Arabs and Jews Together for Peace

On Sunday, October 25th, representatives of over three dozen Arab American and American Jewish community organizations met in Washington to make clear their shared commitment to a comprehensive Middle East peace. Hosted by J Street, which calls itself the US's "pro-peace, pro-Israel lobby" and the Arab American Institute, "the research and policy arm of the Arab American community", the event was joined by Tina Tchen, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

The message that the leaders and activists who gathered hoped to send, via this summit, was that despite their different starting points, both agree on the goal of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and are supportive of President Obama's peace making efforts, to date.

This is not the first time Arab Americans and American Jews have joined forces.

I personally will never forget how after the September 1993 Rabin-Arafat signing ceremony on the White House lawn, President Clinton and Vice President Gore brought together the leaders of both communities urging them to support peacemaking. Despite the euphoria of the moment, a joint effort was difficult for some, requiring, as it did, a break with long-established patterns of behavior.

Organizations in both communities knew how to oppose each other, but learning how to work together was new. However, as we were to discover, if peacemaking was our goal, then learn we must -- for peace to succeed, there has to be a constituency that supports peace.

For his part, Vice President Gore launched Builders for Peace, a private sector initiative that brought together 150 Arab American and American Jewish business leaders who were given the challenge to work together in an effort to grow the Palestinian economy in support of peace. As Gore would often say, while economic progress was no substitute for peace, without improvement in the daily lives of people, it would be impossible to sustain the work of peace.

To lead the effort, Gore asked former Congressman Mel Levine and myself to serve as Co-chairs. In some ways we were an odd-couple, since before that time, we had only come together when we clashed during my testimony before his Congressional committee or when we appeared opposite one another, on Crossfire-style TV shows, debating U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But as Mel would note, while he and I might not have agreed on the past, we did agree on where we needed to go in the future. And that was sufficient to build our effort and our working relationship.

Because of a myriad of problems, ranging from Israeli-imposed impediments to economic development and Palestinian problems with corruption, Builders for Peace didn't succeed as we had hoped. But what did work was the experience of joint Arab American and American Jewish cooperation. Friendships were developed, that have stood the test of time.

The intervening 16 years have not been kind to peacemaking. Thousands have died. Terrorism and repression have taken a bloody toll. Settlements and new barriers to peace have been erected and Israeli and Palestinian attitudes have been hardened. Extremists on both sides have gained ground, while the hopes of many for peace have been dashed.

What hasn't changed, however, is the imperative for peace and the commitment of many to make it real. No doubt, the conditions today are more difficult than they were 16 years ago. But, we have a new U.S. president who appears committed, despite the overwhelming odds, to unravel this knot and find a way forward. He has noted that he is mindful of the fact that advancing toward peace "is important to Arab Americans, important to American Jews and important to me" and has added that it is "important to the national security interests of the U.S.".

While the prospects for peace, in fact, appear dim, the Arab American and American Jewish leaders who gathered in Washington agreed that it is worth the effort. We are both cognizant of the reality that our commitment to joint action in support of the president and peacemaking is not shared by all in our communities. Given the prevailing mood, there are some on both sides who look with suspicion on such cooperation. Some of us have been called "traitors" or "sell-outs", but such rhetoric misses the point.

Those of us who come together, in fact, remain faithful to the different historical narratives told by our respective communities. But we are not willing to let the story end there. We know that a way forward must be found, in order to reconcile these competing histories and to replace the current reign of terror and oppression with peace and justice. We are unwilling to be condemned by the scourge of the past, but seek a way to create a better future. And we know that in the end, our two communities, the people of the Middle East and our country will be better served by peace, than by the continuing conflict.

That is why we came together, and why we will remain together, until, God willing, there is a just and lasting peace.

Comments

[doughnut70]

Simple question. Since Mr. Zogby says that he supports a two state solution, does that mean he is willing to accept a state that is a haven for the Jewish people in the Middle East. For too long, Pro-Arab spokespeople have claimed that they support a two state solution with a homeland for the Palestinians but want the portion that remains as Israel to give up the "right of return" and other practices that have been established by the state to fulfil the role it was created for which was to be a homeland for the Jewish people. What that means in practice is that as Orwell pointed out in 1984, they are saying one thing and meaning another, because an Israel with no special place for people of the Jewish faith has no reason to exist and in fact many Arab government documents have spoken about a two state solution as a first step towards eliminating Israel. If Mr. Zogby now supports Israel as it currently exists, while simply changing the borders, that is a big step forward, but I am skeptical.

