WEST BANK - A masked Palestinian holding a national flag runs past
burning tires in the village of Kufr Qaddum during a protest against a
nearby Jewish settlement of Qadomim. AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh
Knowing how successful Israel has been in winning over mainstream
American support and sympathy, it makes sense that Friedman would
build an argument for ending the Israel-Palestine conflict around
the idea that it is crucial for Israel's well being to help end the
Israel-Palestine conflict with all its many negative ramifications.
However I think, from an earnestly pro-Palestine perceptive, a much
stronger argument can and should be made that Israel will survive
and adapt to changing times no matter what, but right now the
prognosis for Palestine is not so good.
The window closing on a two state solution leaves Israel with a
large house featuring many other open windows and doors leading out
into pretty gardens, quaint ruins, well funded museums,
international airports and plenty of space for savvy loyal empowered
Israeli citizens (comfortably ensconced in gated communities) who
know how to earn a living in a global economy.... whereas
Palestinians will have no jobs, no passports, no security and no
escape from Islamists and jihadists' bombs.
The 2013 Citizens Medal will recognize “citizens of the United States of
America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country
or their fellow citizens.” Executive Order 11494 (Nov. 13, 1969). It is
generally recognized as the second highest civilian award of our
Government.
Dr. Asali first and foremost sets a good example. He came to this
country as a Palestinian refugee and has spent his life becoming a
successful and loyal American citizen.
Dr. Ziad J Asali's primary job and career was as a physician. A very
successful physician. When he retired he could have chosen to live a
private life of leisure, enjoying the pleasures of a loving family
and respect from many friends and peers. But instead he stepped up
to do something much harder than it might appear- diplomacy for
Palestine and peace. Dr. Asali founded the NGO The American Task
Force on Palestine in 2003 http://www.americantaskforce.org/ in
hopes of generating mainstream American interest in supporting a two
state solution to once and for all end the Israel-Palestine
conflict. Describe the impact that your nominee’s service has had on individuals and/or communities: The challenges of advocating mainstream support for Palestine here
in America are huge. Many who know and care about Palestine have
been lead astray by cynicism and negativity and bad arguments. Far
too many wrongly believe that Israel should be or will be destroyed.
Some foolishly become puppets and pawns for Islamists and
anti-America radicals pretending to care about Palestine. Few have
the strength of character and the courage and the wisdom to be both
pro-Palestine as well as pro-America. Dr Asali is very much both
pro-Palestine as well as pro-America.
Dr Asali's leadership and his organization offer a safe harbor and good
advice and direction for Americans like me who are sincerely
concerned about the very real plight of the Palestinians and
American investments abroad. His focus is on empowering public
support for state building efforts for Palestine and negotiations so
that
Israel and Palestine will be able to live side by side in peace and
security.
I'd also nominate ATFP's Senior Research Fellow Hussein Ibish for
the citizen's medal- but Ibish's brilliant work and outreach are his
career, a career made possible in part because of Dr. Ziad Asali's valiant efforts and organization.
"What President Obama has issued is a momentous challenge to the
Israeli and Palestinian peoples to find ways to work together to
translate this vision of peace and prosperity into a reality, and
create a future based on security, freedom and prosperity. Having
been reassured by President Obama of the full support of the United
States, it is up to people of courage on all sides to work to
realize the President's vision. And it is up to the friends and
supporters of Israel and Palestine in the United States and around
the world to play their part in bringing this vision to reality."
Ziad Asali Warmly Welcomes President Obama's Historic Jerusalem
Speech
Ending the Israel-Palestine conflict is a win-win situation, and
negotiations are the only way to get there.
Right now we might be witness to the birth of an independent,
economically viable, diplomatically savvy, sovereign Palestinian
state and an inspiring era of peace and progress for the people of
the Middle East: A triumphant turning point towards a golden rule
way of life where fair and just laws and accountability and full
respect for universal basic human rights and international law help
guide better choices large and small.
I hope so, because really the only other option is the torturous
disfiguring, long term suffering and eventual demise of Palestine.
Angry memes, snarly cynicism, protest rallies, religious extremism,
tire burning and stone throwing will not provide jobs or help raise
funds for UNWRA and the Palestinian refugees.
".... it being clearly understood that nothing
shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious
rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine..."
