Soon after 1967's Six Day War, Israel annexed the Palestinian parts of Jerusalem, extending Israeli law over all the city's inhabitants. In subsequent years, it became a standard part of the Israeli narrative that Jerusalem was unified that day, and that the city is Israel's "eternal and undivided capital." The annual holiday of Jerusalem Day marks that reunification, and falls this year on June 1.
What the holiday and official Israeli pronouncements gloss over is the fact that the city is, in fact, very divided -- and always has been.
There has been a lot of discussion of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress yesterday - what he said and what his words actually meant. To aid in understanding, here is the speech, annotated to reflect what perhaps was going through the Prime Minister's mind as he gave it. Annotations are in italics/bold.
[Disclaimers: (1) The annotations in this piece are not derived from any direct access to the Prime Minister's inner thoughts, bur reflect realistic assessments of the Prime Minister's intent; (2) This is satire, but satire is of course funny because it is true.]
Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner, distinguished senators, members of the House, honored guests, I'm deeply moved by this warm welcome, and I'm deeply honored that you've given me the opportunity to address Congress a second time. Mr. Vice President, do you remember the time that we were the new kids in town? (Laughter, applause.) And I do see a lot of old friends here, and I see a lot of new friends of Israel here as well -- Democrats and Republicans alike. (Applause.)
Israel has no better friend than America, and America has no better friend than Israel [and don't you let Obama forget it]. (Applause.) We stand together to defend democracy [except when, like with Egypt, we have mixed feelings about it]. We stand together to advance peace [except when your president asks me to do things I don't want to do]. We stand together to fight terrorism [and anyone who suggests that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in any way provides a rallying cry for extremism, well, they are anti-Semites trying to delegitimize of Israel].
Yesterday President Obama stood up at a podium and said a thing or two.
To my mind, one of the most powerful take-aways from the President's now
famous/infamous Middle East speech is to be found in the long list of
countries he talked about well before he got to the Israel/Palestine
part.
The fact is, as important as Israel/Palestine is, it is part of a much
larger region, and the United States acts all across that region.
Indeed, the United States is currently trying very hard to get on the
right side of history as that region changes before our very eyes. The
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is, whether we like it or not, part of a
bigger picture.
The following article was published today by the http://www.jewishjournal.com/%20opinion/article/what_obama_should_tell_israeli_netanyahu_when_they_meet_in_the_white_house_/ (link has expired) Los Angeles Jewish Journal
May 18, 2011
What Obama should tell Israeli Netanyahu when they meet in the White House Friday
by Ori Nir, Spokesperson, Americans for Peace Now
(...) Anyway, Bibi, in the past several weeks I've been working with my staff on Mideast policy speeches. So, the Middle East has been on my mind. And I've actually reached conclusions and made decisions.
Now, please, hear me out. You know that this is coming from a friend and ally.
Last Chance - by Dov Weissglas
The coming days are a final chance to stop or, at the very least to slow down, Israel's political setback. From the day that Arafat died and the Palestinian Authority desisted from terrorism, its standing in the world has only strengthened. The demand for independence, for a demilitarized state within the 1967 borders (with agreed border revisions) with East Jerusalem as its capital, is accepted by nearly all the countries of the world, and it will almost certainly win sweeping recognition by the UN General Assembly in September.
This week's recommendation comes days before we greet Yom Atzma'ut, Israeli Independence Day, and the Palestinian Yawm al-Nakba, Day of the Catastrophe. Among supporters of Israel (regardless of our take on Palestinian nationalism and the two-state solution) it can be painful to take in that Israel's establishment is held in the hearts of Palestinians as a catastrophe - and yet if after two decades of peace efforts we've learned nothing else, we've certainly learned this: As we celebrate, others mourn.
I think this is the very fact that stands in the way of peace activism for many - I think there comes a moment when some feel they must choose between their own joy and someone else's sorrow, and it can feel more right to focus solely on our own people's joy. I think I understand that - but I also think it gets in the way of resolving the conflict.
But I also think it gets in the way of resolving the conflict, of finding more joy.
APN today issued the following statement:
May 2, 2011
Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) today denounced Gaza Strip Hamas leader Ismail Haniya's statements condemning the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and lauding Bin Laden as an Arab holy warrior.
APN President and CEO Debra DeLee stated:
"Haniya's embrace of Bin Laden is detestable. His decision to align Hamas with a man who has the blood of literally thousands of innocent people on his hands is an affront to every American. It is also an insult to every Palestinian, whose struggle for self-determination and peace will in the eyes of many be sullied by this revolting action. President Abbas' swift move to applaud the elimination of Bin Laden is thus all the more important and commendable.
"Last week APN welcomed news of Palestinian reconciliation. We did so because we recognize that a united Palestinian polity is vital to peace, and we recognize that, no matter how much we wish it were not so, Hamas is an important player in this polity that cannot be wished, or sanctioned, into irrelevance. This remains true today, even as we deplore Haniya's decision to embrace Bin Laden."