[mommamia526]

Response to Thabit: II
We can read here today an article by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. The content speaks for itself. We can also read an article on drug use in Gaza. In it is clearly stated that drugs are smuggled in via tunnels and sold at large profits. The same applies to food, cement, weapons, etc. There are persons who profit from the chaos. That, Thabit, is always the case. I know this not from theories, or what others write, but from watching what was going on during WWII where I lived. I learn, and learned, from anything, if I can manage it. Black markets were going on all over during WWII in Europe. We can also read what Muhammad Yunus writes in *Creating a World without Poverty*. But one should be able to think about what is written and then extend it to other uses. Example, cellphones are being used by very poor people to expand a little business. They get the startup for the business and cellphone with a microloan. iPhones and computers are used now for learning online, and for cellphones and iphones especially landlines are not needed. Be an adult, Thabit, and if you REALLY care about Palestinians you will figure out a way to do it. Israelis and the rest of the world are not responsible for Palestinians. Palestinians are. Children in Africa are already learning with the aid of phones in the middle of the bush, sitting under a tree.

[Garioch]

Interesting that you mention cellphones, ironic but interesting. As for the rest the Palestinians are a failure because they haven't learned calculus while under Israeli occupation and bombardment and finding out how to do that will free themselves from this condition?
Well it's a point of view I suppose, very strange one and more then a bit perverse but fair enough lets see if it works in Africa where apparently they're much further ahead in this grand experiment.

[mommamia526]

There are people who find a way out of their dillema. They are all over the world. Read Muhammad Yunus' book. If one has problems, one finds ways out of those problems. Even during war times. I know of what I speak, because I lived it. Strange as it may be to you. One thing is certain, if you go on sitting on your hands, doing nothing, blaming others, or doing the same thing that does not work, over and over, no improvement happens. This is not about grand experiments. It is about people daring to try something, and it usually is individual initiatives. Microloans may help, but only if persons who get those loans pay them off.

[mommamia526]

Cell phones are, indeed, interesting, because they do not depend on landlines.

[mommamia526]

A RESPONSE TO THABIT:
I said that it would be better for Palestinians to get educated. You respond by blaming Israelis and whwere the education comes from. My concern here was, believe it or not, with Palestinian Kids. The responsibility for educating the children is with the parents and leadership, i.e. Paletinian parents and leadership. Jews have been living in ghettos and under repression for millenia and the emphasis has always been on getting a skill and an education as a means of self preservation, and out of dependency. From my point of view, your response makes no sense. It makes no sense for a Palestinian, because te prescription I made is for HIS benefit, not the Israeli one. I grew up during WWII as a jewish child, hiding, and not being able to go to school. Somehow I got textbooks, reading material, and other things to learn, and I did so on my own, without schools, without teachers, without paper to write on. I managed to learn Integral by grade 5 elementary school. There was nothing else to do. I learned to do calculus in my head, and check my outcomes by answers printed in the back of the book.

[FairuzGhowar]

Sweetheart­.....Pales­tinians are extremely well educated unfortunately they are forced to leave their homeland to do so. Oh and some folks trying to educate them are simply not allowed to...like this kids.

www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/world/middleeast/30gaza.html

THOUGHTS????

[misaacm]

If the Arab world really wants peace, they should take steps to show the Israelis that they have given up their idea of destroying Israel. Start by giving citizenship to all Palestinians locked in refugee camps. This would both be a humanitarian thing to do (the entire non-Arab world does it) and show Israel that the Arabs have given up their aim of destroying Israel. Next they should have "map day", when all of the maps in the Arab world include Israel and Tel Aviv, clearly delineated, and written in Arabic (not just in English, for the gullible Westerners). Maps in the Arab world do not currently include Israel.

FInally, Netanyahu made a speech supporting a Palestinian state, you can argue about the details, but he is on record as agreeing to the concept. However, until the Arabs show that they have given up their dream of destroying Israel, there will never be peace.

[StCuthbert]

Well said. Hamas just released today a statement that said, in part,

"O our Palestinian: We promise to God and promise to the Zionists to make their life a living hell for them to abandon settlements and towns and get them out submissively with the help of God, and invite you to always be aligned to the option of jihad and resistance and not to despair, and we promise to be loyal always to liberate the whole territory of Palestine."

Clearly, ending the occupation, the siege, freezing the settlements will all do nothing to appease such people.

[Garioch]

Well it might were those things to happen but as they haven't then who can say?

[mommamia526]

I have quoted Thich Nhat Hahn for a purpose. I am not a buddhist, but his teaching says all we need to know about PEACE. Peace is not a material thing you can grab unto. It is not territory. It is not a human or animal body. Peace is not food, or water. Peace is not UN rations. Peace is not a specific religion. Peace is a state of mind. Peace is a matter of spirit. Peace is, as Thich Nhat Hahn demonstrates, a matter of thinking processes, and the thinking process can be trained. It is such a simple book that it is easily dismissed. There is *nothing in it*. If we follow just what is going on among Palestinians, and leave Israel and the Israelis out of the equation, we see chaos, animosity, division, turf grabbing, and more. That by itself shows there is no peace possible with, or among, Palestinians. Then there are the declarations and threats hurled at each other. Finally there are the continuous actions, shooting off of projectiles, declarations there will not be Peace without war by Hamas, not even discussions. And there is the assertion that the world, the UN, Israel, everyone, owes the Palestinians a living, UN rations, a nation, and more. If they are not immediately getting their demands tended to they have a Drama Queen Temper Tantrum. It is not how the world functions or how adults function in society, certainly not how a nation is created and held together.

