Shalom All,
There is talk of a repeat of the massive incursion into Egypt from Gaza a few weeks ago, only this time headed into Israel. The assumption from the left wing protesters is that the reaction would be similar, namely that Israel would do nothing, just as Egypt did nothing.
The reality is that would hardly be the case. Egypt did not consider those in Gaza an enemy, there was substantial support for relieving the suffering of Gazans within Egypt, and because of the relative isolation of the Sinai Peninsula, there was little real concern within Egypt. The primary purpose of the Egypt-Gaza border is to force Israel to assert authority over Gaza. Only secondarily is it to reduce militant influences from Gaza upon those in Egypt.
Thus, it makes most sense as a simple policy matter for Israel to continue to weaken the Egypt-Gaza border and to threaten to destroy it altogether should Gaza continue to pose problems. Egypt will have the choice either to enforce Israel's embargo on its side or face the certainty that Gaza will once again come under its sphere and not Israel's. The falsehood that Israel alone is isolating Gaza cannot be maintained long-term. It was abundantly clear that relief can come more readily from the West than the East for Gaza.
Thus, should there be an attempt to enter Israel en masse from Gaza, Israel should BOTH prevent that AND create opportunities for Gazans to enter Egypt. Obviously, Gazans would pose an immediate threat to Israelis should they enter Israel, even peacefully. Would NO MILITANTS enter? Would no bombs be brought across the border? Of course they would. Thus, no "non-violent" march could be allowed.
I would suggest that Israel use its array of non-lethal means of deterrence, but that it use any means necessary to prevent large scale bloodshed that would certainly result from masses of Gazans interacting with masses of armed Israelis rushing to prevent an invasion. I would further respond to a mass march from Gaza with an invasion from Israel and the destruction of the Egypt-Gaza border. Relieve pressure on that side. Free Gaza to the West.
-D
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Absorption Center Presentation P2K 2008
This video is of the presentation given to the Rabbis and Presidents P2K Mission at the Immigrant Absorption Center in the Western Galilee.
Tri-Wizard Program P2K 2008
Shalom All,
The Tri-Wizard Program is one that seeks to bring Israeli Jewish High School Students and Israeli Arab High School Students (Muslim, Christian, and Druze) from the ORT High Schools in the Akko area together with American High School Students so that they may learn about each other's cultures and views on major issues, such as the peace process. It is one of the best examples of how Jews and Arabs can work toward coexistence. The program is funded by multiple organizations including the UJA and ultimately the local Jewish Federations in the Western Galilee partnership.
This presentation was given as part of the program for the Partnership 2000 Rabbis and Presidents Mission in 2008.
-David
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
My Trip to Israel
Shalom All,
Having just returned from nine days in Israel in which I visited Des Moines' partnership region, the Western Galilee, I can tell you that in Israel there are many programs that seek to bring Israeli Jews and Arabs into dialogue. Unfortunately, Israel does not do a very good job of letting people know about those efforts and the media is often all too quick to seize upon conflicts while ignoring peaceful coexistence. Our Partnership 2000 region consists of an area called Matei Asher, which is basically the equivalent of a county and consists of a number of villages and a small city, Akko. The region is about 50% Jewish and 50% Israeli Arab of which there are relatively equal numbers of Druze, Christians, and Muslims. The Western Galilee Hospital that was shelled in the last Lebanon War is directed by an Israeli Arab Christian, has a significant mix of both Jewish and Arab doctors and serves a population that is very heavily Arab. It is the primary hospital for Israel's Druze population.
At Western Galilee College, no small percentage of the students are Israeli Arabs from local villages. The director of the college told us that the college has to work its course schedule around the religious and social needs of the Arab population including making certain that classes end no later than 8 pm so that Arab women may be home at a respectable hour, enabling their families to allow them to attend the school. 75% of the Arab students are women.
The director of the community centers in Matei Asher oversees not just centers in Jewish neighborhoods, but in Arab neighborhoods and has board members from several Arab villages on his governing board.
We visited a program called Hafooch al-Hafooch. Hafooch is a "latte" in Hebrew, but also means turned over. It is a program that helps teens in need. The location in Akko which we visited opens after school and remains open well into the evening. The program which is funded by many Jewish organizations including ultimately the Jewish Federations of Des Moines and other cities caters not only to Jews, but in large part to local Arabs, Muslims and Christians. The night we happened to visit was "Arab student night" and about 30 Israeli Arab teens were the only ones in attendance being helped by Israeli Jews who were providing a safe environment for them to act like kids. There are numerous Arab board members helping to oversee the program and working alongside their Jewish partners.
We visited a program called "Wings" that helps disabled teens learn to live independently as much as possible. The program takes place in several locations in the Partnership region, including at least one Arab village.
We visited the Ort High School in Akko and met with students and teachers participating in a program called Tri-Wizard, after the Harry Potter story in which Israel Jewish teens and Israeli Arab teens dialogue with American High School students and even visit their schools in the states to learn about co-existence. The Tri-Wizard program operates out of both Jewish and Arab schools in the region and has staffing from both. Student representatives from both the predominantly Jewish High School and the predominantly Arab High School spoke to us about some of the many things they learned in their interactions.
We toured the Old City in Jerusalem and shopped in the Arab Christian and Arab Muslim Quarters. Hebrew speaking Israeli Jews were both touring in large numbers and also shopping and buying from the Muslim and Christian Israeli Arabs in the Shuk (the market) who were alternately speaking Hebrew and Arabic to one another. Israeli Jews learn to speak Arabic as well as English. Most native Israelis are relatively fluent in Arabic and Israeli Arabs can speak Hebrew and English well. The current economic interaction between Israeli Jews and Arabs in the Old City is something that people could not remember occurring over most of the last 17 years. One could actually find Judaica being sold all over the Muslim Quarter and there was virtually no concern of violence anywhere. One guide told me that it is now not a big deal for Jews to enter the Old City through the Damascus Gate. There were years, in fact most of the last two decades, when even the suggestion would have sent shivers down the spine of most Israeli Jews, a time when stabbings were commonplace. Now, one can find Hebrew speaking Israeli tour groups walking through the Muslim Quarter and buying from shops that a decade ago they would never have approached.
I visited the Barakat Antiquities Gallery on the Via De La Rosa. I mentioned to the man there that I had visited his family's stores in Scottsdale, Arizona. They own several Jewelry stores and other stores including a restaurant in Old Scottsdale. He asked me if I had visited their family's store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Right now the Israeli economy is booming, especially in Jerusalem and on the central coast, and many of those Israeli Arabs living there have become very wealthy. Up in the Western Galilee, things are more difficult financially for both Jews and Arabs, but it was abundantly clear that where Jews and Arabs worked together, they were finding success.
I am hoping that in the not too distant future, we can arrange a trip to the Western Galilee on which many others could attend and see places where Jews and Arabs can actually get along and how they go about doing it.
-David
Having just returned from nine days in Israel in which I visited Des Moines' partnership region, the Western Galilee, I can tell you that in Israel there are many programs that seek to bring Israeli Jews and Arabs into dialogue. Unfortunately, Israel does not do a very good job of letting people know about those efforts and the media is often all too quick to seize upon conflicts while ignoring peaceful coexistence. Our Partnership 2000 region consists of an area called Matei Asher, which is basically the equivalent of a county and consists of a number of villages and a small city, Akko. The region is about 50% Jewish and 50% Israeli Arab of which there are relatively equal numbers of Druze, Christians, and Muslims. The Western Galilee Hospital that was shelled in the last Lebanon War is directed by an Israeli Arab Christian, has a significant mix of both Jewish and Arab doctors and serves a population that is very heavily Arab. It is the primary hospital for Israel's Druze population.
At Western Galilee College, no small percentage of the students are Israeli Arabs from local villages. The director of the college told us that the college has to work its course schedule around the religious and social needs of the Arab population including making certain that classes end no later than 8 pm so that Arab women may be home at a respectable hour, enabling their families to allow them to attend the school. 75% of the Arab students are women.
