Palestinians and others who had watched the growing power struggle between Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and senior Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat greeted the announcement of Abbas’ resignation with measured relief. “Either we have reconciliation or we have another government, but to have a continuation of the crisis—this is shameful,” said Palestinian Legislative Council member Hatem Abdel Qader in the… return to article
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Reader Comments (24)Page 1 of 1 pagesAfter reading Avraham Burg’s article which can be found on the link below, I was very depressed. I am not living in the America that I was educated about in school. This has been upsetting for some time, however it doesn’t come as too much of a shock. It’s hitting me more at this time as I have only recently relocated back to America after living abroad for nearly 20 years. My relationship with Israel on the other hand, has always been a strong part of my life. I have had a variety of attitudes about the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians, swinging from liberal progressive to narrow and right-winged. In my heart, as a spiritual person, I have a belief in the potential for human growth toward the pinnacle of mutual understanding. From this perspective my deep love of Israel as the Holy Land and Divine inheritence has been nurtured. I do believe that there is a place for criticism of the country Israel. I am also not equating the country Israel with the Land itself. When I read the article by Burg referenced here, my heart sunk with the realization of just how bad things are within the Country Israel. It is so easy to focus on Palestinian violence and judge it evil. To see Israelis expanding communities and trying to be prosperous in a land that has a biblical connection to our people, is harder to describe as evil. What I wasn’t focussing on were the politicians and ‘special interest groups’ carrying out the expansion and at whose expense. It’s a terribly sad situation for all who would truly welcome peace for all. In the self-help series of books by Harville Hendrix on getting and holding onto love in relationships, he introduces a concept that I am convinced is needed throughout the world wherver there is conflict. The idea is that each partner in the relationship accepts to be primarily concerned with meeting the needs of the other. This requires reconcilling the fear of self annihilation (which in the Middle East is particularly real) and developing the trust that if both parties are true in this commitment each one’s needs will really be met by the other. It is ironic that this strategy comes from books for couples, as I believe that affecting change on this level in our interpersonal relationships is truly the begining of world peace. If only the Israelis and Palestinians would appreciate that they are connected by a bond stronger than marriage. www.arabworldbooks.com/arab/avraham.htm
Posted by chaim on Sep 16, 2003 at 4:13 PM Chaim, I truly appreciate your perspective. Although I believe that there are many peoples around this globe and in this country who do commmit themselves to caring for the world about them, there is also the insidious and opposing influence (by those who benefit from turning us all into consumers or sheep) which defines an individual’s worth by the quantityof their material possession or by how self-righteous they can be (rather than the quality of what they contribute to society).
If you take a moment to reflect upon who receives the greatest rewards in this country, you will find that it is not those who invest their lives either meeting the basic needs others or trying to empower people i.e. committing to social justice. Are teachers or humanitarians or firefighters or alliances for human rights and social justice or economic development advocates rewarded anywhere near professional football players, stock exchange gurus, movie “stars” or political pundits?
I believe that these times reflect a cultural and/or spiritual battle in our country between those who genuinely wish to contribute to the well-being of their neighbors/communities/nation/world (rather than demonize or persecute or minimize others simply because they hold different perspectives) and those who are either the brainwashers or who are brainwashed into pursuing materialistic goals and/or self-righteousness in order to feel some sense of self-importance or worth.
I think what makes me the saddest and weighs most heavy on my heart is the indifference about the fundamental worth and value of every human being. There is what I consider a dysfunctional tendency in our world to persecute and destroy first, ask questions and pursue understanding later.
On the other hand, I do see humanity evolving as well. While the process of life seems so slow towards that peace and prosperity most everyone sincerely wishes to experience, all things are proceeding towards that possibility. It just takes a lot of mistakes and a lot of time.
Posted by Just Me on Sep 17, 2003 at 7:56 AM All sides need to think through the consequences of violence. I think the palestinians have lacked a leader with the courage and conviction of a Gandhi to resist occupation with peace and dignity rather than hatred and vengeance that some practice. The blame lies also with the US in that is has nurtured a mini superpower with extremists in power who support occupation, ethnic-cleansing and murder. The constantly repeated mantra of terrrorism must be stopped is given as an excuse to allow these israeli extremists to maintain the status quo and proceed with further land aquisition using a ‘security fence’ that steals even more land from the Arabs. Until the US administration actually practices even handedness rather than hypocrisy the situation will not improve. The palestinians understand there are israelis who campaign for their rights and vice versa. It is necessary for these people to link with each other and build a peace movement that cannot be ignored. A mightily difficult task, but one that must be achieved.