[Garioch]

It's interesting that you write this as a nation who have had all those things and more, U.S. rations, a living from others, free weapons, a nation which only a tiny proportion of you had any ties at all to and yet everyone else has to stand on their own two feet as you take no responsibility for the state they find themselves in while living on the land they occupied a few years ago.
You sound like those conservatives who are always telling people to stand on their own two feet when they've come from a background of wealth and privilege.

[Thabit]

When will our government (USA) get out of the clutches of AIPAC . Being Backed up by the USA , no matter what the atrocity , is not in the best interests of the USA or Israel . As long as Israel can ignore the rights of an occupied people with inpunity those people will use any means necessary to resist . If Israel realized that there could be repercussions to their actions they might be willing to bend for a change . and that is the only road to peace now

[yankees]

Key word "American". Not in the real world, safe in the USA, apologists, give money to cleanse their minds.
The real work has to be in the Middle East between the Nations, themselves, starting with a 2 state solution and the recognition of Israel, it ain't hard son.

[Wisdo]

Theres never been any problem from the Jewish or arab "communities"

the problem is the mindset that pervades their respective governments and in particular the Jewish supremacists of the Israeli Likud, which uses military violence to prolong conflict as part of a long term strategy to annex all of the land out as far as the Jordanian border and leave the Palestinians with a choice between second class citizen status or oblivion.

[TheLonelyGod]

Psst, Israel had to defend itself from three wars and endless terror attacks before Likud was ever elected.

You guys really need to start applying the scientific method before reaching your conclusions.

[Garioch]

They also had to start a couple which you make a point of never mentioning, why is that?

[TinfoilLatte]

The extremists aren't going to like this.

[Fireslayer]

Yes, good article.

Finally the kind of dialog to get this thing turned around and heading for solution and healing.

[Wisdo]

"finally"?

sorry, but this happens regularly and never goes anywhere. Israeli impunity courtesy of the US veto makes it so.

[AwakeNow]

I wish that the US had not dismissed the Goldstone report so quickly. Mr. Goldstone called on the US government to let him know what objections they held to the report. To my knowledge there has been no formal answer. I applaud groups of people who come together to respectfully discuss their differences. Without discussion of major problems there is no hope of change. No hope of creating a better tomorrow for all the people of the world. May all people work towards a culture of life and not one of death.

[MosheDayanHero]

Any report that failed to find or condemn a single Hamas use of human shields and single instance of Hamas boobytrapping residential buildings and firing from residential areas isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[AwakeNow]

I believe that any group of people who fail to respect the human rights issues; or the dignity of life. Should be called out. Have you read the Goldstone report?

[MosheDayanHero]

Felonious posted:"the Palestinians agreed to accept a demilitarized state right after their lands were invaded and occupied.'
Wrong
History lesson

Fact: West Bank and E.Jerusalem was Jordanian sovereign ALL people living in the West Bank were Jordanian citizens.
Fact: Palestinian National charter EXPLICITLY acknowledges Jordanian sovereignty of West Bank and East. Jerusalem.
PLO charter Article 24
"This Organization does not exercise any regional sovereignty over the West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the Gaza Strip or the Himmah Area. "

So if Israeli occupied anyone's lands it was Jordanian. and ONLY after Jordanians treacherously attacked Israel.

Palestinian did not agree in 1968 to existence of Israel or peaceful division of lands.with Jews.

Proof: PLO charter 1968:

Article 17. "The Partitioning of Palestine in 1947 and the establishment of Israel are illegal and false regardless of the loss of time, "

Article 9: Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine. This is the overall strategy, not merely a tactical phase. The Palestinian Arab people assert their absolute determination and firm resolution to continue their armed struggle...."
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/plocov.asp

Facts are stubborn things.

[Thelonius]

Wrong again. The annexation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan's King Abdullah in 1951, was illegal. It was only recognized by Britain and Pakistan. It was rejected by the Arab League, the United States and the United Nations.

[MosheDayanHero]

BUT ACCEPTED BY PALESTINIANS!!!

