The major political players who are involved in sealing off 1.5 million Palestinians into an open air prison in the world's most densely populated 360-square-kilometre area of the Gaza Strip are unmercifully trespassing humanitarian borders there; they perceive in the collapsing economy of the Mediterranean coastal strip, which is rapidly developing into a humanitarian crisis, a political "window of opportunity."
Ironically they are counterproductively citing security and peace making as their casus belli, but they are creating on the ground an explosive humanitarian disaster that could blow off the local as well as the regional security in a way that precludes any credible efforts towards reviving a deadlocked peace process, moribund since 2000. Human rights and morality as well as realpolitics are facing a critical test in the Gaza Strip, where the culprits of the tragic status quo perceive a "window of opportunity."
According to Yoram Meital, Chairperson of the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies & Diplomacy at Israel's Ben-Gurion University (ynetnews.com on August 6), the first to point to this "window of opportunity" was the U.S. president, George W. Bush, who last month vaguely proposed an ambiguous public relations "international" conference on Middle East in the fall with the aim of advancing the peace process. In parallel, the Israeli prime minister suggested an "agreement of principles" for a final-status deal with the Palestinians. On August 8, Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni joined Bush's new "vision" on the opportunity: "Gaza creates a security threat for us, while the other part (West Bank) controlled by the new Palestinian government (of Salam Fayyad) can create an opportunity," she said.
A flurry of diplomatic traffic followed. Bush's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the region and met with Palestinian President Mahmoud abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before they held their latest bimonthly meeting in Jericho, the special envoy of the Quartet of the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia Tony Blair also made a regional visit, which coincided with another historic and first of its kind by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Ahmed Aboul Ghei, and Jordan, Abdul-Ilah Khatib, to Israel to present the Arab Peace Initiative of the League of Arab States. None of these events cared to put the looming disaster in Gaza on the agenda.
Ignoring the time bomb that is clicking in Gaza, their message was conveyed by way of default and contrast. Making the life of Palestinians under the Israeli military occupation in the West Bank look easier, economically promising, and diplomatically and politically in interacting contact with the civilized world is meant to be a contrast for comparison by their compatriots in the "liberated" Gaza Strip, locked in by the Israeli military siege, the economic blockade and the political and diplomatic isolation.
'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts'
To confirm their message and sustain the inter-Palestinian divisive status quo, Bush recently unveiled a U.S. aid package for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, which is expected neither to alleviate the economic distress in the West Bank nor avert the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, but would exacerbate the Gaza's isolation as well as its political rift with the northern compatriots.
Bush promised to provide the Palestinians with $190 million in aid and $80 million in security assistance. The biggest chunk - $140 million - is the budget that is already scheduled for the UNRWA. The other $50 million of the $190 million in aid is money attached to political conditions to be channeled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator and senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a think-tank based in Washington, said: "The president continued to promote deepening divisions among the Palestinians, insist on preconditions to a two-state solution and display an unwillingness to outline his own parameters for an Israeli-Palestinian endgame deal," Levy told IPS.
Linda S. Heard in an opinion column on Online Journal on August 2 quoted "an old expression that goes, 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,' which has its origins in Virgil's rendition of the Trojan horse legend. Another translation reads 'Trust not their presents, not admit the horse' ... change the word 'Greeks' to 'Americans' (and) the warning may well be valid today."
More than ten billion dollars of donors' aid since 2000, $6 billion of European taxpayers' money given in aid to Palestinians between 1993 and 2004, an annual average of $350-450 million injected into the PA from 1994-2000 and about $650 million annually from 2001-2007, which amounts to over $7 billion, more per capita than anyplace in the world except for Israel, which is heavily subsidized by the U.S., have all failed to stave off the current collapse of the Palestinian economy, polity and society or to secure a permanent opening of even one border crossing between Gaza and the outside world.
All those billions of donors money were squandered in vain, because: "The Palestinians have been too grateful and too helpless for too long to be critical of the political agenda of their donors who have practically nailed them down as political hostages to the donors' money, which was promised initially to help build an independent Palestinian state, but ended up as a political instrument effectively used by the Israeli occupying power," as this author wrote in the Middle East Times on September 7, 2006.
