In today's New York Times, columnist Thomas Friedman wrote another piece which just goes to show how he really doesn't get the Middle East. In it he calls on Palestinians to "Announce that every Friday from today forward will be “Peace Day,” and have thousands of West Bank Palestinians march nonviolently to Jerusalem, carrying two things — an olive branch in one hand and a sign in Hebrew and Arabic in the other."
The below is a comment I posted in response to Mr. Friedman's article, in it I explain why, while it might sound like a good idea to some, Mr. Friedman's suggestion is so far misplaced that it only goes to show again his irrelevance when analyzing the Middle East.
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Ah Thomas Friedman, the western media's loudest has been. Thomas, you've been blogging on the arab spring now for three months singing its praises. You're walking around Cairo as you write this? Did you buy a gun? Because according to everyday Egyptians, the little safety and security they had before the revolution has disappeared, and all that fill the streets now is fear and disenchantment from what was once expected to bring them freedom and democracy.
And now you're calling on the Palestinians to do what the Syrians are doing? I'm disappointed. We all knew that you thought that the murderous Assad regime was a reformer, you must have said it a dozen times supporting President Obama and Hillary Clinton in their attempts to draw him into the embrace of the liberal American administration. And now you want the Palestinians to demand what is theirs.
But what is theirs? I mean, didn't the Palestinians together with the Arab nations reject partition in '47? Didn't they participate in a belligerent war to exterminate the nascent Jewish state? Or do you believe President Abbas' version of events published in this very same publication just one week ago in which he claimed that the Arabs were just intervening to prevent Israel from conducting ethnic cleansing?
So if the Arabs lost the war in '48 then what does that mean? We all know there was never a soverign nation that belonged to the Palestinians, and that they only became a people BECAUSE of the creation of Israel. But they lost the war. So you think they deserve whatever they ask for? Do you really, honestly believe also that Palestinians and Israelis should be equal in negotiations? Was Germany an equal party to negotiations after WWII? Germany also launched a belligerent, offensive war and lost.
Sure, the Palestinians have been abused by their Arab brothers and have not had freedom for 60 years. But does that mean that Israel should feel bad for the Palestinians and give them what they want? When the Palestinians refuse to even recognize Israel, and constantly, still, and to this day, glorify the murder of Israelis and dream of not only the West Bank and Gaza but all of Israel?
Seeing how it probably went in through one ear and out the other, I'll repeat a short segment of Bibi's speech from yesterday.
"Two years ago I publicly committed to a solution of two states for two peoples, a Palestinian state alongside a Jewish state. I'm willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace."... "It's time for President Abbas to stand before his people and to say 'I will accept a Jewish state. Those six words will change history. Those six words will convince Israel that they have a true partner for peace."
That's it Thomas, that's the single most important thing that needs to happen for Israelis to be willing to take the next step, for Abbas to do EXACTLY as Netanyahu did two years ago. I saw it, and I know you did too. And sending them in masses to confront Israeli soldiers and threaten Israelis isn't going to make the average Israeli want to sign agreements or recognize a Palestinian state, it will only lead to more bloodshed.
The fact that you don't understand this single truth shows just how pathetically irrelevant you are. As I've said already a half dozen times in comments to your pieces and on my blog, put down your pen already, before you hurt someone.
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