Dawoodi Bohra Forum

I skimmed throught this article (too long and dreary to read line by line.) But I do take the writer's point. However, the fact remains that Israel continues to illegally occupy Palestinian land and build settlements on it in contravention of international law and in violation of all UN resolutions. And that the US continues to support Israel financially, politically and every other way that makes the Jewish state's survival-and occupation of Palestine possible.

That Arabs in their own countries are no better or that the others too violate international law is NO justification for Israel's occupation and shabby treatment of Palestinians.

"Muslim" Indondesia's occupation of East Timor was wrong, so it "muslim" Turkey's semi-occupation and oppression of the Kurds.

I agree....

In addition , one cannot ignore Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia's complicity with the US in making this continued occupation possible while paying lip service to the Palestinian cause.

The question remains, prior to the Israelis who occupied Gaza and the West Bank and why was no Palestinian state created there ?

In addition , one cannot ignore Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia's complicity with the US in making this continued occupation possible while paying lip service to the Palestinian cause.

without a doubt...

The question remains, prior to the Israelis who occupied Gaza and the West Bank and why was no Palestinian state created there ?

I'm not sure what are you referring to.

Gaza and the West Bank were occupied by Egypt and Jordan respectively in the 1950s and 1960s. Prior to that they were administered by the British for the League of Nations and before that the entire region was part of the Ottoman empire.

All occupation is wrong. Period.

Why the Palestinian state was not formed then? Probably for the same reasons it can't be formed now: intransigence, complex politics, unenlightened self-interest and plain old meanness...

Historic Palestine was the land between the Mediterranean and the River Jordan. Today that would include all of Israel as well as the occupied territories. The Palestinian state was never formed because Israel was formed in its place. The neighbouring Arab states refused to recognised it and the refugees of the conflicts that followed were cramed into the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The original ambition of the Palestinian state was always to return to their homes in what is now Israel. However if all refugees and their families were to return today and Gaza Strip and West Bank were to be incorporated into Israel proper (the one-state solution), Arabs would outnumber Israeli Jews and Israel would cease to be a Jewish state. That would not be acceptable to Israel so the best hope for the Palestinians is to be allowed to establish a fragmented state on the two separate areas: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (and possibly East Jerusalem) existing alongside Israel (the two-state solution). Today most of the population of the Gaza Strip is still living in 'temporary' refugee camps.

Humsafar,

According to international law the building of settlements on occupied land is indeed illegal, but the occupation itself is not illegal. Egypt, Jordan and Syria fought wars with Israel and the land was occupied legitimately due to wars in which Israel won.

Secondly, Israel has contravened many UN General Assembly resolutions, but G/A resolutions are merely non-binding recommendations to its members. UN Security Council resolutions are binding and Israel has not explicitly violated any of those, thanks to a guaranteed US veto on any anti-Israeli S/C resolution.

The Palestinian state was never formed because Israel was formed in its place.

Muslim,

Israel did not occupy West Bank, Gaza, or East Jerusalem until 1967 at the end of a Six-Day War. Between 1948 and 1967 these areas were under Arab control, still no Palestinian state was allowed to form because these were areas annexed by Jordan (E. Jerusalem & West Bank), and Gaza belonged to Egypt.

thanks to a guaranteed US veto on any anti-Israeli S/C resolution.

Kind of what makes the UN irrelevant as the US keeps saying!!

The UN is an inefficient, corrupt and bureaucratic mess that ceased to be relevant a long time ago. In as long as it relies on a few countries to maintain itself financially, it will never be relevant. The primary contributors will not change a thing as it buys them political influence and preferential treatment, the poor countries are the primary beneficiaries of its humanitarian efforts, and the career UN diplomats rely on the funding to support their lifestyles. No one is incented to change the status quo.

In reality there can never be a truly “unitedâ€

I agree.

I would like to see a more balanced world with more countries in the world being nuclear capable. That way a few rogue nations won't be able to threaten world peace.

United Nations will not be needed then to enforce policies but only for humanitarian purposes. Nations can then be asked to contribute as per their GDPs. Currently the US has the largest GDP but makes the least amount of contribution as far as a percentage is concerned.

You are right except that the US does not get reimbursed for certain "blue helmet" peacekeeping missions that the UN considers unofficial. Semantics aside, it is not nuclear capability that will create this balance, but democratic and economic development. Primary example being North Korea and Pakistan.

Actually North Korea is suffering because of sanctions. Similar sanctions were imposed on Pakistan and later lifted because it became an ally in the "war on terror".

And when you say the US doesn't get paid, I am afraid I cannot believe you. One way or another, they get paid, if you know what I mean.

Muslim,

The UN charter and Geneva conventions prohibit acquisition of land by war. Even so, occupation of enemy territory during a conflict is legal so long as that occupation is temporary pending a settlement, and provided the occupying power abides by humanitarian law.

The length of occupation – close to 40 years – and its conduct during that time makes Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank not only illegal but also immoral.

As for the formation of Israel itself in 1948, it is a bizarre artifact of history – a product of political machinations on all sides, colonial manipulation, mythology and messianic claims. But today Israel is a fact on the ground, and you are right, Palestinians have no option but accept the 22 per cent of the historic Palestine as two-nation solution.

AB,

The basic problem of the UN is that it lacks the means to enforce its resolutions. It helplessly looks on as imperialist forces invade and occupy countries, and is reduced to cleaning up after them.

Even its basic mission of peacekeeping activities the UN has been a dismal failure as evidenced in Srebrenica, Congo and Somalia.

Tehran gives world leaders a history lesson they’d rather forget

1. “Israel should be wiped off the mapâ€

World's Monetary Debt to Israel Doubles

This is a nice business. Ask for charity and then loan it for interest.