Haitham Sabbah – Surround me with songs of deliverance: crossing the borders of solidarity
By Haitham Sabbah • Jan 3rd, 2010 at 21:09 • Category: Analysis, Grassroots Activism, Israel, Newswire, Palestine, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, War
Activists for Palestine have to have the same goal as Palestinians – the liberation of Palestine. They have to pay attention to not being diverted from this objective or to interfere with a greater geopolitical situation that may have consequences none of us can predict and which can cancel for a long time our hopes for liberation and return. Our fear is legitimate. We fear the emergence of the Zionist ultimate project, "Greater Israel" in the ashes of the destruction of Arab unity, which is not a lofty ideal, but present in the Arab masses and is a source that must be tapped into, and the Zionist project can be accomplished if we are not vigilant in all we do and if we shift our rage away from Israel and weaken the Arab masses. I shall explain.
Freedom activists march to Gaza
Let's assume that the Egyptian government was replaced with new democratically elected one, what do you think would happen? The answer seems vague, but believe me, it is very simple. Remember what happened in Occupied Palestine four years ago? Hamas was elected and the entire world witnessed real democracy in action. What happened next? The entire world, including most Arab countries, refused to accept Hamas as the new official government and nearly all of them decided to cut relations and aid to the new Palestinian government. The tag was ready for all of them to push off to the ears of the world, "Hamas is a terrorist organization. Full Stop!"
Now, we are not arguing here if Hamas was a good choice or not for and from the Palestinians, but it was their choice in fair elections and it must be respected by anyone who believes in democracy. And, it’s no secret that real democratic elections will always bring surprises. Remember Dubya’s slogans about bringing democracy to the Middle East and new dawn in the Arab world? Well, this was not what they expected. Not what they paid for, and no one ever heard these slogans coming from them ever again in Palestine after Hamas won.
Back to Egypt, who can guarantee that the newly elected government and its president will not be the same as the previous regime? And if we are very optimistic and think that activists and Egyptians succeed in changing the existing regime and a truly elected system comes to their royal palaces, why should anyone believe that it would not face the same ending like the Hamas government did and Egyptians shortly end in a situation similar to that the Palestinians are suffering?
If this comes true, even worse things can happen. It will not only affect Egypt, but the Arab world in general and Palestinians in particular, especially the Palestinians of Gaza, because Israel will not stop to think for a second before they rush to occupy Gazan borders again (let's say they will intensify their occupation and bring back their soldiers to Gaza/Egypt borders). This time without the Palestinian and Egyptian proxies. In fact, I believe that in a situation like this, the Zionists will find it the moment of history when they can establish their dream of Greater Israel. They might not only occupy Sinai, but invade Egypt across the Red Sea until Israel reaches the Nile. What may happen next is another story.
So what we have today is extremely bad, but in a certain viewpoint of realpolitik and understanding exactly how Israel operates, it may be better than what could happen if the existing regime in Egypt or a newly elected one opens the borders with Gaza in the present conditions of Palestine, without any international guarantees that Palestine is going to be autonomous in controlling its own borders for the good of the people in Palestine and not to serve factions whose agendas are not acceptable to any patriot. Even Hamas understands this and they know that what they have for now is more than what they can dream of having in a day or two until Israel reacts. Hamas knows very well that Israel is closing the borders, not Egypt. All they say in press conferences is nothing more than slogans for local consumption to remain patriotic in the eyes of their supporters, but they are aware of the situation they find themselves in, and they too are blocked. Unless we really think that both sides, Egypt and Hamas, are ready to commit suicide by enrolling themselves in a third world war.
Freedom activists march to Palestine
It seems to me that the world has forgotten the word 'Palestine', and how can anyone blame them? These days we only hear the words Gaza and West Bank. In fact, if you watch the mainstream media you will even hardly hear 'West Bank'. Everyone has forgotten that part of Occupied Palestine. Some activists even forgot that the Map of Palestine is from the River to the Sea (Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea). Anyway…
The West Bank is not in better shape than Gaza. Yes, our brothers and sisters in Gaza are suffering from the siege and a high level of poverty due to this siege, but Palestinians in the West Bank are not in much better conditions at all. All the checkpoints (more than 700) are in the West Bank. The Israeli Apartheid Wall is cutting the West Bank into tiny pieces. No one is allowed to enter Jerusalem. Kidnapping and assassinations are around every corner. Add to it the corrupted Palestinian Authority. So the question remains, where are our friends and activists when it comes to the West Bank? Why don't they try to break the Walls and remove the checkpoints and open its borders with the Arab world? If you think a Palestinian or non-Palestinian can travel from Jordan to the West Bank without the Israeli permission and passing through Israeli immigration offices, you are wrong. So, the West Bank is still under Israeli occupation.
We have to keep in mind that big picture. Over sixty years ago we were fighting for all of Palestine. Since Oslo, we started to talk only about the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. Now activism is mostly focusing on food and aid to one part of Palestine, Gaza. In other words, putting a band-aid on a deep wound. In a few years’ time we will be demonstrating just to know or hear if there is anyone still alive on this land!
So, what are we doing and what are the alternatives, you ask?
First and foremost, we need to realign and look at the big picture again. The whole of Palestine is occupied, not Gaza and the West Bank only.
Second, the Right of Return is a divine right for all Palestinians. If the two states solution is not going to guarantee the return of those who want to return (and it will not guarantee it) then to hell with this solution! Jews are welcome like all other religious and non-religious people to live side by side with Christian and Muslim Arabs and Palestinians in One State. No special conditions for Jews.
Third, we are not fighting to break the siege only in one part, but in all of Palestine, once and for good.
Fourth, our enemy is not the messenger, but the real occupier and whoever supports them.
Now, you ask me where to go!
