By Yoram Getzler. OK, Unfortunately I was not on the trip so can not comment on the specific statements and criticism of Mr. Penzik.However I would like to make a general comment about the extreme dichotomy on the part of those for / or against just about any public policy.
Tragically this seem to be current reality all over our planet, not just here.
The rainbow has disappeared and there is only black or white, good or bad, us or them. The bird of humanity is trying to fly with only one wing (either left or right). I think its a futile attempt. The issue of Israelis/Jews living east of the Green Line is very complex and multi-dimensional. The trend on either side of the issue is to paint the opposite side as the worst possible human beings that ever existed. Palestinian leaders and public personalities often make public statements that the Jews/Zionist caused the greatest tragedy in human history, the tragedy of the Palestinians. This is taught to in the schools and in the informal media (TV, radio, religious institutions) Was nobody in Rwanda or Cambodia when _millions_ of people were murdered, by their fellow citizens?
The separation barrier, fence & wall are an insult to us *all*. It is ugly and a total contradiction to the most basic Zionist ideology. YET there is no denying that since it was built the suicide bombers are not getting into Israel, therefore the Israeli Army is not attacking the Palestinian cities from where they originated. In other words the fence /wall is saving Arab as well as Jewish lives. It also needs to be known that until the suicide bombing phenomenon there was no fence. For Arabs, Jews, Africans or Mongolians there was no barrier to walking into Israel. What ever other use the fence/barrier has been put to use for, in its origins is was purely defensive. In fact it was begun not by the national government but by a local council to protect the citizens of the city of Afula.
It might also be interesting and informative for people to remember that the Jewish community east of the green line objected to building it. Simplifying this conflict purely into them and us, (we are bad, they are good) or visa verse, only serves to postpone any possible resolution or reconciliation. It extends the suffering of all concerned and serves no positive purpose in our struggle to save the human community and all other living beings.
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By Yoram Getzler. OK, Unfortunately I was not on the trip so can not comment on the specific statements and criticism of Mr. Penzik. However I would like to make a general comment about the extreme dichotomy on the part of those for / or against just about any public policy.
