Reflection 6: Lecture by Dr. Leahy Due on April 5
Dr. Leahy covered a range of topics, picking up where we left off in class. The discussion was centered on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The lecture began with the Oslo Peace Accord. The result was a 5-year timetable for the Palestinian Authority, dividing the West Bank into 3 sections with varying levels of Israeli control and influence. The 1994 Paris Protocol created a framework for economic relations with Palestine. Then the Second Intifada happened once Sharon went to the Temple Mount with a thousand police and soldiers.
The US and Israel have a partnership together. Israel, not Palestine nor any other worthy country, receives 40% of US aid. The US always plays a role in Israeli peace talks. This unconditional support leads to Arab resentment and rage, prompting the "Why Do They Hate US?" question in our end of the conversations. There have been many broken promises of self-determination after WWII, and the neo-imperialism of the US for OIL does not help the matters.
The Battle of Jenin, a.k.a. Operation Defensive Shield, began April 1, 2002 and concluded April 11, 2002. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) entered the city and refugee camps of Jenin with armored bulldozers; this area was declared a "closed military zone." Once Jenin was sealed, homes were demolished and civilians were killed. The UN was barred from entering. The Israeli Supreme Court ordered the IDF to stop removing bodies; BBC reported 10% of Jenin was "rubbed out" and 4,000 were left homeless. The UN was allowed to enter on April 18, 2002, a full week after the IDF finished their "operation." It was quoted that the scene was "horrific beyond belief" and "morally repugnant." Additionally, emergency workers were not allowed to aid the Palestinians. A later bulldozing in Gaza in March, 2003 left more dead, including Rachel Corrie. She was a US citizen working with the International Solidarity Movement; they acted as human shields against the bulldozers.
HAMAS won a legislative election in 2006 that had 74.6% turnout. Ismail Haniya became Prime Minister. However, the Quartet (US, EU, Russia, UN) cut funding to the Palestinian Authority and imposed economic sanctions. These sanctions included withholding tax revenue, cutting international aid and restricting Israeli goods and US banking.
From July 12, 2006 to September 8, 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon. Israel enacted a naval blockade and ground war, leaving 12,000 dead and a million misplaced. Although the conflict ended, Israeli forces left a plethora of cluster bombs in the area. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UNOCHA collected many findings, including Israel using white phosphorous.
Operation Cast Lead was between 2008 and 2009. There were massive violations of human rights and international law. Both the UN Special Rapporteur's Report and the Goldstone Report documented these.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was in May 2010. It was a peaceful movement organized by the Free Movement and Turkish Movement; their mission was to break the blockade. However, on May 31, Israeli navy commandos boarded ships and killed many activists.
I have to agree with Dr. Leahy's characterization. The US is definitely in the wrong, and the support for Israel causes many issues in the current world. After all the things Israel has done against others, there is no reason to continue support for them.
The lecture began with the Oslo Peace Accord. The result was a 5-year timetable for the Palestinian Authority, dividing the West Bank into 3 sections with varying levels of Israeli control and influence. The 1994 Paris Protocol created a framework for economic relations with Palestine. Then the Second Intifada happened once Sharon went to the Temple Mount with a thousand police and soldiers.
The US and Israel have a partnership together. Israel, not Palestine nor any other worthy country, receives 40% of US aid. The US always plays a role in Israeli peace talks. This unconditional support leads to Arab resentment and rage, prompting the "Why Do They Hate US?" question in our end of the conversations. There have been many broken promises of self-determination after WWII, and the neo-imperialism of the US for OIL does not help the matters.
The Battle of Jenin, a.k.a. Operation Defensive Shield, began April 1, 2002 and concluded April 11, 2002. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) entered the city and refugee camps of Jenin with armored bulldozers; this area was declared a "closed military zone." Once Jenin was sealed, homes were demolished and civilians were killed. The UN was barred from entering. The Israeli Supreme Court ordered the IDF to stop removing bodies; BBC reported 10% of Jenin was "rubbed out" and 4,000 were left homeless. The UN was allowed to enter on April 18, 2002, a full week after the IDF finished their "operation." It was quoted that the scene was "horrific beyond belief" and "morally repugnant." Additionally, emergency workers were not allowed to aid the Palestinians. A later bulldozing in Gaza in March, 2003 left more dead, including Rachel Corrie. She was a US citizen working with the International Solidarity Movement; they acted as human shields against the bulldozers.
HAMAS won a legislative election in 2006 that had 74.6% turnout. Ismail Haniya became Prime Minister. However, the Quartet (US, EU, Russia, UN) cut funding to the Palestinian Authority and imposed economic sanctions. These sanctions included withholding tax revenue, cutting international aid and restricting Israeli goods and US banking.
From July 12, 2006 to September 8, 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon. Israel enacted a naval blockade and ground war, leaving 12,000 dead and a million misplaced. Although the conflict ended, Israeli forces left a plethora of cluster bombs in the area. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UNOCHA collected many findings, including Israel using white phosphorous.
Operation Cast Lead was between 2008 and 2009. There were massive violations of human rights and international law. Both the UN Special Rapporteur's Report and the Goldstone Report documented these.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was in May 2010. It was a peaceful movement organized by the Free Movement and Turkish Movement; their mission was to break the blockade. However, on May 31, Israeli navy commandos boarded ships and killed many activists.
I have to agree with Dr. Leahy's characterization. The US is definitely in the wrong, and the support for Israel causes many issues in the current world. After all the things Israel has done against others, there is no reason to continue support for them.
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