Healing Well of Miriam

As the conflict with Hamas rages, questions arise, and, as always, the international community blames Israel.  I do not think that average people in the nations really understand the dilemma, but the leaders—particularly those involved in the peace process—most certainly do.  So, as they raise questions about Israel’s culpability, I have questions for them…the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, as well as the Arab nations.

Gaza has been called an “open air prison”…and of course, Israel is blamed.  Israel has been accused of imposing “collective punishment.”  (You mean limiting the number of Gazans permitted to enter Israel for work?)  It seems people forget that Gaza is supposed to be its own autonomous region.  The wall and fence is not a “prison wall”…it is a national border meant to keep terrorists out of Israel.

The Oslo Accords of the 1990s granted autonomy—self-governance—to Gaza.  At the time, Yassar Arafat first stated that they were not ready to accept the responsibility of statehood.  (What a surprise!)  Even after they officially took charge, Israel had to continue propping Gaza up, supplying them with electricity, cell phone service, water, etc.  People from Gaza continued to go to Israel to work, because the employment prospects in Gaza were insufficient.  This self-determined “state” continued to be dependent on Israel, all the while protesting their desire for freedom and claiming Israel, who was supporting them, was actually their oppressor.

People in Gaza, as well as in Judea and Samaria, claim to be refugees.  But they have been living in these places for decades.  They now have autonomy, so why are they still claiming refugee status with the UN…and why is the UN still allowing this continuation for people who have been settled for decades?  The “refugee camps” are cities…why are they still being referred to as “refugee camps”?  The UN has treated the Palestinian refugee issue differently from that of any other group of people, allowing it to continue for decades and generations.  Shouldn’t this agreement with the peace accords finally have settled this issue? 

People heatedly complain that Gaza is oppressed…by whom?  In 2005 Israel forcibly evacuated every single Jew from Gush Katif.  Gaza is now “Judenrein”—free of any Jewish presence.  And by the way, the extremely productive and profitable Jewish farms were left behind in Gaza.  This could have fed the people of Gaza and provided them with jobs and income.  But no…the Gazans burned them.  Then they cry to the international community over Gaza’s poverty and lack of food.  They burned the farms!!  Why did no one call them out on that?

The United States and the European Union have poured billions into Gaza since the 1990s, amounting to several times the Marshall Plan!  Why was there no oversight to make sure the funds were being spent on the development of the area?  In almost thirty years, isn’t it reasonable to think Gaza could have been developed into a successful resort or some other amazing venture?  Isn’t it reasonable to think Gaza could have been cleaned up and made into a more pleasant home for the people?   Remember, the funds they received amounted to several times the Marshall Plan!  Why were there no questions about the tons and tons of concrete being brought in?  What was it for?  Where did it all go?  Arafat, at the time, did talk about building underground bunkers.  Why did no one question that?…even Israel?  If this agreement was supposed to be for peace, if that was the whole point of giving over this land to Palestinian rule, why did they need underground bunkers?  Since then, the tunnel systems have been no secret to anyone worldwide, yet no one seems to question this as inconsistent with all the agreements—renouncing terrorism—made and signed by the Palestinian Authority—the PLO, the sanitized terror organization forced on Israel early in the agreement talks as the “only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” 

From the very early days of the peace process, it came to light that the Palestinian school curriculum continued the propaganda of victimhood and war mentality.  A whole generation has grown up and had their own children, while continuing the cycle of hatred against the perceived oppression of Israel.  Babies have been photographed dressed as suicide bombers, but when this came before the UN, they failed to denounce it as child abuse.  Children have been groomed to throw rocks at the Israeli army and to aspire to becoming terrorists.  Terror attacks have been celebrated in the street with candy handed out to the children.  Videos of rallies in Palestinian streets have shown children on parents’ shoulders holding guns—real guns.  When the October 7^th hostages were taken into Gaza, they said they were beaten with sticks by the people on the street.  Videos were taken of hostage children being beaten and tormented by Gazan children.  Even with autonomy, violent hatred continues to be accepted as normal.   

Everyone talks about the suffering of the Palestinian people.  Whose fault is that?  I’m really sick and tired of hearing that it is Israel’s fault.  It’s easy to blame the Palestinians themselves…and to a point, I do.  But I also blame the nations that cloaked themselves in self-righteous “concern” and imposed a process they called peace.  Because it was NEVER peace.  If all of them were truly concerned, they would have paid closer attention to the way their money was being spent and would have intervened.  And speaking of that…it is truly disgusting that the Arab countries, who claim to care about their “Palestinian brothers” only contribute money to fund their war efforts, but never to the betterment of the lives of the people. 

But you know who does care about the lives of the Arabs’ “Palestinian brothers”?…Israel.  Israel provides medical care to them…without charge.  Israel has shared agricultural technology with farmers in regions like the Jordan Valley and Gaza.  Israel allows the workers to hold jobs in Israel…even when the threat of terrorism really makes that risky.  Israel has allowed Palestinians to attend Israeli universities.  The list goes on.  The point is…and has always been…that if the Palestinians really wanted peace, they would have it, and Israel would be their greatest helper. 

At the Madrid Conference in 1991, Itzhak Shamir recounted the history of the refugee crises and the many times Israel has tried to make peace with the Palestinians. 

Israel is a very tiny piece of the Middle East, surrounded by the vast lands of the Arab countries.  If the Arabs had wanted to resettle the refugees, they could have done so.  This conflict has never been about land or refugees.  In fact, considering the numerous times the Palestinians have refused concessions to form their own separate state alongside Israel, it has never even been about a two-state solution.  Hamas and the current protests around the world—with the cry “From the river to the sea…”—have made it very, very clear what the real goal is:  the annihilation of Israel.

So, my last question is:  since the nations clearly have not seemed concerned over the squandering of the enormous amounts of money they poured into Gaza and the PA autonomy, what was their true agenda?  Can we honestly believe that their determination for a two-state solution—while excusing ongoing horrendous terrorism against Israel—was truly to advance peace?  

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Miriam Ben-Yaacov © November 2023