The promised land
Just finished: 'From Beirut to Jerusalem' by Thomas L. Friedman
Who was right? Who was wrong? Was it justice to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs to make way for a Promised Land that was lost two thousand years ago? But then, the jews were being persecuted everywhere in the world. They were being hated everywhere, and it was but their right to have a land that they can call their own; a place where they can live peacefully with their own people. They wanted to live with their own people not because they hated the others; but because the others hated them. Where else can they go but to their ancient land, where Moses led their forefathers to? They came, they settled, and they wanted peace. And peace was something which they were never to have.
When UN suggested the partition of the land of Palestine to two independant Jewish and Arab states, both sides rejected it first - though Jews accepted it later - which paved the way for the first of the numerous wars between the Jews and the Arabs. Jews won the war and annexed half of the Palestinian territory marked by the UN while the rest of it, Gaza Strip and West Bank, was taken over by Egypt and Jordan. And Palestine ceased to exist as a nation. If they had compromised in 1948, they would've had something to build their base on. Now they were refugees in their on land.
They suffered; and they fought. They wanted to erase Israel off the world map and reclaim their righteous place in the map. They fought under many leaders: George Habash, Yassir Arafat, and many more. They fought only to lose everytime. The war of 1967 between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan saw Israel magically defeating the might of the combined Arab army, annexing Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, West bank and Golan Heights. That almost sealed the fate of a Palestinian nation. More Palestinians were driven to refugee camps in Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. And the world slowly began to sideline the Palestinian issue.
What changed it all was the Intifada (means 'Uprising' in Arabic) started in 1987. Palestinian youth in the West Bank took their fighting to the streets. They fought the Israeli guns and tanks with stones and sticks. And the world started noticing. Things got bloodier as the time passed by. There wan't a day without news reports about car bombs in civilian areas and suicide attacks on military posts. Israelis haven't known what peace is, especially after 1987.
The recent past: A solution seemed nearing with Israel pulling out of the Gaza strip, razing all the kibbutzim there. The Israelis and Palestianias were sitting on either sides of a table, discussing a plan to establish a Palestinian Nation alonside Israel, containing West Bank and Gaza, and of course, minus Jerusalem. Things were starting to look good.
Now: Hamas, acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, an organization hell bent on erazing Israel off the world map by any means, has won the election in West Bank and Gaza, and is running the Palestinian Authority now. Will they put aside their fundamentalism and sit at a table to negotiate with the Israelis? Will the Israelis ever trust the Hamas? Can they? Only time can tell...
This is the Palestinian side of the story. Here it is full of pain, suffering, longing, seperation and losses. The Israeli side of the story is slightly different: there is suffering, there is longing; but they were eclipsed by hopes and heroism, beliefs and determination. And that is the secret of their success as a nation.
Who was right? Who was wrong? Was it justice to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs to make way for a Promised Land that was lost two thousand years ago? But then, the jews were being persecuted everywhere in the world. They were being hated everywhere, and it was but their right to have a land that they can call their own; a place where they can live peacefully with their own people. They wanted to live with their own people not because they hated the others; but because the others hated them. Where else can they go but to their ancient land, where Moses led their forefathers to? They came, they settled, and they wanted peace. And peace was something which they were never to have.
When UN suggested the partition of the land of Palestine to two independant Jewish and Arab states, both sides rejected it first - though Jews accepted it later - which paved the way for the first of the numerous wars between the Jews and the Arabs. Jews won the war and annexed half of the Palestinian territory marked by the UN while the rest of it, Gaza Strip and West Bank, was taken over by Egypt and Jordan. And Palestine ceased to exist as a nation. If they had compromised in 1948, they would've had something to build their base on. Now they were refugees in their on land.
They suffered; and they fought. They wanted to erase Israel off the world map and reclaim their righteous place in the map. They fought under many leaders: George Habash, Yassir Arafat, and many more. They fought only to lose everytime. The war of 1967 between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan saw Israel magically defeating the might of the combined Arab army, annexing Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, West bank and Golan Heights. That almost sealed the fate of a Palestinian nation. More Palestinians were driven to refugee camps in Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. And the world slowly began to sideline the Palestinian issue.
What changed it all was the Intifada (means 'Uprising' in Arabic) started in 1987. Palestinian youth in the West Bank took their fighting to the streets. They fought the Israeli guns and tanks with stones and sticks. And the world started noticing. Things got bloodier as the time passed by. There wan't a day without news reports about car bombs in civilian areas and suicide attacks on military posts. Israelis haven't known what peace is, especially after 1987.
The recent past: A solution seemed nearing with Israel pulling out of the Gaza strip, razing all the kibbutzim there. The Israelis and Palestianias were sitting on either sides of a table, discussing a plan to establish a Palestinian Nation alonside Israel, containing West Bank and Gaza, and of course, minus Jerusalem. Things were starting to look good.
Now: Hamas, acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, an organization hell bent on erazing Israel off the world map by any means, has won the election in West Bank and Gaza, and is running the Palestinian Authority now. Will they put aside their fundamentalism and sit at a table to negotiate with the Israelis? Will the Israelis ever trust the Hamas? Can they? Only time can tell...
This is the Palestinian side of the story. Here it is full of pain, suffering, longing, seperation and losses. The Israeli side of the story is slightly different: there is suffering, there is longing; but they were eclipsed by hopes and heroism, beliefs and determination. And that is the secret of their success as a nation.
posted by SNM at 11:44 AM
7 Comments:
One never sees the true picture, isn't it?
Why are jews hated so much? We never introspect in to that area of the issue.
Arab-world fights, they literally fight to the end. You will not find that spirit, in any other communities.
My support always remains with the arabs.
you sent me the link to ur bog long back..much before UK n US I guess..Only u forgot 1 thing :) U were dealing with a complete nut case!! I didn't even know what you were referring to..Untill now :)) AMazing blog man! What a writer u are :)..Keep up the Good work!
A fantastic fantastic post I came across though Clash's blog.
I'd recently seen Syriana and Munich (in that order),which go around the same thing too.Mebbe not Syriana in a narrower sense but definitely Munich.
One particular seen in the movie touched me completely..you'll understand if you've seen it.Its where Eric Bana and that guy from that Arab gang (cant recall the gang name) have a coversation at the safe-house staircase.
They talk about exactly what you've mentioned here and the entire conversation was so touchy that you'll feel its almost true and happening with you.
A lovely must watch.
And waise bhi I'm head-over-heels Eric Bana...so liked it all the more.
Lastly,a great post.
Keep it up.
#nuts: Thanks for dropping in. I never knew you had a blog and an orkut page.
Keep visiting...
#cinderella: Thanks for visiting and the comment! I've heard about Munich and took the DVD one day from a lending library next to my home. Alas, it turned out to be a camera print and I didn't watch it at all. Waiting for a good print now.
Haven't heard about Syriana. Whats it about?
Middle East is one of my passions. Apart from India, its one place that has seen more action than any other place in the world.
is this Subash moothedath the coalminer ? heheh jus kidding gud to c ya here also dude...well did not read ur blogs but will do it soon n comment........
#nitu: Oh yeah, Subhash Moothedath but not 'the coal miner'!!!! Thanks for dropping in!
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