Special Report
The Right to Development (in Gaza)
What was once thought an international right now applies only to Palestinians.
In the early 1980s, the Strasbourg-based European Parliament held a conference on the “Right to Development,” and I was the Reagan Administration’s representative. Peter Berger, our regular delegate to these meetings, couldn’t attend because, if memory serves, he was attending a torture conference. I suppose the reason I was chosen to replace him was because, as Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams’ speechwriter in the State Department’s Human Rights Bureau, I helped prepare some of the material critical of the Right to Development. (Another reason for my selection may have been the fact that this was not a very high-profile conference, so even if I made a fool of myself, not many would notice.)
The Right to Development was an attempt by such knavish Third World dictatorships as Cuba, Algeria and Libya to create a new, internationally recognized human right — the right of all nations to full economic development — equal in status to such well-established civil and political rights as freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion. The basic idea was that even if a regime systematically violated these rights, it still enjoyed an inalienable Right to Development.
Before going to Strasbourg, I promised myself that I wouldn’t be an “Ugly American” throwing my weight around and dominating the proceedings, but would sit back and let the Europeans hash out their differences by themselves. This, I assumed, was what the Europeans themselves wanted — but I was dead-wrong. After the French expert delivered an impassioned opening statement in support of the Right to Development, the Conference’s Chairman — a distinguished-looking Luxembourger —declared that it was now time to hear the American viewpoint, and looked expectantly at me.
When I am nervous, I tend to speak quickly, and I must have been very nervous that morning in Strasbourg, because the Chairman actually interrupted me at one point and asked me to slow down — the translators were having trouble keeping up with my verbal torrent. In any event, the argument I made (more or less well) was that recognizing a human right also meant recognizing a corresponding obligation to enforce that right. For example, if I have a right to worship freely, and someone interferes with that right, then the government is obliged to step in and help me exercise my right. Similarly, if Cuba has a right to development, but remains sadly impoverished thanks to what enlightened opinion the world over recognizes as dastardly imperialist machinations, then the international community has an obligation to step in and help Cuba. That, I stressed, was the logic of the Right to Development. But did we really want to go down this road — funding the world’s worst dictatorships in the name of a newly concocted human right?
Although all of the other participants (with the surprising exception of the Swedish expert, who argued that human rights only belonged to individuals, and not to states) disagreed with me and strongly backed the Right to Development, we adjourned without achieving any sort of consensus. In that very limited sense, I suppose, my one and only foray into international diplomacy ended successfully.
But while the “Right to Development” has stalled, the Right to Development in Gaza has apparently won universal recognition. On March 2, the Egyptian government hosted an “International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza.” The Conference, attended by delegates from 71 states, raised $4.5 billion. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $900 million.
Why is the international community so seized with the plight of Gaza? The conventional answer, that the people of Gaza are living in a virtual rubbish heap because of Israeli attacks, is false. As a recent visitor to Gaza, Yvonne Green, reported in the March 3 Jerusalem Post, “The Gaza I saw was societally intact. There were no homeless, walking wounded, hungry or undressed people. The streets were busy, shops were hung with embroidered dresses and gigantic cooking pots, the markets were full of fresh meat and beautiful produce…Mothers accompanied by a 13-year-old boy told me they were bored of leaving home to sit on rubble all day to tell the press how they’d survived…”
But even if Gazans were living in a rubble heap, why are Western nations obliged to help them out? After all, the Palestinians are part of the Arab world, Arab states are not exactly cash-poor and (so they never tire of telling us) are obsessed by Palestinian suffering. So why not let them pick up the tab for Gaza reconstruction, while we attend to our own needs?
But even if the Arabs were cash poor, why must we begin the Gaza reconstruction process now — even before a ceasefire has been reached, and while Palestinian rockets continue to rain down on Israeli towns and villages? And why lift a finger to support the main beneficiary of the world’s largesse — the Hamas government of Gaza, a totalitarian regime that cynically uses its captive population as “human shields,” while relentlessly seeking Israel’s destruction?
Evidently, the world has bought into the logic of the Right to Development —not as a universal right for all (Darfurians and Tibetans, for example, need not apply) — but as a right that applies solely to Palestinians. The reasoning goes like this: Palestinians have an inalienable right to development; Israeli aggression is preventing the Palestinians from exercising that right; Israel was foisted on the Arab world by the West — therefore the West is indirectly responsible for Palestinian underdevelopment; hence, it must pay…and pay… and pay.
The only way out of this trap is for the West to tell the Arab states that it is their refusal to come to terms with Israel that is responsible for the Palestinian plight, and that it is therefore their responsibility, not ours, to fund Palestinian reconstruction. But no Western statesman (or stateswoman) has ever summoned up the courage to say anything so bold, and it is unlikely that anyone ever will.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (42) | Leave a comment
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Withheld| 3.5.09 @ 9:27AM
(Text of e-message to White House)
Mr. President: $900 million -- nearly a billion bucks of taxpayer money -- to go to the 'Palestinians' in Gaza to help 'rebuild' after their recent conflict with Israel, in which Israel cleaned their clock, and which clock-cleaning was brought on the Palestinians themselves by their two-year campaign of indiscriminately firing rockets into Israeli population centers? Do I have that right?
Am I also correct in understanding that for 60 years now, the entirety of my time on Earth, the 'Palestinians' have been nothing but a huge, festering, oozing boil on the butt of that Earth? Unwilling to acknowledge that historically 'they' never had a sovereign country, likewise unwilling to acknowledge that in the lands they claim as their own Jews have had a larger and deeper historical claim, and unlike the Jews of modern Israel who for decades have sought accommodation, these self-same 'Palestinians' seek only the extermination of all Jews (worldwide), the complete eradication of the State of Israel, and for that matter the destruction of the 'Great Satan' of the US of A? Do I have that right?
So let me get this next part right: The 'Palestinians' were never a people, never a country, only an assortment of tribes, none of which was ever much concerned about land rights because they were almost all nomadic. Sixty years ago, after the Holocaust of World War II, the United Nations, not the United States, provided the means and some meager, arid lands for the few, decimated survivors of the Jewish populations of Europe to return to their historical homeland. All sorts of provisions were made, including unending international aid, for the accommodation and integration of both Jews and Arabs (aka the 'Palestinians.') But that was not good enough for the 'Palestinians,' they wanted sovereignty over all the lands, even though they had never had sovereignty over those lands before. Within a year a war was instigated by the 'Palestinians', a war Israel won. In the decades since three or four more wars were instigated by the 'Palestinians', most involving other Arab countries, all of which Israel won decisively. At the same time, in the midst of so many wars and almost constant terrorism against it, Israel managed to create the fabric of a pretty wonderful melting-pot society, with immigrant citizens from dozens of countries, as well as a very robust economy. Israel made the desert bloom. The 'Palestinians', meanwhile, were about nothing but gloom, doom, and perpetually and profitably sucking at the always-extended teats of perpetually easily-suckered fool countries like the good ol' US of A. From Harry Truman to yourself, the line of presidents ready, willing, able and eager to be 'punked' by the 'Palestinians' is unbroken...much to our shame. Maybe you disagree with this short history and analysis in part, but will you agree that I've got it basically right?
Finally let me say this: after 60 years of untold billions of American taxpayer dollars ponied over to the 'Palestinians' for every kind of 'relief' 'rebuilding' and 'resettlement' project and scheme imaginable, after bending over backwards and contorting ourselves in ways profoundly unbecoming to a great power, and after meeting with nothing but frustration and futility -- which is to say after banging our collective head against the wall for more than a half-century -- you now propose and intend to slide the 'Palestinians' (which is to say the terrorist organization Hamas) another cool billion bucks of the hard-earned money of American taxpayers?
To which I can only ask: What planet are you living on?
Ooops...I forgot. You live and reign on Planet Obama, where the world as it exists is viewed as the world that was and can no longer be -- an oak tree too old and grown too large to any longer be vibrant and viable, ripe for the chainsaw and the chipper, to be replaced by the ACORN of your community- and world-organizing self.
It's pretty evident, painfully evident, that a billion bucks to you ain't even chump change, ain't even lint in the bottom of your (our) pocket. But if my math is correct, what you are proposing and intending is that every man, woman, and child in America should individually pony-up approximately $333 to help 'rebuild' the towns of Gaza, wherein reside the most motley collection of tit-suckers and incorrigible terrorists the world has ever known, or ever is likely to know.
I ask again: What planet are you living on?
And again I'll answer my own question: Planet Obama, where the mortal and fallible man who is president tragically mistakes himself for Superman.
Alan Brooks| 3.5.09 @ 10:19AM
Iran will fight to the last drop of Palestinian blood.
ncatty| 3.5.09 @ 12:38PM
The US subsidizes Israel which destroys Gaza and we pay to have Gaza rebuilt?
Crusader| 3.5.09 @ 2:20PM
What about my right to development? Can I just keep the money I make and use it to develop myself instead of having it sent to third world semi-human moon-god worshippers?????
