A Palestinian View of the Proposed Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran Nuclear Deal and Action

by Mazin Qumsiyeh - Popular Resistance

We have several good news in the span of few days: the win of Netanyahu (which will accelerate the end of the apartheid regime), the Iran nuclear deal, the restructuring and maturing Palestinian leadership inside 1948 areas (including a march from Naqab to Jerusalem to recognize the "Unrecognized villages"), the foolishness of Saudi Arabia and Egypt getting into a quagmire in Yemen (even though Yemeni people suffer but they will win), the relief on not having the wall plan approved in Beit Jala/Cremisan area (see below), and Palestine joining the International Criminal Court (even though I think PA political leaders do not have the spine to actually bring cases before the court since they put themselves at the mercy of their occupiers).

Oppression though continues here with Israel destroying home shooting unarmed civilians, and kidnapping our people (including the honorable Khaleda Jarrar). Of all the new developments, I think the Iran nuclear deal will prove to be game changing.

Lifting the sanctions on Iran and beginning to normalize relations has many ramifications. I want to just address one of the most significant: it proves to the subservient Arab leaders that standing up to Israel and its lackeys in Washington is possible. The Iranian economy was and continues to be better than geographically and populationally similar Egypt (subservient regime to Israel) even when the former was subjected to various sanctions and restrictions for 36 years.

Scientifically Iran was able to publish nearly as much research as the highest four Arab countries combined in the last 20 years. And now as sanctions are slowly lifted Iran will leap a generation ahead economically, socially, and scientifically.

The reason is rather simple: Iran (while being restricted by an "Islamic Republic" ideology) still has competitions for president and parliament and a relatively open society with respect for minorities and that includes people who speak Arabic or Hindi or Durzi or other languages not Farsi (Arabs, etc), and people who are not Sh'ii Muslims (Sunni, Jews, Christians, Yazidis, etc).

I am hopeful the US does not get its arms twisted to further follies by Israel/Zionists and actually carries through on its commitment to slowly lift sanctions. If they do, I am certain Iran will progress in more liberal fashion than any nearby country (Pakistan or Saudi Arabia or Syria or even Turkey). My eyes now are on Turkey and other countries with leaders who actually can read the geopolitical landscape to adjust their positions accordingly.

Perhaps Turkey, and Iran, joined by Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon can help get rid of the Western created and backed fundamentalists and democratize their own governments free from Israel/US interference. There are monumental changes that are happening and the struggle is not easy and may be bloody. The US and Europe can still get out of this with minimal losses and really promote democracy and secularism in the Western Asia and North Africa by abandoning their promotion of sectarianism and violence.

The biggest single step they can achieve this is by applying sanction on Israel until it complies with international law including the right of our Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and lands. Israel must also end its 50+ racist laws against non-Jews and hundreds of other laws/military orders that discriminate against the 4.6 million Palestinians in the occupied territories (occupied WB including Jerusalem and Gaza).

In historic Canaan/Land of Palestine we can then move to become a secular democracy and a model for the other areas in the region. The injustice to 12 million Palestinians remain the source of much (not all) of the troubles dominating the news today and addressing it will show the world that western power will indeed abandon their hypocrisy and promote democracy and peace.


ACTION BDS: In support of CAPJPO-EuroPalestine campaign to urge FIFA to suspend Israel from FIFA, please send a letter to FIFA president to immediately expel the apartheid state of Israel from FIFA.
Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the ex-government minister Ronnie Kasrils, all of whom experienced the brutality of this regime, state that Israeli apartheid is far worse than South African apartheid ever was. Israel is guilty of far more serious crimes against humanity.

For further information: (French)
http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article10449
http://www.thenation.com/blog/178642/after-latest-incident-israels-future-fifa-uncertain#

Did Israel lobby “bullying and threats” push Univ. of Southampton to cancel conference?
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/did-israel-lobby-bullying-and-threats-push-univ-southampton-cancel-conference organizer's response
http://freespeechsouthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/organisersstatement-following-vice.html sign petition in support here:
https://www.change.org/p/the-university-of-southampton-uphold-free-speech-allow-the-conference-on-israel-and-international-law-to-proceed (case going to court)

Cremisan Monastery wins appeal in Israeli High Court: Route of Israeli Wall must be changed
http://www.imemc.org/article/71112

Support Refugees in Egypt. Demand ending of repression
http://www.refugeesolidarity.org/news/jointstatementegypt

The Power of Israel over the United States There are at least 52 major American Jewish organizations actively engaged in promoting Israel’s foreign policy, economic and technological agenda in the US
http://mycatbirdseat.com/2015/03/90536the-power-of-israel-over-the-united-states/ and do come visit us in Bethlehem, Occupied Palestine

Mazin Qumsiyeh
Professor and Director
PMNH