Alternative InsightThe Making of Israel
Two of Israel's more famous critics speak out
The growth of Israel from a dream and a document to a leading world military power and to a vibrant nation of more than six million inhabitants within one hundred years is one of the most interesting phenomenon of the twentieth century.
Uri Avnery, founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc) and Michael Warschawski, founder of the Israeli-Palestinian Alternative Information Center (AIC) are two familiar personalities who have played active roles in Israel's growth. Both are keen observers of the political scene and have much to relate of the history that formed present-day Israel. Their credible words have historical value and their ideas have universal meaning. They spoke freely about their lives while growing up in an Israel that has changed from utopian vision of a socialized economy and pacific promise to an occupier with a virulent nationalism that supports a militarist state. Critics are harsh; nevertheless their non-conventional ideas and historical perspectives illuminate the shadows of knowledge. In interviews, they revealed their knowledge of Israel's trajectory from UN resolutions that established an Israel from Palestinian lands to UN resolutions that condemn Israel for its occupation of other Palestinian lands.
Part I: The clear logic of Uri AvneryUri Avnery, Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc) founder, started life in Israel as a member of the right-wing Revisionist Zionist movement, Irgun. He fought in the 1948
Arab-Israeli War with the Samson's Foxes commando unit, created a political party in 1965 and was elected to the Knesset. The Knesset member set Israel's establishment on fire when he established contact with the Palestinian Liberation Organization leadership in 1974. During the war on Lebanon in 1982, he again disturbed Israel's government by crossing lines to meet with Yasser Arafat. He later became an ardent spokesperson against Israel's occupation.
Oct. 29, 2007 - Uri Avnery is as cool as the breeze that flows through his double exposure apartment, which faces the Mediterranean Sea on one side. The West Bank city of Ramallah can almost be seen from the other side. Uri is as simple and basic as the furnishings that surround him. Avnery is the history of Israel.
Having fought in the 1948 war, the Gush Shalom founder has first hand knowledge of the disputed arguments concerning the creation of Israel. He considers both sides responsible for the hostilities. The Arabs started the war because of a simple fact: they would not accept the United Nations (UN) partition plan. Israel, on the other hand, feared the UN was moving towards a trusteeship and the Zionists would not accept a trusteeship. The UN partition resolution precipitated a local war between Israelis and Palestinians. The former had organization, more modern arms and leadership, all of which gave Israel superiority over the leaderless and poorly equipped Palestinian forces. The Palestinians were only "part time" fighters and had no standing army. Haganah, the Israeli military force, had a general staff and quickly matured into a regular fighting force. Unfortunately, the war had atrocities on both sides. In the first months of conflict neither side took prisoners and there were incidents of local Arabs decapitating and parading dead Israeli soldiers.
The Arab armies attacked the Israel forces after the local war. (Note: This might have been due to Israel's regular army gaining superiority and decimating the inferior and irregular Palestinian forces.) Egyptian armies seem to have had orders to stop before entering Israel's side of the partition line. Jordanian forces mostly abstained from serious fighting after Israel secretly agreed to let then have the West Bank. Avnery does not believe Iraq was a serious factor in the war.In the beginning, Israel had no deliberate policy of pushing out the Arabs from their ancestral lands. As fighting progressed, inhabitants in the fighting zone moved to neighborhood villages, village by village, until many found themselves on the wrong side of the armistice line. After Ben Gurion learned he could do what he wanted without external interference, he started ethnic cleaning. Now, 99 % of the Israelis (according to Avnery) refuse a "right of return" for the refugees.
Uri Avnery's conclusion:
The 1948 war was basically a war of ethnic cleansing, on both sides. In all conferences, the Arabs speak of international law and Israel refutes international law. If anyone wants to know where the Arab villages were, look for cactus plants - they mark the villages.Go To
The Making of Israel Part IIThe Dialectic of Michael Warschawski alternativeinsight
december, 2007HOME PAGE MAIN PAGE 
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