My letters to the New York Times & The Washington Post RE Obama weighs new peace plan for the Middle East & Palestinians building a non-violent state

RE: Obama weighs new peace plan for the Middle East
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040602663.html

Dear Editor,

I very much hope that a solid peace plan securing a secular two state solution to end the Palestine/Israel conflict emerges soon, and that it is fully in line with The Arab Peace Initiative on all the core issues:

I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.

II- Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194. (United Nations A/RES/194 (III) 11 December 1948 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)

III- The acceptance of the establishment of a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
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RE: Palestinians Try a Less Violent Path to Resistance, Palestinians headed to plant trees last month in the West Bank, part of a new, nonviolent approach to assert their land claims.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/middleeast/07westbank.html?ref=world

Dear Editor,

Excellent to see this report noticing Palestinians taking a nonviolent approach- focusing in on self empowerment... taking ownership of the process of building a state.

I very much hope that Israel decides soon to end its illegal occupation, to stop its Apartheid policies and its land grabs, to respect international law and to work with Palestine to create a just and lasting peace for everyone's sake.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

The American Task Force on Palestine

GROWING GARDEN FOR PALESTINE