Is a third Palestinian Intifada inevitable ?

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Friday March 20, 2009 17:07 by Susan Murray - None

Palestinian Activists in East Jerusalem are predicting a Third Palestinian Intifada in the near future. According to some Palestinians such an outcome is inevitable to Israel's ongoing ethnic cleansing in the city. Could it be that such a thing is now not only inevitable but the only logical next step in order that Palestinian independence to be achieved.

In two reports from East Jerusalem Seth Freedman talks with the local Palestinians facing expulsion and homelessness in the near future. But Freedman warns that if Israeli authorities demolish homes in Silwan and evict families in Sheikh Jarrah they risk a violent uprising by local residents.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/19/isr...ories

Freedman writes : Twice in as many hours this week I was told by outraged east Jerusalemites that any assault on Palestinian property in the area would prove the catalyst for the third intifada: a promise rather than a threat, they assured me. Standing in front of a 10ft banner demanding "Stop the ethnic cleansing", Balad leader Jamal Zahalka issued a similar clarion call into the microphones and video cameras of the on looking press pack, calling on Israeli officials to immediately halt their plans if they wished to avoid an inferno of resistance.
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The obvious response to this from the left camp and those who traditionally support Palestinian calls for independence in their ancient homeland would be to spurn the prospect of such an event out of terror for what suffering will be visited on ordinary Palestinian by the Occupation forces of Israel. And we have every reason to believe that given the right excuses Israel would indeed take the opportunity to unleash a terrible reckoning on man woman and child. But is there a point when one realises that to back any further into the corner is to surrender to eventual destruction anyway. Is that not the point of a resistance movement to know when to cease to resort to only non-violent measures and to defend ones land and rights with rebellion.
A popular uprising is probably the only single thing that can bring about Social and Political resolution between the Palestinian factions, the vital key to progress for the Independence movement at this time.
Do the Palestinians in fact have any choice? The US administration that was predicted to be the herald of a new era of change has trenchantly show already that it intends to change nothing and that Palestinian independence is politically off the table for the time being. Israel has elected an array of extreme rightist from which the next Israeli government will be formed under Netanyahu's Likud. A party whose mandate specifically prohibits Palestinian independence in the occupied territories. Their Platform clearly states:

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

" The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river "

On the settlers the Likud Party are crystal clear also:

" The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting. "
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So in black and white the government of Israel now forming already declares, before it even takes power, that it flatly rejects Palestinian right of independence and will continue to ethnically cleanse the occupied territories for settlement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/11/isr...eeast

Seth freedman quoted one of the settlers in East Jerusalem saying :

"I don't feel guilty at all about capturing their territory", said a wiry man sprawled on the grass listening intently to the music blaring out from the sound system. "If they don't like it, they can leave...... "Life's tough", shrugged Rabbi Pesach Lerner, an associate of Moskowitz who had flown in from New York for the show. "They kicked us out of here first, so now we're taking back what's ours", he boomed, warming to his theme and brushing away any dissenting opinion espoused by my friends and me.
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It seems obvious that continuing along the path of meetings and conferences under the auspices of a vehemently pro-Israel US government is completely futile and in the light of ongoing expulsion, kidnappings and house demolitions is completely suicidal from the point of view of realising independence with the remaining unannexed territories.
Israeli public has no interest in this issue with many choosing to remain completely ignorant of the explosive situation into which they are sleepwalking. The only thing that might bring their attention back to the table is Violence as has been proven again and again by their own actions. The only time Israelis take interest in Palestinians is when their army is killing them.
So given the sheer cliff face of opposition , indifference and downright imminent destruction faced by Palestinians today, perhaps the time has come for them to accept the so-called Annapolis process for the pre-termination anesthetic that it is and resort to the identified course of action in the declaration of Human in " rebellion against tyranny and oppression" , as their human rights are definitely not being protected by the rule of law.