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EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Weathering The Storm

Chica o

ELTON JOHN
& TIM RICE'S

destroyed as a Jewish state. They don't want peace.
When Lisa Hostein, editor of the New York City-based
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, asked what's next for Israel, the
rabbi replied, "It's important to look at the process that
was, analyze what went wrong and create a process that
will go better the next time."
Simplistic, I thought.
Then he summarized why we must never give up the
search for peace, no matter how bleak the outlook may
seem.
"We don't have so many alternatives," he said. "We are
here and this is where we're going to be. We're here with
our neighbors; there aren't going to be any other neighbors.
This is where our children are going to grow up, where our
grandchildren are going to grow up. We have no other
intentions. So we might as well try again."
This time, he said, we must get a grip on fanatical reli-
gious fundamentalism, which teaches Palestinian children
to hate Jews and take their land. "Somehow," he said, "we
must create a different atmosphere and, at the same time,
create a new political process. It's difficult. We're limited.
But I don't think we halie any other options."

wenty months into the latest Palestinian uprising,
the mood on the streets of Israel is one of hope,
not despair.
So says Rabbi Michael Melchior, deputy min-
ister of foreign affairs under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Rabbi Melchior remains unspooked by the deadly intifada
sanctioned by Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat
and other Arab terrorists.
"We are in a situation of a quite heavy storm," he said in
response via telephone hookup to my
opening question at a June 6 press confer-
ence in Illinois.
I could almost feel the lapping of storm-
tossed waves. The dialogue was that thought
provoking, although I didn't walk away
with high hopes for a lasting peace in the
region any time soon.
The seemingly daily funerals of terror-
ROBERT A. attack victims have taken their toll on
Israelis, but the backbone of the Jewish
SKLAR
state is far from broken, Rabbi Melchior
Editor
It's A Give-And-Take
said convincingly. "I think Israeli society is
He's right: We've got to change the culture and the think-
very much in agreement that we won't let terror break us
ing of the. Palestinians, but we need world opinion to shift
down. We have to fight the terror," he said.
our way if we want that to happen.
The rabbi spoke from Jerusalem to 30 print and online
"Our fight is against terror," Rabbi Melchior said. "It's
representatives attending the annual editorial and business
not against the Palestinian people or their desire for inde-
conference of the American Jewish Press
pendence — as long as that independence is not at
Association at the Omni Orrington Hotel in
the expense of our existence."
Evanston, a Chicago suburb.
But make no mistake, he said: Israel may agree
The discussion took place the day after a
to vast concessions in land and lifestyle in exchange
Palestinian driving a car packed with explosives
for a "real peace," but there's a certain line it won't
pulled beside a bus in northern Israel and deto-
cross with the Palestinians.
nated them. Seventeen Israelis died and at least
"They cannot have both a state. of Palestine in
38 were hurt when flames engulfed the bus.
the West Bank and Gaza, and also in the State of
Many of the victims were soldiers.
Israel, which is really what you'd have under the
Rabbi Melchior, chairman of Merimad, a mod-
code words, 'right of return' [of Arab refugees to
em-Orthodox political party aligned with One
Israel]. That, there is no willingness to grant," he
Rabbi Melchior
Israel, acknowledged the lack of agreement on
said.
how to solve the suicide bombings and sniper
That's why there's no way current borders will
attacks that have claimed at least 525 Israelis
move without a negotiated agreement, he said.
since September 2000. "All the polls show that Israelis
"We're ready to make borders that are decent and that give
want peace and are willing to sacrifice a lot for it," he said.
the Palestinians a possibility of creating their own future,
"This is part of the absurdity of the situation."
in their own territory," he said.
I don't know why the Palestinians won't nibble at that
offer — unless, of course, their goal is to drive the Jews
Knowing Reality
into the sea.
Arguing that Israelis and Palestinians in the neighborhoods
"What's going on now is not giving the Palestinians any
aren't as far apart on achieving peace as their leadership,
hope,"
Rabbi Melchior said. "They're constantly and total-
Rabbi Melchior said "The frustration is that we can't get
ly
broken
down. They'd be on the verge of starvation
there because of the hatred on each side, the terror attacks
except
for
the help that is coming from the outside. They
on us and the lack of leadership, mostly on the other side,
cannot go out of their cities. They can't go to school or to
but maybe also a good part on our side."
work. This is what the terror has created."
In a welcome moment, he was calling for the power of
Like the rabbi, I'm convinced it all starts with installing
the people to halt the Palestinian terror and inspire sincere
new
Palestinian leadership — "responsible leadership that
peace talks, where Israel would compromise if it believed it
will
lead
to a better future.
had a partner at the table.
"All
the
rest," he said, "is open to negotiations."
He affirmed my sense that the terrorists haven't crushed
I
also
believe
that real peace won't come unless other
the Israeli will to sustain the Jewish homeland. But, as he
Free
World
nations
stand proudly with America and
noted, the constant threat of attack has made "it difficult
England at Israel's side — even the European countries so
to see the light at the end of the struggle."
riddled with "new" anti-Semitism, like France, Belgium
Rabbi Melchior, also international director of the Elie
and Germany.
Wiesel Foundation, was making it crystal clear why Jews in
As Rabbi Melchior so succinctly put it: "It's the responsi-
the disapora must reach out to Israelis economically, emo-
bility
of the civilized world to help us." ❑
tionally and spiritually: militant Arab groups want Israel

Al DA

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6/14

2002

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