First appeared on Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) site.

By Jonathan Kuttab

Last week, I lamented the failure of the world to address the siege of Gaza, which has gone on for 15 years and kept two million Palestinians trapped  in an unlivable open-air prison. The real elephant in the room, however, and the justification used for failing to lift that siege is the fact that the Gaza Strip is currently ruled by Hamas—considered an illegitimate terrorist organization, hell-bent on the destruction of Israel and, as such, not a potential candidate for negotiations or peace.

The existence of Hamas is also the lame excuse given for the paralysis of peace talks. Since the Palestinians are divided and Mahmoud Abbas cannot (and is not allowed to) talk either with or for Hamas, it is said that there exists “no one to talk to” on the Palestinian side. Hamas has become a convenient excuse for indefinite occupation.

It may well be time to broach the taboo subject of talking to Hamas and seek instead a way of bringing them into the peace conversation. Certainly, there can be no peace without Hamas and its followers participating in some way or another.

Now, I must begin by saying that I am neither an apologist nor do I in any way speak for Hamas. In fact, I  reject their political philosophy, and I believe they have failed the people of Gaza in many ways. Yet, the isolation, demonization, and exclusion of Hamas from the political process has not been helpful.

The situation for Hamas is in many respects analogous to the situation of the PLO before the famous handshake that took place on the White House lawn. The PLO, too, was considered a terrorist organization; its charter was unacceptable, and some of its tactics were abhorrent. Yet, it represented at the time the Palestinian people, and one makes peace with one’s enemies, not with one’s friends.

In addition, the PLO carried out many civilian functions and played an important part in the lives of the people. Its demonization was a convenient way of demonizing all Palestinian people and preventing any progress towards reconciliation.

Brave individuals, including Christians, challenged “conventional wisdom” and at great risk to themselves, their reputation, and their careers were willing to meet with PLO officials, even though doing so was against the law at the time. Andrew Young (a former pastor and associate of Dr. King) was the US representative to the UN when he lost his job and damaged his career after meeting with the PLO representative to the UN, the late Zuhdi Tarazi.

Quaker and other church officials met with Yasser Arafat, even advising and urging him to take the necessary steps to move towards negotiations. This included changing the charter of the PLO, making public statements in favor of the recognition of Israel, and abandoning armed struggle.

Is it time to do the same with Hamas? After all, they do have physical control of the Gaza Strip’s interior and enjoy the support of a sizable portion of the Palestinian population—many of whom voted for Hamas only because they were frustrated with the corruption and inefficiency of Fatah and the Palestinain Authority.

Some may argue that Hamas is an evil entity and that they have no interest in making peace, that it is a waste of time and effort to even try, that they cannot be trusted, and that their own charter calls for the destruction of Israel (referring to the old charter that has long since been amended). The same arguments once trotted out against the PLO can all be applied to Hamas. This time, however, the Arab countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority, often join the chorus of those who oppose Hamas and refuse to negotiate with them.

Those interested in lasting peace, however, cannot take such a posture. We must be willing to talk to all, seeking the common humanity and goodwill in every corner. It is far too easy to demonize our enemies and those with whom we disagree. Jesus got into trouble for his willingness to associate with sinners, tax collectors, Samaritans, gentiles, and even women. Can his followers dare to follow his example?

It is easy enough to demonize our opponents and associate only with our friends and those who agree with us. It takes great courage and patience to open ourselves to those with whom we disagree, whether it is the Jewish settlers, right wing (or left wing) extremists, Zionist extremists, religious fanatics, or anyone else who disagrees with us. Yet, this is precisely what we need to do.

I understand that this challenge may be a bridge too far for some of you. After all, it runs against the conventional wisdom of most activist organizations and individuals. It also may be against the law. But, I would like to hear from others who disagree with me. At least, let us have a conversation about a topic that has been a taboo for too long.

