America's Unique Opportunity 1

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>TurnTheTide</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TurnTheTide"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>  <B>America's Unique Opportunity 1</B>   |   <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U>America's Unique Opportunity Documents</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Peace plan"><U>Peace plan</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voices of Peacemakers: stumbling blocks,"><U>Voices of Peacemakers: stumbling blocks, etc. </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Link Tour"><U>Link Tour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links of Hope"><U>Links of Hope</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More Links"><U>More Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Breakthrough Story Documents"><U>"Breakthrough Story" Documents</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index_site_map.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TurnTheTide"><U><B>LINK TO SITE MAP</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0aeaf6a0.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>NEW HOPE</B></div> <div> <B>10/13//03</B></div> <div> <B>Swiss help negotiate an Unofficial Accord between Israeli & Palestinian Representatives over </B></div> <div> <B>2 1/2 year period without the U.S.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id85_4__unofficial_israeli_palestinian.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Breakthru 5 Documents"><U><B>See Report in Israeli Newspaper</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN PALESTINE </B></div> <div> <B>Quotes from Foundation for Middle East Peace </B></div> <div> <B>fmep.org</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0bbac9b0.jpg" border=0 width="172" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>U. S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, May 22, 1991:</B></div> <div> Every time I have gone to Israel in connection with the peace process on each of my trips I have been met with the announcement of new settlement activity. This does violate United States policy. </div> <div> It is the first thing that Arabs--Arab governments--the first thing that Palestinians in the territories--whose situation is really quite desperate--the first thing they raise when we talk to them. </div> <div> I don't think there is any greater obstacle to peace than settlement activity that continues not only unabated but at an advanced pace.</div> <div> -------------</div> <div> <B>Prof. Arie Arnon, Peace Now Update, October 4, 2001</B></div> <div> The Sharon Government, with the backing of the Labor Party, is continuing the settlement policy in the territories. The creation of new settlements inflames the conflict with the Palestinians and endangers more Israeli soldiers and civilians. </div> <div> The settlements policy also jeopardizes Israel's position in the new world constellation formed in the wake of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. The Settlements are an obstacle to any future agreement, and, as in the past, the settlers are endangering Israel's security and leading us on a suicidal path.</div> <div> -------------</div> <div> <I><B>Ha'aretz</B></I><B>, Editorial, February 15, 2002</B></div> <div> The settlements established in these territories through miserable decisions by all the governments of Israel, are draining the economy, undermining social solidarity and creating huge and harmful gaps between the settlers--who are granted encouragement and benefits by the government--and the citizens who live within the Green Line and carry a heavy burden. </div> <div> The injuries to innocent civilians, the unbearable delays at the roadblocks, the humiliation of hundreds of thousands of human beings, the insolent construction of new settlements--these are the bitter fruit of the occupation of the territories. </div> <div> The occupation is not only eroding the ability of the sovereign state to defend itself, and is not only undermining its moral standing in the eyes of the world, but is also splitting Israeli society. It is retarding its development and sowing violence and hatred within it.</div> <div> <I>-----------------</I></div> <div> <B>Michael Ben-Yair, Attorney General, Israel 1993-1996, </B><I><B>Ha'aretz</B></I><B>, March 3, 2002</B></div> <div> The Six-Day War was forced upon us; however, the war's seventh day, which began on June 12, 1967 and has continued to this day, is the product of our choice. </div> <div> We enthusiastically chose to become a colonial society, ignoring international treaties, expropriating lands, transferring settlers from Israel to the occupied territories, engaging in theft and finding justification for all these activities. </div> <div> Passionately desiring to keep the occupied territories, we developed two judicial systems: one--progressive, liberal--in Israel; and the other--cruel, injurious--in the occupied territories. </div> <div> In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture. That oppressive regime exists to this day.</div> <div> This is the harsh reality that is causing us to lose the moral base of our existence as a free, just society and to jeopardize Israel's long-range survival.</div> <div>  Israel's security cannot be based only on the sword; it must rather be based on our principles of moral justice and on peace with our neighbors--those living next door and those living a little further away. </div> <div> An occupation regime undermines those principles of moral justice and prevents the attainment of peace. Thus, that regime endangers Israel's existence.