Your Borders and Israeli Borders
One can't really say that there aren't a lot of great, dedicated people around the world, devoted to the cause of Palestine's freedom, and they deserve a lot of credit for putting their time and energy to the cause. We can question their timing, methods and even their overall goals, which might not go as far as many Palestinians would desire, but their good faith seems to be beyond doubt. However, to not lose an important opportunity not only for activists to really do something concrete as well as for them to make tidal wave of support happen, strategy does count, because lives are on the line and Palestinians pay for every day that the occupation drags on. There were several movements that acted in these days, and one day we will be able to draw the sums of their effectiveness.
In spite that fact of the 1,400 activists (a very small number) who went to Cairo for the Gaza Freedom March (GFM), which didn't happen (other than the 100 who were permitted to go to Gaza). In the end, they came up with a document that has many good points which can be brought back to their countries to add to their strategy planning, and this is no bad thing. We can also look at the Viva Palestina (VP) convoy which traveled from one continent to another (and now crossing the sea) driving those useless brand new cars they bought to "aid" Gazans; in the meantime gaining a lot of publicity and that, in itself is not always a bad thing.
But again, the question begs, because it must: how effective were these movements? Personally, I think it was a big failure, and despite all the human and economic resources invested in it, didn't achieve much, however grateful we might be that something was done. But what we ask of them is something much simpler, yet doubtlessly more effective.
In each country around this world, there is a US embassy, UK embassy, etc… Why don't you gather in your own countries in front of these embassies and demonstrate? What's wrong with Washington, the White House and the Congress? What's wrong with Number 10, Downing Street? etc… At least your numbers will be much greater, no harassment from US/Israeli proxy Arabian dictatorship and much more effective. Eventually and slowly, the mainstream media will notice you whether they like it or not, and CHANGE, real change (not what Obama promised in Cairo) for a just resolution of the Palestinian/Arab/Israeli conflict will become reality.
Another way, which is so far hardly used, are the Israeli borders themselves. Why don't the freedom marchers travel to the "democratic Israel" and gather at the occupation internal borders? The ISM is doing an amazing job inside the West Bank and the weekly demonstrations in Nil'in and Bil'in are amazing, but are they enough? NO! What we need are more activists on the other side of the Wall. No, Peace Now is not good enough, however we thank them.
Several activists were killed while they were protecting Palestinians or trying to help them save their properties and lives, and to them go our deepest thanks, love and respect. However, true activism is not only shouting slogans here and there without actions, serious actions, which no one can guarantee anyone’s safety. So, if you are not ready for the risk of being killed by the Israelis, which is a real risk, stay home and do what you can there, not in Cairo or surrounding occupation proxies. I'm not asking you to commit suicide, but your governments and media need to see the real enemy and you need to wake up your nations. We need you to educate your country's citizens and pressure your official for real and lasting peace, not to demonstrate in the streets of Cairo and give a chance for the regime to describe you as hooligans and coup promoters.
Free Gaza
My friends, Free Gaza Movement was a good example of the above. Their plans, actions, risks and effectiveness are beyond all what GFM and VP tried to do in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, the way GFM and VP was run and ended has served no one but to smear Egyptians (as a nation, the regimes will still get their cheque) and let the criminals run away with their crimes on the first anniversary of Israeli War Crimes against Gaza, Palestine. This is a mistake in judgment that we should not have afforded. The opportunity for Palestinians to express their pain and remember their dead was missed. The focus was on Egypt. Free Gaza Movement not only really broke the siege on Gaza time after time, but they risked their lives in the last trip that sailed to Gaza and the Israeli marine ships tried to sink their ship (more on DIGNITY), not to mention the attention of the media on the victims in Gaza, Palestine. I stand to salute all this group of activists who set an example of real activism to free Palestine.
In the future, activists have to take either of two routes. Going in and through Israel itself to break the walls, checkpoints, crossings and borders, or by sea, where you need no one's permission but are entitled to demand their protection. However, please don't ask for protection from Egypt or Arabs, but from your Western greater powers. If you are coming from the US, ask Obama to protect you. If you are coming from the UK, ask Gordon Brown to protect you. If you are coming from France ask Sarkozy to protect you, and so on.
Haitham Sabbah is an uprooted Palestinian blogger. He is the webmaster and editor of Palestine Blogs, also webmaster and co-editor of Palestine Think Tank. His personal blog is Sabbah's Blog: http://sabbah.biz/
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Why would Israel give into your demands? You only strength hands of Israel right .You will be putting nearly 4 million people to death got the same thing done that did to South Africa. That only if we are lucky Israel also will turn to pirating high seas getting supplies needs that likely triggering a war with EU. Israel then is force to turn Samson option killing the human race off with it biological and nuclear weapons. I will aid in helping trigger Armageddon over right of return.
By the way do you known different between the South Africa and Sudan. Sudan need blacks for it economy South Africa did. Look also different how Sudan boycott genocide. South Africa raises the white flag of surrender. Israel does not need Palestinians and are afraid of them because massacre they did last time majority. So I can see Israel even more likely kill all the Palestinians West Bank and Gaze strip and once living Israel right now.
Haitham, I was very glad to read your article, to the point, precise and very fair… I was somewhat taken aback at the numbers of protesters in Egypt… way too many. It distracted the attention from Gaza so much it bothered me. Your article was the only piece in the internet that gave me some answers_and good intelligent ones.
If the objective is relief for Gaza all that fussing around and clashing with egyptian authority did NOT help, in fact the publicity that naturally surrounds the convoy anyway would have been just enough _ no need for so much protesting in Egypt. And it just served (I hope not too much) to play arab against arab…
The lack of coordination from the GFM also stands out, unfortunatly. Anyway just writting to thank you for your clarity and guts to write the real news… Just so you know… I'm from Latin America, have lived through a dictatorship and understand the questions of TIMING and TACTICS…
Monica
اجا يكحلها عماها
eja y kahell'ha a'maha
Most of the people on the GFM and VP are the same people at Israeli/US embassies every week protesting for Palestine, for Iraq, and for oppressed people around the world. They are the SAME people who do the marches and rallies, the same individuals, the same groups. They are the same people organizing in Europe, the same people demanding the right of return and full Palestinian rights, and the same people organizing in the U.S. That's why they chose to go on these marches and caravans.
Most of the protests in Cairo were at the Israeli, US, French and Italian embassies, for that matter, and the original plan of the GFM had nothing to do with protesting Egypt, but rather the siege of Gaza – the major event was to be a January 1 march on the Erez checkpoint to "force it open" by International solidarity and support! The reason the GFM organizers uttered not a word of criticism of the Mubarak regime prior to the refusal to allow entry to Gaza is because..the whole time…the government was saying that entry would be facilitated!
There is basically no one, not one person, who is in reality "confused," or who sees the Egyptian regime as the main enemy, or anything other than what it is. There is also basically not one person who sees the Egyptian people or country as to blame, time and time again it is incredibly clear to all that the Mubarak regime is working for the U.S. and Israel and does not represent the Egyptian people.
The only thing that is confusing is why there is assumed to be some sort of differentiation between people doing activism at home and people going on the GFM, etc – most of the people went in order to use the experience to build activism in their home countries: reporting on the siege, etc – for the same reason people go on solidarity delegations in the West Bank, in occupied Palestine '48, to Colombia, to the Philippines, or many other places – to deliver firsthand testimony and support organizing in their home countries to support the liberation struggle.
Please allow me to ask the same question you asked .
Why don't the freedom marchers and the seige breakers travel to the "democratic Israel" and gather at the occupation internal borders?
Anyone ?
Dear Haitham and all–
I have some very dear friends who were on the GFM and VP (I didn't go for a variety of reasons) and I have been hearing daily reports from them.
One of the reasons I did not go, was that I have been to Cairo and I didn't believe for one second that the Egyptian authorities would go against their puppet masters (the U.S. and Israel) to allow the GFM to cross at Rafah. The excuse that the U.S. Embassy gave my friends was that Egypt was a "sovereign state" and making those decisions (yeah, right).
But I also began to wonder months before the GFM, why they were gathering in Cairo and not Tel Aviv? Why isn't the spotlight being shined on Israel, and not Egypt. I don't think the GFM wanted the spotlight shined on Egypt, but the planning and foresight were not there.
Egypt is a bad regime, but so is the U.S. and especially so is Israel.
If there is a Palestinian Freedom March organized from within the borders of Israel, then I will be there and I will be prepared to take the consequences from my government and the government of the apartheid state, Israel.
Peace,
Cindy Sheehan
Because they know that it is not, in fact, "democratic israel," and they would be turned back in either the airport or on the border? and any march on the Jordanian border would become just as much a 'protest of the Jordanian regime, which is not the real enemy' as this did in Egypt, and furthermore, it was to draw attention to the siege on Gaza?
meanwhile, the Egyptian government was indicating that it would allow passage. The purpose was to have a march, inside Gaza, to the Erez checkpoint, and force it open in JUST THE KIND OF CONFRONTATION with the occupier that you suggest, meeting with a march, largely organized by '48 Palestinians, on the other side. The point was not to have actions inside Egypt at all. The Gaza Freedom March itself was intended to be a march to Erez, on January 1.
Dear All,
I fully agree with Cindy Sheehan's take. I quote Dr. Alan Sabrosky, who as always, has prescribed some sensible action, worth noting:
# Alan Sabrosky on January 2nd, 2010 at 23:35:
The whole exercise reminds me of a criticism by Lenin in the 1920's called "Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder" (that his successors blew everything does not invalidate his analysis). The "leadership" of these outfits would also be dismissed by that of the antiwar movement in the 1960s in the US in even more disparaging terms. They have tactics but no strategy, believe slogans constitute action, focus on symptoms and not causes, and play to their enemy's strengths. And they lose. Surprise!
Gaza is both victim and symbol. Egypt is pawn and distraction. Israel is the enemy. The source and the solution to the issue is in Washington. Go there, or at least to US embassies, and also to Westminster, which helps the US by legitimizing many of its actions. Protest there. Spend the same time outside of the gates of the White House that it took to assemble in the UK and go to Egypt, with the same very small number of people (sorry but that is true), parking vehicles & dumping goods at the gates, calling on Obama to honor his words in Cairo, and people who matter WILL notice, the mainstream US media WILL hatefully and unhappily take note of it, and you may make a difference. Otherwise the occasional convoy or ship or busload of people and goods getting to Gaza means less than putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound, except perhaps to a few egos who like being the center of attention even in a very small media pond.
I'll be happy to help on the US side, even if it entails a head-butting contest with people on this side of the pond. After a decade in the US Marines "way back when," such things don't bother me. Contact Haitham — he knows how to get in touch with me.
- Alan Sabrosky
This is a war. The people of Palestine and Gaza know it, and the people of Israel know it!
A number of others seem to have forgotten, perhaps because they "were not there," did not hear the loud noises, and did not have to run from the rain of white phosphorous which fell from the sky.
But there is one cardinal rule in warfare, and in combat.
Focus on the enemy! There is only the enemy! There exists nothing but the enemy! Get focused! Stay focused!
There may be a lot of other things going on in at the edge of sight and hearing, in perepheral vision, on the periphery of the battlefield.. but there is only the enemy!
If you lose focius on the enemy he is likely to kill you, and all th rest of the glamor and pretty actions, medals, grandstands, bandstands and parades will suddenly turn into your full-dress flag-draped funeral, which will take only a few hours to put what is left of you into the ground, where you will not be missed except in the line, and by a few friends back home who may remember you on Veteran's Day or the Fourth o' July.