The
Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you
"Where, after all, do
universal human rights begin? In small places, close
to home - so close and so small that they cannot be
seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world
of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives
in; the school or college he attends; the factory,
farm, or office where he works. Such are the places
where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice,
equal opportunity, equal dignity without
discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning
there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without
concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home,
we shall look in vain for progress in the larger
world."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Palestinian
refugees must be given the option to exercise their
right of return (as well as receive compensation for
their losses arising from their dispossession and
displacement) though refugees may prefer other options
such as: (i) resettlement in third countries, (ii)
resettlement in a newly independent Palestine (even
though they originate from that part of Palestine
which became Israel) or (iii) normalization of their
legal status in the host country where they currently
reside. What is important is that individual refugees
decide for themselves which option they prefer – a
decision must not be imposed upon them.
UN Resolution 194 from 1948 :
The
refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace
with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the
earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be
paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for
loss of or damage to property which, under principles of
international law or in equity, should be made good by the
Governments or authorities responsible.
Emanating from
the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution
to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for
the parties, the council:
1. Requests
Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace
is its strategic option as well.
2. Further calls
upon Israel to affirm:
I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the
territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan
Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining
occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.
II- Achievement of a just solution to the
Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance
with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.
III- The acceptance of the establishment
of a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the
Palestinian territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
3. Consequently,
the Arab countries affirm the following:
I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict
ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and
provide security for all the states of the region.
II- Establish normal relations with
Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.
4. Assures the
rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict
with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.
5. Calls upon
the government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this
initiative in order to safeguard the prospects for peace and
stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries
and Israel to live in peace and good neighbourliness and provide
future generations with security, stability and prosperity.
6. Invites the
international community and all countries and organisations to
support this initiative.
7. Requests the
chairman of the summit to form a special committee composed of
some of its concerned member states and the secretary general of
the League of Arab States to pursue the necessary contacts to
gain support for this initiative at all levels, particularly
from the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States
of America, the Russian Federation, the Muslim states and the
European Union.
[AS
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U.S.
President Barack Obama's speech in Jerusalem was without question the strongest
ever made by a senior American politician on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was
plainly designed to speak directly to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples over
the heads of their political leaderships. It was an exercise in public
diplomacy par excellence, intended to change the tone and atmosphere, and
public perceptions of Obama himself, presumably as an adjunct to actual
diplomatic efforts to lay the groundwork for eventually resuming negotiations.
The
psychological, communication and political skill that was marshaled to give the
speech its maximum impact with public opinion was quite extraordinary, and
stands in contrast to some miscalculations Obama made about Israeli and
Palestinian perceptions during his first term. By systematically downplaying
expectations for his trip, Obama made the power of his speech and the boldness
of some of the language and positions he staked out -- particularly regarding
the realities Palestinians face under Israeli occupation -- surprising and
therefore all the more striking.
Obama
made the first day of his trip an extended exercise in telling the Israeli
public everything it could possibly want to hear from an American president,
ranging from "undying bonds of friendship" to robust reiterations of
security commitment and a much yearned-for acknowledgment of the long Jewish
history in the land. In retrospect, it's clear that what looked like public
outreach bordering on pandering was, in fact, designed to transform Israeli
perceptions of Obama himself in order to prepare them for some of the hard
truths he was preparing to deliver the next day.
What
Obama has done is to reassure and challenge Israelis and Palestinians alike. To
Israelis, he reiterated America's undying support and commitment to Israel's
security. But he confronted them with the fact that "the only way for
Israel to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the
realization of an independent and viable Palestine." He reassured
Palestinians that the United States is not walking away from the effort to
create an independent Palestinian state. But he told them they must recognize
that "Israel will be a Jewish state" and challenged them, and the
rest of the Arab world, to begin to normalize their relations with Israel...READ MORE
U.S.
President Barack Obama poses for a picture with young Palestinian
dancers after watching them perform during his visit to the Al Bireh
Youth Center in Ramallah March 21, 2013. Photo Credit: Reuters
ATFP Warmly Welcomes President Obama's Historic Jerusalem Speech
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2013 - 12:00am
Washington
DC, March 21 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) warmly
welcomed President Barack Obama's historic speech to the people of
Israel and the broader Middle East region delivered in Jerusalem today.
The President reassured the Israeli people of the "unbreakable bonds of
friendship" between their country and the United States, and emphasized
the American commitment to their security. He praised Israel's
achievements, prosperity, and "thriving democracy." However, he issued
significant challenges to Israeli society about its vision for its own
future and that of the Palestinian people, and to the Palestinian people
and the rest of the Arab world about their relationship with Israel.