"The internal political crisis is only a result of the deeper economic and humanitarian crisis, which is crushing the Palestinian people to the brink of a "social revolt," especially in the "ticking time bomb" of Gaza Strip, and the donors-sustained Palestinian Authority (PA) to the brink of collapse since the donors tightened the Israeli military siege by imposing a suffocating financial blockade early in the year. The ensuing Palestinian divide is being further exacerbated by the donors' public siding with one party of the divide, to the detriment of the people whom the donors are trying in vain to reach out for," this author added. Less than one year on, this donors' role is reinforced.
Had Gandhi Been Alive
Only an international nonviolent resistance project, "The Free Gaza Movement," is "taking action" to alert the world public opinion to the threatening status quo in Gaza to hopefully awake to the danger simmering there and defuse the clicking time bomb. Up to 100 international volunteered Palestinian, Israeli, American, European, African and Asian rabbis, imams, Christian and Buddhist clerics, British MPs, entertainment celebrities, and internationally known journalists as well as Nakba and Holocaust survivors will sail from Cyprus to Gaza in 2 to 6 seagoing vessels of 12 to 60 passengers each, prospectively on August 15.
Their declared mission is to: "1.To open Gaza to unrestricted international access, i.e. Palestinian sovereignty, 2. To demonstrate that Israel still occupies Gaza, despite its claims to the contrary, 3. To show international solidarity with the people of Gaza and the rest of Palestine, 4. To demonstrate the potential of nonviolent resistance methods." More than 35 organizers from 13 countries have consulted Greenpeace among others for logistical support to sail safe through expected highly risky Israeli security impediments and restrictions.
The Daily India, on August 4, reported that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi alias Mahatma Gandhi, the world's spiritual leader of nonviolence and "Father of the Indian Nation," would have headed for the Gaza Strip to fight for the freedom of Palestinians had he been alive, says his 72-year-old grandson. According to Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, the son of Devdas Gandhi, the Mahatma's youngest son, "If he (Mahatma Gandhi) was around today, my grandfather would have been in the Gaza Strip, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Palestinians."
*Nicola Nasser is a veteran Arab journalist in Kuwait, Jordan, UAE and Palestine. He is based in Ramallah, West Bank of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Making the life of Palestinians under the Israeli military occupation in the West Bank look easier, economically promising, and diplomatically and politically in interacting contact with the civilized world is meant to be a contrast for comparison by their compatriots in the "liberated" Gaza Strip, locked in by the Israeli military siege, the economic blockade and the political and diplomatic isolation.
Israel is not occupying the West Bank. Israel gave up the West Bank in a "trade land for peace" deal with the terrorists. In fact, most of the families whose houses and lives were destroyed because Jews are not welcome in Arab territories are still living in tents. If the "Palestinians" gave up violence and quit bombing Israel, there would be peace. If Israel quit defending itself, it would be destroyed. But I guess that if there are no Jews left in the Middle East, there would be peace also. Israel did not create the plight of the Palestinian people. The horrible condition that they live in was created by the Arab countries that believe that Israel has no right to exist. They are pawns being used in a planned modern-day holocaust to rid the Middle East of Israel and the "Jewish problem." Crushing a people and indoctrinating them in anti-semetic hatred since birth is a horrible way to treat one's own people.
by
Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments)
on Friday, August 17, 2007 at 12:19:46 PM
The PLO is not as it is portrayed. It is a terrorist organization, and always has been. Here is an excerpt from an article with extensive research:
"Hajj Amin al Husseini, leader of the ‘Palestinian movement,’ becomes an architect of Adolf Hitler’s Final Solution, and then continues the extermination effort beyond the World War, helping create Al Fatah, the controlling core of the PLO."
although I see he would have to be fact checked -- his reputation is dubious. I would approach a PLO Nazi connection with great skepticism. I will say the other Arab nations have been great friends to the Palestinians, however. You should check into what Jeff Halper, Jonathan Cook, and Ilan Pappe have to say about the situation. But Fatah, at least at this point, is no friend to the Palestinians: Abbas is a traitor, cooperating with Israel in the occupation.
The statement "Israel is not occupying the West Bank. Israel gave up the West Bank in a "trade land for peace" deal with the terrorists." is completely wrong however: the IDF/IOF (Israeli Defense or Occupation Force, depending on who you are reading) is most definitely occupying the West Bank, maintaning checkpoints, building the separation wall, and oppressing the inhabitants. This is easily found all through past and current news articles.