Haitham, Dr. Sabrosky, Ms Menon, Ms Sheehan are all right! Stay focused! Stay focused! Stay focuesd.
Once they breach the line, divide the forces, your ass belongs to them, and they will come and collect it!
Bet on it!
If only holding mass demos or doing civil disobedience in DC was sufficient to receive media coverage. If they were – we would not be having this discussion about how people are not demonstrating in the US, when they are.
Sadly, this is not the case and illustrates one of the deepest problems in the US – corporate controlled mass media. However, user-generated and viral media, not to mention independent media, are very important in breaking this.
Thanks Haitham… you speak the truth, the goals and objectives of the solidarity movement with Palestine but be the same as Palestinians; ending the siege of Gaza, ending the Israeli/Jewish Occupation and of course the right of return for Palestinians. However the immediate goal is opening the sea port of Gaza for international shipping, and let Egypt build its Iron Wall mile deep, and let Israel build its Cement Wall mile high and let Ramallah partner with Israel in keeping the gates closed… Opening the Gaza Sea Port will end the siege of Gaza once and for all… it will allow the free flow of goods, and people to and from Gaza… of course this could not happens without the support of the US. That is why I called for the operation of Gaza Sea Port under a joint US/NATO with both organizations taking total operational and security control free and independent from Israel, Egypt, Hamas and certainly Fatah and Ramallah. Virtually placing Gaza under an international custody… to allow people to rebuild what Israel destroyed and what Ramallah corrupted.
Many times I think those who support Palestinians like the “solidarity” movement or others, they do things to serve their own self interest and perpetuate their own agenda… not so different from local Palestinian political or militia groups that are in fact and for so many years where perpetuating their own interests at the expense of ending the occupation and liberation of our people. Let us do our best and focus on opening the Gaza Port to be free from all. Too bad if you read the press and read what the guys in Ramallah are saying you would think that Gaza is the enemy not Israel… sad day for our people to see such open collaboration with the Israeli Occupation.
Great paper, Haitham! You say it all.
Sami, NO NO NO!!! NO giving any control to US/NATO! Like taking the keys of the houses from the thief and giving it to his protector. No way! NEVER!
Let us please note that a tactical 'failure' [or "failure" in some peoples' mind] does not =the strategic or endgoal failure.
However, i go a bit further and aver that no protest against gangster rule in egypt, US, or isr can be a failing.
I am of the opinion that the West uses both the israelis and pal'ns. One of the most impoverished regions of the world- lacking water, forests, lakes, minerals- appears of import to the West and world jewry largely or solely as a land without peace and boarders.
And stands as a symbol of power; power never ever seen before and growing by day. It also stands as vivid and clear threat-warning to any people who do not obey the West/US.
I think that once West pacifies some asian lands, expalestine will reemerge. Make no mistake West cannot fail in iraq nor afgh'n. I say this not knowing what wld the success for West represent in yrs or decades to come.
For one thing, wmd can easily subdue some regions just like they did in japan.
Note, all wars r waged for land [forget rationalizing] and everything that's on it and in it; s'mtime the people r wanted and at other times they r slain or expelled. So, history is no mystory.Paid scribes write it that way for obvious reasons.
Riches only come from land and never from printing more money.
I conclude rather firmly that West wld never give up the lands it has conquered. The newest wars r also ab destroying all vetiges of basic human rights; rights to live, abide or return to one's habitat, free higher education, be informed, medical treatment.
Once china is deprived of essential minerals, and being also an evil empire, it surely wld be attacked one day. Let's hope china can bite back strongly or that the West perceives it so. Damn it, even russia, another evil empire, appears to be rulled by gangsters. We hope russians wld finally wake up and boot them out once for all!
One thing appears certain, christianity, islam, and mosheism wld always side with gangsters. So, protest against priests, mullahs, ulema, muftis, pope, bishops, rabbis is essential to wake up their serfs to this fact.
We need these people onside!
Next time vote for our gangsters. Vote for NDP, nader, greens. Only a gang can put up a fight against another gang. If we only protest, march, bitch, plead, the gangsters love that. This will fail up to a point; to the point that most people wld realize that ?all talk, protests, marches is a waste of time. And start minding one's business of running own country.
So, bitching, talking, protesting wld have thus not been in vain! tnx
Egypt is not hamas or Palestine..why do you think the west is very reluctant to support a real democracy and reforms in Egypt? because when that happens, no one will have a say over us(Egyptians). The current regime is standing weak only due to the support of the USA and trust me, this will change..sooner than you think.
As for Israel invading Egypt, that really made me laugh.. let them come love.. better yet, let all the jews come over here. You seem to forget we're 80 million.. we will have them for breakfast.
i fully agree with ladidah. and not at all with the article. it's true haitham's a palestinian, and we (i not being a palestinain, for example) should pay attention to what palestinian people activists say, advise and want, but there were palestinians also among the gaza freedom marchers. i think, in general palestinians aprove of what has been done (maybe someone should make a survey) and the reason there were protests in egypt (AND IN CAIRO, NOT IN AL ARISH OR RAFAH BORDER) is that it was egypt that enforced the illegal blockade on behalf of israel and wouldn't let the activists go break the siege or leave cairo, for that matter. the article makes is sound like the activists planned to protest in cairo and against egypt. the demonstration focused on gaza (bil'in demonstrations focus on the wall) and not on mubarak's human rights violations. egypt (that is the egyptian dictatorship) is also responsible under international law for the collective punishment of the palestinians in gaza.
i fully support what was done in cairo by gaza freedom marchers and the viva palestina convoy, as well as free gaza movement, ism and all propalestinian solidarity activists from whereever they are who are struggling for palestinian human rights, self-determination, end of israeli apartheid and occupation, return of the palestinian refugees and equal rights for all in palestine/israel. those people are my heroes.
