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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
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
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The Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-israel-20140709,0,1374094.story#ixzz370OY2jif
Religious extremists are scuttling prospects for Mideast
peace [Letter]
12:00 p.m. EDT, July
9, 2014
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.
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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]
12:30 p.m. EST, February 15, 2014
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."
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.
Islamists thrive on the continuation of the
Israel-Palestine conflict, and so do anti-American hate
mongers and many misinformation campaigns. It is in our best
interests as a nation, and as conscientious compassionate
global citizens, to seek the full and total truth about
Israel and Palestine and to do all we can to support an
actual end to the Israel-Palestine conflict with a just and
lasting peace shaped by a fully secular, two state solution
that fully respects international law and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
*************
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, 2014
The 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.
Now is the time for negotiations and negotiations need clear, easy to understand assessments of the situation:
Two fully secular, fully independent and secure sovereign nation states- both FULLY respecting universal basic human rights and the rule of fair and just laws, allow for a transition away from the nefarious bigotry and injustice and intransigence and grandiose delusions that have been galvanizing religious extremism and violence on both sides.
Two states, with Palestinian refugees able to return to original homes and lands in Israel, or resettle in the New Palestine, or move on and away.
Two states, as a gateway to a future where tourists, teachers, students, workers, family members, friends, artists, poets, filmmakers, researchers, archeologists,(...etc...) will be able to travel back and forth knowing that their home and their garden and their loved ones, who ever and wherever they might be, are safe from destruction.
Two states with every citizen free to find ways to make diplomacy and compassion an every day endowment for everyone's sake.