Moral test of our time

Why Palestine matters: The most important moral test of our time
[References at end]

This was said 30 years ago: “This is a unique colonialism that we’ve been subjected to where they have no use for us. The best Palestinian for them is either dead or gone. It’s not where they want to exploit us, or that they need to keep us there in the way of Algeria or South Africa as a subclass.” (Edward Said, in The Pen and the Sword: Conversations with Edward Said, by David Barsamian, 1994.)

Day 262 of the murderous and genocidal attacks on Gaza Strip. Over 150,000 Palestinians killed or injured. 80% of buildings destroyed including residential buildings, hospitals, schools, universities, streets, and other infrastructure [R01]. But this genocide is implemented not merely with bombing civilians but with starvation and denial of water, medicine, and all aspects of livability. More people are now dying of diseases and famine than from bombings. The environmental impact of this genocidal war has also been devastating [R02]. In parallel with this, there is an attack here in the West Bank (including Jerusalem) that is no less mean and no less important. I was just in the Jordan valley and the situation is dire: some 3000 Jewish colonial settlers pillaged the land and the natural resources and the population of Palestinians there has shrunk from 350,000 to some 75,000. The armed settlers and soldiers are on a rampage [R03]. The onslaught throughout Palestine not being halted by UN security council resolution calling for a ceasefire not by the cases at the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court. Nothing seems to deter this fascist government running this apartheid state. Zionist occupied White House is hosting ICC criminal Gallant and the Zionist-occupied US congress extended an invitation to ICC lunatic criminal Netanyahu to give a speech to a joint session of congress. This is working against US laws and against US interests to serve Zionazi genocide. Imagine inviting Hitler and Himmler as a genocide goes on? Will the US public (taxpayers) rise-up in arms against this?

Will the massive demonstrations happening in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem against the Israeli government make them pause? It is unlikely. Not even the perilous threat of a catastrophic regional war. In the north of Palestine, the Lebanese resistance showed that there is not Israeli target that is off-limits to it [R04]. This time unlike previous wars, Israel cannot destroy Beirut again without Tel Aviv being destroyed. Yet again Netanyahu is unphased. He disbanded his "war cabinet" and feels empowered by the Zionist lobby's hold on the US government [R05].

Zionism is not merely what the ideology that devastated our ancient society and culture with ethnic cleansing and genocide but what it has done to a three generations of Jews (both indoctrinated here or abroad) has been equally troubling. The majority have bought into this idea of colonial supremacist Zionism [R06]. This allowed them to directly do or at least financially and publicly support the most atrocious crimes with cruelly, hatred, and dehumanization that no words can do justice to describe [R07]. Thus in so many levels Zionism is not only racist and genocidal but also suicidal [R08]. That is why hundreds of millions around the world including a growing number of Jews are saying that once Palestine is free from the river to the sea, Jews and all humans will be free. It is logical: there should NOT Be a Jewish State, Nor a White State, Nor a Christian State, Nor a Slave-based Confederacy State, Nor an Islamist State, Nor a Master-Race Third Reich State, Nor an Apartheid South African State. We should learn from history that these are genocidal suicidal states. But the stakes are much higher now as the genocide is streamed live and the world is armed to the teeth and technology is such that walls, tanks, and airplanes cannot “win” wars. If you want proof see what Hamas, Houthis in Yemen or Hizbollah are able to do to challenge empire (challenging western governments who spend trillions arming themselves).

Will the growth of the global popular mass movement cause the fall of empire or will the US/ Israel be allowed to continue to drag the world to a final Masada, an apocalypse, an end of the world? [R09]. We can and must win this this quest to end war and impose justice including Palestinian refugee right to return to their homes and lands. They are the few and we are the many!! In my talks around the world including my recent trip to the Australian continent (including Aotearoa) I explained that there is a 50:50 chance we will manage to change the direction of history. The alternative of regional followed by Global war is far too catastrophic to allow to happen. In either case, the empire will lose.

It is worth reiterating Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right."

There are many people doing what is right. One can cite the defections within the empire [R10]. One can only cite the growing campus movements around the world [R11] and the growth in the movement for Boycott, Divestments sections [R12]. We ae moved to accelerate our work as the moment of truth is upon us. "We either live together as fellow human beings or we die together as fools". The Palestine situation provides a moral test of our time but it is far more than that: it is an existential struggle in which people need to choose to be on the side of life not on the side of genocide/suicide.

Or you can read Langston Hughes, "Harlem" :
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

[R01] See for updated reports: https://www.ochaopt.org/ and https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/default.aspx
ICC case: https://www.commondreams.org/news/icc-war-cimes-gaza
The UN Human Rights Council has investigated Israel's war in detail - and the conclusions are DAMNING: "We conclude that Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity... including extermination, internationally directing attacks against civilians... using starvation as a method of war... sexual and gender-based violence..." All those states that touted the Rules Based Order in Ukraine must now act to impose a UNSC-sponsored arms embargo on Israel.
https://twitter.com/tparsi/status/1803434047927902395
An important message about Genocide from the leader of Human Rights Watch
https://x.com/OmarBaddar/status/1794919572426084559

[R02] UNEP: Environmental impact of conflict in Gaza https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/45739/environmental_impact_conflict_Gaza.pdf
Warning about loss of biodiversity in Gaza
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Gaza-Strip-Warnings-About-Destruction-Biodiversity-20240522-0011.html
It is time to seek justice for environmental war crimes
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/5/11/it-is-time-to-seek-justice-for-environmental-war-crimes
and my own paper on environmental impact of war
https://www.palestinenature.org/research/Impact-of-the-Israeli-military-activities-on-the-environment--1-.pdf

[R03] https://www.btselem.org/media/3826

[R04] Hezbollah releases close-up surveillance footage captured recently by its reconnaissance drones, showing sensitive Israeli targets in the north – including Haifa Port, a number of Iron Dome Platforms, and military complexes. https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1803051154139496797
also there is realligment of powers and enhancement of BRICS+
https://thecradle.co/articles/the-brics-weigh-in-on-palestine

[R05] AIPAC (Israel's lobby) will spend $100 million to interfere in US elections this year!
https://x.com/resist_05/status/1803636065905062065?s=51&t=GU4KuWSGQpVHs-T_Mv4Nxw
Israel lobby gets bills to silence US media and other organizations (enforced by "Secretary of Treasury" who is always selected by the lobby) https://theintercept.com/2024/05/10/terrorism-bill-nonprofit-journalists-israel-hamas/
https://consortiumnews.com/2024/06/14/the-dangerous-anti-semitism-awareness-act/
See also exposure of the lobby on MSNBC https://twitter.com/Jonathan_K_Cook/status/1769857621878612335?s=20
Jill Stein, Green Party calls it like it is: They are destroying the united states
https://youtu.be/15MK_mHOR0Y
https://www.youtube.com/live/MFeYyokgELw
[Donate to her campaign)

