Readers' corner
What if we choose to?
Sir-- It has become a ritual to blame all our misfortunes, from sectarian feuds to natural disasters, on hideous Zionist strategies. I am neither qualified, nor willing here to confirm or ridicule any of the globally spread conspiracy theories on Jewish dominance over our world, but I can simply say that passing this legacy of hatred from one generation to another could very well bring our fears to reality, with our bare hands.
No conflict should last forever; there must come a time for reconciliation, which might not ever convert hostility into passion, yet could pave the way for a certain extent of mutual acceptance.
What if we choose, as Arabs, to live in peace with Israel? Would not that consolidate the Palestinian case, putting extra pressure upon the Israeli government to recognise the Palestinians' right to live decently on their lands? Would it not deprive Israel of legitimacy for massive armament, including nuclear weapons? Furthermore; it would eventually strip down all the regional leaders that have been fortifying allegations on the necessity to abort democracy while preparing for the sacred struggle to liberate Palestine.
I have had the opportunity during the past few years to correspond with some Israelis via the Internet, and it was amazing to find out that we have much more in common than differences. They have dreams for their children to grow up and live in peace just like we do.
I cannot understand what makes the Arab and Muslim conscience capable of absorbing and tolerating traumas like the invasion of Kuwait, the genocide in Darfur, Chechnya, Kosovo, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine itself, yet reject the concept of living with Israel, a status quo that has been going on for 60 years.
I am pleading hereby, for the sake of our nations, for the inhumane suffering of the desperate Palestinians, for the future of democracy, economy and human rights in our region, to stop the mainstream of violence, a multi-billion dollar business that should have been invested instead in providing Palestinians with decent education, modern infrastructure, healthcare and appropriate dwelling. We can obviously continue ignoring the conflict for it doesn't directly affect our lives, as we can go on repeating the passionate anthems of war we grew up chanting over and over again. We can remain being ostriches, but can our consciences do, too?
Ali Shakir
Amman
Jordan
Money talks
Sir-- Here is a constructive criticism for Walberg, whose analysis ('Political poison' 3-9 April) I basically agree with. He writes: "All this is in fact an eerie replay of John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's argument about the Israeli lobby in the US, whose core is American Jews who make a significant effort in their daily lives to bend US policy so that it furthers Israel's interests."
To say "American Jews" really is to confuse people about who the enemy is. Yes, the Jewish community as an organised force. But look closer, and see how essential the class factors are in making this "community a force". Especially note the Jewish capitalists, mostly billionaires, whose cash greases the wheels of this powerful lobby. Check out the political connections of Saban, Adelson, and Steinhardt, to mention just a few. I don't know how much it's their love for Israel or fondness for profit that motivates them. But the facts show that, in addition to being mega donors to the political parties, they finance the media and organisations that marginalise public expression of the Palestinian cause.
Of course the fact that these rich Jewish capitalists act in this way doesn't negate the fact that there are progressive anti- Zionist Jews. But in bourgeois society money talks. The presence of the Jewish finance capitalist in the mix makes the crucial difference. The problem about forgetting about this class and material cause of Zionism in America, (perhaps Canada too), is to paint an incomplete picture of just who our opponents are. I think including a description of the class structure in analysis of the Zionist forces is vital.
John Jay
Cleveland
USA
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/892/letters.htm