# 417 – The Who?

417 – The Who?

Generalisations give us the green light to discuss almost any subject, in the knowledge that there are exceptions to practically every rule. It is easy – and very common – to interject a generalisation with a ‘Yes, but..”. A common example is ‘Palestinians’. Just about everyone falls into the trap of generalisation when discussing this very complicated community. The who? Let me remind you of some very basic definitions…

Let’s start with the Palestinians I know quite well, otherwise known as Israeli Arabs. About 2 million of them, nearly a quarter of Israel’s population. No, not those in the West Bank; those who are living in Israel, who are Israeli citizens, who are mostly descendants of those who did not leave the country after the Independence War of 1948. They are a fairly silent group. Many, as I have written in Letters, are happy and supportive Israeli citizens. It’s not easy for them to speak out loud, but they are decent Israeli citizens. They vote, and not always for Arab parties.

They study, work, contribute and receive. And, like any civilised country, some of them complain of being treated as 2nd-class citizens. We have several strong minority groups who behave similarly: Ethiopians, Russians, Yemenis, Moroccans and, of course, the ultra-religious community.

If given the true freedom to speak out, most of the Israeli Arabs would prefer to stay here, as Israeli citizens, instead of living under Jordanian, Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Hamas or Fatah rule. They like democracy.

The next ‘Palestinians’ are those living under Hamas rule – mostly in Gaza. They do not have a voice. (Except the one I ‘interviewed’ when I visited him – in my Letter: ‘Tunnel to Gaza’).

Then there are those under Fatah rule, mostly in the West Bank (‘Occupied Territories’, ‘Disputed Territories’ or, more correctly ‘Regained Territories’). They appear to hate the current Fatah leadership (Abbas, now in the 18th year of his 4-year term), and are certainly scared of the many other factions causing sad upheaval in the towns and camps.

(I continue to think how stupid the World is for continuing to accept the existence of ‘Palestinian refugee camps’ not only throughout the Middle East, but even when located ‘at home’. The Palestinian town of Jenin has a refugee camp. Can someone please explain that for me? No wonder there’s violence).

The 4th of many Palestinian groups are those living in Jordan, where they happen to be the majority. We all know that a Palestinian state instead of Jordan would have been the solution, but the British and the French messed that one up.

Even today, weak Jordan should be persuaded by its powerful sponsors and advisors to take a step to the side.

(A reminder that the Jordanian Royal family crushed the 1970 rebellion by their Palestinian citizens and would not hesitate to do the same today – behind their English-educated smiles).

Then there are the millions of Palestinians living ‘in the West’, quite happy to stay where they are, and perhaps send money and advice to the pathetic cousins left behind.

So, with whom are you asking us to negotiate? As long as we continue to be what most call ‘a democracy’, the term ‘Israeli’ can be used as a generalisation.

I met yesterday with some members of a visiting group of young Canadians. Yes, the organisers are Jewish. But, please believe me, it was purposely put together as a very mixed group: Jews and non-Jews, religious and secular, right and left. During their 10 days here, they saw ‘almost everything’ and spoke to ‘almost everyone’. E.g. –

Their first day was a solemn visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. (I happen to agree with the principle that any visit here has to include this unique place).

Then, by bus, straight for a float in the Dead Sea, covered by the healing mud – Churches of The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and Nativity in Bethlehem, a Druze village in the Golan Heights, staring across the Peace Fence to Lebanon, visiting an Arab village on the Syrian border, discussing politics with ‘settlers’ in the West Bank and with kibbutzniks living under the constant threat of Gazan rockets and, can you believe this……a meeting in Ramallah with the PLO!

I could not believe my ears! Their Israeli guide and Israeli guard were left behind, replaced by a ‘trusted’ Palestinian. The Jews amongst them left all ‘proof of Jewish identity’ behind. (Absolutely nuts!). They were lectured to by a PLO ‘spokesman’. Outside were several guards WITH guns. These Canadians were well educated and, if you can believe it, were very knowledgeable about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And their mix ensured a fair understanding of the situation. But this guy simply lied to them – and aggressively.

His hatred for Israelis – and Jews – was explicit. Those telling me were, to put it mildly, scared. (When I write about ‘young Canadians’. I mean in their early 20s, male and female. They were literally scared).

And then they were taken to Rawabi. Wow….Who among you have ever heard of this place? I referred to it twice in Letters # 302 in January 2017, and # 403 in August 2022. This is ‘the Palestinian Brasilia’. A  modern city, not far from Ramallah, the brainchild of a Palestinian billionaire, Bashah Al-Masri.

Please save me the hassle of writing more about this fantastic place; look it up. Look at the fabulous apartment buildings, malls, avenues, play areas, amphitheatre, and even a zipline across the centre.

And now look at the images taken during the last few days by my Canadian friends –

Everything in working order.

Everything clean – including the garbage cans.

Most stores in the mall have skeleton staff. But, there is no one there.

Wikipedia refers to 3,000 families moving there already some years ago.

But my friends saw no inhabitants; no barking dogs or meowing cats. (I did not ask them about pigeons).

The Amphitheatre.

In the foreground, a working fountain / play area. I see 4 kids playing there, and a few figures in the background, out of the sun.

Above and around, what appear to be uninhabited apartment buildings.

Green Suburbia

Not a sign of the light railway or bus commuting into the centre. But also not a sign of life.

And not totally abandoned. This place is being kept clean.

Living in the centre of town.

It was not Friday.

There were no sirens, no calling to prayers.

This was a normal weekday – deserted.

A typical apartment building.

Trees in the garden, yes.

But no flowerpots on the balconies.

No washing, hanging to dry.

No neighbours talking to each other.

No residents, casually smoking outside, staring down.

Empty windows.

National Pride.

A stop for this particular group of visitors.

But no one to talk to.

No proud families.

Just flags.

Our neighbours up the hill.

None.

It’s easy to retain uniformity when there’s no one home.

Your balcony; my balcony. No difference.

Fantastic underground parking system.

No wild skate-board rider.

No tired grandma, carrying the shopping home.

The Mosque.

With a lovely view.

Is there anyone there to appreciate it?

5 times a day, the call to prayer.

Father McKenzie,
Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear.
No one comes near.

The Directions are Clear.

Everyone knows which way.

But why bother?

City Centre: The Welcome.

He does now know the words.

She does, but she cannot speak.

Some shop staff joined them for selfies. Perhaps a rare occurrence for them.

A Mango store appears in an image. I looked up Mango Rawabi. They have a website – but it does not open.

I looked up Rawabi Center (In the Middle East, we usually follow the American spelling) and there it is: images with people from 2-3 years ago. Nothing recent.

Why were my friends even taken there? It’s the ultimate Palestinian embarrassment. Check out my Letter   ‘B.A.D. – Build Another Dubai’ from May 16, 2019….

https://www.ourboox.com/books/340-b-a-d-build-another-dubai/

OK, maybe it’s because Rawabi is not on the coast. Maybe that was Mr. Al-Masri’s mistake: not to persuade his Palestinian friends, Hamas, to let him build Rawabi on the coast in Gaza. It’s only 40 km south of Tel Aviv. I mean, if we can do it, why can’t they? They’ve got the people, the location, the funds, the need.

And we are expected to negotiate with ‘the Palestinians’? Just like that?

Stephen

                                         August 16, 2023