Issues
Updates on the Issues
Updates on the Issues: So much to tell...
Posted on Wednesday February 25, 2009
Signs of Changing Times
The advent of the Obama Administration has been a cause for celebration in many quarters, as people begin to feel that positive change has become possible. Change, of course, doesn’t just happen; it requires people to act to bring it about. So it is heartening to those who have long labored in the cause of Middle East peace to see action in Washington over the past few weeks.
Good news from the Hill
On Capitol Hill, the winds of change are blowing. A letter urging a cut-off of aid to UNRWA (on the grounds that it would benefit Hamas) garnered only ten signatures. But a Resolution sponsored by Congressman Delahunt (D-MA) of Massachusetts expressing support for former Senator George Mitchell’s mission to the Middle East, has 55 co-sponsors and counting.
Taking stock, looking forward…
On February 12th, Representative Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and South Asia, convened a hearing on “Gaza After the War: What can be Built on the Wreckage.” In his opening statement (worth reading in its entirety, so click here), Ackerman set a remarkable tone:
The Congressman went on to assert that “it is in Gaza that the United States, Israel, the [Palestinian Authority] and the Arab states have to start coming up with answers.” Indeed.
Congress goes to Gaza
Last week, Congressmen Keith Ellison and Brian Baird visited Gaza to see first-hand the conditions on the ground. As Ellison put it, “As a member of the U.S. Congress, it is critical that we see it. We make decisions about this part of the world all the time from Washington, D.C., and yet we were the first people from the American government to come here in three years.”
(READ: “Ellison Touring Gaza: ‘Conditions are Shocking’” by Cynthia Dizikes)
After viewing the destruction, Baird observed, “If the American people could see what I have seen, they would be extremely troubled.” (“Baird views Gaza Strip devastation firsthand” by Kathie Durbin).
In addition to Gaza, the two toured the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as parts of Israel. Speaking of conditions in the West Bank, Baird was moved to state: “It’s hard for anyone in our country to imagine how it must feel to have a sick child who needs urgent care or is receiving chemotherapy or dialysis, then be forced to take a needlessly lengthy route, walk rather than drive, and wait in lines as long as two hours simply to get to the hospital. As a health care professional myself, I found this profoundly troubling, no, actually it’s beyond that, it is outrageous.”
As he prepared to leave for Sderot from Gaza, Ellison noted, “I’ve always believed we need to resolve this thing by diplomacy. I’m even more convinced of that now.”
The Mitchell Mission
Diplomacy: precisely the goal of Senator George Mitchell, who is heading back to the region. In a conference call with Arab American leaders last week, Mitchell articulated an immediate agenda which included seeking to extend the ceasefire in Gaza and expedite humanitarian relief there. A more intermediate goal seeks to improve the quality of life on the West Bank by promoting economic development and freedom of movement, training security forces, and trying to help achieve a unity government in Palestine between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas – which he would then hope the newly-constituted Israeli government to negotiate with.
The call was unusual, as the Senator repeatedly noted that the purpose of the call was not to brief the community on his efforts (though he did do so when asked), but rather to solicit input from the community on areas of concern and suggestions for forward movement. In the course of the conversation, he said more than once that he is “not interested in a process, but in a result,” observing that, to many, “peace process” has become a synonym for perpetuation of the status quo.
When asked what Arab Americans could do to support his efforts, Senator Mitchell noted that a constant stream of communication to people in the region from those with ties there resonates better than official level communication. So, in addition to letting your elected representatives know you support Senator Mitchell’s mission, reaching out to those you know in the region is also valuable. As ABC News has reported, Mitchell is expected to make stops in London, Turkey, Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia ”(a nod to the Arab Peace Initiative, parts of which President Obama has said have merit).”
Finally, just today word has leaked that the Obama Administration plans to pledge $900 million toward the reconstruction of Gaza The announcement comes as Secretary of State plans to head to at donor’s conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt next week. Though the U.S. official emphasized that the money will be channeled through existing aid agencies, and that the Palestinian Authority would be playing a central role in the reconstruction effort in Gaza, the strong U.S. pledge goes a substantial way toward addressing the estimated $2 billion in damage done to Gaza during the Israeli assault.
He said what? About whom?
“Syria can play a role, and a positive role, in the region by trying to help bring peace and stability to the Middle East. And I think the Syrians understand that they can do that. That is what the U.S. would like to see all nations in that region do.”
