I once for a few years lived in a village right at the southern tip of Sweden. There was only one factory, it made machines for making sneakers. It was owned by a Jew, who came as a refugee. He was highly respected and looked up to and employed half the village. I worked for him during the summer holidays. I never heard a bad word about any Jew until I was perhaps 20 years old after the 1976 war. I was at the time in schools where there were pro-Palestinian left-wingers. Also, the Swedish Nazis, of whom there were many, burnt their brown shirts and got very quiet after 1945.
Sweden received many Jews during WWII. They were well-treated and many went on to become very successful. You are probably drinking milk or juice from a Tetra Pack. This successful, global company was established by a refugee Jew in Lund, close to my village, where I also went to school. Between the University and Tetra Pack, they probably employed most people in the town. Tetra Pack's business model is most interesting, but that is a different story for another time.
I read a very pro-Israel book when I was about 15 years old, about how the Jews settled in Palestine, I have forgotten both the name of the book and the author, but one tactic they used has stuck in my mind. They had a ten-for-one rule. If a Jew was killed by the Palestinian resistance the Israeli army went to the nearest village and killed 10 Palestinians at random. I was horrified at the violence, callousness, and the absence of any legal process. Even worse, they seem to have followed this rule until today. The casualty ratio of the Gaza war is, as I write this, about ten to one.
My many years living among the Arabs have given me their perspective on the Palestinian-Israel conflict, which is well known. In a nutshell, my views are: Israel should never have been created, as it can obviously not be undone the Israeli state should be limited to the 1967 borders and the Palestinians should have a viable state of their own. The majority of Jews, Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, and Muslims agree with this. A number of right-wing American and Israeli Zionists, American Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and some Zionists around the rest of the world strongly disagree. Unfortunately, this group representing a minority view, is extremely powerful and has managed to maintain political support from in particular the US, the UK, and a few European countries. Netanyahu is their leader, he has spent his entire political career making sure there will never be a Palestinian state. He even went to the extent of supporting Hamas in order to divide the Palestinians.
When I hear Biden saying that he is a zionist I am surprised. He does not seem to understand what the Palestinians hear when he says that. They hear the elimination of Palestine. Which is the same as the Israelis hear when the Palestinians chant: from the river to the sea Palestine will be free. There is a lot of ignorance in the US about the whole issue which is amazing considering the amount of money and trouble Israel has caused the US.
Antisemitism is puzzling to me and I have never been able to figure out how it came about. While I obviously understand Arab and Muslim antisemitism linked to the creation of Israel, antisemitism goes back thousands of years. Those who say it is linked to the killing of Jesus can't be right, antisemitism is older. Also, as far as I understand, there would not have been any Christianity had Jesus not been killed. There may be some truth to Jews being discriminated against due to being linked to banking for thousands of years. The Jews were often restricted in what occupations they could practice, which is discrimination in the first place, banking was one profession that was allowed and the hate of bankers is certainly not new. Banks make tons of money in good times and are often the cause of crises, both strongly resented. Banking is inherently unstable - a fact that has nothing to do with Jews. The over-representation in media is by definition new and linked to the defence of Israel. I have never come across anyone who could explain the root causes of this ancient hatred. Sticking together and sticking to their beliefs can not be the reason either. Many religious groups have done the same without being prosecuted for thousands of years.
While I read intelligent pieces by Jews, Israelis, Muslims, and Arabs about the conflict. I have never met a Jew or a Muslim who has had a balanced opinion. The way that some American Zionists in UNICEF blatantly abused the organization to further their agenda was scandalous. Some saw this as not only as their right but as their obligation. There were Muslims who attempted to emulate this, but they were not successful.
As it is unlikely that Netanyahu will stay on as PM or be in politics at all when this is over there could be an opportunity to launch a two-state solution. If the US, the UK, and the EU got together and agreed to pursue it, it could be done.
Sweden received many Jews during WWII. They were well-treated and many went on to become very successful. You are probably drinking milk or juice from a Tetra Pack. This successful, global company was established by a refugee Jew in Lund, close to my village, where I also went to school. Between the University and Tetra Pack, they probably employed most people in the town. Tetra Pack's business model is most interesting, but that is a different story for another time.