I fully understand Haitham's frustration, and I have read before, with much interest, Yousef Abudayyeh's paper, sending out a similar message. Yet, I fully agree with Ladidah and Maud. For you, knowing as you do your Palestinian problems, may not be aware of what these activists are facing in the West.
I am not one because i am far too pessimistic to even try, but nothing could make me blame them, or disparage them for what they do.
What you suggest they should do, as Ladidah said, they have done a thousand times and those who joined the March did not necessarily believe that it would be successful. Indeed, I think they did it because they wanted to have "at least tried everything"
What you suggest they do in their own countries has been done a thousand times and WILL NEVER WORK. For the reasons that Maud and Ladidah mentioned, and for a few others.
Their own governments are as foul as Israel will ever be and they are Israel's accomplices as only gangsters in one same mob can be. They will never allow their "citizens" to speak out without using brute force to silence them. Neither more nor less than Israel has used to smash Rachel Corrie on top of thousands of your people, and in similar cold blood.
Another reason is that populations, EVERYWHERE in the world but especially in the West are indifferent to the Palestinians' plight (or to anybody's plight for that matters). What activists are trying to make their nationals and others aware of, THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR, THEY DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ! The truth is activists are howling in the desert, and they do it not out of silliness or stubbornness or left wingism but because their conscience does not let them sleep at night.
Not only do peoples everywhere refuse to know what is going on, but supposing some of them all of a sudden (marxists included) woud become what they are not (fraternal, intelligent, generous, etc.) they could and would still ignore even that the Palestinians exist, because their corporate media (there are no other left in the West, NOT ONE) will black-out the most blatant facts. Indeed, that is what they have done this time . Not one radio, not one television, not one newspaper has even mentioned what happened in Cairo last week. I say NOT ONE WORD. All focused on "yemenite terrorists" and the Loch Ness monster (Al Qaeda), on wether to get vaccinated or not (no, that's over) and white mussolinian telephones, sorry,on what's the new brand of cell-phones.
Activists may have tactics and no strategy, because they are individuals and because they have no real political culture. Whose fault ?
But if YOU represent something more than just your own person, and a think tank, even a small one is in any case a group of organized thinking persons, why don't you invent something really effective ? Why don't you hire some professionals in the art of influencing crowds (Sionists do that all the time, what about fighting them with their own weapons ?) and why don't you pay these professionals to start a taxpayers' general strike in the West, and promise them more money if they get valuable results ? In the present state of affairs, that is the only thing that has a chance of working and the only message the lords of this world will take (will have to take), like it or not.
Don't tell me Lenin never thought about that before ? Howcome his disciples don't ?
One more word : why blame the activists on their choices and lack (?) of results and not blame UNO for their chronic impotence ? UNO means theoretically "all the nations in the world", Howcome they allow themselves to be so subjugated by two or three ?. Your critics imply that the marchers were afraid to meet the Israeli face to face whilst it is precisely what they were there for. What about the lack of civil courage of so many governments ?
Have you an idea of what should be done to make them change their ways ?
I have mixed feelings about this article. In fact I need to re-read it before I can comment on most of it. One thing that I couldn't simply avoid commenting on right away is the 'concept' that a free democratic Egypt is not a 'good thing' for Gaza, Palestine, or the whole region! Now, as an Egyptian what am I supposed to gather out of this argument? Should we shelf seeking to throw our dictator as it seems too dangerous to do so?
I would say that real change – not the change we can of Obama – comes with risk. It is a risk that we are willing to take however as it is quite clear for many of us that it will definitely be good not for Egypt alone but almost equally for the Palestinian people.
For six long years the eastern bank of the Suez canal was occupied by the enemy. Yet it has never crossed the enemy's mind to launch a full scale invasion of a country that its armed forced was almost fully destroyed. The enemy has been the same one with the dream of 'Greater Israel' yet it hasn't seen the opportunity because none was there.
With all due respect, Egypt is not Iraq or Afghanistan, and Israel is not the US. An invasion of Egypt is beyond anything that Israel can dream of. Let's not allow the great disappointments of last decades cloud our vision. If there will ever be a just and lasting solution of this conflict, Egypt -a free and sovereign Egypt- must be part of it. Until this Egypt is restored all that is done is bedding our time.
some interesting comments. thanks.
I'd like to comment (not in the place of anyone, but just explaining what I see) on Tamer's comments. NO ONE is saying they don't want free and democratic elections in Egypt and that anyone that the Egyptian people want to lead their country should do it. In fact, this is the hope, because it will make everything better. The question is: what if they vote in the brotherhood or any other party that the US didn't pay for. Where are the guarantees that the US or others will not punish Egyptians much in the same way? That the threats that Egypt has fallen into "Fundamentalist" hands aren't going to come around? It is saying – given the precedent, do we expect better in other places? As well, can others be the ones to "bring" democracy to Egypt? Is that in their power? Can their energies be directed there and will it be good for Palestinians? Of course, if this is somebody's campaign, great. I don't know though, of some giving lots of time and money to the marches who did it to change Egypt as their primary goal. I mean, this is diverting the target. If I paid money to my organisation for medical aid, I want them to bring medical aid, not brand new cars for who knows who or to determine anything in Egypt beyond asking them to end the siege and immediately open the gates to and from Gaza. If they end the siege, the tunnels and walls will immediately be a thing of the past for the circulation of goods and food that Palestinians need.
