By MUSTAFA BARGHOUTHI
The Israeli government regrettably does not seem to realize what a unique opportunity the Palestinian unity agreement provides. This agreement presents, for the first time in decades, a unified, moderate Palestinian consensus, which includes Fatah, Hamas and the democratic camp.

From a Palestinian perspective, this fruit of the Arab Spring and a post-Mubarak Egypt is a vital development as we seek to move beyond internecine strife and focus on the need to end the Israeli occupation and secure our freedom.

An open-minded observer of the speeches made at the signing of the agreement in Cairo on May 4 will see that all groups involved have accepted the two-state solution along the 1967 borders, with a Palestinian state in the occupied territories and East Jerusalem as its capital; that all parties have committed themselves to abstain from any form of violence; and that in his speech, Palestinian Authority President and P.L.O. Chairman Mahmoud Abbas declared his commitment to all previously signed agreements with Israel, with no objections from those present.

As head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Abbas will be authorized to negotiate on behalf of all Palestinian factions, taking away the Israeli excuse that they can’t negotiate with a divided Palestinian polity.

The unity agreement offers a chance for Israel to make lasting peace with all Palestinians, from left to right on the political spectrum, and for the two-state solution to be implemented immediately.

The agreement also provides for the renewal of Palestinian democracy, including an effective parliament, independent judiciary and separation of powers, and free democratic elections within a year. It will give Palestinians the right to choose their leaders freely and democratically once again. If the U.S. Congress supports these goals in Egypt, Libya and Syria, then why not for Palestine and Palestinians?

In elections held in 2005-2006, the Palestinians provided a shining example of democratic practice to the whole region, but it was undermined by the siege imposed on our 2007 national unity government, which represented 96 percent of the Palestinian electorate. The siege served the purposes of its architects and led to internal Palestinian division.

I have always believed that the only lasting peace is one between democracies. The experience of Europe is the greatest proof of that. A democratic, unified Palestine will be more capable of achieving its freedom and independence, and of keeping a durable and just peace.

Unfortunately the reactions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters to the agreement reflect a backward-looking approach, rather than a forward-looking one, which is harmful to the future of both Palestinians and Israelis.

Their position is indefensible and hypocritical. How can they demand that Palestinians respect existing agreements while at the same time Israel violates those very same agreements by withholding Palestinian tax money, depriving doctors, nurses, teachers and even the security officers that they frequently praise of their salaries? Where is the wisdom in depriving Palestinian hospitals and clinics of medicine as punishment for moderating the position of the Palestinian national movement?

We have spent years trying to pave the road toward a just peace, and to convince our people that nonviolence is the best strategy, and now we are threatened with punishment for succeeding. Reimposing a siege on the Palestinian Authority and the unity government carries with it the huge risk of causing the total collapse of the P.A., and with it the two-state solution.

If Israelis do indeed desire a lasting peace based on the two-state solution, the road is wide open for them. On the other hand, if they want us to remain oppressed under military occupation forever, we will remain resilient and unified in our just struggle for freedom.

The time has come for President Obama and the international community to grasp this opportunity and change course to avoid yet more disaster and bloodshed in the Middle East.

Mustafa Barghouthi, a physician and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, is the founder of the Palestinian National Initiative, a political party.

May 16, 2011

The Honorable Barack H. Obama

President of the United States

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

As an American who is deeply concerned about the continued lack of a just peace in Palestine and Israel, I write today to ask that you do two things:

1.  In your expected speech on the Middle East this Thursday, outline a United States proposal that will bring justice for the Palestinian people and lasting security for Jewish people living in the State of Israel; and

2.  Demand that the Israeli government immediately release Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, a Palestinian-born American citizen who was arrested yesterday during a peaceful, nonviolent demonstration in the village of Al Walaja in the Occupied Territories.  As the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is aware, Dr. Qumsiyeh (a geneticist who formally taught at Duke University and Yale University) is being held in Ofer Prison.

I write to you as (among other things) an Episcopalian, a graduate of Occidental College, a holder of a Master’s degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a onetime employee of Business International, and a former government relations manager for a large Midwestern manufacturing company.

