Thread by @JehadAbusalim

It is crucial for everyone to understand the gravity of the current situation between the river and the sea.
We are on the brink of witnessing events that will be unparalleled in their magnitude and ferocity.

This chapter will mark the end of the post-Second Intifada period characterized by the cynical management of the occupation, disregard for Palestinians' political rights and lives, and lack of accountability for Israel's actions.

However, what is about to occur is not entirely new in nature, but rather an expansion in the scope of confrontation, the use of more aggressive tactics, and increased involvement of Palestinians, particularly the youth, against the Israeli state and settlers.

And when I refer to young people, I am referring to those born during and after the Second Intifada, particularly in the West Bank. These areas have been portrayed by Israel and its allies as examples of economic prosperity and stability, in contrast to a "violent Gaza."

But all attempts to control and suppress Palestinians have failed, and this is becoming increasingly evident. It is impossible to deny the rights and dignity of an entire people and expect them to accept their fate without a reaction.

No amount of aid, worker permits, incentives, or superficial development can compensate for the desire of an entire people to live with dignity in their own country. And no amount of violence inflicted on them will make them surrender. This is the crux of the issue at hand.

The central concept here is "dignity," and this is where Israel's supporters lack understanding of the current developments. This is what Palestinians are fighting against: the attack on their collective and personal dignity.

When referring to Israeli attacks on Palestinian dignity, I am not only talking about the daily indignities of life under occupation, such as having to pass through checkpoints and the illegal detention of children by soldiers who raid homes in the middle of the night.

Most Palestinians feel existentially threatened by policies that deny their rights and existence. On a daily basis, not only do Palestinians hear about the looming possibility of a second Nakba, they see it happening before their eyes, particularly in the West Bank.

As Israel continues its colonization of the West Bank and the Naqab, their vision for the future of Palestinians remains deeply cynical. Israel wants Palestinians to be confined to walled-off areas, occasionally thrown a few scraps, and that's it.

This vision is inherently racist and dehumanizing. It reduces people's lives and aspirations to living in cramped Bantustans, surrounded by walls and checkpoints, with barbed wire fences separating them from others who enjoy freedom, resources, and dignity at their expense.

This is what's at stake - a fundamental question about the kind of vision for life in our small country. It's clear that the current vision of the Israeli regime and its supporters is flawed and will only result in continued suffering, violence, and bloodshed.

It's time to imagine a future that does not rely on denying Palestinians their rights to live with safety and dignity in their own land and that is not built on mutual exclusivity, supremacy, and oppression.

Finally, before "experts" suggest that Palestinians have not tried non-violent means to resist.
Palestinians have tried numerous times, and it's only because their calls for justice and dignity were ignored by those in power that the situation has escalated to what it is today.

I appreciate the participation in this discussion and will make every effort to respond to inquiries.

Meanwhile, please support @afsc_org 's request to Congress to halt financing of Israeli aggression towards Palestinians.

afsc.org/action/stop-fu…