Mustafa Barghouthi: “…and he stood steadfast before Goliath.”

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Date: 31 / 01 / 2009 Time: 15:30

(snip a big chunk)

Ninety-nine percent of Palestinian resistance from the 1920s onward has been nonviolent. The number of peaceful-unarmed Palestinian martyrs of this conflict far outweighs those of us who have fought the enemy on its own violent terms.

From boycotts to business and hunger strikes; from demonstrations to diplomacy, we Palestinians are engaged daily in nonviolent struggle against the Israeli occupation of our land and the constant abuse of our dignity and security.

The international media does not focus on this of course; instead journalists choose to emphasise the rare instances of Palestinian violence to such a degree that in the eyes of the international community, they appear to be comparable to the massive crimes of our occupier. There is no better example of this than the international coverage of the ongoing slaughter of our brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip.

The world is told, and thus believes, that there is a “war” being waged between two equals, rather than an asymmetric massacre being carried out by the world’s fifth-largest military industrial complex upon one of the world’s last remaining stateless peoples.

Their bombs have killed hundreds of children, women, and civilian men while they systematically destroy the economy and infrastructure of the tiny coastal Strip. They have employed illegal incendiary weapons against heavily populated civilian areas and munitions that burn through our skin and straight to the bone. They have killed doctors, journalists, and aid workers alike in their “war against Hamas and Terror” - and they remain brazenly unapologetic.

Our death toll has climbed into the thousands while the aggressor mourns the loss of little more than a dozen - most of them soldiers - many of whom have died as a result of Israel’s “friendly fire.” Yet people around the world are still made to believe that they are watching a “war” unfold rather than a genocide.

Why Israel Distorts the Truth

So much effort is put into distorting the character of Palestinians for one reason: if the world were to really know what is going on here, its collective emotion would shift from apathy toward our struggle to one of anger at our oppressor.

Israel knows that if the peoples of the world were able to see Palestine, they would be forced to draw conclusions and make comparisons.

If Americans were allowed to watch the daily brutality committed against peaceful protesters, they would immediately connect our plight to that of the African American Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

read on...
http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=35413

[MacBookPro]

1. 99%?

Is there any evidence to back up that claim?

[Chulanowa]

3. Well, from what date would you like a history lesson to start?

From the beginning, or from some arbitrary point onward?

[MacBookPro]

4. If you have an answer, then you are the one who knows the point from which to start.

//

[azurnoir]

6. Don't want to answer that do you ?

Then you give up oh so many "talking points" but I take it Dr Barghouthi worries you for "some reason"; could it be called having a spine? You Pro's only seem comfortable with one of two kinds of Palestinian extremely pliable or extremely violent because either way the status quo remains

[MacBookPro]

7. I don't have an answer for a question I initially asked?

One would think that was obvious, else I wouldn't have asked the question in the first place.

[azurnoir]

8. So sorry I wa not clear enough for you

the question I was talking about was Chulanowa's about how far back in history you wish to go.

[MacBookPro]

9. My answer was - as far back as necessary to provide the information.

Since I do not know how far in history one must go in order to obtain this information, it would be foolish for me to pick an arbitrary date (as he implied).

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. If you are seriously interested, I would recommend a book by an Israeli and an American scholar

This is a meticulously fair minded book, that records the bad, as well as the good, the violent as well as the nonviolent. This is certainly not an advocacy book or an apologies for the Palestinian cause. It is simply a serious work of research and scholarship.

The book certainly does not in anyway downplay the violent side of Palestinian resistance. But it does also record the nonviolent side and any far reading would lend support to the claim that most, in fact overwhelming Palestinian resistance has been nonviolent,but as with all national movements, not always.

The Palestinian People: A History

by Baruch Kimmerling and Joel S. Migdal

Published by Harvard University Press

The late Baruck Kimmerling (he passed away last year) was George S. Wise Professor of Sociology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Joel S. Migdel is Robert F. Philip Professor of International Studies, University of Washington.

Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Palestinian-People-History-Baruch-Kimmerling/dp/0674011295/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1233620886&sr=1-2

link at Powell Books:

http://www.powells.com/biblio/65-9780674011298-2

link at Barnes and Noble:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Palestinian-People/Baruch-Kimmerling/e/9780674011298/?itm=2


.

[MacBookPro]

11. Thank you for the recommendation.

It is nearly impossible to find an objective viewpoint when researching this subject, especially regarding time-lines, and any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

[GoesTo11]

18. But that other 1% are a doozy

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. I do hope Mustafa Barghouthi emerges as a leading or perhaps THE leading figure in the Palestinian

struggle. He handles himself marvelously and he seems to have credibility that bridges the gap of the various factions of the Palestinian movement.

I think his leadership would be valuable for the Palestinian movement.

At least,that is my impression.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

12. Me too, Doug!

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. I think Mustafa Barghouthi would be as close to a national unity leader as one could hope for

My impression is someone who is essentially an uncorrupted and highly principle, liberal-minded and somewhat western oriented, secular progressive who is able to also appeal to people who have supported in the recent past Islamist elements, because they became disillusioned with Fatah's corruption and excessive willingness to ignore the on-the-ground realities of the occupation.

I think he is someone who can stand up to America and Israel, but will do it in the right way that actually works for the good of the Palestinians

I cannot think of anyone at this point and time who could provide as much focused national unity of purpose and direction.

[MacBookPro]

14. Based on your recommendation, I ordered that book.

I grabbed a used copy for 8 bucks plus shipping. Good deal. :)

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. thank you

but I must confess that it scares the hell of me when people take my advice on things :scared:

[MacBookPro]

16. Based on the reviews of the book that I've read, I'd say the advice was mostly sound.

There were many good and bad things said about that book, which I would expect. Once I'm finished with my current book, I'll begin this one.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

17. What about Marwan Barghouti?

[Douglas Carpenter]

20. oh probably,

but his current situation makes it hard for him to regularly address either the Palestinian people or the outside world.

also, he is not going to get a fair hearing in the International media.

I do think him and some others made strategic political miscalculations at the time of the second intifada. I do think Mr. Mustafa as opposed to Mr. Marwan would be more skilled and calculated at resistance that is beneficial, pragmatic and keeps the focus on the on-the-ground reality of the occupations as opposed to the tactics of the resistance.

[azurnoir]

5. I hope he comes out the winner

and the fact that 60 minutes choose to interview him portends to that outcome.

[delad]

19. he is the man n/t