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Israel's borders
Good fences make good neighbours
Jun 6th 2011, 21:27 by N.P | JERUSALEM
IF ISRAEL hoped that memories of its conquests would fade as the years passed, the marches on June 5th by Palestinians marking 44 years since its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan were a rude awakening. Hundreds marched again in an effort to return to the occupied Golan, only to be met by Israeli snipers. Eyewitnesses in Majdal Shams, the largest remaining town in the Golan Heights, spoken of hill-sides strewn with wounded, as some 20 ambulances ferried the bodies to hospital. By sundown, when Israeli forces resorted to tear-gas to clear protestors, news agencies quoting Syrian sources reported 23 dead.
Israel's security forces claimed success. Unlike the rallies a month ago, its defences stood unbreached. But the underlying trends are worrying. In May four Palestinians were killed at the border between Syria and Israel. A month later the numbers of deaths are climbing, feeding local resentment. Further protests are likely and the violence of Israel's response is further damaging its reputation. Government spokesmen claimed Israel was entitled to defend its borders, but international law experts question the claim that this includes the use of live fire against unarmed civilians. "Israel has other methods of law enforcement," says one. "The laws governing active hostilities are not applicable here."
The events also calls attention to the claims of Palestinian refugees to their homeland just as Israel would like to shelve them as a core issue in any final peace settlement. The Israeli government recently banned official commemorations of the "naqba", or catastrophe, the Arabic term for the 1948 war which created Israel but resulted in a mass Palestinian exodus. But Israel's lethal response last month to the marches commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the naqba and those on Sunday has only succeeded in reminding the world of the refugees' plight. The deadly clashes, Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, was quoted as saying, were a warning to the world that the issue over the right of return was not going away.
Finally, and perhaps most critically, the unrest heralds a new chapter in Israeli-Syrian relations. For almost forty years, its border with Syria has been one of Israel's quietest. The current clashes constitute something new, says a high-ranking Israeli officer. Without official Syrian support Palestinian refugees could not have reached the border, says Israel. It believes that the beleaguered Assad regime is encouraging Israeli-Palestinian clashes in an effort to deflect attention away from its own killing of unarmed opponents. Many in the Israeli government are hoping for the demise of a regime which can no longer secure their frontlines. "We’re waiting for America to formally support regime change, and deploy forces as in Libya," says one security official.
A day later, quiet has returned to the border. But with demonstrators vowing to continue their sit-ins and fresh marches planned, the risks of further confrontations are high. Reeling from protests of its own, Syria is drawing Israel into its fray. So far Binyamin Netanyahu has baulked at a full withdrawal from the occupied territories along 1967 lines. He recently responded coolly to French proposals for a peace summit. But with Sunday's tensions all centered on Israeli-occupied territories, the argument that borders are most defensible when they are internationally recognised is mounting. While protests raged in areas which Israel still occupies (not only the Golan, but also the West Bank and East Jerusalem), there was quiet in those from where it has withdrawn to 1967 lines: Sinai, Lebanon and Gaza. The self-proclaimed Islamic "resistance" forces dominating both territories, Hizbollah and Hamas, paid lip service to the protests, but firmly kept their supporters away.
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Why do articles such as these refer to gaza and the west bank as occupied territories? gaza is free of jews just as they wanted with no israeli force inside except of course watching the borders and sea. the west bank is under the complete governance of the PA with a willing and needed partnership with israel. what is the correct definition of occupied? if these territories were truly occupied there would be no hamas or PA government; only complete and total israeli control which in this sense is not the case.
This article is (deliberately?) misleading. The events as reported by other agencies (ex. NYTimes article dated June 5, 2011) state events occurred as follows:
1) Israeli soldiers announced over loud speakers not to approach the border or risk being shot.
2) Israeli soldiers launched tear gas and sound grenades.
3) When that failed, Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets.
4) Israeli soldiers only fired at the crowd when it actually climbed the border fence.
This is a far cry from the Economist’s misleading implication that (1) Israeli “snipers” first fired at the crowd, and then later (2) “resorted” to tear gas. Additionally, the article failed to mention that Syria and Israel in a state of war. An invasion, whether armed or not, is an act in that war and may be responded to with force. This is different than a peaceful protest inside a country. Why? Well, (1) a democratic state owes a duty to allow its citizens to peacefully protest. However, these are not Israeli citizens. Israel owes a duty to its citizens to keep them safe. Also, (2) crossing a foreign border is an act of war, or in this case, a continuation of a current war. Finally, (3), the Israeli government, just as any sovereign state, has a duty to protect its borders. Whether you believe those borders are valid or not, this is not “peaceful protest,” nor is it negotiation. It is an act of war and was treated as such. Now, let the blaming of Israel begin.
I truly don’t understand why Israel is criticized for defending her borders what would any country do if 600+ people were running at it’s borders tearing them down and occupying nearby towns? These people are not even Israeli Citizens why should they be allowed to storm their neighbors borders? Besides the only happening because Syria’s government wants to divert world attention from itself they are paying people to do this. Do you think it’s a coincidence this is happing all the sudden on a border that’s been quite for 30 years now?
Isaac from Texas,
The UN and international community are considering the Golan Heights a territory unlawfully occupied by Israel. Hence, Israel was not defending it's border as the incident took place deep in Syrian territory.
The Economist's article, among else, states that borders that are internationally recognized are much easier to defend. Why did you not read and comment that part?
The Economist is at least reporting this. American papers, under mainly Jewish pressure, have not reported this incident. It is always a good practice to build a fence and then to protect it, especially when the rightful owners might return at any time. And dig a deep ditch as well. Can't be too careful, can one?
