Unmasking a “democratic” despot

From Al Jazeera’s “Middle East’s oldest dictatorship”

Excerpt, editing by Carolyn Bennett

DICTATOR —

…Takes all

Israel took all but gave nothing in return. The settlements, the bypass roads and the industrial zones it built are exclusively for Jews. Israel and its various Zionist organizations have built more than 600 towns, villages and other forms of settlements for the Jews, but none for the Palestinians — not even those it considers part of its own citizenry who make up almost one-fifth of its population.

For decades, Israeli military and security services have ruled over another people against the will of those people. They have oppressed, tortured, exploited and robbed the Palestinians of their land, their water — and, most importantly, their freedom. There have been more political prisoners in Israeli jails than in the jails of any of its neighbors.

…Plays victim

Like other dictatorships, Israel denies the damage it has caused to the people under its rule and is delusional about an unrelenting occupation it deems necessary, benevolent — even divinely promised.

Like other dictatorships, Israel boasts of sacrificing for peace. It demonizes its detractors and opposition. It justifies its wrongdoing on the grounds of national security, order, and stability.

…Denies real victim

Palestinians live under multiple levels of military dictatorship and police state, separated by hundreds of checkpoints, ‘security’ walls and fences, policed by British/American-trained Palestinian forces under the supervision of Israel’s military and security services.

The ‘Palestine Liberation movement’ and PLO leadership in the West Bank are suppressing the urge to join the ‘Arab revolution’ instead of leading a Palestinian struggle for liberation from dictatorship.

PLO leadership for two decades has pursued a pipe dream — looking to Washington for salvation. Now Palestinians are petitioning the United Nations for recognition of a Palestinian State. Forcing them to continue accommodating a despot is both immoral and untenable.

Source

“The Middle East’s oldest dictatorship” (Source: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst discusses Israel’s rule over the Palestinians beyond the peace rhetoric, Marwan Bishara) April 21, 2011, http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/04/201142114189933416.html

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