"They are causing a lot of damage to the
State of Israel and the future of Israel.
"While it's very difficult to argue
with peaceful, legal, non-violent
protest, I told Adam he needs to find a
mode of rhetoric so as not to antago-
nize his Jewish audience and become
controversial."
Later, Shapiro referred to settlers in
the "occupied territories" as "war crim-
inals," then announced: "Occupation
breeds suicide bombers."
This time, Ariela Shani confronted
the couple with the suggestion that
they condemn suicide bombers in a
more definitive manner.
"She told them, `Say you condemn
them; don't put a but on the end of
the sentence,' " Asa Shani said later.
"I doti't condone it, but the people
do it because they are helpless," said
bride-to-be Arraf, 26.
1r
Shapiro referred
to settlers in the
occupied territories"
as "war criminals,"
then announced:
"Occupation breeds
suicide bombers."
CC
Firsthand Experience
Shapiro's interest in the Middle East
led to study of Arabic in Yemen, and
later involvement in Seeds of Peace.
He and Arraf have been living in
Ramallah for the last several months.
"We saw horrific things," Shapiro
said. "This is a war on a people; an
entire population is locked up."
Arraf said: "They are closed in, in
the dark, with no TV, no food. But •
still I saw Israelis welcomed into the
Palestinian homes even when they
couldn't go out for food or medicine."
Shapiro picked up on her thoughts.
"We use these experiences to influence
the future, he said. "I see crystal clear
when I look forward. The Oslo Peace
years failed. They tried peace and they
tried to end oppression secondarily.
We can't establish peace if one people
- is still oppressed, and the Palestinian
people are oppressed on a daily basis.
"Every Israeli and every American
Jew who wants to see peace and
security in Israel must know if you
give money to Jewish federations to
VIEWS AND VOWS on page 21
32940 Middlebelt at 14 Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI
1-888.844.3916 • www.greis.com
tTN
5/31
2002
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