Posted July 9, 2009 - 19:06 by Larry Stillman
Bitter Lemons http://www.bitterlemons.org/ is an example of a website that can offer reasoned debate over controversial issues.
Given the controversy over Hamas (a terrorist organisation or a legitimate political force?), the opinions expressed in a recent issue (July 6, 2009 Edition 26) are well worth considering. Follow the link above, and think!
* The stick-and-stick approach has failed
by Ghassan Khatib
No political process can be successful without Hamas
* Test Hamas intentions separately
by Yossi Alpher
Posted June 30, 2009 - 11:29 by AJDS
Uniquely, as far we we know, this opinion piece by two people well known in the Jewish and Arabic speaking communities in Australia has now been published on the same day(July 2, 2009), by newspapers which serve each community, the Australian Jewish News, and An-nahar. We hope that this article reflects a new era of dialogue and realism not just in Australia, that also has some influence in the Middle East.
Posted June 22, 2009 - 13:26 by AJDS
THE US President’s recent speech in Cairo heralded a new beginning in relations between the US and the Muslim world.The Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) believes it is in the interests of all countries in the region to respond positively to the opportunity presented by this constructive re-engagement with
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Posted June 16, 2009 - 22:57 by AJDS
A lead letter published in the The Australian, 16 June 2009
THE US President’s recent speech in Cairo heralded a new beginning in relations between the US and the Muslim world, and signalled a re-engagement with finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is, therefore, disappointing that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s response has merely restated Israel’s position with a new precondition that the Palestinians must recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
Posted June 15, 2009 - 23:43 by AJDS
Akiva Eldar and Yossid Sarid have pulled no punches into the inadquacey of Netanyahu's response to Obama
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1092898.html
A friendly tip from Abu Mazen
By Akiva Eldar
Dear Mr Netanyahu,
I admit that I did not hold my breath in anticipation of your speech. I heard that your first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, said it is not important what the gentiles say - what is important is what the Jews do.
Posted June 8, 2009 - 23:58 by AJDS
The AJDS has written a statement in support of the Obama initiative in the Middle East.
If you support this statement, please follow the link at the end of the statement to provide your public endorsement through an online petition which demonstrates the extent of support for a new approach in the Middle East.
Background (Preamble):
The Australian Jewish Democratic Society together with other Jewish Australians who care greatly for both the future of Israel and the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians strongly endorse the views recently expressed by the US President in Cairo.
His words represent a sea change in approach to a conflict that has festered for so long that many of us have despaired of the possibility of finding a path to a resolution. His words articulate both the main elements of the conflict as understood by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society and a way forward to hope:
Posted June 8, 2009 - 13:11 by David Zyngier
When the horrors of the Holocaust and the actions of the nazis
are associated with more modern events, many of us find the
comparisons to be demeaning and insensitive. When those tags
are applied to Israel we find them totally offensive.
Yet Morry Sztainbok (AJN letters 5/6/2009) finds no problem
using those sorts of comparisons when it comes to people he
clearly despises. To quote him: "..then it was Kapos, today
Jewish 'peace' activists; then it was Mein Kampf, today the
charters of Hamas and Fatah."
So Sztainbok thinks that it is within the acceptable limits of
public debate to associate kapos with Jews he disagrees with,
and compare Palestinians with the nazis. His words make that
clear.
I think that sort of vilification is offensive to Jews and
Palestinians. My only comfort is that my letter will be one of
many who condemn Sztainbok's words. After all, the Jewish
community wouldn't display a double standard, would it?
Harold Zwier
Posted June 7, 2009 - 23:41 by AJDS
Obama's speech to the Muslim world has generated a huge amount of commentary. The
following is intended as an overview some of the more interesting points raised
--Sol Salbe
Posted June 7, 2009 - 13:50 by David Zyngier
Posted June 5, 2009 - 18:18 by AJDS
Ten Comments on Obama in Cairo – Still Accumulating, Not Expending Capital-- Daniel Levy
This piece was also published at TPM Café
The Obama team´s remarkable wordsmithery and the president´s unparalleled capacity for delivery were exquisitely on display again today in Cairo. But this speech should perhaps be remembered as much for what was not said. Gone was the arrogance and lecturing: there was no lavishing of praise on Egypt´s undemocratic leader – the word ‘Mubarak´ was not even mentioned once. Out too was the purple finger version of democratization and even the traditional American condescension toward the Palestinian narrative. But perhaps most remarkably of all, the words ‘terror´ or ‘terrorism´ did not pass the president´s lips. Here was a leader and a team around him smart enough to acknowledge that certain words have become too tainted, too laden with baggage, their use has become counter-productive, today the Global War on Terror framing was truly laid to rest.
