What annexation tells us about Israel/Palestine
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Robert A.H. Cohen is in fine form in his analysis of the proposed Israeli annexation – delayed for now.
It reveals, he argues,
- the reality of the power relationships in the conflict (the Palestinians have no settlements on Israeli land, nothing to annex and no sovereignty they can ‘extend’)
- the truth of the only version of Zionism that matters today
- the peculiar and often incoherent relationship between Israel and Jews living in the diaspora.
“Annexation, ” he concludes, “is a truth teller. Listen to the truth.”
This article was originally published by Patheos on Wed 1 Jul 2020. Read the original here.
Annexation (even when delayed) is the great truth teller on Israel/Palestine
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A very powerful and thought provoking article on many levels. I hope it reaches the largest possible audience.
“I can think of no other country that claims to be the state, not of its citizens, but of a global ethno-religious grouping. ”
The core of the cruel apartheid fallacy that is the State of Israel.
Only 2 comments. I am shocked. The author laid bare his journey away from the two state solution. I am still trying to understand what that journey really means.
“I can think of no other country that claims to be the state, not of its citizens, but of a global ethno-religious grouping. ”
A remarkably perceptive and succinct reflection. Would it be considered acceptable to today’s Labour Party?
As a non-Jew, and now a non-member of Labour, I find this a powerful comment and one that helps focus my own thinking.
Thank you Robert.
One thing this article has taught me is that the route to the truth may be painful and there are different ways to get there. We need to understand there are powerful global forces at work who have a vested interest in preventing us from getting there.
How many times have you heard the Israeli lobby trot out the line that the Jewish community have the right to self determination? We need to unpack this claim. Are they saying every jew should migrate to Israel to avoid anti semitism.?If so they are presenting a very bleak view about the future.
I keep coming back to this article.What is preventing the Jewish diaspora from releasing itself from settler colonialism,, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid which are the defining characteristics of the state of Israel?
An associated question I have been asking myself is. What happens if and when the majority of the Jewish diaspora relinquish their association with the state of Israel in its current form? Could it still survive by drawing on the support of a considerable number of non Jewish Zionists?
What is the truth on the ground? Like Jonathan Cook I believe that a single state already exists in practice. He calls it Greater Israel.Formal annexation of territories in the West Bank is an attempt to normalise the shocking events of further ethnic cleansing which are happening before our very own eyes. The truth is simple. Clinging on to the idea of a two state solution involving any genuine sovereignty to a Palestinian state has always been an illusion, but now even more so. The truth is, this situation needs some new thinking. The Jewish diaspora needs to take off it’s blinkers and look at it”s relationship to Israel objectively as opposed to emotionally. It’s time to take on board the hurt to Palestinians of creating a safe haven for Jews on their land.
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