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Sticks and Stones Versus Tanks and Helicopters

By Aysar Batayneh

The latest wave of violence in the Middle East has left over 230 people dead, over 95% of whom are Palestinian civilians and 35% of whom are children. It has also left over 5000 Palestinians injured, mostly for life. And the world does nothing.

Peace negotiations have failed miserably and only added to the flame of frustration, and the world does nothing.
The UN has condemned the Israeli violence, twice. The Arab and European countries have voiced their opinions and joined in the condemnation, and yet, the world still does nothing.

The latest wave of violence has been foreseen for years. Many factors went into it, some obvious, like an unjust peace agreement, delayed implementation, and continued hostilities. And others not so obvious, like Ariel Sharon's real reason for his provocative visit, Barak's dwindling support in his cabinet, and the silent support by the United States government.

US Support

The electoral race in the US has also uncovered to the world the biased stance of the US government.
Both Presidential candidates have vowed to move the US embassy from its current location (Tel Aviv) to Jerusalem. Hence, voicing their clear stance with Israel on one of the most sensitive issues-the fate of Jerusalem.
On the New York home front, support by both Senate candidates of the Israeli government proves how grave the situation is, and how the current US government is being manipulated by the Zionist forces.

The US sends over $4.1 billion per year in aid to Israel, making it by far the country receiving the most aid. One must also take into consideration that this aid, unlike any other, is unmonitored (i.e. Israel has complete freedom to can use it in any way it sees fit). One should also mention is that Israel is arguably the most powerful country on that side of the world, making the amount of aid given to it very questionable. Yet US taxes continue to flow at an average of $13 million per day.

Look at it this way, every time a Palestinian boy is shot, the bullet that pierced his heart was paid for by you, the taxpayer. Every time a tank rolls over a Palestinian house, the taxpayer fueled it. Every time an attack chopper fires a missile into a Palestinian building, you, the taxpayer, funded it. All the weapons used by the Israeli military were made and/or donated by the United States. So I ask you, how can the US government claim to be impartial?

The Peace Process

The word "peace process" gives the average person a false sense of hope. Only when one looks deeper into the Oslo accord does he/she begin to see the injustice.

Oslo was condemned to fail from the day it was signed. Violations of human rights as well as international law can found throughout the agreement and its implementation.

Probably the most recent and obvious example of the hollowness of the peace process was Ariel Sharon's visit to Haram al-Sharif on Sep. 28th. We were lead to believe that a month ago the peace process was moving on the right path and that the final status negotiations and the Wye river accord would finalize the peace process.

Yet, when Sharon and his troops marched into the holy site know to Arabs as Haram al-Sharif, all hell broke loose. How is it that an act like that, no matter how provocative, can single-handedly cause the demise of the peace process? The answer is obvious: the "success" of the peace process was nothing but a mere fabrication by the politicians. Seven years of negotiations haven't moved us one step in the right direction, but moved us miles in the wrong one.

Solution

Every reporter and every onlooker asks us the same question: "What is the solution to the Middle East problem?" This is probably the most ignorant question I have ever had to answer.

How does one expect to have a solution to a problem that has lasted over five decades? A problem that has political, religious, and economic roots. A problem that involves the most militarily and economically powerful countries of the world on one side, and the most spiritually powerful countries on the other.

The only way to find a solution to this problem before a real war breaks out and throws us into decades of violence is to abide by the current forms of law on Earth. Either abide by the UN resolutions that have been passed time and time again or abide by international law.

Unfortunately the Israeli state has avoided these solutions since its creation.

Finally

I call on you, the educated masses, to read, and educate yourself on this current crisis. Then take a long look at what the US government is doing. Take a good look at how the mainstream media is covering this issue, and make an educated decision.

This problem affects every person on earth, either spiritually, religiously, financially, or politically.

Open your eyes and take a stance.

No Justice, no peace.

Aysar Batayneh is a graduate student in engineering.

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