Israel’s ethnic cleansing the West Bank: Nakba 3 is already on its way
Israel is considering ordering “a temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” Just how temporary? As temporary as in 1948? Notice how quickly the Netanyahu regime is normalising the new concept: “temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents”. ■ In the annals of the Zionist enterprise there is no such thing as a “temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” Anyone who gets moved is not allowed to return.
By Rogel Alpher • Translated by Sol Salbe
Israel’s Foreign Minister’s tweet yesterday morning marks a milestone. A senior government minister announces that Israel has started a war in the West Bank (cf the closing sentence: “This is a war in every respect and must be won.” By the way, a total victory, or a run-of-the-mill one? There is a difference of about 20 years between the two types) and that the government is considering ordering “a temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” Just how temporary? As temporary as in 1948? Similar to the experience of the residents of northern Gaza in the current war? In the annals of the Zionist enterprise there is no such thing as a “temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” Anyone who gets moved is not allowed to return. This is a Zionist euphemism for a Palestinian Nakba. To me, it sounds like a prelude to Transfer [the pre-state euphemistic term for ethnic cleansing], annexation and settlement.
Notice how quickly the Netanyahu regime is normalising the new concept: temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents. The Israeli public has quickly become accustomed to the fact that Israel producing additional Palestinian refugees on an enormous scale is now the norm. It comes under the pretext of military-operational necessity, but the real goal is annexation and settlement of the territory. Until about ten years ago, the concept of Transfer was reviled by the honest Israeli mainstream. It reeked of Nazism. But under the cover of war, it became natural and self-evident. Benjamin Netanyahu will not allow the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes, and he has made sure that they will not have any homes to return to. The settlements will come. Now, with the TV studios are full of chatter glorifying “the biggest operation since Defensive Shield [2002],” he has set his sights on the northern West Bank. Tulkarem, Jenin, Tubas. When Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are breathing down his neck, it becomes a necessity.
The megalomaniac Netanyahu is eager to redraw the map of the Middle East. The studio panel at the [quasi-fascist] Channel 14 were also delighted at Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter’s remarks at noon on IDF Radio: “People will be evacuated” if it is necessary to keep the soldiers safe. The second statement by a government minister, within hours, that sets the stage for a Transfer. Like any Israeli Transfer, it will begin as a temporary evacuation. These are trial balloons. They are needed test the air among the Israeli public and around the world.
“They are not being sent abroad,” Dichter reassured his audience. Of course they are not. They are being sent to some tent city, a sort of ghetto guarded by IDF soldiers. They are not being sent abroad — this is no vacation. “And afterwards they will return to their homes,” he promised. Yes of course. Netanyahu’s word of honour. Yalla! Get on the truck!
In the current public climate, there is legitimacy and even a great yearning for cruelty towards the Palestinians, although the stringent ones continue to insist that it be official and carried out through duly authorised authorities, as opposed to Jewish terrorism. The “temporary evacuation” may not happen this time. Maybe it will only happen in the next round. Or the one after that. But there’s already a whiff of it in the air. Can you smell it? It is clear that at some point a mass Palestinian rage will erupt. And that would endanger soldiers. And there will be an (operational) necessity to evacuate these million angry Palestinians. To a place where they can calm down. It is in their interest as well as ours. Nakba 3 is on its way.
Translated by Sol Salbe, Middle East News Service
Haaretz Hebrew original article:
