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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/opinion/how-to-answer-the-fears-of-a-palestinian-mother.html?ref=opinion
The Opinion Pages | Letters
How to Answer the Fears of a Palestinian Mother
To the Editor:
Re “A
Mother’s Fear in East Jerusalem,”
by Rula Salameh (Op-Ed, July 10), and “Religious
Freedom in Peril,” by Nicholas
Kristof (column, July 10):
Horrified by the hate crimes and
violence generated by the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ms.
Salameh condemns Israel, but she doesn’t
condemn the nefarious part that
Islamists are playing in perpetuating
the tragic conflict.
Mr. Kristof admits that he was reluctant
to write his column “because religious
repression is an awkward topic when it
thrives in Muslim countries.”
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is
ruining many lives; it needs to end, for
everyone’s sake. Big-picture, inclusive
thinking is the only way out of this
cruel mess.
Ending the conflict with a just and
lasting peace built by two fully secular
sovereign states, Israel and Palestine,
both fully respecting international law
and universal human rights, is the best
way forward.
ANNE SELDEN ANNAB
Mechanicsburg, Pa., July 10, 2014
Mechanicsburg, Pa., July 10, 2014
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The Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-israel-20140709,0,1374094.story#ixzz370OY2jif
Freedom of religion, as well as freedom from religion, is
crucial to the stability of all countries. Arming religion with
lethal weaponry plus public funds is a very bad idea ("A
dangerous turning point in Israel," July 7).
The Israel-Palestine conflict has always been personal for the people who live there, and the momentum for making the Israel-Palestine conflict into a religious conflagration starts with the fact that Israel foolishly insists on being "a Jewish state."
Israel being "Jewish" translates into taxpayers' money and international aid generously funding Israeli policies that privilege Jews, including but not limited to Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Jews-only settlement projects built on land usurped from native, non-Jewish Arab Palestinians.
These policies have created and exasperated a huge refugee crisis, with countless Palestinians pushed into poverty, forced exile and despair.
Islamist extremists have risen up to make a bad situation worse in every possible way. Were it not for the Islamists' reign of terror, many more people and governments worldwide would have much more sympathy and compassion for the Palestinians' plight.
Advocating full respect for international law and universal basic human rights to shape a secular, two-state solution with two sovereign nations living side by side in peace and security is the only way out of the mess made by the religious extremists and hatemongers on both sides.
There are many good and decent people on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict who deserve a chance to live and raise their children in peace and dignity. Worldwide the rule of fair and just laws is an ongoing process that requires educated, empowered and engaged citizens who are willing and able to see beyond their own personal suffering and sorrows. The best revenge is living well.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, Penn.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has always been personal for the people who live there, and the momentum for making the Israel-Palestine conflict into a religious conflagration starts with the fact that Israel foolishly insists on being "a Jewish state."
Israel being "Jewish" translates into taxpayers' money and international aid generously funding Israeli policies that privilege Jews, including but not limited to Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Jews-only settlement projects built on land usurped from native, non-Jewish Arab Palestinians.
These policies have created and exasperated a huge refugee crisis, with countless Palestinians pushed into poverty, forced exile and despair.
Islamist extremists have risen up to make a bad situation worse in every possible way. Were it not for the Islamists' reign of terror, many more people and governments worldwide would have much more sympathy and compassion for the Palestinians' plight.
Advocating full respect for international law and universal basic human rights to shape a secular, two-state solution with two sovereign nations living side by side in peace and security is the only way out of the mess made by the religious extremists and hatemongers on both sides.
There are many good and decent people on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict who deserve a chance to live and raise their children in peace and dignity. Worldwide the rule of fair and just laws is an ongoing process that requires educated, empowered and engaged citizens who are willing and able to see beyond their own personal suffering and sorrows. The best revenge is living well.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, Penn.
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-israel-asa-letter-20140215,0,2785848.story
Don't silence criticism of Israel [Letter]
I totally agree with Melani McAlister's point that the
"question of how Americans should respond to the
deteriorating situation in Israel and Palestine — what our
government should do, what we as individuals can or should
do — should be openly and freely debated" ("Maryland
bills would stifle academic freedom," Feb. 12).
Already, social pressure tends to convince numerous concerned Americans to voluntarily refrain from criticizing Israel. Some stay silent because they do not want to be falsely labeled as anti-Semitic. Meanwhile, many other people, including movie stars who prefer to empower Israel and Israeli propaganda continue to be highly motivated to do so at every opportunity.
More than 60 years ago, Israel's application to membership in the United Nations clearly pointed out that Israel was directly contravening "the previous recommendations of the United Nations in at least three important respects: in its attitude on the problem of Arab refugees, on the delimitation of its territorial boundaries, and on the question of Jerusalem."
Already, social pressure tends to convince numerous concerned Americans to voluntarily refrain from criticizing Israel. Some stay silent because they do not want to be falsely labeled as anti-Semitic. Meanwhile, many other people, including movie stars who prefer to empower Israel and Israeli propaganda continue to be highly motivated to do so at every opportunity.
More than 60 years ago, Israel's application to membership in the United Nations clearly pointed out that Israel was directly contravening "the previous recommendations of the United Nations in at least three important respects: in its attitude on the problem of Arab refugees, on the delimitation of its territorial boundaries, and on the question of Jerusalem."
Since then, things have only gone from bad to
worse. Did you know that the number of Palestinian
structures (including many Palestinian homes) demolished
by the Israeli authorities in the Jordan Valley more than
doubled, from 192 in 2012 to 393 in 2013? Adding in
American legislation to penalize the few American scholars
and students who are willing to publicly discuss the very
real suffering and plight of the Palestinians gives
sovereign Israel even more power to oppress, persecute,
disenfranchise and displace the native non-Jewish
population of historic Palestine.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
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http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-le-0111-saturday-israelis-palestinians-20140111,0,6299511.story#axzz2q99pO6jx
Letters: Bringing peace to the Middle East
January 11, 2014The peace process has been tragically unsuccessful, and war in the region has produced terrible consequences. No one in the Middle East is safer, and many countries are much less stable now than before.
Multiple factors, including religious extremism and terrorism motivated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are likely to make this dangerous situation go from bad to worse.
Considering all that, I have to agree with the gist of your editorial, and I very much hope that more people do what they can to help make a just and lasting peace for both Israel and the Palestinians a reality.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Penn.
