British journalist Jonathan Cook summarizes the recent West Bank tent protest, called Bab al-Shams (see Jan. 12 post). He correctly emphasizes that this seemingly insignificant act of nonviolent protest struck fear in the Israeli government. Israel's quick move to dismantle the camp was unsurprising and the prime minister's office was right to be afraid. It is these kinds of actions that can seriously embarrass Israel and bring even more international attention and outrage to bear on the situation.
However, it's not international attention, taken broadly, that scares Benjamin Netanyahu and company. Israel's deepest concern is international attention of the American sort. The more the Palestinians engage in nonviolent defiance, the harder it is to spin the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces. If it is rockets being fired out of Gaza into the various towns in southern Israel, then Israel can claim self-defense, existential threat, and so on. Whereas when Palestinians set up tents on Palestinian land, the usual pretexts don't work. And Israel maintaining its image in front of America - the population - as a besieged innocent trapped in a "rough neighborhood" is crucial to its policies vis-a-vis Palestine. If Americans become critical of Israel's occupation to enough of a degree, Washington might have to make adjustments - hence the prompt shutting down of Bab al-Shams.
This was only 200 people, which is manageable. In the event 200,000 set up a camp, Israel will have a bigger problem. And when I say "Israel" I mean the government. Because if Americans become critical and Washington makes adjustments, the Israeli people will grow very, very concerned. Then the Israeli government too will have to make adjustments. And when the conflict is brought to a close, Israel the country will be far better off, to say nothing of Palestine.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/14-5
