Civil war coming to Israel?

 

Mounted policemen block a protest march in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 16

 

Gush Shalom Statement, March 13, 2023  

Who is talking of  stability?  

The Americans, together with
The Jordanians and the Egyptians
Convened a conference
With the aim of
"Stabilizing the situation
On the West Bank".

Only stabilization -
No one is still talking
About a solution.

But can stability be achieved
When hundreds of
Violent settlers set out,
In an organized and
Systematic way,
To burn down
A whole town,
With the open
Encouragement of
Senior government ministers?

Can stability be achieved
When the Palestinian Authority
Is weakening and
Losing support and legitimacy
Among its own people?

When young Palestinians
Are determined to rebel
And take up arms
Against the occupation,
Even at a very real risk
To their lives?

Can stability be achieved
When the army tries
To put down the
Palestinian uprising
By means of constant raids
On Palestinian
Towns and villages
And killing any Palestinian
Who tries to
Resist the soldiers?

Can stability be achieved
When the Knesset votes
To impose the death penalty
On "terrorists", in spite of
Israel's own army and
Security services warning that
This measure would
Be harmful?

And can stability be achieved
When a government
In which settlers hold
Senior positions
Launches an all-out attack
Also on the democratic rights
Of Israeli citizens?

When Israeli society
Has become more
Divided and polarized than
At any time in its history,
To the point where
There is talk of
An impending civil war?

It has become clear
For all to see
That the continued occupation
Cannot be stabilized.
The occupation is
Inherently unstable.