Even the Gaza strip, while Israel has pulled forces out, has been made into a virtual prison camp with sealed borders and horrendous conditions, and subject to regular attacks from Israel. They are denied even essential utilities such as water and electricity, as well as medical care, sufficient food, and other needs. It's siege warfare, and Hamas, the legitimately elected government, has been under seige from Israel, the US, Israel, and Europe, who are now supporting the puppet Abbas. The plan is to try to divide and conquer -- to set the Palestinians in the West Bank against those in Gaza.
"If the "Palestinians" gave up violence and quit bombing Israel, there would be peace." I don't why you put Palestinians in quotes -- they are the legitimate inhabitants of Palestine and have been for hundreds to thousands of years, including the Christian and Jewish Palestinians. There have been several unilateral cease fires from the Palestinians and the Israelis have always provoked further conflict: the zionists don't want peace but the land.
"Israel did not create the plight of the Palestinian people. The horrible condition that they live in was created by the Arab countries that believe that Israel has no right to exist." Nope -- Israel, with the support of the US and British created the situation by stealing the land originally, ethnic cleansing, and the continuing violations of human rights over the years. Look up the Nakba. Look at the video Occupation 101. Yes, of course the West Bank is under occupation.
I don't have the time or energy to go through all of this -- it would take weeks, at least, and the information is all available on the web. I'll just say that from what you have written you just don't have any knowledge about it and should do a lot more research into the facts before you form any opinions -- and beware of the massive zionist propaganda.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 1:13:44 AM
You have your opinion. There is nothing more I can say. When you say that the "Palestinians" have had the land for thousands of years, this just tells me that you are so intrenched with propaganda that nothing I say would make a difference. My last statement on the matter is to advise you to study history.
by
Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments)
on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 9:02:04 PM
Mars? Here is a little history in brief. People have always been there; in fact there are Palestinian Christians who trace their roots back to the time of Jesus. Here is some more history. It's more than my 'opinion' -- it's historical fact. You must be talking about a Palestine on some other planet (???). But I guess if you don't know that the West Bank is occupied by the Istraelis then there really is no point of discussing this further... facts don't matter to you, apparently.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 11:55:01 PM
It was only after World War I, at the Paris Peace Conference(1), that the name "Palestine" was applied to a clearly defined piece of territory - the area which today comprises Israel and Jordan. It was agreed that "Palestine" was to become a League of Nations Mandate, entrusted to Great Britain.
Under the terms of the Mandate, Britain's principal obligation was to facilitate the implementation of the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, which pledged "the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people."(2) No territorial restrictions whatsoever - neither east nor west of the Jordan River were placed on the Jewish National Home. In fact, the Mandate stipulated that Britain was to "facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall encourage close settlement by Jews on the land."(3)
1. The Paris Peace Conference was held in January-June 1919 and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. For a survey of the Paris Peace Conference's treatment of Middle Eastern issues, see Howard M. Sachar, The Emergence of the Middle East: 1914-1924 (New York: Knopf, 1969), pp. 252-290.
2. The following is the text of the Balfour Declaration:
"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."
See J. C. Hurewitz (ed.), The Middle fast and North Africa in World politics: a Documentary Record, vol. 2 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979), pp. 101-106.
3. For the full text of the British Mandate for Palestine, see ibid., pp. 305-309.
A bit more history. Here is a timeline:
(BCE - Before the Common Era)
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS of ISRAEL
17th-6th C. BCE
BIBLICAL TIMES
c. 17th century
The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - patriarchs of the Jewish people and bearers of a belief in one God - settle in the Land of Israel. Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt
c. 13th century
Exodus from Egypt: Moses leads Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of wandering in the desert.
Torah, including the Ten Commandments, received at Mount Sinai.
13th-12th centuries
Israelites settle the Land of Israel
c. 1020
Jewish Monarchy established; Saul, first king
c. 1000
Jerusalem made capital of David's kingdom
c. 960
First Temple, the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people, built in Jerusalem by King Solomon
c. 930
Divided kingdom: Judah and Israel
722-720
Israel crushed by Assyrians; 10 tribes exiled (Ten Lost Tribes).
