My letter to the Washington Post RE U.S., Israel need to agree on an Iran deal

(ATFP (American Task Force on Palestine) photo (& film))

RE: U.S., Israel need to agree on an Iran deal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/us-israel-need-to-agree-on-an-iran-deal/2013/11/18/a60f934a-507d-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html

Dear Editor,

The big picture: A bit of a rift between America and Israel is not such a bad thing, for it gives everyone leeway to look around, research, reconsider and seriously think about what really is the best way forward... for everyone's sake.

The big picture: Concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, as well as acts of aggression should not be limited to Iran: Israel's own aggressive tendencies have played a part in creating an arms race and a huge amount of hostility.

The big picture: Thinking about security not only for Israel but also for Palestine and for all their neighbors (and all Iran's neighbors), everyone, including Israel, should make it a priority to make peace with Palestine- a just and lasting peace based on full respect for international law and universal basic human rights.  The Arab Peace Initiative is an excellent reference concerning issues that need to be addressed and resolved.

 The Arab Peace Initiative is also an obvious gesture of good will and diplomatic grace, for it 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"

The big picture: Ending the Israel-Palestine conflict would go a long way towards calming down the entire region.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

Notes

PBS NewsHour 11-13-2013 How the Iran nuclear talks affect Israel's confidence in the U.S. as mediator ATFP's HUSSEIN IBISH:  "Obviously, if Israel's disappointed in the United States, it's very likely the United States is disappointed with Israel.

Look, our regional allies, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, et cetera, these are regional powers with regional interests. We are a global power with global interests. It's understandable if Israel is obsessed with Iran, and thinks only in terms of Iranian issues.

The United States can't do that. We have to deal with multiple issues. We have to deal with Syria. We have to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. We have to deal with repairing our relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and many other things all over the world.

So you have got to come back to the Israeli-Palestinian file as one that the United States takes seriously on its own."

more notes

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Freedom for Palestine - OneWorld