A Letter From Chomsky and Others on the Recent Events in the Middle East
Co-Signees: Tariq Ali, John Berger, Noam Chomsky, Eduardo Galeano, Naomi Klein, Harold Pinter, Arundhati Roy, Jose Saramago, Giuliana Sgrena, Howard Zinn
http://www.chomsky.info/2006_07_01_archive.htm#115350344072235040
The latest chapter of the conflict between Israel and Palestine
began when Israeli forces abducted two civilians, a doctor and his
brother, from Gaza. An incident scarcely reported anywhere, except in
the Turkish press. The following day the Palestinians took an Israeli
soldier prisoner – and proposed a negotiated exchange against
prisoners taken by the Israelis – there are approximately 10,000 in
Israeli jails.That this “kidnapping” was considered an outrage, whereas the
illegal military occupation of the West Bank and the systematic
appropriation of its natural resources – most particularly that of
water – by the Israeli Defence (!) Forces is considered a regrettable
but realistic fact of life, is typical of the double standards
repeatedly employed by the West in face of what has befallen the
Palestinians, on the land alloted to them by international agreements,
during the last seventy years.Today outrage follows outrage; makeshift missiles cross
sophisticated ones. The latter usually find their target situated
where the disinherited and crowded poor live, waiting for what was
once called Justice. Both categories of missile rip bodies apart
horribly – who but field commanders can forget this for a moment?Each provocation and counter-provocation is contested and preached
over. But the subsequent arguments, accusations and vows, all serve as
a distraction in order to divert world attention from a long-term
military, economic and geographic practice whose political aim is
nothing less than the liquidation of the Palestinian nation.This has to be said loud and clear for the practice, only half
declared and often covert, is advancing fast these days, and, in our
opinion, it must be unceasingly and eternally recognised for what it
is and resisted.Tariq Ali
John Berger
Noam Chomsky
Eduardo Galeano
Naomi Klein
Harold Pinter
Arundhati Roy
Jose Saramago
Giuliana Sgrena
Howard Zinn
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