SOD
This word in Ivrit means “secret.” However, in the context of this opinion piece, it is an abbreviation for Same Old Deceptions.
Michael Kuttner
Interestingly enough the fact that the same old deceptions have managed to remain incognito for decades attests to the uncanny ability for inconvenient truths to become secrets especially when politicians and willing media mates co-operate.
Why has this assumed relevance at this particular time?
One would need to be totally disconnected for being unaware of the tsunami of righteous indignation being spouted from all quarters as Israel nears a decision on implementing sovereignty. Every conceivable threat, doomsday prediction and gratuitous condemnation is pouring forth. Local critics, who still have stars in their eyes and hallucinate that the corrupt gangs in Ramallah and Gaza can be counted on to be genuine peacemakers, see this as their last opportunity to give away more pieces of Israel. Some try to hedge their bets by asserting that we should only proceed when the PLO, the Hashemite de facto Arab Palestinian State and the rest of the Arab/Islamic world agree. This strategy, of course, is a recipe for doing nothing because only someone detached from reality would ever envisage such a scenario occurring.
Homegrown dissenters are entitled to exercise their democratic right to protest but when foreign (mainly EU) funded groups are encouraged to interfere then it is time to complain and take action. Likewise, media fake news and scams plus superfluous hot air released by foreign hyperventilating political individuals and UN associated groupies call for robust rebuttal rather than embarrassed silence and stuttering statements.
The New Zealand Foreign Minister’s recent efforts to pontificate on a subject he is totally ill-informed about is a perfect example of how clueless sitting on the fence remarks go down like a lead balloon here. Apart from the diminishing minority of Oslo cheerleaders, the sentiments expressed would be greeted by gasps of incredulity. To be fair, the assertions made by Winston Peters are not original but merely rote reiterations of the standard nonsense generated on a regular basis by the British Foreign Office, the EU and UN and from the US State Department pre-Trump.
It is a useful exercise to compare the spurious claims made with proof to demonstrate the mortal danger we would be in if we were ever to be so deluded as to fall for this “friendly” advice.
CLAIM: New Zealand is a long-standing supporter of Israel’s right to live in peace and security.
REALITY: That may have been the case in 1948 but is certainly not so in recent times. In fact, as co-sponsor of UN Resolution 2334 and with a voting record which is abysmal the end result would be exactly the opposite.
CLAIM: Israeli settlements are a violation of international law and have negative implications for the peace process.
REALITY: Communities in territory which was originally legally allocated for Jewish settlement (San Remo, League of Nations, and UN) and which was illegally occupied by Jordan are NOT in violation of international law. The so-called peace process has been killed off several times by the desire to destroy Israel.
CLAIM: “Annexation” would gravely undermine the two-state solution, breach international law and pose significant risks to regional security.
REALITY: There is no room for yet another terror state in the midst of Israel. It is an existential threat to every Israeli man, woman and child. Look at Gaza and Lebanon currently ruled by terrorist groups for examples of what we could expect. Jordan is the de facto “Palestinian” state, not the territory called JUDEA and SAMARIA. The only significant risks to regional security are posed by Iran and the terror groups threatening Israel such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the PLO.
CLAIM: We support direct negotiations with the aim of seeing Israel and a Palestinian State existing side by side in peace and security.
REALITY: Neither Arafat nor Abbas were or are interested in direct negotiations leading to peace and security. Countless such opportunities were rejected in the past and continue to be currently shunned. If the hallucinators would face facts instead of believing every gullible lie they would quickly realize that the PLO’s plan is to mobilize its supporters and fellow travellers at the UN and other such bodies to pressure and compel Israel to buckle to their demands.
Here are some actual quotes which reveal exactly the reality we face.
Arafat: “The Palestinians have NO national identity. I, Yasser Arafat, man of destiny will give them that identity through conflict with Israel.”
Ahmed Shukeiri (first chairman of PLO): (1964): we are dedicated to the liberation of a country which does not exist (i.e. Palestine); (1956) at the UN: “such a creature as Palestine does not exist at all. This land is nothing but the southern portion of greater Syria.”
Zahir Muhsein (PLO executive member in 1977): “The Palestinian people do not exist. The creation of a Palestinian State is only a means for continuing our struggle against Israel. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese.”
PLO on the eve of the 6 Day War (1967): “we shall destroy Israel and all its inhabitants.”
It should be apparent to all but those who don’t want to be confused with the truth that the concept of a distinct Palestinian identity and the “need” for them to have their own State with half of Jerusalem thrown in is nothing but a fraudulent claim. The fact that this has been swallowed hook, line and sinker proves that history can be upended and fictitious claims can be accepted so long as the lies are repeated often and loudly enough.
Critics assert that present-day “Palestinian” leaders have changed, turned into peace doves and that we should ignore the poisonous brainwashing that continues in their media and schools. Are these defenders of Palestinian Arab sainthood so ignorant of history or so deliberately biased that they are prepared to peddle mistruths ad infinitum? Do those who warn us of dire consequences not understand the fraud which is being peddled? They should read the latest clarion calls for peace and security which are emanating from Ramallah and recorded courtesy of PMW: https://palwatch.org/page/18010
Obviously the Munich syndrome is alive and well in the corridors of the UN and Foreign Ministries. Anyone with even a semblance of common sense can see that duplicitous promises and pieces of paper are as genuine as Chamberlain’s disastrous agreement with Hitler. In their desire to ignore facts the world community is desperate to sell us a tainted bill of goods.
Well, this time around, the majority of sane Israelis refuse to be hoodwinked. Why on earth should we fall for the same old deceptions yet again?
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.
