A Prolonged Exchange of Pain
One cannot escape the horrors launched upon others in the name of tribal unity and unmitigated hatred for what is not of your own. Sooner or later, sometimes sooner than later, occasionally later than sooner, justice is seen to be done. Apprehension of the malefactors is of the first order and justice lags not far behind.And so it has been with the long and tireless search for the principle instigators and murderers in the not-easily forgotten events that horrified the world seven years ago. When two reservists of the Israel Defence Forces were bludgeoned and lynched by a blood-hungry mob of Palestinians in the precincts of a Palestinian Authority police station in Ramallah, in October of 2000.
The two Israeli reserve soldiers who had accidentally entered PA territory did not live to regret their error in geography, a mere 6 miles from Jerusalem. They were taken into immediate custody by PA police, brought to the police station in Ramallah where they were effectively handed over to a slavering mob bent on delivering death and a profound indignity to human beings whose lives had been peremptorily and brutally snuffed out.
IDF soldiers have now arrested the remaining PA terrorist identified as being responsible for those dreadful events; one of two held responsible for the bludgeoning of Vadim Nurzitz and Yossi Abrahami. Whose arrest and custody by PA police was directly responsible for what followed.
The mind-numbing events, captured on camera, were later aired on television and viewed internationally, showing a body of one of the two Israelis tossed out of the station window to local Palestinians who proceeded to flagellate and beat upon the two lifeless bodies, then tear them limb from limb.
Triumphantly holding aloft prized body parts, extending their blood-soaked hands for admiration by the surrounding mob. Those who took part in this inhumane travesty of civilized behaviour were many, but eighteen of their number were identified and sought, to be brought to justice.
The numberless others will have the memory of their triumph always in mind, without ever having to pay for their primitively abhorrent actions.
One of the 15 men originally arrested in 2001 had admitted rushing toward the police station upon news that Jews had been placed within it. He admitted also his involvement in helping to strangle the Israelis all the while they were being mercilessly bludgeoned.
The Palestinian Authority policeman who had apprehended the Israelis and taken them to the station, then handed them to the mercies of the mob, had done his part also, in actively assisting in the murders.
One other of the terrorists who had participated in the Ramallah murders had previously been given release from an Israeli prison in one of those good-will gestures to appease the Palestinians during signal times of hopeful detente; on this occasion that of the Oslo Accords.
He went on to murder a woman police officer in Jerusalem, wounding another ten Israelis in the attack he organized and participated in. To add to his docket of deeds he orchestrated yet another attack in Tel Aviv, in the process murdering two Israelis and wounding 31, before he was finally taken into custody.
These are some of the deeds of many Palestinians whose pride and honour remains intact, in acknowledgement of ancient rituals and revenges visited upon any who would intrude upon the tribal entitlements of an ancient culture refusing to become civilized and enter the modern world. Preferring instead to live by anger and hatred and bloodlust. It is with such as these that Israel sees itself attempting to bargain peace.
And then there are others of whom we hear but little, those who fear backlash from bitter neighbours because they prefer to live in peace with all their neighbours. And those whose mindset has been turned to acceptance of others within their midst, who abhor the primitive lethality of tribal revenge, and attempt to work coherently with the Israeli administration.
Their reward is often short, swift, brutal and permanent.
In memoriam notices have been published for Haidar Abdel Shafi, one of the founders of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Who was also seen to be a negotiator for peace between Palestinian and Israeli. He became an respected politician affiliated neither with Fatah nor Hamas, both of whom now that he is dead hail him as a great figure in Palestinian history. He was a medical doctor, practising in Gaza in the 1930s, a rarity at that time.
This man headed a joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation to the 1991 Madrid peace conference, participating in negotiations that concluded the success of the Madrid meeting. "In the name of the Palestinian people, we wish to directly address the Israeli people with whom we have had a prolonged exchange of pain: Let us share hope instead" he declared in his opening remarks in Madrid.
"We are willing to live side by side on the land and the promise of the future." He told Palestinians: "The road before us is still long. You must be patient and united." It has indeed been a long and wearying road, marred by lack of trust on both sides, and actions by each side inimical to the cause of peace. As for patience and unity, not much of either has been seen, let alone practised.
Abdel Shafi led a life of service to his people. His words betrayed no one. His actions spoke for his dedication to peace and to the future well-being of Palestinians. From 1972 to 2005 he was chairman of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. His tireless work must have been frustrating and hopeless-seeming at so many junctures in the process of suing for peace.
He cannot have died a fulfilled and happy man, satisfied with his efforts on behalf of his beloved people. The prolonged exchange of pain is ongoing and the future remains hazily indefinite.
Labels: Middle East, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, September 26, 2007
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