Marc Jeric| 3.5.09 @ 4:01PM
$900,000,000 for Hamas terrorists? So they can rebuild their depleted rockets and suicide bombers belts? Well - we knew that when we elected Abu Hussein from Kenya and his ACORN brownshirts.
whatsso4me| 3.5.09 @ 4:04PM
No cash for Gaza until Radical Islam is defeated there. Occupation of Gaza by USA, NATO, and Isreali troops until two-state option is either fully implemented, or abandoned once-and-for-all.
car show | 3.6.09 @ 3:53AM
Gaza' people are living in a virtual rubbish heap due to Israeli attacks, is false. that is why international community so seized with the plight of Gaza.
Rusty Shelton | 3.8.09 @ 4:07AM
This new idea of the USA giving a BILLION dollars to the 'Palestinians' isn't any worse than the new idea of reaching out to the Taliban 'moderates'.
They both represent hope, change... and the clown-show that is the clueless democrat party.
This is pathetic.
RALPH OMHOLT| 3.8.09 @ 12:12PM
Gaza is a tough issue to reconcile. "Israel" began in 1917, with the British "balfour" declaration. The Brits were trying to find a peaceful way to get rid of the Jews, using territory which it controlled.
Given the time, the nomadic "palestininian" tribes lived in a wilderness, but had their own way of life, even under British colonial rule. Enter a forced sovereignty. If the Palestinians didn't band together, the British were in the business of forming sovereignties & "Palestine" was one of those.
Now, we see Palestinians displaced into a ghetto, fighting back. One can't blame Israel for resenting the reaction, but the Palestininans didn't start the fight & are using rocks against tanks.
Where is the line of justice to be drawn. Do we apply universal justice & give America back to the Indians, Eskimos & Mexicans? Or, Does Israel have some particular supreme right? That question has to be posed.
We've seen American dollars & armaments used to strike the Gaza Ghetto, which falls into the shadow of the Warsaw Ghetto; like it or not.
I'm a Viet Nam veteran, denied the promised VA benefits. My few remaining taxes should be funding America. Israel & the Palestinians don't car about me, where's my "aid?" Put those same profiteering middle-men in the VA system & help my kind.
Pingback| 3.8.09 @ 6:16PM
The Right to Development (in Gaza) — The Dana Report links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jennifer| 3.9.09 @ 8:55PM
I am appalled at the lies you are telling Mr Shatten. You are doing the American public a huge disservice by denying them the truth.
I have just come back from Gaza and the conditions that a huge majority of the people are living in is inhuman. The hospitals are unable to cope with the number of wounded, wounded by American made weapons I have to say. Medicine, dressings, and just about everything else is in very short supply because of the siege Israel has subjected the 1.5 million people in Gaza to.
In the hospital I worked in, people were dying from diabetes because their medication was sitting at the border in a truck that Israel would not allow in. Dialysis patients too were dying because the generators were running out of fuel to power them.
Many elderly people are dying from easily preventable illnesses also.
Children are malnourished and with stunted growth because foodstuffs are limited to whatever Israel decides they should have that week.
The infrastructure is in ruins in a lot of Gaza city. Fresh water is not available and electricity is off for many hours every day. The risk of disease is extremely high.
Whole neighbourhoods were razed to the ground and those people are now living in tents provided by UNRWA. Because of heavy rains these "tent villages" are now mud baths.
You have your views of Israel but please don't lie about the facts on the ground. It makes you look foolish and destroys your crediability
Regards
Jennifer
Ireland
Jennifer| 3.9.09 @ 9:01PM
As an addendum to my last message I would like to say that the Arab world have pledged $4.25 billion to rebuild Gaza.
If you are not going to honour your country's pledge to the people of Gaza you should also stop sending Israel over$3 billion per annum and military hardware which they are using to ethnically cleansed the Palestinians.
Jennifer, Ireland
Pingback| 3.10.09 @ 4:00AM
Gaza: The “Right” To Development? « Sigmund, Carl and Alfred links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ivan| 3.10.09 @ 9:55PM
Jennifer, 4.25 billin from the Ayrabs, 1 billion from the Japanese and Europeans, 900 million from the Americans. That works out to oh 4,000 USD for every woman, child and terrorist in Gaza. That is a few times the per capita of some African countries. It seems to be quite a paying proposition for the Gazans for a couple of weeks work.
Jennifer| 3.11.09 @ 8:14AM
Ivan, I don't think you realise that a lot of the infrastructure has been destroyed along with thousands of acres of farmland, irrigation systems, power plants, sewage treatment plants, hospitals and thousands of homes. That is what the donations are for.
Tell me what use is $4000 to a child who has been orphaned and watched his parents and 2 siblings being torn to pieces in front of his eyes by an American shell. Samir is one such child, out of hundreds, who are physically and mentally scarred for life, he had his 2 legs amputated. Do you really think money is any use to him ?
But then to the supporters of Israel, people like Samir are "sub-human" so they don't matter.
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