</div> <div> <B>------------</B></div> <div> <B>Marwan Barghouti, General-Secretary of the Fateh Party(West Bank), </B><I><B>The Washington Post</B></I><B>, January 16, 2002</B></div> <div> The only way for Israelis to have security is, quite simply, to end the 35-year-old occupation of Palestinian territory.</div> <div>  Israelis must abandon the myth that it is possible to have peace and occupation at the same time, that peaceful coexistence is possible between slave and master. </div> <div> The lack of Israeli security is born of the lack of Palestinian freedom. Israel will have security only after the end of occupation, not before.</div> <div> <B>---------</B></div> <div> <B>Ariel Sharon, </B></div> <div> <B>May 26, 2003</B></div> <div> I think the idea that it is possible to continue keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation - yes it is occupation, you might not like the word, but what is happening is occupation - is bad for Israel, and bad for the Palestinians, and bad for the Israeli economy.</div> <div> "Controlling 3.5 million Palestinians cannot go on forever. You want to remain in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Bethlehem?" </div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>America's Unique Opportunity 1</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>DRAFT pending feedback</B><B> <A NAME="america_s_unique_opportunity"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <I><B><U>America's unique opportunity</U></B></I></div> <div> <B>One action by the United States could</B></div> <div> <B>Turn the Tide of Terror</B></div> <div> <B>IN THE HOLY LAND</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Six workable plans for solving the Peace Problem</U></B></div> <div> We discovered them one by one. Peace plans created by six different Jewish organizations. Each organization had a track record of success. The right people had come together to solve a piece of the peace problem in the Holy land, one issue at a time. </div> <div> Creativity happens that way in all areas of human endeavor. It happens in the minds and hearts of individual human beings. Creativity can't be institutionalized---contained in an official box. Invent a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door. That's the way it's supposed to work. It does, if you're inventing gizmos, gadgets that are novel and will sell.</div> <div> We asked ourselves why workable peace plans weren't selling. Why weren't officials in charge of the boxes buying? All the big names in world politics had tried their hand at solving the peace problem in the Holy Land. Negotiating peace between Israel and Palestine was high on the U.N. and U.S. official agenda. Had been high on their official agenda forever.</div> <div> So why were officials turning a blind eye to the fact that ordinary, creative Israelis and Palestinians were succeeding? Were creating peace, bit by bit, at the same time big name politicians and diplomats were failing. Why did the world recognize the fact that citizen diplomats, with no axes to grind, were showing how to "make peace" while their leaders concentrated on "making war?" The official axe-grinders were, in fact, upping the ante that would make "making peace" even harder.  </div> <div> The same creative phenomenon going on in Israel and Palestine was going on in America. The right people were coming together at the right time to plan for peace. Many American Jews were waking to the fact that peace in the Homeland of the Jews was long overdue. That officials in charge of the political boxes were getting billions of dollars from Americal that enabled them to keep the war going.  </div> <div> The time for a better mousetrap had come. </div> <div> After monitoring the underground peace movement for two years, we found a number of good workable models for planning peace. We will present six Jewish organizations that are putting forward peace plans. Three are from the Holy Land. Three are from America. The criterion for the selection is that all deal directly with issues at the heart of the conflict.     </div> <div> <B><U>A “window of opportunity” for America</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Each plan confronts the "sensitive issues" that make the publicized Road Map a quagmire. Because the Road Map does not confront these sensitive issues in the first round of negotiations, citizen diplomats fear it will lead to another “lose-lose” confrontation. It doesn't have to. </div> <div> There are alternatives. It makes no sense at all to continue what one citizen diplomat, Nurit Peled-Elhanan, calls the "deadly game." The game in which "careless, ruthless and cynical politicians use the lives of our children as chips.” Nurit is an expert on this subject. Her 14-year-old daughter was one of the "chips." A Palestinian suicide bomber killed her on her way home from school. </div> <div> Nurit and a Palestinian mother, whose son was a "chip" killed by Israeli soldiers, initiated one of the workable peace plans. All three of the Israeli organizations have succeeded in creating "islands of peace" in the midst of official terror. All three were developed by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in cooperation with Palestinian colleagues. </div> <div> The three Jewish organizations in America seek to convince the U.S. government to change its policy of unconditional support of the Israeli war effort. For the first time in the history of Israel as a nation, growing numbers of American Jews and Jewish organizations say they feel free to criticize Israel's military agenda. </div> <div> <B>The existence of these six organizations, each with peace proposals, represents a window of opportunity for America. </B></div> <div> There is little doubt in the minds of many peacemakers that one shift in U.S. policy toward Israel could turn the tide from war to peace in the Middle East. It also could do more than any other action America could take to insure security for Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and Jews everywhere. </div> <div> That action is to re-prioritize America's annual $3 billion aid package to Israel. Change “war aid” to “peace aid.” U.S. funding would not be reduced. Rather, aid to Israel would be more assured for the foreseeable future. Increased "peace aid" would almost certainly flow from other nations. </div> <div> The alternative to a shift to “peace aid” now is the likelihood Israel will receive no aid in the future. A growing number of movements, evidenced by new web sites, seek to end all aid to Israel. Boycotts of Israeli products are already hurting the Israeli economy. A “divestiture campaign,” like the one that ended apartheid in South Africa, has been launched. It will bring increased pressure on international corporations to withdraw investments from Israel. After a visit to Israel, Bishop Desmond Tutu reported that apartheid conditions in occupied Palestine were as inhuman as they once were in South Africa. He urged students in American universities and colleges to ask Trustees to end all investments and research in Israel. </div> <div> <B><U>A “last opportunity” for Israel?</U></B></div> <div> The “window of opportunity” for America may be a “last opportunity” for Israel. </div> <div> The opportunity for Israel is to rejoin the community of nations.  It has an opportunity to reduce its dependence on the superpower status of the United States. Israel's dependence on two powerful lobbies that keep the billions flowing from Congress is in jeopardy. srael has an opportunity to reduce its dependence on its possession of nuclear bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. </div> <div> For 30 years the military agenda of Israel's leaders has been focused on two goals.</div> <div> <B>The first goal</B> is to increase Israeli security by enlarging its land base. It seeks to re-conquer the biblical kingdom ultra-orthodox Jews believe was “given by God” to ancient Israel. The “gift” includes the occupied territories of Palestine conquered by Israel in 1967: the West Bank and Gaza. To make the conquest secure, the Israeli government is building Jews-only cities, linked by Jews-only highways, throughout the Palestinian territory. It is providing financial incentives for more than a quarter million Israelis to live in these Jewish cities in Palestine. It is supporting military bases throughout the “territories” to protect Israeli citizens from reprisals by Palestinian citizens. Palestinians who owned the land where the Israelis now live. Israeli politicians believe these “facts-on-the-ground” will eliminate any possibility of a viable Palestinian state. They believe Israeli rule will be guaranteed as long as one other condition is met. </div> <div> <B>The second goal</B> is to meet that "other condition:" Israel must possess one of the most powerful military forces in the world. A force that is equipped with nuclear bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. With billions of dollars in aid from the United States' government, and more billions raised by American Jews, Israel has achieved its second goal. It possesses one of the world's most powerful military forces. A force equipped with nuclear bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. </div> <div> <B><U>The primary source of terrorism </U></B></div> <div> All six of the peace plans initiated by Jews take issue with the politicians' assumption that their “facts-on-the-ground policy" benefits security for Israel. All agree the policy is a grave mistake. It poses the greatest threat to Israel's security as a nation. It is the primary source of terrorism in Israel and in Palestine,  as well as throughout the Middle East. It puts Israel in an untenable position in its relationship with the world community of nations. </div> <div> Jews initiating the “peace plans” say the construction of Jewish settlements in the “occupied territory” is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention, which Israel has signed. In order to protect Jewish settlers in Palestine, the “Israeli Defense Force” has had to resort to flagrant violations of international law against Palestinian civilians. For that reason, more than 500 Israeli officers and soldiers now refuse to serve in the “occupied territory.” </div> <div> The “official” position of the U.S. State Department has always been that the Israeli “settlements” are illegal. The U.S. Senate “Mitchell Report” confirmed that the “settlements” violate both U. N. and U.S. policy, and the settlers should be moved back to Israel. </div> <div> Organizations that support the peace plans claim the cost of the settlements and the world's fourth most powerful army is bankrupting Israel. It is creating social upheaval. Benefits for education, health, and human needs are sacrificed. The budget for military defense and special benefits for “settlers” continues to escalate.  </div> <div> Many Jews in Israel and elsewhere believe that the Israelis living in subsidized “settlements” in Palestine are now holding the world Jews “hostages.” Hostages to a “flawed idealism” of a small but powerful ultra-orthodox Jewish religious minority.      </div> <div> <B><U>The lose-lose dilemma </U></B></div> <div> Israel's “facts-on-the-ground” diplomacy has created a “lose-lose” dilemma for both sides of the conflict. The dilemma is how to negotiate peace with justice for the Palestinians and peace with security for the Israelis. </div> <div> <B>The ultra-orthodox religious Jews believe they already have won the war.</B> There is nothing to negotiate. It's too late to back down. Israel and the Jews have invested too much in the “settlements” that give Israel strategic control in Palestine. Control not only over Palestinian territory. But control over resources. Water, for instance. In a thirsty, bone-dry land Israelis designate most water sources for their own use.