[R06] see example from the second largest Jewish population, USA: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/05/21/u-s-jews-have-widely-differing-views-on-israel

[R07] How colonial Israeli regime treats children
https://twitter.com/AdameMedia/status/1801712033207042209
If the world livestreams genocide
https://twitter.com/DoubleDownNews/status/1801529755063202026
Torture is now rampant in Israeli gulags for thousands of Palestinians
https://youtu.be/eB3NJsdDGRI
Whistleblowers describe abuse of Palestinian prisoners
https://www.yahoo.com/news/strapped-down-blindfolded-held-diapers-080008283.html
Poignant Dr. Mads Gilbert https://x.com/drmadsgilbert/status/1781417942514622608
New York Times investigates
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-detention-base.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xk0.su2P.hK5RcGAofAL_&smid=url-share

[R08] Why Zionism is bad for jews too by Alon Mizrahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAxfRLfUVZQ
https://easternoak.co/maybe-its-time-we-started-talking-about-how-terrible-zionism-is-for-jews-too/
How the Gaza genocide will lead to Israel's collapse https://youtu.be/ly7qO9fGYZA
See also Suicidal empire https://popularresistance.org/suicidal-empire/
Amir Hass in Haaretz: The Destruction, Starvation and Death in Gaza Are Israel’s Defeat
https://israelpalestinenews.org/the-destruction-starvation-and-death-in-gaza-are-israels-defeat/

In 1938 David Ben-Gurion said: “If I knew that it would be possible to save all the [Jewish] children in Germany by bringing them over to England and only half of them by transporting them to Eretz Israel, then I opt for the second alternative. For we must take into account not only the lives of these children but also the history of the people of Israel." [Tom Segev, The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust, Henry Holt & Co., New York, First Owl Books Edition 2000, p. 28 ]
“Israel Should Be Eliminated, It’s A Genocidal Apartheid Regime” | Miko Peled
https://youtu.be/D0fynI-1MrM
Hamas is winning https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/middle-east-robert-pape

[R09] Israel is dragging the world into darkness
https://electronicintifada.net/content/israel-dragging-world-darkness/47081
Toward the Abyss: United States’ fatal relationship with Israel
https://dlieb10gmailcom.substack.com/p/toward-the-abyss

[R10] DemocracyNow! A resignation following White House lies:
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/5/29/headlines/state_dept_official_resigns_after_us_claims_israel_is_not_obstructing_aid_to_gaza
Action: More resignations from US State Department. Tell the Biden administration to stop partnering in genocide
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-state-department-staffers-quit-genocide?source=MC2

[R11] Shruthi Kumar delivers an important graduation message in Harvard (a university succumbing to Zionist lobby to prevent graduation of 13 students)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap6PqQ9wPYA
Palestinian Harvard Student describes her family suffering in Gaza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJNJqoEDLqc

[R12] For more on BDS actions see BDSmovement.net and here are relevant news
Elbit Systems:
https://action.eko.org/a/ubs-divest-from-elbit-systems
https://x.com/Pal_action/status/1791244062332240064
Abandoning a sinking ship of the Israeli economy, Intel pulls investments
https://bdsmovement.net/news/Intel-Halts-25b-Investment-Israels-Sinking-Economy
In an open letter, a group of self-described Apple workers, former employees, and shareholders are calling on the company to halt donations to nonprofits linked with Israel’s war effort
https://theintercept.com/2024/06/11/apple-donations-idf-israel-gaza-illegal-settlements
How Western Tourism Giants Illegally Enrich Israeli Settlements on Stolen Land
https://scheerpost.com/2024/06/13/how-western-tourism-giants-illegally-enrich-israeli-settlements-on-stolen-land/
Pro-Palestine and climate justice movements converge against Citigroup in New York
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/war-on-gaza-pro-palestine-climate-justice-movement-converge-citigroup

Inspired

[Please circulate, read (especially last paragraph), and act]

Some of you wondered why you have not heard from us in 11 days. Others signed our email lists and have not heard from us. Jessie and I have been simply overwhelmed with events (2 to 5 events daily plus travel around this southern hemisphere continent). This morning only we had time off (due to an unexpected cancellation) to catch up, enter emails, and write you this note thanks and brief reflection. In our one-month tour of Australia, over 15,000 people heard our message of environmental justice and human rights and our tour of Aotearoa (New Zealand) is just beginning and already had 10 events over the past two days. We and our old and new friends were inspired over the past month from these events:

-Several university encampments where we are inspired by students and faculty who demand their universities disclose any ties to genocide and divest and call for boycotts like we did with South Africa under apartheid. For more on encampments, see https://www.palestineiseverywhere.com/ and here 
-Several rallies like the one in Gadi (aka Sydney) with 10,000 people
-Dozens of lectures at public events like the two events booked solid (300 and 100 people) at the Australian National University (ANU) to many others around the two countries in this continent
-Consultative and welcoming gatherings of activists and aboriginal leadership planning meetings. Here in Aotearoa (aka New Zealand), the Maoris were equally welcoming and inspiring.
-Conferences and conventions like the one of Australia Palestine Action Network and the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
-Many churches and seminaries of various denominations. As a Palestinian Christian, the message resonated of the need for christian communities to take a stand in line with what we Christian communities in the Holy Land have called for which is taking a moral and ethical stand in line with tenets of the faith (see https://www.kairospalestine.ps/ and https://sabeel.org/ )
-Other religious and secular community gatherings sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. I was especially inspired with the dedication of muslim communities from various backgrounds and the Arab communities (Chrisristan, Muslim, others). Their hospitality and kindness helped me feel at home and mitigated my feelings of "homesickness"
-Meeting with parliamentarians. Even during my brief visits over two days, I noted Zionist lobbyists who were not happy to see a Palestinian with a Kufiya in the parliament building. Outside activists organized a rally in front of the parliament building in commemoration of the ongoing Nakba. One MP from the labor party broke rank with her ruling party to say the truth (that it is a genocide and needs to stop). Other MPs show promise.
-Talks at high schools (the kids are amazing)
-Meeting with Rotarian Clubs (I am president of Rotary Club Bethlehem) to tell them of our humanitarian work and look for joint efforts
-Meetings and talks at Botanic Gardens, seed banks, museums and other institutions doing similar work to ours (see palestinenature.org)

-Media appearances (Social, TV, radio, newspapers, websites): Examples

https://www.youtube.com/live/ylnlldgLUys (St Mary’s Church/Anglican Cathedral Parnell)
https://www.greenleft.org.au/video/green-left-show-36-genocide-and-ecocide-gaza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLuM2NTFqs
https://greenleftonline.podbean.com/e/genocide-and-ecocide-in-gaza-green-left-show-36/
https://youtu.be/I6wu0pn0zps?si=ywg8VCYNP2yoL-uu
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-ta62f-1e88ac4d