“You have heard that it was said, “You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

—Matthew 5:43-48 (CEB)

First published by Friends of Sabeel North America

For the past 15 years, since June 2007, 2 million Palestinians have lived under a strict siege in a narrow strip along the Mediterranean Sea, 20 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide. Israel withdrew its 7000 settlers from that strip in 2005 but then surrounded it with walls, fences, and guns. No person or goods can enter or leave the Strip without Israel’s approval. Egypt also controls the one remaining opening in the South, but it does so in coordination with Israel and according to its wishes. These restrictions have turned the Strip into an open air prison, and have led to a systematic de-development of the Gaza Strip, which today has an unemployment rate of 50% and only 4-6 hours of electricity per day. 98% of its water is undrinkable. And periodic attacks by Israel (referred to as “mowing the lawn” by Israeli generals) have left thousands of buildings destroyed and unlivable. Materials for reconstruction are carefully regulated by Israelis. Even foodstuffs are strictly controlled. Only about 100 items are allowed in (at one time even spaghetti was not on the list of permitted foods). When asked whether they were planning to starve the Gazans, an Israeli general replied, “No. We just want to put them on a strict diet.” He was not joking. A report leaked that the Israeli army had calculated the number of calories needed to keep people barely alive and used those figures to determine how many truckloads of food it would allow into the Strip.

A UN study concluded that the Gaza Strip would be “unlivable” by 2020. We are two years beyond that! How is it possible that such a situation could exist, persisting with no end in sight?! When Gazans do attempt to resist, with puny and ineffective rockets, they get bombed, smashed with devastating firepower—hundreds or thousands of tons of explosives landing for every puny rocket fired. When no rockets are fired, which happens for months on end, no one cares and the suffering continues. When Gazans attempted a peaceful “march of return” in 2018, 63 unarmed protesters were coldly and deliberately shot dead in one day by snipers who “knew where every bullet went.” The entire area is cut off from the rest of the world, with Israeli drones and jets flying overhead the whole time. It is no wonder that a recent Save the Children study found that 80% of all children in the Strip suffer from “mental health distress.”

What possible justification can there be for such cruel behavior?? Apart from being collective punishment for the violent acts of a few, such punishment makes no sense from a security standpoint. How does prohibiting exports from the Gaza Strip relate to security in any way? How is the prohibition on importing glass and building materials for reconstruction justified? Israel claims to prohibit imports of cement or steel so that such materials could not be used for building tunnels. Yet, an entire population of 2 million people still needs housing, construction, and repairs from repeated heavy bombing campaigns. Incidentally, Israel also prohibits the import of pipes greater than 1 inch in diameter, so the sewage system cannot function adequately.

Gazans constitute a significant percentage of the Palestinian population, with schools, hospitals, families and a vibrant society that is being cruelly punished, bludgeoned, and forced to live in utterly inhuman conditions with no relief in sight. Israel and Egypt are not the only ones to blame for this. The Palestinian Authority, with its enmity to Hamas, as well as the entire international community is responsible for allowing this hurtful siege.

The basic argument used is that Hamas is a nefarious terrorist organization, and that the entire population of Gaza needs to be punished for voting for Hamas and for allowing them to stay in power. Even if we accept that Hamas is a nefarious, evil organization, the truth is that the most recent election was held over 15 years ago, and most Gazans living today either did not vote for Hamas in 2006 or haven’t participated in any election ever. I may not like them or their philosophy, but regardless of what one thinks about Hamas, the siege of Gaza must be lifted.

Some brave activists have tried to physically break the siege by sailing boats, with medicine, food, and supplies to Gaza. They have been attacked, some killed, others imprisoned and had their boats seized by the Israeli Navy. On the 15th anniversary of the siege of Gaza, we need to renew our commitment and redouble our efforts to break the siege and bring an end to this inhuman misery.

The March 9, 2022, Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine webinar was aimed at helping Canadians better understand Hamas, which Canada describes as a ‘terrorist’ organization and refuses to recognize or deal with. We asked 3 Palestinians with different political perspectives and living in different parts of Palestine to help us understand Hamas.

While each had their own differences with Hamas, their shared view was that Hamas is a Palestinian political party with a broad base of support. Any possible solution to the Israel/Palestine issue will necessarily involve discussions with Hamas. Trying to avoid doing so only makes a solution more difficult.