</div> <div> The majority of “settlers” are not ultra-orthodox religious Jews. Most moved to the settlements in Palestine for economic reasons. Not religious convictions. They were attracted by government subsidies that allow them to live more luxuriously in Palestine than they could in Israel. If given financial help to move back, many would willingly return to Israel in exchange for peace. </div> <div> But the ultra-orthodox religious minority holds the political power. The "settlements" are essential for their religious agenda to regain control over the biblical kingdom of Israel. That is a prerequisite, they believe, to the coming of their Messiah. They have thrown down the gauntlet. Israel will face civil war before they will leave Palestine. Palestine? In their minds, there is no such place. God gave the deed to Jews thousands of years ago. For them to give up now would violate “God's will.” </div> <div> <B>Palestinian negotiators believe they inevitably will win the war</B>. Their diplomacy is based on the belief that a peace plan, which provides justice for Palestinians and security for Israelis, is already on the table. The United Nations has confirmed its support for the plan on a number of occasions. The plan is supported by the European Union and the other nations of the world. Every U.S. President and every Secretary of State has publicly endorsed the requirement of the plan that Israel withdraw from the territory it occupied in 1967 and the settlers must leave. </div> <div> From the Palestinian perspective, negotiations must begin with this plan. Not a vague “road map” to determine how much more territory Palestinians will give up. </div> <div> The Palestinians believe they have accepted the mandate from the world community of nations. The Arab nations have done the same. While waiting for Israel to do likewise, they believe that, because of U.S. pressure, the world has allowed the Israeli army and “settlers” to terrorize Palestinians. They claim terrorism is Israel's strategy for making the occupation permanent. </div> <div> Yet, they believe time is on their side. Short of total genocide or the forced removal of more than three million Palestinians, Israel's “facts-on-the-ground policy" will backfire. The longer Israel holds out, the more blood will be shed on both sides, and the more Israel will lose in the end. </div> <div> <B><U>Has the "facts-on-the-ground policy" already back-fired?</U></B></div> <div> The six citizen-initiated peace plans deal directly with the “sensitive issues” of the occupation and the settlements. Decades of research have gone into the details. Once the occupation is ended, and all agree it must end, there still will be many issues to negotiate. Each of the "peace organizations" believe that the “facts-on-the-ground policy" has already backfired. The longer Israel postpones negotiating a just peace with Palestine, the more violence Israelis will experience--both from within and without. </div> <div> <B>The three Israel-based organizations are:</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information:</B></I></FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.ipcri.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ipcri.org"><U><B>www.ipcri.org</B></U></A></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. The IPCRI </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >is a world-class “think tank.” Israeli scholars and civic leaders have worked with Palestinian scholars and civic leaders for more than a decade to identify problem areas. Their web site provides data collected on every issue peacemakers must face. The web site suggests procedures for solving each problem. Many pilot programs initiated by IPCRI, especially in the area of education and conflict resolution, have proven successful. IPCRI supports a peace proposal it help create with the "International Alliance for Israeli Arab Peace." That proposal is described in the Link documents printed below. </FONT></div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Parents Circle - Family Forum</B></I>: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.theparentscircle.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theparentscircle.com"><U><B><U>www.theparentscircle.com</U></B></U></A></FONT><B> . </B>The Parents Circle's plan for peace confronts the most sensitive issue of all. More than 200 Israeli parents and more than 150 Palestinian parents, all who have had children killed in the "war of terror," came together to console each other and work for peace. Their plan begins with dialogue. If Israelis and Palestinians are not permitted to talk with each other they can never understand each other's pain. When Israel's curfews and closures in the West Bank and Gaza prevented further face-to-face meetings, the Parent's Circle set up a telephone "hot line" Israelis and Palestinians can use to talked with each other.   </div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions:</B></I> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.icahd.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.icahd.org"><U><B><U>www.icahd.org</U></B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT>The ICAHD plan for peace confronts another major source of Palestinian resentment and retaliation: the routine demolition by the Israeli army of Palestinian homes. The Israeli Committee cooperates with a Palestinian NGO, The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, to recruit Israeli and International volunteers to work with Palestinians to rebuild their homes. The volunteers also serve as "human shields" to prevent the bulldozing of homes when possible. Rebuilding even a few of the thousands of demolished homes is seen as a "grassroots effort to defy policies that inspire hatred,  and to pave a path towards a just peace." ICAHD's peace plan includes an American group, "The Right to a Home and a Homeland," <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://"><U><B>www.rebuildinghomes.org</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT> that coordinates a global campaign to raise funds for Israelis and Palestinians to do the rebuilding together---thus "building trust between two groups of people typically sworn off as 'enemies.'" </div> <div> <B>Three American-based organizations with similar peace plans are: </B></div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Tikkun Community</B></I>: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.tikkun.