Catherine, thanks for your thoughts. Again, can't speak for anyone else, but let it just be clear, (and it has been stated again and again) that Haitham and Yousef appreciate and praise the people who came and helped and tried. The matter is: have they been taken advantage of for something else? Where is the transparency? Where is the strategy that really is effective in reaching the goal? If it's there, then it has to be demonstrated. We know of many things that were / are not clear, much disappointment the whole way around, and the leadership of these actions obviously doesn't have to answer to us, but to those who gave their time, resources, energy. We put up a bunch of articles, we spread the word, and we were moving onto even a higher level, ready to get into a "boycott Egypt" campaign, for all our good faith in what was going on and how on the level it was. Then we learn more info, we ask for transparency, and rather than get answers, we get hounded and threatened… but still, no clear answers. We've heard and seen a lot in these days, of course, not nearly as much as those on the ground. If they do not wish to ask those who were organising them if it was all done as it should be done, that's up to them.
It doesn't mean that others have to agree to that strategy of keeping our doubts to ourselves.
One day, everything is going to come out. That day we can say we all tried to do what we could to bring Palestine closer to freedom. We hope all will have that on their plate when the bill comes around.
Sorry, wanted to comment on this but forgot: Catherine, you are right that we need to organise! We are developing (together with a few other orgs and people) a strategy plan. I outlined some of it in a recent piece I wrote http://palestinethinktank.com/2009/12/03/a-strategy-revolution-a-game-theory-approach-to-palestinian-resistance/
a group of people are translating it now into Arabic and also it's passing through a few other orgs. I've just finished 2 weeks ago some "meetings" with a think tank in Gaza, Palestine, but then the anniversary of the war was coming up, and we did not want to distract that in any way.
Things are in a stage of organisation. We'll keep posted on PTT what the next steps are.
Haitham perhaps uses the word failure too absolutely and dismisses Bill Perry, Veterans for peace, South Africans against apartheid,George Galloway and the Code Pink organizers and friends who attended the Gaza Freedom March as a failed event.
I know that Haitham is being critical of certain aspects of the GFM, but constructive criticism and linear thinking that solves the problems posed to Palestinian activists is good for us to undertake. Failure, after all is a good teacher, it's lessons reinforced in the brain by painful truths concerning the reasons we fail.
I like to think that lessons come in many ways and when we learn our lessons well we adapt our strategy to suit new knowledge correlated with past experiences to grow the effectiveness of activism which benefits Palestine wholly, as a people and nation without imperiling the human rights of others in the process.
Keeping in mind that Palestine is inclusive always of all of it's people in all of their camps and places of refuge, but especially including them by their specific wishes as individuals, Palestine is dreamed of and fought for by many peoples in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and even in the US and Israel. They all deserve to be represented as equals by activists and not decried as infidels to the greater Palestinian causes because of recent positions, perhaps forced by difficult circumstances. This is solidarity that takes all members incorporate of Palestine into account for representation.
Carrying a sign is representing, singing, marching, chanting Free, Free Palestine, is representing the flag and premise of Gaza, the West bank, The Arabs in Israel, in Lebanon and anywhere the refugees of Palestine exist in exile or imprisoned in bantustans or free in the US and working in the halls of government. Representing Palestine is a challenge but it is doable if we stay centered on the whole people, thinking of their nation as host and home to all, we see the brighter day when solidarity in the Arab world is celebrated in the birth of Palestine as having been born with all of it's fingers and toes, brilliant mind, good senses and fine teeth, hair and eys all working as a unit to bare the visage of what Arabs expect as their friend and future form of governance.
It's not as if anyone expects perfection or will be subject to ridicule for making a rejected suggestion, but the feeling of being called a failure by Palestinian think tank, in my mind will lose support for Palestine, not gain it due to human reactions to rejection.
Perhaps the Gaza Freedom March was just a humble "little drummer boy" but this drum did beat, resolve was and is cemented to persist and do better and that is progress we all can and should be thankful for, learning perhaps by error or unclear communications in this event, the Gaza freedom March stood for a resistance to Abbas meeting with Barak to ok the attack, that was bad, Mubarack met with Olmert before the attack, that was bad, we protest these things because we know that they led to disunity of Palestine not to disunite Palestine, but to cement our resolve to represent all of the people as best we can, little drum or not, we did work for Palestine and much is achieved, We await any suggestions and accept all critiques as positive input and contructive of future efforts. Lets get this straight, love was issued forth, Haitham do you feel it ? No charge, this is free Gaza Love from the women of Hamas to you, brother! We love you! Can we get an amen?
I don't think anyone's looking for personal praise or approval from any individual.
The Gaza Freedom March was a march to take place inside Gaza, to the Erez checkpoint, to confront the Zionists, to "force it open through international presence/pressure." It was to take place on New Year's Day. That's what the Gaza Freedom March, as such, was scheduled to be.
Egypt was the entry point, because the Zionist state is extraordinarily well-known internationally for denying entry to, deporting and arresting solidarity activists at the airports and borders, which actually is more or less never a media event.
The only reason there ever became a focus, or demonstrations, in Cairo, is because the Egyptian regime of Mubarak et al decided to act in the interests of the US and Israel. The regime had been promising to approve passports, etc, for six months.
That's what happened. No one shifted focus to Egypt, no one forgot about Israel, etc. It just didn't happen.
And while there might be some sort of praise for individuals, it's really difficult to see how that is when most of the advice above, excepting the praise for the Free Gaza boating missions, which are indeed excellent, is to protest at embassies, etc, in folks' home countries – which, alas, is something that more or less everyone on the GFM does on an extraordinarily regular basis, and which, again, is not exactly a mechanism to garner media attention. Those who have participated both in mass demonstrations of hundreds of thousands as well as civil-disobedience actions and seen both receive less than a few column-inches on the back pages of major newspapers can testify to this fact.
That doesn't mean that organizing at home isn't the primary responsibility of solidarity activists – of course it is. But the people who went on the GFM, at large personal expense, are the people who ALREADY DO THAT WORK. That's WHY they went. A good number of them were also folks that have done a fair amount of the "confronting Zionists on the ground" in occupied Palestine, also. And it absolutely is derogatory to these folks, whose articles, bios, etc, are all over the Internet, to somehow assume that people who traveled to Gaza are somehow blissfully unaware of the existence of protests at government buildings and embassies in their home countries, or unattuned to their importance.