We had positive vibes in every one of these engagements and also grew ourselves with knowledge, new friends (thousands), and energy (spiritual and mental and physical- good food for heart, spirit and even stomach) and we thank all hosts and organizers for exceptional arrangements. We really feel the world changing but we must work hardeer to stop the genocide and decolonize globally. For me and Jessie, onward to more cities and then back to our beloved Palestine which we miss so much and then resume our volunteer and humanitarian work there. To support our collective work in Palestine (which has global reach), PLEASE
1) See and act on our call for partnership
2) Volunteer (remotely or on site)
3) Donate 

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh
A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://palestinenature.org
facebook pages
Personal https://www.facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9
Institute https://www.facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH

Australia and Palestine

Australia and Palestine: Connection deeper than you think

I and my wife are on a talking and book signing tour in Australia and New Zealand. There are so far sold-out events that we did in Perth (aboriginal name Boorloo), Adelaide (Tarntanya wama), Sydney (Gaadi), Woolongong, Brisbane. Now in Melbourne. In 20 days I spoke to over 3000 people at public events (and a rally with 10,000 people) and networked with others (like Rotarians). I explain Australia's connection to Palestine and implore audiences for global joint action against racism and colonialism (incl. zionism) but I also explain about reality on the ground and how they can help. I show them a short video of our activities (https://youtu.be/qt8OTGoS198) and invite them to visit Palestine. During the past 79 years, Palestinians have carefully tended to the graves of 263 Australians who fell in combat during World War II, and were solemnly buried far from their own loved ones, in a Gaza Strip cemetery. Recently, more Australian blood was shed in Gaza, when an Israeli airstrike killed Australian aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom as she and her World Central Kitchen colleagues distributed food to starving Palestinians in Gaza. Australia has shared a connection to Palestine that is much older. Most Australians don’t know that it was South Australia’s second governor, Lt Col. George Gawler, who was tasked by the British Empire with helping to establish a Jewish homeland and whose studies resulted in the birth of the Jewish Colonization Association.

The subsequent pursuit of the Zionist project of a Jewish state of Israel disregarded and sought to obliterate the first people (my ancestors) connection to our land and the rich and vibrant history and culture of this part of the fertile crescent, where people first domesticated plants and animals, first settled communities, and brought to life the “cradle of civilisation.”

The Zionist project sought to transform a peaceful multiethnic, multicultural, multireligious, and multilingual Palestine to become the “Jewish state of Israel.” The project  climaxed in the 1948 Nakba, when most of our people were forcefully removed. Then the new “Jewish state” expanded to the rest of Palestine in 1967 and is climaxing in the past 6 months with a genocide that so far killed over 41,000 civilians, andb injured 84,000, 72% of victims being women and children.

Eight million of a total of 15 million Palestinians are now refugees or displaced people. I’m one of them -  I live in the West Bank, in an apartheid system that consists of a number of isolated cantons – or ghettos, or concentration camps, or Bantustans, depending upon your choice of terminology – spread across eight per cent of historic Palestine.

I and millions of Palestinians ((first people of various religions), live at the mercy of a set of discriminatory laws Israel has deemed appropriate for us while watching Jews in Israel (most colonial settlers from Eurole) take over most of our land and natural resources and shoot, injure, and jail us at will. Colonial settlers get automatic citizenship and a home on stolen land no matter where they come from simply for being Jewish while Palestinains refugees are denied their right to return to their homes and lands. Those of us who are still in the country face an apartheid racist genocidal regime.  The regime denies us rights to food, water, education, healthcare, religion (access to Holy sites) and even movement. As Palestinians, we’re disturbed to know that Australia, which talks of the primacy of international law and human rights, can continue to offer its support to Israel including close military ties, knowing all humanrighst organizations and the UN have shown conclusively and unequivocally condemned these atrocities.

Australian government has also established a pattern of voting in support of Israel at the UN General Assembly, in stark contrast to the voting patterns of 95 percent of the countries on earth.  But we’re heartened that Australia’s civil society and huge swathes of the public are actively and vocally supportive of the Palestinian struggle for justice and self-determination, whether that has been articulated via endorsement of cases at the world’s highest courts, or the floods of people on Australian streets calling for a ceasefire over the past six months. I attended several rallies in three cities already and am thankful for the hundreds that showed up. The people of Gaza strip I talked to and we Palestinains globally (15 million of us) thank you.

I, a Palestinian Christian biologist from Bethlehem, and my wife, Jessie, a Chinese-American, are on our first tour of Australia and New Zealand, giving dozens of talks and book signing and meeting thousands of people.  I challenge the hegemonic Zionists who seem to have an influence in Australian media and politics to have a pulic debate about what is in Australias's best ineterests: Supporting human rights or continuing to support the Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing of our people? I’m confident that we will have mutually beneficial exchanges with all Australians we meet. I’m confident that the sense of fairness that Australians consider to be part of the national character is leading them to support human rights and freedome and to end the genocide and apartheid that is supported by the Australian government under pressure of a lobby that has a different agenda.  The bulk of humanity has aspirations for something that we – you and I, from opposite sides of the globe – can achieve together.  a pluralistic society based on the principles of human rights and international law. For those who heard our talk and got our message, please do help us... check this new video ,https://youtu.be/qt8OTGoS198, our annual report and 10 year anniversary booklet at palestinenature.org then go to palestinenature.org/volunteer and palestinenature.org/donations

Resources (& below part of the schedule of some public events)
http://Ongaza.org
https://chuffed.org/project/106869-free-gaza-australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-11/the-forever-war/103574742
https://declassifiedaus.org/2023/11/03/targeting-palestine/
https://michaelwest.com.au/australia-zionist-defence-ties-with-israel/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2824%2900401-X/fulltext
https://twitter.com/PeterCronau/status/1764337528956686844?s=20
https:/overland.org.au/2023/12/where-is-the-australian-climate-movements-solidarity-with-palestine
https://www.plan.org.au/media-centre/support-for-gaza-ceasefire-and-more-government-action-swells-in-australian-community-as-aid-agencies-call-for-urgent-support/
https://johnmenadue.com/australian-military-refuses-to-disclose-arms-deal-with-israel-to-protect-its-reputation/

18 April 2024, Thursday, PERTH, 18:30-20:00 Public forum at the State Library (180 people capacity) in conversation with Jack Collard, a Whadjuk-Ballardong Nyoongar man from Boorloo.
Lecture titled: “Palestine, Land Rights & Environmental Justice” https://events.humanitix.com/palestine-land-rights-and-environmental-justice Venue: State Library of Western Australia 25 Francis St, Perth WA 6000, Australia This event is supported and co-hosted by: Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Palestinian Community WA, Climate Justice Union, Friends of Palestine WA, and Unionists for Palestine WA

