In the course of a political argument with a neurofeedback therapist as to the virtues of Hugo Chavez, I was told that "the Jews should leave Venezuela". Are the Jews not true Venezuelans after centuries of residence? Guess not. Are we true British, Americans, or anything other than Jews? Probably not. So we belong to Israel, our ancient homeland. But I read in another psychotherapist's blog that Jews are distinguished as being the only people without a homeland, and that our identity is a collective atonement for the death of a great Egyptian in another land where we were guests. Of course, this presupposes we have an identity to start with. A little circular, I think.Of course, when we attach ourselves to Israel, we are told that it is not ours, because we are supplanting a group of people whose ancestors settled there after we, as a group, were kicked out.All this leads me to question who, or what I am. What I come up with, is that I am the nation-less soul (which I use figuratively, because I am an atheist) who belongs nowhere except in a land that I have no right to inhabit. The convenient Nowhere Man, whose butt is a convenient target for anyone afraid to kick his own. I am thus led to the following little bit of dogmatism:I am a Jew.The nation of Israel lives.To make any sense of this at all, I am a committed Zionist.Those who object, may take a flying f**k. Of course, if you choose to eliminate us (as you have repeatedly), you will have only yourselves to kick in the Butt. OUCH! If we choose to eliminate you, we will also have to kick our own selves in the Butt. DOUBLE OUCH!So, we might as well leave each other alone, and admit that ultimately, we are all one, under the greater umbrella of man. And try to conquer something else. Like Mars. We could all use the room, and reviving the spirit of mutual growth and exploration could benefit us all. After all, Medieval is just sooo last year, and hard as hell to spell.
Hello, I heard Dr. Isseldin Abuelaish, MD, MPH, speak here in the East Bay last Friday. He is the man whose daughters and niece were killed by Israeli bombs. He is the first doctor to practice in Israeli hospitals, a peace maker. He has asked for support for the establishment of a fund for women and female children in his family's name. He would like to get a meeting with Michelle Obama and talk with her about supporting his effort.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Tom
I'm not sure the French-Egyptian plan will hold unless a full lifting of the economic blockade (while excluding arms shipments) is also implemented. I think the conflict (this and the larger conflict) can be settled without a single drop of blood being shed if these steps were followed:
Step 1:
Israel announces a unilateral, partial, temporary week-long truce and an end to the blockade, but will reserve the right to bomb Qassam teams that are on the road or in the act. No buildings will be bombed. Full humanitarian supplies go in.
Step 2:
Next, through Syrian and or Egyptian intermediaries, Israel negotiates an 18-month truce with Hamas and Fatah to allow time to negotiate a final deal. Hamas takes full responsibility of stopping rocket attacks from Gaza and returning the IDF soldier. Israel ends overflights, drone flights, and control of borders and sea access - handing it all over to Abbas' PA. Any rocket that is launched from Gaza would result in a "fine" that is deducted from the PA's treasury. Israel withdraws its troops.
Step 3:
Fatah negotiates with Hamas' political wing to figure out how to unify - with some gesture that will be an acknowledgment that Hamas won elections in 2006. Failing agreement, there would be elections within 6 months. This would come after the Israeli elections, so there would be pressure to not elect hardliners which is likely to result in hardliners winning on the other side. This would proceed simultaneously with PA negotiations with Israel (and including Arab states as needed) that work on some amalgam of the Taba Plan, the Arab Peace Initiative and Geneva Accord. Both sides would determine the composition of a bipartisan committee of academics and psychologists that will, after a final deal is signed, determine how history textbooks should describe the conflict for the children of both nations. Standards on what is "acceptable dialogue" on TV and in newspapers may also be suggested, but with some deference to free speech. The Syrian track on Golan will continue in parallel, and a US-Iran-Lebanon-Hezbollah dialogue that will result in absorption of Hezbollah into the Lebanese army if Golan and Palestine are resolved.
