"A real need for dialogue," Herald News, Sunday, February 4,
2007
Re: "Awadallah calls for a debate" (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30).
See below a Jewish response to our
letter.
By its very nature a debate -dating back to Plato- is nothing less than a shallow grandstanding by one
party trying to validate his viewpoint and at the same time undermine the
legitimacy of the other side. What is truly needed in regard to the Middle East
is a dialogue between not only well-meaning but also well-informed individuals
to arrive at a fruitful conclusion.
While frequent letter writer Hani Awadallah is entitled to his views, he does
not speak for the majority of American Palestinians who believe in the real
possibility of a dialogue and ultimately a just solution to the Israel-Palestine
question. Similarly, I know of many decent Jewish individuals and groups, unlike
those that appeared in your paper recently, who are eager and committed to
the same noble goal. After more than 50 years of bloodshed, the Herald News
would not serve its readership by allowing more episodes of shouting and slurs
to be disguised as legitimate views.
It is my view that the Arab and the Jewish communities in this country are
doing their brethrens a disservice by further deepening the divide that has
characterized the relations between Arabs and Jews over the last several
decades. It may be understandable that Palestinians and Israelis in the Holy
Land, notwithstanding the political and military superiority of the Israel,
cannot even talk about a possible solution. Understandably, a fruitful dialogue
has to encompass two equal partners coupled with an impartial arbiter. Here in
the United States, we should be able collaborate to peacefully end the conflict.
It is in the best interest of our two communities and also serves the overall
national interests of this country.
Remember that the West Bank and Gaza Strip are governed by military orders – not
by diplomacy, politics, logic, or reason where "security" of Israel supersedes
all else. I have just returned from a two-week visit to Palestine where I
personally confronted the challenges of this barbaric and yes as Ex-President
Jimmy Carter has aptly described it, an "apartheid" regime.
Whether through the erection of hundreds of checkpoints throughout the West
Bank, the requirement that Palestinians obtain permits to travel even within the
West Bank or some of the absurd rules that are largely unknown even to Israelis,
the 40-year occupation has seeped into almost every area of Palestinian life.
For decades now, supporters of both sides have ignored the legitimate concerns
of the other side of the conflict.
It is time for renewed efforts to bridge the differences. The United States and
the Arab and Jewish communities in the United States stand to benefit greatly if
real progress is made to end the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a
viable and contiguous Palestinian state. This is a noble goal that only open
dialogue, and not a debate, can aspire to achieve.
Dr. Aref Assaf, president, American Arab Forum, Paterson
Dialogue and debate on Middle East
Re: "A real need for dialogue" (Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4)
Dr. Aref Assaf's critique of Hani Awadallah letter calls for a dialogue among
"not only well-meaning but also well-informed individuals to arrive at a
fruitful conclusion."
Yet, Dr. Assaf goes on to contradict his premise by intentionally misstating or
not stating relevant facts.
Some 90 percent of the Palestinian population lives under the direct rule of the
Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian terrorists who rejected and continue to reject every effort by
Israelis and Palestinians to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement of the
issues between them are responsible for the creation of Israeli checkpoints to
interrupt the movement of terrorists between the West Bank and Israel. Dr. Assaf
likens this to apartheid.
If the writer is truly interested in dialogue, let him first stop the
disinformation and name-calling.
Stephen M. Flatow, West Orange
See also
|