19 April 2024, Friday, PERTH, 11:00-12:00 “The ten-year anniversary of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability’ Professor Mazin Butros Qumsiyeh” Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh joins the UWA Centre for Muslim States and Societies’ Seminar Series to share and speak about the Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS). Hosted by Centre for Muslim States and Societies, Seminar Series, University of Western Australia (UWA) Venue: Fox Lecture Theatre, Main Campus (Arts Building)

19 April 2024, Friday, PERTH, 18:00-22:00 Community dinner at Walyalup Civic Center Council Chamber Room 151 High St, Fremantle WA 6160. Theme: Hope and empowerment (love and unity) in the Holy Land  . Hosted by Palestinian Christians in Australia (PCIA) and endorsed by Friends of Palestine WA (FOPWA)

20 April 2024, Saturday, ADELAIDE, 17:00-19:00 Enlightening lecture on Palestinian rights, peace, and environmental conservation Prof. Qumsiyeh will talk about popular resistance, PIBS/PMNH work, catastrophic environmental issues and key areas of patient history, diagnosis, symptoms, AND treatment for this displacement settler colonialism, followed by Q&A. Location: Theatre North 1, Humanities Building, Flinders University, Bedford Park.

21 April 2024, Sunday, ADELAIDE, 9:30-10:30 Community worship at Pilgrim Uniting Church - a Christian worship service of the protestant tradition, a Uniting Church in Australia congregation.
A talk to the congregation, Around 15 – 20 minutes about “Christians in the Holy Land” Location: 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide

21 April 2024, Sunday, ADELAIDE, 18:00-19:30 Public Forum, Free Palestine Adelaide Lecture titled “Shared Roots: Climate Change, Colonialism, and the Fight for Land Back” with Prof. Qumsiyeh and other guest speakers Location: The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000 Purpose of event: To shed light on the links between climate change, colonialism and ecological destruction. Also to show the connection between environmentalism and Indigenous Peoples' movements (e.g. in Palestine, Australia, etc.), and the crucial role of decolonisation in protecting ecosystems and the communities that rely on them globally. https://events.humanitix.com/shared-roots-adelaide

26 April 2024, Friday, SYDNEY, 18:30-20:00 Public forum at NSW Teachers Federation. Event titled “Land Rights, Climate Justice, and Palestine: In Conversation with Professor Qumsiyeh”
https://www.facebook.com/events/789288702631013/
Location: NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills. Gadigal Country

28 April 2024, Sunday, SYDNEY, 18:00 Sydney church service: Leichhardt Uniting – give talk

28 April 2024, Sunday, SYDNEY, 22:00 Online talk meet.google.com/tug-apto-rvf

2 May 2024, Thursday, BRISBANE, 16:00 – 18:00 Public Lecture at St Francis Theological College (SFC) Lecture titled: Environmental impact of the occupation and related military violence
https://www.stfran.qld.edu.au/upcoming-events/2024/5/2/public-lecture-professor-mazin-qumsiyeh

4 May 2024, Saturday, BRISBANE, 18:00 First Nations and Palestinians Solidarity - generations of resistance and fights for justice - Jagera Hall event

5 May 2024, Sunday, BRISBANE, 9:00 AM A 15-20 minute talk with St. Mary in Exile community/ Sunday liturgy - Q & A. The location is the Trades and Labor Council building, 1st Floor, 16 Peel Street South Brisbane...so very central...parking underneath...or South Brisbane station/Cultural Centre busway.

Tuesday, 7 May, 6-9 PM

Public event and refreshments after in Footscray.

Popular resistance theme

Discussion: Paola and Clare

Wednesday, 8 May, 6-8 PM

Public Event, Presentation by MQ followed by Q&A on “The Occupation and Food Sovereignty in Palestine: Lessons for the Global Community on the Environmental Impact of Militarism with Professor Mazin)

Hosted by Free Palestine Melbourne, Sustain; the Australian Food Network, Just Food Collective, Café Lab and Books not Bombs.

Location: RMIT University - Building 80, Cinema Theatre 435-457 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

https://events.humanitix.com/occupation-the-environment-and-food-sovereignty-in-palestine

Proceeds from this event will support PIBS.

Thursday, 9 May, 6-8:30 PM

Event with Beit e'Shai & First Nations colleagues. A conversation with Prof Mazin Qumsiyeh & Aboriginal scholars (Zena Cumpston & Tristen  Harwood)  

Topic: “Land, Biodiversity & the Colony”, discussing parallels of settler-colonial projects occupying Palestine & Aboriginal Nations in the continent known as Australia. Topics include: the impacts of militarism on the environment, plant kin and climate change, food sovereignty and biodiversity, conservation as a form of settler colonialism.

Location: Aunty Alma's Gathering Place 

550 High Street Preston 

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1205423

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kbVX-T0vmrH5d8RbfFt1CP2ubRKBe0E2/edit

Saturday, 11 May, 6-8PM

Church of All Nations - 180 Palmerston St, Carlton. Mazin will be speaking of his life as a Palestinian Christian and the work of sustainability of the natural world and humans.

Sunday, 12 May, 10 AM

Church of All Nations - 180 Palmerston St, Carlton. Mazin will be speaking of his life as a Palestinian Christian and the work of sustainability of the natural world and humans.

Sunday, 12 May, 5 PM

Public event: the Environmental Nakba with Friends of the Earth with a speaker online from FOE Palestine in Northcote., the format will be a moderated discussion followed by a Q&A.

Monday, 13 May, 6 PM

Public event - From Nakba to Genocide - A 76-Year History of Human and

Environmental Injustice. 40 min talk follow by Q&A with Professor Chris Mayes

redirecting

 I am redirecting these emails and my blog ) for positive emphasis and less on describing human rights violations. I appreciate feedback on this “experiment”. I started emailing some thirty years ago. I reached perhaps hundreds of thousands of people through my writings and occasional emails (55,000 of you receive these messages and many more through ripple effect). I recently started using Facebook, X and Instagram more but even on those I will do redirection.  WHY do I want to cut down this aspect and increase another aspect? Three reasons:

1) There is now no shortage of information on the internet (if one looks for it and follows others who write/share). Ideas spread (memes). For example the shrinking map of Palestine first drawn by my son in 1998 is now ubiquitous. This flood of information and memes grew in the past 6 months despite the whitewashing and hiding of information in mainstream corporate media. Actions for Palestine has and will/must continue to grow including delivering information (important), direct action, BDS etc.

2) I need to focus more on positive alternatives and actions to make a better world. During the break, I will post inspiring stories of resilience and resistance (sumud) and actions globally that collectively should result in a better world (examples below).

