Proposed Sellout of Palestinians Unconscionable

“As Israel continues to dictate U.S. foreign policy, holding the West Bank settlement moratorium hostage in exchange for arms, the world watches Mr. President. Are we supposed to believe this is the road to peace?” asks MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz.

Oct 04, 2010 – WASHINGTON, D.C. (MWA-Net) – A report by the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat earlier today quoted Israeli officials as saying that an agreement had been reached to extend the Israeli moratorium on West Bank settlement construction by 60 days. However neither the White House nor Israeli officials were reported as confirming, other than to indicate that negotiations toward an extension continued in the hope of salvaging the latest round of rapidly declining peace talks.

Details of the alleged agreement were revealed by researcher David Makovsky on the website of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the terms of which included numerous incentives crucial to Israel’s security. Yes, you read that correctly.

For example, the U.S. would guarantee to prevent the smuggling of weapons and missiles into a Palestinian state; guarantee a lengthy period of interim security arrangements in the Jordan Valley, and guarantee a comprehensive regional defense pact for protection from Iran to follow the establishment of the Palestinian state, in addition to guaranteeing that the U.S. would veto any U.N. Security Council resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year. The U.S. would also reportedly initiate talks with Arab countries toward a regional agreement vis-a-vis Iran.

But wait, there’s more!

Israel would also receive an increase of the three billion dollar security aid package it already receives annually, together with upgraded security capabilities, including advanced fighter jets, early warning systems and satellites.

The final item in the President’s proposal to sell out the Palestinians?

Assurance from the U.S. that it would also not ask Israel to further extend the settlement moratorium, in addition to pledging that the issue of settlements would be dealt with only as part of final-status talks with the Palestinians.

Wait a minute. The U.S. is the only country standing beside Israel while the rest of the world condemns its actions in the occupied territories, and Israel receives more aid from the U.S. than any other country in the world, and the U.S. administration is accepting ultimatums from Israel?

Mr. President, when you were elected into office, the entire world embraced the glimmer of hope you encouraged it to reach for, but as Israel continues to manipulate your administration, that hope, faith, trust and confidence is fading fast. The peace talks you so carefully orchestrated will go down in history as nothing more than a charade if you continue to allow Mr. Netanyahu to dictate your marching orders.

You, Mr. President, are the Commander-in-Chief, and we, the people standing in solidarity with Palestine, are waiting for you to start acting like it.

Mike Ghouse of the Foundation for Pluralism stated, “The world carries a collective burden of guilt for remaining silent and divisive in humiliating a population that has lived in humility for nearly three generations. As Americans we ought to be ashamed of these policies – where the mighty keeps oppressing the helpless, the little Davids against the Goliaths.”

RELATED:
Netanyahu agrees to extend settlement freeze by 2 months (Published 11:23 04.10.10|Latest update 11:23 04.10.10)
LATER UPDATED TITLE: Netanyahu: Israel, U.S. working quietly to resolve peace talks deadlock (without an update to the ‘latest update time’)
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-agrees-to-extend-settlement-freeze-by-2-months-1.317101
TIME Settlements Slideshow
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2021423,00.html
Open Letter to President Obama about Promoting Democracy and Defending Human Rights in the Middle East
https://www.csidonline.org/sign-open-letter?start=1575

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Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.

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“Activism is my rent for living on this planet.” ~Alice Walker
“No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” ~Alice Walker
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” ~Alice Walker
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” – Nelson Mandela

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The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “One who helps a fellow Muslim in removing his (or her) difficulty in this world, Allah will remove the formers distress on the Day of Judgment. He who helps to remove the hardship of another, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah. Allah continues to help a servant so long as he goes on helping his own brother (or sister).” (Muslim)

MY PERSONAL NOTES:

They really don’t know what they are doing – if they did, they would not have let 60 years go without securing security for every Israeli and hope for every Palestinian. If we take that bold step, the future of Israeli and Palestinian children would be hopeful, and we will save $3 Billion a year that we can invest in our own communities. They have no interest and we have to stop the buck some where

Mike Ghouse