Short one today.
The myth of Israeli aggression and Palestinian victimization is as old as this conflict itself. We can argue about whether or not individual conflicts (such as Cast Lead) were started by Israel or not. But there are some who approach the trope of Israeli aggression not so much on the micro level but on the macro: Israel has always been the aggressor and the Arabs, including the Arab states, have always been the victims who are defending themselves.
In response to this myth, one can go through the three wars and explain how the Arabs were the ones responsible for the start of the violence and were the ones who refused peace. But I have a faster way.
Just link to the Khartoum Resolution of 1967. No victim of aggression has ever made such a belligerent pact, no victim has ever refused peace, recognition or negotiation. And none ever will.
The Arab states are not the victims here. They aren't the ones who didn't want war. Their own words of the time prove it.
Israel is both victim and aggressor.
ReplyDeleteI think of late, they have become far more aggressive and more militant in their refusal to stop building new settlements on lands already occupied by Palestinians.
The situation in Gaza is deplorable and a direct consequence of Israeli aggression.