3) My wife and I are full time volunteers (seven days a week 16 hours a day) at the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS). PIBS staff and volunteers are focused on our vision of sustainable human and natural communities and benefited thousands of human beings but also conserved nature (see palestinenature.org). Devoting more time to positive items helps to balance my life and make me more productive.

Feedback is appreciated. If you find the ten items below useful do let me know or suggest changes. Also if you want to share a particularly inspiring issue related to Palestine, then let me know.

ITEM 1: Writings and photography from young people give us a glimpse of a better world https://atmos.earth/

ITEM 2: The American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) was commissioned by the United Nations in 1948 to provide aid to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip and was the first international aid agency working on the ground. They still act based on the principles
https://civilianpublicservice.org/storycontinues/gaza  
https://afsc.org/programs/jerusalem-ramallah-gaza

ITEM 3: Few (of hundreds of thousands) inspiring Palestinians
Wael Al-Dahdouh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wael_Al-Dahdouh
Refaat Al-Areer https://afsc.org/newsroom/memory-refaat-alareer
Basil AlAraj https://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/2017/03/basil-of-al-walaja-rip.html
Shireen AbuAqleh https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=27263
Ramzy Baroud https://ramzybaroud.net/
Salha Hamdin https://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=112
https://timesofmalta.com/article/Tough-Bedouin-life-wins-teen-a-fairy-tale-award.433644

ITEM 4: UNSC RESOLUTION 27/28 [Short and to the point. The resistance accepted, Israeli government rejected and will continue the genocide]
The Security Council, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Reiterating its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in this regard deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism, and recalling that the taking of hostages is prohibited under international law; Expressing deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Acknowledging the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aimed at reaching a cessation of hostilities, releasing the hostages and increasing the provision and distribution of humanitarian aid,
1. Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire, and also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain;
2. Emphasizes the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to and reinforce the protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip and reiterates its demand for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale, in line with international humanitarian law as well as resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023);
3. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

ITEM 5: A Digital Future of Hope and Connectivity
 https://thisweekinpalestine.com/a-digital-future-of-hope-and-connectivity/  

ITEM 6: Israel’s Conscientious Objectors Stand on the Shoulders of Giants
 https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/03/22/israels-conscientious-objectors-stand-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/

ITEM 7: To Exist Is To Resist: Sumud, Heroism, and the Everyday
https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/165375#

ITEM 8: Everyday life in the face of conflict: Sumud as a spatial quotidian practice in Palestine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8853419/

ITEM 9: We see so much charity and good will around for the needy Palestinians throughout Palestine from the Galilee to the West Bank to Gaza Strip. Ramadan brings the best in all people.  Giving as once said is twice blessed for the giver and the receiver.  We also give by holding to our humanity, doing good work like teaching our children and holding events for them at the museum and in the botanic garden. If you want to be inspired by what the team is doing, browse the posts and pictures at our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH

ITEM 10: Finally, we are grateful for the very good people organizing events for our speaking tour in Australia and New Zealand April 17 to 3 June. My wife and I are so much looking forward to a productive trip building support for Palestine. We are also grateful to many who write to encourage us in occupied Palestine or to tell us of actions they took. We love you all.

I do realize and cannot promise that this experimental change will make my emails shorter or more readable/palatable. You can always select which items to read or act on.  But in any case, do give us feedback.

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive
Mazin Qumsiyeh
A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://palestinenature.org
facebook pages
Personal https://www.facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9
Institute https://www.facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH 

Ego is the enemy

 Our email list was 51,000 before and increased by 4000 new people since early October 2023. In the past five months I gave over 52 talks to audiences around the world. >120 radio and TV interviews and sent over 70 emails with information and actions people do not see on mainstream media. We expected (logical) formation of a unity government in the West Bank and Gaza  during a genocidal war on our people. Instead we see that Mahmoud Abbas (whose term expired 15 years ago) appointed yet another "Prime Minister". The Oslo governments kept this heterogeneous mix of service (in some cases good service) to the community as an autonomy while also benefiting many in a corrupt system encouraged and facilitated by the US and Israel to keep divisive corrupt rule while protecting Israeli (colonial) security. It is what such a system was designed for under Oslo agreements. While those agreements were supposed to be interim for five years (to 1999) they are what is the maximum that was intended. All resistance including non-violent was squashed and the only resistance partially allowed was " diplomatic resistance" (even then the authority was not allowed to challenge Israel in international courts). This pathetic state of affairs has continued for 30 years with colonial settler population mushrooming from 150,000 to 950,000 and Israel kept drifting to the right to become the most fascist and racist society on earth while Palestinian politics remained frozen.  If I was asked why, the answer will be long.  As an academic and grassroots activist (not a politician), I have argued over the past 40 years for two themes: 1) more scientific and logical analysis of our situation which leads to different discourse, 2) For positive strong engagement not merely criticism. Let me explain.

THEME 1: I am not proud that the lessons from history predicted this dual state always repeated: innovative and amazing sumud and resistance by our people while pathetic and selfish leadership that leaves our people orphans to fend for themselves.  It is not difficult to see things coming and history repeating itself (a second Nakba with Arab and Palestinian collusion). See my earlier books like "Sharing the Land of Canaan" and "Popular Resistance in Palestine, a history of hope and empowerment" where I explain this redundant history in detail but where I also show points of optimism and especially emanating in every generation from young people. Young people born in the past 30 years of failed politics are in my opinion the generation of real liberation. This is tre not just in Palestine but globally (the global intifada is unfolding). I think young people intuitively understand the corruption and decadence of politicians. My only advice to the younger generation is to read more books.  Ho Chi Minh used to insist on a library in each of the tunnels dug to resist the American imperial genocide in Vietnam. This was a secret to success of the Vietnamese freedom struggle against the French and then the American genocidal occupation (3 million killed or starved to death). The same can be said for the Algerian and South African liberation struggle. It is not enough to have a just cause or to look for answers in ancient Holy Books. There is a body of knowledge that exists that developed over centuries. Ignorant masses are easier to manipulate than educated masses. Even empires collapsed (Roman, Umayyad, Spanish, Portuguese, Ottoman etc) or are collapsing now (US, Israeli) partly if not mostly due to intentional programs of distancing the people from real knowledge. Brainwashing them to be good consumers but not involved, educated, and critical thinkers.

One of the books that needs to be read by all people (including our frozen politicians) to achieve real success for our causes is "Ego is the Enemy" by Ryan Holiday. Another is Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet". There are many others. Reading is empowerment but at the same time provides that needed humility to recognize how little we know and that scientific knowledge is both repeatable and falsifiable. We all make mistakes. Political factions and people who do not admit their mistakes and fallibility are not those who make history.

