Yet, I received little response. I don't know what most of you think and feel about what's happening to us (who we are allowing ourselves to become).
My friend, colleage, and favorite tour guide, Walter Zanger may be close to identifying how I feel, but, he is not correct when he suggests that I assume that our "unilateral withdrawal will solve the problem". Though a variety of unilateral actions may help. I hold no great expectations of, nor warm feelings for the PLO (and it's related organizations), and I know that Arab (and Muslim) hostility runs deep (and far back in history) - much of this I learned long ago and had, regularly, reinforced by Walter.
What I hoped seeing the photograph would accomplish was to hold up an unpleasant mirror to ourselves. Seeing that image, I had hoped, would help us focus our attention on ending - not extending, the occupation.
Even tacit encouragement (as it appears from the photo) extends the occupation.
Perhaps a bit of brainstorming wouldn't hurt.
I (as I expect many of us) will speak to my congregation this year about Israel - the threats to it and to all Jews (through the attempt to delegitimize Zionism). I will talk to my congregants about the need to personalize Israel. They need to be personally involved because their lives are at stake. I will share with them person-to-person efforts (NGOs) that can (and do) make a difference. Am I disappointed that there are not more (any?) of these that are initiated from the Palestinian side? Yes. Does that matter in the immediate here and now? No. We must do what we can do.
I think a good beginning is the Olive Trees For Peace campaign of the Rabbis for Human Rights (directed by our own Arik Ascherman [NY '89] - who was, by the way, slandered by David Bedein (about whom I will not speak/write lest I... ))
Other efforts worth our money and more exposure to our congregants (offered here as resources for your congregations):
Interns for Peace (the work of another of our colleagues Bruce M. Cohen [C '73]
I remember in the dark days of the war against Vietnam (1971), we circulated a People's Peace Treaty. Perhaps we could work on a similar document that would be signed by individual Israelis and Palestinians who would commit themselves to living in peace together. I've posted the text on my Web Site, if anyone wants to read what was attempted a generation ago in a different context:
I don't harbor any illusions that the People's Peace Treaty all by itself brought peace to Vietnam. However, I know that, in it's own small way, it played a role (and not only by assuaging the guilt of those who proposed it). Every effort of people working with people who share a desire to live in peace will counter the efforts of those who demean others.
I'm open to more ideas. We certainly have enough creative people here who can do better than I.
Last updated 10 September, 2001