Oh, there were problems with the GFM. The intervention from Omar Barghouthi and Haidar Eid was critical toward moving it from one thing to something else. Some organizers were too quick to seek to agree to the infamous "deal," or engaged in what might be termed "political tourism."
But none of those problems are the cause of the Egyptian regime's behavior nor its subservience to/alliance with the U.S. and Israel, and silence and inaction has done nothing to hinder or damage that relationship, despite the fact that it utterly sacrifices Egyptian sovereignty to the interests of the US/Israel. And focusing on lecturing solidarity activists about the importance of local city protests while the iron wall gets built, while the Egyptian and Palestinian people are artificially separated, while the U.S. and Israel are able to rely on Arab reactionary client states with no pressure on any side, is a strange choice of priorities.
I think you are contemporarily too pessimistic and too optimistic.
The resistance in the Lebanon war of 2006 has demonstrated that the Israeli army is not so much irresistible, even with latest generation bombs, so you are too pessimistic.
But on the contrary you are optimistic on the western side of the activism.
The zionist propaganda, but a hand came also from that crazy terror attempt on the twin towers, have succeeded in transforming their religious war (the small jew state against the overwhelming arab muslim states) in a religious war of the entire West, the "civilised" judeo-christian West against the "evil" muslim world.
No wonder if bans of headscarves, minarets, and other things, which would have been dismissed as "obscurantists" only a few decades ago, have passed successfully in "civilised" countries in Europe.
So what do you think that would gather a protest outside n° 10 of Downing Street? Some thousands people? And then? They would be labelled as friend of terrorists the day after; no doubt.
They are afraid also of Muslim immigration, and articles like this: http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/dicembre/20/INTEGRAZIONE_DEGLI_ISLAMICI_co_9_091220004.shtml, continue to refrain the same message: even a Chinese or and Indian could integrate in Western society, but not a Muslim!
I think that the only thing they are afraid of is this, muslim immigration, so, we could realize their nightmares.
Suppose that some thousands or better hundreds of thousands Palestinians came to Europe, for example through the river Maritsa, on the border between Greece and Turkey (it already happens, but the numbers are too small), and that the Greek police tried to repatriate them, do you see what I mean?
They would try to repatriate them, BUT their dear friend, Israel, will certainly refuse to let them back.
So they would have their nightmare transformed in reality: hundreds of Muslim immigrants, and no way to let them back!
And the most strange thing would be for westerners that these immigrants would ask to be repatriated!
They are sensible only in their wallet and on their image of "judeo-christian" west, so hit them there.
Make more visible what costs to the entire world community the UNRWA, what could cost to relocate millions of Palestinians and giving them a decent job!
But another thing is disturbing me: how the Arab and Muslim world is divided.
They prefer to call for help the West against their neighbor, to fight Iran, or Hezbollah, or Hamas, (or on the contrary, to call Iran against their opposite faction) and accept what happens in Palestine, and on their Holy city, instead of finding a common solution and agreement.
It's really depressing.
Without a better unity, between factions, but also between Shia and Sunni confessions (and also christian minorities), there would be only deception.
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your messages.
Let’s be very clear that I do not question in the least Haitham’s and Yousef’s right to judge things fro their own point of view. They know their country’s hugely intricate problems and we know but a tiny part of them.
Another thing is : I’m not non-violent. I don’t believe Gandhi liberated India from the British, even though he fought them most courageously according to his principles. I believe the British left India to its fate for other reasons. However, I respect those who hold these principles and act accordingly. If I am wrong to believe it is useless, I'll be glad to be proven wrong.
What made me react is some of the commentaries I read, because I think that it is a bit too easy to criticize those who DO things, however erroneously or imperfectly sometimes. My grandmother used to say : "Those who do nothing never do anything wrong». But they are seldom content to shut up while doing nothing. Once the beans are spilled, they usually show up to give lessons. I’d like them to show up when help is needed, that’s all.
One thing I agree upon with Haitham and Yousef is that those immense problems are not going to be solved in Palestine or in Egypt, nor even in Israel. For one thing, Palestine’s plight cannot be solved isolately. We are all being eaten up by an enormous planetary cancer. We mustn’t hope to relieve Palestine alone by cutting one of its tentacles. Or even two or three. We must reach at the heart of the beast. Which is in the West. That is why I do agree that Western (or other) activists as well as simple (alas passive) cittizens must fight for Palestine – which means for themselves as well – in their respective countries, by confronting the gangs who rule them. But, for heaven’s sake not with demos, hunger strikes (remember Bobby Sands ?) or brandishing slogans on boards ! These gangs will not relent by being politely asked, nor will they ever listen to reason. They must be destroyed – let us say « neutralized ». Each of them : the empire and its puppets. Which means real confrontation, with all sorts of bodily and financial risks for everyone.
If we could forbid our governments to enforce the empire’s dictates or to go on strengthening their ties with Israel, Palestinians would feel the relief at once. If we could force our ruling classes to get out of NATO, Israel’s fate would be sealed and it would be time for individuals to solve human problems between them for the best of all except the war criminals in a democratically ruled Palestine.
The question is : how are we going to achieve that ? What pawns do we have in hands to play such a game ? It is high time that we start looking for imaginative solutions before it is too late. No daydreams or competing ideologies, just practical ideas : what could work, how, when… and when do we start, when do our leaders signal to us that it is time to do this or that and to do it like this or like that ? Aye, there’s the rub : we have no leaders, no political class capable of doing a thing like that and willing to even try. That is our curse. The real « Decline of the West ». It takes several generations to make a political class and we do not have the least individual, whether male or female to rise to the occasion, let alone a class. Palestinians, in spite of their ordeal, have Hamas. In the beginning, Hamas was not meant to rule. Then they were elected and they had to learn the art of governing in awful circumstances. All has to be done in only one generation, with dozens of Hamas members being killed in the process. It is almost hopeless, yet whenever some of them fall, others rise to take over. In spite of everything, that is Palestine’s blessing. We must not expect anything of the sort in the West.
