Voices
Complex Mideast situation needs more than simplistic answers
An article on Edwin Cameron in the edition of September 29, in the Jewish Report, Cameron sites Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish justice on the US Supreme Court, who worked hard to ensure justice for the vulnerable and poor.
Michele Engelberg, Johannesburg
Brandeis was a Zionist who embraced the notion that Zionism “…would promote education, social justice and democracy and would protect the rights of all its inhabitants, men and women, Jews and Arabs…”
Then Cameron went on to criticise the modern State of Israel… But I believe that Israel does offer Jew and Arab, men and women, education, justice, democracy, etc.
The Middle East has a very complicated history. To simply say that we should have respect for the law in and of itself, is not enough. For even in this country, apartheid WAS the law.
And when we speak about the West Bank, for example, it was never its own country. It belonged to Jordan before 1967. No one cared about “Palestinian rights” to self-determination at that time; perhaps because the people living there were not referred to as “Palestinian”. They were referred to as Arabs.
No-one cared that they were under Jordanian rule. Only after 1967, when Israel took over from Jordan, did this area get any attention. Seems strange.
Likewise, Turkey occupying Cyprus since 1974, doesn’t get much attention. Would occupied Cyprus get more attention if Israel somehow got involved? It would probably get more attention if Israel stepped in somewhere. Why do you think that is?
With reference to “international law”, as idealistic as that sounds, The UN gave the Jews and the Arabs a piece of “Palestine” in 1948. The UN recognised Israel as a sovereign country.
The day after Britain walked out of “Palestine”, five Arab armies ILLEGALLY – under international law – attacked this new-born fledgling internationally recognised country called Israel.
So basically, as lofty, impressive or as idealistic as the term “international law” sounds, it is an empty term. Although it ideally should protect the weak countries of the world, it is actually a tool for the strong, rich countries, who do what they want.
Therefore, respectfully, I offer that it would behove Mr Cameron to do historical research before making judgements that are unworthy of his illustrious history as a judge in South Africa.