The director of the community centers in Matei Asher oversees not just centers in Jewish neighborhoods, but in Arab neighborhoods and has board members from several Arab villages on his governing board.
We visited a program called Hafooch al-Hafooch. Hafooch is a "latte" in Hebrew, but also means turned over. It is a program that helps teens in need. The location in Akko which we visited opens after school and remains open well into the evening. The program which is funded by many Jewish organizations including ultimately the Jewish Federations of Des Moines and other cities caters not only to Jews, but in large part to local Arabs, Muslims and Christians. The night we happened to visit was "Arab student night" and about 30 Israeli Arab teens were the only ones in attendance being helped by Israeli Jews who were providing a safe environment for them to act like kids. There are numerous Arab board members helping to oversee the program and working alongside their Jewish partners.
We visited a program called "Wings" that helps disabled teens learn to live independently as much as possible. The program takes place in several locations in the Partnership region, including at least one Arab village.
We visited the Ort High School in Akko and met with students and teachers participating in a program called Tri-Wizard, after the Harry Potter story in which Israel Jewish teens and Israeli Arab teens dialogue with American High School students and even visit their schools in the states to learn about co-existence. The Tri-Wizard program operates out of both Jewish and Arab schools in the region and has staffing from both. Student representatives from both the predominantly Jewish High School and the predominantly Arab High School spoke to us about some of the many things they learned in their interactions.
We toured the Old City in Jerusalem and shopped in the Arab Christian and Arab Muslim Quarters. Hebrew speaking Israeli Jews were both touring in large numbers and also shopping and buying from the Muslim and Christian Israeli Arabs in the Shuk (the market) who were alternately speaking Hebrew and Arabic to one another. Israeli Jews learn to speak Arabic as well as English. Most native Israelis are relatively fluent in Arabic and Israeli Arabs can speak Hebrew and English well. The current economic interaction between Israeli Jews and Arabs in the Old City is something that people could not remember occurring over most of the last 17 years. One could actually find Judaica being sold all over the Muslim Quarter and there was virtually no concern of violence anywhere. One guide told me that it is now not a big deal for Jews to enter the Old City through the Damascus Gate. There were years, in fact most of the last two decades, when even the suggestion would have sent shivers down the spine of most Israeli Jews, a time when stabbings were commonplace. Now, one can find Hebrew speaking Israeli tour groups walking through the Muslim Quarter and buying from shops that a decade ago they would never have approached.
I visited the Barakat Antiquities Gallery on the Via De La Rosa. I mentioned to the man there that I had visited his family's stores in Scottsdale, Arizona. They own several Jewelry stores and other stores including a restaurant in Old Scottsdale. He asked me if I had visited their family's store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Right now the Israeli economy is booming, especially in Jerusalem and on the central coast, and many of those Israeli Arabs living there have become very wealthy. Up in the Western Galilee, things are more difficult financially for both Jews and Arabs, but it was abundantly clear that where Jews and Arabs worked together, they were finding success.
I am hoping that in the not too distant future, we can arrange a trip to the Western Galilee on which many others could attend and see places where Jews and Arabs can actually get along and how they go about doing it.
-David
Thursday, January 24, 2008
When the wall came tumbling down
Shalom All,
It was said in an article that I read about the events in Gaza the other day that Gaza was like a tube of toothpaste which when squeezed while spurt out toward the weakest direction. It seems that Egypt was that direction. That said, the well orchestrated pity party put on by Hamas with candles and deliberate power outages combined with women wailing at another "Western Wall" this week had an impact on the press. The Palestinians broke out of their prision, starving, heading into Egypt.
Well, it just so happens that Hamas had spent MONTHS cutting through the wall between Gaza and Egypt so that when the charges were placed, they did not just make holes in the wall, but made a large section of it simply collapse. One could say that this was done to aid in weapons smuggling efforts. It is certainly the case that weapons were among the vast amount of items brought in to Gaza through the breach in the wall. Yet, it is not as if weapons were not flowing into Gaza en masse already before the wall fell. What in fact happened when that wall fell is that Gaza ceased to be connected to Israel and became a part of Egypt as it was before 1967.
