2/
Despair and a sense of futility are part of the zeitgeist.
But the claim that nothing will change with Netanyahu's departure is more than that. It is half true, perhaps more. Importantly true. But not entirely true.
Despair and a sense of futility are part of the zeitgeist.
But the claim that nothing will change with Netanyahu's departure is more than that. It is half true, perhaps more. Importantly true. But not entirely true.
3/
The deep truth? That Netanyahu's ideology has been spliced into the organizational DNA of official Israel. That ideological embrace of occupation brought Netanyahu to power, and he amplified it significant.
The deep truth? That Netanyahu's ideology has been spliced into the organizational DNA of official Israel. That ideological embrace of occupation brought Netanyahu to power, and he amplified it significant.
4/
Occupation needs no marching orders from an Israeli Prime Minister to sustain itself, and to metastasize. In that sense, his departure in and of itself will, as folks are saying, change nothing.
But that is only part of the story, and part of the truth.
Occupation needs no marching orders from an Israeli Prime Minister to sustain itself, and to metastasize. In that sense, his departure in and of itself will, as folks are saying, change nothing.
But that is only part of the story, and part of the truth.
5/
I get up in the morning and try to identify the most egregious things in the occupation of East Jerusalem. To flag them and stop them when I can, to contain them or even roll them back when possible. I fail far more often than I succeed.
I get up in the morning and try to identify the most egregious things in the occupation of East Jerusalem. To flag them and stop them when I can, to contain them or even roll them back when possible. I fail far more often than I succeed.
6/
But there is no way to putting an end the evils of occupation except by ending occupation. At best one can ameliorate some of the worst manifestations of occupation.
But there is no way to putting an end the evils of occupation except by ending occupation. At best one can ameliorate some of the worst manifestations of occupation.
7/
Under this new government, there will be opportunities – opportunities, not guarantees – to prevent some of the pain and suffering that is inherent in the occupation of Palestinian East Jerusalem that did exist under Netanyahu.
Under this new government, there will be opportunities – opportunities, not guarantees – to prevent some of the pain and suffering that is inherent in the occupation of Palestinian East Jerusalem that did exist under Netanyahu.
8/
The chances of engaging decent members of the cabinet – and they exist - will grow.
The chances of preventing the large-scale displacement in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan will increase. Far from guaranteed, but the chances will increase.
The chances of engaging decent members of the cabinet – and they exist - will grow.
The chances of preventing the large-scale displacement in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan will increase. Far from guaranteed, but the chances will increase.
9/
There is a chance to salvage the status quo on the Temple Mt./Haram al Sharif, which is currently in shambles, and to detoxify Israel's relations with Jordan.
There is a chance to salvage the status quo on the Temple Mt./Haram al Sharif, which is currently in shambles, and to detoxify Israel's relations with Jordan.
10/
There will the opportunity to restore the Jerusalem police to its previous role of "routine occupier" (and it was bad enough in that role), as opposed to the violent militia into which it has morphed.
There will the opportunity to restore the Jerusalem police to its previous role of "routine occupier" (and it was bad enough in that role), as opposed to the violent militia into which it has morphed.
11/
It's not a revolution, and it does not end occupation, or even move significantly towards an end of occupation.
But for the Palestinians in E. Jerusalem who've been caught through not fault of their own in the cross-hairs of history, it can make a world of difference.
End
It's not a revolution, and it does not end occupation, or even move significantly towards an end of occupation.
But for the Palestinians in E. Jerusalem who've been caught through not fault of their own in the cross-hairs of history, it can make a world of difference.
End
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