Thank you for not letting Abraham H. Foxman have the last word with his letter responding to The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment . This past week the Foxman's ADL along with Rabbi David Nesenoff , White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, former White House Counsel Lanny Davis, and Ari Fleischer former White House press secretary (to name a few major players) very much helped create and exasperate a defamatory and cruel hate campaign against Helen Thomas, forcing her to resign.
Israel's settlement projects and apartheid polices in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories combined with Avigdor Lieberman’s "crusade to humiliate, disenfranchise, and perhaps even eventually expel Arab Israelis" puts Palestinians, the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land, in a totally impossible situation. Already the vast majority of Palestinians have been pushed into forced exile and cruelly denied their inalienable legal and natural right to return to original homes and lands... How many more Palestinian men, women and children must be persecuted and displaced (and how many more naive folks world wide will be conned into either inadvertently or purposefully empowering Islamists) while Israel and its supporters bicker and battle on and on about perceived "identity" crises?
Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have resumed after a year and a half of a stalemate that began after Israel launched its devastating military assault against the Gaza Strip in December 2009. The resumption of negotiations came as a result of concerted and persistent efforts by the U.S. administration and by President Barack Obama in particular, together with extensive Palestinian, Arab and international support.
This round of negotiations provides an 11th-hour opportunity to achieve a permanent and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. For the opportunity not to be lost, courage and bold leadership are required.
Despite the harsh realities imposed upon us, the Palestinian side intends to negotiate in good faith in order to end the state of conflict that has plagued our region for so long. Achieving peace and coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis has been my lifelong commitment. I came to believe from an early stage that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict cannot be resolved without dialogue. This vision has guided my political thinking and work for the last 35 years.
I was the first among Palestinian leaders to establish and encourage dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis as early as the 1970s. These early activities paved the way for the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993. Ever since, I have worked hard, together with my colleagues in the Palestinian leadership, to end the conflict and achieve peace. Since taking office, I have never walked away from serious negotiations, and
I do not intend to. However, we cannot be asked to negotiate forever as reality on the ground deteriorates by the hour.
The Oslo Accord and subsequent peace plans and initiatives such as the U.S.-sponsored Road Map required Israel to stop all Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. Yet, consecutive Israeli governments have continued to expand settlements. These settlements being deemed illegal by the international community and an obstacle to peace, has not stopped the Israeli leadership; the number of settlers has tripled in size since the signing of the Oslo Accord.
Meaningful negotiations and Israeli settlement activity do not go hand in hand because the continued building of settlements will not leave enough land for us to establish our own contiguous and viable state. It is for this very reason that I have insisted on the need to stop all settlement activities before the resumption of direct negotiations. Those who insist on continuing settlement activities cannot be serious about the two-state solution or peacemaking as a whole.
Unilateral measures jeopardize the prospects of achieving a negotiated peace agreement. I have always rejected unilateral steps by either side and continue to do so, be it the Israeli unilateral redeployment from Gaza, the building of Israeli settlements, the separation wall or a one-sided declaration of a Palestinian state.
With the full support of the U.S. and the international community, we are currently building the institutions of our future state. We are making great progress, and we are determined to do more.
We recognize that Israelis have concerns about their security. The need for security is paramount to both peoples. Given that the security of Israel and Palestine has become inseparable, we Palestinians have a vested interest in seeing Israelis living in peace and security in their state next to the Palestinian state. I refuse to allow the just struggle of my people for freedom and independence to be exploited by extremists, regardless of who they are. For extremism to be defeated, we must all redouble our efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
It is time to break with the past and look forward to the future. In the Arab Peace Initiative, 57 Arab and Muslim countries offered Israel peace and normalized relations in return for Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian and Arab territories it conquered by force in the 1967 War and has occupied since. Israeli leaders have so far failed to grasp this historic opportunity and instead are actively working toward making the two-state solution impossible.
I have great faith in the fairness of the American people, who have struggled so admirably to achieve and maintain their freedom and independence. The Palestinian people want the same things that Americans want: to live in freedom and security and to have the opportunity for our families and loved ones to prosper.
Palestinians and Israelis are destined to live together. Resolving this conflict, once and for all, is not only in the interest of the peoples of the region, but is also of utmost importance to U.S. national interests. If there ever was a global issue that begged for courage and leadership, it is this issue and now.
Mahmoud Abbas is the President of the Palestinian National Authority and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Hussein Ibish: "Palestinians cannot be expected to acquiesce to, much less subsidise, their own oppression and they have every right to peacefully and lawfully challenge the occupation and demand clarity.
The same logic ultimately applies to the PA state and institution building programme. By developing the framework of Palestinian statehood, the programme forces Israel into the clarity of a simple choice: either gradually and however grudgingly cede more and more attributes of sovereignty in greater and greater parts of the occupied territories to the PA in order to allow the programme to develop, or kill it. The state building programme cannot survive stasis. It requires continuous, even if gradual, expansion. It asks Israel a simple question: are the occupied territories ultimately your country or ours?"
I admire Helen Thomas, she has had an impressive career and really has been a great reporter, an astute questioner as well as an excellent role model for all our children.
