Other Views

Optimism Amid Disengagement

JUDI AND BRAD SCHRAM
Community View

I

n July, we returned for our sec-
ond visit to Israel and the David
Citadel Hotel. As we guided our
directionally impaired cab driver to
the hotel, we sensed that the atmos-
phere in the country had changed dra-
matically since our previous April
2004 Miracle Mission hosted by the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit. _
At that time, we perceived a cau-
tious optimism that had not been felt
since the dark days when the
Palestinian intifada permeated a coun-
try living with the threat of violence.
However, this time, the optimism was
more palpable.
The banners hanging near the
entrance of the David Citadel hotel,
just outside the walls of the Old City
of Jerusalem, were a subtle symbol of
the change that had occurred. One
banner greeted us, members of a 36-
person entourage, national leaders of
the Anti-Defamation League; another
announced a bar mitzvah celebration.
Upon entering the lobby, the "tumult"
of activity was exhilarating and her-
alded a resurgence of tourism and
optimism that had rekindled since the
death of Palestinian Authority
President Yasser Arafat and the onset
of the hudna, a fragile truce.
Led by Abraham Foxman, ADL
national director, we commenced a
whirlwind week of briefings and dia-
logues with military and political lead-
ers from Israel, the Palestinian
Authority and Jordan, including
Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert, Vice Premier Shimon Peres
and President Moshe Katsav and,
most surprisingly, Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
(Abu Mazen). The main focus of each
presentation and follow-up dialogue
remained the same: disengagement.
The tensions remained high during
discussions regarding the unilateral
decision of the Israeli Knesset to with-
draw its fervent settlers from Gaza
and four settlements in the northern
sector of the West Bank. The country

in.

8/25
2005

58

Judi and Brad Schram live in West
Bloomfield. She is chair of the Anti-
Defamation League Michigan Region.
H is co-chair of Michigan Region
ADL Task Force on Anti-Semitism and
a local attorney.

Anti-Defamation League leaders Brad and Judi Schram of Wiest Bloomfield meet with
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

seemed divided between the
omnipresent orange banners waved by
the strident minority anti-disengage-
ment forces and the blue banners of
the pro-disengagement majority that
felt Israel must initiate a breakthrough
in the Israeli-Palestinian impasse that
had plagued the region since its
founding almost 60 years ago.

Inside Ramallah

The much-anticipated meeting with
President Abbas was undoubtedly one
of the highpoints of the trip. For secu-
rity purposes, we disembarked from
our very familiar Israeli tour bus to
board an East Jerusalem bus. The
Ramallah checkpoint was teeming
with Palestinians trying to enter Israel
and Arab Israelis trying to enter
Ramallah. The Ramallah side of the
border was like a bazaar with
makeshi f t kiosks and waiting taxis.
The tensions were high as we navigat-
ed through the blighted streets of this
once-international city.
As we traversed the entrance to the
war-torn P.A. compound, we viewed
Arafats' glass-enclosed memorial.
Several cameramen and photographers
were filming and photographing our
group. Security seemed relatively lax
as we were hurried into the conference
room adjoining Abbas' office suite.
Abbas entered and shook hands
with each one of the ADL delegates
before taking his seat. He looked

"presidential" in a suit and tie and
greeted us in an accented, but very
fluent English. His presentation
seemed extremely open and forthright
and left us with the impression that
he is sincere in his hopes for peace.
We were buoyed with optimism
when he assured us that he believed in
Israel's right to exist with secure bor-
ders, peace and a strong military to
protect its continuing vitality.
However, he cautioned that a
Palestinian civil war could erupt if he
were to strongly suppress Hamas and
other fundamentalist groups. He
expressed hopes of redirecting Hamas

from a terrorist organization into a
political entity.
During a later meeting at the
resplendent, art-adorned presidential
residence in Jerusalem, President
Katsav explained that Abbas is a credi-
ble partner, a man of integrity who
the Israelis could partner with in its
efforts to forge a peace.
The quintessential issue, however,
according to Katsav as well ,as Israeli
military generals, security command-
ers and politicians with whom we met
daily, was whether Abbas could con-
solidate his power and impose a "one
government, one gun, one law" men-
tality. That mindset is crucial to the
foundation of a credible governing
body that could effectuate a lasting
peace partnership.
Indeed, within hours of the meet-
ing, while we were enjoying the Israeli
symphony orchestra, word spread
quickly through the amphitheatre that
a Palestinian suicide bomber had
killed five civilian Israelis at a shop-
ping mall in Netanya. Despite the
heartbreaking setback designed to
derail the disengagement process,
Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his
commitment to fulfill an August with-
drawal from Gaza.
As we wended our way through the
security protocol upon our departure
for home, we were reminded of the
oft-repeated Israeli refrain that the
country was resolute in its war-torn
priorities of security first with peace
and prosperity hopefully to follow. We
pray that our next trip will find Israel
further down that path to peace. ❑

Afriswerimg

Israel's Critics

The Charge

Some Palestinians are charging that Israel will leave the Gaza Strip in an
economic "chokehold" and its population "bottled up" in a tiny geographic
area with no freedom of movement.

The Answer

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been discussing a full range of post-
withdrawal economic and political issues. Included are border crossings,
commercial corridors between Gaza and the West Bank, re-opening the
Gaza seaport and airport and, once the Jewish communities are pulled out,
Palestinians taking control of factories, agricultural enterprises and utility
and telecommunication infrastructure.

— Allan Gale, Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit