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Editor's Letter

Spurring A Dialogue?

s

hould American Jewry instantly embrace
Muslim leaders of questionable repute but
who reach out to a Jewish audience? No. We
should consider what is said but also dissect it.
Words can be hollow. Deeds are definitive.
Within this backdrop, the Pakistani president's
address to the American Jewish
Congress in New York was historic
given the anti-Zionism, Jew-hating
and anti-West hatred woven into
the fiber of his nuke-minded
country. Gen. Pervez Musharraf
took a chance with militants
among his own people in just giv-
ing
the speech: We cannot forget
Robert A. Sklar
that
Pakistani terrorists kidnapped
Editor
and beheaded Wall Street Journal
reporter Daniel Pearl. As Metter writer Tariq Shah, a
Pakistani American, reminded me: "Gen. Musharraf
had the guts to do relations-building openly, and
though this may not mean much to the outside world,
this is a huge in thing in Pakistan."
I pray that Musharraf's coming out legitimizes
more dialogue between Pakistan and the West as well
as among Muslim leaders, American Jews and Israel.
Musharraf's Sept. 17 appearance at a kosher U.S.
dinner was significant. But once more, a Muslim
leader said "the Israeli-Palestinian problem" lies "at
the heart of terrorism in the Middle East and
beyond:' He tied Israel's right to security to creation of
"an independent, viable Palestinian state" in Gaza and

"Israel must come to terms

with geopolitical realities

and allow justice to prevail

for the Palestinians."

—Gen. Musharraf

the West Bank and to recognition of Jerusalem's
"international character." Israel, he said, "must come
to terms with geopolitical realities and allow justice to
prevail for the Palestinians."
He added, "For durable peace and harmony
between Israelis and Palestinians, indeed between
Israel and the Muslim world, it is such a gesture of
reconciliation and realism that is required of Israel."
I found no corresponding demands on the
Palestinians. They started their latest war with Israel
five years ago this week and teach their kids to hate
Jews. Musharraf condemned terrorism but inexplica-
bly never distinguished between Palestinian terror
against Israelis and Israel's defensive strikes within
the Palestinian territories. To his credit, he pointed to
the failure within Islamic societies to apply "reform,
progress and modernity" to overcome "economic dep-
rivation and social backwardness:'
Musharraf called American Jews "probably the

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most distinguished and influential community in the
United States." My gut feeling is that he buys the
-
recurring Muslim belief that Jews control much of
America so are a vital port to the halls of power.
I liked Musharraf's beginning point that Jews and
Muslims have similarities: the oneness of God, the
"peace" greetings of Salaam and Shalom, the talmudic
and koranic teaching: "Killing one innocent person is
like the murder of humanity and saving one innocent
person is like saving humanity:'
He cited the "shining examples" of Jews coexisting
in harmony with Muslims in Cordova, Baghdad,
Istanbul and Bukhara; the "golden period" of Muslim
Spain where Jewish communities flourished; and the
"wrath of the Inquisition against Spanish Muslims
and Jews." He acknowledged the tragedy of the
Holocaust — a bold move given so many Holocaust
deniers among Muslims. He spoke of joint Muslim-
Jewish suffering and prosperity "over the centuries."
He praised U.S. Jews, especially tycoon George Soros,
for being "in the forefront in opposing the ethnic
cleansing of Muslims in Bosnia." And he thanked the
Jewish groups that helped Muslims "in the backlash
against Muslims" following 9-11.
Parts of the speech resonated. Like Musharraf, I
would like to see the emanating hope build a world of
"universal peace, progress and prosperity''
Maybe the Muslim idea of "Enlightened
Moderation" — to shed hate, bigotry and violence in
favor of "a serious discourse to promote an under-
standing of true Islam" — will build a better Muslim
world and stronger Muslim ties throughout the world.
A Palestinian state alone will not normalize
Pakistani-Israeli diplomatic relations — their foreign
ministers meeting recently in Istanbul aside. Jews
demand more. For starters, we would welcome a
Musharraf pronouncement that Israel has a right to
exist, not just be secure.
Musharraf will find a cue in his concluding
remarks: Reject old prejudices and politics, and let us
"move forward with courage and reach to work for
the rebirth of history and a new future of peace, har-
mony, mutual respect, dignity and shared prosperity:'
Return on the general's brave investment of time
and commentary before the AJCongress lies in his
ability to sway other Muslim leaders to engage civilly
with the West, with Israel and with Jews. I'm skeptical
he'll find partners willing to define Israel as the
Jewish state, but I'd be the first to cheer if he did.
Meanwhile, Jews shouldn't fawn over calls for con-
ciliation without concurrent respect shown not only
for our people, but also our ancestral homeland.

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Was Musharraf's groundbreaking
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Should Jews expect moderate
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Should the AJCongress have invited
Musharraf to speak?

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September 29 • 2005

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