How to Defend Democracy

            We are struggling in the Middle East to establish a democratic system.  Educated people, especially those who study abroad in the European Union or United States, are trying to use the example of the EU democratic system with some adjustments that suit our culture and economy.

            However, we are asking ourselves and the Western supporters of our struggle how to defend this system when we see the policy and action of some of these systems, such as what is happening in Iraqi prisons like Abu Ghraib under the US Army.  Firstly, the previous Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the first Prime Minister under the American occupation following the Saddam regime, said yesterday that the violations of human rights today are worse than those during the rule of Saddam.  In addition, The Daily Telegraph published a plan of the US Army to attack Al Jazeera television offices because they cover events they don’t like.  Third, yesterday Israeli settlers destroyed more than 150 olive trees, each tree more than 40 years old and a major source of income for Palestinian families.  This is happening under the protection of the most “democratic” occupation army.  Before the German Counselor left his office he signed a deal to give Israel two submarines as part of the commitment of Germany and Israel to reconcile.  Reconciliation with more tools of killing.  Also, the world is asking Palestinians to use non-violent methods of struggle. When they do that, for example in the small village of Bil’in which the people are struggling for their land against the construction of the wall, farmers are beaten, injured and some even killed by the Israeli occupation army every day.  The world keeps silent and claims that they do not know.  In the last two months there have been no armed attacks committed by Palestinians against Israelis, but everyday the Israelis invade a Palestinian city or village and kill or arrest a Palestinian, simply to provoke a reaction to justify the continuation of the aggression of the occupation army, and the world doesn’t see, doesn’t know!  It is easy to blame the weak or to say we don’t know…

                                                                                           Dr. Noah Salameh