THEME 2: It is not enough to have an understanding of things or to criticize. It is not enough to protest or resist the evil that surrounds us. It is important to envision a better future AND WORK FOR IT. I am grateful that I am surrounded by groups of educated young people who share a vision of sustainable human and natural communities locally and globally. This is shared by hundreds of millions of people who work on environmental justice, climate justice, decolonization, and building shared sustainable communities (and these things are linked). Locally we work on the one democratic country (a country that is pluralistic and serves all people regardless of religion or background) and we work on sustaining indigenous people on their land while protecting nature (see palestinenature.org and browse our annual report). This second theme is reason why, while having built institutions in the US, I returned to Palestine 16 years ago to build things here where they are most needed. We have been very lucky in those years to find hundreds of volunteers, staff, and supporters to help build something positive in the midst of this chaos.

We keep the hope alive that we shall overcome someday. As before I welcome feedback.

عن الغرور

 قائمة البريد الإلكتروني لدينا كانت تضم 51000 وزادت ب 4000 شخص جديد منذ أوائل أكتوبر 2023. في الأشهر الخمس الماضية، قدمت أكثر من 52 محاضرة للجماهير حول العالم. وعملت 120 مقابلة إذاعية وتلفزيونية وأرسلت أكثر من 70 رسالة بريد إلكتروني تحتوي على معلومات وإجراءات لا يراها الأشخاص في وسائل الإعلام الرئيسية. لقد أرسلت أشياء باللغة العربية كهذه موجهة إلى أهلنا في قطاع غزة أو هذا عن النواياالإسرائيلية أو هذا موجه إلى السلطةالفلسطينية أو هذا موجه للعرب

قائمة البريد الإلكتروني العربية هذه أصغر من القائمة الإنجليزية (11000 مقابل 55000). نادرا ما أنشر هنا ولا أعرف كمية من  يقرأ فعليا. كنا نتوقع (منطقياً) تشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية في الضفة الغربية وغزة خلال حرب الإبادة الجماعية التي تعرض لها شعبنا. وبدلا من ذلك نرى أن محمود عباس (الذي انتهت ولايته قبل 15 عاما) عين "رئيسا للوزراء" آخر. احتفظت حكومات أوسلو بمزيج من الخدمة (في بعض الحالات الخدمة الجيدة) للمجتمع كحكم ذاتي بينما استفاد الكثيرين في نظام فاسد شجعته وتسهّلته الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل للحفاظ على الحكم الفاسد والإنقسام البغيض مع حماية الأمن الإسرائيلي (الاستعماري). . وهذا هو ما تم تصميم هذا النظام من أجله بموجب اتفاقيات أوسلو. كان من المفترض أن تكون هذه الاتفاقيات مؤقتة لمدة خمس سنوات (حتى عام 1999)، إلا أنها تمثل الحد الأقصى "المقصود". تم سحق كل المقاومة (بما في ذلك الشعبية) وكانت المقاومة الوحيدة المسموح بها جزئيًا هي "المقاومة الدبلوماسية" (وحتا هنا لم يُسمح للسلطة بتحدي إسرائيل في المحاكم الدولية). واستمر هذا الوضع المثير للشفقة لمدة 30 عامًا مع تزايد عدد المستوطنين الاستعماريين من 150 ألفًا إلى 950 ألفًا وهجرت إسرائيل عشرات الآف من شعبنا وظلت إسرائيل تنجرف نحو اليمين لتصبح المجتمع الأكثر فاشية وعنصرية على وجه الأرض بينما ظلت السياسة الفلسطينية مجمدة. ومن أفسد ما وجد هو السلك الدبلوماسي المهم (مع بعض الإستثنائات مثل حسام زملط). وإذا سئلت عن السبب لهذا الوضع المأساوي فإن الإجابة ستكون طويلة (ولا أستثني أيضا أخطاء ومشاكل الفصائل الأخرى غير فتح).  باعتباري أكاديميًا وناشطًا شعبيًا (ولست سياسي)، فقد جادلت على مدار الأربعين عامًا الماضية حول موضوعين: 1) المزيد من التحليل العلمي والمنطقي لوضعنا الذي يؤدي إلى مسار مختلف، 2) للمشاركة الإيجابية القوية وليس مجرد النقد. دعني أشرح.

الموضوع الأول: أنا لست فخوراً بأن الدروس المستفادة من التاريخ تنبأت بهذه الحالة التي تتكرر دائماً: الصمود المبتكر والمذهل والمقاومة من قبل شعبنا بينما القيادة المثيرة للشفقة والأنانية التي تترك شعبنا يتيماً ليعيل نفسه. وليس من الصعب أن نرى الأمور قادمة والتاريخ يعيد نفسه (نكبة ثانية بتواطؤ عربي وفلسطيني). راجع كتب أدوارد سعيد وكتبي السابقة مثل "مشاركة أرض كنعان" و"المقاومة الشعبية في فلسطين: تاريخ من الأمل والتمكين" حيث أشرح هذا التاريخ الصعب بالتفصيل ولكنني أظهر أيضًا نقاط التفاؤل وخاصة التي تنبع من الشباب في كل جيل. إن الشباب الذين ولدوا خلال الثلاثين عامًا الماضية من السياسة الفاشلة هم في رأيي جيل التحرر الحقيقي. وهذا أمر لا يحدث في فلسطين فحسب، بل في العالم أجمع (الانتفاضة العالمية تتكشف). أعتقد أن الشباب يفهمون بشكل حدسي فساد السياسيين وانحطاطهم. نصيحتي الوحيدة لجيل الشباب هي قراءة المزيد من الكتب.

القائد هو شي من أصر على وجود مكتبة في كل من الأنفاق التي تم حفرها لمقاومة الإبادة الجماعية الإمبريالية الأمريكية في فيتنام (3 ملايين قتلوا أو ماتوا جوعا).. وكان هذا سر نجاح النضال من أجل الحرية الفيتنامية ضد الفرنسيين ثم الاحتلال الأمريكي. ويمكن قول الشيء نفسه عن نضال التحرير في الجزائر وجنوب أفريقيا. لا يكفي أن يكون لديك قضية عادلة أو أن تبحث عن إجابات في الكتب المقدسة القديمة. هناك مجموعة كبيرة من المعرفة تطورت عبر القرون. إن التلاعب بالجماهير الجاهلة أسهل من التلاعب بالجماهير المتعلمة. حتى الإمبراطوريات انهارت (الرومانية والأموية والإسبانية والبرتغالية والعثمانية وغيرها) أو تنهار الآن (الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل) جزئيًا إن لم يكن معظمها بسبب البرامج المتعمدة لإبعاد الناس عن المعرفة الحقيقية. غسل أدمغتهم ليكونوا مستهلكين جيدين ولكن ليس مشاركين ومتعلمين ومفكرين نقديين.

