generalspeaking

Living In Peace

Buses carrying the initial 26 Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons left the Ayalon jail in central Israel, to release the previously-named men late at night in the hope that the enterprise could be carried out with a minimum of reactive response. A symbolic move to block the buses from departing from the jail was carried out, but it was a fruitless action.

These are the first of the 104 prisoners that are slated for release, as that 'goodwill' gesture Israel was prevailed upon to produce. To further another round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Ever hopeful.


There was, evidently, no goodwill gesture expected on the part of the Palestinian Authority. Something along the lines of actively seeking to ensure that Palestinians would respect the safety and security of Israeli civilians, for example. The very issue of which in the pursuit of vengeance killing of innocent Jews brought the incarcerated to prison to begin with, to pay the penalty of dealing out death as a measure of 'resistance'.

Since the Palestinian Authority evinces the greatest of respect for 'resistance', code for violent action against the 'occupiers' in any event, it would simply -- if such a move were to be undertaken for the delectation of the international community preferring to believe that Israel alone is an aggressor, not a defender -- be representative of yet another token bit of mendacious hypocrisy on the part of the Palestinians.

Among Israelis in general the anguishing decision to agree to the release of yet more violent Palestinians serving time for crimes against Israel and its citizens, represents a painful misery. They regard those prisoners who are being released and those who will be released at a later date as vicious criminals, conscienceless murderers who chose to take the lives of fathers, mothers, sons, daughters; defenceless innocents.

The other side of the equation celebrates with giddy happiness the return of their own fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who survive to live another day and in the process plot another round of assassinations of those whom they do not know but claim to be guilty of crimes against Palestinians; occupying land that is Palestinian land, Jews forfeit the right to life, liberty and happiness.

The Palestinians are happy to martyr themselves for their cause; the Jews are unwilling to die for the Arab cause.

The agreement is that further release of prisoners will take place in four tranches, reflecting the ongoing process of talks between Israel and the Palestinians. If the talks break down, then no further releases will take place. It is not as though the release of Palestinians imprisoned for crimes committed against Israelis represents something quite new; thousands have been released in the past as representative of Israeli 'goodwill' gestures.

Reflecting an unfortunate tradition in relations between them of a paltry exchange of one Jew for hundreds of Arabs.

A surrender, a weakness of the Jews, as far as their opponents are concerned, sneering at the human sensibilities that treasure one life or one lifeless body as a measured trade for hundreds of living criminals. In this particular instance, because of the high degree of sensitivity to the release of dangerous offenders many of whom will re-offend, the names were made public to enable time for a judisicial appeal.

Israel's Supreme Court took the initiative in view of the larger perspective, to eject an appeal by families of those killed by the prisoners, to halt their release. Most of those to be released have served lengthy sentences for their crimes. Their exhiliarated families are preparing to lovingly greet them upon their release and launch loud and happy celebrations.

While the families of the bereaved will recall the pain of their loss and mourn afresh.

And the international community of moral adjudicators will look on approvingly, equating the crimes with moral retribution for deep-seated wounds, and feel there exists a fair philosophical balance between those wishing to 'liberate' their land from occupiers, and those wishing to live in peace with their neighbours on land they were meant to share.

Labels: Communications, Crime, Human Relations, Israel, Justice, Palestinian Authority, Peace

posted by Pieface @ Thursday, August 15, 2013