The Coming French Resolution at the U.N. Security Council is
designed to facilitate a Palestinian state.
It will specify the usual parameters.
If the U.S. does not fight it, the resolution will pass by a large
margin and be the voice of the world.
This will be a win-win:
- · For the peoples of the world it will move the conflict closer to resolution if by nothing else than providing an updated framework to U.N.S.C. Resolution #242 (1967).
- · For the Israelis it will be an affirmation of Zionism because it will declare Israel’s right to exist.
- · For the Palestinians it will improve their seat at the negotiating table, and this conflict will in the end with a negotiated agreement.
We represent the people of the world in dealing with the
Israel-Palestine issue because we are humanists. As humanists our task is to end, or at least
reduce, suffering. We understand what
the Buddha learned 2,600 years ago - that suffering is a characteristic of
humanity. Our pragmatic goal is to maximally
reduce suffering.
Millions of Palestinians are suffering in the present
situation. There are two components to
suffering: extend of suffering and time
that suffering is imposed. A negotiated
Palestinian state alongside Israel is the most effective path to reducing
suffering. As hard as a 2-state solution
will be to obtain, it represents the shortest path to reduce suffering.
Other options lead to more suffering.
- · A single apartheid state, with or without a mass expulsion
- · A single democratic state that may emerge at some unknown date. Present levels of suffering will last longer than the time to a two-state solution, perhaps significantly longer. And as a single democratic state in which they will lose their majority approaches, I predict that the suffering they impose on Palestinians will steadily increase, and the level of suffering can get far worse than now exists.
Palestinian solidarity activists have two objections.
·
French resolution will leave Israel intact as a
racist state. True, but that is the
wrong criteria. The criteria should be
does the resolution reduce suffering, and it does.
·
French resolution essentially backs off a full
right of return. True. And backing off the full right of return
entails suffering. The people enduring
the suffering must make the call if future suffering from losing parts of the
right of return adds more suffering than the French resolution will prevent.
Most Palestinians will see reduced suffering if the French
resolution is adopted and implemented:
- · 2.3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, 40%$ refugees. Remove the Israeli boot from their neck.
- · 1.8 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, 48% refugees. Remove the Israeli and Egyptian boots from their neck.
- · 0.5 million Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, 40%$ refugees.
- · 4.2 million Palestinians, mostly refugees, in Jordan, Lebanon, and who had been in Syria and are now displaced again.
- · 1.75 million Palestinian citizens of Israel. No longer will they be sees as an enemy within, which will help end internal legal and custom discrimination.
That means reduced suffering for 10-1/2 of the 13 million Palestinians
world-wide. That is 81% of Palestinians
will see their lives improve. Less
directly the French resolution will reduce suffering for Palestinians in the Diaspora
by likely shading public opinion away from Islamaphobia and irrational fear of Radical
Islam.
I also want to address leaving Israel as a racist
state. I remember when I was a sub-teen
and a teen and suffered some bullying , not enough to distort my personality,
but enough to want it to stop. And it
did stop for whatever reason. I was
thankful and wanted to move on with my life.
I was not obsessed with punishment for the bullier after the bullying
ended, nor compensation for my suffering.
I think that story gives us insight as to how Palestinians,
or any people, will react to ending or reducing suffering so they can move on
with their lives.
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