9/10/06

I just returned from an extended visit to the Middle East. Much has happened during the past two months and much remains to be done to promote our many just causes. I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts on the unfolding events and how to view them in light of our American foregin policy objectives and the national and political rights of the Arab people. Traveling in Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Egypt  produces a vastly conflicted narrative about the Middle East conflict. Shared geography and common cultures and histories seem insufficient to produce common parameters on which to base one's judgment.

Only in Israel did I  feel most unwelcome. My treatment fell short of the friendly treatment  I received while in Jordan and Egypt. Hours of interrogation by the Israel border agents as to our reasons for visiting Palestine/ Israel and our intended contacts in the area, convinced me that Americans of Arab descent are discouraged from coming to Palestine. Potentially, this deliberate policy by the Israelis aims to sever the important link between Arab Americans and their Palestinian brethrens.

In mainstream US  media, Israel's unilateral withdrew from Gaza has been equated with the end of the occupation there. The fact that violence continues is taken to indicate that ending the occupation will not bring peace because the real reason for the violence - past and present - isn't the Israeli occupation, but rather Palestinians' intent to eradicate Israel. Otherwise, why do they keep attacking Israel even though the Israeli army and settlers evacuated Gaza over a  year ago? Two critical points need to be stated: The first one: That the Gaza Strip is still occupied, since Israel is still in control. And the second point: To achieve genuine conflict resolution, all involved parties need to have a say in deciding what needs to be done. In other words: Unilateral action does not work. The only way to force this conclusion is to dissolve the Palestinian Authority, PA,  whose mere existence mitigates Israel's abhorrent military occupation of both the West bank and Gaza.  The PA has outlived its useful existence.