Tomgram: Sandy Tolan, The Occupation That Time Forgot
I’m reminded of how Chinese premier Zhou EnLai
supposedly answered
a question in 1972 about the significance of the French Revolution.
“Too early to tell,” was his reputed reply; and though he may never have
said it, how true it is that the major events of our world carom
through history in ways that remain unpredictable even hundreds of years
later. How then to arrive at an assessment of the Arab Spring -- and
now
far harsher Summer and
Fall -- of 2011, other than to say that it has proven monumental?
Perhaps all that can or should be said is that history’s surprises have their joys (as well as horrors), and that the young people who propelled the Arab Spring, toppling some regional autocrats and tyrants, challenging others, and leaving still others shaken, offered genuine hope (Yes, We Can!) in a region where it had been a scarce commodity. Their many and complex uprisings and serial demonstrations have clearly destabilized significant parts of the Middle East that had been in a kind of deadly stasis. Who knows what will shake out from it all? At this early date, however, one of the losers from these cascading events seems to be the ever more right-wing government of Israel which -- as its autocratic allies in the region totter or fall -- has been left in a state of growing isolation and anxiety.
The Arab Spring has evidently even offered a kind of confused and bedraggled hope to a Palestinian not-exactly-state, the Palestinian Authority, about as powerless as an entity could be, which is heading this week for the U.N. to do it’s-not-quite-clear-what. Its decision signals, at least, the utter bankruptcy of the former “road map” to peace in the region -- there are no roads, only checkpoints and obstacles, and as for maps, the Israelis control them. The zombie-style “negotiations” Washington has long been brokering in the region are now officially dead, no matter how many diplomats rush from one capital to another.
If it weren't so grim, the uproar over such a non-power essentially pleading with the U.N. for membership when it controls next to nothing on the ground, and the scurrying around of everyone from Tony Blair to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, not to speak of the threats of the anxious Israelis to withhold money and tear up the Oslo Accords, of the U.S. Congress to withhold yet more money, and of Republican presidential candidates accusing the Obama administration of "appeasement" or worse would be the material for the Middle Eastern equivalent of a bedroom farce.
Journalist Sandy Tolan, author of a moving book, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, is just back from the West Bank. As he makes clear, by anyone’s measure the Israelis are winning the war of and on the land. And yet symbols do matter -- and so, in the end, may the kind of isolation the Israelis could, one day, find themselves in, especially in a destabilizing region with potential surprises in store, some predictable, some not faintly so. Tom
Perhaps all that can or should be said is that history’s surprises have their joys (as well as horrors), and that the young people who propelled the Arab Spring, toppling some regional autocrats and tyrants, challenging others, and leaving still others shaken, offered genuine hope (Yes, We Can!) in a region where it had been a scarce commodity. Their many and complex uprisings and serial demonstrations have clearly destabilized significant parts of the Middle East that had been in a kind of deadly stasis. Who knows what will shake out from it all? At this early date, however, one of the losers from these cascading events seems to be the ever more right-wing government of Israel which -- as its autocratic allies in the region totter or fall -- has been left in a state of growing isolation and anxiety.
The Arab Spring has evidently even offered a kind of confused and bedraggled hope to a Palestinian not-exactly-state, the Palestinian Authority, about as powerless as an entity could be, which is heading this week for the U.N. to do it’s-not-quite-clear-what. Its decision signals, at least, the utter bankruptcy of the former “road map” to peace in the region -- there are no roads, only checkpoints and obstacles, and as for maps, the Israelis control them. The zombie-style “negotiations” Washington has long been brokering in the region are now officially dead, no matter how many diplomats rush from one capital to another.
If it weren't so grim, the uproar over such a non-power essentially pleading with the U.N. for membership when it controls next to nothing on the ground, and the scurrying around of everyone from Tony Blair to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, not to speak of the threats of the anxious Israelis to withhold money and tear up the Oslo Accords, of the U.S. Congress to withhold yet more money, and of Republican presidential candidates accusing the Obama administration of "appeasement" or worse would be the material for the Middle Eastern equivalent of a bedroom farce.
