Blair Returns For ‘Occupiers’

Former British P.M. Tony Blair and now special envoy for the ‘Quartet’ Middle East peace group, returned on Tuesday, September 4, to deal with a number of issues involving Israel and the Palestinians; including the continued ‘occupation’ of the West Bank. Blair was in Israel and the Palestinian Authority six weeks ago; his first assignment in this capacity since his June 24 departure from No. 10 Downing Street.

Blair’s task this time was to get a better assessment of the security situation in the West Bank, from both the Israeli and Palestinian points of view. Both sides continue present their views and assessments as to what can be expected regarding the future of the West Bank, as well as the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip.

Great Britain, as part of the European Union, will no doubt try to convince other Quartet entities, including the USA, and Russia, to put more pressure on the Israel government to find a solution to what many the world over consider a most unjust occupation of territory that Israel captured during the June, 1967 Six Day War.

Coming from the U.K. Mr. Blair may not realize that in regards to the term occupation, defined in the dictionary as “the seizure or possession of foreign territory by military invasion” has and still applies to his own country; which at one time, during the height of the British Empire, was one of the most notorious military occupiers in the world. Some of the more ‘recent’ examples of this is Gt. Britain’s 300 year occupation of the Indian Sub-Continent, which ended in 1947, and Ireland, which lasted 400 years until 1922 with most of the Emerald Isle receiving its independence (except for the northern sector, known as Ulster).. Gt. Britain also “occupied” or colonized large parts of the African Continent, as well as North America. Even the original 13 American Colonies were once ‘occupied’ by The Crown.

And in the Middle East itself, it is most applicable here to include the areas “occupied” by British forces during the 28 year British Mandate of Palestine, Egypt, and other countries in the region. After all, it was this occupation that prevented thousands, perhaps millions of Jews from being saved from the Nazis during WWII.

Today, what is known as the United Kingdom is really a case of conquest and occupation which, in a sense, continues to this day. The British Isles were once occupied by a number of peoples, including the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons (a Germanic tribe originally from the province of Saxony; and, of course the Norman French, whose historic invasion and “occupation” in the year 1066 changed the ethnic character of Gt. Britain forever.

In addition, it should also be mentioned that Gt. Britain itself is actually composed of England, Scotland, Wales, and N. Ireland. Scotland and Wales, like Ireland were once separate entities with their own kings, culture, and even language. Even today, many people living in both Wales and Scotland are in favor of receiving their independence. In Scotland, for example, the consensus has grown so strong in favor of this, that the British government has even granted Scotland a measure of autonomy, complete with a regional parliament and even a national flag.

Autonomy; where have we all heard this term before? Has it been in regards to Israel granting autonomy to the Palestinians; complete with a parliament and a national flag? Doesn’t this sound a bit familiar?

Well, it should, and in the final reckoning, we can only wonder if the Palestinians will be granted a separate state any more than England granting this to either Scotland or Wales. This is the message that should be noted to Tony Blair, as he tries to find solutions to undue the ‘occupation’ which has only been in existence for 30 years. He and the new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, should take a moment to ponder their own country’s illustrious history of “occupation”. Maybe Israeli government authorities can learn something from the Brits in regards to this sensitive topic.

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