I do not admire Helen Thomas' detractors who have been quick to demonize her and destroy her career and her reputation by distorting what she meant. I get what she said- I understand it, not as bigotry but as deep frustration over sovereign Israel's generously subsidized settlers and apartheid polices in the illegally occupied territories.
Israel's institutionalized bigotry pushes Palestinians into an impossible situation by persecuting, impoverishing and displacing the native non-Jewish Palestinians, fragmenting Palestinian families and refusing to respect the Palestinian refugees inalienable legal and natural right to return to original homes and lands, while at the same time refusing to allow a viable real Palestinian state to emerge.
I very much liked your interview with Dr Ibish regarding opportunities for Palestine. He really does have the perfect voice for NPR. I like both what he says- and how he says it. Please have him on more often!
I'd also be interested in hearing more about emerging non-violent strategies for Palestine, including state and institution building initiatives.
RAZ: ...for pro-Palestinian advocacy groups in Washington right now?
Dr. IBISH: Definitely, there is one if they take advantage of it. And I think to do that, you have to appeal to the American national interest to get people's attention.
I think there are three paradigm shifts. The first is the one most obviously implicit in your question that there's a new context in which Israeli conduct is being viewed internationally, including in the United States and maybe, in a way, especially in the United States.
There's a second very important paradigm shift on the Palestinian side, especially in the West Bank, where you've seen a real commitment to emerging non-violent strategies, state and institution building in a very high level, settlement boycotts that's non-violent and tries to make a distinction between the settlements and Israel itself. This is a major paradigm shift in the Palestinian approach.
And there's a third paradigm shift and I think it's very important in the context of the ability of pro-Palestine groups in Washington to have a seat at the table, which is I think we are now increasingly, all of us - Jewish Americans, Arab Americans and others, understanding this is not a zero sum conflict. It's not as if everything good for Israel is bad for the Palestinians and vice versa.
But I think it's becoming increasingly clear on both sides we need a partnership and we need it now, because our friends and relatives in the Middle East and our own country here need the same thing, which is a peace agreement, a two-state peace agreement... read more
Israel's decision this week to send armed commandos onto a ship carrying activists sparked international condemnation. It also provided a political platform for Palestinian activists at home -- and abroad -- to further their case for a homeland. Host Guy Raz talks with Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow at the American Task Force, about whether pro-Palestinian groups are finding it easier to be heard.
Before the war on Gaza one-and-a-half years ago, talking to friends, I used to say that nonviolent resistance is the strongest way to fight off the Israeli occupation of Palestinians’ lives and lands, and gain independence and freedom.
Every time I would give my opinion, I would hear strong criticism from most listeners.
Today, nonviolent resistance proves successful. It achieved in few years what violent resistance did not achieve in many.
BDS (boycott, divest and sanctions) campaigns against Israel succeeded in making many supermarkets in the US and Europe boycott products originating from Israeli settlements. Did violent resistance ever achieve that?
BDS campaigns succeeded in making large financial funds and banks in Europe divest from companies involved in building the apartheid wall, many artists cancel their shows in Israel and many universities in Europe refuse to cooperate with Israeli universities in Israeli settlements.
Today, a significant number of international supporters demonstrate every Friday against building the apartheid wall and settlements on Palestinian territories. Most importantly, thousands of Israelis demonstrate weekly against occupation and ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem.
When did bombs in malls and public transport buses succeed in achieving that?
The Palestinian president and the prime minister signed a new law that bans products from Israeli settlements from entering West Bank markets and this put settlers’ economy in danger. Did violent resistance succeed in achieving this goal?
Last week, after the Freedom Flotilla incident, countries strongly criticised Israel’s siege on Gaza and are strongly urging Israel to lift it, with no preconditions. When did the useless rockets achieve that?
The list of nonviolent resistance success stories can go on.
Three factors will make Palestinians achieve their independence: continuing strong nonviolent resistance; building their economy as the government in the West Bank is already doing; uniting as soon as possible, especially since Hamas agreed last week to a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
This will lead to an independent Palestinian state that the whole world will recognise, whether Israel likes it or not.
June 5th -- the anniversary of a war-- I think if black people aren't slaves in America any more & the US now has a black president, and if women can vote, and the Berlin wall fell, and Apertheid ended, if there is a list of child rights, and the Holocaust didn't exterminate the Jews, then of course Palestine will be free. And all the demons in hell, can't stop our freedom from coming. -- Ibtisam Barakat 2010
The Palestine Investment Conference 2010 is an important platform that will assemble large numbers of investors, government representatives, international agencies as well as the media, and familiarize them with the various structural and economic reform achievements of the Palestinian National Authority. The government reform agenda towards nation building is premised on a commitment of providing an environment conducive to investment and free market. The conference also yields a superb opportunity for the Palestinian private sector to demonstrate its track record of profitable and innovative entrepreneurship in their home country, as well as to champion success stories of export investment viability. Project concepts, business plans, investment opportunities, national programs, and partnership frameworks shall all be introduced to local and international conference participants. In this way, the untapped potential of the Palestinian SMEs shall be promoted for investment partnerships that leverage this important economic segment comprising over 90% of operating businesses in Palestine, fostering their consolidation, growth and diversification.
