Monday, October 27, 2014
Slow Aggression
Israelis are using slow aggression to move Palestinians out of Jerusalem. The government has just approved 1,000 new homes to be built on land that Palestinians consider to be theirs. Once settlers are embedded in the territory and have the defense of the Israeli army behind them, there is little chance that Palestinians can regain the districts. Meanwhile, Israel's allies oppose the move but not so strongly that they are willing to break diplomatic ties with the country. Israel is concerned for public opinion internally and the new housing is an act of PR for its citizens. It is hard for countries like the US to complain too loudly. After all, we were believers in Manifest Destiny, and we systematically uprooted, slaughtered and contained native peoples on reservations in the 19th Century. One can say that Israel is imitating the US. The outcome of building new housing in Palestinian territory is more violence that will occur in months and years to come. One wonders if there isn't a better way?
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