Comment on "Beyond Recognition: the West’s true agenda for Palestine’s future"
We thank James Spencer for this comment on today’s newsletter:
Like Labour's loveless landslide, HAMAS's victory over FATAH was in great part due to FATAH corruption, as well as FATAH members running as "independent candidates" in many seats, thus splitting the FATAH vote. Despite our experience in Afghanistan and Iraq - or possibly vice versa - we do not seem to have learnt the lesson that backing a corrupt clique merely because they agree with the West's unrealistic desired end state does not legitimise them; indeed, to the contrary.
'The Declaration "condemns all attacks by any party against civilians, including all acts of terrorism." This is a cynical tactic, drawing a false equivalence between the actions of one of the world’s most advanced state military forces and those of a resistance movement fighting against an illegal occupation.' Possibly. This may just be a veiled reference to the Settlers. Although various states have sanctioned "violent extremist settlers", they have not proscribed them - yet. However, a couple of British politicians have used the "T word" to describe the actions of Israeli settlers; should more follow, it is possible that "violent extremist settlers" - who meet the definition of terrorism - will also be proscribed.
The double standards Western politicians have shown towards the Holy Land is bizarre, given our successful practices elsewhere, particularly in Ireland. '[W]hile repeatedly calling for the "exclusion" and "disarmament of Hamas"' - we did not demand that Sinn Fein be excluded (indeed, the current First Minister of Northern Ireland is from Sinn Fein.) Nor did we demand that PIRA surrender their weapons - instead we allowed them to "decommission" their weapons. Similarly, Gerry Adams was President of Sinn Fein and reputedly Chief of Staff of PIRA's Army Council, yet we allowed Sinn Fein to continue as PIRA's political wing - even voting them a variation of Short Money - without proscribing the Irish Republican movement in its totality. HAMAS's electoral base will shrink when there is a credible alternative (although that is not likely to be pro-West.)
"Israel's ongoing expansion of settlements, which systematically undermines any viable Palestinian state." This statement - like so many others on the Holy Land - has come to be Received Wisdom, yet is not borne out by experience. The Israelis have evacuated Settlements from Sinai, Gaza, the northern West Bank: it can be done again. More widely, Nagorno-Karabakh depopulated almost overnight after the Azerbaijanis seized it. Then there's Algeria ...
'Without concrete actions to end the occupation and ensure full Palestinian sovereignty, the willingness to recognise the State of Palestine is symbolic.' I disagree. France and the UK have sizeable Jewish populations, many of whom are supportive of the Occupation. Once France and UK (if Starmer keeps taking his brave pills) recognise Palestine, the exploitation of the OPTs - including East Jerusalem - will be unlawful, meaning that such support will have to stop. The Government of Palestine will be able to take legal action in French or British courts against individuals, "charities", and companies who profit from supporting the Occupation. If further states in the EU - Israel's largest trading partner - follow France's example of recognising Palestine, and enforce sanctions on e.g. Settlements, the Invisible Hand of the Market is likely to grip the Occupation by the short and curlies.
Members can leave comments about this newsletter on the Arab Digest website.