My letter to FT RE Foxman's letter "Painting Israel as the problem undermines prospects for peace"

RE: Painting Israel as the problem undermines prospects for peace
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/57169082-3c5d-11df-b316-00144feabdc0.html

Dear Sir,

It is very hard to believe Mr. Foxman's claim that Israel intends on leaving the West Bank as Israel continues to build, operate and subsidize settlements on Palestinian land. Furthermore, a sovereign Palestinian state should indeed welcome home any and all Palestinian refugees who have no wish to become Israeli.... but people are not things that can or should be traded.

For Palestine's sake I hope that most Palestinians in forced exile decide to help empower Palestine with good intentions and positive efforts as hard working, tax paying, law abiding, loyal, letter writing citizens. Tragically angry radicals, religious extremists and naive followers on both sides (Israel and Palestine) are very much misusing and abusing the Palestinian refugees right of return in order to stymie and sabotage peace talks.

A secular two state solution in line with international law and fully respecting basic human rights (including but not limited to respecting every refugee's very real right to return to original homes and lands) would go along ways towards ending the conflict as well as halting religious extremism and bigotry on all sides of every border. We need to be working towards the day that both Israelis and Palestinians are free to come and go, free to visit each other, free to like each other, and free to explore their respective family and cultural histories: We need to be advocating a people's peace- and a Golden Rule peace whereby a "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" reality and mindset helps shape a better way forward- and fair and just laws for all the people in that very troubled region.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
Growing Gardens for Palestine

UN Resolution 194 from 1948

Article 11

Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible.

NOTES

"Continued settlement activity, confrontations in East Jerusalem, excavations near holy sites, evictions of Palestinian families, travel and visa restrictions, belligerent conduct by extremist settlers, and sporadic violence by individual and organized Palestinian extremists all undermine the viability and credibility of negotiators and negotiations. " Washington is the indispensible partner for a settlement by Ziad Asali

"Historically, secular values have been a major feature of the Palestinian national movement" Palestine must be a secular state by Hussein Ibish

Need the facts on Palestine?

• FOLLOW IBISH & the ATFP
• ...American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) President Dr. Ziad J. Asali Emphasizes Convergence Between Diplomacy, State-Building at Senate Hearing

What's Wrong with the One-State Agenda?

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world"