Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place

This came today in an e-mail from Americans for Peace Now. Those of you planning a Passover seder, perhaps you can incorporate this important drash/prayer into your own:

Reject Hate, Embrace Hope, Recommit to Peace!

AT THE POURING OF THE FOURTH CUP:

Traditionally, we fill this cup to welcome the Prophet Elijah, who heralds the start of the Messianic era. For centuries, we have recited Psalm 79:6-7: “Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know you and on the kingdoms that do not call upon Your name. They have devoured Jacob and made desolate his dwellings.”

In the Middle Ages, Jews invoked this fantasy of divine retribution as a poultice for the wounds inflicted during our long history. This bitterness was understandable, if unproductive. Now we live in a time that we are ostensibly free, yet the nations who actually invoke God’s name continue to desolate one another. God’s Holy Land is riven by terror and revenge. Jacob’s forbears, Isaac and Ishmael, remain gripped in the medieval mind-set. Despair makes us yearn for the arrival of Elijah.

We cannot bear to wait any longer. We cannot endure endless war. Elijah seems but a faint hope, not a solution. Tonight, we open the door to our neighbors, to dwelling with one another in quiet and shared delight. As we open the door we raise our fourth cup in a toast to the fresh breeze of renewed commitment, to the rejection of hate, to embracing hope, and to the hard work of making peace. And, we raise our glasses to life. We pray this “LeChaim,” will bring us the longed-for redemption. Let this be the way we welcome Elijah.

By Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky.

Donate to Americans for Peace Now.

A coalition of American Jewish peace groups is supporting a newly introduced resolution written by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) and Richard Lugar (R, IN), S.R. 224, which reaffirms American support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urges President Bush to appoint a high-level peace negotiator to revive peace talks between the parties, and urges them to embrace the Arab League peace plan.

Americans for Peace Now notes:

The resolution, cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Max Baucus (D-MT), Robert Byrd (D-WV), John Sununu (R-NH), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to a “true and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the establishment of 2 states, the State of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, with recognized borders.” It also calls on President Bush to “pursue a robust diplomatic effort to engage the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, begin negotiations, and make a 2-state settlement a priority.” It calls on the President to “consider appointing a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace who has held cabinet rank or is equally qualified, with extensive knowledge of foreign affairs in general and the Middle East region in particular.” The resolution also welcomes the Arab League Peace Initiative and calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to “embrace efforts to achieve peace and refrain from taking any actions that would prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations.”

If your senators aren’t yet co-sponsors please visit the Brit Tzedek site and send them an e mail urging them to do so.

Curious what posture AIPAC will take toward this. They surely can’t publicly sabotage it. But privately…? They’ve got to feel the Arab League plan is pure trash. But as Olmert has made sympathetic noises about it (and not done anything beyond that naturally) can AIPAC publicly trash it?

For months, I’ve been following the plans for a possible new progressive alternative to AIPAC being formed within the American Jewish community. I was tremendously excited when George Soros was named as a possible supporter and funder. When he backed out (foolishly in my opinion), I thought the idea was likely dead. But good ideas don’t die easily and others have carried on the discussions:

Merger talks are heating up among three leading dovish Israel advocacy groups in a development that proponents hope will produce a new mega-organization with greater political clout and more money to push for a two-state solution.

Leaders of Americans for Peace Now, the Israel Policy Forum and Brit Tzedek v’Shalom are weighing the idea and are expected to reach a decision by the fall. The discussions are being held within each of the groups and between leaders of the three organizations, under the auspices of several Washington-based activists who are promoting the idea of a pro-peace Jewish lobby.

…Some liberal observers are hoping that a new joint entity could emerge as a counter to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel lobby that doves have accused of working against efforts to convince the White House to do more to advance Israeli-Palestinian talks. Organizers of the new initiative are publicly dismissing any talk of weakening or competing against Aipac; at the same time, they insist that the goal is to create a new voice for American Jews.

