My letter to the NYTimes RE Palestine’s ‘Nuclear Option’ by Ali Jarbawi & The Community of Expulsion For Israel, a Time of Self-Scrutiny by Roger Cohen

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789 Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier - [1]

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) guarantees freedom of religion, as long as religious activities do not infringe on public order in ways detrimental to society. Includes "Eye of providence" symbol (eye in triangle)

RE: Palestine’s ‘Nuclear Option’ by Ali Jarbawi & The Community of Expulsion For Israel, a Time of Self-Scrutiny by Roger Cohen
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/opinion/palestines-nuclear-option.html?ref=opinion

Dear Editor,

Comparing two op-eds that might have been positioned as contrast (not balance), I thought Roger Cohen's op-ed "The Community of Expulsion For Israel, a Time of Self-Scrutiny" was compelling and beautiful- a sign of hope for Israel.  I thought Ali Jarbawi's op-ed "Palestine’s ‘Nuclear Option’" (and Abbas's most recent U.N. speech which Jarbawi praises as "one of his best ") was not so good. 

Cohen is focused on character building and affirming the belief that Israel can be better than it has been.  Jarbawi is... well, he is obviously not interested in winning over an American audience- or in calling for Palestinians to support state building efforts and diplomacy.  He is more bothered by "the global preoccupation with confronting the Islamic State, which has reached the level of obsession" than by the massive damage that ISIL (Islamic State/Da'esh) is inflicting on the region as they murder any one who does not agree with them, as well as kidnap women and girls- young girls- to use as sex slaves. 

Jarbawi concludes his grumbling diatribe/righteous indignation by offering up horrible advice for his audience: "As it stands, the Authority performs a role that comforts Israel. Israel gets the Authority to keep it safe through “security cooperation,” while Israelis are absolved of responsibility for their occupation while avoiding its costs. Indeed, until Mr. Abbas takes a tangible step toward dissolving the Authority, the international community, especially Israel and America, will not take him seriously, and his demands will remain nothing but complaints."

Further disenfranchising Palestinians by voluntarily erasing the Palestinian Authority and rejecting security cooperation with Israel is a risky game that is most likely going to make the very real plight of the Palestinians much much worse...  Instead of asking Palestinians to give up, why not start demanding that HAMAS step down for Palestine's sake- dissolve the tyrannical grip Islamists have on Palestine, and actually convince Israel and America to take a fully secular two state peace seriously. 

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
"We see martyrs, children as young as 7, being portrayed as resistance fighters after being slaughtered by Israeli forces. Although we would like to convince ourselves that they have died for “the cause”, they have in fact died because of the cause." Mariam Barg

"There is a vicious circle of mutual self-reinforcement between state and society failure on the one hand and the rise of extremist non-state actors on the other." Ziad Asali: Confronting ISIL: The Day and Decade "After"

Hussein Ibish: US has a responsibility to rein in Israeli settlements

Tala Haikal: "It may not be possible to immediately free all the kidnapped girls and women due to the scope of the conflict with ISIS and the geographical dispersal of the captives in various locations. Some of these women and girls can be freed only once ISIS is destroyed."

STAY CONNECTED... 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

UN report spotlights 'staggering' Islamic State atrocities in Iraq... "The group, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria, has carried out a wide range of atrocities, including mass executions, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual and physical violence against women and children"

USA Today... Sweden PM says nation will recognize Palestinian state: "It doesn't change a thing on the ground," Ibish said. "It changes the number of countries that have recognized the Palestinian state. It changes the Western commitment to a two-state solution, (and) it does put more pressure on Israel to make concessions."

Vatican seeks Mideast Christians' right of return

Salam Fayyad: How To Fix the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

Excellent letter in the Guardian by Chris Doyle: Trouble and shock in the West Bank

US sharply criticizes new Israeli housing project

Non-violent resistance is Palestine’s most powerful weapon

Tala Haikal: Empathy Is Essential to Humanity

Normalizing Intelligent Conversations, Diplomatic Support, and Hope for Palestine... ATFP Panel Briefing: Israeli-Palestinian War in a New Regional Landscape.

ATFP... American Task Force on Palestine

ATFP Calls for De-Escalation between Israel and the Palestinians

To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace : "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." Ziad Asali

International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2014

UNRWA photo and film archive for Palestine refugees

About UNWRA: ’The Long Journey of Palestine Refugee Women’ candidly portrays the lives and experiences of Palestine refugee women, this collection is a testament not only to their own strength and dignity, but also to the richness and resilience of their community.

Walking Palestine & The Abraham Path... a creative space for stories that highlight the unique culture, heritage and hospitality of the region

It's time for Palestinians and Israelis to share a just peace... It's time for freedom from occupation... It's time for equal rights.... It's time for the healing of wounded souls..... World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel: "Let my people go!"... 21 - 27 September 2014 An initiative of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) of the World Council of Churches

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

1948

Time and time again I have watched the cycle of incitement and spin sabotage support for Palestine

Clarifying why Arab and Muslim Americans should be smart rather than stupid

Live by the Golden Rule

• “Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering - remembering and not using your right to hit back.”

An Anne Frank Moment ... a poem by Anne Selden Annab

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

America/Israel/Palestine 1776

America/Israel/Palestine 1948: 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