Countdown
Why Not Celebrate a Different "Victory"...Peace
Vol. VIII, No. 13
Posted on Tuesday May 29, 2007
Why Not Celebrate a Different "Victory"...Peace
With the 40th anniversary of the occupation approaching, Congress will likely make an unfortunate, if not unexpected, statement when it votes on a bill introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos "congratulating the citizens of Israel" for their victory and the reunification of Jerusalem. It is almost beyond belief that Congress will choose to "hail" a victory that has brought nothing but misery and occupation to both Palestinians and Israelis rather than seize the opportunity to meaningfully rededicate itself to peace. Israel Policy Forum's MJ Rosenberg, smartly observed: "The only people deeply offended will be those who live in the Arab world and Congress has rarely cared how their actions play in the Middle East-not even with 130,000 American troops over there. For Arabs and Muslims in general, the idea of the United States celebrating the Six Day War (and, by inference the occupation it produced)-when we don't even commemorate our own wars except to memorialize the dead-will just be more evidence that the United States is abandoning the role of honest broker."
"Emergency Brake?!"
Those concerned that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's attempts to move negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians forward are serious can breathe a sigh of relief. According to Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams, Rice's recent activity is "just process." According to the Forward, Abrams, an ardent opponent of land-for-peace, reassured a group of Jewish leaders that the president would serve as an "'emergency brake' who would prevent Israel from being pressed into a deal." So why does Rice bother? According to Abrams, Rice's diplomacy is an attempt to mollify Arab and European allies whose support the US needs in Iraq and other foreign policy priorities. This will do wonders for American credibility.
There are Many Faces to the American Family...
As the immigration debate continues, Arab Americans are weighing in on the need for comprehensive reform that will respect families and restore due process to our country's immigration system. Noel Saleh, President of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) told the House Judiciary Committee the story of Mona and Ali, an immigrant family from Jordan with four children who were separated after Ali complied with the post-9/11 "special registration" program. "[Ali] was held in an immigration detention center in New Jersey for two years before finally being deported back to Jordan. No judge was able to review his situation and rule whether or not this minor crime should have been punishable by deportation. Mona and Ali's family have been ripped apart. Mona and her children are still living here...and she is now a permanent resident. Their life, however, is not easy without Ali, who was the family bread winner...Ali's case should have been reviewed by a judge. However, current laws do not allow for this due process...Unfortunately, this story is not unique."
Thanks for Watching "The Watch List"
Good news for fans of Arab American comedy...Comedy Central's online series "The Watch List" featuring Arab and Muslim comedians is so popular, the network has greenlit a pilot television show! Comedy Central describes the show as a fusion of "a unique worldview with political satire to create edgy, intelligent, race-based comedy" and will be the first online series that the network has made into a pilot.