It is time we give up the idea that there is any left left in the Western World. There is none. M. Hisham Bustani wrote an interesting paper on this very site some time ago, remember ? He was right of course, except that he was addressing immaterial wraiths. That is really our Problem Number One.
Last month, a French actor, Mr. De Cluzet, caused quite a stir by asking one of Sarkozy’s ministers, on TV, what they intended to do for Salah Hammouri, who is a French citizen and has been in Israeli jails for years without real charges and without a fair trial. If he (Mr. De Cluzet) had run for the presidency after that, he would have been elected in one stroke, by more than half the French population, including the 5 million or so muslim French. He was just an honest man who acts on the stage or makes films for his living, a man without any political background or ambitions. Imagine if he’d had any ? Let’s solve that problem, dear Mary, and the rest will follow. Otherwise, let’s rather count on the Latinos, who are themselves, however, in great permanent danger.
(Sorry, I said there was not one reliable political person whether male or female : in Europe, there is at least one – the only one I know, and that is Bernadette Devlin. It would be wise not to start anything serious without her, if she is still physically able after having been machine gunned.)
The second or twin problem to be solved is the plague of consumerism. Consumers are slaves. who will not be cured of their slavery, you see ? They like it. I have no clue. Whoever wants a cellphone and knows that it has cost the life of 5.5 million people in Congo already , will have one anyway. How does one fight that ?
Those are the diseases that must be cured, before we can even dream of helping the Palestinians efficiently. But whatever you decide, be sure that you can count on the activists of the March for Gaza, they will volunteer. Just teach them some elementary politics before.
I have opened the link to your Game Theory Approach and I am going to read it with as much attention as I can, then look forward to what you will have to say next.
Sorry for intruding so lengthily.
I have spent a few weeks in a ning forum called mepeace. Like, who can come up with a plan for peace between Palestine and Israel. They are talking about all these ambitious investments and deals, build this and that and Mahmoud Abbas (Abbas who?) is making a peace deal, Hillary Clinton is great and she is doing this or that…. . I asked, isn't this somewhat premature? And why all the outsiders? How about more Israelis participating in the olive harvests, standing in front of IDF tanks (not literally just visibly protesting it) , protesting the wall, going into Gaza with construction supplies and building along side the Gazans (or protesting on the border with those intentions)? Woudn't that be conducive to peace and trust of intention? Some of these "peace" organizations want to help the "poor Gazans" (and also reform them.) That's what I read from Phillip on the Mondoweis. Big red flag!
my focus is on my fellow Americans and my government because this where I am. Why go elsewhere?
Anyway, I always get kicked off the peace forums! Peace shmeace, Zionists, hah! Can't work with them! They have fake Muslim sites all over the place, fake peace sites posing as "peaceniks", they have Arab names, the whole bit. I also beware of "helpers" who do not even know or understand or believe in the cause for what it is! People want to have their own ideas, better ideas, ones that will "really work this time." And everybody's got an angle.
sami jamil jadallah on January 4th, 2010 at 12:06: in post # 11, said:
“…..I called for the operation of Gaza Sea Port under a joint US/NATO with both organizations taking total operational and security control”
==========================================
Am I reading correctly or is it just my eyes playing tricks with me?????
Are these real words am seeing or did I lose my ability to comprehend???
If I still have some reasoning ability, and if I haven’t gone totally crazy, it appears to me that Sami Jamil Jadallah is suggesting to us that the USA, NATO and their allies as the saviours of Palestine !!!!
No … No… in fact he CALLED for the US/NATO to take TOTAL OPERATIONAL and SECURITY CONTROL of Gaza Sea Port!!
Is Sami Jamil Jadallah offering himself as the Chalabi or kharazi of Palestine????
.
This Letter is sent to Gaza Freedom March and Viva Palestina from Majed Abusalama, as the Representative of Youth in Gaza:
Freedom dreamers in Gaza are awaiting the "candles of hope" outside
One year after the Gaza massacre, it gladdens our heart to see all these supporters from around the world who regard us as their brothers and sisters, giving us enough positive energy to be optimistic that all the world will eventually stand up and tell the world leaders to stop settlements in the West Bank and break the Gaza blockade.
Yet, after all this waiting and protests, hunger strikes and demonstrations, the Egyptian government has allowed only 100 persons to cross to Gaza. We as the youth of Gaza say this is NOT sufficient to break the blockade. Gaza doesn't want to be dependent on "aid." And we don't want a few people who are allowed to enter only once in a while. The Gaza people want to break the blockade completely and forever. We have already started small; now we need to go even bigger.
We are still waiting for everyone to cross and share his/her feelings with us, but even if Egypt keeps you out, your work in Egypt is critical. Egypt is one of the perpetrators of the blockade, and we so appreciate all the solidarity protests you have conducted at great personal risk throughout the great city of Cairo, at every important "nerve center." You showed your support of Gaza and Palestine loud and clear, waking humanity up to the 1.5 million persons in Gaza who have been suffering for the past four years.
So please don't stop fighting, no matter what happens. With your help, we will achieve peace and justice. We are marching for freedom together.
We are still waiting Gaza Freedom March to cross from Cairo and We are against Egyptian Government decision! Welcome in Gaza with Happy new year without Blockade, Settlements and Occupation!
Majed Abusalama
Representative of Youth in Gaza
Community Activist and Peace Maker
Gaza strip, Palestine
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