In an interview with The Jerusalem Post this week, British Ambassador to Israel Tom Phillips contended that Israel’s negative image in Britain and the world stems from it being an “occupying power.” He couldn’t be more wrong.
Phillips, who tried to strike a conciliatory note toward Israel in the interview, appears to suffer from the same shortness of memory that plagues most Israeli and Western officials caught up in trying to solve the Israeli-Arab conflict.
When Phillips and other Western diplomats speak of the “occupation” today, they are referring to Israel’s control of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, areas which were liberated by Israel in 1967.
But even before 1967, Israel was regularly demonized by the mainstream international press and the Arab world because of its very existence. There was no “occupation” in the way the international community speaks of it today, but still Israel was criticized as an “occupying power.”
So, Mr. Phillips is wrong. Even if Israel surrenders every piece of land the so-called Arab “moderates” are demanding today, the critical press Israel’s receives will not cease.
The Arabs, even the “moderates,” have made it perfectly clear that they eventually want all of the land today ruled by the Jews. The problem for them is Israel itself. And the international community and its press have an unfortunate tendency of unquestionably flowing with the changing dictates of the Arab world.
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2 comments so far ↓
1 Joyce // May 11, 2007 at 6:44 am
Anyone who believes, that the Jews should give up any of their “God Given Land”, should re-think their position on this matter. Because it is not their place to try to supercede God’s decision about who He gives His land to. Some people just seem to forget who’s in charge, and they need to be reminded, and put in their place, and God is just the One to do it. I sure wouldn’t want to be in the position of going against God’s Will about this. And anyone that does, I believe God will make sure, that they pay the price for it. The Jews giving up any of their land is just not a viable option, it won’t help the situation, and it should not happen. Because it’s like you stated Ryan the Arabs want all the land, and they will not be appeased with just a portion of it. They will not be happy until they are rid of the Jews forever. And anyone with any sense should realize this. I don’t see how anyone, including our government who shouldn’t realize this. The Arabs have made their intentions about the Jews quite clear. So I pray, that Israel will not give in, and give up anymore land, and for those that think they should, I pray they will have a change of heart, and realize it is not a solution to the problem, and that it will not help the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews.
2 Charles // May 16, 2007 at 5:01 am
The Muslim population in Israel is a parasite or fungus growing where it should not be .
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