Bethlehem - Ma'an - Arab and Palestinian businessmen and women gathered in Bethlehem Tuesday, to open the Second Palestinian Investment Conference (PIC), with President Mahmoud Abbas dedicated to the lives of some 10 activists killed delivering aid to Gaza.
In his opening speech, Abbas formally named the PIC the "Freedom Conference," in commemoration of the loss of life and upheaval swelling from Israel's decision to attack the Freedom Flotilla of six ships en route to Gaza with 10,000 tons of aid for the besieged Gaza Strip.
The name, Abbas suggested, was apt, because it also signaled the purpose of the conference; to enlist the support of the world in freeing Palestine from Israeli occupation. In the case of the PIC, he said, it would be through economic investment and support that would make Palestine a stronger and more viable state that was not reliant on Israel or its settlement economies.
Speaking about the investment conference, Abbas said it would provide "numerous investment opportunities in the Palestinian market," which he called hitherto unplumbed. He encouraged participants, including some 800 granted permits by Israel for travel from across the Middle East, to "be part of the steadfastness of Palestine, play a role in the liberation of a nation from occupation, and be a major player in the development of the Palestinian economy."
US delegation commends investment initiative
Addressing the Freedom Conference, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Neal Wolin called the event "both an invitation and a declaration," saying the "Palestinian economy is open for business, that the Palestinian people and their government are committed to laying the foundation for an economically viable state, where private enterprise can thrive."
Wolin commended Fayyad's plan to develop state institutions, calling his legislative agenda "an important step forward," that was filled with "sound policies."
The official also noted "Israel's cooperation will be important," particularly in the form of "issues related to movement and access of both people and goods.
He lauded the Palestinian Authority for taking the lead in development, calling its success in the IT industry a "powerful story," and citing the record growth of the tourism industry. "The opportunities are tremendous," he said, but added that "the stakes are high."
Wolin said the Monday attack on the Gaza aid flotilla "underscores the need to move forward with negotiations to resolve the conflict and establish a comprehensive peace as soon as possible."
A moment of silence
Several changes were made at the last minute to the program of the investment conference, including the cancellation of many of the morning's opening ceremonies, which were cut back to a small handfull of speeches and a minute of silence to commemorate the death of at least ten activists on board the Freedom Flotilla.
During his speech, Abbas mentioned his upcoming trip to Washington, where he said he would ask US President Barack Obama to make "courageous decisions" around the situation in the region.
He also thanked Egypt for the rapid opening of the Rafah crossing, calling the decision "appropriate" in light of the circumstances, and also thanked Turkey for its ongoing support of Palestine.
Also present at the conference was Quartet envoy Tony Blair, and a delegation of US officials including special envoy for the peace process George Mitchell.
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The Palestinian State and Institution Building Program Documents detailing the state and institution building program of the 13th Palestinian Government, including the overall plan and priority interventions for 2010.
The U.S. Commercial Service in Jerusalem strongly encourages American exporters wishing to market their goods in the West Bank to use local Palestinian agents and distributors. Using Israeli agents for Palestinian markets does not utilize local, Palestinian market expertise...read more
Excellent! Good to see that Palestinians are making a serious effort to welcome home Palestinian refugees to a real Palestinian state. HOWEVER the fact that Palestinian leadership is willing to welcome home all the Palestinian refugees to help build a real Palestinian state does not mean that Israel no longer has an obligation to comply with international law and respect basic human rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees legal and natural right to return to original homes and lands.
As part of a fair and just negotiated settlement to end the Israel/Palestine conflict with a two state solution Israel should also be welcoming home Palestinian refugees- in line with international law and multiple UN Resolutions regarding every refugee's very real right to return to original homes and lands, but obviously with the understanding that Palestinian refugees returning to Israel will be legally and officially Israeli.
Abbas' warm welcome for all Palestinian refugees is a welcome step forward towards real freedom and possibility for Palestine... Obviously hard choices are ahead for individual Palestinian refugees, but at least with the rise of a real Palestinian state they are already being offered better options than the current reality of being stuck in stateless limbo and impoverished refugee camps.
Delighted to see Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab pop up in your pages- but I do not like the way the Washington Post headlined his story, for I think that particular headline is misleading and distracting as ignores Kuttab's most important points as well as the importance of protecting what he refers to as the "fragile Palestinian-Israeli proximity talks that took U.S. envoy George Mitchell over a year to get started"
I am utterly and completely horrified and disgusted by Israel's commando attack on a humanitarian aid ship. I also think Israel's blockade of Gaza is and has been counterproductive and wrong- but that does not mean that armed Islamic militancy is right: Fatah, the PLO and serious secular resistance to Israel's ongoing crimes against the people of historic Palestine are being pushed off a cliff by Hamas supporters and apologists.
I do not agree with the Israelis who are urging the U.S. and Palestinians to include Hamas in peace efforts. I think it is obvious that Hamas could have and should have stepped down years ago in order to end Israel's punitive siege and illegal occupation of Palestinian land- or at least to help prove that Israel really has no intention of making peace with or for Palestine.
RE:Letters In response to: 