586
Judah conquered by Babylonia; Jerusalem and First Temple destroyed; most Jews exiled to Babylonia
536-142
PERSIAN AND HELLENISTIC PERIODS
538-515
Many Jews return from Babylonia; Temple rebuilt
332
Land conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule
166-160
Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on practice of Judaism and desecration of Temple
142-129
Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans.
129-63
Jewish independence under Hasmonean monarchy.
63
Jerusalem captured by Roman general, Pompey.
63 BCE-313 CE
ROMAN RULE, 376 yrs
Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel;
(CE - Common Era) 37 BCE – 4 CE
Temple in Jerusalem refurbished
c. 20-33
Ministry of Jesus
66
Jewish revolt against the Romans
70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.
73
Last stand of Jews at Masada.
132-135
Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome.
c. 210
Codification of Jewish oral law, Mishnah, completed.
313-636
BYZANTINE RULE, 323 yrs
c. 390
Commentary on the Mishnah, the Jerusalem Talmud, completed.
70 - 632
Mohammad
614
Persian invasion
636-1099
ARAB RULE, 463 yrs
691
On site of First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock built by Caliph Abd el-Malik
1099-1291
CRUSADER DOMINATION; (Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem), 192 yrs
1291-1516
MAMLUK RULE, 225 yrs
1517-1917
OTTOMAN RULE, 400 yrs
1564
Code of Jewish law, Shulhan Arukh, published.
1860
First neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha'ananim, built outside Jerusalem's walls.
1882-1903
First Aliya (large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.
1897
First Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland; Zionist Organization founded.
1904-14
Second Aliya, mainly from Russia and Poland.
1909
First kibbutz, Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.
1917
British Foreign Minister Balfour pledges support for establishment of a "Jewish national home in Palestine", the Balfour Declaration
1917
400 years of Ottoman rule ended by British conquest
1918-48
BRITISH RULE – 30 years
1919-23
Third Aliya, mainly from Russia
Histadrut (Jewish labor federation) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization) founded.
1920
Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (yishuv) to conduct its affairs.
1921
First moshav, Nahalal, founded.
Britain granted Mandate for Palestine (Land of Israel) by League of Nations;
Transjordan set up on three-fourths of the area, leaving one-fourth for the Jewish national home.
1922
Jewish Agency representing Jewish community vis-a-vis Mandate authorities set up.
1924
Technion, first institute of technology, founded in Haifa.
1924-32
Fourth Aliya, mainly from Poland.
1925
Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mt. Scopus.
Jewish immigration severely limited by British White Paper. 100,000 maximum.
1939-45
World War II; Holocaust in Europe. British Navy curtails emigration from Europe.
1941
Lehi underground movement formed; Palmach- strike force of Haganah, set up.
1944
Jewish Brigade formed as part of British forces.
1947
UN proposes the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in the Land. Arabs rejected it.
1948
STATE OF ISRAEL proclaimed (14 May). 600,000 Jews in the land.
End of British Mandate (14 May)
Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May)
War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949)
1948
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established
Armistice agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule.
First Knesset (parliament) elected.
1949
Israel admitted to United Nations as 59th member.
1948-52
Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries.
1956
Sinai Campaign against Nasser, with England and France, Pres. Eisenhower defeated it.
1962
Adolf Eichmann tried and executed in Israel for his key part in the Holocaust.
1964
National Water Carrier completed, bringing water from Lake Kinneret in the north to the semi-arid south.
1967
Six-Day War, Jerusalem reunited.
1968-70
Egypt's War of Attrition against Israel
1973
Yom Kippur War
1975
Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market.
1977
Likud forms government after Knesset elections, end of 30 years of Labor rule. Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.
1978
Camp David Accords & framework for comprehensive peace in Middle East and proposal for Palestinian self-government.
Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed.
1979
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
1981
Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative.
Israel's three-stage withdrawal from Sinai completed.
1982
Operation Peace for Galilee removes PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) terrorists from Lebanon.
1984
National unity government (Likud & Labor) formed after elections. Operation Moses, Immigration of Jews from Ethiopia. Itzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres alternate PM.
1985
Free Trade Agreement signed with United States.
1987
Widespread violence (intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.
1988
Likud government in power following elections, Itzhak Shamir PM.
Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel.
1989
Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union.
1991
Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war.
Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid;
1991
Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia. President Bush major assistance.
Diplomatic relations established with China and India.