Journalist Sandy Tolan, author of a moving book, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, is just back from the West Bank. As he makes clear, by anyone’s measure the Israelis are winning the war of and on the land. And yet symbols do matter -- and so, in the end, may the kind of isolation the Israelis could, one day, find themselves in, especially in a destabilizing region with potential surprises in store, some predictable, some not faintly so. Tom
It's the Occupation, Stupid
The State to Which the U.N. May Grant Membership Is Disappearing
By Sandy Tolan
It's the show that time and the world forgot. It’s called the Occupation and it’s now in its 45th year. Playing on a landscape about the size of Delaware, it remains largely hidden from view, while Middle Eastern headlines from elsewhere seize the day. Diplomats shuttle back and forth from Washington and Brussels to Middle Eastern capitals; the Israeli-Turkish alliance ruptures amid bold declarations from the Turkish prime minister; crowds storm the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, while Israeli ambassadors flee the Egyptian capital and Amman, the Jordanian one; and of course, there’s the headliner, the show-stopper of the moment, the Palestinian Authority's campaign for statehood in the United Nations, which will prompt an Obama administration veto in the Security Council.
But whatever the Turks, Egyptians, or Americans do, whatever symbolic satisfaction the Palestinian Authority may get at the U.N., there’s always the Occupation and there -- take it from someone just back from a summer living in the West Bank -- Israel isn’t losing. It’s winning the battle, at least the one that means the most to Palestinians and Israelis, the one for control over every square foot of ground. Inch by inch, meter by meter, Israel's expansion project in the West Bank and Jerusalem is, in fact, gaining momentum, ensuring that the “nation” that the U.N. might grant membership will be each day a little smaller, a little less viable, a little less there.
How to Disappear a Land
On my many drives from West Bank city to West Bank city, from Ramallah to Jenin, Abu Dis to Jericho, Bethlehem to Hebron, I'd play a little game: Could I travel for an entire minute without seeing physical evidence of the occupation? Occasionally -- say, when riding through a narrow passage between hills -- it was possible. But not often. Nearly every panoramic vista, every turn in the highway revealed a Jewish settlement, an Israeli army checkpoint, a military watchtower, a looming concrete wall, a barbed-wire fence with signs announcing another restricted area, or a cluster of army jeeps stopping cars and inspecting young men for their documents.
Click here to read more of this dispatch.
Forex Market Updates & Commentary
|
|
- Midpoint of 2010 low to 2011 high at 1.34077
- IMF Lagarde says sees narrower path for recovery
- USDCHF corrects to 100/200 bar area
- Dow down -322. Oil down -$4.20. S&P -31
- EURUSD squeezed higher. 1.3473-78 upside target now
- Bobbys Corner-Open Market-Sept.22, 2011
- Charting the Majors with James Chen – Webinar STARTING SOON at 9:30 AM U.S. ET
- Fed is going to cut the rate of FX swap lines to Europe: Market chatter.
- The EURUSD makes new lows continued risk liquidation
- S&P getting closer to key support at $1100
- US Leading Indicators & House Price Index Data To Be Released at 10AM
- Canada Retail Sales Drop to -0.6 vs Prior of 0.7%, USD/CAD Stronger on the News
- US Jobless Claims Continue The Weak Trend
- Jobless not so hot. Canada Retail Sales not so hot either…selling risk
- Jobless Claims Data Due at 8:30AM
|
22 settembre 2011
C'è un giudice a Berlino. E rivuole re Salomone
Dopo Rastisbona nel 2006 e dopo Parigi nel 2008, la terza grande lezione di questo pontificato. Papa Benedetto la tiene nella capitale tedesca e nel cuore del suo sistema politico. Cita sant'Agostino: "Togli il diritto, e allora che cosa distingue lo Stato da una grossa banda di briganti?"There's a Judge in Berlin. And He Wants King Solomon Back
After Regensburg in 2006 and Paris in 2008, the third grand lecture of this pontificate. Pope Benedict holds it in the German capital, and in heart of its political system. Citing Saint Augustine: "Without justice what else is the state but a great band of robbers?"Il y a un juge à Berlin. Et il veut retrouver le roi Salomon
Après Ratisbonne en 2006 et Paris en 2008, le troisième grand discours de ce pontificat. Le pape Benoît XVI le prononce dans la capitale de l'Allemagne et au cœur de son système politique. Il cite saint Augustin: "Enlève le droit, et alors qu’est ce qui distingue l'État d’une grosse bande de brigands?"Hay un juez en Berlín. Y quiere de nuevo al rey Salomón
Luego de Ratisbona en el año 2006 y luego de París en el año 2008, la tercera gran lección de este pontificado. El papa Benedicto la pronuncia en la capital alemana y en el corazón de su sistema político. Cita a san Agustín: "Quita el derecho y, entonces, ¿qué distingue el Estado de una gran banda de bandidos?"------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE POPE IN GERMANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Financial Crisis, Religion and a Bit of Protest In Germany on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI wasted no time in touching on one of the main themes of his papacy: declining religiosity. But he also chatted with Chancellor Angela Merkel about the financial crisis and said he understands the protests surrounding his visit. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787878,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Fighting the Dictatorship of Relativism: The Pope's Role in the New Battle for Religion http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787808,00.html#ref=nlint Photo Gallery: The Pope Arrives in Berlin http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-73158.html#ref=nlint Vats for the Vatican: Pope Beer Commemorates State Visit http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,787773,00.html#ref=nlint The World from Berlin: 'Dear God, Let's Get it Over With' http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787810,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIGHTING THE DICTATORSHIP OF RELATIVISM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Pope's Role in the New Battle for Religion The criticism of Benedict XVI in Germany became deafening ahead of the pope's visit to his homeland. But those calling for reform want nothing less than for the Catholic Church to abandon everything that makes it unique. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787808,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- The Pope Comes Home: Benedict Criticizes Lack of Religiosity in Germany http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787791,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ POKER WITH UN VOTES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Europe Divided on Palestinian Question He's the first European Council President to speak before the United Nations General Assembly -- but he'll be allowed to say precious little. Herman van Rompuy will avoid controversial commitments, serving only to highlight European discord over the Palestinian question. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,787889,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUTIN CLINGS TO POWER ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kremlin Favors Manipulation as Election Strategy The Kremlin-backed United Russia party is getting ready for the final phase of campaigning ahead of December's parliamentary election. But allegations of manipulation are likely to overshadow Friday's party convention. Critics accuse Vladimir Putin of stifling democracy to ensure he and his cronies stay in power. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,787414,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FRANCE'S BURQA BAN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two Women Fined for Covering Faces The new "burqa ban" in France has produced its first trial and convictions: Two women who staged a protest in May will have to pay fines. One defendant on Thursday promised to bring her case before the European Court of Human Rights. http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,787879,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE EURO WHISPERER ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Merkel's Secret Weapon in Parliament Normally, parliamentary secretaries stay well clear of the limelight. But Peter Altmaier, a leading conservative in German parliament, has become one of Chancellor Angela Merkel's closest allies in her quest to save the common European currency. The foreign press can't get enough of him. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787540,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE POPEMOBILE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Brief History of the World's Holiest Car During his trip through Germany, Pope Benedict XVI will ride around in his bullet-proof, pearlescent popemobile. The history of the vehicle stretches back over eight decades and includes more than 50 exotic cars, which have been the height of luxury and technology. http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,787762,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: The Popemobile Over the Years http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-73156.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VATS FOR THE VATICAN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pope Beer Commemorates State Visit A number of commemorative souvenirs have been produced to mark Pope Benedict XVI's four-day visit to Germany. One brewery in Berlin has gone as far as creating a special beer in his honor. But no ordinary brew would do: This beer was serenaded by Gregorian chants by the light of the new moon. http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,787773,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: The Pope Arrives in Berlin http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-73158.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL RECALL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Schwarzenegger Is Back Former California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger plans to publish his memoirs in October 2012. Called "Total Recall," the book is to trace his life from bodybuilding to politics -- and will include some recent low points as well. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,787753,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: The Terminator Remembers http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-73154.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE WORLD FROM BERLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'Dear God, Let's Get it Over With' The pope's visit to Germany this week promises to be difficult. Abuse scandals among priests worldwide have dimmed enthusiasm for the leader of the Catholic Church, even in his homeland, and German papers on Thursday bicker over whether the pontiff even deserves their respect. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787810,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE THIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sea of Red http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,787898,00.html#ref=nlint
RFE/RL Headlines
9/22/2011 9:17:05 PM
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyRFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org. |
Features
Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah: The Taliban Does Not Believe In Peace Talks
The death of former Afghan president and leading peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani in a brazen suicide attack has shocked Afghanistan and dealt a blow to hopes of a negotiated settlement with the insurgency. Who will fill Rabbani shoes? Can anyone? Former Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah believes a new High Peace Council leader can be found, but also thinks the Taliban doesn't believe in peace talks. More 
Armenia Considers Changing Adoption Procedures Amid Allegations Of Corruption
The Armenian government is considering changes in its rules and procedures for international adoptions in an effort to stamp out alleged corrupt practices. More 
If Not The Taliban, Then Who Killed Rabbani?
