Enough! Already! (... and mythic diversions)

[tcpip]

The Israeli invasion of Gaza continues, with the number of civilian deaths rising dramatically. Claims that Israel has been using cluster bombs and white phosphorus. Two UN schools are bombed killing forty, just after UN ambulances were hit killing paramedics. The definition of a 'terrorist' and a 'valid target'seems to get a bit rubbery according to the IDF. In contrast, Australian Jews denounce the invasion. A former Israeli soldier, and now Oxford professor, has come to some hard conclusions as a result of the invasion. Avaaz (a remarkably effective group) has a cease-fire petition, which I urge all to sign and pass on. Also, go vote for Prof. Juan Cole's 'blog Informed Comment as Best Middle East or Africa 'Blog.

I sometimes find myself drawn into this discussion and over the years have found myself increasingly in support of the "one (democratic, secular) state solution". The partition of Palestine was perhaps the worst early decision made by the United Nations and was not supported by any neighbouring state or by the former colonial power. Under such circumstances it is hardly surprising that there have been seemingly endless violence and wars as a consequence. Resolving the issue would involve ending the pseudo-soveriegnity (as Hannah Arendt put it) of a Jewish state in favour of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Apart from applying laws equally over what it is currently Israel and the occupied territories, it would involvd ending existing discriminatory institutions and laws (e.g., Knesset Election Law, the control of the Israel Land Administration by the Jewish National Fund, the Law of Return, Nationality Law etc) would have to be abolished in favour of secular alternatives. Of course, having such considered opinions does attract detractors; dear readers, I present you my own troll from Tel Aviv.

Have engaged in a few mythic diversions of late. Last Sunday's RuneQuest Prax game included defeating the witch-queen of disease and visiting a moment of the non-sequential reality that is the Godtime. darknova666's character jumped between misfortune and elation on several occassions in the scenario. On a further Gloranthan theme I've introduced The Crimson Bat in my HeroQuest pbem. Have also extracted and modified the review of Pathfinder from the latest issue of RPG Review (issue #3 already has three articles, awesome!) to submit to RPG.net. On an oddly related topic, on Sunday week I'm presenting on "A Unitarian-Univeralist View of the Economic Crisis" - how's that related? Afterwards we're playing Credo: The Game of Duelling Dogmas, which is attracting some interest from members of the congregation.

Comments

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

israelis wud never go for the one state as arabs wud outnumber jews and breed faster and the jews wud end up as a minority - similar to south africa.

i only see it being sorted out as seperate states walled off but with routes to the other states if blocked off.

cant see it happening for a whie tho.

i doubt the current offensive will ducceeed except to help the current rulers in the coming elections.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Among conservative Israelites this is referred to as the Arab "demographic bomb" (sneaky Arabs, they've always got bombs). Whether or not they go for a one state solution now, they still face the problem that Arabs will become more populous than Jews in the longer term within the current borders of Israel.

For conservative Isralis, the only way it can remain a demographically Jewish state in the long run would require massively importing Jews from around the world and expelling Israeli Arabs at the same time - and thus giving up any pretense to be even vaguely democratic in the process.

Either that or they give up being a "Jewish" state, and instead extend their already somewhat democratic and somewhat secular institutions to include all inhabitants within the levant.

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

theres only so many russian jews u can import!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I think Israel may have reached its limit. Especially when they've ended up importing "Russian Jews" who turned out to be Neo-Nazis.