That was State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid at the Department’s daily press briefing last week (click here for full details). The last time the subject of Syria came up in a briefing at State, the issue was a showdown between the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency, in a typical Bush Administration posture toward the Syrian government. (The IAEA had made a decision to continue assisting Syria in finding a site for a civilian nuclear power plant, which the Bush Administration opposed.) The statement from Mr. Duguid helps to underscore the seriousness of the Obama Administration’s effort to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Goodwill… next steps for Syria
The same sentiment was echoed by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman in the wake of their visit to Damascus. Kerry left encouraged by “the possibility of real cooperation on a number of different issues beginning immediately, beginning soon.” For his part, Berman described a “lively 75-minute conversation with President Assad on a range of issues affecting bilateral relations” that left him “hopeful” about next steps with Syria.
A sign of this goodwill is an invitation issued to Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha to meet this week with acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, Jeffrey D. Feltman. Feltman requested the meeting to discuss U.S. concerns about Syria’s pursuit of nuclear and unconventional weapons, its involvement in Lebanon, and other matters. Spokesman Duguid noted about the meeting that the principle of U.S. policy is that “direct engagement with Syria will advance U.S. interests.” The International Atomic Energy Agency’s recent finding of traces of enriched uranium in Syria will test this goodwill, so stay tuned for possible news from that meeting.
Good Guys versus Bad Guys
On the heels of his visit to Syria, Senator Kerry has announced a hearing on “Engaging with Muslim Communities Around the World.” There will be two panels, the first with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former CENTCOM Commander Admiral William Fallon USN (retired); and the second with Dalia Mogahed, Eboo Patel and Jim Sciutto – all of whom have thoughtful and non-ideological approaches to Islam. (Of particular note is Patel, founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, which states as its mission: “Imagine a world where people of different religious backgrounds come together to create understanding and respect by serving their communities. This is the world we are building.”)
Such a panel is particularly timely, given President Barack Obama’s intention to deliver an address in an Islamic capital, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Indonesia as part of an effort to “reach out to” the Muslim world. Sadly, it appears that Senator Jon Kyl didn’t get the memo.
Kyl, in fact, has opted to host a closed screening of “Fitna” – in this case “closed” means that the film is only open to Members of Congress and their staff. What is “Fitna?” It is a short 15 minute video on the topic of Islam written and produced by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, to further his stated belief: “I don’t hate Muslims. I hate Islam.” Wilders also seeks to “ban the Qur’an” in his country.
As the second ranking Republican in the Senate, Kyl really ought to know better than this – but perhaps the fact that the showing is closed to the media and the public suggests that he does know this is not the right thing to do.
Eviction notice?
Last December, in a move that was overshadowed by the Israeli assault on Gaza, Israel soldiers and border police evicted settlers from an illegal outpost in Hebron. The Israeli High Court had ordered the settlers to leave, but they remained defiantly in the apartment bloc, sometimes joined by hundreds of allies. Despite outcries from pro-settler politicians, several hundred IDF and border police personnel successfully evacuated the outpost with minimal violence.
Open for business?
Last week, Israeli Army radio reported that the IDF discussion concerning opening the main street in Hebron to Palestinians has sparked vigorous dissent from the settler movement. The road had been closed to Palestinians for more than a decade, with local Palestinians referring to the street as the “Apartheid Route,” and had also been subject of a High Court order to open it. A decision on the matter could be taken within the next seven days. A second study on opening 100 Arab shops on a parallel street that that was also made off-limits to Palestinians is likewise under consideration, but no timetable has been announced for a decision. Ironically, settler spokespersons have derided the move as “creating facts on the ground.”
A truly green Palestine?
And, finally, the European Union recently announced that it will finance 80% of the cost of a renewable energy facility (wind turbine) for a Palestinian hospital in Hebron. Although the Al-Ahli hospital would be the first renewable energy project for Palestinians in the West Bank, the EU has announced that it will also fund studies for wind projects throughout the West Bank. Wouldn’t it be sort of interesting to see Palestine on the leading edge of the green energy revolution?
A final word from…Foundation for Middle East Peace, Americans for Peace Now, American Task Force on Palestine, Churches for Middle East Peace, Arab American Institute, Israel Policy Forum, and Brit Tzedek v’Shalom.
These seven organizations sent a letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, bringing the ongoing plight of Gaza students to her attention. The letter begins:
Read the letter here, and let our new Secretary of State know that this simple effort on our part – to facilitate learning – is in the best interest of our country. The path to peace is paved with learning, providing the strong foundation upon which to build a bridge to understanding, tolerance, and appreciation of The Other. Let these young men and women learn.
