Israel’s founders have proudly rooted their enterprise in the moral universe of European colonialism. Israel’s crimes are putting the liberal West on trial
It seems to me that South Africa is trading one geopolitical player for another, worse one: Putin. First by refusing to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (that colonization is OK?) and now with its denunciation of Israel. Call me cynical but don’t all countries operate on realpolitik?
Disagree. Most of the Global South doesn't conceive of a binary world in which the choice is between the U.S. and Russia. Far from it. Non-alignment is back. It's only the minds of the US liberal establishment that the world is divided between a "democratic" camp led by the U.S. (a laughable proposition, on its face) and an authoritarian one. Most of Africa, Asia and Latin America refused to support the US/NATO line on Ukraine, even most of those who condemned Russia's illegal invasion declined demands to support sanction on Russia or to send ammunition to Ukarine. "Putin" is far more powerful figure in the liberal Western imagination than he is in the real world
I think you're missing a point. Russia has never been a colonialist geopolitical player that can be compared with the West on many facets ranging from occupation to suppression, infact Russia is a harbinger of a multi-polar world. Proving itself by denouncing Imperialism with supporting the very same Africa that was once oppressed by the West. So how could your accomplice be the worst then the opponent you're both together against?
Russia has been a colonial power for hundreds of years. with the breakup of the USSR, it lost much of its territory. Putin is a dictator who is trying to rebuild that empire. The invasion of Ukraine and the war crimes it’s committing there is exactly that. Russia is now in a new pact with North Korea; it’s allied with Iran and China. That’s a pretty heavy duty alliance of repressive totalitarian (and fascist) regimes right there.
As an aside, the Europeans used bombing from the air because they had aircraft. I'm sure the Romans, Persians, Mongols, Ottomans etc would have done the same if they had them!
This is one of the clearest analyses of the Israel problem I have read for a long time. And quite dispassionately done. But since you have so clearly dissected the problemm, what are the possible solutions, given the disposition of power? I only hear of five options. 1. Two states. A Western mantra that is belied by realities on the ground. 2. Axis of Resistance which means major war the closer it gets to realising its objectives. 3. Abraham Accords throwing the Palestinians under a bus where they are refusing to go. 4. Bring back the PA/PLO. Like trying to bring back the bantustans in SA. 5. One state. Presumably liberal democratic following trade offs like in SA. No one has the slightest clue how to get to this.
None of these things seem workable to me. Could you write another piece??
It seems to me that South Africa is trading one geopolitical player for another, worse one: Putin. First by refusing to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (that colonization is OK?) and now with its denunciation of Israel. Call me cynical but don’t all countries operate on realpolitik?
Disagree. Most of the Global South doesn't conceive of a binary world in which the choice is between the U.S. and Russia. Far from it. Non-alignment is back. It's only the minds of the US liberal establishment that the world is divided between a "democratic" camp led by the U.S. (a laughable proposition, on its face) and an authoritarian one. Most of Africa, Asia and Latin America refused to support the US/NATO line on Ukraine, even most of those who condemned Russia's illegal invasion declined demands to support sanction on Russia or to send ammunition to Ukarine. "Putin" is far more powerful figure in the liberal Western imagination than he is in the real world
I think you're missing a point. Russia has never been a colonialist geopolitical player that can be compared with the West on many facets ranging from occupation to suppression, infact Russia is a harbinger of a multi-polar world. Proving itself by denouncing Imperialism with supporting the very same Africa that was once oppressed by the West. So how could your accomplice be the worst then the opponent you're both together against?
Russia has been a colonial power for hundreds of years. with the breakup of the USSR, it lost much of its territory. Putin is a dictator who is trying to rebuild that empire. The invasion of Ukraine and the war crimes it’s committing there is exactly that. Russia is now in a new pact with North Korea; it’s allied with Iran and China. That’s a pretty heavy duty alliance of repressive totalitarian (and fascist) regimes right there.
As an aside, the Europeans used bombing from the air because they had aircraft. I'm sure the Romans, Persians, Mongols, Ottomans etc would have done the same if they had them!
This is one of the clearest analyses of the Israel problem I have read for a long time. And quite dispassionately done. But since you have so clearly dissected the problemm, what are the possible solutions, given the disposition of power? I only hear of five options. 1. Two states. A Western mantra that is belied by realities on the ground. 2. Axis of Resistance which means major war the closer it gets to realising its objectives. 3. Abraham Accords throwing the Palestinians under a bus where they are refusing to go. 4. Bring back the PA/PLO. Like trying to bring back the bantustans in SA. 5. One state. Presumably liberal democratic following trade offs like in SA. No one has the slightest clue how to get to this.
None of these things seem workable to me. Could you write another piece??
Great piece Tonu but, re the bombing of civilians - you forgot to mention Guernica!!!