What’s the deal with Israel?

 

A deal has finally been reached between Israelis and Palestinians regarding prisoners in response to the hunger strike. Over a thousand Palestinian prisoners protesting administrative detention refused food, following the examples of Khader Adnan and Hana al Shalabi.

The interesting thing to note here is the language used by Israeli narratives to describe the issue. They talk of the release of 100 dead bodies of terrorists to be released to the Palestinians. Furthermore, the Israelis requested the dead bodies should not be treated as heroes upon their return. The question is, what is the definition of terrorist? Let us not forget that Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo of the African National Congress were considered terrorists until very recently.

Also, Haaretz commented how the Shin Bet requested prisoners to stop “terrorist activities” within cell walls. Again the question arises, what is their definition of terrorist activity?

The way Palestinians see it, since 1948 their land has been continually stolen. The question of “who started it?” has now been blurred by the fact that it is the Palestinians and not the Israelis, who have had to deal with illegal settlements with the international community remaining silent. With years of international silence followed by continued oppression, this created a breeding ground for terrorist activities including attacks on civilians. How quickly we have forgotten that the African National Congress use the very same tactics Hamas use for their freedom.

The fact that those who acknowledge the Nakbah (catastrophe) are often shunned and this adds insult to injury on all sides.