@Frankernie: How can you NOT refer to Gaza and the West Bank as occupied territories? While Gaza (which constitutes only a minor part of "Palestine") has only just become free of settlements, it is besieged by Israel who control the traffic of people and goods in and out of the territory, while bombing it or undertaking incursions almost daily.
As far as the West Bank goes, there are hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers living in ILLEGAL West Bank settlements(being further expanded as we speak), Israel has built a wall which annexes parts of the West Bank(as defined by the Green line- 1967 border), and has checkpoints throughout the entire area, which it closes at will. If that does not define occupation, I am unsure what does?
@Austin D. Reid: If you had any understanding of the situation unfolding over the last week, you would know that the borders being charged at were all on occupied lands - Sheba Farms (Lebanon), Golan Heights (Syria) etc. None of these lands are internationally recognised as being Israeli...
@Ghalib, I don't think it is fair to say that stories are withheld "under Jewish pressure." It may, or may not, be due to a pro-Israeli bias. That I don't know. But Jews, like all other people debating the Middle East mess, hold all kinds of views. It is not fair to blame "Jews" for withholding stories. If you believe there is a pro-Israeli bias, please say this instead of blaming "Jews." (this is a sensitive issue and it also denies the fact that Jews are all over this issue, like everyone else.)
Isn't the rule 'good fences make good neighbors' predicated on the fact that the said fences are on undisputed land?
Just saying...
According to Syrian opposition sources, the Syrian authorities offered $1,000 for every ‘demonstrator’ participating in this public relations stunt, and $10,000 for the family of every person killed in this provocation.
As the Godfather said: “It is nothing personal; it’s business…”.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4078698,00.html
The Palestinians have the same right of return Greek Cypriots have the right to return to their homes in northern Cyprus now under Turkish control: They have none! – so says the European Court for Human Rights.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/echr-tells-refugees-it-s-no-longer-you...
The funny thing is that no one mentions how the Golan Heights were "occupied".
Let me remind you what happened in the year 1967.
On 1967 Egypt, Syria and Jordan started a war against Israel - with a purpose of destroying Israel and occupying it.
On June 5th Israel has launched a surprise air-strike against the Arab countries which neutralized most of the air-force of Egypt and the armies of Syria and Jordan.
During the following six days Israel's army has succeeded to repel the invading armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
As part of the fighting, which were fought with Syria on the Golan Height, with Jordan on the West Bank and with Egypt at Sinai Israel has taken those areas.
Taking those areas as part of a defense war is right.
The article mentions that the borders that Israel has withdrawn from are quiet. ARE THEY?
• Israel has withdrawn from Sinai, an area that is BIGGER THAN THE STATE OF ISRAEL, and has oil in it as part of the peace agreement with Egypt. Now, a poll in Egypt discovered that most of the Egyptian people does not want to be in peace with Israel.
• Israel has withdrawn from Gaza. Hamas took control over Gaza and is firing rockets on Israeli cities.
This article is misleading and full of wrong facts.
'But with Sunday's tensions all centered on Israeli-occupied territories, the argument that borders are most defensible when they are internationally recognised is mounting.'
The international recognition of borders will also help both Israeli and Palestinian people to live in far better peaceful environments than they do now.
Living in constant fear is the worst thing that can happen to any nation--no matter how formidable their defenses. Israel now has one of the worst ratings for a peaceful living environment according to the 2011 Global Peace Index.
The 2011 Global Peace Index (GPI) gauges ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarization in 153 countries. Israel has a GPI of 148--only a few notches lower than Somalia which has the worst GPI at 153.
A lower GPI score indicates a more peaceful country.
2011 Global Peace Index of Selected Countries
New Zealand............2
Japan......................3
Denmark.................4
Canada....................8
Norway....................9
Israel....................145
Pakistan................146
North Korea...........149
Afghanistan...........150
Somalia.................153
See details on:
http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi-data/#/2011/scor
"We’re waiting for America to formally support regime change (in Syria, and deploy forces as in Libya," says one (Israeli) security official.
The Israeli Foreign Legion rides to the rescue!
Correction:
The last sentence of paragraph 4 should read: Israel has a GPI of 145.
Good fences make good neighbors... as long as you don't put the fence in the middle of your neighbor's house.
23 people killed when crossing a protected border into another country's sovereign territory... Indignant crowds immediately blame Israel for using the standard methods of law enforcement instead of some other unidentified "softer" method of responding to outbreaks of violence.
Hundreds of people killed and thousands injured when peacefully protesting on city streets inside Syria... Tanks and armored personnel carriers drive around towns shooting indiscriminately at houses and public buildings in Homs... The same crowds remain silent cliaming the Syrian government's right to defend "the law and order," preferring to blame Jews instead.
How do you spell hypocrisy? Or should a spade be called a spade and all this artificially indignant rhetoric be attributed to good ol' fashioned anti-semitism?
It is interesting how critical the article seems to be of Israel. Reminds one of the article Economist published about brutal Indians trying to keep out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Since when is it inhuman to keep aliens from crossing over to your territory?
JIDF is working overtime I see
The net is closing in for Israel, finally; even the best efforts of the Hasbarats that plague our bandwidth can't do much to help them.
@michael android
I quote wikipedia:
"After a period of high tension between Israel and its neighbors, the war began on June 5 with Israel launching surprise air strikes against Arab forces. The outcome was a swift and decisive Israeli victory. Israel took effective control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Opinions are divided on whether Israel's attack was an act of aggression or a preemptive strike of a defensive nature".
I think, correct me if I am wrong, that you agree with that part.
Could you please explain how the Arab countries started the war?