Occupation Duty-a special report with permission

[pelsar]

time in the westbank.....as a reserve solider in the IDF

i just came back from my reserve duty...this time it was in the northern westbank. I go for a variety of reasons (all reservists are "volunteers" as its easy to get out if one so desires-and many do.) One of the more interesting things i discover is what is really happening. This i learn via military briefings, either the general ones when we first arrive or the more specific ones before any mission. These are devoid of politics and are designed to tell us what to expect, the character of the settlements and arab villages in our area, the people etc.

So what did i see?...i saw how the settlements have grown, how they and the arab villages are getting closer together (at one point only 300 meters separated two). But there was something else that made a bigger impression on me...the gobs of money spent by the army to insure the occupation. Army bases are everywhere, small, large all over. Its not so much that they arent removable, they are, but to plan, develop put in the infrastructure costs a fortune. Not to mention the materials required to "feed the army." (and in fact the food has improved). I saw how the army as an occupation army is literally bleeding the country. More so, its not good for the army, the occupation takes away from its main purpose....fighting in a war.

and the Palestinians?....actually it was quite quiet where i was, nor were there any real incidents in the past years. surreal as always....Though i will leave out the details we did participate in chasing down what appeared to be 4 Palestinians that came to rob a certain building in an industrial park serving Palestenians...it appeared that we were in fact deceived by the security personal in a nearby settlement, who it seems was working together with the Palestinians.....

Another day we watched over a valley where both Palestinians and Jews spent a day having picnics and enjoying the outdoors. Always interesting to see how both groups can intermingle without anything happening. The atmosphere was a lot different from intifada I, when we couldnt stay in one place for the stones that were thrown, intifada II which was far more violent, to now, where i saw only in the reports of rocks being thrown every so often.

Which brings me to another impression......the lack of danger...the lack of motivation for an "uprising". There was no general uprising , no general resistance from the Palestinians.....to a certain degree I was disappointed, how can they be so complacent given the "evils" that israel and the IDF daily put on the Palestinians?....one answer is that on a daily basis for many the only time they meet the IDF is in passing a jeep (this was in the area I was stationed). Economically however there was a change: One of the arab villages used to have a major open market, that survived intifada I where israelis came from all over to buy...this was no more. A few violent incidents and the cliental dried up. In other places one can still see the mixing of the populations for commerce but it was only local, the settlers buying from the Palestinians.

a footnote: we were not involved in checkpoints, of which in this area there werent any.


Pelsar

[msmcghee]

1. Thanks for that. I want more of this. n/t

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. So, Pelsar, is there anything you draw from that?

Sounds like settlement shangri-la.

I wonder, is there an "occupation" lobby in Israel? You mention all the money being spent? Who profits from that? Does those industries have any role in lobbying to sustain the status quo?

Thanks for taking the time to report.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Interesting. Thanks for sharing that...

How often do you get called up for reserve duty? And do you get a choice about where and what you get to do?

[pelsar]

4. some answers...

the "gobs of money" was what the army spent...and like any "interest group" they have their own lobby, but the army in general doesnt like the occupation from a "army" point of view....it ruins the soldiers. The settlements themselves i really dont know. I think they get theres from several sources as there is not a specific "settlement lobby." Much of the industrys in the areas provide employment for Palestinians with "settler management", so there is in fact a mixing of the populations - we had a couple industrial parks in our area. As far as who gains from the occupation...i wouldnt say that its "profit oriented" its simple expansion. As the settlements enlarge, they create office/industrial parks to serve those in the settlements. There is the cheaper labor costs and cheaper land (its not Tel Aviv), so there is that factor as well....but the concept of creating jobs near israeli towns has been part of israel since pre 48, so thats not really a "settlement thing."

as far as where i "get sent"..i've been with the same group now for quite a few years....and where we get sent is an army decision. I just get a call up notice......call ups vary....depending on the situation. Once were "there" we're given the missions that were developed by the army (some commander some where....)

PM asked what are my conclusions?.....pessimistic. The settlement industry is continuing its growth and making separation more and more difficult. As it continues it will reduce the actual choices to very few options, none of them very good: citizenship for a hostile group? apartheid in a real sense, by making the westbank part of israel, but not giving the Palestinians full citizenship......

removal of those small towns (settlements gives the impression of a few houses) is not going to happen so fast given the gaza experience....and i'm not talking about the kassams but what happened to those who left gaza....dumped by the state in a "shantytown"....

[ProgressiveMuslim]

11. So... How do you see this playing out?

Two-states are dead.

I envision unacknowledged apartheid in the WB, and continued starvation of Gaza. I don't see any change from the current status quo.

How will the moral voices in Israel react? I suppose time will tell.

[subsuelo]

12. To concur on the point - we already have One State.

One state with a couple of large reservations for the native population.

It's too late now for 2-state. Not going to happen.

