The radicalization of Palestine is really tragic:
Gender segregation is already in effect in the majority of schools in the Palestinian territory but from the next school year, it will be enforced by law in every one of Gaza’s education establishments, including Christian and private schools and those run by the United Nations. . .
This is the latest in a string of recent announcements from the Hamas regime in Gaza tightening restrictions on Palestinian girls and women. An annual UN-sponsored marathon in the Gaza Strip was cancelled last month because Hamas authorities would not permit either foreign or local women to run alongside men, even if they were veiled.
People, unfortunately, tend to turn to fundamentalism and barbarity when their nationalistic drives are stifled. We have seen Chechnya go in the exact same direction as a result of its drive for independence being frustrated. The Chechens are now also shrouding girls and segregating them like cattle. And Russia is too terrified of them to try to stop the barbarity. All the Russians can now do is pay a huge tribute to keep the Chechen terrorists somewhat at bay. And it’s hard to say the Russians don’t deserve it after brutalizing the Chechens for 300 years.
As I said before, I believe Palestine will gain its independence eventually. However, the country might get so radicalized by that time that it will be too late to turn back the tide for Palestinian women. And for the Israeli neighbors.
The historical lesson here is: know when to let people go. Or it might be too late for everybody.
What is really sad in this entire situation is that the US is doing all it can to promote policies that will make this radicalization inevitable. But who is surprised? First, they bring the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, now they are paving the road for Hamas.
Clarissa's Blog 
// too late to turn back the tide for Palestinian women. And for the Israeli neighbors.
How will it be too late for us?
// the US is doing all it can to promote policies that will make this radicalization inevitable
Which policies do you refer to?
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“Which policies do you refer to?”
– The policies of “yes, but. . .” I hear Obama recently went to Israel and made a very pretty speech. Yet again. And yet again the speech is not accompanied by anything concrete.
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But what can he do? Do you believe American pressure on Israel and Abbas could bring peace?
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He could stop sitting on two chairs and state a position already.
Examples: “Palestinians, you can stuff the dreams of independence because we will never let it happen. We are with Israel 100%.”
Or: “Israel, we are sick and tired of your persecution of the Palestinians. They are getting their independence now, or else.”
The constant US “yes, but. . .” position just fans the flames of the conflict.
For now, the only measures that can stop the further radicalization of Palestine are:
1. Immediate independence;
2. Massive amounts of money invested into rebuilding the infrastructure and dramatically raising the standard of living.
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“For now, the only measures that can stop the further radicalization of Palestine are:
1. Immediate independence;
2. Massive amounts of money invested into rebuilding the infrastructure and dramatically raising the standard of living.”
– This is why, as I said before, nobody will ever give a dime to help the Palestinians.
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// ” If Gaza becomes more extreme, it’ll be worse to everybody.’
– It might still not be too late to avoid that.
What is the solution? Should Israel say “we agree to Palestinian state in borders XYZ. That’s it” ? Without any agreement at negotiations?
And how can anything become better? After all, Hamas & Israel aren’t going to agree anytime soon, Abbas is quite weak, Israeli people don’t think any peace process is on the horizon and in Israeli newspapers you can only read about “managing the conflict”, which is quite pessimistic but most likely also realistic. What huge changes for better can you see?
And, to Stringer Bell, I never mentioned anything “muslim”, as f.e. female circumcision. Because I am not good enough (or not priviledged enough) to care about that, but do care about rockets to my house, soldiers in the army, terrorist plans to kidnap soldiers and civilians in Israel and abroad (recently read a big article warning of that). F.e. here:
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Remand-extended-of-cell-plotting-to-kidnap-Israelis
Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) in January arrested a terror cell they say repeatedly plotted and failed to kidnap an Israeli soldier or civilian to hold for ransom.
…
The cell allegedly traveled around by car in the Central and Sharon regions on December 30 and 31, looking for a victim.
I care about radicalization because it’s a sign of another intifada, makes any chance of peace even more remote, etc.
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“I care about radicalization because it’s a sign of another intifada, makes any chance of peace even more remote, etc.”
You answered your own question:
“// too late to turn back the tide for Palestinian women. And for the Israeli neighbors.
How will it be too late for us?”
“And, to Stringer Bell, I never mentioned anything “muslim”, as f.e. female circumcision. Because I am not good enough (or not priviledged enough) to care about that, but do care about rockets to my house, soldiers in the army, terrorist plans to kidnap soldiers and civilians in Israel and abroad (recently read a big article warning of that).”
– The word “privilege” has become so ubiquitous that now nobody knows what it even means.
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As I always say, strong support of the Palestinian ’cause’ by those outside the region very strongly correlates with no paying attention to how they behave (or believing them when they say what they want).
I don’t infantalize them and take them at their word which is why don’t support that ‘from the mountains…’ nonsense. Yeah they deserve better than what they’ve got but they could get that at any time.
I’m not a huge fan of Israel either for that matter but majority values in Israel are things I can understand (even if I don’t always agree). Palestinian values are alien and alienating.
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“I’m not a huge fan of Israel either for that matter but majority values in Israel are things I can understand (even if I don’t always agree). Palestinian values are alien and alienating.”
– I agree completely. And everything that is happening right now in the region is making them even more alien and alienating,
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People, unfortunately, tend to turn to fundamentalism and barbarity when their nationalistic drives are stifled.
Are there any examples of a population deradicalizing after independence? I was thinking of the Republic of Ireland, which (I think) has grown more liberal and less reactionary since independence (although that process took several years). What about the Iraqi Kurds?
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The US. 🙂
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In 1948 U.N. decree defined borders of Palestinian state. Israel currently holds 20% of these territories and Jordan holds 80%, but this fact is conveniently ignored. Jordan also expelled all PLO members around 1970. Now back to the topic.
When Palestinians will get their independence, they will not treat their women and girls any better. Just look how women are treated in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab countries.
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“When Palestinians will get their independence, they will not treat their women and girls any better. Just look how women are treated in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab countries.”
– You are forgetting my suggestion that there needs to be a dramatic and enormous investment of money to improve the standard of living. Poor, starving countries are always bad for women and good for religious fanatics. And this is precisely the reason why richer Arab countries will never give a cent to help Palestinians. Everybody needs the Palestinians and the Israelis to be in a permanent conflict. Everybody.
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” Israel currently holds 20% of these territories and Jordan holds 80%, but this fact is conveniently ignored.”
– If Palestinians choose to ignore it, that is their inalienable right.
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U.N. should not ignore that.
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The UN is full of puppets of the US.
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I don’t think so. UN is very anti-American even though we pay 30% of their bills.
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“I don’t think so. UN is very anti-American even though we pay 30% of their bills.”
– 🙂 🙂 They don’t pee without the US’s permission.
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We are so tough, they’re shaking in their boots. Seriously speaking though, Saudi Arabia, China and even Russia have more puppets than we do.
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Yes, Russia is doing a lot of work in that direction. They have experience, too.
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