beyondzerosum

If you want to get a REAL feel for what may be the beginning of the Third Intifada, watch the video filmed by Planxtysumoud & Haitham Al-Khatib and posted by
 +972’s Joseph Dana .  While obviously things have not yet escalated into ‘real’ violence on either side – the video certainly gives a taste of what modern warfare is like.  This is not “Band of Brothers”, “The Pacific” or John Wayne.  This is a surrealistic scene where passing cars conduct their day-to-day business as the combatants spar in their own highway-divider delineated arena.  Where stones, rolling blazing tires, and fireworks match forces with rubber bullets.  Where a Fox News reporter can jest that at least the “tear gas is clearing up my sinuses”.  But the strongest impression is that for now this is a contest of that certain type of Male Testosterone that dominates young men.  Frankly, I don’t really see much difference between these boys on either side.  They are kids – representing their people.  Two tribes – facing down each other as tribes have done for thousands of years.  For now, while tragically there are injuries, they are nothing compared to what we all can imagine will happen if things escalate as they did during the Second Intifada.  I only wish that the American Jewish Community would be doing more to prevent it by urging our politicians to hold down the rhetoric here in the U.S.  By loudly protesting against the threat of pulling aid from the Palestinian Authority.  By supporting the long-held official policy of the U.S. against the building of settlements in the West Bank.   The “Israel – Right or Wrong” position of seemingly the loudest and wealthiest in the Jewish community is as dangerous now as the “America – Right or Wrong” advocates were during the Vietnam war.  The consequence of stifling debate always leads to bad decisions.

So please – watch this – and let me know your thoughts with a comment below. 

Joseph Dana – Ramallah – So much attention has been focused on the question of whether violence will break out in the West Bank due the historic United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood. Yesterday, mass peaceful rallies were held inside West Bank cities such as Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron. However, late yesterday afternoon, clashes between stone throwing Palestinian youth and rubber bullet firing Israeli soldiers broke out at the Qalandia checkpoint, the main checkpoint separating Jerusalem and Ramallah…

The rest of his commentary can be found here:  WATCH: Against UN backdrop, violence erupts in West Bank

Related articles

• West Bank sees rallies and clashes as Palestinians bid for statehood (guardian.co.uk)
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