No one has accepted responsibility for killing Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghanistan's former president and chairman of the country's High Council for Peace. But if not the Taliban, then who? More 
IMF, World Bank See Global Economic Danger
The head of the International Monetary Fund said today that the world economy was entering "a dangerous place," while the president of the World Bank warned of a global "danger zone." The bleak assessments sent global financial markets plunging. More 
Mullen: Pakistan Exports Violence
U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen accused Pakistan today of "exporting" violence to Afghanistan by allowing militants to act as an "arm" of Islamabad's intelligence service, the ISI. More 
Schengen Setback For Bulgaria, Romania
A senior German official says a decision on whether Bulgaria and Romania should join Europe's 25-member border-free Schengen Area has been delayed for a second time amid Dutch and Finnish opposition. More 
Kyrgyz Opposition Leader Withdraws From Presidential Race
The leader of Kyrgyz opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, Omurbek Tekebaev, announced today that he will not take part in next month's presidential election. More 
Belarusian Activist 'Beaten' By Police
n opposition activist in the eastern Belarusian city of Homel says he was beaten and detained by police today before being sentenced to 15 days in jail for insulting police and resisting arrest. More 
Moldova Hails Agreement On Resumption Of Transdniester Talks
The Moldovan government has welcomed an agreement reached in Moscow today on the resumption, after five years, of official talks on resolving the conflict over the disputed Transdniester region. More 
Azerbaijani Activists To Appeal To French President About Abuses
Azerbaijani human rights activists plan to present an appeal to French President Nicolas Sarkozy about rights abuses in Azerbaijan when he visits Baku next month. More 
UN: Western Nations Walk Out On Iran
The U.S. delegation to the United Nations led a mass walkout in the General Assembly today after Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivered a fiercely anti-American speech. More 
Russian Prisoners Start Hunger Strike
Convicts at a maximum security prison in central Russia have started a hunger strike to demand an easing of prison regulations and an end to "arbitrary reprisals." More 
Police Quiz Belarus Activist's Colleague
An activist with a Belarusian rights group whose chairman was arrested for alleged tax evasion has been questioned by police in connection with the case. More 
Kyrgyz Activist Impugns Son's Arrest
One of Kyrgyzstan's leading human rights activists says her enemies are targeting her through her son, who was briefly detained by police as a robbery suspect this week. More 
Ebadi Condemns Iran Hanging Of Minor
Ali-Reza Mola Soltani, who was 17 years old, was publicly hanged on September 21 in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, for the murder of popular athlete Rouhollah Dadashi in July. More 
26 Shi'a Shot Dead In Pakistan
Armed men have gunned down 26 people, all of them belonging to the Shi'a sect, in Pakistan's southern Baluchistan Province. More 
Drones: Pakistan Has No Leg To Stand On
If American drone strikes violate Pakistani sovereignty, what about all of the foreign militants who not only launch attacks across the border into Afghanistan but are also a huge security threat to the people of Pakistan? More |
RFE/RL Watchdog
9/22/2011 6:52:20 PM
A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region.