The question now is whether or not it makes sense for Israel to try to change that. I do not think that it does. In fact, for Israel having Gaza become part of Egypt would solve MANY problems. Gaza is a tremendous drain on Israel and offers no benefits whatsoever unless one finds rocket fire pretty. Let Egypt worry about Gaza. Let the West Bank separate from it, not just physically, something it already is, but emotionally. Let Gaza be Egyptian and not Palestinian territory. At that point, peace is much easier to achieve.
The West Bank is viable. It has industry, labor, and available markets for goods. It has trained professionals and a much more moderate population. With pressure from Gaza released to the west, the pull of Gaza on the West Bank will lessen as well.
Instead of decrying Egyptian security failings, we might actually have something to cheer about for once. Let the fallen wall not be a symbol of a Hamas victory over Israel, but over Egypt. Let it be seen as a symbol of the end of Egypt's ability to cast off Gaza as Israel's problem. Let Gaza be a free EGYPTIAN territory.
The peace process will move radically forward.
-David
It was said in an article that I read about the events in Gaza the other day that Gaza was like a tube of toothpaste which when squeezed while spurt out toward the weakest direction. It seems that Egypt was that direction. That said, the well orchestrated pity party put on by Hamas with candles and deliberate power outages combined with women wailing at another "Western Wall" this week had an impact on the press. The Palestinians broke out of their prision, starving, heading into Egypt.
Well, it just so happens that Hamas had spent MONTHS cutting through the wall between Gaza and Egypt so that when the charges were placed, they did not just make holes in the wall, but made a large section of it simply collapse. One could say that this was done to aid in weapons smuggling efforts. It is certainly the case that weapons were among the vast amount of items brought in to Gaza through the breach in the wall. Yet, it is not as if weapons were not flowing into Gaza en masse already before the wall fell. What in fact happened when that wall fell is that Gaza ceased to be connected to Israel and became a part of Egypt as it was before 1967.
The question now is whether or not it makes sense for Israel to try to change that. I do not think that it does. In fact, for Israel having Gaza become part of Egypt would solve MANY problems. Gaza is a tremendous drain on Israel and offers no benefits whatsoever unless one finds rocket fire pretty. Let Egypt worry about Gaza. Let the West Bank separate from it, not just physically, something it already is, but emotionally. Let Gaza be Egyptian and not Palestinian territory. At that point, peace is much easier to achieve.
The West Bank is viable. It has industry, labor, and available markets for goods. It has trained professionals and a much more moderate population. With pressure from Gaza released to the west, the pull of Gaza on the West Bank will lessen as well.
Instead of decrying Egyptian security failings, we might actually have something to cheer about for once. Let the fallen wall not be a symbol of a Hamas victory over Israel, but over Egypt. Let it be seen as a symbol of the end of Egypt's ability to cast off Gaza as Israel's problem. Let Gaza be a free EGYPTIAN territory.
The peace process will move radically forward.
-David
Friday, January 11, 2008
Judenhass 2008
This week, the LA Times published a political cartoon depicting a Jewish star as hand cuffs and the United States as a person with its wrists locked in the midst of the Jewish star. The cartoon accompanied an op-ed by Professors Walt and Mearsheimer, who wrote a best selling book on "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy" which has been praised by anti-Israel, anti-Bush administration, and anti-Jewish people as a critical examination of the power of world Jewry in influencing American politics for the benefit of Israel and to the detriment of the United States. It is a work that rightly should find its home on the shelves of hate mongers between The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Mein Kampf, full of conspiracy theories about the power and manipulation by Jews of gullible Christians in positions of authority in order to get them to act on behalf of Jews to their own detriment. Yet it finds itself praised in all too many circles. Also this week, Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, wrote an op-ed published in the Washington Post that blamed Israel and Jews in general for creating a "Culture of Violence" and for exploiting the Holocaust in order to manipulate the international community. Ghandi has since apologized for saying that Israel’s policies are representative of Jews as a whole, but did not apologize for saying that Jews exploit the Holocaust.
