Hostage Taking
Nahum Barnea, Israel's top newspaper columnist, has a column rich with insight in today's Yediot Achranot [Israel's leading newspaper], his weekend column. He describes behind the scenes goings-on between the Israeli Prime Minister's office and the bureau of the Palestinian president, Abu Mazen--it's a glass half full-half empty sort of discussion, the kind that the Middle East revels in and precisely the type that is nuanced in a manner that consistently eludes the Bush Administration.
But there is a line in the article, a quote from an unnamed top Palestinian official, presumeably someone from Fatah, from Abu Mazen's wing of the political leadership, that I found chilling in its simple formulation: "everyone is hostage to everyone," this Palestinian official told Barnea.
And, the Palestinian official went on to discuss how the Israeli soldier abducted earlier this summer in Gaza, Gilad Shalit, will only be released by Hamas when Syria "fixes its problems with the international community" over the murder of Hariri, [the former Lebanese Prime Minister widely assumed to have been murdered on Syrian orders]. In other words, there is a domino effect of actions and reactions--or in this case, inaction causing further inaction. Hamas is watching Fatah and watching Syria; Syria is watching the moderate Arab world and Europe and the U.S. ; the Israelis are watching their back and the U.S. and Europe and the moderate Arab states; Fatah is watching Hamas and Europe and Israel and the U.S. and moderate Arab states and everyone is watcching Iran and so on--everyone is watching for someone to act in a way that provokes the chain, and so far, the only actions that are occuring are causing more and more of an inward spiral.
By any measure, this was not a good week in Gaza. The Israeli Military is increasingly engaged there; there are more deaths of Palestinians--today's Israeli news reports cite 19 Palestinians dead, including 5 civilians--, the qassam rockets lobbed by Hamas and their allies from Gaza into civilian populations in southern Israel continues and everyone is hostage to everyone.
Jo-Ann, I am stunned that your posting has been up for two days without a single comment. Given the subject matter that seems impossible.
The description "everyone is a hostage" really captures the present situation. Having just returned from 6 weeks in Israel, I have a deep foreboding of where Israel is headed. It seems that both sides view killing as the ONLY solution to the conflict. Talk and negotiations are for wimps.
There is a dehumanization wave pulsing throughout the world - from Israel and Palestine to Iraq,Darfur, Nigeria to Sri Lanka and onward. This is to some extent part of the human condition since the beginning but for the last 60 years it has been more and more abhored. Unfortunately, Bush's rhetoric has once again made dehumanization acceptable and military solutions to conflicts primary.
In todays conversations with relatives in Haifa, Ariel and Netanya I asked about the Gaza situation and in particular the firing on women trying to shield the Mosque. The response was chilling - who cares.
Since my relatives all have US roots prior to making aliya in 1966 - they used their favorite line from the old days of cowboys and indians - "the only good arab, is a dead arab". In this atmoshere, mutual "hostaging" is the least of anyone's worries.
November 5, 2006 7:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
My reaction to Jo-Ann's post is simply despair, and there seemed no point in adding to it.
The weight of history and intensity of passion seem likely to sweep all good intentions aside. While I hope for some accomodation between the peoples in Palestine, I expect only more of the same, and eventual exhaustion, combined with a diaspora of those Palestinians capable of starting over in another country.
November 5, 2006 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just wanted to thank Tom Wright and Jdeldell for their posts-it is a desparate situation, but not unsolvable...if there is the political will. But, the truth is that Israeli society has become hardened-post Intifada -and the sentiments expressed by Jdeldell's relatives don't surprise me at all-they certainly do sadden me.
November 15, 2006 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
The situation is clear--only outside pressure can change the trend.
It's hard to imagine a Palestinian leader getting very far by advocating throwing in the towel. Announcing defeat is pretty likely asking for defeat, notwithstanding its truth.
Equally hard to see Israel backing away from settlement to the necessary extent--no doubt that will continue to feel like giving up land for nothing.
November 16, 2006 5:10 AM | Reply | Permalink