I have noticed over the years that every incident, every data point, every fact, and certainly every news story is interpreted differently by Israelis and Palestinians, each time suspecting bias against them. Here is a study that explains the psychology behind the perceived partisan bias towards the other side.
In a remarkable sermon, Syria’s highest Sunni religious authority spoke courageously and powerfully about religions requiring humanity and respect, including these statements:
“If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic."
Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun also “said Islam was a religion of peace, adding: ‘If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet.’”
I have received about twenty forwards from proud Jewish friends about Israel’s humanitarian contributions to Haiti – most frequently this CNN video. It is sad how this humanitarian mission gets twisted by opponents (or extreme supporters) of Israel into a political issue. Disregarding that noise and not connecting it to Mideast policies, a picture is clearly emerging that Israeli technology and services have been at the cutting edge in Haiti, as reported by TIME:
Eight hours later, they were still there waiting for treatment, but Loremas knew that his 18-year-old niece Richline was one of the lucky ones. Like his little sister, whom he had deposited at the same field hospital the day before, she would be getting the best care possible in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The Israeli hospital can treat only about 100 people a day, but it is the paramount medical center operating in Haiti in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake. It receives the cases that other hospitals find difficult and cannot manage. Upon entry, patients are photographed, and then they and their electronic records are digitally tracked around the tent complex with bar-coded bracelets. Ninety percent of those in Israeli hands have complex crushed limbs and bones — crush syndrome. But given the severity of the injuries and the conditions in apocalyptic Port-au-Prince, the hospital has had an amazing success rate: of the more than 400 people treated by Jan. 19, only eight had died.
Jason Alexander often shares with prospective OneVoice supporters that the first thing that drew him to OneVoice was not the creativity, courage or logic of our plans, but the parental empathy he felt when my friend Mohammad Darawshe.
Mohammad spoke about his efforts to steer his then 9 year-old son Fares away from the commitment to become a Shahid. Back in 2001, Fares had told his Dad that, just like he had met his commitment to make the soccer team, and just like he had met his pledge to score the highest grades in class, he now was committing to achieve martyrdom. These were heady times, when Israelis and Palestinians were engaged in one of the deepest cycles of violence in their history. Mohammad took the warning signs seriously. He more than succeeded in steering Fares towards positive ways to lead his people, and today Fares attends Kings Academy in Jordan and is - like his Dad - one of the brightest hopes that Israelis, Palestinians and internationals have for peace and reconciliation.
This powerful article by Ethan Bronner made me think of Jason’s emotional connection with Mohammad’s plight. Back then I had no children. Now I do. And this piece made me shed more than one tears of hope.
December 31, 2009
By ETHAN BRONNER, New York Times
JERUSALEM — He can be impulsive. She has a touch of bossiness. Next-door neighbors for nearly a year, they talk, watch television and explore the world together, wandering into each other’s homes without a second thought. She likes his mother’s eggplant dish. He likes her father’s rice and lamb.
Friendship often starts with proximity, but Orel and Marya, both 8, have been thrust together in a way few elsewhere have. Their playground is a hospital corridor. He is an Israeli Jew severely wounded by a Hamas rocket. She is a Palestinian Muslim from Gaza paralyzed by an Israeli missile. Someone forgot to tell them that they are enemies.
Interesting article by IPF’s Roberta Fahn Schoffman on recent moves by Prime Minister Netanyahu to enforce restrictions against Settlement building.
Dave Halperin wrote an excellent column reacting to Tom Friedman’s frustration with the failed peace process and his resulting recommendation to give up trying.
There are doubts whether Mahmoud Abbas will truly resign, as he has claimed he will. He has threatened to do so several times before, but he does seem exhausted by lack of momentum and a partner – on the Israeli side and among his own people. This could strengthen him as his people start to appreciate him more and the international community and Israel do more to strengthen his course for peaceful negotiations.
If he does resign, analysis ranges from:
· A return to a third intifadah as Fatah resorts to violent or non-violent popular resistance
· Disbandment of the Palestinian Authority amidst a power struggle within Palestinian leadership, with serious repercussions for Palestinians and Israelis
· A major democratic step as a key Palestinian leader institutes an orderly election from a democratically elected successor
· Release of Marwan Barghouti, who claims the leadership mantle
· Introspective evaluation about how Israelis, Palestinians and the international community take the “peace process” for granted
· Emboldened Hamas momentum, amidst lack of leadership within Fatah
Good summary by IPF of Iranian efforts to arm Hezbollah and Hamas, and the stunning Israeli interception of 320 tons of weapons. The world community needs to do more to prevent the Iranian regime from sabotaging peace efforts.
Here is an unusually earnest admonition by Egyptian intellectuals against "liberal" Arab leaders who espouse deep anti-Semitism.
