re "Why Don't the Palestinians Use Nonviolence"

On Monday, October 08, 2007 4:44 PM, David Bloom submitted, from Finklestein on Goldberg: "A supreme failing of Palestinians during the first intifada, in Goldberg's view, is that they embraced violence and lacked appreciation of nonviolent resistance." (and so on...)

Yes and no, David. I'm sending this on to the Middle East and Disarmament lists because it does bear on something more than the disputes you and Ralph have been having (fascinating as those exchanges have been). (And on reflection will send it to a couple of other lists as well). I know there were (and are today) nonviolent actions and movements among the Palestinians. But I also know that Arafat did not ever do what I longed for him to do - to respond to the Israeli Occupation force by a nonviolent march on Jerusalem. I do know (because I was there and a part of it) that in - I think - 1987 (not sure of the year, I had just become Chair of the War Resisters International at the time), that the PLO tried a genuine, clearly nonviolent action - a "ship of return" which would carry a number of Palestians along with a number of their supporters, of which I was one because of my post with WRI, and was there to represent them. There were other, more substantial, figures from the European Parliament, Church figures, etc. The idea was a ship to sail toward Israel, filled with all of us, mainly Palestinians, and to let the world see what the Israeli reaction would be. One can't imagine a more clearly nonviolent action. This came to nothing, however, because after various troubles renting a ship, the one the PLO finally did rent was damaged in an explosion by Mossad agents (along with the death of at least two and I think three PLO members that were with the ship), which was on its way to Athens, from which we were due to leave. So in the end, those of us who were going to board the ship risked nothing - the Israelis agents, using the currency of violence, with which they are so familar, made sure of it. You will see why on this matter I think the Israelis, like all oppresive states, are fearful of nonviolence. I remain convinced that Arafat missed a chance. Peace, David McReynolds