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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"><A
href="http://www.indymedia.org.il/imc/israel/webcast/10296.html">http://www.indymedia.org.il/imc/israel/webcast/10296.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Israelis Have a Choice </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">by Sam Bahour </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Only three days have passed following US
Secretary of State Colin Powell's Middle East policy remarks at the University
of Louisville's McConnell Center for Political Leadership in Kentucky. Following
Secretary Powell's tribute to a key member in the audience, Kentucky's
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, one of the fiercest opponents of the PLO and
the Oslo Peace agreements, who together with Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein,
published AIPAC's (the Israeli political lobby in the US) most recent initiative
against the Palestinian Authority (Ha'aretz 22/11/2001), Secretary Powell boldly
declared: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">"The overwhelming majority of Palestinians
[...] have seen their schools shuttered and their parents humiliated.
Palestinians need security as well. Too many innocent Palestinians, including
children, have been killed and wounded. This, too, must stop." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Today, a 16-yr.-old boy was killed by Israeli
troops while attending the funeral of five 6-14-yr.-old Palestinian
schoolchildren that were instantly shredded to pieces yesterday by an Israeli
bobby trapped mine planted near their school! Also today, three Palestinians in
Nablus were killed when an Israeli helicopter fired a missile on their car,
their bodies were charred beyond recognition. Two days ago, a 56-year-old
Palestinian heart patient died after his ambulance was held at an Israeli
checkpoint and refused permission to proceed to a hospital. The Israeli
occupation forces in Gaza demolished the same day 18 Palestinian homes and
entered the Palestinian City of Birzeit and detained five Palestinians. These
actions are added to the, to numerous to mention, indignities that the illegal
Israeli occupation causes to Palestinians, indignities that the best of media
cameramen cannot capture. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Today, Secretary Powell's words seem
equivalent to that of a policeman walking past a rape victim, still pinned under
her assailant, and verbally scolding both parties by advising them to work out
their differences. Nevertheless, America has spoken. Israeli occupation must
end. Palestinians have a legitimate right to self-determination. All have a
right to live in security. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">The current Israeli government led by
internationally accused war criminal, Ariel Sharon, and politically cushioned by
the Foreign Minister media wizard, Shimon Peres, have proved their incompetency
or unwillingness to rein Israel in from the cold. Israel adds to its shame every
day that it continues its criminal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and
East Jerusalem. The Israeli economy is failing, and will continue to due so, as
long as regional instability continues. A steady stream of Israeli soldiers
killing Palestinian children is tearing the Israeli moral fabric beyond repair.
If Israel is a real democracy this is the time for its people to act.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Israelis have a choice. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Remain silent and watch a people that have
endured 34 years of occupation, coupled with one steady year of being bombed and
locked up like a pressure cooker, explode while Israeli leaders explain that
what is needed is 100% quiet to quell the situation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Or, Israelis can take back Israel, for the
sake of Israel. Israel can unilaterally begin to make right their 50 years of
historic injustice against Palestinians. Israel can end occupation tomorrow and
return to the negotiation table stronger than ever before. Israel can take its
citizens out of dangers way and avoid putting its teenagers in a situation where
they can fire upon innocent Palestinian children. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Occupation will end because it always has.
This is a fact. Israel would be doing itself a monumental favor by ending the
occupation on its own terms, rather than withdrawing due to additional
international pressure. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">As the pressure cooker prepares to explode,
national egos need to be set aside. The time to end occupation is now;
otherwise, Secretary Powell's words will become an extended license to kill for
Ariel Sharon and gang. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">November 23, 2001 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">-------------- </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Sam Bahour is a Palestinian-American living in
the besieged Palestinian City of Al-Bireh in the West Bank and can be reached at
<A href="mailto:sbahour@palnet.com">sbahour@palnet.com</A>. </FONT></DIV>
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