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tikkun.org"><U><B><U>www.tikkun.org</U></B></U></A><B><U>.</U></B></FONT>  The Tikkun Community's "pro-Israel, pro-Palestine peace plan" is based on Rabbi Michael Lerner's book, <I><B>Healing Israel/Palestine: A Path to Peace and Reconciliation</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>,</B></I></FONT> Tikkun Books, 2003. New branches of the "Community," with members of all faiths, are being organized nationwide. An annual Conference and Congressional "Teach-In" is held in Washington DC. The Tikkun plan outlined on page 134 in the book  includes, among many recommendations, an international peace-keeping force, an end of the occupation and of the Jewish settlements, full recognition of Israel by all Arab states in exchange for an Israeli return to the pre-67 borders, and an international fund to provide reparations to the Palestinian refugees. The Tikkun emphasis is on "reclaiming and reasserting the greatest asset the Jewish people have developed throughout our history: the moral legitimacy of a people who are committed to valuing love and justice and compassion above coercive power, violence and domination."   </div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace</B></I>: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.brittzedek.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.brittzedek.org"><U><B><U>www.brittzedek.org</U></B></U></A></FONT> The Jewish Alliance peace plan was conceived in May 2002 at the founding conference of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. The plan calls for a "Pro-Israel, Anti-Occupation organization" to create an alternative voice within the American Jewish community. The Alliance is "at once concerned for the security and long term well-being of the state of Israel, and is in disagreement (both moral and political) with the policies and actions of its current government." The peace plan is founded on seven principles that include an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories and removal of the settlements. A goal is to provide a powerful lobby in Washington to counter the "Likud-dominated" Jewish lobby that has kept the U.S. Congress "in lockstep with the Israeli government."  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jewish Voice for Peace: </B></I></FONT><A HREF="http://" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://"><U><B>www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org</B></U></A><B> </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The Jewish Voice for Peace seeks more discussion within the American Jewish community on crucial issues having to do with the Israel-Palestine conflict. It has published its own plan for peace that provides an historic perspective for discussion. The title of the plan is: </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id26__6_from_jew_to_jew_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Key Resources"><U><B>"From Jew to Jew: Why We Should Oppose The Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza."</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > The plan is included on TurnTheTide's "Key Resources" web site page. The introduction reads: "Unfortunately, the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel has led too many people, on both sides, to adopt blanket stereotypes of one another, turning them into something 'less-than-human'. This process of dehumanization then allows people to justify the violence committed by their own side, starting the cycle all over again. This is a classic 'lose-lose' situation that can continue on forever. Is there a way out of this mess? Yes, we think so, but only if we suspend our understandable reaction of automatically blaming the other side..." </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>A “Reality Test” of America's good intentions</U></B></div> <div> We believe these six non-political organizations, along with others like them, could lead the way to a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. If assisted by the United States, they could put together a peace proposal the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians would support. A shift from "war aid" to "peace aid" could make possible an American "mini-Marshall Aid Plan." Just as the U.S. aid rescued nations devastated by World War II, "peace aid" could rebuild and revitalize the economies of both Palestine and Israel.   </div> <div> The biggest hurtle would be the threat by ultra-orthodox religious Jews to incite civil violence against Israel. They have warned they will not withdraw peacefully from the occupied Palestinian territory. Their position is, it's "God's will" they stay. A well-funded cadre of ultra-orthodox Christian Zionist supports that position.