PLO charter Article 24 "This Organization does not exercise any regional sovereignty over the West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the Gaza Strip or the Himmah Area. "

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/plocov.asp

[MosheDayanHero]

"...Contradictions, complete disregard for people’s safety, and political games for the sake of satisfying allies, have divided the Palestinians and even Hamas itself."
http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2009/01/13/64112.html

[Thelonius]

During "Operation Cast Lead" Israel constantly accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields in an attempt to explain the massive civilian causalities it was inflicting on the people of Gaza. None of the independent reports to emerge since the assault on Gaza have found any evidence to substantiate Israel's claims. The Goldstone Report did however discover multiple cases of Israeli military forces and units using Palestinian civilians as human shields during "Operation Cast Lead" and dedicated twenty full pages to the chronicling of these abuses (pgs. 280-300). Israeli soldiers have also since came out and testified as to the IDF's use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Breaking the Silence.

[MosheDayanHero]

If Israeli used the enemy as shields--smart
Pa-nians used THEIR YOUR OWN people as shields--beyond evil.

[riff4u]

The majority of Palestinians and Israeli would be happy to have peace. Its always the radical settlers or Hamas radicals that block the way. The only real solution is the ONE STATE solution where anybody can live anywhere they wish with a democratic Parliament with equal representation or some quota system for the various groups.

[TheLonelyGod]

Practically all of Israel doesn't want the one-state "solution". That's hardly giving everyone what they want.

Besides, haven't the Palestinians been telling us for years that ALL THEY WANT is to end the occupation and to have a state of their own? If they suddenly change their tune, it would only make it obvious that they really *don't* know what they want, except for Israel to be destroyed. That part of their rhetoric has never changed.

[riff4u]

The One State solution has been gaining momentum over the years. All the stalled 2 state solution BS has helped it along.

[Garioch]

No they have not been saying for years that this is all they want but then you never have a problem making up random facts about the Palestinian cause.

[Albert Amato]

Or they can live in Jordan or 21 other Arab countries.

[Thelonius]

Brilliant!! And all of those Kuwaitis who were occupied and expelled by Iraq during the 1991 war should have relocated to "Jordan or 21 other Arab countries."

[Thabit]

Yes and the Je.ws could live in 30 other nations too, instead of driving people from their homes in a 65 year divide and conquer movement, so whats the point . If it is not acceptable to Je.ws to do what they are asking the palestinians to do , then why should Palestinians desert thei lands to a conquerer

[FairuzGhowar]

And chileans can go live in Venuzuela....They are not the freakin same so stop suggesting TRANSFER

[MosheDayanHero]

One state is a GREAT solution!!!

Palestinian Arabs should unite with their Arab Muslim brethren the Jordanians and/or Egyptains.
They share common ancestry, politics, history, relgion and mode of conducting economy and education.

Great idea!

[SimonNZ]

Great idea indeed! How about a one-state solution encompassing Israel, the West Bank and Gaza with each person having one vote for both Israelis and Palestinians - you know, like a genuine democracy.

[pinkibus]

riff - you are so right but then what ever would become of the theocracy called Israel.

[Wisdo]

"Its always the radical settlers or Hamas radicals that block the way."

Hamas is a relatively recent organisation, so they cant have "always" been blocking anything.

Secondly Hamas only has power in Gaza, not the much larger west bank, so I doubt they are blocking the way there either.

[Wisdo]

If you are interested in who is truely "blocking the way, hacve a look at these photos of Roadblocks and checkpoints in Palestinian areas. These people are forbidden from using their own roads and pathways.!

http://www.annainthemiddleeast.com/photos/roadblocks/

[Thelonius]

Heads up!!

Eminent Palestinian, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, and Anna Baltzer, outstanding American Jewish Peace activist ( http://www.annainthemiddleeast.com/ ) will be on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Wednesday, October 28th, 11:00 pm EDT. The program is usually repeated the following day. Check local listing.

[MosheDayanHero]

As soon as Palestinains agree to a peaceful demilitarized state it will be theirs for the taking.
Not before.
That option was ALWAYS available.
And it has been ALWAYS rejected by Palestinains.
Time to change the status quo from within the Palestinian society itself.

[Thelonius]

Get to the history books my friend. In fact, the Palestinians agreed to accept a demilitarized state right after their lands were invaded and occupied during the war Israel launched on 5 June 1967.
The offer was rejected by Israel.

[misaacm]

I've never heard this tale. Please provide references.

[riff4u]

But when will Israel become a demilitarized state?

[MosheDayanHero]

Israel will become demilitarized when all the other countries in the will.
But this is none of Palestinian business.
They can have a police force but no heavy weapons.

No country that would border with a possible Palestine desires Palestinains with heavy weapons.
Certainly Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt are adamantly against it. All of these countries ( and even far flung Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) would not permit Palestinains with heavy artillery and airforce.
Forget it.

[Albert Amato]

Why should a country become demilitarized with hostile countries surrounding it?
Bizarro world.