1992
New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin of Labor party.
1993
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the Palestinian people.
Implementation of Palestinian self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho area.
Full diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
Morocco and Tunisia interest offices set up.
Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed.
1994
Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
Broadened Palestinian self-government implemented in West Bank and Gaza Strip; Palestinian Council elected.
Prime Minister Rabin assassinated at peace rally.
1995
Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.
Fundamentalist Arab terrorism against Israel escalates.
Operation Grapes of Wrath, retaliation for Hezbollah terrorists' attacks on northern Israel.
Trade representation offices set up in Oman and Qatar.
Likud forms government after Knesset elections.
Benjamin Netanyahu becomes prime minister.
1996
Omani trade representation office opened in Tel Aviv.
1997
Hebron Protocol signed by Israel and the PA.
1998
Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2000
Arafat rejects President Clinton's effort to achieve peace after generous offer by PM Barak
Arafat PA starts intensive terrorism against Israeli civilians
Summer 2005
Israel evacuates all Jewish communities in Gaza, Palestinian infighting starts; Kassam rockets from Gaza attacks Israel on regular basis.
Jan 2006
PM Sharon incapacitated by massive stroke, Olmert takes over as PM. Hamas won election
July 2006
Hezbollah war in Lebanon, massive rocket attacks on Israeli civilians in Northern Israel
by
Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments)
on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 10:22:32 AM
Filastin , (Arabic for Palestine), has been used to refer to the region since the earliest medieval Arab geographers adopted the Greek name[4] Palaestina, in turn derived from the Philistines (Plishtim) mentioned in the Bible. Filastini, also derived from the Latinized Greek term Palaestina, appears to have been used as an Arabic adjectival noun in the region since as early as the 7th century CE.[5]
During the British Mandate of Palestine, the term "Palestinian" referred to all people residing there, regardless of religion, including Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druse (and others) and those granted citizenship by the Mandatory authorities were granted "Palestinian citizenship".[6]
and
Paleolithic and Neolithic periods (1000000 - 5000 BCE)
Human remains found at El-'Ubeidiya, 2 miles (3 km) south of Lake Tiberias date back as early as 500,000 BCE.[14][15] The discovery of the "Palestine Man" in the Zuttiyeh Cave in Wadi Al-Amud near Safad in 1925 provided some clues to human development in the area.[14][16][17]
In the caves of Shuqba in Ramallah and Wadi Khareitun in Bethlehem, stone, wood and animal bone tools were found and attributed to the Natufian culture (c. 12800 - 10300 BCE). Other remains from this era have been found at Tel Abu Hureura, Ein Mallaha, Beidha and Jericho.[14][18]
Between 10000 and 5000 BCE, agricultural communities were established. Evidence of such settlements were found at Tell es-Sultan, Jericho and include mud-brick rounded and square dwellings, pottery shards, and fragments of woven fabrics
But you choose to cite an obviously biased zionsit source, jafi.org:
The Jewish Agency for Israel, Department for Jewish Zionist Education
The Jewish Agency is a global partnership committed to the Jewish future that stands on a history-making track record. Together with the United Jewish Communities (UJC) in North America, and Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal around the world, our partnership has brought 3 million people to Israel; we have built a nation. Not by the daring acts of a few, but by the power of our collective commitment and action. And together, we can meet the challenges of today - and our aspirations for the future.
At the Jewish Agency, we believe that Israel stands at the heart of the Jewish future.
That's why we’re partnering in communities around the world with dual purpose: to keep the promise to every Jew who, for any reason, at any time, chooses to come home to Israel; and to put Israel into the lives of the Jewish world's next generation. Connecting, engaging and inspiring them to lead our people into the future.
Whatever... think what you want to.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 10:58:38 AM
Like I stated earlier, Wikipedia is not a valid source, as it can be edited to reflect false statements. Here is only one example:
"John Seigenthaler Sr. was the assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy in the early 1960's. For a brief time, he was thought to have been directly involved in the Kennedy assassinations of both John, and his brother, Bobby. Nothing was ever proven." — Wikipedia
This is a highly personal story about Internet character assassination. It could be your story.
I have no idea whose sick mind conceived the false, malicious "biography" that appeared under my name for 132 days on Wikipedia, the popular, online, free encyclopedia whose authors are unknown and virtually untraceable. There was more:
"John Seigenthaler moved to the Soviet Union in 1971, and returned to the United States in 1984. He started one of the country's largest public relations firms shortly thereafter."