The coming days will be eventful—perhaps crucial–for the Israeli-Palestinian issue.  Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington will be accompanied by a barrage of Israeli government propaganda, both from Israeli diplomats and spokespersons and their American support network, designed once again to portray Israel as an “innocent victim” and to vilify the Palestinian people as “terrorists.”  Your political opponents in Congress will give Mr. Netanyahu the opportunity to directly address the American people.  If past experience is any guide, he will repeat the old myths, exaggerations, and lies designed to prevent a just peace while Israel continues to drive Palestinians from their lands and homes and to deprive them of their human rights.

I recently returned from three weeks in Palestine and Israel.  I arrived there a few days after the United States vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories.  One day I delivered some books to a children’s library in a Palestinian town west of Ramallah.  Signs outside the building announced that the community center housing the library and a surrounding park were built with U.S. AID funds.  They were all defaced with the word “VETO” in red spray paint.  The town’s mayor, who showed up to thank me for my donation, pointed to the defaced signs and said to me—more in sorrow than in anger—“How do you expect us to keep our people from turning to violence when your government does things like that?”

Mr. President, I believe that you really want to bring a real and lasting peace to Palestine and Israel.  But the approach you have pursued so far has not brought us any closer to such a peace.  Now—before Mr. Netanyahu takes the stage in this country–is the time to make a bold break with past United States policy and to propose a solution that will achieve your objectives.  Such a proposal should be based on the following principles:

1. Rather than an illusory “security” based on military power alone, a fundamental respect for the human rights of all peoples, in line with the foundational principles of the United States of America;
2. Full equality under the law and in practice for all citizens of the State of Israel, regardless of ethnicity or religion; and
3. Full compliance with international law (such as United Nations resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention), including recognition of the right of all Palestinians to return to the historic land of Palestine or to be compensated by Israel for the loss of their homes, land, and possessions.

For too long, United States policy in Palestine/Israel has been carried out within a frame of reference defined by the Israeli government, a frame of reference designed to foreclose all opportunities for Palestinian rights and sovereignty.  Israel has never acknowledged its responsibility for the dispossession of the Palestinian people and for more than 60 years has relied on superior military power to have its way.  For many years, this military superiority has been undergirded by generous American military aid and Israel’s “might makes right” approach has had American diplomatic support.

The spontaneous wave of nonviolent demonstrations and protests sweeping the Middle East will not bypass Palestine.  These protests echo and evoke classic American principles of democracy and human rights for all people.  You have the opportunity to bring our country back into alignment with history.  Please don’t pass it up!

Respectfully yours,

Thomas L. Trueblood

5511 Cascade Drive

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Trueblood.tom@gmail.com

Cabell Tennis recently returned from the 2011 Sabeel International Conference in Bethlehem.  With words and images from a variety of sources Cabby composed a snapshot of the two narratives, Israeli and Palestinian, and an occupation which has been continuous for 63 years.  It’s a great introduction for friends new to the situation and a vivid reminder for those more familiar with the history.  Click on Palestine Now

A list of resources

Below are a few of the many excellent sources for in depth learning and action in the cause of peace in the Mid East.  Try them all to find your fit.

http://epfnational.org/ The home of Episcopalians who are committed to work for peace.

https://epfpjn.org/ The network of Episcopalians, who are committed to a robust non violent support for the occupied and oppressed Palestinian people. Separate from the Peace Fellowship above but within its framework for administration.

http://www.sabeel.org/ A major international ecumenical Christian movement for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine by nonviolent means founded by Naim Ateek, a Palestinian Anglican priest.

http://www.fosna.org/ The North American branch in support of Sabeel.

http://www.annainthemiddleeast.com/ A young Jewish woman who discovered the plight of the Palestinians and has devoted her life to telling the story of their oppression

http://jstreet.org/ The political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.  Formed in response to the heavily funded AIP which supports the government of Israel without reservations.

http://www.ajjp.org/ American Jews for a Just Peace is a progressive voice centered on justice.

http://www.afedj.org/ The partner with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem in supporting its ministry through schools, hospitals, clinics and congregations.

http://www.cmep.org/ Churches for Mid East Peace is a coalition of 24 national Church organizations, of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions including the Episcopal Church.

http://markbraverman.org/essential-books/ An important list of those sources which have shaped the view and ministry of Mark Braverman, an American Jew who works for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.

