honeybadgerpress.ca

Canada on the Wrong Side of History

As published in the Toronto Star: Nov. 7, 2014

Swedish government recognizes state of Palestine, Oct. 31

Sweden has openly joined the other 135 nations who accept the reality of a Palestinian state, people and government. Only Israel, Canada, the U.S. and maybe El Salvador think otherwise.

Here’s what Israeli government insiders thought of the so-called peace process back in 2005: “When you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and you prevent a discussion on the refuges, the borders and Jerusalem. Effectively, this whole package called the Palestinian state, with all that it entails, has been removed from our agenda.” Their attitude seems to have only hardened since then.

The Israeli state is concerned that they are losing control of their plan to seize all valuable Palestinian territory, especially water-rich land in the West Bank. In addition to UN Resolution 242, the Camp David Accord states that the West Bank and East Jerusalem are to be the foundation of a future Palestinian state and travel between these areas and Gaza is to be guaranteed.

Under the circumstances, why should Palestinians meekly accept Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and believe that these and future encroachments are not part of an established Israeli policy of gradually absorbing any Palestinian territory that might constitute a future state?

Israel continues to hold the advantage of overwhelming military superiority and U.S. financial and logistical support. This advantage is often misinterpreted as some sort of moral high ground to negate the truism you can’t peacefully enjoy what has been seized by force.

If the UN General Assembly could create the State of Israel in 1947, it can create a Palestinian state at some point in the future.