President
Obama noted that, "Politically, given the strong bipartisan support for
Israel in America, the easiest thing for me to do would be to put this
issue aside, and express unconditional support for whatever Israel
decides to do." But, he continued, he nonetheless wanted to make three
crucial points.
First,
he insisted that "peace is necessary" and "is the only path to true
security." The President told the audience that "the only way for Israel
to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the
realization of an independent and viable Palestine," and he warned that
defense technology is no substitute for peace.
Second,
President Obama insisted that, "peace is just" and "the Palestinian
people’s right to self-determination and justice must also be
recognized." He asked the Israeli people to put themselves in the
Palestinians' shoes and "look at the world through their eyes." "Neither
occupation nor expulsion is the answer," President Obama insisted,
declaring that, "Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their
own land." "I believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas
and Prime Minister Fayyad," he told his Israeli audience, citing
institution-building and security enforcement in the West Bank as
tangible achievements demonstrating this.
Third,
he asserted his conviction that "peace is possible." He called on "the
Arab World to take steps toward normalized relations with Israel," and
on the Palestinians to recognize that "Israel will be a Jewish state."
But, he insisted, "Israelis must recognize that continued settlement
activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an
independent Palestine must be viable– that real borders will have to be
drawn."
President
Obama urged the peoples of the region to press their leaders for
progress on peace, saying they "will not take risks if the people do not
demand that they do. You must create the change that you want to see."
He also cited prosperity as a key factor for securing the future for
Israel, the Palestinians and the rest of the Middle East, declaring, "I
believe that all of that potential for prosperity can be enhanced with
greater security, and a lasting peace."
ATFP
President Ziad J. Asali noted, "In this historic speech, President
Obama both reassured and challenged Israelis and Palestinians. He
reiterated the necessity for, and the vital American national security
interest in, peace. And he reaffirmed to the Palestinian people that
their quest for independence and statehood remains central to the
American foreign policy agenda." Dr. Asali said, "President Obama's
speech opens horizons for security, peace and prosperity across the
region." He added that, "What President Obama has issued is a momentous
challenge to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to find ways to work
together to translate this vision of peace and prosperity into a
reality, and create a future based on security, freedom and prosperity.
Having been reassured by President Obama of the full support of the
United States, it is up to people of courage on all sides to work to
realize the President's vision. And it is up to the friends and
supporters of Israel and Palestine in the United States and around the
world to play their part in bringing this vision to reality."
[AS
ALWAYS
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TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN
FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and
conversations) THAT EMPOWER
DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE &
PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]
The
American Task Force on Palestine's mission is to advocate for a
negotiated end-of-conflict agreement that is in the American national
interest and allows for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live
side-by-side in peace and security.
ATFP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.
Description
ATFP
seeks to build strong working relationships with government agencies,
think tanks, NGOs, and the media. It has developed lines of
communication with the US, Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian
governments to pursue its policy advocacy goals. ATFP has also engaged
in humanitarian fundraising to support health and education in the
Palestinian territories.
ATFP is strictly opposed to all acts
of violence against civilians. The Task Force advocates the development
of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized
and neutral in armed conflicts.
Please help sustain ATFP's work and independent decision-making by donating here.
Our Library of Congress
has a treasure trove of photographs honoring and exploring American
culture and history, as well as intriguing glimpses of faraway
lands... like historic Palestine. Reading Palestine's Mustafa Barghouti in
today's New York Times, I can not help but think of the
photographs I have seen- images available to view because for
generations now Americans and American institutions have created,
preserved, archived and freely shared them.
UNWRA has many more recent photos of Palestinians, documenting the
Nakba of 1948 as well as 1967, but their full gallery of older
photographs is no longer so easy to find online. I suspect one too
many extremist misused the UNWRA photos to generate hate and more
conflict rather than support efforts to actually end the
Israel-Palestine conflict, or at least help raise funds to feed and
educate the children under UNWRA's care.
There are many dishonest brokers making the Israel-Palestine
conflict worse... Obama is not one of them. Be that as it may
however, whatever Obama does or says on this historic trip to
Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, what really matters most is how
people on all sides respond. One can be a cynic and feed the
negativity, add into the blame games and angry protest rallies and
nay saying, or one can help find the strength and courage to call
for peace and careful conscientious negotiations to actually end the
Israel-Palestine conflict.
".... it being clearly understood that nothing
shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious
rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine..."
