prerequisite for the psychological rehabilitation of Palestinians and Israelis alike?
Survivors must be heard, their stories recognized and their rights restored. Because justice is a requirement for, rather than an alternative to, reconciliation, Israeli perpetrators must admit their wrongs and may request amnesty. Why not a Nuremburg Tribunal or a Truth and Reconciliation Commission? The latter certainly was key to South Africa’s successful transformation from an apartheid to a democratic state that today is a welcome and respected member of the international community.
#1 by Matthew O on February 8, 2010 - 8:26 am
Sounds good.
#2 by DANIEL W on February 8, 2010 - 8:38 am
A Nuremburg Tribunal? For whom, there are faults on both sides.
The conflict is not one-sided, teh Palestinians send Rockets against S’derot on a DAILY basis, no doubt you think Israel should just take it.
What about the guman recently in Jerusalem who killed schoolboys who were studying. Israel has never targetted civilians, Palestinian terrorists always target civilians.
The people responsible for the Palestinian’s suffering in Gaza are Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al-asqa Martyr’s Brigade. If they had not conducted the attacks and second intifada against Israel then the Palestinians would have far more autonomy and possibly their own state by now.
#3 by Friend on February 8, 2010 - 9:35 am
South Africa still has many, many racial problems, poor blacks and an AIDS epidemic. The only reason South Africa is used as a positive example is because the rest of Africa is so terrible. As for Israel your suggestion of some type of trial is foolish. First of all the Palestinians are at least 50% responsible for everything that has happened to them. Next you’d have to put every family of a suicide bomber on trial especially the ones who sent minors over to kill civilians. the only thing good which might come from what you suggest is perhaps some of the hundreds of millions of dollars arafat stole from his people could be retrieved from the Swiss bank accounts.
#4 by samsproudmommy on February 8, 2010 - 9:49 am
i belive it can help, but in order for to help it must go both ways, hear the palestinian stories and the israeli stories
#5 by Shay p on February 8, 2010 - 10:00 am
The UN (League of Nations) voted, Jews were given their land back, Israel was the land of the Jew once more.
From that point on the Arabs wouldn’t quit.
So one side only has to stand there for a Nuremberg Tribunal or a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the side that started it all.
Israelis will do just fine.
As for apartheid, check well into the definition of the word, or as MP Livni said to MP Tibi
“The very fact that you are an Israeli Knesset member, that you are the deputy speaker of the Knesset as a matter of fact, who represents 20% of Israel’s population, that you are here and that you can say anything you please – that is the proof that Israel is a democratic nation.”
#6 by Cher on February 8, 2010 - 10:13 am
You assume evil & immoral acts were committed against Palestinians.
What’s needed is Nuremburg Tribunals for all the false accusations made against Israel. Such as this. (Interesting, the first tribunals were from the results of false accusations against Jews.)
Looking at the history, consider that it was a war started by the Palestinian Arabs. And in that defense, the Jews were a heck of a lot better towards the Arabs than most peoples have ever been in war.
As for the Palestinian sufferings, Jews suffered too. Stuff happens in war. Those who started it can be brought to justice. Those who acted uncivilally throughout the years can be brought to justice – so tribunal for all the terrorist supportors please?
Individual efforts to get voices heard & healing had might help, because individuals did get caught in it all. But that’s already been started by israeli-palestinian groups.
As for apartheid, that requires it to be a race issue. There are Palestinian Arabs in Israel with full citizenship. This is a political issue.
Over Arab empire building ideology that they and only they can have self-rule in the middle east. (Actually gets much more more complicated than that, but it’s a key piece.)
#7 by Sophia B on February 8, 2010 - 11:01 am
I firmly believe so. There can never be peace while Israel accuses the UN and the world of lying about its crimes. We’re all clearly willing to point out the Palestinian crimes–I’ve even heard that Israelis never target civillians! There are reports of a hundred Palestinian students shot at their desks by Israeli troops, yet all anyone cares about is the eight Israeli children dead–and no one even knows who did it!
#8 by Bosco on February 8, 2010 - 11:56 am
Such a tribunal will surely follow a successful war of independence and justice will be as harsh as Nuremburg. The only acknowledgment of guilt will be in the context of clemency pleas on behalf of persons about to be hanged by the Palestinian government for crimes against humanity.
#9 by Brynn on February 8, 2010 - 12:01 pm
No,I don’t care what the zionists “acknowledge”; i just want them defeated in a war of independence. What is done with the former leaders afterwards is of no interest. And they are beyond rehabilitation. I am more concerned with the rehabilitation of post-war Palestine – cleaning out all the overbuilt areas,the urban sprawl and restoring it’s natural character.
#10 by Bahira on February 8, 2010 - 12:26 pm
Evil must be punished and a captive people made free; I have nothing more to say on this.
#11 by Galahad on February 8, 2010 - 12:37 pm
Most people just want them out,period. After that Palestine may approach the world court to bring these vicious psychos to justice.
#12 by Zeno on February 8, 2010 - 1:14 pm
Welcome back,it’s been a while. I think your analogy is imperfect. The Afrikanners were never anywhere as brutal or as heavily armed as the zionists; in Palestine we are dealing with a very different element. The occupation of Palestine will never be resolvable by the same means that peace and justice was established in South Africa. Zionists thrive on war and use extremely heavy-duty equipment to achieve their goals. They are only responsive to brute force and that carries the hazard of nuclear retaliation. I don’t feel the peace & justice angle has any application; I would suggest an analogy to Algeria under French occupation. Today’s attack on the Gaza simply further illustrates that we are confronted with a ruthless enemy of humanity.
#13 by m i on February 8, 2010 - 1:16 pm
Well, yes
Israel was founded on targetting civilians. The early Zionists all discussed ways of getting rid of the native inhabitants of Palestine, Israel’s founders deliberatly and systematically ethnically cleansed the territory it took over of its Palestinian Arab inhabitants, who otherwise would have been the majority of the people. Open acknowlegement, rather than perpetrating the lie that Israel has never targetted civilians is necessary. Of course many of the perpetrators of the ethnic cleansing upon which Israel was founded are dead, but so many more have been committed since then that there’s plenty to admit to.
I think acknowleging equal rights and justice is also necessary, in particular allowing Palestinians to return and be compensated for the destruction of their homes and businesses under the terms of UN resolution 194.
#14 by Maya on February 8, 2010 - 1:43 pm
Rehabilitation for Palestine will begin with it’s liberation from European domination. Justice will rendered when the executors of the zionist agenda are brought to justice before the Hague.