Is there anyone who legitimately believes that Antisemitism, that Jewish hatred, is a thing of the past? How can anyone put forth such an argument when two of the leading newspapers in the United States, the LA Times and Washington Post, in the same week, published items that are blatantly Anti-Jewish and not just criticism of Israel? It has become so politically acceptable to bash Israel that even criticisms that go well beyond the point where they become anti-Jewish are given voice. If you don't compare all Jews to Satan, just about anything seems acceptable.
Those who would spew forth hatred are given the opportunity under the protection of free speech and from what they see as the moral high ground of criticism of Israel. Yet those who offer these criticisms of Israel's use of military might almost never equally condemn the violence of those against whom Israel must defend itself. Israel's attempts to defend its citizens are lumped together with the actions of those seeking to murder them under the guise of the misleading term, "cycle of violence." Blame for the violence against Israelis by Palestinians is given solely to Israel and its continued occupation. This is done without consideration for why that occupation came about, nor the factors on the Palestinian side that result in Israel maintaining it despite Israel’s efforts to end its occupation and to help to create a viable Palestinian state.
Professors Walt and Mearsheimer, for their part, argue that the US would be much better liked around the world if it just did not support Israel so much. They are certainly correct in that. Those who want to destroy Israel and who hate Jews in general would be much happier and there are far more of them than there are Jews in the world, much less Israelis. If only the US would not provide Israel with the means to defend itself? Perhaps then so many would be able to become happier and our world would be a much nicer place, just without a Jewish state and the untold numbers of Jews who would perish. Many of those same people would be even happier if the United States vanished first, but Walt and Mearsheimer don't mention that.
Walt and Mearsheimer's work unfortunately has been given the imprimatur of too many because they are academics and certainly academics cannot possibly be purveyors of Jew-hatred! Unfortunately, those who consider themselves to be liberals and leftists, many academics among them, seem to appropriately and swiftly condemn hate speech emanating from the political and religious right, but to hesitate or fail to do so when it arises on the political or religious left. They shout from the rooftops when hatred of Jews is espoused unless that hatred comes from the mouth of one seeking an end to conflict against everyone but the Jewish state.
During the High Holidays a couple of years ago, I addressed the questions, “Should we give up who we are to please others? Should we change ourselves so as not to offend others who do not like our differences?” in the context of interfaith marriages. I feel that also applies to the Jewish state and its neighbors, who theoretically want peace. “Should Israel give up what it is in order to please them? Should it change itself so as not to offend others who do not like its difference from them?” The same answer applies. Of course not!
Just as someone who wants to be your friend should not say, “Change who you are, become like me, and I will be your friend,” so too is it wrong for those who wish to be friends with Israel to demand that it cease to be what it is, a Jewish state, for there to be peace. When those who would do so threaten to kill us unless we leave or become like them, must we leave or become like them so as to bring them happiness? Of course not!
The great Reform Rabbi, Abba Hillel Silver, wrote, “Any movement for good will which demands of me self-abnegation is a hostile attack. The man who would be my friend only if he can convert me to his way of living and thinking and believing, is not my friend. He is my enemy. He does not like me for what I am. He would like to see his own reflection in me.” That is exactly what is being asked of Israel by the Arab world in the peace process.
Peace will not come by pursuing that end. Both sides must reach out to those who are willing to live at peace and both sides must actively reject and even act against those who are not so willing. Israel must work to strengthen those among the Palestinian population who are willing to stand up against radical elements. It must work to combat those in its own population who seek to prevent a solution to the conflict. The Palestinians, for their part, must act against the members of their own population who do not wish to see peace alongside a Jewish state of Israel. They must come to see that rockets fired from Lebanon or Gaza into Israel harm not just Israel, but their future.
Is peace possible? With hard work and difficult concessions, maybe. Nothing is certain. Without defending those seeking peace from those seeking to prevent it, peace cannot be achieved for either side. Israel’s ability to defend its population from attacks is mandatory. Palestinians must act on their own to stop their own from attacking Israelis.
