Editor's Letter

WOM EN'S

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN

Debate Proves Defining

I

he may make some good statements, and he is seen as a mod-
srael's refusal to resettle Palestinians displaced in 1948
as well as their descendants is the main obstacle to peace erate, he does not have the authority with his own people to
deliver anything on his end. The unity government was over
between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors in the
before it started:'
Gaza Strip and West Bank.
In his most revealing diatribe, Nawash said, "Yes, there are
So says one of Metro Detroit's leading Palestinian spokes-
suicide bombers. I don't apologize for there
men.
He somehow negated their violence by citing Israel's mili-
I say balderdash.
tary superiority in his wild pronouncement that the soldiers
So does Todd Mendel, the well-
would wantonly harm unarmed Palestinians.
spoken new president of the Jewish
For his part, Mendel exposed Nawash's take on interna-
Community Relations Council of
tional law. Mendel said suicide bombings that blow up people
Metropolitan Detroit and secretary of
in cafes or on buses, and missile fire that's aimed indiscrimi-
the local American Jewish Committee
nately at civilian populations like in Sderot, do not represent
chapter.
compliance with international law "by any interpretation
In the wake of Israel's pullout from
whatsoever."
Gaza in August 2005 and Hamas'
Mendel resourcefully reminded radio listeners that Jews
rise to power within the Palestinian
were forced to leave Arab lands in 1948, but had Israel to take
Authority last year, the Palestinians
have been pitching resettlement as the them in. Palestinian refugees, in contrast, have been kept
core solution to their nearly 7-year-old in camps by their own leaders as pawns in the fight against
Zionism and the West.
reign of terror against Israel and Jews. Granting such a spe-
cious demand would destroy Israel as a Jewish state. Arabs
Self Perpetuated Drama
would outnumber Israel's 5.4 million Jews.
I'm
weary of Palestinian apologists branding Israel an apart-
Hasan Nawash, director of the Dearborn-based Palestine
heid state. Were it, Israeli leaders would not remove settle-
Office Michigan, told a Metro Detroit radio audience that
ments, give up land, permit civil protest, allow opposition
Israel is wrong in believing that only it has claim to the bibli-
parties and have independent courts. Israel
cal Land of Israel.
didn't destroy perfectly good buildings and other
"This has been declared illegal over and over
infrastructure when it left Gaza; the Palestinians
again by the international community except
did in a dramatic way to rid themselves of the
for the United States and Israel," said Nawash on
so-called Zionist devil within.
"Detroit Today' hosted by Matt Watroba on the
Says Mendel: "The Palestinians have had
Wayne State University-run WDET-FM/101.9.
autonomy
in their regions for years. They are the
On the July 11 show, Nawash also blasted
ones
who
have
not improved their lot:'
Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank in
For
balance,
the
"Detroit Today" debate also
the form of settlers and a border-long barrier to
featured
Henri
Picciotto,
who chairs the San
control entry.
Francisco-based
Jewish
Voice
for Peace, which
"If you stop the occupation, there will be peace
is sympathetic to the Palestinian agenda,
Nawash asserted. "Occupation must end:'
and Pastor Glenn Plummer, founder of the
Lost in his myth-laden assertion is that Israel
Todd
Mend
el:
astute
Plymouth-based
Fellowship of Israel and Black
fairly laid claim to the West Bank in the 1967
on the airw ayes
America, an ardent Zionist organization.
Six-Day War, but, in good faith, has dismantled
Picciotto demanded "justice for Palestinians:'
smaller, less strategic settlements there in recent
years. The larger settlements are closer to the Israeli border so meaning free from "occupation:' Plummer stood "unapologet-
also provide a security buffer. As for the security barrier, it has ically with Jews in Israel" while not necessarily agreeing with
all policies and decisions of the Israeli government.
turned back hundreds of would-be suicide bombers over the
I listened intently and tried to hear all sides. But I didn't
past year alone, according to Israeli intelligence.
change my mind: Palestinian apologists stand in the way of a
Mendel also served on the radio panel. The Detroit-based
moderate Palestinian government rising with the power and
lawyer perceptively noted Israel's peace treaties with Egypt
willingness to accept Israel as a neighbor.
and Jordan, tenuous as they are. "If there's a valid peace part-
Israel isn't the cause of Palestinian squalor. The Palestinian
ner on the other side, Israel has shown it's willing and able
leadership is. The rest of the Arab world has responded to the
Mendel said.
inability of the Palestinians to end corruption and anarchy by
In the case of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, which con-
trols Gaza, is sworn to Israel's destruction, and Fatah, which
isolating them.
Remember: The U.S., Europe and Israel have all given more
rules the West Bank, is essentially powerless.
in money, food and medicine to the Palestinians than the 23
other member lands of the Arab League. fl
More Myths
Nawash was just getting warmed up. He argued that Israel
was systematically stealing Palestinian land, causing undue
0 i - Why has the global community stood for
1.
gr Palestinian mistreatment of their own?
economic hardship and imprisoning Gaza. Incredulously, he
W
called Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas "a partner for peace'
I--
Z z What key component is missing from the
Mendel hit a homerun in his response: "I would love if
0 0 stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks?
Mahmoud Abbas could deliver on anything. He has been
a. a.
given year after year after year chances to deliver, and while

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July 26 a 2007

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