A small but important development in Palestinian politics took place, and is worth a bit of discussion;
The Fatah movement of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has elected an Israeli Jew to one of its governing bodies for the first time in the movement's half-century history.
More below,
A few more graphs from Al Jazeera,
Uri Davis, a sociology professor at the Palestinian Al-Quds University on the edge of Arab east Jerusalem, was elected to the movement's Revolutionary Council, official results released on Saturday showed.
"I hold Israeli and British passports but I consider myself Palestinian above all else," Davis told Fatah delegates at the party's first congress on Palestinian soil and its first since the launch of the Middle East process in 1991. The academic said he wanted to represent within Fatah's 120-member Revolutionary Council the "hundreds of non-Arab sympathisers who have supported the Palestinian cause."
I've been aware of Davis for some years now, as he is an author, and put out a fantastic book, one of the select bunch that have really helped shape my thinking on the subject of Palestine.
Apartheid Israel: Possibilities for the Struggle Within by Uri Davis
Review
'Uri Davis's new book is a devastating critique of Israel's internal apartheid system and by extension the entire ideology of political Zionism. It is difficult to do justice to such an impassioned and detailed work, but I would particularly draw attention to its dedication to universal moral principles, unassailable logic and attention to factual detail that I believe are the distinctive hallmarks of this brilliant book.' - Hisham Sharabi 'Based on the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, and borrowing from his long years in the peace movement, Uri Davis presents, what is for me, the only sensible way forward in the present deadlock -- a roadmap based on civil rights, human dignity and international justice. It ... has the moral strength to convince victimizers and victims alike that there is a valid alternative to the present Israeli system of discrimination and occupation.' - Ilan Pappe, historian and author of the Making of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1947-1951 (London and New York 1992). 'Apartheid Israel represents the most thorough critique to date of Israel's legal and political structure from a human rights perspective. At the same time it points towards an alternative vision for conflict-ridden Israel/Palestine, building on the author's own exceptional experience as an Israeli academic and human rights activist for decades. Current developments make this book more urgent reading than ever before.' - Nils Butenschon, Director, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo
Product Description
Uri Davis explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and charges that Israel has acted in blatant violation of most UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, including amassing weapons of mass destruction in violation of international law. Based on his conclusions, Davis then debates whether Israel deserves its reputation in the West as the Middle East's democratic exception.
Here's some commentary from Joharah Baker
This is what people like Uri Davis believes and why he chose not to follow in the footsteps of his parents. He obviously realized the injustices done to the Palestinians in his name and so wrongly in the name of Judaism. That is, he has refused to allow Israel to speak for him.
In this sense, Fateh must be commended for breaking a social and psychological barrier and making a very important point. Anyone, regardless of religion, race or creed, who supports the Palestinians' legitimate right to liberation and freedom from oppression, is welcomed with open arms. This is not to say there are not exceptions to the rule. That is, there are those Palestinians who do not separate religion from political movement and consider "Jew" and "Zionist" as synonymous. But they are a minority and will hopefully follow the example of other open-minded Palestinians who have the courage to separate the two even as Israel does not.
The example of Fateh member Uri Davis is a perfect one. It brings to light one fundamental point that encapsulates the tangled relationship between Palestinians and Israelis. Jewish is all right. Zionist is not.
And what do I think? Well, for one thing, as politics goes, I think that As'ad AbuKhalil says it best; Neither Fateh, Nor Hamas; Palestinians certainly deserve better in terms of political representation, as well as the whole paradigm these parties are stuck in; taking turns appeasing Israel/US demands and rejections, while enforcing useless regimes withint he context of occupation (the PA should be dismantled; in fact, the first Palestinian politician to do so, that would be the one to watch).
Fateh, for all the cosmetic changes over that past week or so, is still what it is; a has been liberation movement turned collaborationist party embedded in the machinery of occupation and corruption. I honestly do not see how it can change this overall reality.
But, as for Davis, I think that this example is one to look at for the long road. The 2 state solution is dead, has been for awhile. Soon enough, that will be an unavoidable fact, even for the Obama administration. The question will be what next?