Yet also mandatory is the necessity of preventing attacks and confrontations between radical elements on the Israeli side and Palestinians desiring of peaceful coexistence. That is where the process must go. That is step one of the Road Map toward peace. Both sides must act as if they want peace by striving against those who do not want it even, in fact especially, among their own populations. Right now, one side is doing a whole lot more toward this end than the other, but even that side will eventually need to do more.
In this conflict, many refer to security barriers as “barriers to peace.” Yet, preventing violence between the sides is the only way to move toward peace. In my mind, before achieving any final agreement, there needs to be a time when Israel is largely out of Gaza and the vast majority of the territory in the West Bank that will become a Palestinian state. The sides must be able to coexist at peace and demonstrate a willingness to enforce the peace upon their own populations or else any agreement will become but a cease fire before renewed conflict.
Israel's neighbors do not necessarily like its existence. Yes, Walt, Mearsheimer, and Ghandi, we are a persecuted people and Israel, the home of nearly half of the Jews in world, all the more so. Over the years Israel’s neighbors have sought to destroy it. They are displeased that Israel still exists. They are unhappy that the United States continues to support its defense against those who would end its existence and in no small number, the existence of its Jewish citizenry. Making them happy is not an option.
Perhaps, just perhaps, US support for Israel is principled. Just perhaps, it is based upon common ideals: democracy among them. Just perhaps, Israel faces some of the same enemies that America faces, not all Muslims, but certainly radical militant ones. Just perhaps, support of Israel in spite of the anger that it causes among those who would like to see Israel destroyed is a good thing, a thing to praise. I believe that this is true.
When the founders of the nation of Israel discussed what name to give the new nation, many suggested that it be called Judah or Judea. That had been the name given the political entity for more than 1,000 years until the Romans, angered by the Jewish revolt, renamed it Palestina. Ben Gurion spoke up at the time of the nation’s founding and said in essence that this nation is not about the land, but about its people, the people Israel, and thus that name came to be chosen.
During this year of the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence, it is important to remember that there are many who would have aborted its birth and who continue to work for its swift demise. Israel needs our support as much today as it ever has.
Is there anyone who legitimately believes that Antisemitism, that Jewish hatred, is a thing of the past? How can anyone put forth such an argument when two of the leading newspapers in the United States, the LA Times and Washington Post, in the same week, published items that are blatantly Anti-Jewish and not just criticism of Israel? It has become so politically acceptable to bash Israel that even criticisms that go well beyond the point where they become anti-Jewish are given voice. If you don't compare all Jews to Satan, just about anything seems acceptable.
Those who would spew forth hatred are given the opportunity under the protection of free speech and from what they see as the moral high ground of criticism of Israel. Yet those who offer these criticisms of Israel's use of military might almost never equally condemn the violence of those against whom Israel must defend itself. Israel's attempts to defend its citizens are lumped together with the actions of those seeking to murder them under the guise of the misleading term, "cycle of violence." Blame for the violence against Israelis by Palestinians is given solely to Israel and its continued occupation. This is done without consideration for why that occupation came about, nor the factors on the Palestinian side that result in Israel maintaining it despite Israel’s efforts to end its occupation and to help to create a viable Palestinian state.
Professors Walt and Mearsheimer, for their part, argue that the US would be much better liked around the world if it just did not support Israel so much. They are certainly correct in that. Those who want to destroy Israel and who hate Jews in general would be much happier and there are far more of them than there are Jews in the world, much less Israelis. If only the US would not provide Israel with the means to defend itself? Perhaps then so many would be able to become happier and our world would be a much nicer place, just without a Jewish state and the untold numbers of Jews who would perish. Many of those same people would be even happier if the United States vanished first, but Walt and Mearsheimer don't mention that.
Walt and Mearsheimer's work unfortunately has been given the imprimatur of too many because they are academics and certainly academics cannot possibly be purveyors of Jew-hatred! Unfortunately, those who consider themselves to be liberals and leftists, many academics among them, seem to appropriately and swiftly condemn hate speech emanating from the political and religious right, but to hesitate or fail to do so when it arises on the political or religious left. They shout from the rooftops when hatred of Jews is espoused unless that hatred comes from the mouth of one seeking an end to conflict against everyone but the Jewish state.
