Irish journalist John McCarthy weighs in about British Prime Minister Tony Blair's woeful stance in the conflict in Lebanon. In 1986 McCarthy was kidnapped and held hostage in Lebanon for five years. An excerpt from his commentary "Israel and the Art of Sophistry" today in The Independent in London:
Israel has been occupying Palestinian land, in defiance of UN resolutions, for almost 40 years. Instead of insisting on Israel leaving all Palestinian territories, Mr Blair spoke of the former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's "brave step of disengagement from Gaza" last year. What is brave about giving back something you have stolen, still keeping the rightful owners in a virtual prison? Until the safety and human rights of Palestinians - and of all people in the region - are valued as much and put on an equal footing with those of Israelis, there is no hope for a peaceful settlement.
You know it is kind of funny that he claims the land was stolen. Do you know who controlled Gaza from 1948 to 1967?
Egypt.
Jordan controlled the West Bank and the Old City of Jerusalem during that time frame as well.
That is the same Jordan that was once called Transjordan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transjordan) and was created out of nothing.
There will be no peace until those who ignore history choose to deal in reality.
Posted by: Jack | 12 August 2006 at 10:10
Neil, I suggest you address your comments about McCarthy's personal commentary to The Independent, where it was originally published.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 08 August 2006 at 11:11
I have an ambivalent feeling about this topic. I have often sided with the Israelis, perhaps an easy choice to choose because of their misfortune in the 2ndWW and also their ultimate position as the 'enemy of Islam'. Being born a Muslim gave me the eternal angst.
Nonetheless, here, I have to put my hands on my heart and say what is happening in Lebanon is quite outrageous.
I wonder just like McCarthy, Keenan has something to say given that he had been (albeit different) on the receiving end of the Lebanese...
Life and the world gets confusing and the issues get blurred when all everybody wants is peace.
Thanks Tara, for yet again, bringing some poignant issue to the forefront of this superficial world in which we live.
Posted by: Nina | 08 August 2006 at 11:01
Interesting article. But I was extremely offended by the following statement in Mr. McCarthy's article in the Independent:
"Israel is out of control. A craving for physical security (unsurprising with the post-Holocaust generation's attitude of "never again"), together with secular Zionist ideals and the Jewish fundamentalist belief of being God's CHOSEN PEOPLE (my caps), has allowed Israel to believe it can do as it will."
While I believe the Palestinian leadership and the Arab world bare much of the responsibility for the problems in the middle east -- along with Israel -- and I particularly blame Iran for arming Hezbollah to the teeth in this current conflict (they sent off a drone today that neared Tel Aviv), I would never say that Arab violence comes out of the religion of Islam.
So, I hope you will agree with me that the statement that the central Jewish concept of "the chosen people" means they can "do as they will" is completely horrendous, and a total misinterpretaion of what it is about -- moral duty, not superiority. The concept of the chosen people is completely bound to the idea of keeping the commandments that bring a people closer to God. For a journalist to use the "chosen people" line as an explanation for Israel's entry into Lebanon smacks of the most abhorent anti-Semitism.
If Jews really believe that they were chosen as a 'superior' people who can do as they will, they would be the most stupid people that ever existed, especially after being driven from their homeland, forced to wander the world for centuries, made to live like second class citizens, tortured, and murdered by both Muslim and Christian. What luck to be so chosen!
Posted by: Neil | 08 August 2006 at 07:51
Bravo.
There is an interesting
article on the danger of
embargo's - specifically
in regards to Palestine-
in "Adbusters"
i love your blog
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sophie | 08 August 2006 at 06:46
what's right is right.
Posted by: mirvat | 08 August 2006 at 02:22
"Until the safety and human rights of Palestinians - and of all people in the region - are valued as much and put on an equal footing with those of Israelis, there is no hope for a peaceful settlement."
Wow - powerful words. Especially from someone who was held captive in Lebanon.
Posted by: twitches | 08 August 2006 at 00:13