Stuck in Area A: How we were duped into disowning the Palestinians | Ramzy Baroud

[Tace]

Ramzy Baroud -- World News Trust

April 22, 2015

Are you surprised that there has been little mobilisation to help Yarmouk, the Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus, which is overrun by militants, and besieged by the Syrian army?

Palestinians -- and Syrians -- there are killed in a myriad of ways, including starvation. As we stand and watch in horror and confusion, they are quickly buried under the mounting pressure of Facebook news feeds or Twitter’s endless tweets.

I am not surprised. Even before Palestinian refugees found themselves embroiled in Syria’s conflict, I appealed to all parties involved, including the Palestinian leaderships (alas, there are several) to spare the refugees the burden of war, and for Palestinians to set their differences aside to avoid a repeat of Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq.

Nothing happened, as if recent history was of no consequence and offered no lesson. Hamas was stuck in Gaza, in a real and figurative sense -- its attempt at regional politicking was a failure, and, like 1.7 million refugees, is reeling under siege.

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http://worldnewstrust.com/stuck-in-area-a-how-we-were-duped-into-disowning-the-palestinians-ramzy-baroud

[oberliner]

1. Fascinating

The last paragraph is really interesting:

But if our hate for the Israeli occupation, and our loathing of Israeli policies, are greater than our love for the Palestinians, all of them, starting with the refugees dying in Yarmouk, then, perhaps, it is time to reconsider our understanding and relationship with the conflict altogether.

What do you feel like he is trying to say there?

[Mosby]

2. It's an interesting piece

He's coming to the realization that many Palestinian supporters don't really care about Palestinians, they just hate Israel.

He hints at it but can't say it out loud, like in this passage:

When Israel carried out its war on Gaza last summer, nearly 150,000 people protested in London in another massive show of solidarity, duplicated in many cities across the world. For Yarmouk, about 40 people showed up, an admirable effort, but expressive of the fact that the refugees no longer exist at the heart of the Palestine discourse.

[oberliner]

3. He is dipping his toe in the water

Last edited Tue Apr 28, 2015, 10:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Maybe others will follow.

[shira]

5. He's going to face a LOT of heat on this by the Israel bashers. I wonder if he's strong enough...

....to hold his ground.

[King_David]

6. Maybe

Or maybe he will just clam up.

[shira]

4. He's getting bold, challenging the BDS, Israel-Sucks brigade...

He still hates Israel but he's far more credible now than >99% of the International Israel-bashing movement.

Same for Norm Finkelstein after his "BDS is a cult" tirade. He admitted BDS wants Israel gone, that it's a dishonest movement, and deserves all the scorn and ridicule it gets.

Major kudos for Baroud and Finkelstein for telling it like it is.

[hack89]

7. The Palestinian refugees have never been at the heart of the issue

they have never been more than a weapon to be used against Israel.