For more, please visit and bookmark Watchdog . |
|
Ebadi Condemns Iran Hanging Of Minor
Ali-Reza Mola Soltani, who was 17 years old, was publicly hanged on September 21 in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, for the murder of popular athlete Rouhollah Dadashi in July. More 
Activists Barred From Leaving Iran
Iranian authorities have imposed a travel ban on several prominent religious activists. More 
Kazak TV Complains Of State Pressure
Journalists at the Almaty-based online television company Stan-TV say they are under pressure from the Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB). More 
Jailed Belarus Journalist Loses Appeal
A journalist for a top Polish daily convicted in Belarus of defaming President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has lost his appeal. More 
Another Iranian Lashed Over Political Activism
An Iranian political activist member of a group called "Iran's Democratic Party" has received 30 lashes after being convicted of charges that are often brought against dissidents, including acting against national security. More 
Azeri Activists' Lawyer Disbarred
A lawyer who recently defended four opposition activists in a Baku court has been disbarred by the Azerbaijani Bar Association. More 
Activists Held Over Uzbek Child Workers
Two Uzbek rights activists say they were detained by police for taking pictures of schoolchildren picking cotton in the southern Kashkadarya region More 
Belarusian Bandarenka In Elite Company For Sakharov Rights Award
Belarusian civil activist Dzmitry Bandarenka is one of the nominees for the European Parliament's 2011 Sakharov Price for Freedom of Thought. While Bandarenka is likely to make it to the final three, he might just miss out on the ultimate prize. More |
| VA NEWS JOBS EDUCATION VA LOAN CENTER BENEFITS |   September 22, 2011 |
 | Zionists Neuter Obama at UN Meeting on Palestinian Statehood Obama Praises Unwavering Support of Israel at United Nations General Assembly as 2012 Election Forces Hand. Read More »» |
| ||||||||||||||||
Economy Editors Picks Health Living Military Politics Vet News WarZone World
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From the Cartoonist Group.
U.S. To Provide F-16s To Iraq, Keep Military Trainers In Country
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:10 am (PDT)
|
|
Messages In This Digest (25 Messages)
- 1.
- NATO Extends Libya War Operations To End Of Year From: Rick Rozoff
- 2.
- NATO Members Squabbling Over Spoils Of Libya War From: Rick Rozoff
- 3.
- Northrop Wins Missile Defense Agency's Precision Tracking Space Syst From: Rick Rozoff
- 4.
- Romanian President On NATO-Russia Armed Conflict Over Moldova, Trans From: Rick Rozoff
- 5.
- Pan-Albanian Separatists Spread Kosovo Unrest To South Serbia From: Rick Rozoff
- 6.
- Russia To Refit Nuclear Missile Cruisers From: Rick Rozoff
- 7.
- U.S. Air Force's Expanding NATO-European-African-Asian Nexus From: Rick Rozoff
- 8.
- Turkish Opposition: NATO Missile Radar Part Of Shield For Israel From: Rick Rozoff
- 9.
- Contra Russia, Iran: Azerbaijan And "Europe's Energy Security" From: Rick Rozoff
- 10.
- 850 U.S.-Trained Mongolian Troops Headed To South Sudan From: Rick Rozoff
- 11.
- Pentagon Building Secret Bases In Indian Ocean, Horn Of Africa From: Rick Rozoff
- 12.
- Pentagon, NATO Plot "Next Steps" In Libya From: Rick Rozoff
- 13.
- Bolivia's Morales Sees Oil, Greed Behind NATO Mission In Libya From: Rick Rozoff
- 14.
- China Protests New U.S. Arms Sales To Taiwan From: Rick Rozoff
- 15.
- U.S. Drones Kill Ten As Yemen Heads Toward Civil War From: Rick Rozoff
- 16.
- Pakistan Lodges Complaint At UN Against Drone Attacks From: Rick Rozoff
- 17.
- Troubling News From Africa: AFRICOM Hatches New Missions From: Rick Rozoff
- 18.
- Endless War Against Libya: 23,474 NATO Sorties, 8,795 Strike Sorties From: Rick Rozoff
- 19.
- Ghana: US/NATO Hands Off Libya, Hands Off Africa Members Arrested From: Rick Rozoff
- 20.
- U.S. Military Targets Africa: Interview From: Rick Rozoff
- 21.
- NATO Boosts Cyberwarfare Investments, Launches Multinational Effort From: Rick Rozoff
- 22.
- U.S & NATO Occupied Libya - NATO strikes, NTC rockets kill 151 in Si From: mart unknown
- 23.
- Obama's Speech To UN Outrages Palestinians From: Rick Rozoff
- 24.
- Cross-Strait Stability Under Shadow Of U.S. Arms Sales From: Rick Rozoff
- 25.
- U.S., NATO Allies To Shower $23 Billion On Libyan Clients From: Rick Rozoff
