Press Action ::: Foxing for Ariel Sharon

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Foxing for Ariel Sharon

By Abu Spinoza

Abraham H. Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, writing in an op-ed titled “Open to Debate In Israel” in the Washington Post (Saturday, December 27, 2003), bemoans: “I would suggest that there is a tendency in some circles to psychologically delegitimize the Sharon government without stating it so bluntly. Reflexive and distorted reactions to Sharon, whether calling him a Nazi or unrepentant hard-liner or war criminal or racist or drinker of Muslim children’s blood, all have an impact.”

Ariel Sharon’s record speaks for itself. He was the Defense Minister of Israel when it invaded Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. The estimated number of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians killed during the Israeli invasion and occupation is in a range of 17,000 to 29,500, of whom it is estimated that approximately 40 percent were children, which would be about 6,800 to 11,800 children killed. The Sabra and Shatila massacre in September 1982 was carried out by the Phalangists with the complicity of the Israeli occupation army. Even an inquiry commission authorized by Israelis held Sharon “responsible for ignoring the danger of bloodshed and revenge when he approved the entry of the Phalangists into the camps as well as not taking appropriate measures to prevent bloodshed.”

Sharon’s earlier record includes participation in the Qibya massacre (1956), commanding Israeli army units responsible for the killing of Egyptian prisoners of war from the Anglo-French and Israel Suez War on Egypt (1956), promotion of illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, and formulating and implementing the Israeli occupation army’s policies of collective punishment and human rights violations in Palestinian territories.

If someone engages in invading and occupying another country, if someone is willfully responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians, and if someone is violating international human rights and is practicing collective punishment, then they could be compared to Nazis with some justification. I would not fault anyone for figuratively speaking of Ariel Sharon as a “drinker of Muslim children’s blood” in light of his Nazi-like and well-documented passion for attacking other countries, using cluster bombs on civilian areas, and ravaging populated urban areas with U.S.-made tanks, attack helicopters, and advanced aircrafts.

Given Sharon’s record, it is a disgrace that Mr. Foxman laments the efforts of human rights campaigners and peace activists to “psychologically delegitimize the Sharon government.” Mr. Foxman’s own efforts to pour respectability on Ariel Sharon and euphemistically label Israel’s Wall of Apartheid as “building of a fence” because it is “the result of the feeling that something different needs to be done” apparently to prevent Palestinian suicide attacks is nothing other than a rationalization of land-grabbing and economic blockades. If the Israelis are interested in stopping Palestinian acts of terrorism, the solution is quite simple: End the occupation. Rather Sharon is prolonging the occupation and reinforcing the infrastructure of oppression by building Israel’s Wall of Apartheid and by subsidizing occupation settlements.

As is typical of any Israel’s apologist worth his lobbying dollars, Mr. Foxman speaks also of Israel’s “democratic institutions” in his op-ed piece. Israel is as democratic as South Africa was during the high days of Apartheid. In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who has some first-hand knowledge of Apartheid): “I’ve been very deeply distressed in my visit to the Holy Land; it reminded me so much of what happened to us black people in South Africa. I have seen the humiliation of the Palestinians at checkpoints and roadblocks, suffering like us when young white police officers prevented us from moving about.”

In his autobiographical note, Mr. Foxman writes eloquently about how he wants his children to know that “there also are decent human beings who will stand for others.” However, by siding with Sharon, a murderer of Palestinian children and civilians, and trying to legitimize his government and the Wall of Apartheid, Mr. Foxman’s sets a truly disgusting example for the children of the world.

For further information, see:

1) Ariel Sharon, Electronic Intifada

2) The International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra & Shatila

Abu Spinoza is a columnist for Press Action.

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