Land For Peace, Stupid

This whole settlement disaster has been going on since well before my days at Yeshiva U. That's right, boys and girls, the Kimmeister was a student with a German surname at Yeshiva's law school back in the late 80s and early 90s. The one with the 8x10 photo of Yasir Arafat in her locker.

And, you know, the OBSERVANT Jews with whom I attended Cardozo DID NOT, by and large, support the settlement movement in Eretz Israel. These were the sons and daughters of Holocaust survivors or ancestors of those who lived in the Pale of Settlement, who questioned ANY governments right to push a people off its land. The native Israelis (Sabras) were mostly non observant, and also believed that the Palestinians should be allowed to remain. They have lived with Arabs next door for years.

I remember the day Rabin was shot. It was the death knell for the cessation of settlements, as well as the idea of "land for peace". It was during the Sabbath in the US. After hearing the news, I telephoned one of my classmates, and left a message that said "Elchi, as soon as Shabbat is over, turn on the TV because Rabin has been shot." I knew then that a Right wing loon had just destroyed any progress which had been made in achieving a lasting peace.

Since then, Israel has erected a large portions of a wall they would not need if they were not encroaching on land that is not theirs for the taking. They have revoked the tax exempt status for the Augusta Victoria Hospital, which provides medical care for Palestinians who would not otherwise be able to obtain it. They have closed off border crossings whenever they choose, effectively eliminating the ability of the Palestinians to work, shop, or travel to Israel. The hardest blow, however, came last week when Israel announced that they were going to expand settlement in East Jerusalem, which has been widely touted as the eventual capital of a Palestinian state. Christian groups are concerned by the fact that Christain residents of Jerusalem are an endangered species. The Mount of Olives Housing Project is an effort to provide the means for a continued presence in the City.

The timing wasn't a slap in the face of Joe Biden or the United States. The fact that this so called ally of the United States has so little regard for the international rule of law, the wishes of the world's people, and the rights of the people without whose consent and labor the State of Israel would not exist is more like the Israeli government pissing on the collective legs of the American leaders, and telling them it's raining.

NO settlements in East Jerusalem. Forget tough talk. Tell Israel we will cut off aid. Period. We do it to everyone else who pisses on us, and some who really haven't. It's time to show Israel that there is a limit to our patience. And it has been reached.