Daily Record Guest Editorial
Annapolis peace conference must succeed
Friday, November 23, 2007
AREF ASSAF
Little talk if any about the Annapolis peace conference is
taking place among the normally over politicized Arab community.
For six years, we have rightfully blamed the Bush administration
for its inactions toward resolving the Palestine/Israel
conflict.
While there is ample justification for skepticism, this is not
the time for fatalism about the prospect for a durable Middle
East peace. It is time to stand by those who make serious
attempts at overcoming the obstacles which have eluded many in
the past. I have written about the prospects of the conference
and I do have my own doubts. But I must be ready to give peace
another chance, for it is the prize we all seek.
I am hopeful because I am witnessing a rather sustained and
proactive effort on the part of the American government.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been busily shuttling
between many capitals. Who knows? This gathering may succeed.
And if it does, the entire bloody history of the Middle East
stands to be revised, if not altogether rewritten.
The American Arab Forum, along with several Arab and Jewish
organizations, have endorsed the Ackerman-Boustany letter to
Secretary Rice in support of the Annapolis peace conference
commending her efforts to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process by convening an international conference this fall
and calling for additional steps to ensure its success. The
letter calls for "robust, hands-on U.S. leadership and
diplomacy" and states that "resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, through the establishment of two states for two
peoples, is too important not to seize the opportunities that
have emerged over the past weeks."
Arab and Jewish Americans have a historic responsibility to send
out a very unambiguous message that transcends tactical
differences in how we view the conflict. We fully support the
U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian governments as they launch the
Annapolis meeting in an attempt to revive serious
Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations toward a viable two-state
solution.
But for Annapolis to be a success, it must be followed by a
vigorously genuine U.S. diplomatic engagement more intense and
more involved than anything that has preceded it in the last
seven years. Importantly, tangible improvements on the ground
are vital, if the Israeli and Palestinian people are to support
diplomatic efforts, at Annapolis or after. There must be a
dramatic increase in freedom of movement and access for
Palestinians, and a total freeze on settlement growth from the
Israeli side; and stepped-up security, financial, and
governmental reforms on the Palestinian side.
The unbearable humanitarian situation of Palestinians living in
Gaza must be addressed, and Israel must stop threatening
invasion or the cutoff of electricity.
The pro-peace grass-roots have no choice but to offer one simple
message: Peace must prevail. We must not revert back to the
previous years of diplomatic neglect. We now recognize the utter
failure by declaring that there is no Palestinian partner for
peace or unilateral withdrawal from some territories, combined
with unilateral settlement expansion in others.
Peace and security for the Israelis will only come when the
Palestinians rights, in their entirety are dealt with in a just
and caring manner.
The hard work will start the day after Annapolis. That's when
the world will be watching to see how serious all the parties --
Israeli, Palestinian, American -- really are about peace. That's
when American leaders will be judging just how much support they
have from their constituencies, especially American Arabs and
Jews, for continuing down this difficult path.
Because we care about America's peace and that of the world, let
us use this holiday season to pray for the success of the
Annapolis Conference.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aref Assaf is president of American Arab Forum, a think-tank
based in Paterson. He lives in Denville.
|
|
