Excerpts below
Oren Yiftachel: Israel’s pacifist
" By Zulfiqar Shah in Kathmandu
Prof Oren Yiftachel was born in 1956 in Galilee, Israel. He studied geography, planning and political science in Australian and Israeli universities. Prof Yiftachel has taught at Curtin University, Australia and at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia in the US. He currently chairs the Department of Geography at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Yiftachel teaches political geography and public policy and is a research fellow at the Negev Center for Regional Development.
His main research areas explore the links between ethno-national politics, and urban and regional policies. His books include Planning a Mixed Region in Israel; The Political Geography of Galillee; Planning as Control, Policy and Resistance in Divided Society; Ethnic Frontiers and Peripheries; and The Power of Planning. He is a regular contributor to international journals and newspapers.
Prof Yiftachel is a renowned critic of Israel’s land policies and a peace activist. He has been associated with several civil society organisations, which struggle to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. In a recent interview with Political Economy, he talked about the Palestinian conflict. Excerpts follow:
PE: Tell us about your struggle as a peace activist?
OY: I live on a boundary with Lebanon, in Palestine area. This is the area where I went to school and college, where I opened my eyes. Now, I am told this is a Jew land but it is hard to believe. Then I saw bloodshed, killing of innocent people, civilians on both sides Israelis and Palestinians, so I thought peace is the utter need of this part of the world. This way I became a peace activist at the age of 25 years. In college, one of my teachers taught me the lesson of Mahatma Ghadhi’s method and then I went abroad for studies. On my return I did my PhD on Arab-Jews relations.
PE: What is the attitude of Israeli government towards Jewish peace activists?
OY: A few weeks ago Israel’s Minister for Education wrote a letter to the attorney general for the trial of 32 professors including me, for treason, because we criticise their policies and bombing of Palestinian cities. But we are happy to go on trial and I think it should be one of the strategies of peace activists to seek confrontation. We may lose the case, but it will provide us opportunity to pledge our case, this way we can get coverage, popularity and publicity, which will be helpful in exposing the government. Despite all such acts, I think the university professors enjoy a lot of freedom. Universities in Israel are the main centres of peace movements, because they are semi- independent. I tell you a lot of the professionals are doing documentation. I personally get harassed, but we are working. I always tell them that I am a peace activist and I seek peace both for Israelis and Palestinians.
PE: Given the current deadlock, do you think there is still any scope for peace activism in the region?
OY: In fact, violence has an enormous impact on the lives of people. When you go to a Palestinian village people say just give us water. We tried to re-build demolished homes, but the dilemma is that you cannot work in present conditions as the situation is dangerous and serious. But we must try to look for peace both in Israeli and Palestinian regimes. Although 90% activities are frozen because of the recent wave of violence, still there is room to work for peace. Majority of people still want peace, they think the idea has not gone out. I tell you, despite of Israeli might, most Israelis know that occupation has to go.
PE: What is the army’s role in Israeli politics?
OY: In Israel army is second to bible. Its decisions are considered final and divine words. It’s unfortunate that a semi-educated 20-year-old military officer will come and dictate you (a university professor) and would say this is right and this is wrong. I always tell people, that there is no need of a military coup in Israel, because it is already in power. Four prime ministers, including the present one, were generals. The army is against the vacation of settlements for their own interests.
PE: How do you view the role of Arafat and the Palestinian Authority?
OY: I think, Arafat will be the victim of politics of violence as he has failed to control it. But he is not solely responsible for that, as Israel on one hand is destroying the PA infrastructure and on the other it accuses PA for not doing enough to stop militants. Arafat has also not done enough; but anyway, he has survived and I think it’s the right of the people of Palestine and not Bush and Sharon to decide whose is their leader. I think he must stay. Arafat’s elimination would be a blow to peace efforts.
PE: Please comment on the activities of Hamas?
OY: I think Hamas is following a disastrous policy. Palestinian nationalism has been secular, even for last ten years it was secular. Ironically, Israel is responsible for radicalism in the Palestinians. Israel actually built Hamas in the '80s to counter PLO, like the US built the Taliban. But Islamic agenda is powerful and it was used negatively. I think, Arafat has managed to survive, but still Hamas and Jihad are effective not politically but socially. And if there is election in the West Bank, Hamas will win. It’s not only Hamas but there are Jews, very religious fundamentalists. Religion is very much a factor in this conflict. They say this is our land and this is the problem. But organised violence is a disastrous move for the Palestinians, morally and strategically, inviting certain defeat and pervasive destruction.
PE: Don’t you think that Israeli atrocities have compelled Hamas to resort to violence?
