Irresponsible rhetoric allows violence against Palestinians
By Ramona
Wadi, The Palestine Chronicle, March 28, 2018
In
diplomatic circles, language hardly changes from one scenario to the next. It
is only the accusations leveled against different political actors that convey
part of the context, which always disregards allegations of violence in order
to maintain the level of impunity for all aggressors.
diplomatic circles, language hardly changes from one scenario to the next. It
is only the accusations leveled against different political actors that convey
part of the context, which always disregards allegations of violence in order
to maintain the level of impunity for all aggressors.
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US
Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley with Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon.
(Photo:
Mintpress) |
The
latest UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, during which five resolutions
against Israel were passed, is one such example of how rhetoric has degenerated
to the point that there is no longer any coherence between the human rights
violations and condemnations thereof.
latest UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, during which five resolutions
against Israel were passed, is one such example of how rhetoric has degenerated
to the point that there is no longer any coherence between the human rights
violations and condemnations thereof.
Such
rhetoric is irresponsible.
rhetoric is irresponsible.
According
to Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, the UNHRC is
“manipulated by bloodthirsty dictatorships hiding their own massive human rights
violations by attacking Israel.”
to Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, the UNHRC is
“manipulated by bloodthirsty dictatorships hiding their own massive human rights
violations by attacking Israel.”
US
Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley displayed her devotion to the Zionist state by
insisting that Washington’s “patience is not unlimited. Today’s actions make
clear that the organisation lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate
for human rights.”
Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley displayed her devotion to the Zionist state by
insisting that Washington’s “patience is not unlimited. Today’s actions make
clear that the organisation lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate
for human rights.”
This, of
course, is all nonsense.
course, is all nonsense.
The
context offered by Nahshon and Haley is reflective of nothing more than the
impunity that Israel enjoys. The reality is that Israel employs violence
against Palestinians as its trademark and there is no reason whatsoever why it
should not be singled out as an agenda item at the UNHRC.
context offered by Nahshon and Haley is reflective of nothing more than the
impunity that Israel enjoys. The reality is that Israel employs violence
against Palestinians as its trademark and there is no reason whatsoever why it
should not be singled out as an agenda item at the UNHRC.
What
stands out in all of this is not the juxtaposition of Israel’s human rights
violations against those of other countries, but the international community’s
passive response to Israeli violations. Resolutions are useless; Israel and the
international community know this very well. Even so, the farce instigated by
the international community through such statements continues to keep
Palestinians tethered to the same cycle of abuse, worthy only of repetitive
rhetoric which prompts momentary anger and then fades into oblivion.
stands out in all of this is not the juxtaposition of Israel’s human rights
violations against those of other countries, but the international community’s
passive response to Israeli violations. Resolutions are useless; Israel and the
international community know this very well. Even so, the farce instigated by
the international community through such statements continues to keep
Palestinians tethered to the same cycle of abuse, worthy only of repetitive
rhetoric which prompts momentary anger and then fades into oblivion.
Of
particular note was the Palestinian Authority’s spokesman Yusuf al-Mahmoud who,
as quoted in the Times of Israel, praised countries which voted in favor of the
UNHRC resolutions “for their ability to stand in the face of injustice,
arrogance, and occupation, and to reject the language of threats and coercion.”
particular note was the Palestinian Authority’s spokesman Yusuf al-Mahmoud who,
as quoted in the Times of Israel, praised countries which voted in favor of the
UNHRC resolutions “for their ability to stand in the face of injustice,
arrogance, and occupation, and to reject the language of threats and coercion.”
The
countries that he praises so effusively have merely acted in order to comply
with measures requiring the least effort on their part; words are, after all,
cheap. However, it is “language of threats and coercion” which requires further
dissection when applied to the PA’s track record of rhetoric that invites
violence against Palestinians.
countries that he praises so effusively have merely acted in order to comply
with measures requiring the least effort on their part; words are, after all,
cheap. However, it is “language of threats and coercion” which requires further
dissection when applied to the PA’s track record of rhetoric that invites
violence against Palestinians.
Just days
after the UNHRC resolutions were passed, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas told a press
conference in Ramallah attended by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, that the PA
“never rejected political negotiations with Israel.” Abbas also insisted that
he would not “accept solutions outside the framework of international
legitimacy.”
after the UNHRC resolutions were passed, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas told a press
conference in Ramallah attended by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, that the PA
“never rejected political negotiations with Israel.” Abbas also insisted that
he would not “accept solutions outside the framework of international
legitimacy.”
The
ramifications of “international legitimacy” should be considered as part of the
“language of threats and coercion.”
ramifications of “international legitimacy” should be considered as part of the
“language of threats and coercion.”
In
remaining aligned to obsolete paradigms, as well as institutions which granted
legitimacy to Israel at the expense of Palestinian displacement and
dispossession, Abbas is allowing violence against Palestinian society at every
level.
remaining aligned to obsolete paradigms, as well as institutions which granted
legitimacy to Israel at the expense of Palestinian displacement and
dispossession, Abbas is allowing violence against Palestinian society at every
level.
Thus, not
only does Yusuf Al-Mahmoud’s statement ring hollow, but it also reflects the
perpetual dissonance when discussing the violence inflicted upon Palestinians
by the political protagonists who claim antagonism against themselves while
collaborating flawlessly in the elimination of Palestine and its people.
only does Yusuf Al-Mahmoud’s statement ring hollow, but it also reflects the
perpetual dissonance when discussing the violence inflicted upon Palestinians
by the political protagonists who claim antagonism against themselves while
collaborating flawlessly in the elimination of Palestine and its people.