During the High Holidays a couple of years ago, I addressed the questions, “Should we give up who we are to please others? Should we change ourselves so as not to offend others who do not like our differences?” in the context of interfaith marriages. I feel that also applies to the Jewish state and its neighbors, who theoretically want peace. “Should Israel give up what it is in order to please them? Should it change itself so as not to offend others who do not like its difference from them?” The same answer applies. Of course not!
Just as someone who wants to be your friend should not say, “Change who you are, become like me, and I will be your friend,” so too is it wrong for those who wish to be friends with Israel to demand that it cease to be what it is, a Jewish state, for there to be peace. When those who would do so threaten to kill us unless we leave or become like them, must we leave or become like them so as to bring them happiness? Of course not!
The great Reform Rabbi, Abba Hillel Silver, wrote, “Any movement for good will which demands of me self-abnegation is a hostile attack. The man who would be my friend only if he can convert me to his way of living and thinking and believing, is not my friend. He is my enemy. He does not like me for what I am. He would like to see his own reflection in me.” That is exactly what is being asked of Israel by the Arab world in the peace process.
Peace will not come by pursuing that end. Both sides must reach out to those who are willing to live at peace and both sides must actively reject and even act against those who are not so willing. Israel must work to strengthen those among the Palestinian population who are willing to stand up against radical elements. It must work to combat those in its own population who seek to prevent a solution to the conflict. The Palestinians, for their part, must act against the members of their own population who do not wish to see peace alongside a Jewish state of Israel. They must come to see that rockets fired from Lebanon or Gaza into Israel harm not just Israel, but their future.
Is peace possible? With hard work and difficult concessions, maybe. Nothing is certain. Without defending those seeking peace from those seeking to prevent it, peace cannot be achieved for either side. Israel’s ability to defend its population from attacks is mandatory. Palestinians must act on their own to stop their own from attacking Israelis.
Yet also mandatory is the necessity of preventing attacks and confrontations between radical elements on the Israeli side and Palestinians desiring of peaceful coexistence. That is where the process must go. That is step one of the Road Map toward peace. Both sides must act as if they want peace by striving against those who do not want it even, in fact especially, among their own populations. Right now, one side is doing a whole lot more toward this end than the other, but even that side will eventually need to do more.
In this conflict, many refer to security barriers as “barriers to peace.” Yet, preventing violence between the sides is the only way to move toward peace. In my mind, before achieving any final agreement, there needs to be a time when Israel is largely out of Gaza and the vast majority of the territory in the West Bank that will become a Palestinian state. The sides must be able to coexist at peace and demonstrate a willingness to enforce the peace upon their own populations or else any agreement will become but a cease fire before renewed conflict.
Israel's neighbors do not necessarily like its existence. Yes, Walt, Mearsheimer, and Ghandi, we are a persecuted people and Israel, the home of nearly half of the Jews in world, all the more so. Over the years Israel’s neighbors have sought to destroy it. They are displeased that Israel still exists. They are unhappy that the United States continues to support its defense against those who would end its existence and in no small number, the existence of its Jewish citizenry. Making them happy is not an option.
Perhaps, just perhaps, US support for Israel is principled. Just perhaps, it is based upon common ideals: democracy among them. Just perhaps, Israel faces some of the same enemies that America faces, not all Muslims, but certainly radical militant ones. Just perhaps, support of Israel in spite of the anger that it causes among those who would like to see Israel destroyed is a good thing, a thing to praise. I believe that this is true.
When the founders of the nation of Israel discussed what name to give the new nation, many suggested that it be called Judah or Judea. That had been the name given the political entity for more than 1,000 years until the Romans, angered by the Jewish revolt, renamed it Palestina. Ben Gurion spoke up at the time of the nation’s founding and said in essence that this nation is not about the land, but about its people, the people Israel, and thus that name came to be chosen.
During this year of the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence, it is important to remember that there are many who would have aborted its birth and who continue to work for its swift demise. Israel needs our support as much today as it ever has.
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