I read a very pro-Israel book when I was about 15 years old, about how the Jews settled in Palestine, I have forgotten both the name of the book and the author, but one tactic they used has stuck in my mind. They had a ten-for-one rule. If a Jew was killed by the Palestinian resistance the Israeli army went to the nearest village and killed 10 Palestinians at random. I was horrified at the violence, callousness, and the absence of any legal process. Even worse, they seem to have followed this rule until today. The casualty ratio of the Gaza war is, as I write this, about ten to one.
My many years living among the Arabs have given me their perspective on the Palestinian-Israel conflict, which is well known. In a nutshell, my views are: Israel should never have been created, as it can obviously not be undone the Israeli state should be limited to the 1967 borders and the Palestinians should have a viable state of their own. The majority of Jews, Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, and Muslims agree with this. A number of right-wing American and Israeli Zionists, American Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and some Zionists around the rest of the world strongly disagree. Unfortunately, this group representing a minority view, is extremely powerful and has managed to maintain political support from in particular the US, the UK, and a few European countries. Netanyahu is their leader, he has spent his entire political career making sure there will never be a Palestinian state. He even went to the extent of supporting Hamas in order to divide the Palestinians.
When I hear Biden saying that he is a zionist I am surprised. He does not seem to understand what the Palestinians hear when he says that. They hear the elimination of Palestine. Which is the same as the Israelis hear when the Palestinians chant: from the river to the sea Palestine will be free. There is a lot of ignorance in the US about the whole issue which is amazing considering the amount of money and trouble Israel has caused the US.
Antisemitism is puzzling to me and I have never been able to figure out how it came about. While I obviously understand Arab and Muslim antisemitism linked to the creation of Israel, antisemitism goes back thousands of years. Those who say it is linked to the killing of Jesus can't be right, antisemitism is older. Also, as far as I understand, there would not have been any Christianity had Jesus not been killed. There may be some truth to Jews being discriminated against due to being linked to banking for thousands of years. The Jews were often restricted in what occupations they could practice, which is discrimination in the first place, banking was one profession that was allowed and the hate of bankers is certainly not new. Banks make tons of money in good times and are often the cause of crises, both strongly resented. Banking is inherently unstable - a fact that has nothing to do with Jews. The over-representation in media is by definition new and linked to the defence of Israel. I have never come across anyone who could explain the root causes of this ancient hatred. Sticking together and sticking to their beliefs can not be the reason either. Many religious groups have done the same without being prosecuted for thousands of years.
While I read intelligent pieces by Jews, Israelis, Muslims, and Arabs about the conflict. I have never met a Jew or a Muslim who has had a balanced opinion. The way that some American Zionists in UNICEF blatantly abused the organization to further their agenda was scandalous. Some saw this as not only as their right but as their obligation. There were Muslims who attempted to emulate this, but they were not successful.
As it is unlikely that Netanyahu will stay on as PM or be in politics at all when this is over there could be an opportunity to launch a two-state solution. If the US, the UK, and the EU got together and agreed to pursue it, it could be done.
You may also want to read the Al Jazeera article: Israel-Palestine conflict: A brief history in maps and charts
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Thomas Ekvall can be contacted via: thomas.ekvall9435@gmail.com
Most refreshing to have a frank opinion piece - well laid out. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you show the four maps which indicate the 'evolution' of Israel and Palestine over time. I used the same four maps in 2002 and was told that I shouldn't have used them. This was surprising because I had harvested them from Israeli government sources which I saw as being reasonably accurate and factual, and I believe it gave the basis for an understanding of the complexity of the mix without favouring one view or another.
If this war is allowed to continue, it might incline us to think that killing children is part of life. It isn't. It shouldn't be, judging on the joyful faces of those reunited with family as Palestinian prisoners are released and Hamas hostages are handed back to their families in Israel. Where, oh where are there leaders of Palestine and Israel who have the courage to start talking about a non-war solution ? There are role models out there - remember Nelson Madela/Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa; and the 'terrorists/murderers' on both sides of the religious and political divide in Ireland which led to the Good Friday Agreement ? Surely Israel and Palestine can find one or more each to start the process ? Please ???? For the sake of all the children, please. . . . .