Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 19 - 25 October 2000 Issue No. 504
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

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'Ask Clinton why'

By Thomas Gorguissian

Last Friday almost 15,000 Arab, Muslim and pro-Palestinian Americans were rallying near the Israeli Consulate and the United Nations headquarters in New York. "Shame, shame USA" came the chant from angry crowds denouncing America's tepid stance on Israeli brutality. "Bullets fly. Children die. Ask Clinton why," read one sign. Sentiments rang loud and clear, with one sign equating the Star of David with the swastika raised amidst Palestinian flags and "blood-stained" Israeli flags.

As participants of all ages and all races -- including members of the Satmar Hasidic Jewish group -- took part in the boisterous New York rally, hundreds of American Jews and pro-Israelis gathered at Lafayette Park in front of the White House to show their support for Israel. Adding to the tense atmosphere last Friday afternoon, representatives from Arab Muslim organisations met with Vice President Al Gore's foreign policy team, and the next day, Gore addressed some 300,000 members of the Arab American community in Michigan. Commenting on the brutality portrayed in news footage, Gore said, "The scenes have been heart-rending, and it is time for us to lift them up in prayers as well."

Many observers agree that Al Gore needs the Arab vote to take the Midwest, and no one recognises this more that his Republican opponent, George W Bush. In a bid to boost his standing with the Arab community, Bush recently met with Arab Americans. He also used the occasion of the second presidential debate to acknowledge the discriminatory system of racial profiling.

Whether intentionally or not, Bush was in fact pointing up the case of Arab American Institute (AAI) President James Zogby. When Zogby was appointed to the Gore-Lieberman campaign earlier this month as senior adviser on ethnic Americans, the Zionist Organisation of America (ZOA) leaped at the chance to denounce the writer and activist as a "veteran extremist" and a supporter of terrorism. A statement by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) responded: "Apparently, the ZOA will go to any length in order to discredit and exclude Arab Americans from American political life," the statement claimed.

Alongside demonstrations, op-ed articles, television-radio debates and university sit-ins, Arab American organisations are endeavouring to meet officials on different levels. Earlier this month, 17 Arab and Muslim American leaders met with US Assistant Secretary of State Ned Walker at the State Department to express their concerns and demands about the ongoing tragedy in Palestine.

This week major national newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today will be carrying an ad campaign stating "Who is under siege?" The ad, ADC Vice President Khalil Jahshan explained to Al-Ahram Weekly, is intended to counterpoint the misleading phrase "Israel is under siege", which is used so frequently by American media and pro-Israel pundits. Jahshan mentioned that photos featuring the brutality of Israeli forces will be the main substance of the ads.

The launch of the ad campaign coincides with the choice of two of America's most popular weekly magazines -- Time and US News -- to use as their cover photo the gruesome photo from Ramallah Police Station in which a Palestinian man displays his bloody hands to a cheering crowd. The picture has been repeatedly shown as an apparent reminder of the Palestinian "threat" or "blood-thirstiness." In their coverage of Arab American demonstrations, many reporters have described the Arab American community as "often marginalised" or "rarely as organised as American Jews."

On the other side of the conflict, major Jewish organisations have started an equally vociferous campaign of rallies and newspaper ads expressing their solidarity with Israel. "Israel, we are with you" reads the ad of the Anti-Defamation League. The same ad declares: "Chairman Arafat has made it clear to the world -- he prefers violence to peace. Prime Minister Barak: Unfortunately today you have no partner for peace." The ad concludes: "Now is the time to restore safety and security to the Israeli people."

Similar slogans were used in a pro-Israel rally held in New York last Thursday, a day before the pro-Palestinian one. Some 15,000 reportedly took part and some illustrious dignitaries were eager to be there -- most notably both rivals in the New York senatorial race, Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio. Mrs Clinton was loudly booed, and shouts of "hypocrite" were heard throughout her brief appearance. The First Lady criticised Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and then sang "the old love song" to Israel. Lazio was no different: "Today, America and this administration leaves Israel in the lurch," he told the cheering crowd. "I ask President Clinton, 'Is this any way to treat a friend?'"

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