أحد الكتب التي يجب أن يقرأها جميع الناس (بما في ذلك السياسيون المجمدون) لتحقيق نجاح حقيقي لقضايانا هو "الأنا هي العدو" بقلم رايان هوليداي (انظر https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =xeNChOWr0GY). وكتاب آخر هو "النبي" لخليل جبران (https://archive.org/details/ar108roman41/mode/2up). هناك العديد من الآخرين. القراءة هي التمكين ولكنها في الوقت نفسه توفر التواضع اللازم لإدراك مدى قلة ما نعرفه، وأن المعرفة العلمية قابلة للتكرار والدراسة النقدية  . نحن جميعا نرتكب الأخطاء. إن الفصائل السياسية والأشخاص الذين لا يعترفون بأخطائهم وقابليتهم للخطأ ليسوا هم من يصنعون التاريخ.

الموضوع الثاني: لا يكفي أن يكون لديك فهم للأشياء أو أن تنتقدها. لا يكفي أن نحتج أو نقاوم الشر (أو الهبل والفساد). من المهم تصور مستقبل أفضل والعمل من أجله. أنا ممتن لأنني محاط بمجموعات من الشباب المتعلمين الذين يتشاركون رؤية للمجتمعات البشرية والطبيعية المستدامة محليًا وعالميًا. ويتقاسم هذا الأمر مئات الملايين من الأشخاص الذين يعملون في مجال العدالة البيئية، والعدالة المناخية، وإنهاء الاستعمار، وبناء مجتمعات مستدامة مشتركة (وهذه الأشياء مترابطة). محليًا، نحن نعمل من أجل دولة ديمقراطية واحدة (دولة تعددية وتخدم جميع الناس بغض النظر عن الدين أو الخلفية) ونعمل على دعم السكان الأصليين على أراضيهم مع حماية الطبيعة (راجع PalestineNature.org وتصفح تقريرنا السنوي ) . هذا الموضوع الثاني هو السبب وراء عودتي إلى فلسطين قبل 16 عامًا، بعد أن قمت ببناء مؤسسات في الولايات المتحدة، لبناء الأشياء هنا حيث تشتد الحاجة إليها. لقد كنا محظوظين جدًا في تلك السنوات للعثور على مئات المتطوعين والموظفين والداعمين للمساعدة في بناء شيء إيجابي وسط هذه الفوضى.

نحافظ على الأمل وسننتصر حتما يومًا ما—يقرب اليوم بالعمل على هذين الموضوعين أعلاه.

 أرحب بالتعليقات والتوضيحات حول هذه الأفكار.

أفيقوا واستيقظوا يا عرب

فرضت إسرائيل مجاعة جماعية، وترتكب كل يوم مجازر. ما حصل كان كله متوقعًا. لقد كتبت كتابًا عن هذا سابقًا قبل 20 سنة .  يعيش الأطفال الآن في الشوارع والخيام وسط البرد القارس. أجسادهم الضعيفة الهشة تمزقها القذائف أو تموت من الجوع ويعاني أكثر من 700 ألف شخص من أمراض مرتبطة بالمجاعة ونقص المياه النظيفة ونقص الصرف الصحي. وعلى الرغم من وجود أناس جائعين ومضطهدين آخرين في أماكن أخرى (العراق واليمن والسودان والصحراء الغربية وغيرها)، إلا أن وضعنا فريد من نوعه. الصور مروعة ولدينا إبادة جماعية نشطة ومتعمدة من قبل قوة استعمارية تدعمها حكومات العديد من القوى الاستعمارية (الولايات المتحدة والمملكة المتحدة وفرنسا وألمانيا وأستراليا). يتم بث الإبادة الجماعية على الهواء مباشرة ولا يتم إخفاؤها. ولا يمكن لأحد أن يدعي أنه لم يعرف. كل إنسان على هذه الأرض يعرف (بما في ذلك الجناة والشركاء في الجريمة)، لكن موضوعي هنا ليس المعرفة؛ فالفساد هو الذي يؤدي إلى هذه الأشياء.

من المؤكد أن هناك ما يكفي من الموارد لإطعام وكساء وإيواء كل فرد على هذا الكوكب. 3% مما تنفقه الولايات المتحدة على الجيش يكفي للقضاء على الجوع في العالم. يمكن للسودان وحده أن يغذي العالم العربي، لكنه الآن غارق في صراع تقوده قوى نخبوية من إسرائيل وإثيوبيا والإمارات العربية المتحدة. وكانت سوريا أيضاً دولة مزدهرة. كانت فلسطين كانت جنة على الأرض. الجميع يعرف الأسباب ويبدو أن الشمال العالمي الذي تسيطر عليه شركات الإعلام التابعة له، لا يهتم إلا إذا قُتل الأوروبيون البيض، ويهتف عندما يُقتل السكان الأصليون بشكل جماعي لدعم النخبة والسياسية الغربية وأذيالهم. في المائة عام الماضية، قُتل ما لا يقل عن 200 مليون شخص أو ماتوا جوعا في الجنوب العالمي، ويرتبط ذلك بشكل أساسي بحصول النخب على موارد تلك البلدان. من البنك الدولي، وصندوق النقد الدولي، والقوات المسلحة للدول، أصبحت المكائد الرامية إلى فرض هذه السيطرة والتسبب في عمليات القتل والحروب التي لا نهاية لها مفهومة جيدًا الآن من قبل الجماهير في جميع أنحاء العالم. إن المذبحة التي شهدتها فلسطين على مدى السنوات الـ 76 الماضية تشهد ولكنها تضيء المعرفة أيضًا وتُسقط الأقنعة. فلسطين عبارة عن إسفين جغرافي بين المنطقتين اللتين تتمتعان بأهمية جيوسياسية كبيرة: شمال أفريقيا وغرب آسيا (كل منهما عربية ومسلمة إلى حد كبير). كان في كلتا المنطقتين عدد كبير من السكان الأصليين المسلمين واليهود والمسيحيين وأتباع الديانات الأخرى الذين يعيشون في وئام . ثم جاءت الصهيونية واتفاقاتها الجانبية: وعد بلفور وكامبون. وسايكس بيكو، ومؤتمر سان ريمو، ومؤتمر "السلام" في باريس ألخ. كان من المفترض أن يؤدي ذلك إلى إنشاء دويلات صغيرة على خلاف مع بعضها البعض و"دولة يهودية" تقسم إسفينًا في هذا العالم العربي والإسلامي وتمارس الهيمنة الشاملة. أصبح المشروع الصهيوني أساسياً في التدمير الغربي للعالم العربي والإسلامي بدءاً من فلسطين ولكن متفرعاً إلى الحروب على ليبيا واليمن وسوريا ولبنان والعراق والصومال وغيرها. يجب أن تُفهم "إسرائيل" كما قال البروفيسور إيلان بابي على أنها مشروع صهيوني، مشروع الصهيونية العالمية والإمبريالية، وكلاهما كان موجودًا قبل إسرائيل ومن المرجح أن يكون موجودًا (على الرغم من ضعفه) بعد انهيار إسرائيل. والحكومات الأميركية والغربية التي تدعم المشروع وتغطيه ستتخلى عنه وتنتقل إلى مشاريع أخرى.

