Conflict in the Middle East "A powerful woman in a world of big boys and their guns." February 16th, 2004

We were fortunate to have 2 members of our webteam in attendance at a seminar on the Middle East by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi at Plymouth Congregational Church. They offer their opinions of the presentation below.

Ms. Hanan Ashrawi spoke at Plymouth Congregational Church on Sunday Feb 16th to an overflow crowd of those interested in the politics of the Middle East. This event was a shared partnership with St. Thomas College. Ms. Ashrawi portrayed the Palestinian people as besieged, fragmented, and totally traumatized. She claimed that 30% suffer from malnutrition and 70% live below the poverty line. There are daily incursions into the territories with currently over 7000 Palestinians arrested. The wall of separation is built on Palestinian land. In the International Court of Justice the wall represents a total devaluation and eradification of Palestinian human rights. It has created isolated ghettoes with a loss of hope leading to desperate acts of survival. In 1948 Palestine was a pluralistic society with an inclusion of cultures and diversity of peoples. Now fundamentalism of all religions has created the greatest anti-peace movement. God has taken the side of absolute truth, justice, and morality. Dialog is among the extremists who claim to have a monopoly on truth. A solution to the problem demands a political, legal, modern and human response. There is a need for positive intervention to prevent conflicts. No conflict is solved militarily. The state of occupation is a global responsibility. Only the strong can make peace. We cannot wait for the time when the Palestinian and Israeli ordeal is "bloody enough". So far 3000 Palestinians are killed as well as 1000 Israeli. There is a balance of terror with no peace, justice or humanity. The status quo will degenerate into a vacuum. The thinking is that 22% of the territory should go back to the Palestinians with 78% to Israel. We must overcome oversimplification and realize we are dealing with human beings and not civilizations and religions. There can't be unilateralism with one faction dictating to the weak. Water, sewage, and accompanying diseases must be considered. Crossing points should be established with the idea of trade between the parties involved. This could involve international peacekeepers which could lead to peace and global justice. Arafat is motivated by survival with control of the security force. In the reform movement there are too many officials and not enough leaders. (There has been an active women’s movement from the 1920's.) Kathryn Smith is a graduate from U of Mn in the Biological Sciences. Research in Veterinary Medicine. Teacher at Community College in Biological Sciences. Currently retired and taking the time to enjoy all that I have not had time or opportunity to do before. A question was raised in relation to the negotiations at Camp David. Our speaker was present at these. Contrary to what has been published in relation to these discussions, she felt that Arafat was not the cause of the breakdown of the negotiations. Jerusalem was proposed to be an open city with no borders. The right of return of refugees would be relinquished. Palestinians felt that more negotiations were needed and none so far were in writing. Economically the Palestinians depend on Israel. 60-80% of their survival is due to foreign funds. Ashrawi sees an open market economy with enormous potential. As to what we can do, to remedy the problem she suggested that we hold our elected officials responsible for their votes. Become active in politics and support peace on both sides. Dr. Ashrawi has a bachelor and masters degree from the American University of Beirut. Her doctorate degree is from the University of Virginia. She has worked tirelessly for human rights and the Palestinian cause.

I attended Palestinian activist Dr. Hanan Ashrawi's talk on Monday evening, February 16th at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The fact that it was President's Day seems ironic to me. During Dr. Ashrawi's nearly 2-hour talk, I found myself ashamed for being a U.S. citizen. Dr. Ashrawi did not directly accuse the United States of sharing responsibility for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but it was obvious that the U.S. is a responsible party. The U.S. gives billions of dollars in aid to Israel ever year. As responsible citizens we should ask ourselves: What's the money being used for? But, do we? I know I don't. This week the U.S. joined the list of nations that refuse to go to The Hague to testify against Israel's plan to build a wall around the Palestinian settlements. As a child of the Cold War, didn't we spend decades decrying the wall in Berlin? Dr. Ashrawi said for peace to happen in Israel, there is a need for regime change on all sides (both Israeli and Palestinian). Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat have had their turn. It's time to let the younger generation come up. It's time for the old guard to exit gracefully. We need a regime change in this country too. Not just President Bush, but Congress too. Dr. Ashrawi said the lack of support for Palestinian rights is a domestic problem for the U.S. Why? Because no sitting member of, or person trying to be elected to, Congress, will dare speak out against supporting Israel. Supporters of Israel bring lots of money and votes. This week, Haiti, a county in our hemisphere, is undergoing another violent, attempted coup. The country is mired in terrible poverty. AIDS is rampant. Yet, we do nothing for Haiti. And it's not likely we will. We've told U.S. citizens to leave and we are part of a team of observers. I think that will be the extent of U.S. involvement. Haiti does not bring money, votes or oil. Janice LaDuke was baptized at St. Joan of Arc but her parents left St. Joan's in the early 70's and went to a "less radical" Catholic church instead. She's very glad to have found her way back to St. Joan's in 1994!! Janice is a librarian by profession and has been working in the library of a healthcare consulting firm since 1997. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to all kinds of music and working on her home near Como Lake in St. Paul. Janice is also Echo Thoren's assistant every Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. service. This week, the Jesuit magazine, America, has an excellent article by Phillip Berryman on the U.S. doctrine of "preponderance", the notion that the U.S. must exercise its superior power for its own good. The notion that we need to strike before we are struck. Since the U.S. War on Terror began after September 11, Israel has been following the United States' lead of preventive attack. The Israeli's feel, and rightly so, the U.S. has no business telling them to stop since we are doing it too. Neither Dr. Ashrawi or I are saying either side is right. Both, the Israelis and the Palestinians are wrong. A lasting peace will not be found with a tank, a bomb, or a gun. This week, representatives of India and Pakistan engaged in historic peace talks. These are two nuclear, neighbor nations that have fought violently for decades. Yet, they are at the table together trying to come to a greater understanding of each other, trying to find peaceful solutions to their problems. Today, India and Pakistan should be role models for all of us.