In so-called peace deals, Palestinians have only ever been offered capitulation and a carve-up of the land on which they had lived together with Christians and Jews for over a thousand years. The colonial era has passed.
SIR – In responding to the letter by Frank Adam, titled ‘PLO against talks and negotiated settlement’ (August 24th), I would point out that Israel continues with illegal settlements without negotiation. It does so despite the unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2334 demanding that Israel returns to its pre-1967 borders. Currently, Israel has no defined or internationally-recognised borders.
In so-called peace deals, Palestinians have only ever been offered capitulation and a carve-up of the land on which they had lived together with Christians and Jews for over a thousand years. The colonial era has passed.
Clearly the continued occupation of the now Republic of Ireland by the British or the plantation of Ulster would not be permitted in modern times, yet Frank Adams from Manchester expects us to nevertheless agree that Palestinians should today accept this illegal Israeli occupation and settlement on stolen Palestinian land.
The ‘Peace & Security’ chapter of Netanyahu’s Likud Party platform rejects a Palestinian state: ‘The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan River. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state.’
Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration and ecology, their activity shall be determined by Israel. This is the platform that Netanyahu, and other extremist religious and nationalist parties, are electioneering on. Nothing is offered to Palestinians but resistance to continued occupation by Israel and its ‘defence’ force snipers who shoot unarmed protesters, medics, press and children.
In this past week, Netanyahu refused to allow a US congressional delegation led by Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) witness first-hand the brutality and dehumanization Israel’s occupation inflicts on the Palestinian people. Like apartheid South Africa in the past, Israel has a lot to hide.
It is desperately trying to mask its racist laws, ethnic cleansing of indigenous Palestinian communities and violent denial of Palestinian human rights. As with South Africa, it is unlikely to change its dangerous and aggressive course without foreign pressure.
Bob Storey,
Skibbereen.
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