A text version of remarks by Charlie Pillsbury made at a candidates' forum at Congregation Mishkan Israel on Sunday, October 20.
It is my opinion that all the leaders currently involved in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict lack both vision and courage.
First, the United States and President Bush. In determining the appropriate US government role in the Middle East, he US has to choose either (1) to be Israel's ally, as we have been for 50 years, or (2) serve as a mediator to broker a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The US cannot do both, because of the obvious conflict of interest of providing arms to one side, but not the other. The only way for the US to be "an honest broker" would be for the US to cut off military aid to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other nations in the region until a comprehensive peace agreement was reached.
In my opinion, given both our historic and current relationship with Israel, the US will never be able to mediate a peace in the Middle East. I think that Bush must choose sides, maintain our alliance with Israel and give up unilaterally trying to broker/impose a Mideast peace agreement. Other neutral nations, such as Norway, Switzerland, or the Vatican, which are not giving military aid to either the Israelis or the Palestinians, can much better serve as effective mediators of a Mideast peace agreement. In my opinion, this mediation would best occur in the context of an international conference with Israel and the United States on one side and the Palestinians and their Arab allies on the other side.
Second, the Palestinian Authority and Chairman Arafat. The Palestinians will never succeed in getting their legitimate grievances heard, if they continue to use illegitimate/violent means to achieve that end. Until Palestinian leaders openly embrace active nonviolent resistance to protest the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and other Israeli actions, the world will not hear their grievances. Their grievances will continue to be lost amidst the violence of the suicide bombings and other immoral and counterproductive tactics. If Arafat had any vision and any courage, he would offer to disarm unilaterally and pick up the standards of Gandhi and King. If he were really sincere about opposing the suicide bombings, he would be joining Israeli families in mourning the deaths of their loved ones, as King Hussein of Jordan did several years ago.
Finally, Israel and Prime Minister Sharon. Israel will not make peace with the Palestinians as long as Sharon is its Prime Minister. Like Arafat (and Bush, for that matter), he is a man of war, not peace. Many Israelis still miss former Prime Minister Rabin, who was a man of peace and who, like Gandhi and King, was assassinated. Israel is sometimes referred to as "racist" in its policies toward the Palestinians. I disagree. This is not a racial conflict. Israelis and Palestinians are brothers who are engaged in a struggle that goes back thousands of years to the story of Jacob and Esau.
I recently went back to the Torah and reread this remarkable story. In so doing, I noticed for the first time that Jacob's wrestling with the man/angel/God occurs the night before he encountered his brother whose birthright and blessing he had stolen. As Jacob returned to the land of Canaan, he learned from his messengers that Esau had a company of 400 men. He was afraid that Esau would seek revenge and kill him and his family. Jacob had choices. He could have turned back; he could have stayed where he was; he could have made alliances; he could have hired his own company of men to defend himself and perhaps even kill his brother before his brother killed him. Instead, Jacob chose the path of reconciliation and sent his brother presents of cattle and livestock as peace offerings. After making this courageous decision, Jacob wrestled all night, prevailed with God and earned the name of Israel. In my opinion, the nation that calls itself Israel will not have earned its Biblical name until it finds Jacob's vision and courage and seeks a way to reconcile with its Palestinian brothers and sisters.
I might add that many other nations, including the United States, could learn from Jacob's example. As a mediator, it is my experience that it always takes more courage to reconcile than to continue to fight. Until our leaders find this vision and courage, let us keep each other in our prayers. Whether we are Christians, Jews, or Muslims, we have this in common. We all pray to the God of Abraham.
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