Recognition? Of What?

The British Parliament voted October 12th 274 to 12 to recognize Palestine as a state. Sweden had already done so. Cheers! -- at first. Then came the analyses from those who see the bigger picture. Among them was Miko Peled, son of an Israeli General, who has become an anti-Zionist. In a beautifully written essay he asks if these votes will free Palestinians from home demolitions or any other of the horrors of the occupation, for surely the Swedes and British would not pass a hollow vote that leaves everything as it is or allow more settlements, or keep the Wall in place. http://mikopeled.com/2014/10/14/sweden-and-britain-have-spoken-by-miko-peled/



And what State are they recognizing? Palestine is not a state. It does not want to be a state in the condition it is in. So doubts arise in the minds of my Palestinian friends. They have heard a lot of words over the past 47 years of occupation and during the last 20 years of "peace processes", but they have not seen any freedom.

Just this afternoon of October 26 I was talking to Samer, a 41 year old father of 2. He, his parents, siblings, wife and 2 children all have U.S. citizenship, but he has chosen to live in Palestine where he was born. I found him at his workplace, a park and playground that serves the city of Beit Sahour and surrounding villages. He is the director, but he was at the snack bar and didn't seem busy. After introducing myself, I asked what he thinks of the situation as it is today. "Very bad. There is no work and no peace. Nothing has changed over the years, and nothing is going to change." His expression revealed his discouragement even more than his words. He explained that no one comes to the park anymore because they are afraid. Israeli soldiers come into the park every day and demand that everyone show his or her ID. This is very intimidating and unpleasant for the average person.

I asked if there was anything he would want me to tell my friends at home. "There is nothing to say." He offered me coffee and went to prepare it. He sent another man to serve it. Evidently, he had said his last words on the subject.