Israel's Treatment. Op Ed by James Eaves-Johnson
Published: August 5, 2009 Opinion Page, Ames Tribune
What kind of a state is Israel? Some Tribune letter writers argue that Israel should be judged based on how it treats Palestinian Arabs. Consider how Israel has treated them:
Israel ceded complete security control of Ramallah, Qalqilya, Bethlehem and Jericho to the Palestinian Authority.
Israel removed dozens of roadblocks, allowing for free travel between most Palestinian Arab population centers.
Israel has opened the border between the West Bank and Jordan to 24-hour passage of people and goods.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on diaspora Jews to invest in the Palestinian Arab economy.
Israel announced plans to forcibly evacuate Jews from 23 outposts in the West Bank in a single day.
This and more has happened in just the last month as part of an accelerated plan to improve the lives of Palestinian Arabs and prepare for a stable and prosperous state. Israel has done this even as Palestinian Authority President Abbas refused to negotiate with Israel for peace.
In 2005, Israel forcibly removed 7,500 Jews from Gaza to make room for Palestinian Arabs. Even Kfar Darom, which was cleansed of Jews once before in 1948 by Egyptian forces, was not spared.
Some would prefer that Israel leave the West Bank in a similar fashion. The difference is that the Gaza withdrawal led to Hamas terrorism, war, and hardship for the people of Gaza.
Israel¹s care in withdrawing from the West Bank, while ensuring its security, is leading to unprecedented prosperity for Palestinian Arabs there.
James Eaves-Johnson
Coralville
What kind of a state is Israel? Some Tribune letter writers argue that Israel should be judged based on how it treats Palestinian Arabs. Consider how Israel has treated them:
Israel ceded complete security control of Ramallah, Qalqilya, Bethlehem and Jericho to the Palestinian Authority.
Israel removed dozens of roadblocks, allowing for free travel between most Palestinian Arab population centers.
Israel has opened the border between the West Bank and Jordan to 24-hour passage of people and goods.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on diaspora Jews to invest in the Palestinian Arab economy.
Israel announced plans to forcibly evacuate Jews from 23 outposts in the West Bank in a single day.
This and more has happened in just the last month as part of an accelerated plan to improve the lives of Palestinian Arabs and prepare for a stable and prosperous state. Israel has done this even as Palestinian Authority President Abbas refused to negotiate with Israel for peace.
In 2005, Israel forcibly removed 7,500 Jews from Gaza to make room for Palestinian Arabs. Even Kfar Darom, which was cleansed of Jews once before in 1948 by Egyptian forces, was not spared.
Some would prefer that Israel leave the West Bank in a similar fashion. The difference is that the Gaza withdrawal led to Hamas terrorism, war, and hardship for the people of Gaza.
Israel¹s care in withdrawing from the West Bank, while ensuring its security, is leading to unprecedented prosperity for Palestinian Arabs there.
James Eaves-Johnson
Coralville
