The Ten Thousand
One efficient method of reducing state-directed violence is to have international human rights monitors present. In the case of the territories occupied by Israel, deployment of such monitors by the United Nations has been blocked by the United States, last in March 2001. (For the vetoed resolution and the extensive list of other US vetos on Israel, see the Global Policy Forum.)
In the absence of action at the UN level, individual activists, most notably the International Solidarity Movement, have done important work as human rights observers on the ground, in addition to taking direct non-violent action. Now there is a new suggestion, the P10K. The idea is to get 10 000 international volunteers to stay in the Occupied Territories indefinitely. They would be a major brake on Israeli state terrorism, but there is an added twist: in exchange for the ten thousand coming to protect Palestinians, Palestinian armed groups would unilaterally end attacks inside Israel.
I hope the ceasefire would also include attacks on non-combatants in the Occupied Territories. It would be best for everyone if the Palestinian armed groups stopped all attacks on civilians immediately and unconditionally, international observers or not. They are immoral and illegal, and also counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. However, it may be that something like P10K is needed to bring about a unilateral end to Palestinian terrorism; a mutual end to terror will come about only via pressure on Israel.
I have much respect the ISM, but I am not sure about the seriousness P10K effort - the style of the main organiser is not very reassuring. And there are major obstacles to be overcome. The obvious issues are getting 10 000 internationals committed to staying and the Palestinian armed groups committed to the ceasefire (thus far the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade has agreed). Beyond that, if the Israeli government fears that the plan might work, it may deploy same methods as in the past to break Palestinian ceasefires and intimidate internationals: increased violence, including assassination of leaders for the Palestinians, arrests, deportations and gunfire for the internationals. Still, an ambitious and courageous plan.
In the absence of action at the UN level, individual activists, most notably the International Solidarity Movement, have done important work as human rights observers on the ground, in addition to taking direct non-violent action. Now there is a new suggestion, the P10K. The idea is to get 10 000 international volunteers to stay in the Occupied Territories indefinitely. They would be a major brake on Israeli state terrorism, but there is an added twist: in exchange for the ten thousand coming to protect Palestinians, Palestinian armed groups would unilaterally end attacks inside Israel.
I hope the ceasefire would also include attacks on non-combatants in the Occupied Territories. It would be best for everyone if the Palestinian armed groups stopped all attacks on civilians immediately and unconditionally, international observers or not. They are immoral and illegal, and also counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. However, it may be that something like P10K is needed to bring about a unilateral end to Palestinian terrorism; a mutual end to terror will come about only via pressure on Israel.
I have much respect the ISM, but I am not sure about the seriousness P10K effort - the style of the main organiser is not very reassuring. And there are major obstacles to be overcome. The obvious issues are getting 10 000 internationals committed to staying and the Palestinian armed groups committed to the ceasefire (thus far the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade has agreed). Beyond that, if the Israeli government fears that the plan might work, it may deploy same methods as in the past to break Palestinian ceasefires and intimidate internationals: increased violence, including assassination of leaders for the Palestinians, arrests, deportations and gunfire for the internationals. Still, an ambitious and courageous plan.
posted by Syksy at 23:57
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