Israel/Palestine and the Logic of Nationalism

Published December 29, 2008 @ 09:51PM PT

While the Israel/Palestine conflict may not be the first thing Americans think about when they hear about immigration and immigrant rights, there is a lot of overlap between the two issues. Disputes over citizenship, nationality, and sovereignty are central to both the U.S. immigration debate and the Israel/Palestine conflict.

That is one reason I have been watching Charles Lenchner's Peace in the Middle East blog for updates on the current war. His debunking of Ten Myths About Israel and the Palestinians is sober and informative.

Both sides clearly have grievances, but there is a power imbalance that leads to outcomes like 225 Palestinian dead on Saturday vs. a solitary Israeli casualty.

Matthew Yglesias reminds us that "It's important to recall that the rise of Hamas is, in part, the result of a very successful Israeli effort to undermine the authority and infrastructure of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority." Yglesias doesn't harbor much hope that the current assault will magically produce a moderate alternative to Hamas.

The enigmatic IOZ posits that:

The logic of fault is irrelevant. Only Israel has the power to make peace with the Palestinians, and it can only do so by making a deeply concessionary agreement involving land and reparations. Whether you believe that to be just or not is irrelevant. It is the only way.

I've thought for some time that the Israel/Palestine conflict could serve as a cautionary tale to the U.S., in a "There but for the grace of God" kind of a way. Building walls to keep neighbors out, instituting progressively more restrictive and convoluted security measures, finding legal justifications for torture, mobilizing the military on a permanent war footing--these are aspects of U.S. society we now take for granted that ten years ago most Americans would have found quite alarming. "No, that's not us, those are Israel's problems."

My view is not that the march of radical Islam inexorably led both societies down this path, but rather that a toxic mix of fear and overconfidence has, within the unsound framework of nationalism, produced similar results in democratic societies that should have known better.

As long as the life of the citizen is given infinite value while the life of the noncitizen is essentially valueless, national politicians will always be motivated to escalate situations of conflict in ways that lead to great loss of life and are very difficult to unwind.

[Image via Vivirlatino]

Share this Post

Comments (10)

I think that the problem isn't citizenship but classes, because you find this sort of resentment building up with second-class citizens as you would your "non citizen". Making no distinction between the illegal human traffickers and legal above-board immigrants is what causes a difference in class.

Quite frankly, I weary of hearing people being accused of being anti-immigrant when the they aren't, and it's just because a person is against illegal human trafficking and the clandestine underclass it creates.

You cannot on one hand claim to be a supporter of illegal migration in the name of human rights while turing a blind eye in tacit support of human trafficking--a violation of human rights.

Posted by Diane Levesque on 12/29/2008 @ 10:19PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Diane
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
That's a new one: undocumented immigrant = victim of human trafficking.

Something like 40% of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. violated the terms of a visa after entering lawfully. Some percentage of them are trafficking victims, but it's a small one.

Many who cross the border use coyotes, but that's not trafficking in most cases. To qualify for a "T Visa" as a victim of trafficking, a person must:

"demonstrate that he or she was brought to the United States either:

For the purpose of a commercial sex act, which act was either induced by force, fraud or coercion, or occurred when the applicant had not reached 18 years of age, or

For the purpose of labor or services induced by force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjecting the applicant to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery."

Applying the term "trafficking" to all undocumented immigrants cheapens it and robs it of meaning.

Posted by Dave Bennion on 12/30/2008 @ 05:02AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Dave
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
There is an idolatry of citizenship that goes on in many of our countries. It's a cousin of nationalism and a kin of racism.

Our borders are harshly defended as we jealously guard our nothingness. It's the disparity of wealth between countries that means some countries are held aloft. In other countries the sense of nationalism defines one group over against another even to the ultimate goal of taking all their land.

Even if they were the original natives.

Posted by Martin Deane on 12/30/2008 @ 05:38AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Martin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Earthpledge.net is promoting an idea to create lasting peace in the Middle East and the world. The first proposal wasn't as clear as it needed to be which caused some confusion. Please take a closer look at this hopeful vision and alternative to the endless spiral of violence escalating in the Middle East and cast your vote today. Thank you.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/israel_as_cornerstone_for_a_future_united_states_of_earth
Also, please check out my friend Josep's proposal for human unity:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/human_union

Posted by Eli Williamson-... on 12/30/2008 @ 08:18AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Eli
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I have a question for all those supporting the "oppressed" Palestinians, name any Muslim country throughout the world that allows; Freedom of speech, Freedom of thought,Freedom of religion, Freedom of the press, Equal rights for anyone -- let alone everyone, Equal status or any status for women, or Or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world?

Posted by S N on 12/30/2008 @ 11:58AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by S
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
David;   I wonder whether the case where a minor child brought into the US illegally by his parent, would qualify as a case of "trafficking"?
   Also, if a migrant is moved by a coyote, placed in safe houses along a smuggling route, placed in work assignments, etc. All these people involved in the illegal act of aiding and abetting - would be aptly described as willing workers in a human smuggling network or gang. The migrants are being trafficked. This is my understanding.


Posted by Kurt Thialfad on 12/30/2008 @ 12:18PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Kurt
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Excellent post.

Posted by Charles Lenchner on 12/30/2008 @ 01:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Charles
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
A Muslim country that has freedom of etc is Turkey--but don't call it a Muslim country. It's officially secular.

It takes a secular government to civilize barbaric religions.

Where you have illegal migration you also have human trafficking. Where you have unregulated markets, you have racketeering. Where you have unregulated firearms, you have warlords.

Posted by Diane Levesque on 12/30/2008 @ 08:01PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Diane
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Good point, SN.

I was all set to join the cause for immigration rights until I learned that its moderator isn't able to present an unbiased opinion of the Middle East. What a shame that immigrant advocates in this nation should be be turned away by anti-Israeli bias.

Posted by S K on 12/30/2008 @ 10:40PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by S
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Hi
I have another opinion that what made the Arabs at all think of immigration is being ocuupied whether militarily or psychologically.
I'm Palestinian from Gaza city where thousands wonded and hundreds killed by the Israeli occupation recently.
They are destroying every thing; schools, mosques, hospitals, kinderkids, buildings, and gardens.
If my house destroyed or if i faced a slaughter done by the Israli occupation against my nation, what should I do? ha.
No electricity, no freedom" WE CANT LEAVE OUR CITY AND BEING
UNDER A SEIGE", no food, no milk, no shelter, no n no n nooo
Is it our problem to hold a Palestinian nationality?
Really, believe me, our situation here is very dangerous and unbelievable
Do you want us to beg? No we won't
For me, my house was destroyed partly and we now live with our relatives in order not to die under concrete.
What shall we do?
I'm waiting for a response
Bye

Posted by Nizar Alarqan on 01/23/2009 @ 09:12PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Nizar
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.