PA wants new name for Gaza, W. Bank

[bemildred]

GAZA, April 16 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Authority cabinet wants "Occupied Palestine" used when referring to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In a decision made during the weekly meeting of the government, the Palestinian Authority instructed its representatives and media to act accordingly, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday. Until now, the terms Palestinian Territories and West Bank and Gaza Strip were used when referring to the two areas.

Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and other radical Islamic groups, have always employed Occupied Palestine.

The PA said its decision came at the request of several Palestinian journalists, writers and politicians who reportedly had been urging a halt to using Israeli and Western terminology.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/16/PA-wants-new-name-for-Gaza-W-Bank/UPI-22631239888625/

[MADem]

1. They can want that all they want. I doubt it will come to pass.

I can't see any of the multinational networks adopting the term.

[azurnoir]

12. That depends if Western goverments start

using that term networks will follow.

[MADem]

14. Western governments won't, though. NT

[Captain Hilts]

2. Bert and Ernie?

[sabbat hunter]

3. personally I think

that is a good idea, and in fact the PA should also declare an independent Palestine state and use the approximate green line for their border declarations (But be careful to leave the old city as undeclared territory) That alone will generate a lot of good will for them IMHO.

[rateyes]

5. And, the UN should immediately recognize that new independent state.

Though, I do think they should include East Jerusalem as their capital city.

[rateyes]

6. I'm going to start using the term. nt

[sabbat hunter]

15. by east jerusalem

Do you include the old city of Jerusalem?

[LeftishBrit]

10. Agreed.

[azurnoir]

13. Its a good idea

something I would not have thought a few months ago however I wonder if the Israeli response would not be to "lock down" or close off further all of the OPT, it would create however quite the international sh*tstorm but at the expense of the Palestinian people.

[Jefferson23]

4. I'm all for it, I wish them the best at having it adopted.

[Scurrilous]

7. A marginal matter - By Gideon Levy

<snip>

"The 18th Knesset is different from all its predecessors. It is the first that does not have a Jewish MK whose guiding principle is the struggle against the occupation.

Since the 7th Knesset, the first to be elected after the Six-Day War, we have not had a parliament like this one, devoid of Jewish anti-occupation activists. As such, the new Knesset precisely reflects the popular zeitgeist, in which the occupation is completely missing from the national agenda, and there is no reason to disturb our legislators with the issue.

Nonetheless, the fact that the most pivotal issue facing our country and society does not warrant a solitary feeble voice, the fact that not even one Jewish MK, let alone one Zionist party in the Knesset, was elected to battle the occupation cannot but arouse surprise and concern. We have representatives for the environmentalists and settlers, the religious and social-welfare issues, for feminists, gays and people with disabilities. Only the occupation has been left without a voice.

There was always at least one Knesset party that raised this banner. There were always MKs who viewed this as their central issue. Now the occupation has nothing. Even the Jewish MK from Hadash waves the green flag only. Meretz has three MKs - one environmentalist, one waving the social-welfare banner, one focused on the economy. None represent the most important struggle of all. The occupation remains the domain of the marginalized Arab parties in the Knesset.

This is a shameful development for Israeli democracy, one in which 120 witnesses can attest to the Knesset's hollowness. At a time when half the world is preoccupied with the Israeli occupation, the Israeli voters make their position clear: This struggle does not interest them in the least. The occupation can wait."

more

[Jefferson23]

8. "This struggle does not interest them in the least. The occupation can wait."

And this is just another reason why Israel has no credibility when they say peace is their initiative.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

9. Glad to hear it.

Nice to hear the PA including Gaza for a change.

I'm sure the Judea and Samaria crowd will love this...

Long live Filasteen!

[LeftishBrit]

11. I generally use 'Occupied Territories' and in fact thought this was close to being an official term

[GoesTo11]

16. Gaza is blockaded territory but not occupied

I didn't realize that Gaza was just Israeli and Western terminology. Guess PA will have to stop referring to Shomron, etc.