TERRORIZING THE PALESTINIANS INTO SUBMISSION
MID-EAST REALITIES © - www.MiddleEast.Org - Washington - 5/08:
Some years ago as the first MER newsletter we published Dr. Iyad Sarraj's passionate article titled
"Why We Have All Become Suicide Bombers" -- http://www.middleeast.org/newslet1.htm.
Ironically, in the early years of this ignoble "Peace Process", Dr. Sarraj himself -- a dignified psychiatrist
and recipient of the Physician for Human Rights Award -- was arrested three times, tortured, and
threatened with death...not by the Israelis but by the forces of the Arafat "Palestinian Authority". Also a few
years ago Dr. Sarraj was featured on our weekly television program -- MER-TV programs #40 & #41.
There are brilliant, principled, and dignified Palestinians who should be the ones known to the world, the
ones appearing on television representing their people, the ones invited to international conferences, and
most importantly of all the ones empowered to be the representatives of their people negotiating in a
dignified and principled way for a truly just and lasting peace. Dr. Sarraj, along with Dr. Haidar
Abdul-Shafi who headed the Palestinian delegation to Madrid and Washington and then so presciently
refused to attend the White House signing ceremony with Arafat and Rabin, both living in Gaza, are at the
very top of this list.
FROM HELL WITH LOVE
A Letter to all Prime Ministries of the EU Countries
By Dr. Iyad El Sarraj*
When I was studying psychology, I was introduced to the laboratory of human
behavior. In one experiment, a poor guinea pig was to learn how hard it can
be to die. It was repeatedly given a piece of cheese. When the animal tried
to taste the cheese, it was given an electric shock. The guinea pig would go
then into frenzy, rocketing himself against the cage in a desperate attempt
to escape. After few episodes the miserable animal would be frozen by terror
in his cage. His earlier attempts at rebellion were futile, and his rage
could not persuade his masters to give him a respite.
A few days later it would die, and the dissection of the body revealed
severe internal hemorrhage of the suprarenal, which had been producing
serious amounts of adrenaline.
The experiment was about the effects of stress, we were told. You can apply
it to the world we live in; human relations, power and powerlessness.
This letter of course is not about guinea pigs, but it is about us, Palestinians.
It is about human life, about the politics of arrogance and the "violence" of
the oppressed. I feel the duty of writing to you, with the hope that you may
see and act.
I am aware, like all of us, of the sad fact of today that only America can
decide on issues of the world, even stubbornly and unilaterally insist on
polluting it. As for matters of the Middle East, you know very well that
Israel is reassured of the American support, the impotence of the Arabs
and the silence of the world. So we enter the cage.
The Palestinians are caged on their own land, while the Israeli military
marches towards the complete and final 'victory'. What you are observing
from a distance is a Palestinian "violent" reaction to a vigorous Israeli
attempt at domination and imposing submission, with or without cheese.
The Israeli plan to achieve 'victory' is not very difficult to understand,
especially if you belong the club of Israeli generals. The plan is based on
the following:
a) Present the Palestinians with offers that they have to refuse, and let
them be seen as the obstacle to peace.
b) Incite the Palestinians; make them react violently, so Israel is seen as
the victim. The tragedy is that the Palestinians have reacted always as
Israel demands as they could not see other none violent alternative.
c) Talk about peace and the future, and let the Palestinians talk about
history and liberation.
d) Let the world know that you seek security, while Palestinians are painted
as terrorists.
e) Make the world believe that Israel is eager to solve the problem by
negotiation while Palestinians are trying to impose solutions under fire.
>From that logic Israeli soldiers are projected as defending themselves, and
Palestinian children are killed because they are asking to be killed and
their families are inhuman.
The same logic means that Israel has no hesitation in demolishing
Palestinian homes, while talking about its desire to improve their life.
And Israel has the nerve to seize land on the West Bank and Gaza and tell
the world that Palestinians have twenty-two Arab countries while Jews have
only one Israel.
Dear Prime Minister,
If the Israeli military is allowed to pursue its final victory it must produce a new
exodus which may reach Europe. The Palestinians in Gaza will have to leave,
and those who would remain in the West Bank would have to accept
Jordan as their state.
To achieve its goal the Israeli military will have only to commit a savage
war, and massacres "by mistake!" As at Deir Yassin 53 years ago, Israeli'
defense forces will kill a few hundreds or thousands. They will open the
border to Egypt, and Palestinians will flee.
Victory in the eyes of Israeli military establishment is said to be peace
and security. But it is not. Clearly and increasingly it is about eating up
the rest of Palestine.
As you know peace and security for Israel can only be achieved if it abides
by the International law and ends its occupation of Palestinian Land.
In America the remnants of the 'red Indians' have been reduced to misery on
reservations and die at an early age -- of stress, of poverty, of powerlessness
and defeat. The US administration is prepared to let Israel treats the
Palestinians in a similar way.
Will Europe simply stand by and watch? Or how can you explain your
abstention on the UN human rights commission ruling for the protection of
the Palestinians against the brutal Israeli policies of occupation, which are
already condemned by your government?
Sincerely yours,
* Dr. Eyad El Sarraj
General Director
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme - 4/30/2001
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