Posted by GA on Sep 19, 2003 at 8:20 PM Whatever happened to the excellent Saudi peace plan, besides being bashed to death by Bush and Israel.
Posted by Ronnie on Sep 22, 2003 at 5:28 AM The Saudi plan had two things against it from the start. Firstly, the lukudites will never accept a plan that is based on giving up ANY land. Secondly the proposal wasnt really fleshed out and didnt tackle the problem of the palestinian refugees. As some authors have indicated the stage by stage plan cannot work as the opportunity for reneging on agreements comes about during each stage. The only answer is a total implementation of necessary conditions in one go. This must be implemented by neutral monitors which the Israeli’s have never agreed to, even when they involve a large US contingent. What can be fairer than neutral monitors? For the Sharonites only Israel can act as judge jury and executioner. Therefore reshime change must occur in Israel before peace can occur.
Posted by GA on Sep 22, 2003 at 9:56 PM I am not familiar with the term “lukudite”? Can you explain what it is, I know it is an Israeli but I don’t know what kind.
I agree Sharon is bad, he has no sympathy for the Palestinians, but its not easy to sympathy for a group of people who fight for the cause by suicide bombings. The first men to go should be arafat. He should be killed, the guy is a maniac and as long as he’s around there is no way peace will ever be achieved.
Posted by brad on Sep 23, 2003 at 1:59 AM Thank you for that most eloquent and well-informed comment, bradster. I am enriched upon reading it.
However, I obviously do not possess your razor-like grasp of predicate logic.
Kindly extrapolate your internally consistent logical argument, beginning with the predicate “Sharon is bad”, moving through to an argument body which alights at the proof ‘Arafat is a Maniac’, and concluding in a blaze of induction that (paraphrasing) a necessary condition of peace is the (presumably violent) death of Chairman Arafat.
It is important to remember that unlike the president, Arafat was elected by a majority of his constituency. Maniacs abound - but there is compelling evidence that the ‘Buthcher of Beirut’ and ‘Grandfather of the illegal settlements’ deserves the title a great deal more.
Posted by Matt Quinn on Sep 23, 2003 at 11:34 AM Maybe you would feel more sympathy if you actually went to Gaza and saw what the palestinians are subjected to. It may not be easy for you to feel sorry for them because some of them are resisting the occupation by illegal terrorist means but I assume you do feel sorry for the Israeli public for having to cope with terrorist bombings even though their government is engaged in state terrorism, murder, torture, kidnap and development of illegal weapons of mass destruction. I agree with Mr Quinn.
Posted by GA on Sep 23, 2003 at 6:16 PM Quinn, you can attack me for not having a very articulate response. That’ fine, I guess I just missed the memo where we had to be written in a more sophisticated manner on an internet discussion board, especially with people writing profanity at eachother, interesting how you went for me.
Don’t you guys understand why the majority of this country supports Israel? Arafat has been in power for a long time, and he continues to encourage bombings and he continues to be supported. I find it hard to support someone like that. At least Israel had a prime minister that wanted peace, its a shame that one of the (Israeli) whackos killed Rabin. How can you sympathize with a group that encourages their citizens to kill innocent Israeli children? I said it before but it wasn’t well written enough for Quinn’s intellectual elite mind, Sharon is bad for the peace process. The Israelis should and will recognize this.
Posted by brad on Sep 23, 2003 at 10:20 PM Iíve always found it interesting that no one in America objects when someone denounces Palestinian suicide bombings, but if a person dares to point out Israelís violence against Palestinians (s)heís immediately branded as an anti-Semite. Just some food for thought: during the six-week ětruceî under which the Palestinian terrorist organizations stopped all attacks against Israel, 17 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, and at least 59 were injured (source: fair.org). Thatís one hell of a truce, wouldnít you say? What sort of reaction would such a ětruceî have received if the dead and wounded were Israelis rather than Palestinians?
Let the accusations of anti-Semitism commence.
Posted by Aaron on Sep 24, 2003 at 2:00 AM does anyone think that people being called anti-semites for being for Palestinians similar to people being called racist for being against affirmative action ?
Posted by brad on Sep 24, 2003 at 6:26 AM What proof is there that Arafat is behind any terrorist attacks? He is sorrounded in a bulldozed compound with visitors unable to come and has a history of antagonism against hamas and other groups that urge violent response. The popular myth is that he says one thing in Arabic and another in english, which is a total lie as I understand both languages and have never come across him urging terrorism to the masses. He may have a terrible ego and be corrupt but the main accusation you level at him is untrue. Fatah is an umbrella organisation and is not responsible for the behaviour of groups that claim affiliation. Thankyou Aaron, you are not anti-semitic but pro-truth and justice.
