My letter to the NYTimes RE "John Kerry and Israel: Too Little and Too Late" by Rashid Khalidi

RE "John Kerry and Israel: Too Little and Too Late" by Rashid Khalidi

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/opinion/john-kerry-and-israel-too-little-and-too-late.html?ref=opinion

Dear Editor,

Israel's ongoing war on the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land is wrong and cruel. How different things would be today if Israel had respected UN Resolution 194 in the 1940s regarding every refugee's inalienable right to return to live in peace.... Rather than being surrounded by impoverished refugee camps and hostile neighbors Israel could have shaped itself into a true democracy with full and equal rights for all, becoming a beacon of hope and a wellspring of justice and good business practices empowering peace with prosperity for all regardless of supposed race or religion.  


There is still hope. We can not turn back time but we can move forward with good intentions and Golden Rule thinking shaping our response to the Israel/Palestine conflict.  In light of that, THANK YOU for publishing Rashid Khalidi's forthright and revealing column "John Kerry and Israel: Too little too late" regarding Kerry and Obama as well as Clinton's failure to firmly and clearly condemn Israel's ongoing and flagrant violations of international law and Israel's ongoing and flagrant violations of universal basic human rights vis-à-vis Palestinian men, women and children.

Compassion, basic logic, honesty and good arguments helped officially end slavery in the the United States, laying the ground work for great heroes like Martin Luther King Jr to rise up and lead us all towards a better understanding of our world and the best way forward for everyone's sake. Compassion, basic logic, honesty and good arguments will help end the Israel/Palestine conflict with all its many negative ramifications.


Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab


NOTES
Diana Buttu in the Boston Globe: Kerry describes a reality that Palestinians are living


CNN video Noura Erakat regarding Israel as "The Jewish State"


Hussein Ibish Kerry’s words and the UN vote don’t help Palestinians ..."Israel builds and expands settlements no matter what, but this resolution will undoubtedly lead to even more aggressive building than usual. And Israel may take other retaliatory measures, all of them aimed at Palestinians, who alone are vulnerable to Israeli retaliation."


The Growth of Israeli settlements, explained in 5 charts

 
CNN VIDEO: Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi reacts to the UNSC vote calling on Israel to stop building settlements.  https://www.facebook.com/umkahlil?fref=ts 

Growing Gardens for Palestine... #Christmas #Palestine #PalmTrees #Mary... Informative, inspiring and entertaining facebook posts today from my friend Mike

 
Putting a Face on the Facts... An Easy to Understand Essay by Nancy Harb Almendras outlining a Global Controversy: The conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinians.

Ibrahim's Estate

Jimmy Carter: America Must Recognize Palestine

Newsweek: Award-winning Palestinian teacher on how to help traumatized kids

Baltimore's Susan Muaddi Darraj wins American Book Award for 'A Curious Land'

"We're a really diverse community, actually," Darraj says. "A lot of people think that all Palestinians are Muslims. But, the characters I write about are Palestinian Christians."  American Book Award winner Susan Muaddi Darraj among highlights of Baltimore Book Festival

Freda Hughes' art, created in 2008: Remember Palestine this Christmas

A mural by Norwegian artist, Per Krohg, depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, symbolizing the resurgence of peace, equality and freedom.

" This issue marks the eighteenth year of This Week in Palestine, and we are pleased to present you with another issue filled with articles that attest to Palestine’s cultural wealth. A high level of religious tolerance and the integration of various faiths are defining facets of Palestinian culture, historically and today. Such practice sets Palestine apart in a region where too many people have been immensely traumatized by acts of violence frequently caused by lack of tolerance, greed, and thirst for power and dominance. It is time to remember, in the Holy Land and elsewhere, that the central tenets and pillars of our religions are good will and kind deeds towards our fellow visitors on this planet." Tina Basem, This Week in Palestine editor's message Issue #224, December 2016

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

 

Martin Luther King Jr./Quotes

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?

The time is always right to do what is right.

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.