Monday, January 20, 2014

My letter to the Guardian RE There's reason for optimism on Arab-Israeli peace

US secretary of state John Kerry (centre-L) hosts dinner for the Middle East peace process talks with Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni (right 2nd from end) and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat (3rd), in the US department of state on 29 July 2013. Photograph: Paul J Richards/AFP/Getty Images
RE There's reason for optimism on Arab-Israeli peace: Never before have the historical forces been so well-aligned for the achievement of a final deal. But, of course, we're not there yet By Michael Cohen

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/19/israel-palestine-peace-john-kerry-optimism

Dear Editor,

I agree with Michael Cohen's conclusion that there's reason for optimism on Arab-Israeli peace, although I think the major current pushing that likelihood forward is primarily the maturing of the global information age, and the hard work as well as the creativity of countless compassionate and intelligent and talented men, women and children who believe in nurturing a just and lasting peace for both Israel and for Palestine.

Wading through information & misinformation overload online, one can wallow endlessly in relentless rage and scorn for negotiations or one can seek out reasonable liberating avenues of thought where diplomacy, honor, dignity, decency, golden rule thinking- and full respect for international law and universal basic human rights shape a constructive global conversation.

A fully secular two state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict once and for all (for everyone's sake) with a fully sovereign and free Palestine living in peace and security alongside Israel will allow the rule of fair and just laws as well as citizenship rights and responsibilities to emerge as victors.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES 
 
ATFP Briefing on Palestinian Refugees in Syria and the Crisis at Yarmouk: The National Press Club Washington DC- January 22nd, 2014

Palestine for a New Beginning by Zahi Khouri

This Week in Palestine Artist of the Month: Storyteller Denise Asaad In Her Own Words

Murdering Palestinians by starvation in Syria... much crueler and more arbitrary than anything imposed on Gaza by either Israel or Egypt.

Aid Convoy Unable to Reach Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Syria ... 41 Palestinian refugees have died of food and medicine shortages in the camp.

An Excellent letter in the Guardian: Ariel Sharon's motto could have been 'there's no such thing as a Palestinian'

Analysis: Why Palestinian leadership is right to engage in peace talks

Ziad Asali of ATFP: Why Palestinians are puzzled by the 'Jewish state' demand... Netanyahu's demand for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state bizarrely inserts Palestinians into the 'Who is a Jew' debate

Jerusalem... the respective capitals of Israel and Palestine

Hussein Ibish: Time for honesty about dialogue with Israel



Palestine is abundant in energy, skills, passion, and determination. Only when our belief in citizen solutions is reignited and our respect for one another is re-established can we officially witness the transformation we want as a society." Muna Dajani & Sami Backleh: This Week in Palestine

Arts & Culture: Organizers Prepare Palestinian Museum For 2015 Opening... Biggest of Its Kind, Privately-Sponsored Institution Will Have Satellite Locations Around the Globe


The monster that won't die: Al-Qaeda is making yet another appalling comeback "There have always been differences within al-Qaeda, those who have either successfully seized or been granted permission to use the name as a kind of franchise, and other salafi-jihadi or "takfiri" groups. But while the parent organization based in Pakistan and Afghanistan seems to be increasingly irrelevant, the political ideology and program of mass murder that are now synonymous with al-Qaeda seem at least as robust as ever, if not more so. It is the monster that, for the past decade, simply will not die."
  • All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
The Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

The Office of International Religious Freedom ( http://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to:

Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries




American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) supports Palestinian institution-building, good governance, anti-corruption measures, economic development, and improved living standards. ATFP categorically and unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians, no matter the cause and who the victims or perpetrators may be. http://www.americantaskforce.org/

No comments:

Post a Comment