The
Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you
"Where, after all, do
universal human rights begin? In small places, close to
home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on
any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the
individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the
school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or
office where he works. Such are the places where every
man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal
opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.
Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little
meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to
uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for
progress in the larger world."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Palestinian
refugees must be given the option to exercise their
right of return (as well as receive compensation for
their losses arising from their dispossession and
displacement) though refugees may prefer other options
such as: (i) resettlement in third countries, (ii)
resettlement in a newly independent Palestine (even
though they originate from that part of Palestine which
became Israel) or (iii) normalization of their legal
status in the host country where they currently reside.
What is important is that individual refugees decide for
themselves which option they prefer – a decision must
not be imposed upon them.
UN Resolution 194 from 1948 : The refugees wishing to
return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours
should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date,
and that compensation should be paid for the property of those
choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property
which, under principles of international law or in equity,
should be made good by the Governments or authorities
responsible.
Emanating from
the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to
the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the
parties, the council:
1. Requests Israel
to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its
strategic option as well.
2. Further calls
upon Israel to affirm:
I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the
territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan
Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining
occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.
II- Achievement of a just solution to the
Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with
U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.
III- The acceptance of the establishment of
a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian
territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
3. Consequently,
the Arab countries affirm the following:
I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict
ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide
security for all the states of the region.
II- Establish normal relations with Israel
in the context of this comprehensive peace.
4. Assures the
rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict
with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.
5. Calls upon the
government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this initiative in
order to safeguard the prospects for peace and stop the further
shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live
in peace and good neighbourliness and provide future generations
with security, stability and prosperity.
6. Invites the
international community and all countries and organisations to
support this initiative.
7. Requests the
chairman of the summit to form a special committee composed of
some of its concerned member states and the secretary general of
the League of Arab States to pursue the necessary contacts to gain
support for this initiative at all levels, particularly from the
United Nations, the Security Council, the United States of
America, the Russian Federation, the Muslim states and the
European Union.
The
American Task Force on Palestine's mission is to advocate for a
negotiated end-of-conflict agreement that is in the American national
interest and allows for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live
side-by-side in peace and security.
ATFP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.
Description
ATFP
seeks to build strong working relationships with government agencies,
think tanks, NGOs, and the media. It has developed lines of
communication with the US, Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian
governments to pursue its policy advocacy goals. ATFP has also engaged
in humanitarian fundraising to support health and education in the
Palestinian territories.
ATFP is strictly opposed to all acts
of violence against civilians. The Task Force advocates the development
of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized
and neutral in armed conflicts.
Please help sustain ATFP's work and independent decision-making by donating here.
The United States is the leading provider of bilateral assistance to the
Palestinians. We are working closely with the Palestinians to help them
build the governance structures and the economy of a future state. We
do this by working with all levels of government, with the private
sector and with civil society. And we do so in a way that benefits not
just Palestinians, but Israelis as well. From developing water
infrastructure to connecting Palestinian ICT firms with Israeli
companies to working with the justice sector on critical rule of law
matters, we are bringing together Palestinians and Israelis to address
important issues of mutual concern.
Our work with the PA helps it deliver basic services to the
Palestinian people. Since 1994 the United States has helped the
Palestinian health system offer improved emergency services, enhanced
diagnosis and treatment, and improved administration including an
integrated health information system; and ensured that more than a
million Palestinians had access to clean drinking water. When people see
that their public institutions work—when a village gets piped water for
the first time or a businessman interacts with a well-trained broker
who makes the customs process easier—this helps build confidence in the
institutions of government.
This work is helping to build a more democratic, stable and secure
region, which benefits Palestinians, Israelis and Americans. The
interest shown by the people who came up to me following the
presentation who wanted to engage further was inspiring. It
demonstrated the value in USAID continuing to share the story of our
support for Palestinian institution building, as one part of the
two-track approach, that coupled with resumed political negotiations,
can help lead to the establishment a Palestinian state living side by
side in peace and security with Israel.
I come from there and I have memories Born as mortals are, I have a mother And a house with many windows, I have brothers, friends, And a prison cell with a cold window. Mine is the wave, snatched by sea-gulls, I have my own view, And an extra blade of grass. Mine is the moon at the far edge of the words, And the bounty of birds, And the immortal olive tree. I walked this land before the swords Turned its living body into a laden table.
