Sanders’ Platform delegates ignore Palestinian terror

By Bruce S. Ticker

Bruce S. Ticker
Bruce S. Ticker

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Just hours after four Israelis were murdered at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv, Professor Cornel West called on a Democratic Party platform drafting committee to describe the West Bank as “occupied.”

West is one of three advocates for the Palestinians whom presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders appointed to the committee in hopes that the party would recognize Palestinian rights in late July when Democrats adopt their platform in Philadelphia, where I live.

No problem. We should be concerned with everyone’s rights, and that covers the Palestinians. In fact, the platform committee’s hearings can prove a great opportunity to spell out who has the least regard for “Palestinian rights” – their own people.

Israel was fully willing to offer the Arabs an independent state that covered all of Gaza, at least 93 percent of the West Bank and part of Jerusalem. Then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered this very proposal to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat nearly 16 years ago when they met at Camp David.

Arafat rejected the plan without even making counter-proposals, and after the summit the Palestinian population erupted into a war against Israel. As the hostilities diminished, Israel in 2005 withdrew all settlers and military personnel from Gaza and a few West Bank settlements, a move which drew minimal acknowledgement from other nations.

So now, what is Israel supposed to do?

That is one question that West and his pro-Palestinian partners can answer when the platform committee holds further hearings.

They can also explain why Arafat rebuffed Barak’s proposal in the first place and the Palestinians neglected to resurrect the plan after Mahmoud Abbas succeeded Arafat after his death.

My educated guess has long been that Arafat and now Abbas expected that the most reasonable proposals will be rejected by violent extremists who demand the right of return to Israel proper and for some the destruction of Israel. Plus, Arafat probably feared he would be a sure target for assassination if he accepted Barak’s offer.

So in the interim Israel has been beset by other short wars and the long-running Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to boycott Israeli products (at least those from the West Bank). Funny how American advocates for the Palestinians griped when New York Gov. Cuomo this month ordered a boycott of organizations that participate in the BDS movement.

It is okay to isolate Israel, but it is suddenly McCarthyite for anyone to isolate them.

West and friends can also foresee what will happen if a state becomes reality. Will Palestinian rights be granted to all Palestinians, or just the Palestinians who rule a Palestinian state?

If their frustration ensues, perhaps these advocates will get results if they redirect a BDS-style movement toward the Palestinians.

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Ticker is a freelance writer in Philadelphia.  He may be contacted via bruce.ticker@sdjewishworld.com.  Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)