At age 78, I thought I was beyond feeling surprise, anger or hurt at anything negative anybody wrote or said about me. I was wrong. It was infuriating to read that stuff under my name. It was mind-boggling when my son, John Seigenthaler, the weekend anchor for NBC News, phoned from New York to say he had discovered the same scurrilous text on two other collaborative websites, Reference.com and Answers.com. And, it was painful to realize that what had appeared might hurt two other people, my son, whose middle initial is M (mine is L), and my grandson, John B. Seigenthaler, called Jack.
There was but one factual sentence in the "biography". I was Robert Kennedy's administrative assistant in the early 1960's. I was a pall bearer at his funeral, and each year I participate in the annual awards programs for both the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and the John F. Kennedy Library.
At my request, executives of the three websites now have removed the false content. But, the operators of Wikipedia, Answers.com and Reference.com have no idea who wrote those toxic sentences and no way to find out.
and in fact mentioned them in to you, but that does not mean it is 'not a valid source' -- only that one should not rely completely on it. I don't -- I've read this in many other places -- it's just a handy reference for basic material and a good place to start from.
The one article cites loads of sources, and so do articles linked to by the other (which prominently notes the abscence of citations.)
And AAMOF some universities do allow wikipedia as a souce -- not just as the only source, as is true with any encyclopedia. It IS after, an encyclopedia, not a primary source. And many sources are not primary sources either and have no more standing than an encyclopedia -- anyone can write a book. Primary sources are also often wrong, and even research data is not always reliable. That's why you need multiple sources and need to look at as much information as one can obtain.
Did you watch the video Occupation 101, produced by Pappe, who is a historian? Did you check out Halper who has been working and lecturing about this? How about Cook who is a reporter in Palestine? How about electronic intefada and Uruknet which all sorts of material -- from primary sources who are there? (And this material agrees with what I've heard in person from people who have been in Palestine, even one who is an actual Palestinian -- as well as other sources, including the UN security council.)
Further, this is NOT a university and I am not about to spend the time to write a fully referenced textbook for YOU -- who apparently could care less about facts or doing your own research, but instead references zionist propaganda,( and what you copied over doesn't even speak to the history of Palestinians). "2000 Arafat rejects President Clinton's effort to achieve peace after generous offer by PM Barak "? Are you kidding? You think is is unbiased? Don;t you know about the different areas, A, B, and C which the West Bank has broken up into? (Look at this video from ICAHD, Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions).
Frankly, it's NOT MY JOB to educate you and hold you by the hand! I pointed you to where to look and what to look for, and that's all I'm about to do. The rest of it, if you choose to educate yourself, is your responsibility. If you choose to imagine the Palestians somehow magically appeared out of nowhere in recent times then that's your problem.
If all you want to do is quibble about one entry which does not cite source yet and ignore the actual material, and rely on zionist rubbish, then I'm not going to waste any more time on this (and, to be blunt, I find the idea of you writing an article on 'critical thinking' to be outlandish).
I'm not going to argue with you, especially when you come up with nonsense like this. If you choose to believe the zionist garbage then there's nothing I can do about it: this thread is already is already old and buried, so it's unlikely anyone will read you absurd initital statements and be naively taken in by them -- they have been refuted, and that was my main purpose in writing anything here. It's not like I have time or energy to play silly games. It's Friday night, and I've finally gotten all the day's material downloaded and archived, so I have a few minutes because the weekend is lighter in news and emails, and I can do the backup to CDs tomorrow. So I can blather here for a few minutes -- but I'm not going to write you a text book -- there's plenty of stuff available already if you decide to open your eyes.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 1:45:04 AM
Ilan Pappe did not produce Ocupation 101; he was among the authorities in it. (Perhaps I was thinking of the video of his lecture on ethnic cleansing, or his lecture "Time is Running Out" at the 4/2007 Bil'in International nonviolence Conference ...)
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 3:11:40 AM
This is my last comment on this matter, I promise! Those who resort to character assassination do not have the truth on their side. The fact that you have chosen to impune my character rather than have a civil conversation says it all. Goodbye.
by
Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments)
on Monday, August 27, 2007 at 4:18:19 PM
