SPECIAL
COMMENTARY

PRISONERS OF HOPE

from page 31

First Union Securities is please to announce that

The Gildenberg Investment Group

preclude a peace agreement at a later
time. Such damaging steps include the
expansion of settlements and the
building of roads and installations
that would render a contiguous Pales-
tinian state impossible.
Is Ariel Sharon capable of being
such a prime minister? I do not know,
and I dare say no one does. Accord-
ingly, those who care for peace ought
now encourage him to hold open the
door to a negotiated settlement.
We ought also remind ourselves
that peace is plainly not the only
pressing issue the State and people of
Israel face at this time. Because of our
commitment to tikkun olam and the
prophetic vision of our people, the
Jewish community is particularly con-
cerned with problems of poverty, dis-
crimination and inequality.
Economic justice, equality in edu-
cation, equality for women, Ethiopian
and Sephardic Jews and Israeli Arabs,
religious freedom and human rights
are all worthy and important causes
that the Israeli government and many
thousands of committed Israelis are
working to address.
The unequal status of the Pales-
tinian citizens of Israel is of particu-
lar concern. During the campaign,
Sharon made some very heartening
and hopeful comments about their
situation. He said he would seek "a
full partnership with the Palestinian
population of Israel" and work to
promote their full equality in Israeli
society. I applaud his words and
Door To Peace
hope his government's agenda and
Nonetheless, we must not despair. A
his own future efforts reflect these
peace that is not in sight now will
attitudes.
surely one day come to pass.
The standing of Israeli Arabs in the
Absent peace, the land of Israel will
spheres of education, economics, poli-
become a Bosnia: 10-million Jews and
tics and religion is deeply troubling.
Arabs sharing a small piece of territo-
Even though Arabs represent nearly
ry, with no lines to separate them,
20 percent of the Israeli population,
engaged in never-ending violence and
an Israeli Arab has never served as a
bloodshed. Eventually, I believe, the
minister in a cabinet or as the head of
Palestinian leadership, prodded by the
an Israeli university. Both symbolic
international community and the
and pragmatic steps need to be taken
pressing needs of its own people, will
to address their situation.
recognize and accept the premise of
Our tradition teaches us "to seek
one land with two states, for two peo-
peace and pursue it" and "justice, jus-
ples.
tice, thou shalt pursue."
Therefore, what Israel needs right
Whether Prime Minister Sharon
now is not so much a peacemaker, but
holds
the door open or closes it, we in
a doorman: one who will keep the
the
American
Jewish community must
door open for peace. It needs a prime
persist in a special relationship that
minister who is committed to security
carries with it special responsibilities.
for its citizens and to an end to vio-
Chief among those responsibilities is
lence, and who will at the same time
to do whatever we can to advance
find ways to reduce tension with the
peace and justice, Israel's best chance
Palestinians and to communicate a
for security, and — to borrow a
desire for a settlement.
phrase — to keep hope alive. There is
Surely it needs a prime minister
no shame in being ever prisoners of
who will refrain from steps that would
hope. ❑
incite the Palestinian population and

both the right and the left expanded
settlements, and thereby undermined
the principles on which Oslo was
based. We are aware of the suffering
of the Palestinian people, and of the
degradation and cruelty that has
sometimes resulted from Israeli policy
in the territories. We know of the
occasional overreaction of Israeli mili-
tary forces in responding to Palestin-
ian violence.
Still, what is most important is
this: at Camp David, Ehud Barak
offered the Palestinians a state on
exceedingly generous terms, and they
chose to reject it out of hand, refused
to use it as an incentive for further
and more detailed bargaining.

Our tradition
teaches us "to
seek peace and
pursue it" and
,‘j
ustice, j ustice,
thou shalt
pursue."

Alan A. Gildenberg

Managing Director — Investment Officer

Sheri Gildenberg

Financial Advisor

Edward R. Gildenberg

Investment Associate

has joined our

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FORTHCOMING THE WHOLE

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