Expert panel consisted of:

• Diana Buttu, a Palestinian Canadian lawyer based on Haifa, Israel
• Jonathan Kuttab, a Palestinian Jerusalemite, lawyer and founder of Al Haq (another organization Israel now calls “terrorist” as well.)
• Mosheer Amer, a Palestinian living in Gaza, Head of the English Department at the Islamic University in Gaza

For Canada to promote peace in Israel/Palestine, it needs to break out of the conventional paradigm of previous administrations and seek out a policy that is based on its own principles and ethics, and must not be slavishly following the US line, which has proven incapable of promoting peace.  The areas of activity to consider would be as follows:

1. Broad Political Approach:  This approach must insist on respect for international law and agreements, must continue to oppose building and expansion of settlements, but must add a substantive element of forcing Israel to pay a price for blatant violations of international law.  Merely denouncing settlements without effective action has proven meaningless, and in fact emboldens Israel to continue violating law as there are no consequences for this.

• Political Process:  While peace can only be negotiated between the parties themselves, Canada and other interested outside countries can assist the process by urging negotiations with all parties including Hamas.  In the past, Canada began talking with the PLO and helped bring it into the peace process at a time when Israel and the United States were refusing to have any contact with the PLO.  Canada can initiate talks with Hamas and indicate to it what it needs to do to arrive at meaningful negotiations. In this way, Canada can make an actual contribution to the peace process.

• Calling for Ending the Siege of Gaza: and allowing freedom of people and goods into and out of the Strip.  The siege, initially undertaken as a political move to punish Gazans for their support of Hamas, and to prevent continuity between the West Bank and Gaza as a measure to fragment Palestinians and to prevent Palestinian statehood, cannot be a permanent feature of life.  With due consideration for the desire to prevent weapons from entering Gaza (a failed exercise in all cases) draconian controls over the civilian life and economy of two million souls in the Gaza strip cannot be a permanent state of affairs.  It must end.

• Lifting restrictions on BDS Movement:  As Canada urges Palestinians to use nonviolent methods to struggle for their rights, it needs to encourage, not discourage their reliance on BDS as a form of activism that is nonviolent in nature.  Attempts by Israel and its supporters to combat BDS only encourages those who wish to resort to armed struggle.

• Human Rights Advocacy:  Canada can advocate for specific actions to improve the human rights situation by demanding the following practices:
  •  Ending the policy of House demolitions and other forms of collective punishments
  • Ending Military trials, especially against children, as well as the traumatizing practice of midnight arrests.
  • Ending Administrative detention, which is holding individuals in jail indefinitely without charges or trial, and release of all administrative detainees.
  • Calling for Removal of all barriers, checkpoints and obstructions within the West Bank allowing freedom of movement for goods and persons.  These restrictions currently hamper economic development, create daily humiliations, and bedevilment, and their contribution to Israel’s security is negligible, while their impact on the lives of Palestinians and their contribution to increasing hatred and enmity is enormous.
  • Demanding that the same laws and procedures apply to Jews and non-Jews in the occupied territories as well as in Israel.  Canada opposes apartheid and discrimination on principle, and it must make that position clear to Israel.

All of the above actions can be undertaken by Canada as a friend of Israel, fully cognizant and sympathetic to its security needs, but requiring the amelioration of the harshness of the occupation upon Palestinians.  Whatever justification was given in the past for these actions, after half a century of occupation, there is no justification for their continuation.

All of these measures can be championed by Canada without prejudicing the eventual outcome of peace between Israel and Palestine, and without endangering Israeli security.  Canada can make its position known to Israel on each of these issues, and can utilize diplomatic methods to push for them without endangering its good relations with them.

Jonathan Kuttab

February 2021

Canada’s Shameful Stance in regard to the International Criminal Court

Following the recent International Criminal Court (ICC) decision supporting its territorial jurisdiction over Palestine, we noticed you indicated that Canada is firmly committed to a two state solution in regard to Israel and Palestine, and that

“Until such negotiations succeed, Canada’s longstanding position remains that it does not recognize a Palestinian state and therefore does not recognize its accession to international treaties, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Canada has communicated this position to the Court on various occasions.”

