Fateful Triangle

Rejectionism and Accomodation127the [Israeli] civil administration commit illegal acts to praise the name ofthe Village Leagues,” describing how the administration acts to serve“their desire for revenge.” Barel also illustrates how West Bankinhabitants are compelled to submit to the rule of the Milson-DudinLeagues in order to survive, citing the case of Abu Adnan of the WestBank town of Halhul, whose mayor, Muhammed Milhem (who hadcalled for a peaceful two-state political settlement), was also dismissedby the Milson administration. Adnan had sent his son (born andeducated in the West Bank) to Greece for medical studies. His son wasnot permitted to return on the pretext that he was away when a censuswas taken; removal of the educated population has been a standardprocedure of the occupation since the beginning. Requests to permit hisson at least to visit were denied by the Milson administration. Finally,Adnan turned to the Village Leagues, signing a form stating his requestto become a member, and offering a “donation” of 500 Israeli shekels.He at once received permission for his son to visit. 53 The Hebrew presscontains many similar examples illustrating how the Leagues gain theirpopularity.In testimony before Congress, a member of an American study groupreturning from a Middle East tour reported that “the vast majority” of thepopulation “dislike the Unions” (the Village Leagues) but “feel forced todeal with them” because of the arrangements imposed by the MilitaryGovernment. The Leagues are “widely feared and are dealt with only asindividuals and groups feel pressured to do so.” “The greatest fear ofWest Bankers is that these Union of Villages officials will be selected bythe Israelis as the ‘moderate’ Palestinians who will ‘negotiate’ autonomyunder the Camp David accords, and thus give the appearance of legitimacyto an autonomy agreement.” It is this fear that was realized in thesubsequent meeting that Rubinstein reported. “Shlomo Gazit, formerChief of Israeli Intelligence, has stated that the setting up of the VillageClassics in Politics: The Fateful TriangleNoam Chomsky