Sometime toward the end of January my friend Ahmad (not his real name) sent me a distressing message that the IDF had surrounded the homes of his parents, grandparents and in-laws at 2 AM, seeking his two oldest boys, Ashraf -15 – and Nabil – 13 – (again, not their real names).  At one of the homes, the husband/father worked at night so was not there when the IDF demanded entrance.  His wife was terrified and fled with her children to a relative living in an apartment above them.  Being denied entrance, the IDF broke the door, several windows and mirrors in the home before locating family members on the second floor.  Before the night was out, they entered four homes of families related to Ahmad.  In each case the family answered the demand for the two boys with “No one with those names lives here”.”  Ironically, the IDF has not sought the boys where they live.  The IDF either has poor intelligence (pun intended) or learned the boys were unlikely candidates as rock-throwers or informants on others.  Ahmad and his wife now require the boys be home immediately after school to avoid the chance they will encounter an IDF patrol.

Ahmad and his extended family live in Beit Ommar, a Palestinian village of 15,000 on route 60 a little more than half way between Bethlehem and Hebron.  The surrounding Israeli settlements (referred to as colonies by Beit Ommar’s mayor) make growth in the village impossible, and settlers are now encroaching on their farm land.  Ahmad is an extraordinary man.  Imprisoned three times during the first Intifada and beaten severely during the last imprisonment, Ahmad became convinced that non-violence was the only viable and moral strategy for resisting the occupation.  Believing resistance alone was not sufficient, however, he founded an organization dedicated to “crossing the borders” with dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.  In a recent meeting convened in Beit Ommar a Palestinian who had been imprisoned in Hebron sat one seat away from an Israeli who commanded that prison.  And they listened respectfully to each other.

When I visited Ahmad in November he told me of his 15 year old nephew (whom we’ll call Sami) who had been roused from sleep by the IDF sometime after midnight in June (2010) and taken from his distressed family for questioning.  What Ahmad told me was, frankly, difficult to believe.  The military leveled charges (rock throwing) against Sami, but they were also after the names of other boys and adults who encouraged them.   Sami was held for a little more than a week and, at some point in the interrogation, he was threatened with electrodes being attached to his genitals and told by the guards he would be like his sister and never marry.  Sami was understandably terrified and signed whatever he was told to sign.  Again, no matter what the circumstance, I had difficulty believing the Israeli military/police would threaten a 15 year old boy with torture which, in itself, amounts to torture.  Sami was eventually released to his family if they paid a fine of 500 shekels (approximately $140) and pledged to return Sami for questioning within an hour whenever required to do so.

I returned this past weekend (February 19) to Jerusalem and to Beit Ommar the following Monday.  Before I did, however, I planned a meeting with B’Tselem’s Jerusalem staff to discover what they knew about this particular incident with Sami.   B’Tselem has field staff in Beit Ommar who interviewed Sami after his release and received essentially the same report as I did from Ahmad.  Torture is of course illegal under any conditions and is a serious abuse when used with juveniles.  Because of B’Tselem’s work and that of others, torture is not regularly practiced, but they acknowledged there continue to be isolated incidents, even with young people.  The practice of arresting young Palestinians, telling them they were identified as rock-throwers (whether this is true or not) by some of their friends and demanding they name others as well as adults who organize and encourage violence is described by B’Tselem as a common practice.  Strict laws govern the detention of juveniles in Israel and the occupied territories which B’Tselem alleges, at least in the case of arrests in the Silwan neighborhood, the police “consistently breach.”  An excellent discussion of these laws and a report on their observance by the authorities may be found in B’Tselem’s December, 2010 publication Caution: Children Ahead.

Like parents anywhere and maybe, given the circumstances in which they live, more so, Palestinian parents are intensely protective of their children.  Many must live with the constant fear of police banging at their door sometime after midnight, and children with the fear they will be awakened from sleep and taken away for questioning.  For many this is what it is to live under military occupation.

Cotton Fite, East Jerusalem, February 23, 2011