***God's chosen people?

Seven Point Peace Program

David Mcreynolds tackles the challenge of finding peace in the Mideast

Dear Cynthia,

It is now early on the 11th and I have just checked the mail and feel this one should be responded to and, in a sense, to circulate your central question to several others lists. (I've deleted your email address to save you from possible responses). The original piece is attached.

I've already said, in a post which may not have gone to you, that I thought whichever side right now had the sense to declare a cease fire would "win" - but neither side seems ready to do that.

The first problem is that we are not talking about "the Jews have the right to survive as a nation with a Jewish Army to defend against pograms and extinction". That statement suggests that the Jews of the world are all in Israel. In fact substantially less than half the Jews of the world are there. Most of the Jews of the world, whatever their academic views on Zionism, do not, in practice, agree with it. Many of those who are there (the Soviet Jews) would have preferred to come to the US. Most of the Jews of the world do not want to live in a Jewish State. Most Methodists do not want to live in a Methodist state and, aside from Ireland, most Catholics do not want to live in a "Catholic State" with an army. I dispute the idea that the Jews are a specific race. And I emphatically do not agree that all those in Israel are Zionists or want a Jewish State. For many in Israel, Israel is a "post Zionist" state. Some of the ultra orthodox, they have never supported the idea of the Jewish State. There are a wide range of views in Israel (though yes, absolutely, the vast majority of Israelis do not want Israel wiped off the map). It is, parenthetically, very doubtful if one could argue that the "Jews of the world" are safer in Israel than wherever else they are. One might argue that the State of Israel has put them in harm's way.

That, however, doesn't detract from your very crucial point which people do need to address - does the State of Israel have the right to exist. The critics of Israeli policy (of which I'm one) need to confront that issue and not take comfort behind a dozen solid arguements about what Israel is doing or has done, or who attacked whom in 1948. That is all interesting, but we are here and now, and so is Israel, and what do we really want. You have put before us what I considerthe crucial question.

I know that, for myself, if the State of Israel can survive only by continuing the Occupation of the West Bank, and its military interventions in Gaza, then it should not survive, funds should be offered to bring any Israelis here or wherever in the world they want to go, Israel should fold its tent, admit to being a failed state. I would have said the same thing about the South African regime and frankly I have said it more than once about this country, which I do not think has the right to threaten the world with nuclear annihilation.

I know that supporters of Israel will say (with considerable justice) that Israel withdrew from Gaza, that it withdrew from the Sinai, that it withdrew from Lebanon, and yet all that seems to happen is that these zones become new bases for terrorism. There is substantial truth to those statements. However I also know that Israel complicated the Gaza situation greatly by its early support of Hamas, by its long long long delay in accepting even the concept of a two state solution. By categorically refusing to negotiate with Arafat. So by the time it withdrew from Gaza it was painfully "rewarded" with the stunning election victory of Hamas. In the case of Lebanon, Sharon marched all the way to Beirut, Israeli maintained an occupation for about twenty years, that it was this occupation of Lebanese territory which created Hezbollah, and that the Israeli withdrew only because of the sustained violent military attacks on Israeli forces.

Those who either are committed Zionists, or are sabras, born and raised in Israel, who don't think of themselves as Zionists, but as Israelis, all ask (as you do) how can we achieve peace? The overwhelming majority of Israelis (and Arabs) want peace, even as they fight a war.

I'm not sure it is possible at this point. I am not at all sure that Israel will not turn out to be a failed state because of the relentless drain on its resources, on its youth, the internal divisions between the secular and the ultra-Orthodox (some of whom, as you know, feel the creation of the State is a blasphemy).

Still, Cynthia, your central point remains - what do those of us who are critical of Israel really want, and do we have any positive suggestions.

I've already given my response - painful and direct, that if the Occupation is not ended, then Israel should be. Others should chime in on the basic question you are raising. (AND WHILE THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION LIST, I WILL DO MY BEST TO CIRCULATE RESPONSES TO THE LISTS TO WHICH THIS GOES - the disarmament, middle east, international, and socialist lists).

To move on from that point, however, "what might still be done"? I'd suggest that the following steps could be considered by an Israeli government which realized it was in a no-win situation unless there is truly radical change.