Given the over a half-century of settler-colonization and military occupation, the option for a two-state solution seems very unlikely. The stance that Canada does not support the ICC investigation is most concerning. Earlier this year, 50 civil society organizations joined with Amnesty International Canada to ask that the Canadian government not take any action in regard to the ICC or any other international forum that would oppose the work of the Prosecutor. Today, the ICC Prosecutor has made a statement respecting an investigation of the Situation in Palestine. It is concerning Canada is out of step with the international community and Canadian civil society in this regard.

Read full letter sent to Canadian government

Photo credit:  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris AMOS BEN GERSHOM/GPO PHOTO

ROSEMARY GANLEY: What is needed now is a commitment to human rights for all

OPINION Jan 23, 2019 by ROSEMARY GANLEY Special to The Examiner

Jonathan Kuttab with Just Peace Advocates coming to Peterborough.

I’m going to plunge into a topic that is fraught with division and deep trauma on all sides.

It is the situation in Israel, particularly the behaviour of the government of Israel, and what it has done and is doing in Gaza (population 1.8 million) and the West Bank (2.5 million), which are “occupied territories” holding Palestinians.

I listened to the testimony of a highly educated and compassionate spokesperson for the Palestinians this week at Sadleir House, Jonathan Kuttab. He is a lawyer, who recently was guest professor at the York University law school. He is a Christian Arab, born in East Jerusalem, now based in Jerusalem.

Critics of the policies of the Israeli government, and there are plenty in Canada and around the world, including the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, face the possibility, nay probability, that they will be labelled “anti-Semitic.” Or, if they are Jewish, they will be called “self-hating Jews.” But name-calling cannot become a reason for reticence when one looks at the massive, long-standing and ultimately cruel occupation, and denial of basic rights in the two shrunken areas.

The United Nations has been warned that Gaza, (40-by-six-kilometre) is expected to be “uninhabitable” by 2020. Electricity is on four hours a day. The barrier is a wire fence, backed up by armed Israeli soldiers. Food is very expensive. Water is often contaminated. A Gazan hospital was bombed in 2014. Unemployment is 40 per cent.

A Peterborough group headed by activist Margaret Slavin is in touch with a family in Gaza and knows the daily deprivation it suffers.

Kuttab offered his listeners slides, maps and some history. After the Second World War, in which Europe tore itself apart and then faced a dreadful acknowledgement of the Holocaust, during which six million Jewish citizens of several countries were killed in death camps, there was a global feeling of revulsion, guilt and shame.

So in 1948, the British government, which had been in charge of Palestine, decided to make the territory a homeland for the Jews. Except that it was already home to four million Palestinians who had no say in the matter. This was the Balfour Declaration.

Then came simmering resentment and some armed resistance. For 70 years, attempts at finding a solution failed. Twenty-five years ago in Oslo, Norway, leaders came up with the “two-state solution.” It might have worked, but separation was not so easy: Arabs were living among Jews everywhere. Progressive Israeli prime minister Yitzak Rabin was assassinated by a religious fanatic.

The pain in Kuttab’s presentation regarding the suffering of Palestinians was breathtaking, but equally so was the utter absence of vengefulness or hatred. He is convinced, as are many Israeli writers and citizens, that the imprisonment they are administering has the effect of imprisoning them also, and corrodes the long-admired Jewish conscience.

Israel is a nuclear power. We have seen pictures of boys with sticks and rocks being fired on by heavily armed soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a hawk, is further empowered now by Donald Trump. Illegal settlements in the West Bank now house 700,000 Israelis.

Many Israelis have a strong fear that Arabs will exact revenge. But Kuttab said, “We are all intermixed now. What is needed is a commitment to human rights for all; an end to the blockade and the provision of services to all. The international community must help.”

Israeli’s neighbours, Syria, Egypt and Jordan, must pledge to respect its right to exist in safety. Israel is a democracy with freedom of speech and of the press.

Small steps in regional co-operation are needed. So is a conviction among Israeli leaders that justice for its Palestinian minority is crucial. Many lives depend on it.

NOTE: Reframe Film Festival will show a documentary entitled “Naila and the Uprising,” set in Gaza, on Friday at 1 p.m. at Showplace. Visit www.reframefilmfestival.ca for details.

Rosemary Ganley is a writer, teacher and activist. Reach her at rganley2016@gmail.com

Rosemary Ganley is a writer, teacher and activist. Reach her at rganley2016@gmail.com