Nakba Events and Bin Laden

Here in Palestine, most people went about their lives focusing on how to find the next loaf of bread under Israeli colonial occupation.

(BETHLEHEM) - There is a western media frenzy about the reported "taking-out" of Osama Bin Laden (the previous ally turned enemy). Israeli papers reported a high level US security official as saying he instruction was not to capture Bin Laden alive but to liquidate him. But everyone already knew this since there would be messy business if the US soldiers captured such a person alive (he may even spill the beans on his US and Pakistani intelligence links). Most people went about their daily lives of apathy. Even the stock market did not go up as pundits predicted. Soon the dollar will resume its downward spiral.

The US military may feel vindicated and Pakistanis will feel their country's sovereignty challenged. Some may chose to retaliate with violence giving the neocons and neoliberals their excuse to pursue their policies. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the military-industrial complex needed a new enemy to sustain its massive structure and conveniently the "Islamic terrorism" materialized. Of course there are fanatical Muslims (and Jews and Christians and Hindus) who are willing to kill. Yet, the US did not have to invade Iraq and Afghanistan and create more such fanatics. But a more sober analysis shows that things will change.

Bin Laden was killed a while ago not physically but as an idea! The idea suffered significant blows by the Arab Spring revolutions which showed that it does not take violence to change our societies and remove US/Israeli backed dictators. Bin Laden's assassination and the continued state terrorism practiced by the US government and its allies especially Israel attempt to entrench the idea of violence as an answer. The brutal assault on Syrian, Yemeni, Saudi and Bahraini demonstrators and the US continued military attacks in countries around the world are part of this human foolishness. They represent that wing of our global society that believes violence is the answer: the win-lose scenario. The hopeful ideas of popular resistance, freedom, democracy and end to exploitation successfully challenged the notions of "clash of civilization" and "might makes right". We thus remain hopeful despite all the false news planted around us and all the false-flag operations, and despite the 1 million Iraqis and 50,000 Afghans killed by these wars.

Here in Palestine, most people went about their lives focusing on how to find the next loaf of bread under Israeli colonial occupation. Hardly a mention was made of Bin Laden. If we take just one village called Izbet.

Al-Tabib, a tiny village of 247 residents (60% of them children), we see one example of what was on people's minds. The Israeli decision to take their land was met with building a protest tent on the threatened land and trying to make their story known. The Israeli military came and attacked the villagers and the international volunteers severely injuring an elderly American woman and arresting three other internationals (see http://palsolidarity.org/2011/05/18071/ ). At night more than 200 soldiers

invaded the village terrorizing its population to try and stem the growing popular resistance. Please join the villagers Thursday for solidarity starting at 1 PM. And last night, the Israeli army arrested several Palestinians in major cities including Bethlehem (this happens regularly in defiance of the Oslo accords and with knowledge of "Palestinian security" forces).

In a few days, there will be events and commemorations surrounding the Nakba day. The Nakba is the Palestinian catastrophe etched into every living Palestinian mind. It is the fact that from January 1948 to the end of 1949, more than 2/3rd of our people who lived in the land that became the (Jewish) state of Israel were ethnically cleansed. 63 years later, nearly 7 million Palestinians are refugees or internally displaced people. This is the largest and most tragic and persistent post world war II atrocity. For information, visit http://PalestineRemembered.com

It is important that we all join in activities to challenge colonialism on this anniversary of the Nakba. Below are some events but do look for events in your area or organize your own events. In the US, you can also get some printed material (a Nakba Pak) from here http://ifamericansknew.org/about_us/packs.html

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Colli May 4, 2011 7:23 pm (Pacific time)

Looking to the politicians for help is a wasted effort as it is not profitable for them to be helpful. Greed and power are the only Gods they worship . . . regardless of their political party affiliation . . . and that includes the President. He views Palestine as a sacrificial lamb of sorts. Fairness and compassion appear to have died years ago among the politicians of the United States; however, they will resurrect both for a price! Colli

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