Antoine Raffoul – Why must Palestinians accept post-1967 land theft?
By Guest Post • Feb 4th, 2010 at 12:19 • Category: Arabian Coffee House, Israel, Newswire, Palestine, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Zionism
Mahmoud al-Ramahi, PLC member, Hamas member
Dear Sirs,
We write to comment on your article in Electronic Intifada 1 February 2010 by Mel Frykberg (below).
Many in the academic and political arenas frequently state that somehow the 1967 borders are the 'internationally recognised' borders for the state of Israel.
This is presumably because that is what everybody had accepted post the Nakba days when Israel launched its miserable attack and took over the rest of historic Palestine in June 1967.
The 1967 borders were no more than Armistice Lines agreed to ensure a cessation of fire at those specific villages, terrains, water wells, farms, hedges, etc. These Armistice Lines have never been recognised as official borders for Israel. The Arab states at the time of Partition did not even accept the Partition of Palestine. The Armistice Lines map shows signatures of individual military negotiators. They were the result of military aggression as were the 1967 borders.
Assuming that we have to live with that illegal partition of the country (UNRES 181), why is it that we have to accept that the aggression the zionists launched in 1947-1948 post Partition (which swallowed my birthplace Nazareth) will be rewarded with a de-facto recognition. Why is it that the Palestinians have to compromise for Israel and accept that what was conquered and stolen in 1947-1948 is OK, but insist that the post 1967 aggression is not. Are we simply recognising one rape and neglecting another?
The Partition of Palestine was an illegal act imposed on our weak and defenseless people by the force of zionist lobbying and American bribery of nations whose votes were necessary to create a Zionist entity in our midst. If that Partition is a reality by virtue of a UN vote, why should our people accept what the rest of the world takes for granted: 1967.
Hamas leaders or Palestinian Authority leaders cannot bestow legality on an act which has never been ratified by the Palestinian people. Individuals do not speak for the masses without a vote.
Sincerely,
PALESTINE : DEVELOPMENT:
HAMAS PARLIAMENTARIAN: "WE ACCEPT EXISTENCE OF ISRAEL WITHIN 1967 BORDERS"
By Mel Frykberg, The Electronic Intifada, 1 February 2010
RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) – Palestinian politics are at an impasse. The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) ended on 25 January with no new
elections planned. Presidential elections, meant to be held last year, were also postponed indefinitely. IPS spoke with Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi, a neurosurgeon and secretary-general of the PLC, on the political deadlock.
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Antoine Rafoul states that one voice cannot represent the people withot their voting on the issue, which is borders.
I feel that Brother Rafoul has a very good point in speaking for his people as their representative, for their statement and cause, which is good government. Governing with a precise posture as regards zero tolerance for disregarding human rights in the occupation of Palestine insures that the people of Gaza and the West bank are assuered their rights as Palestinians by having even a less taken viewpoint yet be the view of the people.
Overshadowing the will of the people for appeasment of western advocates is bad governing when it decides with few players, the fates of all of Palestine, without a representative Palestinian governmental structure in place to enforce the will of the people over the will of western or Israeli advocates for 1967 borders language. What Antoine Rafoul is saying that what his people want most is to arbitrate their own negotiations directly with what Ross Perot called his referemdum ballot system. It never got off the ground in the USA for obvious reasons, but has potential in Palestine and could easily be implimented as simply as having a citizens election system as a means of employment for Palestinians that uses charitable contributions from King Abdullah towards building the governmental structure of referendum with full citizen voteing, one person, one vote, this is Palestine in it's own image in it's own dignified borders. this man has a great mind and seems to be truly committed to obeying the letter of every law, not just the ones that say 1967. Negotiations must honestly begin with true representation of the collective will of the Palestinian people, I heard no mention of the Lebanese , Syrian,jordanian or Saudi Palestinians, but imagine, given occupation laws drawn up for Nuremburg, refugees must be represented as well. Another thing to think about, Great article, Thanks for the blessing!