</div> <div> To counter the challenge of civil violence, America's “big stick” and “big carrot” would be needed. </div> <div> The peacemakers say Israeli voters will respond to any sign U.S. criticism of the occupation and the “settlements” is moving from a “war of words” to a “plan for action.” A shift in America's $3 billion “war aid” to  “peace aid” would provide such a sign. </div> <div> This shift could win for the Israeli government the popular support it would need to fend off threats of violence by ultra-orthodox religious politicians. The shift could provide the financial support NGOs need to initiate, on a large scale, peacemaking projects that have proven successful on a small scale. The shift could provide funding to begin bringing “settlers” back to Israel. It could begin a construction boom in Palestine as homes were rebuilt and the damaged infrastructure of cities repaired.  </div> <div> The shift would provide an important “reality test” of America's good intentions in the Middle East.</div> <div> The “reality test” also would be important for Israeli citizens. They would have to believe the American action was not “against Israel.” Rather, the shift would move a political “lose-lose” confrontation to a “win-win” negotiation: a negotiation in which citizens would have a voice. Israelis would have to understand that America's ability to guarantee Israel's security was being increased, not decreased. By supporting a citizen diplomats' peace process, the U.S. was providing an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian citizens to demonstrate that successful peacemaking initiatives already begun could provide a basis for a just, secure, and lasting peace.    </div> <div> <B><U>An opportunity to break a deadly stalemate</U></B></div> <div> All six of the peace plans by Non-Government Organizations are concerned specifically with the security of Israel and Israeli citizens. All six concur there can be no security for Israelis without justice for Palestinians. As long as Israel occupies the territory of another people, it will be only a matter of time until Israel suffers the same fate. Now, while Israel is still powerful, it has an opportunity to lead in negotiating peaceful relationships with its neighbors.  </div> <div> Both the Palestinians and the Israelis understand that the present balance of power cannot last forever. Palestinian negotiators insist that the international peace plan put forward by the United Nations be the starting point for negotiations. If Israel refuses, they know there are many strategies that can bring Israel down in the future. They believe justice is on their side. They are willing to wait. </div> <div> Israeli citizen diplomats know this too. When Israel's “road map” requires Palestinians to give up more territory, the Israelis don't expect agreement. Israelis understand that from the Palestinians' point of view, they already have given up more than half of their ancestral homeland. The ultra-orthodox religious politicians rely on "God's deed" to the Israelites. The land was Israel's first. </div> <div> The result of this deadly stalemate will be more bloodbaths. More Israeli and Palestinian children will die as "chips" in a ruthless, cynical, deadly  game.   </div> <div> A dramatic shift of U.S. support from “war aid” to “peace aid” could break the stalemate. </div> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Six issues that make the peace process so difficult</U></B></div> <div> A retired Israeli physicist and grandfather contributed the following list of six issues that deeply concern him. These are issues that have made the peace process between Israel and Palestine so difficult. </div> <div> <B>THE CULTURE GAP:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > It is very difficult to understand other people's values. Because the culture and the beliefs of Palestinians are so different from that of the Israelis, will it ever be possible to find a common ground for negotiating a mutual understanding? </FONT></div> <div> <B>THE OVERWHELMING HATRED:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > How can the frustration and hatred be overcome when Israeli Jews hear a Palestinian mother express pride in her child for being a suicide bomber? How can her hatred and the hatred felt by those her child seeks to kill ever be overcome?  </FONT></div> <div> <B>TEACHING HATRED IN SCHOOLS:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > For decades Palestinian children have received a fanatic's indoctrination. How can they not think of the Jews as enemies? And how can the Jews not then think of Palestinians as enemies? </FONT></div> <div> <B>RELIGIOUS FANATICISM.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Religious fanatics on both sides interpret “Gods word” to justify their extremist positions. When religion is used to justify continuing cycles of violence, what power can possibly stop it? </FONT></div> <div> <B>THE NON-EXISTENCE OF A PEACE MOVEMENT IN PALESTINE.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > When the PLO and Palestinian society do not permit "a real and open peace movement on their side," how can an Israeli peace movement achieve anything?  </FONT></div> <div> <B>ISRAEL'S STRENGTH IS ITS ONLY HOPE.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Wouldn't it be a grave mistake to punish the “strong guy” by suspending military support for Israel? Israel must remain the “strong guy” or it won't survive.  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>RESPONSE:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > The 16 documents below respond to the legitimate fear and skepticism most Israeli citizens feel because of Palestinian violence against them. Each document relates to several of the above seemingly insurmountable issues--beliefs about the “other side” that make peace seem impossible. </FONT></div> <div> In these documents you will see the latest "citizens-based road map for peace." An Israeli think-tank assesses which side is “winning the war.” A Palestinian mother, a Palestinian father, and the mayor of Jenin (the so-called “city of the suicide bombers”) address the issue of children who strike back at Israelis by blowing themselves up. A professional team of educators from Israel, Palestine, and America present an analysis of the content of Palestinian textbooks. A member of the Israeli Knesset initiates a rare debate about the danger of Israel's weapons-of-mass-destruction setting off a nuclear holocaust. A Jewish member of the British Parliament tells why she has no choice but to boycott Israeli products. Israelis and Palestinians consider why the powerful "Big Guy" Israel, as in the biblical contest between David and Goliath, may lose to the powerless "little guy" Palestine.  </div> <div>  In addition to the 16 documents presented here, dozens more are included in TurnTheTide's link archives.</div> <div> Some readers may wish to go to the <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Peace plan"><U>“Citizen Diplomats' Peace plan for the Holy Land” now.</U></A>  If you do, we recommend you return at another time to read these documents. </div> <div>  <A NAME="_america_s_unique_opportunity"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>“America's Unique Opportunity Documents”</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_1___a_citizens_based_road_map_to_a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>1.  A Citizens Based Road Map to a</B></U></A><B> Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_2__a_palestinian_negotiator_s_view_on.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>2. A Palestinian negotiator's view</B></U></A><B> on how powerless Palestinians will gobble up the “Big Guy.” In the long run David wins over Goliath. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_3__an_ultra_conservative_israeli_view.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>3.</B></U></A><A HREF="id67_3__an_ultra_conservative_israeli_view.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U> </U></A><A HREF="id67_3__an_ultra_conservative_israeli_view.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>The ultra-orthodox Jewish view</B></U></A><B>: the Israeli “Big Guy” will gobble up the powerless Palestinians with America's help. David loses. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_4__dear_mrs__laura_bush_a_palestinian.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>4. A Palestinian mother speaks</B></U></A><B> her mind and her heart- she goes with her own mother to pick a lemon from an orchard that belonged to her grandparents. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_5__a_suicide_bomber_s_father_speaks_his.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>5. A Palestinian Father speaks</B></U></A><B> his mind and heart: let Hamas' leaders send their owns sons to die. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_6__an_interview_with_zuheir_almanasara.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>6. An interview with the mayor of Jenin</B></U></A><B>, the so-called “city of suicide bombers” </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_7__feeling_their_pain_why_it_is_so.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>7. Feeling their pain:</B></U></A><B> the spiritual dilemma of a Palestinian Christian who can't.  </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_8__discount_housing_and_cut_rate_taxes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>8. Discount housing and cut-rate taxes</B></U></A><B> for Israeli “Settlers” lead to economic disaster in Israel. </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_9__a_rare_public_debate_in_the_israeli.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>9. A rare public debate</B></U></A><B> in the Israeli Knesset on the escalating potential for nuclear holocaust.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_10__the__period_for_calm_for_israel__is.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>10. The “period of calm for Israel”</B></U></A><B> was a “period of death for Palestinians” </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_11__an_israeli_jew_comes_home_from.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>11. An Israeli Jew comes home</B></U></A><B> from France with a new view of reality and visits Palestine for the first time in his life</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_12__the_midterm_assessment.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>12. Israel/Palestine Center for Research</B></U></A><B> and Information's “Midterm Assessment” of which side is winning the war.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_13__palestinian_textbook_evaluation_and.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>13. Palestinian Textbook Evaluation</B></U></A><B> and Request to President Bush</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_14___i_have_no_choice_but_to_boycott.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>14</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Verdana" ><A HREF="id67_14___i_have_no_choice_but_to_boycott.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>. </B></U></A></FONT><A HREF="id67_14___i_have_no_choice_but_to_boycott.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>“I have no choice but to boycott </B></U></A><B>Israeli products:”</B> <B>Oona King, a Jewish member of the British Parliament</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_15__a_transgenerational_movement_to.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>15. "A Transgenerational Movement</B></U></A><B> to heal the wounded world" --  Judaism, Violence, and Nonviolence</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67_15___non_violent_resistance_in.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Unique Opportunity Documents"><U><B>16. Sharon & Fanatical Settlers Provide Best TV Show in Town</B></U></A><B> -- Critique of drama by Uri Avnery</B><B>e </B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>