[pelsar]

13. continuation of the status quo...

it definitely serves the settlers. I dont know the numbers in terms of people moving there from israel (one of the settlements had quite a few unfinished buildings that seemed to be stuck), but there "natural growth" of kids growing up and living there while making new babies....

i really hate to sound like a broken record, but with gaza a failure, there is little motivation from the "moral voices" of israel to want a repeat of that in the westbank. Words, promises etc dont really hold much water in these parts as your very aware of.

possibly in the interim there will be a limited autonomous regions...at least that would be the best immediate hope, which is in fact what gaza is today and the area around Ramalla.....if that works out, then there can be an next step beyond that.....

-------
just as a side bit of info, i find the differences between an israeli 17yr old and an american/european somewhat stark:

my son is in a socialisitc/patriotic youth group who believes one must give back to your country (as in the words of JFK)....hence the dilemma.... volunteer to be in a combat unit as israel is threatened and hence he sees his citizens duty.....and possibly get in a situation where he shoots an innocent person (TV Reuters guy) or be part of the occupation army....i write this for those who are interested as a small attempt to destroy the simplistic "IDF=evil" formula....those kids have difficult decisions to make at an age where they dont have the experience nor knowledge to make them...(they just think they do)

[ProgressiveMuslim]

15. Moral agency of individual soldiers is an interesting point.

There is no occupation unless individuals soliders agree to implement it.

[azurnoir]

16. A very honest question

you mention your son volunteering for a combat unit, does he have that choice. I ask because because as far as I know all 18 year olds are inducted in the military in Israel unless they fit certain parameters that allow deferment. I am "assuming" your son does not fit any of those parameters ie he is Jewish, not Haredi, and healthy.

American kids do get some pressure these days, I speak from experience, I spent 2 years fielding calls for my younger daughter recently as she neared high school graduation, she said no, not even the $30,000 sign on bonus could tempt her to Iraq, not so with some of friends though. I also have an 11 year old son hopefully by the time he is of age Iraq will be over and no one will have started anything else.

[pelsar]

17. lots of choices....

The first choice is to be inducted or not...though there is no official way out for him (standard jewish kid at a secular school), it doesnt take much to get out (he had asthma as a child, that would be enough, or saying he doesnt believe in it, etc-i understand there are whole websites dedicated to the system of getting out....)....and the army doesnt seem to make much of a fuss about it-they dont want those that dont want to be there (lessons of intifada I)

Second choice is which direction: combat or non combat. Again officially the army can put him where they like, realistically they prefer to put the soldiers where they want to go. Hes also a bright kid, so military intel might try to pick him up. The combat units have too many volunteers so they generally dont have to have anybody who doesnt want to be there. He can go for one of the non combat areas, of which there are many (intel, communications, etc)

also there is the university path...but its a long one and its the army that decides: sign up for the university and the army owns your ass for the next 8 years..but you get to work in your profession as an officer (though the army can decide they dont want you....).

There is also a 'boy/girl" combat unit.....for the "lesser" intense combat roles-males with minor physical problems that restrict their ability to carry loads.....(a unit that i have many doubts about after having seen them......).

lots of choices for the next 3 years.

__

and just for fun, my girl is trying to figure out which unit has the cutest/hotest boys in it...that seems to be her criteria....

[azurnoir]

5. Interesting story

But I am not quite sure what o make of this part

Which brings me to another impression......the lack of danger...the lack of motivation for an "uprising". There was no general uprising , no general resistance from the Palestinians.....to a certain degree I was disappointed, how can they be so complacent given the "evils" that israel and the IDF daily put on the Palestinians?....one answer is that on a daily basis for many the only time they meet the IDF is in passing a jeep (this was in the area I was stationed).

Is this "stumping" for continued occupation? Do you really think the Palestinians are complacent or are they simply survival oriented?

[notfullofit]

6. Could this

be why...

'Another day we watched over a valley where both Palestinians and Jews spent a day having picnics and enjoying the outdoors. Always interesting to see how both groups can intermingle without anything happening.'

If they are happy and enjoying their lives, why would they want an uprising?

[pelsar]

7. analyze as you like

its just a description of the events and the environment and my own personal reaction.....its not stumping for anything. Other areas, other times the violence was far greater as i noted.....(i've been through both intifadas as a reference)

[azurnoir]

8. Maybe better wording

I was asking if things were more peaceful because the IDF was present period, or because the IDF was there but not always a physical presence.

[pelsar]

9. different areas

have different characteristics....some areas are controlled by islamic jihad/hamas and consequently react differently than areas that are less political or they have settlements with far more extremist settlers.... This last area i was in appeared far less political though i did count a few hizballa flags on some homes....one islamic jihad and couple PAs.....

because of the lack of attacks (a few rocks being thrown in the past....) i got the impression that this area was simply less interested in an uprising. The IDF is always present in the way of constant patrols....hard to miss us, but we werent entering the arab villages.. (I dont know the history of the area from years past)

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. Sounds like the gov't of Israel has found the formula:

Take the military out of the very midst of cities and villages, pen them in, and rule them from above. Settlers go their merry way, there is cheap labor and cheap production for Israel...

The only people suffering are those in Sderot.

Back before Oslo, "autonomy" was a big buzz word. Sounds like that is what was achieved for Palestine. Limited autonomy.

[azurnoir]

14. Limited autonomy in limited locals n/t