterpunch.org/barghouti06202007.html

[Pete]

Very intersting article, the writing was on the wall, Hamas was never going to be accepted as a governing body by the Israelis but i thought Uncle sam was going to observe the will of the Palestinian people after all it was their election and they selected their party.
But it was quite visiable when Israel began arresting and imprisoning elected officials that they were not going to accept a US interpreted democracy and continue a 40 year occupation, and as Carter stated punishing the Palestinian people for voting Hamas, but more importantly they could defy International Law of increasing setllements under the desguise of internal disorder.
This has had more polical rewards for Israel as the world took their eye off the ball ,, see how those palestinians are, they are barbaric.

[CHUQ]

I agree with you. The Pals elected the people they wanted to be in power, but the US did not approve. Again I ask how can the US set itself up as the defender of democracy, when it ignores the will of the people,

[CHUQ]

Another view of the situation.


The violent Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip has effectively severed the Palestinian Territories into an ironic version of the ‘Two State Solution.’ Rather than an Israel state and a Palestinian state, Hamas has effectively delivered a divided Fatahland (West Bank) and Hamastan (Gaza Strip) to the equation. This, of course, was long the design, as Hamas began accumulating massive stores of smuggled weapons and munitions, formed an “Executive Force” militia and prepared for the conflict apparently now before us. It must be recognized that Hamas is deeply indebted to Iran for its primary support role in Hamas’ survival after Western aid was cut off and funds could no longer be channeled to their activities. Consequently, Iran exerts significant if not decisive strategic and operational influence over the Hams leadership in both Gaza City and Damascus, Syria. Understanding this and observing Hamas’ activities and operations will be key to understanding coming regional events of the summer and beyond, including the potential of another Israeli summer war.


http://analysis.threatswatch.org/2007/06/hamas-iran-and-the-new-two-sta/

[Pete]

I'm not so sure there is as much influence from Iran and Syria, yes i'm sure they support the Pallestinian position over Israel but Hamas was brought into the political fold because it commanded widespread support in the Occupied Territories, that's how democracy works - normally. The situation in Gaza came about due to the actions of Israel, the US, the EU and Fatah all who would not accept the results of a free and fair democratic election.

Hamas won an election, it had been observing a strict 16 month ceasefire, the rest comes down to those who sought to overthrow an elected government.

[CHUQ]

I do not think it was ever about the democracy, more like what can Israel gain out of it.

[James]

I do not think it was ever about the democracy, more like what can Israel gain out of it.

Why are Americans policies so hypocritical when it comes to the Israel/Palestinian conflict, it's like there are two sets of rules.

[Sonny]

Why are Americans policies so hypocritical when it comes to the Israel/Palestinian conflict, it's like there are two sets of rules.

Answer, the Pallestian/Arabs have been demonized ,9/11 , "they hate us for our freedom" "axis of evil" "camel jockeys" ,, all these catch phrases have made it easy to narrow opinion in the direction of US policy makers. But it must also be understood the region breeds instability.

[CHUQ]

Why are Americans policies so hypocritical when it comes to the Israel/Palestinian conflict, it's like there are two sets of rules.

The Israel Lobby is one of the biggest reasons. If you will notice anyone that wants to be president goes through the lobby.

[CHUQ]

Answer, the Pallestian/Arabs have been demonized ,9/11 , "they hate us for our freedom" "axis of evil" "camel jockeys" ,, all these catch phrases have made it easy to narrow opinion in the direction of US policy makers. But it must also be understood the region breeds instability.

I agree that the region is a hot bed of con flict and instability, but the US foreign poolicy is as much to blame as any other factor, IMO.