The late Dr. Israel Shahak once related that during WWII when a collaborator at the Warsaw ghetto was eliminated, the jubilant inmates (himself included) danced with joy.[0]  Maybe the extreme situation didn’t permit the semblance of a legal process, but natural law ran its course. Now imagine if at that time a sanctimonious body were to pop up and chastise the inmates for this “crime”.  Under the circumstances, it would appear hypocritical for anyone to criticise the inmates, let alone refer to their action as “unlawful” and demand “accountability”.

Well, Amnesty International just published an article that fits that description in a contemporary setting.  It just published a news release, “Hamas must stamp out extrajudicial executions…” [1], which is an indictment of the execution or beatings of collaborators in Gaza.  Amnesty’s rumination amounts to blaming the victim.

Well, Amnesty International just published an article that fits that description in a contemporary setting.  It just published a news release, “Hamas must stamp out extrajudicial executions…” [1], which is an indictment of the execution or beatings of collaborators in Gaza.  Amnesty’s rumination amounts to blaming the victim.

For many decades Israel sought to recruit Palestinian collaborators. These were used as an enforcement arm of the oppressor; to inform on the Palestinian society and the resistance; to undermine the cohesion of the society, to sow distrust;  act as propaganda agents; and to create dependence on the oppressor.  The Israeli desire to destroy the Palestinian society has been ever present.

From the early days prior to the formation of Israel, zionists sought informers and traitors.  Bedouins and the “peace bands” acted as trackers to find and eliminate Palestinian fighters.  Wealthy Palestinians sold land or acted as agents for the zionists to acquire land.  There are gradations of collaboration — from the ones who were involved in violence against their own people, to those engaged in acts that undermined Palestinian society [2].

Today the so-called Palestinian Authority (PA) are collaborators in the Israeli project; they suppress Palestinian resistance, maintain dependence and subjugation, and protect the network of Palestinian collaborators created by Israel.  Prominent Palestinians opposed to Israeli oppression have been murdered by the PA; the PA goons have been tasked with suppressing resistance in key areas such as Jenin and Nablus; and PA forces coordinate their actions with Israeli forces.

Today the so-called Palestinian Authority (PA) are collaborators in the Israeli project; they suppress Palestinian resistance, maintain dependence and subjugation, and protect the network of Palestinian collaborators created by Israel.  Prominent Palestinians opposed to Israeli oppression have been murdered by the PA; the PA goons have been tasked with suppressing resistance in key areas such as Jenin and Nablus; and PA forces coordinate their actions with Israeli forces.

Israeli prisons use collaborators (aka Asafir) placed in cells together with Palestinian prisoners to get them to divulge information.  Asafir collaborators are also used to break the solidarity between prisoners; any activity that might create a spirit of resistance is broken up.

READ: Gaza students shame the Irish authorities

Notorious armed collaborators roam in the West Bank where they harass and intimidate victims at the behest of their handlers.  But to create a culture subservient to the Israeli occupation, Palestinians are told to petition the collaborators to obtain permits, access to land or work.  The collaborators simply do Israel’s dirty work.

Drug dealing and collaboration go hand in hand.  There is a history of Israel supplying drugs and fostering the criminal gangs in Gaza and the West Bank.[3] Yet another true and tested way to undermine a society.  Drug dealers also act as armed enforcers.

It is fairly easy for Israelis to recruit collaborators.  Any........

© Middle East Monitor