The Forward article notes a bold funding initiative for the new group which is impressive if they can bring it off:

Proponents of the merger aim to raise $10 million — double the combined annual budgets of the three organizations — to help launch the new initiative. Part of the money would come from contributors who already back the three existing groups, but most of the $10 million — if the goal is reached — is expected to come from donors who currently do not give to Jewish organizations or to other pro-Israel groups. Among the potential donors being targeted are Jewish figures in Hollywood, as well as young liberal Jewish philanthropists who currently focus their giving on non-Jewish causes

As a Jewish communal fundraiser, I’d hate to be dubious about such a potentially wonderful venture, but this sounds like the pipe dreams that lots of progressives have about finding funding. The truth is usually that the money comes from those who are committed and I don’t see Hollywood Jews or those who don’t currently give to Jewish causes as strong prospects. There’s a reason why they don’t give to Jewish causes (alienation and remoteness) and they’re not likely to make an exception for this one.

But hey, prove me wrong. It won’t bother me a bit.

One of the sticking points has been the structure of the new entity:

According to sources familiar with the talks, the organizations are being asked to choose between two options: instituting a formal merger that would create a joint pro-peace organization under which the three existing groups would continue to operate, or creating a separate new body that would raise funds independently and provide financial assistance and backing to projects directed by the existing groups.

This is confusing. How do you have a “formal merger” in which the three groups would continue to operate? Unless each of the three groups would focus on a single distinctive area of operation like research, lobbying and outreach, say–but all within one over-arching organization. I’m agnostic on the idea of creating a funding mechanism that would support the three separate groups. It seems a bit cumbersome to have 3 groups fundraising separately and then have a fourth raising money for all of them.

A friend who works for one of the groups gave it a 50/50 chance of ever getting off the ground. I’d say that’s still about right. But we need such a new venture. We need a bolder, stronger, better funded voice to combat the hidebound notions of AIPAC. Israel is in desperate straits and needs to hear a voice of encouragement and friendship, but also one of realism and pragamatism from the American Jewish community. Separately, these groups have had much success. But in a joint venture there is much more that could be achieved.

We aren’t doing enough. The situation is very bad. It calls for more from us. But can we give it? Do we have it in us?

Americans for Peace Now and the Arab American Institute released a Zogby poll (full results–pdf) of American Jews and Arab Americans which provides some interesting new data on attitudes toward Mideast peace. One of the most important findings is that both groups track very closely on almost every question asked (with a few exceptions). This indicates there are no significant gaps between American Jews or Arabs on questions of war and peace which both hold vital.

The poll also confirms what many of us have known for years–that American Jews diverge strongly from the views of their leaders and the Israeli government when it comes to Israeli-Palestinian peace.

90% of American Jews support a “secure, independent” Palestinian state.
88% of Arab Americans support a “secure, independent” state of Israel.

34% of Jews believe that Arab Americans support a secure independent Israel.
60% of Arabs believe that Jews support a secure independent Palestine.

87% of Jews and 94% of Arabs support a negotiated two-state solution.

68% of Jews and 64% of Arabs would be more likely to vote for a Presidential candidate who advocated strong engagement in the Mideast peace process.

20% of Jews and 21% of Arabs found George Bush’s policy “effective” in “handling the Arab-Israeli peace process.”

73% of Jews and 79% of Arabs feel it is vital to engage in diplomacy to resolve the Iran nuclear standoff.

21% of Jews and 30% of Arabs feel “optimistic” about Middle East peace.

40% of Jews and 66% of Arabs feel the U.S. should “steer a middle course” between Israel and the Palestinians.

58% of Jews and 59% of Arabs said they would be more likely to support a Presidential candidate who supported peace negotiations between Israel and Syria.

81% of Jews and 84% of Arabs support Israeli-Syrian negotiations.

89% of Jews and 92% of Arabs believe it is important for both communities to work together for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

65% of Jews and 89% of Arabs believe it is imperative to end the Israeli Occupation.

63% of Jews and 77% of Arabs believe in a settlement freeze.

70% of Jews and 82% of Arabs support the Arab League initiative.

80% of both Jews and Arabs agree with the Iraq Study Group report that finding a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is necessary for advancing U.S. Mideast policy goals.

This poll tells us a number of interesting things. It reinforces the absolute divorce between the views of average American Jews and their leadership and the leadership of the State of Israel. AIPAC and other other groups constituting the Israel lobby do not support Syrian-Israel negotiations, are highly suspicious of pursuing a diplomatic strategy regarding Iran, oppose the end of the Occupation, oppose a settlement freeze, and are dubious about the Arab League Initiative.

One somewhat distressing finding was that only 34% of Jews believe that Arabs support a secure Israel, while in fact 88% do. This, of course, indicates the sorry, violent state of affairs in the Middle East today and also the drumbeat of negativity that is inculcated into American Jews by the local Jewish media and the Israel lobby.

A hopeful finding also was that fully 40% of American Jews believe that a “middle course” is the best road for American policy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I recall the Republican Jewish Coalition attempting to excoriate the Democrats in the last election because they allegedly are in favor of such a “middle course.” Little did the Repubs know that an equal number of American Jews favor a middle course (40% + 1% who favor tilting toward Palestine) to those who favor a tilt toward Israel (44%). Despite the enormous efforts of AIPAC to drive a stridently pro-Israel agenda the effort has failed, at least at the grassroots level.

I hope that the Democratic Presidential candidates will also wake and realize that the majority of American Jews don’t want a candidate who will kowtow to AIPAC’s hardline, no compromise agenda. The vast majority, in fact, want a candidate who strongly supports a peace process with both the Palestinians and Syrians. You wouldn’t know this from everything coming out of the mouths of Clinton, Obama and the rest.

All I can say is thank God for American Friends of Peace Now (and Brit Tzedek and Israel Policy Forum). They’re leading the charge against The Palestinian Anti Terrorism Act of 2006 ((HR 4681), a piece of draconian anti-Palestinian legislation that would further erode the already miserable quality of life for average Palestinians. It will tie Pres. Bush’s hands if he wishes to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. It will prohibit paying the salaries of the 160,000 Palestinians who work for the Palestinian Authority, effectively starving them if not to death, then to a state of perpetual want.

According to the Jerusalem Post, all three Jewish groups are directly taking on the behemoth of American Jewish organizations, Aipac, which is the 800 lb. gorilla behind this legislation. Aipac distributed an FAQ memo in the run up to the legislative vote on the bill, which contained specious arguments and erroneous interpretations of its language. Aipac would have you believe that the bill isn’t intended to penalize Palestinians for voting for Hamas in the last election. Even if you give the group the benefit of the doubt (which you shouldn’t) and say they don’t INTEND to penalize them, the net effect of the legislation will be to do precisely that. And thank God, APN issued an immediate rebuttal refuting Aipac’s distortions point by point. The group organized messages of opposition sent to 300 members of Congress in only 12 hours! Now that’s organizing.

Gazan dialysis patient awaits treatment (photo: George Azar/NYT)

Over 50% of Gazans live below the international poverty standard of $2 a day. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. says Israel Radio reports four Gaza hospital deaths already because kidney dialysis treatments have been reduced by one-third due to running out of necessary medicines, supplies and equipment. Imagine what’s to come once the crisis deepens. Here’s what one dialysis patient had to say to a NY Times reporter:

In the dialysis ward of Shifa Hospital, Ahmed Shabat, 51, sits in fraying clothes. He must come every other day. “This is my work,” he says, then shows the swollen veins on his arms caused by a lack of mineral supplements normally provided. “What is the relationship between humanitarian and political aims here?” he asked. “The United States is the mother of democracy. What is political about salaries to teachers and nurses? Please,” he said, “please don’t mix humanitarian help with politics. Please separate the two.”

Malnutrition is rampant. IDF shelling is incessant. And Aipac proposes ratcheting up the pressure even further with this poison pill of a bill. Someone should tell these people that our Jewish God is one of mercy, not of blind justice. And besides, what’s just (or merciful) about the bill or the Israeli punishment policy it represents?

The world already sees America as a heartless bully due to our militaristic forays into the Mideast. Is this legislation the face we really need to show the world? That we would willingly stand by while Palestinians drop dead in the streets and hospitals from conditions that would be easily curable in any modern society? Do we want to stand by while Israel and Aipac turn the screws ever tighter on an already debilitated people and society?

PLEASE, write your Congressmember asking that he or she opposes HR 4681. It is bad for America. It is bad for the Palestinians. It is even bad for Israel because it will draw us farther from a reasonable solution to the conflict. This bill is a worrisome distraction from the real issues confronting the parties–their need to sit down face to face and negotiate for peace. In other words, it’s a big fat waste of time for our elected representatives.

UPDATE: APN reports that Congress has delayed action on the bill, a victory for forces opposing it. This gives Congress further opportunity to amend the bill and make it more consonant with the milder Senate version.