Update on Gaza: a fresh start for peace?
"Christina Zola"
Wed, January 21, 2009 15:56 To: "alice minassian"
Arab American, Jewish and faith-based groups call upon our President to work for Middle East peace
Today, the Arab American Institute, Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, American Task Force for Lebanon, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Churches for Middle East Peace, and J Street sent a joint letter urging immediate attention to Middle East peace to President Obama and "urged Obama to make a 'fresh start' in U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict, to 'find solutions, create incentives and implement a plan,' and pledged the collective and collaborative support of the groups' constituencies in this undertaking." To read the entire letter, please click here.
Obama makes the Middle East a priority
Reuters is reporting that the Palestinian Authority was among those Mideast leaders who received phone calls from America's newly inaugurated president. By our count, that's less than 24 hours in office and he's already picking up the phone. His message? A commitment to actively pursuing an Arab-Israeli peace.
So, who might our new Middle East Envoy be?
More than a rumor, but still less than hard fact than a rumor, but still less than hard fact: George Mitchell, architect of the peace accord in Northern Ireland, has been linked to the position. This is good news for those who seek peace in the Middle East. Mitchell's selection, given his record as a peace negotiator, would send a clear message that the Middle East is an important priority to this President.
A bit of advice for our new Envoy...
On Janurary 15, Dr. James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, Maya Berry, a principal with The MidAmr Group, and Amjad Atallah, director of the Middle East Task Force of the New America Foundation sat down with Al Jazeera English's Shihab Rattansi. Rattansi opened the discussion by asking Dr. Zogby what advice he had for a new Middle East Envoy.
Dr. Zogby: My advice... is to first demonstrate an immediate and deep concern about the human suffering. Compassion is what is absent. We put pressure on Palestinians and show compassion to Israelis, and we put no pressure on the Israelis and all the pressure on the Palestinians.
Shihab Rattansi: Immediate concern while still recognizing Israel's right to defend itself?
Dr. Zogby: No, because the point here is that they've gone well beyond defending themselves. The fact is that we have to begin to unwind this conflict. The first thing is to demonstrate to Palestinians that there is concern, gain their trust. Secondly, to tell Israel it's gone too far too long this is not self-defense it is hurting them, most certainly hurting the Palestinians, hurting America and the cause of peace. So compass and immediate insistence to stop and then you begin to focus on the political way out.
The entire interview is enlightening; while the experts agree to the major points, each brings a shaded nuance of their own to the conversation. Well worth watching here.
Could our 44th President really usher in an era of change?
Where were you when our 44th president took the oath of office as Barack Hussein Obama and made his Inaugural Address? And what, exactly, did you hear?
We pulled a section from President Obama's address (you can read the whole text by clicking here), the portion that addressed foreign policy, and took the liberty to bold those sections that offer a new perspective on America's involvement in the world, in general, and the Middle East, in particular:
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
...To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
Read as a whole, President Obama's address promises that the United States will be a willing partner to people of good will everywhere. Wherever we can lend assistance, we will try. The force-first doctrine of the Bush administration will give way to one that uses all the tools in its foreign policy tool box. Our new president challenges the world's ideologues to build the world up, not tear it down. Enduring values of tolerance, respect, support and enlightened self-interest are more powerful than the tactics of terror and intolerance. Obama reminds America's enemies that we are a strong nation with a history of--and an abiding interest in--justice: those qualities cannot be defeated and will not be abandoned.
It doesn't look like Obama will be spending much time redecorating the White House. His first 24 hours in office suggest great aspirations to renovate American government as we know it: to put pride, compassion, and the steady hand of 'justice for all' back into our daily work.
We can only hope that this all bodes well for Gaza...
As the new administration moves swiftly to prioritize its mission in the Middle East, conditions on the ground in Gaza are still deplorable.
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes is pushing Israel to open the borders to more than just the trickle of humanitaraian aid now able to get into Gaza. Dollar estimates on the destruction in Gaza runs to the billions. Holmes is advocating for building supplies and pipes to be brought in to begin the reconstruction of Gaza. BBC reports:
"The recent truce between Israel and Hamas militants does not include any deal on the opening of the crossings, which are tightly controlled by Israel.
So far Israel has been allowing only basic humanitarian supplies - like food and medicine - into Gaza.
Mr Holmes, who is expected to visit Israel on Wednesday, also stressed that he would be pushing Israel to allow international aid organisation into Gaza.
"In theory, they have permission. In practice, it's proving very difficult to get into Gaza."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is unrelenting in his calls for investigations into alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. Ban visited Gaza yesterday; the Secretary-General estimates that $330 million is needed for urgent projects, and $2 billion for reconstruction projects.
Final words from... OCHA
19 January 2009: Following Israel's announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, the priority for United Nations agencies is to assess the extent of damages and the needs of the population, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes explained today. The ceasefire took effect 18 January, after 22 days of violence.
"Urgent humanitarian access for the people of Gaza is the immediate priority. The United Nations is ready to act," stressed UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon over the week-end.
As of 18 January, 50,000 Gaza residents were still in temporary shelters in schools managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); an estimated 400,000 have no access to running water. "Some 80 percent of the Gaza population is food dependent on us," warned John Ging, head of UNRWA operations in Gaza. "The needs are growing exponentially, and the pipeline for humanitarian supplies is very narrow." Kerem Shelom and Karni crossings have been reopened, allowing 100 trucks to get into Gaza, but the amount is still insufficient, noted Mr. Holmes.
Mr. Holmes also called for an independent investigation into allegations that Hamas militants were hiding in UNRWA schools. On 17 January, a third United Nations school was hit by the Israel Defense Forces, killing two children and wounding 14 others. The Secretary-General demanded "a thorough investigation into these incidents and the punishment of those who are responsible for these appalling acts."
For OCHA's list of immediate funding needs, please visit:
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_crisis_cap_funding_2009_english.pdf
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