WARNING : This site is not for you if you cannot see the otherness of other and sufferings of both sides of the party in the conflict. Security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians are interdependent, one will not happen without the other. My view focuses on building cohesive societies where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. I hope and pray a sense of justice to prevail. Amen. Website www.IsraelPalestineDialogue.com | Also Check Israel Palestine Confederation a pragmatic solution
Friday, June 5, 2009
Moderates support Obama
. It is good to see the moderate majority speaking up, otherwise the radicals will reign in, their ideas have not worked and have no chance of making it work as they miss out the concept of justice and co-existence. Here are a few comments;
Jewish Voice for Peace said... Jewish Voice for Peace Dear Mike,
We've asked Prof. Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Middle East History at Stanford University, to give us his impression on President Obama's speech in Cairo today. We're sharing his response with you.
An articulate and charismatic President of the United States named Barack Hussein Obama giving a speech at Cairo University co-sponsored by al-Azhar, the most eminent institution of Muslim learning - now that's a new picture. Its enormous symbolic value is President Obama's biggest asset as he implements policy on the entire range of difficult issues he mentioned. The President stated, "Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail." This is an excellent basis for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The President did not provide details on how the conflict should be resolved beyond general support for "two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security." But the meaning of this formulation is now contested due to its empty repetition by presidents and prime ministers whose actions and inactions have undermined it. Instead President Obama emphasized U.S. rejection of "the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements," saying nothing about the future of those settlements already existing and their nearly 500,000 inhabitants. By limiting himself to an apparently pragmatic "first step," President Obama may have made his task harder. If he does not produce concrete results very soon on this limited, albeit it absolutely necessary, measure, then the potential value of his fine words in Cairo will soon diminish.
Joel Beinin
June 4, 2009 Stanford, CA Obama speaking at Cairo University Jewish Voice for Peace
Diane Balser, executive director of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the country's largest Jewish grassroots peace movement, released the following statement in response to President Obama's speech in Cairo.
____________________________ Pledge to build support for President Obama's pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Sign the pledge, "We've Got Your Back, Mr President." http://ga3.org/campaign/weve_got_your_back_pledge?qp_source=gamessage20090605 ____________________________
"Today in his historic address to the Muslim world from Cairo, President Obama made clear his commitment to renew US leadership in negotiating a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The current stalemate is not only unspeakably tragic for Israelis and Palestinians alike, but fans the flame of extremism across the region and thus threatens the United States' national security interests in the region.
The usual suspects will likely rush to characterize the President's insistence that both Israelis and Palestinians uphold preexisting commitments -- including a complete freeze on all Israeli settlement expansion and a concerted effort by the Palestinians to end all violence and incitement -- as indicative of an historic realignment that threatens Israel's alliance with the United States. In truth, the single most pro-Israel thing an American President can do is to actively pursue a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as Israel's very future as a democracy and a Jewish homeland depends on it.
The President made a persuasive case for the common interest in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which extends beyond the two parties, to include the Arab countries, the United States and its allies around the world. As Americans, as Jews and as people deeply committed to ensuring Israel's prospects for long-term peace and security, we stand with the President and with all those willing to work in pursuit of a resolution to the conflict."
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace 11 E. Adams Street, Suite 707 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: (312) 341-1205 Fax: (312) 341-1206 info@btvshalom.org http://www.btvshalom.org
Jewish Voice for Peace said...
ReplyDeleteJewish Voice for Peace
Dear Mike,
We've asked Prof. Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Middle East History at Stanford University, to give us his impression on President Obama's speech in Cairo today. We're sharing his response with you.
An articulate and charismatic President of the United States named Barack Hussein Obama giving a speech at Cairo University co-sponsored by al-Azhar, the most eminent institution of Muslim learning - now that's a new picture. Its enormous symbolic value is President Obama's biggest asset as he implements policy on the entire range of difficult issues he mentioned. The President stated, "Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail." This is an excellent basis for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The President did not provide details on how the conflict should be resolved beyond general support for "two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security." But the meaning of this formulation is now contested due to its empty repetition by presidents and prime ministers whose actions and inactions have undermined it. Instead President Obama emphasized U.S. rejection of "the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements," saying nothing about the future of those settlements already existing and their nearly 500,000 inhabitants. By limiting himself to an apparently pragmatic "first step," President Obama may have made his task harder. If he does not produce concrete results very soon on this limited, albeit it absolutely necessary, measure, then the potential value of his fine words in Cairo will soon diminish.
Joel Beinin
June 4, 2009
Stanford, CA
Obama speaking at Cairo University
Jewish Voice for Peace
BRIT TZEDEK: WE STAND WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
ReplyDeleteDiane Balser, executive director of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the
country's largest Jewish grassroots peace movement, released the
following statement in response to President Obama's speech in
Cairo.
____________________________
Pledge to build support for President Obama's pursuit of
Israeli-Palestinian peace. Sign the pledge, "We've Got Your
Back, Mr President."
http://ga3.org/campaign/weve_got_your_back_pledge?qp_source=gamessage20090605
____________________________
"Today in his historic address to the Muslim world from Cairo,
President Obama made clear his commitment to renew US leadership
in negotiating a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The current stalemate is not only unspeakably tragic for Israelis and Palestinians alike, but fans the flame of extremism across the region and thus threatens the United States' national security interests in the region.
The usual suspects will likely rush to characterize the
President's insistence that both Israelis and Palestinians
uphold preexisting commitments -- including a complete freeze on
all Israeli settlement expansion and a concerted effort by the
Palestinians to end all violence and incitement -- as indicative
of an historic realignment that threatens Israel's alliance with
the United States. In truth, the single most pro-Israel thing an
American President can do is to actively pursue a negotiated,
two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as
Israel's very future as a democracy and a Jewish homeland
depends on it.
The President made a persuasive case for the common interest in
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which extends beyond
the two parties, to include the Arab countries, the United
States and its allies around the world. As Americans, as Jews
and as people deeply committed to ensuring Israel's prospects
for long-term peace and security, we stand with the President
and with all those willing to work in pursuit of a resolution to
the conflict."
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
11 E. Adams Street, Suite 707
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 341-1205
Fax: (312) 341-1206
info@btvshalom.org
http://www.btvshalom.org