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| Negotiating with Anarchy
by John M. Curtis Copyright October 3, 2000
"It’s our duty to defend Muslim holy sites," insisted Abdul–Malik Dehamshe, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset and Islamic activist. Only in Israel are subversives invited to participate in the government. Sharon didn’t desecrate a Muslim holy site—he simply moved about freely in his own country. Turning things inside out, Adul-Malik Dehamshe and others have justified their lawlessness and violence by concocting a transparent excuse to incite Palestinians into riots and anarchy. Giving Palestinians the green light to riot because Arafat can’t call all the shots on a peace agreement is a step in the wrong direction. Sure, they’d like to have East Jerusalem as their 'eternal and undivided' capitol, but that’s all a matter of negotiation and playing by the rules. When Mike Tyson decided to cannibalize Evander Holyfield’s ears, he was summarily disqualified from his title shot. As much as it hurts, Arafat must renounce violence and play by the rules. Going down the terrorism path hasn’t worked before—why should it now? Giving youths free reign to hurtle bricks, pipes and Molotov cocktails, arming them with guns and opening fire on innocent civilians isn’t helping the Palestinian cause. "If it was a fair fight, AK-47 to AK-47," said 18-year old Palestinian John Rahid from San Bernadino, "But rocks and guns, forget it." Who’s he kidding? What’s a sovereign country supposed to do to restore order? Abandon its policing authority and lay down its arms? I don’t think so. Using Palestinian TV to incite riots and play gruesome images of fathers and sons caught in the crossfire only exacerbates hostilities and fuels more violence. When parents place their children in harm’s way, you can’t blame the police or military for stepping in to restore order—that’s the basic duty of any government. Saddam Hussein surrounded his elite Republican guard with women and children—the so called 'human shield'—not to protect his citizens but to exploit innocent bystanders to assure his own safety. Watching Palestinian youths sucked into the bedlam by senior instigators lying to them that they’re part of a noble war of liberation goes beyond the pale. "This is a real war," said Nawf Masalha, another insurgent member of Israel’s parliament, suggesting that Palestinians are taking part in a true war of independence. There’s no real war other than clever propagandists, like Nawf Masalha, seducing vulnerable Palestinians into violent acts and endangering their lives. Referring to Sharon’s visit to Temple Mount and the ensuing violence, "In the short term this coexistence between Arabs and Jews was very much damaged," said Mashem Mahameed, another disloyal member of the Israeli parliament from Umm al Fahm, continuing to blow smoke about what’s really behind the current riots. Arab businesses and workers earning a living in Israel certainly don’t concur with Mahameed’s appraisal. Peace loving Palestinians enjoying an improved lifestyle and freedom in Israel know that violence and anarchy by their Arab brothers are not the path to prosperity. "There is a new generation," Mahameed insisted, "It is a generation that never knew failure, that never knew defeat. This generation looks straight forward into the eyes of the majority, into the eyes of the leaders of Israel." Whipping up Palestinian youths into believing they’re going to overthrow Israel sends a destructive message to the young generation. Palestinian leaders and their mass media need to tone down the incendiary rhetoric and cool off. Exploiting Sharon’s visit to Temple mount to justify lawlessness and rabble rousing can’t ignore Arafat’s current tactic when he’s forced back to the bargaining table. "This is a comprehensive and planned campaign by Arafat in order to apply pressure on Israel and the United States and has no relation to my visit to Temple Mount," said an unrepentant Sharon to Y-net, the Internet site of the Hebrew daily Yediot. Pretending that the latest round of violence was a spontaneous event doesn’t meet the test of common sense. No other Arab country has offered Palestinians a homeland or way to resolve their tragic refugee problem. You’d think that Arafat would have learned something from 52 years of terrorist attacks and armed struggle. Much to his dismay, Israel’s for real. They’re tough, intelligent, well organized, heavily defended, and, yes, intolerant of terrorism by whatever group, foreign or domestic, to achieve political objectives. Prolonging the agonizing plight of the Palestinian people, Arafat opted to answer his critics and grandstand to the Arab world. Palestinian leaders must call back the dogs and stop buffaloing innocent youths into using bricks and guns to achieve a better way of life. Martyrs won’t be rewarded for dying for phony causes like defending holy sites from imaginary desecration. Like Egyptians, Israelis have great respect for their ancient archeology, and don’t believe in trashing other religions or their holy shrines. Viewing sickening images of a child dying in his father’s arms should remind all parties that war is dirty business. No one’s safe when rioting and anarchy upend law and order. Keeping children out of the crossfire should be a priority for all concerned. Brainwashing impressionable youths and encouraging violence only guarantees that they’ll have no future. Palestinian authorities must return to their senses and follow a different path. About the Author John M. Curtis is editor of OnlineColumnist.com. He’s also the director of a West Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care and political research and media consultation. He’s a seminar trainer, columnist and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma. |
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rupting like Vesuvius, rioting spread across the holyland as Palestinians around the desert oasis known as Israel—from the Negev Desert in the South to Nazareth in the North—resuscitated the 'intifada' or uprising in the wake of Ariel Sharon’s visit to Temple Mount [AKA Haram al Sharif to Arabs]—considered Jews’ holiest site. "God will reward martyrs," trumpeted a Muslim cleric presiding over services at the funeral of a fallen Palestinian youth. Providing an X-ray into the PLO propaganda machine, "Al Aqsa deserves to have people die for her. This is our pride! This false peace will get us nowhere. Peace negotiations will not bring us our rights," said the Cleric whipping mourners into an emotional frenzy. Sending the wrong message to disenfranchised Palestinians, their leaders betrayed them by choosing violence over peaceful negotiation. "They can’t do anything on the peace process until people stop dying and the violence stops," said a saddened President Clinton, watching his hard work go up in smoke. Fifty-two years after the establishment of the Jewish State, Palestinian leaders continue to ignore Israel’s sovereignty and basic right to maintain order.|
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