For Palestinian leader, Ban Ki-moon does not cause terrorism, occupation does
Bernard Sabella talks to AsiaNews about the row between the UN chief and the Israeli PM. For the Catholic intellectual, all forms of violence have to be condemned but the absence of a political solution and a vision of peace are accentuating the conflict. Israel’s establishment is using regional crisis to promote its expansionist agenda.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – Prof Bernard Sabella, a Catholic member of Fatah in Jerusalem and the executive secretary of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees for the Middle East Council of Churches, spoke to AsiaNews about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation against the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that he is "encouraging terror" after the latter said that it was human nature for oppressed people to react to occupation.
Ban’s words “do not encourage terrorism,” For Prof Sabella. “I am not here to defend him but he issued a warning against violence. It is the announced expansion of settlements and the expropriation south of Jericho that is creating tensions. Once more, these actions are preventing peace talks and the agreement on two states, and this is causing frustration among Palestinians."
Reacting to the war of words between the UN chief and the Israeli leader, the Palestinian official reiterated his utmost opposition to all forms of violence; however, “as long as the Israeli establishment fails to see the occupation, it cannot blame the Palestinians for the failure to achieve reconciliation.”
Already strained, relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon took a nosedive as the Israeli leader slammed again the United Nations for having lost its neutrality and moral force long ago.
"The comments of the UN secretary general encourage terror," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement. "There is no justification for terror” against the state and people of Israel.
Speaking before the Security Council, Ban had said that the wave of attacks was driven by a "profound sense of alienation and despair" among some Palestinians, particularly the young.
He noted that “it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism." In fact, the occupation “serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism,” which the frozen peace process cannot but boost.
Whilst condemning the attacks against Israeli civilians, Ban said Israel's settlement-building programme cast doubt on its commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Incensed, Netanyahu slammed the UN secretary general for the violence and terror, denied the charges and accused instead the Palestinians of working against the creation of a state.
Since October 2015, more than 155 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have died in violence.
"What is happening in the occupied territories goes against any political process leading to a two-state solution,” Prof Sabella said. “Of course, one can never condone the use of violence by either side. However, it is painful and useless to talk about the victims on both sides and not mention the lack of a political process and a vision of peace between Israel and Palestine," especially now that Israel has just decided to build 153 new houses in the West Bank.
For the Palestinian Catholic intellectual, “a ‘victim’ mind-set prevails in Israel, and this is dangerous because it prevents finding a way out of the crisis. We are at an impasse, like the character in ‘Waiting for Godot’. We need a miracle.”
The evolving international and regional agenda, the wars in Syria and Iraq, and the rising Islamism are not good signs for the peace process.
"Some in Israel believe that such trends can give them a free hand to pursue their own agenda,” Sabella said. “However, that is short-sighted because failure to find a solution can have very serious economic, political, and social consequences, as evinced by rising unemployment and a collapsing tourist sector. Everyone will suffer. Indeed, at present I cannot see any good will among Israeli leaders.”
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23/11/2023 12:31
09/07/2022 19:41