Posted by GA on Sep 24, 2003 at 6:36 PM As a matter of fact, Brad, I do. Although I believe that certain forms of affirmative action are still necessary, I also think that objecting to affirmative action programs does not equate to racism.
But hey, that’s just me.
Posted by Aaron on Sep 24, 2003 at 9:13 PM It does appear that there are numerous “leaders” who fail to operate beyond their own weak, vengefulness and power-mongering. They refuse to offer or lead towards a better vision for their people. I agree with GA that, in spite of their leadersip and as difficult as it may seem, it will take the people to join together if these conflicts (not just between Israel and Palestine, but all over our world) are to end.
Posted by Just Me on Sep 27, 2003 at 10:00 AM Seitz’s article is basically a good piece, except for the last few sentences, which say that Israelis and Palestinians face “equally bitter choices.”
The two peoples are light years apart from equality. To Palestinians, many of whom are living on less than $2/day, the situation is intolerable. Sharon is starving them into submission. To Israeli Jews, the situation of racial supremacy is perfectly satisfactory. After all, in South Africa under apartheid, how many whites were really opposed to the system from which they benefitted? In our country, before the civil rights movement, how many southern whites thought the overthrow of Jim Crow was urgent?
Posted by John Farley on Sep 29, 2003 at 4:17 AM That apartheid is now being enforced by a huge ‘security fence’ that cut into huge swathes of the west bank sometimes separating streets in half, as the Israeli’s continue to illegally separate the Palestinians from their land. The Bush government makes a pretence at concern but has failed to take action and has backed down whenever confronted by Sharon and his fellow terrorists.
Posted by Enya on Oct 2, 2003 at 6:48 AM “sharon and his fellow terrorists”
I suppose you don’t feel that the men who blow up buses and dance clubs in the name of the Palestinian cause are not terrorists.
Posted by brad on Oct 3, 2003 at 2:28 PM dont put words in my mouth Brad. Unlike you I condemn ALL terrorism including that carried out by palestinians.
Posted by Enya on Oct 6, 2003 at 6:50 AM I’ve said that Sharon is not helping anyone, but for you to sit here and say that the Israelis are the ones to blame, you have to be crazy. None oof the things Sharon has been doing would have happened if it wasn’t Arafat and his terrorists.
Posted by brad on Oct 6, 2003 at 9:29 AM Brad I think you are dead wrong, if there was not any form of resistance from the Palestinians Isreal would have turn there houses into parking lots sometime last decade the international community be damned. Afterall they have nuclear weapons so world has to listen. Any help for the Palestinians from the surrounding Arab counties and I doubt that Isreal would hesitate too long before using their NUKES.
Posted by brad on Oct 7, 2003 at 12:04 PM NJ Brad, do you know who the Israeli prime minister was a decade ago? Yitzhak Rabin, he did everything in his power to make peace and was killed by an Israeli fanatic. I think that without terrorism then people would be more sympathetic (I would) to the Palestinians as they’d look more to some of the bad things Israelis do. And just because you have nukes, that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. The only country that can get away with almost anything is us. Israel has nukes because they fought so many wars so quickly after they became a nation. They would listen to the international (esp America) before doing anything. Just like now.
Posted by brad on Oct 7, 2003 at 2:55 PM Blaming the victims as usual. Its not Palestinians occupying Israeli territory, its the other way round. I am blaming both sides, you are not!The Israelis responded with same kind of terrorism against the British in the last century if you study the unbiased history. I am not condoning terrorism by either side, yet you seem to blame everything on the palestinians. The terrorism would stop tommorow if the Israelis did not treat the Palestinians as worse than animals. Why dont you listen to some neutral news instead of having your head stuck in the sand and find out whats really going on.
Posted by Enya on Oct 9, 2003 at 7:05 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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Posted by Owen on Oct 5, 2003 at 6:13 PM 
Also by Charmaine Seitz
- End of the Road
U.S. map leads nowhere - Bumpy Road
Plan for peace gets U.S. push toward uncertain destination - Winds of Change?
As Israeli opinion shifts, despair is a constant. - Excavating the Crimes of War
What really happened in Jenin? - Scenes from the Occupation
- Hemmed In
Sharon targets Arafat.
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