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INTERNATIONAL

Mixed messages undermine western solidarity with Gaza

  • 06 August 2014

The week gone has seen massive rallies calling for an end to the Israeli invasion of Gaza. From Sydney to Paris people have come together in a sign of solidarity with those Palestinians who are trapped in Gaza and whose lives remain threatened with every day that passes. But with all the goodwill that seems to resonate in the forms of solidarity rallies the world over, one has to ask, is it enough?

The solidarity rallies, no matter their size and frequency cannot mask the reality on the ground. Living in Ramallah, I see it daily. It’s in the papers that come out in West Bank cities. As every day passes, the story changes little; more homes are destroyed, people maimed and lives lost. People remain frightened, insecure and vulnerable. This is not to say that the actions of the Israeli government have not garnered the attention of the international community. The United Nations Security Council has met to discuss the matter as has the United Nations Secretary General issued statements calling for an end to the conflict. 

However for Palestinians, no matter how strong the wording of the forthcoming statements is, they cannot mask the impunity with which Israel acts. For every ‘condemnation’ that is directed at Israel by the President of the United States, the same speech will undoubtedly make reference to the ‘inherent right of Israel to defend itself’.  However well intentioned the sentiments of the President are, they are effectively being used by Israel as a carte blanche to justify all and every action in Gaza. At the same time the sincerity of such sentiments are constantly brought into question as the United States continues to renew Israel’s weaponry stockpile as the conflict continues. As American talk show host Jon Stewart aptly noted, the United States ‘can’t be Israel’s rehab sponsor and its drug dealer’ at the same time. 

Even when the conflict in Gaza does finally come to an end, if the past is anything to go by, it is not expected that Israel will be confronted by any more than a slap on the wrist for its actions. It is the historical inconsistency between action and word from leaders in the international community that leaves Palestinians bewildered. 

Palestinians are not seeking an internationally sanctioned counter invasion into Israel to bring the current conflict and the occupation to an end. However what they want is an international community that
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