My letter to the New York Times RE A Mideast Truce By Roger Cohen

RE: A Mideast Truce By Roger Cohen
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/opinion/17iht-edcohen.html?adxnnl=1&ref=opinion&adxnnlx=1258459334-JiDh/xIwzRmQauJCZP0/5g

Dear Editor,

Rather than wallowing in pessimism Roger Cohen should have pointed out (and firmly condemned) Israel's ongoing flagrant violations of international law and the Palestinians basic human rights in his op-ed "A Mideast Truce"... He should have also noticed The Arab Peace Initiative which emanates from "the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties".

61 years of Israel consistently usurping Palestinian land, rights and life during both war and peace does make the process of peace more difficult- but never say never: There are gentle heroes everywhere working hard to help shape a just and lasting peace in the Middle East: "The ensuing decades have not diminished the sharpness of the collective Palestinian memory of the pain of dispossession. As their refugee condition has persisted, passing the sixtieth milestone last year, so has the demand for their rights remained strong. In keeping with the universal refugee ethos, the passage of time and the succession of generations are powerless against the strength of the desire for justice and for a principled solution, which includes, at least as an option, the possibility of re-connection with the place they call "home"." A Regional Perspective on Conflict and Exile: Reflections on the Palestine Refugee Experience by Karen Koning AbuZayd, UNRWA Commissioner-General http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/statements/2009/conflict_and_exile_nov09.html

Israel tried but totally failed to convince the world that there was no such thing as a Palestinian. Palestinian men, women and children are obviously very much trapped and tormented by Israel's anti-Palestinian walls and polices, but an intriguing treasure trove of Palestinian art, poetry, songs and stories has been crossing all borders world wide bit by bit, reaching everywhere to convince strangers to pause and believe in Palestine... and the very real possibility of peace.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab