Palestinians breached the Israeli-Syrian border on Sunday near Majdal Shams--Troops fired on the crowd, killing four people—Photo by Jalaa Marey/JINI, via Getty Images
The media shudders as the Middle East moves towards nonviolence, searching for justice of its own creation. May 15th articles reacting to simultaneous protests at Israel’s multiple borders tried to assess the situation. This was a new type of Palestinian annual commemoration of Nakba, --the loss by over a million, of their homes in the war that formed Israel 63 years ago. Slate’s title typifies the implied fear. “15 Killed in Clashes at Israeli Borders Could the violence be a sign that the wave of protests sweeping the Arab world are ready to turn on Israel?” 1
But the protestors, as has been true with almost all these “Arab Spring” uprisings [with exception of Lybia’s] have been by-and-large nonviolent. The authorities do the killing. The media is uncomfortable with this nonviolent movement of the people. They favor insurgencies bristling with suicide bombers and fanatical fighters. Witness all the attention on these certain elements in Lybia, Iraq, Afghanistan.
May 15 2011--An undercover Israeli policeman opens a car door after detaining a protester in the West Bank on Sunday--ReutersIn the May 15th accounts, when the Palestinians from the various border countries tried to cross over, flags only in hand, back to the lands over a million of them had been forced out of and fled in 1948, they were met with force; the bullets, whether from Lebanese, Israeli Defense Force, or other police forces’ is uncertain, but no claim is made that Palestinians fired on Israelis, or even had guns. Climbing over and breaching border walls, is unruly, [and was praised by President Reagan in the case of East & West Berlin], but is not violence. All the dead at these protests on Israel’s contorted boundaries were protesters.
Photo by Larry Towell----GAZA STRIP-Rafah Refugee Camp- October 2003- A young man killed in Rafah during the Israeli army's October incursion is buried in the local cemetery.
Demonstrators carry a fallen comrade during a march on the Lebanese border with Israel--15 May 2011 Photo by Hassan Bahsoun / NewscomThis nonviolence has been a growing movement, in the West Bank, Gaza strip, Golan Heights, joining with all Israel’s border states, more distant neighbors such as Tunisia and Bahrain, and within Israel itself. Palestinians want recognition of their right to a state, for many to return into, and they are renouncing violence, and recognizing Israel, as a way to really achieve this. Many Israelis agree that this is the way it should be. There is still much hatred and mistrust on both sides. But there have been many working to overcome the divide. A short list that can be googled, explored, and in ways of prayer & action supported, follows:
Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, Juliano Mer Khamis , Rabbis for Human Rights, Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum, Seeds of Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace, Interfaith Peace Builders, Peace Now, International Solidarity Movement, and Michigan Peace Teams.
The stumbling block has been named. Catholic Bishops meeting at the Vatican from across the Middle East on Oct 22, 2010 urged Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, which could not be justified by Scripture, so that a two-state solution could be found swiftly.
Israel’s leader Netanyahu criticized the May 15th protests thus, “The leaders of these violent demonstrations, their struggle is not over the 1967 borders but over the very existence of Israel, which they describe as a catastrophe that must be resolved.” 2 He misconstrues what happened that day, and the message sent. He reacts very negatively to President Obama’s 5-19-11 call to reinstall those 1967 borders, to give real definition to a Palestinian state. But this, or some other difficult practical compromise, formed by the two parties, is vital to Israeli-Palestinian peace. To reinforce this negativity, the Israeli government announced the planned build of 1600 new Jewish housing units in disputed East Jerusalem, the same day as Obama’s speech.
Israel exists. Palestine exists. Both must put away attack helicopters & Uzis, slingshots & suicide bombs to live a just, right relationship. The U.S. and all other nations must renounce the weapons they contribute to, and the profits they extract from, the Arab-Israeli conflict. The people of the Holy Land can build the peace envisioned by their prophets, if the profiteers of violence can be banished, or made to see the light.
Photo by Larry Towell---WEST BANK Jerusalem 2004. A Palestinian man runs through an opening in the wall where the last eight meter high concrete slab seal is to be set in place.1 http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/15/israeli_border_clashes_violence_troops_open_fire_on_palestinian_.html
Unattributed B&W photo by Larry Towell, Feb. 2003
SANDY QUINTANO OF PORT HURON WAS RECENTLY INJURED IN THE WEST BANK, TWO BROKEN WRISTS, IN NONVIOLENT PROTEST SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS WHO'S HOMES WERE THREATENED WITH DEMOLISHMENT. SHE IS BACK IN PORT HURON HEALING NOW. PLEASE PRAY FOR YOU, AND IF YOU'RE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CONSIDER VISITING HER, HEARING HER STORY.
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