I come from there. I render the sky unto her mother When the sky weeps for her mother. And I weep to make myself known To a returning cloud. I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood So that I could break the rule. I learnt all the words and broke them up To make a single word: Homeland
[AS
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TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN
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What the city of Haifa taught me
It has crossed my mind on several
occasions during my lifetime that Haifa is the city I could one day live
in. Diverse, lively and has a great beach.
After all, I
grew up with countless stories about Haifa’s golden days pre-1948: The
hustle and bustle of the Horse and Carriage Square (Sa7et El 7anatir)
and the life of comfort Palestinians lived there before they became
refugees. I’ve heard stories about restaurants, picnics, weddings, and
graduations among others. Always happy memories of a life lived before
it was harshly interrupted in 1948 by the establishment of the state of
Israel. I don’t recall any sad or challenging stories prior to the Nakba
(Calamity of 1948 as Arabs refer to it). It always seemed to me that
life was perfect then and in the blink of an eye it just ceased to
exist. I’ve seen actual keys to homes left behind and I’ve read
documents of ownership for businesses, land and properties. I’ve seen
identity cards with Palestine listed as a country before Palestinians
were reduced to refugee numbers on UNRWA ration cards.
Then the
awakening came at my first meeting with a current Haifa resident more
than twenty years ago. My first impression was disbelief that an Arab,
Christian-Maronite actually resides in Haifa after all the atrocities
committed and the complete takeover of the land and displacement of its
original people. “I know people from there,” I said. I listed all the
locations that grew dear to my heart over the years: Saint Elias Church,
Mount Carmel, College Des Freres school, Selizian School, Wadi
al-Nasnas... To my surprise, they were all still there and flourishing
with fresh new generations of Palestinians. I later met a Jewish family
from Haifa and got to know a different side of the story of the majestic
city. I learned about the Hadar area, Hertzel Street and Ben Gurion
Boulevard. From the Druze of Haifa I learned about Isifya and Daliya
village on Mount Carmel. Not to forget the Muslim community of Haifa
which can be found everywhere in the Arab sections and the very
prominent Baha’I faith with its majestic gardens and Abbas Dome, one of
the most beautiful gardens and architectural structure in the world.
Common denominator
For some reason, Haifa was
always a common denominator and it kept creeping up into my world, as
the example of how integrated living between -- not just Arabs and
Israelis would look like -- but also how the harmony among Christians,
Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Baha’is and Jews can be exemplified.
During a recent visit to this great city, I learned that indeed Haifa is
a symbol of tolerance and co-existence. Palestinians, while treated as
second-class citizens at many levels, have mastered ways to utilize the
system to their advantage and participate effectively in all aspects of
life towards the betterment of their Arab heritage and Palestinian
identity. Haifa taught me that a rightful cause doesn’t die if people
keep working hard at improving themselves and forging ahead in their
life without succumbing to intimidation or bullying. In Haifa I learned
that most people live their life just like any other place on earth. As
Haifa blogger Abeer Khshiboon told me, “Here, we live together and we
deal with each other on a daily basis. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict
is not part of our daily conversation or woes.” Khshiboon and many other
young Palestinians are very attached to their Palestinian identity and
they project it well. Highly intellectual, she speaks both Arabic and
Hebrew fluently, fully integrated in her society but knows very well the
limits and challenges being a Palestinian woman come with and lives her
life accordingly.
A lesson learned
People who still believe in the
military struggle as the only way to Palestine should learn a lesson
from Haifa. Peaceful Palestinians have found a way to protect the land
and safeguard it despite all the pressures and abuses. By doing so,
those Palestinians are growing demographically and doing well socially
creating one of the biggest threats to the state of Israel. It is a
threat that is much louder and much more difficult to crush than any
military attack.
I know a little boy who was baptized in the Saint Elias Maronite Church
in Carmel some seventy years ago. He might never see that church again,
but it must be comforting for him to know that it is still standing and
brings together Muslims, Christians, Jews and Druze for worship and for
lessons in co-existence only Haifa can offer!
----------
Multi-award-winning journalist Octavia Nasr served as CNN’s senior
editor of Middle Eastern affairs, and is regarded as one of the pioneers
of the use of social media in traditional media. She moved to CNN in
1990, but was dismissed in 2010 after tweeting her sorrow at the death
of Hezbollah’s Mohammed Fadlallah. Nasr now runs her own firm, Bridges
Media Consulting, whose main aim is to help companies better leverage
the use of social networks. Twitter: @OctaviaNasr
