April 20, 2010

After Israel's Independence Day

"Minutes after David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence, realizing the dream of a state for the Jewish people in their historic homeland, the United States became the first country to recognize Israel. To this day, we continue to share a strong, unbreakable bond of friendship between our two nations, anchored by the United States' enduring commitment to Israel's security.

Israel remains our important partner and key strategic ally in the Middle East, and I am confident that our special relationship will only be strengthened in the months and years to come.

I look forward to continuing our efforts with Israel to achieve comprehensive peace and security in the region, including a two-state solution, and to working together to counter the forces that threaten Israel, the United States, and the world.

On this day, we once again honor the extraordinary achievements of the people of Israel, and their deep and abiding friendship with the American people. I offer my best wishes to President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the people of Israel as they celebrate this happy occasion."

- President Barack Obama, commemorating Israel's 62nd Independence Day



“I have shared your pride in seeing the desert bloom, your economy thrive, and your country flourish... Israel today is confronting some of the greatest challenges in its history, but its promise and potential has never been greater...”

- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Palestinians will never receive this kind of treatment, though to be fair America and the Palestinians aren’t allies. We can't find any evidence of a call for Prisoner's Day. Spectators of Israel’s Independence Days, they’re forced to watch Washington obviously dance once more atop Gaza and the West Bank, both under lock-down.

Though Ehud Barak is still rattling his saber at least he’s speaking truth, however backhanded.

“The world is not willing to accept - and we will not change that in 2010 - the expectation that Israel will rule another people for decades more," said the Israeli Defense Minister. "It is something that does not exist anywhere else in the world. There is no other way, whether you like it or not, than to let them [the Palestinians] rule themselves."

Of course he would also take away Palestine’s army along with its border and air control first, but Barak is right on one singular level. Whether Israel and the West like it or not, some day in the future Palestinians will celebrate their own independence. So does Israel want one state or two?

That question begins and ends in Jerusalem, where Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin addressed the public. We're receiving more truth from Israeli than American officials

“Specifically at a time of cultural openness, we are witness today to a dangerous process of intensifying fortification of every group within its four walls This fortification brings with it not only cultural or political polarization, but also fatal segregation in everyday life. For example, look what Jerusalem has turned into in the last decade: separate neighborhoods, separate public transport, separate shopping centers for haredi and secular [residents], Arabs and Jews. Ghettos and more ghettos, separated by walls of alienation, not by walls of cement."

Something for Obama, Clinton and the gang to work on the day after Israel’s Independence Day. We're heard of these, "continuing efforts with Israel to achieve comprehensive peace and security in the region," but yet to see them.

1 comment:

  1. The American support of this apartheid state of Israel is beyond belief.
    It only tells me that America is the client state, not the other way around.

    ReplyDelete