كانت ولا تزال سياسة فرق تسد هي السياسة المتبعة. إيجاد أي اختلافات صغيرة بين بعض الأشخاص (الدين، الطوائف، الجغرافيا) وتحريضهم ضد بعضهم البعض. ولكن للقيام بذلك كانت هناك حاجة إلى خلق "قادة" على استعداد للامتثال ومحاربة أي شخص لا يرغب في الامتثال. بعد أن أنشأ البريطانيون والفرنسيون "دولاً" قاموا بتركيب دُماهم في تلك الدول. ومن بين الدول الـ 22 التي تسكنها أغلبية عربية، فإن أكثر من ثلثيها تُدار من قبل دمى غربية (أنظمة حكم كليبتوقراطية مثل حكام المملكة العربية السعودية، والإمارات العربية المتحدة، ومصر، بين دول أخرى كثيرة). ويساعد هؤلاء الحكام في تنفيذ المشاريع التي تطيل أمد الحروب والإبادة الجماعية. الديكتاتور المصري السيسي يساعد في محاصرة 2.3 مليون شخص في غزة. الممر التجاري البري الذي يمر من الإمارات العربية المتحدة عبر المملكة العربية السعودية عبر الأردن أنقذ الاقتصاد الإسرائيلي بينما امتثل اليمن للقانون الدولي لوقف السفن المتجهة إلى إسرائيل لوقف الإبادة الجماعية.

ولم يكن "القادة" الفلسطينيون في مأمن من الخطط الغربية ووقعوا بخطأ تاريخي. كانت هناك اتفاقيات تم توقيعها في واشنطن العاصمة 1993 و 1994. ولصرف انتباهنا يسمونها "اتفاقيات أوسلو"، ولكن ينبغي أن تسمى اتفاقيات واشنطن. وما تبعها أنهاء دور منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية في محاولة تحرير فلسطين وتحويل القيادة الفلسطينية إلى "السلطة الفلسطينية" المسؤولة بشكل رئيسي عن توفير الأمن للمحتلين الإسرائيليين (المستوطنين والجنود) وتخفيف العبء المالي للاحتلال باستخدام المساعدات الخارجية لدعم حكم هيئات خدمية للشعب المحتل ومعظمها ليست ناجحة. الاقتصاد للفلسطينيين تدهور (ما عدا المستنفعين "من عظام الرقبة") بينما منحت الإتفاقيات الحكومة الإسرائيلية إحتلالُ هو الأكثر ربحية في التاريخ. وارتفع عدد المستوطنين من 150 ألفاً إلى 930 ألفاً خلال 30 عاماً من "عملية السلام" التي تم تنظيمها لترسيخ الاستعمار والفصل العنصري. وهذا ما حققته اتفاقيات واشنطن (المعروفة أيضاً باسم أوسلو). لقد دمرت منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية، ودمرت ولايتها، بل وزعمت أنها غيرت دستورها (وهذا كان اجتماع غير قانوني). الرئيس عرفات ضمنيا وليس علنبا عاد إلى المقاومة ولذ سمموه وعينوا بديلا

بينما تزعم حكومة محمود عباس والحكومات العربية والغربية أنها عاجزة عن لجم إسرائيل ووقف الإبادة الجماعية، فإن الحقائق على الأرض تظهر العكس. كيف يمكن لغزة المحاصرة والفقيرة أن تهزم الجيش الإسرائيلي في 7 أكتوبر وتصمد أمام قصف الإبادة الجماعية للشهر الخامس بينما تتسبب في مقتل أكثر من 800 (بعض التقديرات 4000) جندي إسرائيلي وتُكلف الاقتصاد الإسرائيلي 33 مليار دولار؟ كيف يمكن للبنان المحاصر والفقير أن يُلحق خسائر فادحة بإسرائيل العنصرية، ويُجبر 100 ألف مستوطن يعيشون على الأراضي المسروقة في الجليل على المغادرة؟ كيف تمكن اليمن المحاصر والفقير من إغلاق الشحن من وإلى دولة إسرائيل التي تمارس الإبادة الجماعية. إذن نحن نعلم الآن أن حرب 1948 و"حرب الأيام الستة" عام 1967 لم تكن حروب! بل إن هؤلاء القادة العرب المتواطئين لم يفكروا جدياً في الحرب، ناهيك عن عمل حرب. وكثير من قيادات السلطة الفلسطينية التي تدعي دعم "المقاومة السلمية" تعاونت في الواقع مع إسرائيل لتدمير كل أشكال المقاومة (أنظر كتابي المقاومة الشعبية في فلسطين ).

طبعا هنالك من الشرفاء في كل التنظيمات السياسية ومنها فتح وأستطيع أن أسمي العديد منهم وأملنا أن يقودوا فصائلهم وتتجدد قيادات. رغم كل التواطؤ العربي والإسلامي، فإن فلسطين تعيش والفلسطينيون يشكلون درعا ضد التوسع الذي كانت الصهيونية تأمل فيه لإنشاء إمبراطورية تمتد على الأقل من النيل إلى الفرات. في الواقع يزعم الصهاينة المتدينون علنًا أن جميع غير اليهود سيكونون عبيدًا لهم ,بأننا في آخر الزمان. ولعل بطولة وصمود الملايين من أبناء شعبنا (هنا وفي المنفى) والشرفاء الفلسطينيون القادة ومنهم الشهداء (أي غير المتخاذلين والمستنفعين) على مدى 76 عاما. والتضحيات لن تضيع: 140 ألف شهيد, مليون ممن جربو السجون. 800 ألف  جريح. عدم استسلام 99% من شعبنا جعلت من عدونا يفقد توازنه ويمعن في القتل والخسة والقسوة والوحشية

ولكن لن ينقظه ذلك

سيحاول مجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة إصدار قرار يدعو إلى وقف إطلاق النار (يجب أن يسمى قرارًا لإنهاء الإبادة الجماعية) لكن من المتوقع أن تستخدم الولايات المتحدة حق النقض (الفيتو) وبالتالي تنتهك قوانينها مرة أخرى وكذلك اتفاقية الإبادة الجماعية. ولكن هنالك صحوة عالمية بعد أن أسقطت غزة وفلسطين كل الأقنعة الكاذبة. خاصة بين مئات الملايين من جيل الشباب والشابات والذين يغيرون هذا العالم النتن وسيسقط معه كل من استنفع أو خان ضميره. وقد أعذر من أنذر وتاب ورجع لضميره ولأمته ...ولكل زمان كلام

كما أنذرنا جورج أنطونيوس قبل حوالي مئة عام: أفيقوا واستيقظوا يا عرب