Rather than invoking the motherhood argument about international law and what Finkelstein describes as the international consensus behind it, I believe we must be looking at facts on the ground. There we see the international community studiously refusing to take action in response to Israel’s never-ending flaunting of international law through its ceaseless expansion of settlements, collective punishment of Palestinians, attacks on civilians, etc.

Israel’s continuing actions have created such a negative situation that the European Union recently took the extraordinary step of declaring that it is losing faith in the possibility of creating a Palestinian state. In a recent report, the EU argues that the unceasing growth of Israeli settlement in the West Bank, together with limits on Palestinian freedom of movement and ever-expanding barriers to Palestinian construction are eroding any possibility of creating a Palestinian state.

In the words of the EU report, “The window for a two-state solution is rapidly closing with the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and access restrictions for Palestinians in Area C.”

This follows the release of an unprecedented report by the EU ambassadors to Israel from Britain, France, Germany and Portugal which voiced concern about Israel’s treatment of its Palestinian minority.

Rather than respond to the substance of this criticism, the Israeli foreign ministry released an angry statement saying that those European states risked making themselves “irrelevant.” Going even further, an unnamed Israeli official declared that the ambassadors’ criticism amounted to “plac[ing] themselves at the service of the Palestinian political and propaganda struggle.”

In my view, the invocation of international law under such circumstances amounts to a pipe dream. What is needed in this situation is serious action on the part of the EU, the US and the UN designed to alter Israel behaviour.

It seems to me what you are really saying is that you have no faith in international law. That’s a defensible position. But in this case, we are dealing with a situation that has been in the international arena since the late 1940s. All kinds of international bodies have weighed in on Is-Pal and they all conclude that the way forward is a 2-state solution, ’67 borders, repatriation of refugees, etc. What has been missing is enforcement.

Should we shrug and say … oh well, international law. So what? Or should we be focusing on ways and means of enforcement?

And should we shug off the changes occurring in Israel’s very midst? Especially, a new regime in Egypt? Turkey’s recent diplomatic offensive against Israel? Etc.

BDS: I am not opposed to BDS. But is it having the impact you hoped for? Has BDS brought the Israeli economy to its knees? Will it? When? By all means, BDS. But, equally by all means, the enforcement of international law.

NF does not invoke Ghandhi for the the fun of it. Ghandhi was great because he knew when compromise was needed. He was detested and he paid with his life political decisions. But he ended British rule of India. That’s political courage, and it’s needed now in the ME.
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I remain profoundly skeptical about the possibility of a two-state solution. Not only are the barriers to its realization enormous (something that Finkelstein simply ignores when repeats his call to invoke international law and enforce Palestinians’ right to return); in addition, there is no force on the Israeli political scene that’s even remotely interested in taking concrete steps in this direction. (I commend to you the following article on this very subject; see link.) Furthermore, the fact that there is what F refers to as an “international
consensus” means exactly what? Does this somehow confer ideological legitimacy on the idea or make the creation of two states a matter of pursuing international law?

I gather that you, yourself, are opposed to BDS. What concrete means do you think can and should be employed to realize the two-state solution (putting aside for the moment the practical difficulties in undoing the damage that Israel has done to the
West Bank and Gaza over the decades of its occupation)? And who is going to employ them?

Cheers,

Sid Shniad

http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/01/waiting-for-false-prophets-the-puzzling-matter-of-the-israeli-liberals/

I have to admit that I had been an unquestioning supporter of Israel until a few years ago, when I looked more closely at Israel’s brutal past and current policies. That is not to say that the rest of the Middle East does not have their own issues with brutality, but the Israeli Gov’t does not get a “pass” on treating everyone with the same degree of respect due to previous transgressions by the western world.

Keep up the good work.