The Syrian killing - the biggest civilian massacre in Middle-East's modern history - is of no interest for most peace movements around the world
The Israeli government has approved the
construction of 3,000 new homes in the occupied West Bank. A famous
Israeli Rabbi has issued new dressing guidelines for religious women,
stating that not even girls as young as three should expose any
part of their body or wear bright colors. New regulation undermining
human-rights and democracy are commonly raised in the Israeli
parliament these days. It is as though Israel is playing into the
hands of the anti-Israeli campaigners, whoever they might be. And
they love it, especially the government sponsored Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs).
“We told you that Israel is against
peace,” reminded us a French NGO, after the announcement of the new
construction.
“Israel prefers to keep
entrenching its occupation, expanding its illegal settlements, and
devouring Palestinian land, rather than pursue a genuine peace with
the Palestinians on the basis of UN Resolutions and International
Law.” Cries SABEEL – and NGO sponsored by the Swedish and Dutch
governments – in their annual Christmas message.
“Bethlehem, a city of
peace, has been disfigured by tanks and soldiers on its streets,”
reads the back of a Christmas card issued by War on Want,
which receives British government funding.
One might be forgiven to
believe that it's values like peace, justice, and human rights that
motivated these statements.
But if peace is their
genuine goal, why don't they mention Hamas leader, Mr. Haniyeh, who
reiterated in his speech a few weeks ago that Hamas will keep
fighting Israel until it is annihilated. Isn't he an obstacle to the
peace process?
If justice is the
motivation, shouldn't they mention, at least in a side note, the
number of 'City of Peace'-originated suicide bombers responsible for
the killing of dozen Israel civilians.
And if human right is what
they care about, aren't they missing the largest civilian massacre in
the modern history of the middle east. A massacre of 45,000 Syrians
that is still taking place at this very moment.
But it's not truth, peace
and justice that they care about. Those are merely excuses for the
relentless anti-Israeli attacks that have been going on since the
inception of Israel, regardless of what the Israel's policy of the
time might have been.
But it's high time to call
these organizations to reconsider their position. After all, with the
worrisome changes undergoing Israel, it's slipping down the slope of
becoming less democratic, more politically extreme and more religious
– the very values practiced by the countries these NGOs have been
embracing when attacking Israel. If Israel became like Syria, for
instance, would it free its attackers to focus on where they are
needed the most, like Congo, where monthly 40,000 war-related deaths
have already consumed more than 6 million lives?
