Jews and Arabs in America Want Peace.
As published in the Daily Record, 11/29/02
To the Editor
Re: A new poll says that American Arabs and Jews want the US government to work
harder for peace in the Middle East. A complete version of the opinion poll can
be found at http://www.aaiusa.org.
Word count: 859 +/-
For many years, I have been saying to my friends and foes alike that, while
Israelis and Palestinians may continue to hate, maim and kill each other, only
American Arabs and Americans Jews can make peace possible in the Middle East. A
truly startling poll by Zogby International, conducted in October 2002, debunks
long-held misconception about the relations, perceptions of and about each of
the two communities. The poll reveals that the two sides are more moderate and
closer to each other in their views on the Middle East than was believed. The
survey documents both community’s strong attachments and involvement in the
developments in the region.
The poll, jointly commissioned by the Arab American Institute and Americans for
Peace Now, found that neither community gave President Bush high ratings for
this handling of the Arab/Israeli conflict. What is promising is the news that
the majority of Arab and Jews in the US wants the American government to take a
more active role in enticing both warring parties in the Middle East, the
Palestinians and the Israelis, to reach a workable compromise to settle their
conflict as outlined by the US in Bush’s June 2002 speech: End of Israeli
occupation and a two-state solution, and security and guarantees for both
peoples. This peace formula and its expectant rewards must now be ‘sold’ to the
American public, Congress and to the Bush Administration. It is interesting to
note that both ethnic groups are highly educated and their median income is
above the American average. While eager for peace, they remain highly polarized
and afflicted with a righteous self-containment. True, the maturing political
impact of the Arab community on American domestic and foreign policies is no
match to the power of the Jewish groups. Ironically, both communities are
victims of persistent, bigoted and hateful sentiments and acts by extremist
groups in the U.S. A recent FBI report documents a rise of about 1700% in the
Anti-Arab/Muslim hate crimes. Add to this the anti-Jewish acts and you have a
'misery loves company' syndrome. It is this reality, I believe, that should
foster unified and collaborative efforts by both groups to work ever closer.
Joint efforts to resolve domestic issues can have far-reaching implications upon
how they perceive the external problems that seem to justify their self-imposed
separation and animosity here in the US.
Examples of cooperation have taken the form nascent movements at dialogue
between individuals from both groups. Thus far, such encounters have not taken
that quantum leap from stating each other's maximum positions onto founding
common grounds for a negotiated settlement. Resourceful organizations,
especially grass roots organizations, must take the lead to build a platform
based on the common denominator, peace in the Middle East, and encourage a
massive effort to promote this goal at all levels of society. I believe the
survey results are a source of hope especially that after two years of violence
that has destroyed thousands of lives, shattered hopes and brutally transformed
Palestine/Israel into a devastated and seemingly hopeless land-it is important
that many Arab Americans and American Jews still seek a solution based on mutual
rights and respect. It is a hopeful sign that while the survey points out that
while both communities have obvious deep feelings and attachments to different
sides in this struggle, and while they may differ in many areas, they can find
common agreement and work for peace.
The joint survey shows that we share a common ground in supporting a two-state
solution and a shared future for Israelis and Palestinians. It is up to us to
work together to get that message out and help pave the path to peace. This
survey is especially important for me, as I have just joined a Jewish-Arab
organization called Middle East Peace Project. It aim is to bring together
people from both sides into a conflict-resolution framework, intensely personal
interactions and revealing role-playing sessions, geared toward a truer
understanding of both sides’ concerns, fears, and hopes. What is now
imperatively needed is that leaders from both communities convene to encapsulate
short and long-term objectives. Major Arab and Jewish organizations must
therefore undergo a radical prioritizing of their missions: building the
foundation for peace in the Middle East. Historically, these organization's
missions have been diametrically opposed, mutually exclusive and inherently
suspicious and hateful of each other.
The survey sends a strong and clear message to the leading organizations of both
groups: differences aside, we must forge new alliances for the sake of our
brethren's peace in the Middle East and our own piece of the America pie in the
United States. If there is to be peace in the Middle East, American
policy-makers must recognize that there is a constituency for it among
Arab-Americans and Jewish-Americans. It is high time that we harness our
collective political influences not to support one's party in the Middle East
but hopefully to prod them towards the path of peace. If we cannot benefit from
geographic distance of 3000 miles, how can we expect the Palestinians and
Israelis to put aside the daily confrontations that they must endure and resolve
their differences? Courageous and truly peace-loving people, both American Arab
and American Jews, must take the first step on the road to peace in the Middle
East. Peace in the Middle East is not only good for Arabs and Jews but it is
actually of greater material, strategic and moral significance to America.
Aref Assaf,
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