State of Yesha
It's a different country over there in the West Bank, Yaron London writes
Out in the West Bank, there is a nation that has developed its own laws and has separated itself from the mother country in its customs and beliefs.
Their country has its own education system, youth groups, finance ministry, its own heroes, settlements, and language.
Israel demands that country obey its laws, but it continually not only breaks those laws, but also presents its own demands, requiring the mother country to give up part of its own sovereignty.
Like any aggressive country, Yesha presents itself as a purveyor of peace, therefore, demanding permission to riot lest its extremists resort to fatal violence.
Separate language
The language of this foreign country is related to the Semitic family of languages, and it sounds very similar to Hebrew.
But the words have different meanings.
For instance, the phrase, “an attempt to use force to thwart the decisions of the elected government," is translated into their language as “non-violent protest.”
The demand to “recognize law-breaking as a legitimate form of protest” is translated as “democracy,” and “revolution” is “answering the Torah’s command, as understood by rabbis paid by the mother country.”
“Mass violation of a closed military zone” is actually “helping our heroic brothers in Gush Katif,” and “IDF officers” are “nasty soldiers who have traded their principles for money and promises of personal advancement.”
“Moving people a short distance from their homes with generous compensation for their inconvenience” is “transfer,” “a nice neighborhood in the nicest place in Israel" is a “closed camp,” “Knesset” means “den of corruption,” and “government” is “Sharon’s mafia.”
Old warning coming true
We are seeing the age-old warnings of the anti-occupation camp; namely, that the settler state would eventually become very powerful, and at the moment of truth would revolt against the State of Israel.
It was expected, because that’s what happened in other countries that built colonies, such as “French Algeria” that tried to toppled the republic.
As with the Algerian settlers, our settlers developed their own interests, in direct opposition to those of the mother country. They built an autonomy, pretend to be protecting the greater national interest, accuse the central government of treason and encourage the army to commit rebellion.
As the French Algerians did, Yesha folks say that instead of negotiating with Muslims, we should “let the army win," and their “extremists” call for attacks on Muslims so all the national energy will be spent trying to prevent mass attacks.
In addition, their approach to Israel’s elected leader-- a charismatic, career army officer that pissed them off-- is very similar to the French example. Here, we have yet to uncover an underground movement to kill government officials, but it is an expected development.
As it was in France, so, too it is here: the heartfelt calls for national unity and national responsibility must accompany us at demonstrations of that country’s strength. It would be a weakness to recognize our neighbors right to exist, the state of Yesha.