Step 4:
Israel and the PA announce they will accept land formulas based on the Geneva Accord or some variation of it, based on the negotiations in Step 3. The refugee return level to Israel hasn't been specified. It should offer approximately the 10% (who still wish to live in a Jewish-majority Israeli state) of the 4 million refugees the right to do so, with priority given to first and second generation refugees. Unless the "return" to Israel proper is significant enough, about 400,000, it will not be a stable equilibrium and may allow Hamas and other extremist groups to continue underground on the emotional "right of return" angle. The rest of the 90% of refugees would be resettled in Palestine, and receive some compensation from US, EU and Israel for helping Israel remain mostly Jewish. The same level of compensation will be paid by Arab countries to the descendants of Jewish refugees from Arab lands who left their homes in the 1940s (or later, under duress). If property compensation formulas can be worked out as well, great. Refugees from both sides should be allowed to visit their old homes if they wish, for some nostalgia/closure. Israel would be free to financially incentivize Israeli Arabs to move to Palestine, but they'd be under no obligation to go. Both sides would need to ratify the agreements with a referendum in each territory within six months of signing. The refugee diaspora should also be part of the Pal referendum, to declaw the rejectionists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Accord (overview)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=349832 (Haaretz's special section and links)
http://www.geneva-accord.org/mainmenu/geneva-initiativeisrael-palestine-permanent-borders (final status maps after land swaps)
I believe something like this will be the eventual deal, even if it isn't signed next year. It may take another 10 - but it has to be generous enough to be stable. Otherwise we'll be left with a one state problem that Olmert, despite his many faults, well anticipated: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/929439.html
The first two steps can be easily finished in a week and the other two within six months of intense activity. The power lies with Obama to push this kind of a solution by out-smarting those in our establishment that may resist such a plan. Will he? No idea. But he could make a final deal happen by 2010 if he's smart about it. He'd win a Nobel by 2011 and get re-elected by 2012. Unless the economy's still in a recession!
I'd be interested in everyone's feedback and comments.
Mark
Dear Barack Obama
I would like to write to you about the ‘Celtic Tiger’ and what this could mean for peace in the Middle East . As you know, the Celtic Tiger was a period of rapid economic growth in Ireland . In just one decade, from the early 1990s to early 2000, Ireland was transformed from being one of the poorest countries in Europe to one of the richest. During exactly that time, the IRA announced a cessation of military operations. As a result, Ireland went from being a poor and violent country to a rich and peaceful country. It is not a big surprise that poverty brings violence and wealth brings peace. What is a surprise is that no one seems to be learning from this lesson. What caused the Celtic Tiger? This is debated but probably was a result low corporate tax rate and financial investment from the EU. The combination of these two factors increased the number of jobs and the income levels of the Irish population. What I would like to see is a similar program put into place to increase the economic environment of instable countries of the mid-East. This should start with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a territory with population of approximately 4 million, very similar to the population of Ireland . Programs that I would like to see would include: * Give businesses incentive to create jobs in Palestine.* Turn Palestine into a tax free industry zone. Offer Products produced in Palestine tax free import into Europe and the USA. * Offer US and European businesses that start companies and create jobs tax breaks on their US and European corporate taxes. Train Palestinians* Create grants to advance education in Palestine * Encourage US and European universities to offer low cost or free positions to qualified Palestinian students. * Encourage US and European universities to build academic centers in the area. Build the infrastructure* Make Palestine an IT hub. Improve internet, satellite and telecommunication infrastructure.* Build a center of excellence for regional IT experts to come to Palestine and create a Palestinian Silicone Valley".
By creating an economic hub in Palestine and improving the business and economic opportunities, the west could turn Palestine from a training ground for Hamas to a traning ground for Microsoft, Google and other IT giants. Let's turn Palestine into an Arabic Tiger.
Vietnam vet and former National Security Agency employee from Greencastle, Pennsylvania, explains why Hillary can't be effective as a peacemaker in the Middle East...and why we need Obama now...CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (1:35 MIN.)
THIS IS A POWERFUL, BRIEF & CONCISE ARGUMENT FOR OBAMA. I URGE YOU TO LISTEN & GET THIS MESSAGE TO PA.
Thanks to Lee Scott for calling in his support.