What needs to happen next, is for political organizing to take place, in a context that can be joined by both Palestinians and Israeli Jews, together within the same framework. I remember hearing Davis speak at SF state at a GUPS event, and he made the point that there is a home in the PLO for all people who feel for the Palestinian cause; this needs to be the crux of what could be a very impressive new political movement. This has parallels; in SA, it took time, but the ANC did eventually get it across to white South Africans that they could find a home in that party, in a politics of unity and not separateness (Apartheid). And this was done with even more diversity between the groups than in I/P; linguistic, cultural, ethnic, etc.
But where will it start? Here are some ideas;
-In the US & Europe; here there is potential, at least from the point of view of solidarity, building a BDS movement (its up and running, in Europe especially), making sure contact with Palestine remains via ISM, Free Gaza, CPT, AFSC, JVP, etc. It is immensely important that American Jewish organizations continue to work with this, engage and if necessary be made to engage with it. As much as I moved away from working with JVP, I value their work, the role they play and they way they have spread across the country, it is just great. Connections with them, with Palestinian groups, with civil rights groups, are vital. Alice Walker's trip to Gaza was huge, much more important than Cynthia Mckinney, who I am still just not terribly impressed with.
-In Israel; there are so many possibilities and groups that could develop in this direction; Ta'ayush, Zochrot, Btselem, etc. Most, at this point, are not in the area of political organization, but there is immense potential, and with over 20% of Israel being Palestinian, and actively struggling for their rights, they will demand a reckoning. Losing Azmi Bishara was a blow, but he still lives, and keeps talking, as do those he worked with in Israel.
-In the occupied WB; There are possibilities, such as the organizing in Bil'in, Na'lin, and elsewhere. But I do not see this as the place where such political movements will being. Even with the protests, it is both physically and ideologically difficult for Jewish Israelis to access the WB, aside from settlements, of course, which are easy to get to, by design. The WB will most likely be a place to gain experience, to learn, to practice solidarity, and to keep the focus on the festering and most visible, but not only aspect of the conflict.
-In Gaza: Gaza, I have to say I don't feel right making any sweeping judgments. With the siege, the ongoing assault, the struggle to survive, I just can't say. I will say that I will always reserve the right to be surprised, but these days, I'm just horrified at our collective indifference and paralysis;
While Americans are debating their own health system, they are unindicted co-conspirators in an effort to degrade the health, mental and physical, and to half-starve the people of Gaza. The callousness, ruthlessness and selfishness of this policy, in which all Americans are implicated, is breathtaking. In Gaza, there really were death panels deciding who lived and died last winter, and they wore Israeli uniforms.
The Israeli blockade is also limiting Gazans' access to proper medical supplies, according to the World Health Organization. It is to the point where ten percent of children in Gaza are stunted, and stunting is increasing.
These almost apocalyptic public health problems, the direct result of a long-term and systematic siege operated by Israel with US and Egyptian complicity, are certain to create dire problems for all concerned. That Americans are doing this to a people and just not talking about it makes you worried that they aren't very sincere in their professed interest in reform in Iran or other issues. This one, we fund through Congress.
It appears to me that Hamas was earlier made by Western media and politicians to take the blame for things that the Army of the Helpers of God actually did.
As for why some people at a mosque in Rafah turned to this extremist organization, it has to be remembered that Gaza is under siege by the Israelis and faces shortages, including of food. Rebuilding from Israel's war on little Gaza has still not been allowed to begin. The Israelis have only allowed in what is need for basic survival, as is pointed out in the below film from Dissident Voice.
Gaza Under Siege from Lily Keber on Vimeo.
I leave you with a video on Ezra Nawi, who was in court today, but was not
sentenced, it will take place on the 21 of September.
APPENDIX
as for the rumors of Uri Davis being a Muslim, I have it from a reliable source that
a) he is not religious and b) the stupid Palestinian Authority regime does not allow for civil marriage (hence he had to convert to his wife's religion to get married in Palestine).