1. Declare an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. Announce that all Israeli forces were withdrawing from Lebanon. Ask for direct negotiations with Hamas, and with the Lebanese government, about a prisoner exchange of the Hezbollah and other Lebanese prisoners now held by Israel in return for the two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah. Declare that Israel would contribute to, and help organize, an international fund to rebuild Lebanon. (I leave out the disarming of Hezbollah, which I don't think anyone can really do at this point, and I leave out the problem of Hezbollah rockets - if Israel took all the territory up to the Litani River, Hezbollah rockets could still strike Northern Israel. We need a political, not a technical, solution to the question of military attacks by either side).

2. Suggest that there be a totally demilitarized zone, five miles in depth on both sides of the border, to be handled by UN forces. No troops, no tanks, no rockets on either side - and full and genuine UN inspection on both sides.

3. Announce that Israel was withdrawing immediately from Gaza, and that would ask for a similar "five mile zone" on both sides of the line, demilitarized and monitored rigorously by the UN.

4. Announce that Israel was immediately releasing all the Palestinian prisoners it holds, in exchange for any Israel troops Hamas holds (I think three).

5. Announce that it was withdrawing its forces and its settlements from the West Bank, subject to any border changes which might be negotiated by the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel. 6. Enter negotiations with the Palestinians, including Hamas, over the future of Jerusalem, which would recognize that the State of Palestine would have East Jerusalem, or that both sides might work out some program to internationalize the city, even as the capital of Palestine was set in East Jerusalem.

7. Ask the Arab League to sit down with Israel immediately to discuss the points laid out in 2002 (I think it was) under which the Arab League had said it would recognize Israel if Israel accepted the 1967 borders as final.

You asked me for suggestions, I have made them. Are they possible? I doubt it. Is Israel's survival possible over the long term if the present situation continues? I doubt it. Should the United States have a "special relationship" with Israel? Absolutely not. It should strive for genuinely friendly and deeply neutral relations with all the countries of the Middle East and, for our part, drop the word "terrorist" from our diplomatic vocabulary, resume relations with Iraq and dialogue with Syria. To the degree the US, the world's most "nuclear armed" state, is truly worried about Iranian nuclear weapons, it shoud take the lead in urging a nuclear free zone for the Middle East, including both Iran and Israel, as well as Iraq, Syria, etc. For our own sake we need to get the State of Israel out of our own political hair, and have AIPAC register as an agent for a foreign government. We need to end all military support to any part of the Middle East and limit any economic aid to Palestine and Lebanon, both of which now need major infusions of aid. No further economic aid to Israel.

The depth of the problem rests in largest part with Israel, not with the Arabs. This doesn't mean the Arabs are nice, or democratic, or innocent. But it does mean that looking at the record of wars, the Arabs started some, and Israel started some. It does mean that Israel has refused, since 1948, to recognize and deal with the Palestinians and has only moved under outside pressure. Israel has assumed that it could, by military means, maintain its position forever. I think the facts say otherwise and I desperately hope Israel is weighing those facts now.

Peace,
David McReynolds

Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: ***God's chosen people?

Enough already, David. I don't think this 'how many angels can stand on the head of a pin' type discussion befits a radical discussion. I repeat my criteria: Do you believe Israel has a right to exist...or NO. Humanity owes the Jews the right to survive as a Nation with a Jewish Army ready to defend against pogroms and extinction. Meanwhile, we are reaping what, as Americans, we have sown. We may yet be pushed back to pre-Wright brothers' days.Air Security is inundated And we're set back decades with the Administration fuming about Islamaic 'fascism' and the anti-israel faction loosely tossing about expressions labeling Israel as 'aparthaid'. because they limit the Palestinian vote.( Using the vote as criteria, America would have to be described as the most aparthaid nation on earth.) You David, as a leading Pacifist, should be putting forth Peace ideas : .e Turn your guns to plow shares and have a one (two?) mile wide zone to be farmed as a giant co-op with profits shared between nations/people. And if this fails, propose where the Jews can be re-located. (I had faseciosly suggested Texas, but on reflexion I think it would be a great platform for the WRL and the SP. Sorry. Meant this to be a two-liner!

Cynthia

From: David Mcreynolds

Very painful to read, even more deeply painful to realize the reasons this was written, and the truth it contains.

Peace,
David McReynolds

by Sirocco
Sat Aug 5th, 2006 at 12:23:35 PM EST
Crossposted from my blog.

Jostein Gaarder, the author of the global literary phenomenon Sophie's World (printed in 26m copies in 53 languages), launches a scorching attack on Israel in Aftenposten, Norway's paper of record. Gaarder, a historian of ideas, describes himself as a friend of the Jewish people but doubts whether Israel truly is the same. Suffice it to say that this will not appear in the New York Times anytime soon.