<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Palestinian Committee blames Israeli occupation alone for Mer Khamis&nbsp;murder]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p class="byline"><abbr class="published" title="Wednesday, April 6th, 2011, 7:32 am">Wednesday, April 6 2011<span class="author vcard">|<span class="url fn n"> Mairav Zonszein | +972 Magazine<br />
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<p><em><strong>By solely condemning the Israeli occupation for the  murder, the Bil’in Popular Committee is sending both sides an  unfortunate message</strong></em></p>
<p>The morning after the <a href="http://972mag.com/breaking-activist-actor-director-juliiano-mer-khamis-assassinated/">murder </a>of  Juliano Mer Khamis, the Bil’in Popular Committee, led by Iyad Burnat,  put out a statement expressing its sorrow over the tragic event. In the  statement, the Israeli occupation is held “accountable and fully  responsible” for the murder, since it is seen as part of the “escalation  of politics exercised by Israeli occupation.” The statement goes on to  reiterate the values of civil disobedience and peaceful means for ending  the occupation, and emphasizes that the committee is not “against Jews  in the world.”</p>
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<blockquote><p>The  popular committees against the wall and israeli occupation express  their deep sadness and sorrow to the murder that happened in Jenine  today against the activist and director Juliano. The popular committees  see this act as part of the escalation politics exercised by israeli  occupation. These politics permits such horrific acts. Therefore, we  hold the israeli occupation accountable and fully responsible for such  acts. The popular committeeis committed to peaceful combativeness and  civil disobedience to end the Israeli occupation and that everyone must  be aware that our goal not to kill. We are not against Jews in the  world. We are against the occupation and our goal to live in freedom and  dignity like the rest of the world. Regardless that this act was  committed on an occupied land , we believe that the killing of Juliano  only serves Israeli interests.</p></blockquote>
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<p>Nowhere in the statement does the committee also include the need for  Palestinians to assume responsibility for the act, or condemn the fact  that Juliano was repeatedly threatened with his life and his theater  firebombed by local residents who disapproved of his liberalism. Juliano  Mer Khamis’s fight for freedom was not solely against occupation, but  against all forces of discrimination and oppression, including those  ingrained in Palestinian society.</p>
<p>By solely blaming the Israeli occupation for the murder, the Bil’in  Popular Committee is sending the unfortunate message that Palestinians  are the object of Israel and its occupation, thereby eternalizing their  dependence on Israel for self-determination. For Palestinians to empower  themselves and truly achieve independence, they must be able to take  responsibility for what happens in their society and face their own  demons in order to prevail. If nothing else, this is the legacy Juliano  Mer Khamis has left the Palestinian people.</p>
<p>While the 44-year Israeli occupation is certainly responsible for a  continued mentality of trauma, aggression and violence in the West Bank,  there are also other elements at work here, such as intolerance  regarding sexuality, gender and religion amongst Palestinians  themselves. Even if one believes the violent elements within Palestinian  society are entirely a product of Israeli occupation, Palestinians  cannot expect Israel to heal and expunge it for them.</p>
<p>It would have therefore been nice to hear the Bil’in Popular  Committee also express some self-criticism and introspection regarding  the murder, and to make clear that whoever committed the murder, whether  Israeli or Palestinian, are part of the same devastating forces that  keep this region in turmoil. This is called for specifically because the  residents of Bil’in have been so integral in changing the way  Palestinians think about resistance to the occupation, and for their  success at drawing the world’s attention to the legitimate Palestinian  struggle.</p>
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<p><a href="http://972mag.com/bilin-blames-israeli-occupation-for-mer-khamis-murder/">Source</a></p>
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