My letter to the Washington Post RE Palestinians signal willingness to continue peace talks

Palestinian heritage: Dress of Ramallah, Palestine

RE: Palestinians signal willingness to continue peace talks
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinians-signal-willingness-to-continue-peace-talks/2014/04/26/40473dca-cd4a-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_story.html

Dear Editor,

Both Israelis and Palestinians (and all their various supporters) can look for and easily find many reasons to rage and refuse to make peace right now, or they can choose to find reasons and ways to calm down, think clearly, speak with dignity and weigh in for a just and lasting peace so as to end the angst of the Israelis and the very real plight and suffering of the Palestinians.

I very much hope the unity deal helps convince the individuals of Hamas to firmly and permanently reject all violence, all terrorism, and all hate mongering: To focus instead on actual state building, accountability and the crucial importance of careful diplomacy in winning a just and lasting peace for the people of historic Palestine and the people of Israel.

I also very much hope that Israelis veer away from violence, terrorism, and hate mongering ...etc...  Ending the Israel-Palestine conflict is a good priority, for everyone's sake.  A fully secular two state solution firmly based on full respect for universal human rights, the rule of fair and just laws, and international agreements, including The Arab Peace Initiative, is the best way forward- for everyone's sake.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
American homemaker & poet

NOTES
Abbas: New govt recognizes Israel and rejects violence

PBS: Six takes on the Palestinian unity deal

That is real cultural and educational leadership and integrity. It is principled, brave, intelligent and unflinching. It deserves only support, applause and emulation...

American Task Force on Palestine Springs Forward

Choosing Sides ... a poem  

To a State ...a poem

Outreach: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) "Our Israeli and Palestinian partners in the Middle East as well as our partners in the U.S. believe as we do that a lasting peace must begin with a commitment to shared security for all."

Palestinian Refugees (1948-NOW) refused their right to return... and their right to live in peace free from religious bigotry and injustice.

"Read and remember, take a minute to recall the smell of your grandmother’s za’atar and the taste of balady labaneh, and imagine what would happen if we were to lose it all…" This Week in Palestine

Growing Gardens for Palestine: "And it's up to all of us together"... a Spring poem for Palestine & peace

Peace Building ... civic muscle

• 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 only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." American Task Force on Palestine's born in Jerusalem Dr. Ziad Asali: To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace