Quotes and Notes Corner: Poisoning the Wells

Here's some more from history's grab-bag and how it plays out in current events.

In January of 2003, the news agency of the United Arab Emirates, WAM, reported that the Emirates-based Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-Up published a book titled Israel's Water Security, "dealing with the conflict
Once upon a time, the libel was that Jews poison the wells; now it's that Jews block the wells.
arising from the Israeli plans and expansionist designs." The book attempts to "analyze the repercussions of these designs on Arab security," WAM reported.

After noting that the water security policy of Israel is merely a cover for "expansionist designs," the United Arab Emirates news agency presents the Zayed Centre's conclusion: "Israel does not suffer from any shortage of water, as do other countries in its neighborhood. It only hopes to escalate the problem in order to gain benefits and to justify its hegemony and control over the natural resources, including water, in the region." The only answer, WAM concludes the issue, is "a collective Arab action to challenge these designs."

What has this to do with 2008? It makes me wonder if B'tselem is taking part in that "collective Arab action" consciously or just by coincidence.

BTselem claimed that "the chronic water shortage results in large part from Israel's discriminatory policy in distributing the joint water resources in the West Bank and the limits it places on the Palestinian Authority's ability to drill new wells."

Once upon a time, the libel was that Jews poison the wells; now it's that Jews block the wells.

Did I say "libel"?

As reported here on Israel National News:

"Mekorot, the national water company, denied allegations made by the B’Tselem group that Israel has discriminatory water policies in Arab villages in Judea and Samaria. The company reported that it provided more water in these areas than was required under the Oslo agreements.

"...Mekorot said it provided 500 million cubic meters per year to Arab controlled areas of Judea and Samaria which was 30 percent more than required under current arrangements. This means that Israel supplies 80 percent of the Arab-controlled areas' water needs. The National Water Authority responded that shortages in these areas were caused by the poor infrastructure built by the PA and local water thieves."

And this during the week of parshat Chukat, which emphasizes the role of water for the Jews during their passage through the Sinai desert.

Researched, compiled and presented by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

Rachel Corrie Lobby Silent?

Stop Caterpiller sales to the PA!
Quick. 

Of all those groups and people who were "outraged" when Rachel Corrie from the International Solidarity with Terror Movement (ISM) threw herself under an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza to defend terrorists and later died in a Palestinian Authority medical facility, how many of those have expressed outrage and anguish at the bulldozer mass murder in Jerusalem today?

The dozer driver who hit Corrie did not see her at all.  Today's bulldozer murderer intentionally murdered four people and tried to murder dozens more.  Where are the Corrie apologists today?  Will Corrie's parents take time off from their campaign of vilification against Israel to speak out?

Meanwhile, send out a fax at once demanding that Caterpiller stop all sales of equipment to the Palestinian Authority!

UPDATE:  James Taranto from the Wall Street Journal claims today that the terrorist got the idea of using the bulldozer for murder from the years of false claims by the Corrie Lobby that Israel "murdered" Rachel Corrie with a bulldozer.

Quotes and Notes Corner I: A Palestinian State

Welcome, blogospheroids, to the Quotes and Notes Corner. I will be using this space to present interesting
Would it be fair to assume that Fatah's "first military operation" was against Egypt or Jordan?
historical and current items for you to clip 'n save. I hope it will be valued by my fellow news junkies, by history buffs, or by intellectual warriors in search of deadly ammunition.

For the first Quotes and Notes Corner in history, I'd like to quote from the official Fatah website - yes, nowadays, all the best terrorist groups have to have a website, too. If Arafat were still alive, he'd have a Facebook entry and a MySpace video ("Shout out to all the jihadeeeeeeeez! Whassup?")

In any case, in December of 2001, Fatah published an editorial marking the 37th anniversary of its first terrorist act (on January 1, the group claimed credit for a December attack). Fatah was founded, according to the editorial, "in 1957 when it issued its first statement calling for military struggle. In the period 1959 to 1964, Fateh published a magazine called Our Palestine. Eight years of organizing, recruiting, and raising awareness preceded the first military operation. The military wing of Fateh issued its first statement on January 1st, 1965."
 
Since from 1957 until 1967 Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank") were under Jordanian rule and Gaza was under Egyptian rule, and since Fatah of 2008 claims to want a Palestinian State (only) in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, would it be fair to assume that Fatah's "first military operation" was against Egypt or Jordan?
 
PLO Charter Rejects PLO Claim to West Bank and Gaza
Oops. The first, 1964 edition of the covenant of the Fatah-controlled PLO (a.k.a. the Palestinian National Charter) stated, in Article 24, "This Organization does not exercise any territorial sovereignty over the West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the Gaza Strip or in the Himmah Area."

Of course, that historic first attack in 1964 and most (but far from all) subsequent attacks by Fatah and the PLO
What is this Palestinian State for, in the eyes of Fatah?
were on Israeli and Jewish targets. And the ostensible goal of all those attacks - a goal now agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and by US President George Bush and by most of the rest of the world - has been (supposedly) the creation of a Palestinian State in... the "West Bank" and Gaza.
 
A Palestinian State is 'the Most Important Weapon' Against Israel
And what is this Palestinian State for, in the eyes of Fatah (currently headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and presented as a "moderate" alternative)?

According to their celebratory 2001 editorial, Fatah "believes that a legitimate Palestinian entity forms the most important weapon that Arabs have against Israel, the outpost of the imperialist powers."

Aha! Now THAT explains a lot.....

Sources:
Palestinian National Charter, 1964 edition: http://www.un.int/palestine/PLO/PNA2.html (last viewed June 26, 2008)

"The 37th Anniversary of Launching Fateh": http://www.fateh.net/e_editor/01/311201.htm (last viewed June 26, 2008)

Researched, compiled and presented by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz