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?
Considering that today 22 Arabs were killed in fighting between HAMAS and FATAH in Gaza today, in addition to 10 yesterday, with a new twist of throwing their enemies off tall building, it seems rather halluncinatory to think that the US Senate can force President Bush who in turn is supposed to force the Israelis and Arabs to make peace. Sometimes reality overcomes wishful thinking. This reminds me of the US senator, who something like three days before Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939 said something like “if I could only sit down with Hitler, I am SURE we could work something out”.
BTW-regarding your calling Dershowitz a “brownshirt” in the other thread, I would warn that you are going on to a slippery slope. Many people consider Finkelstein an ally of the Nazis in his unending delegitimization of Israel which the vast majority of Israeli Jews (5 million, almost half of total world Jewry) consider, for better or worse their state, which they identify with, so you see two can play that game, and this would just lead to endless mudslinging.
You are on a slippery slope here yourself. First, I don’t allow anyone to compare either Israelis or Palestinians here to Nazis. So if you trespass this rule again yr comment will be deleted for sure.
This is an odious calumny. I will not let you make such statements here. You are on notice. If you want to call Palestinians or Norman Finkelstein Nazis you will no longer be welcome here.
And in case you argue w. my “brownshirt” epithet & claim I’m violating my own rule–I was talking about Dershowitz’s tactics which I find brutal & repulsive; but not calling him a literal Nazi.
I am afraid that I missed the nuances you are describing here. When you said that Dershowitz was “using Brownshirt tactics”, I thought you were saying he is like a Nazi.
Dershowitz uses tactics familiar to bullies and tyrants the world over. But since it is Dershowitz who allows the world to believe that Finkelstein’s mother was a kapo, I thought it apt to compare his tactics to those of the Nazis, some of the most impressive bullies the world has known. But that doesn’t make a Dershowitz a real Nazi, as in a follower of National Socialism.
Considering that today 22 Arabs were killed in fighting between HAMAS and FATAH in Gaza today, in addition to 10 yesterday, with a new twist of throwing their enemies off tall building, it seems rather halluncinatory to think that the US Senate can force President Bush who in turn is supposed to force the Israelis and Arabs to make peace
Not in any way to absolve the Palestinian factions of their responsibility, but you are ignoring the United States role in fermenting the violence. Read the except from the report by former UN Middle East Coordinator Alvaro de Soto.
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That’s not to mention the indirect ways in which the US, Israel & the international community have continued to the infighting – e.g. the economic strangulation of Gaza has left young Palestinian men without any options except to join private militias; the economic boycott & withholding of customs of the Palestinian Authority had resulted in he breakdown of the Palestinian Authority, etc.
Again, none of the absolves Fateh & Hamas of theirresponsibility for their criminal infighting.