My letter to the Washington Post RE Another chance for progress in the Middle East

RE: Another chance for progress in the Middle East
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121406926.html

Dear Editor,

Obama has nothing to be embarrassed about regarding the Middle East and the current failure of talks to produce an end to the Israel/Palestine conflict: Israel is the one building the settlements and doing all it can to incite Palestinian despair and cynicism... and religious extremism.

As The Elders explain in their most recent missive to the world We need peace in the Middle East, not just process. "Without a strategy that can deliver a peace agreement based on a two-state solution, Palestinians will continue to live under Israeli occupation, millions of Palestinian refugees will continue to live without hope and Israel’s survival and security remain under threat. If there is no real progress, more violence is the likely outcome." http://theelders.org/media/mediareleases/peace-not-just-process (The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. )

Dr. Ziad Asali of the American Task Force on Palestine wisely points out in his recent article Giving up is not an option "A concerted effort must be made to shape expectations and to explain to people that the future is more important than the past and that sanity, let alone civility, must prevail in public discourse. History should be a guide to the future rather than a cave where one dwells."

Diplomacy- decency- human dignity matter... and so do basic human rights and international law.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

"The bottom line is that while Washington remains committed to Israel’s security, it is also committed, in its own interests, to Palestinian independence and an end to the Israeli occupation. In other words, the world’s only superpower and Israel’s patron is genuinely committed to securing the Palestinian national goal." Hussein Ibish

NOTES

Towards a two-state solution and regional peace

The Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Growing Gardens for Palestine

Core Issues

• The returning issue of Palestine's refugees
• Palestine

Refugees, Borders & Jerusalem...

• "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

"...will return" by Ismail Shammout