Tag: Israel

An Open Letter To My Friends Who Signed “Philosophy for Palestine” | by The Hannah Arendt Center | Amor Mundi | Nov, 2023 | Medium

These are dark times as multiple crises are erupting around the world while talk of a global conflagration is heard in many circles. These are also times that try human relationships, friendships…
— Read on medium.com/amor-mundi/an-open-letter-to-my-friends-who-signed-philosophy-for-palestine-0440ebd665d8

In the above article on Medium, Seyla Benhabib counters, and convincingly in my opinion, an open letter with the title Philosophy for Palestine signed by a bevy of predominantly U.S. intellectuals and academics, including Judith Butler and Nancy Fraser. (To be truthful, a scan of the signatories suggests to me no other name of renown – but then what do, or who do, I know!)

Built to be breached

Remember Trump’s wall? Then you probably also remember the perverse rallying chant of his supporters: Build that wall! Build that …! (When it wasn’t Lock her up! As an election year again approaches that such populist rabble rousing were but an aberration has been exposed as a pipe dream). I remember some sort of paper mâché (well maybe it wasn’t paper mâché exactly) prototype for sure and the haphazard erecting of or replacing of barriers in a limited way during this Trump term (I avoid saying “presidency”!). Exactly what the Biden administration’s position is could be described as fluid. But I do also remember Biden’s election rhetoric (for his more progressive clientele): No wall with me, folks!

Well, really? This week, succumbing to the pressure of numbers – especially out of Venezuela – and in the face of agitation from (mostly Democratic) mayors of the metropolises (where many of the migrants head) – the Biden administration announced the renewed construction of a physical barrier – yes, a wall! – in the Rio Grande Valley (and the deportation of Venezuelans). And, yes, I know the ‘appropriation’ argument. That is, congress has appropriated the funding, so it’s got to be spent. Really?

The Israel-Gaza barrier seen from the Israeli side
Replacement border fencing construction. California, 2019.

And, today, I think again of walls – this time in Israel, a nation that is seemingly forever building or planning to build walls. To keep in or keep out is a matter of perspective. As I write, one such, between Gaza and Israel, has been violently breached by Hamas. We are at war, says Netanyahu. Ergo: walls, like rivers (Rio Grande) or seas (Mediterranean) are limited in their function as a barrier, walls like their natural counterparts are there to be breached, and walls rarely hinder wars rather cement divisions.

This, another simmering conflict – always there, always ready to ignite. But such an incursion? Why now? Why did the intelligence seemingly fail? What next? I fear swift retaliation from Israel is assured.