Oberman is a third-year political science student.
By Jasmine Oberman
Like many others of both Jewish and Muslim faith, I have been
very upset and saddened by what has been going in Israel and the
Palestinian territories these past couple of weeks. But, it was
when I read the article by Fadi Amer (“Extreme actions
inflicted on “˜frustrated’ culture,” Daily Bruin,
Viewpoint, Oct. 11) that I became angry.
Although it was well-written and brought up some valid arguments
it was filled with the same hateful, closed-minded view that is at
the root of the violence in the Middle East as we speak.
Amer’s article gave a descriptive and pointed argument in
favor of the Palestinians, but he completely ignored the Israeli
point of view. Although I cannot speak for the entire population of
Israel, I would like to shed some light on the subject and give the
other side of the story.
First of all, here is a quick reminder for those with a
short-term memory: This summer at Camp David it was the Israelis,
led by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who Clinton said showed
“particular courage, vision and understanding of the
historical importance of this moment” and who “moved
forward more from his initial position than Chairman Arafat”
(www.aipac.org/documents/aipacmemo100500.html).
 Illustration by GRACE HUANG Barak and his advisers have
even considered dividing Jerusalem, the holiest site to the Jewish
people, in order to come to an agreement. The Israeli government is
offering unprecedented, historic compromises on some of the most
sensitive issues. They have been willing to give the Palestinians
90 percent of the West Bank and Gaza Strip as well as some Arab
areas in Jerusalem
(www.aipac.org/documents/aipacmemo100500.html).
Peace is so important to the Israelis that they are willing to
make ground-breaking concessions. The Palestinian Authority, led by
Yasser Arafat, has on the other hand refused to make any
compromises. The truth is that if the Palestinians valued peace
over pride as much as the Israelis do, we would have a peace
agreement right now.
Even after Barak and Arafat failed to sign an agreement this
summer, the Israeli government tried to maintain peace. Former
Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to the holy
site on the Jewish holiday was peaceful. It was not until a full
day later that riots orchestrated by the Palestinians took place.
They continued after Arafat met with Palestinian paramilitary
leaders to keep the violence alive for political purposes.
According to Israeli intelligence, the Palestinians closed their
schools and bused Palestinian students to the Temple Mount to
participate in the riots during this past couple of weeks
(www.aipac.org).
Obviously, Arafat is not willing to work toward peace. Deputy
Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh announced that Israel had no
intention to conquer or take the West Bank or Gaza and it has been
stated that as soon as the Palestinians stop their rioting, Israeli
defense actions in response to the violence will stop.
Amer speaks about the 50 years of brutality. The brutality is on
both sides. I have heard the stories of the Palestinians who have
been killed. I have also heard the stories of the two young
soldiers who were “stomped and beaten with iron bars”
for making a wrong turn into a Palestinian town last week; of the
innocent men, women and children bombed at the market place in
Jerusalem in 1997; and of an Israeli Olympic Team killed for
representing their country in 1972 at an event intended to promote
world peace.
I am not bringing up all of this to further anger anyone. We are
angry enough. My point is that Palestinians are not the only ones
who have suffered. Both groups have been hurt over the past 50
years. The Israelis cannot be blamed for everything without
recognizing that the Palestinians and the Arab World have acted
very violently, harshly and without humanity on several
occasions.
To add insult to injury is the Palestinians’ complete
denial that the Jews have any claim to the Temple Mount. While
Israel recognizes the spiritual attachment of the Muslim people to
the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the Palestinians
won’t even admit that the Ancient Hebrew Temple exists.
Yes, I have been to the Arab areas of Jerusalem. I have also
been to the Western Wall and seen the archeological evidence of the
Temple lying beneath the mosques. The Temple is there. It is an
archeological fact.
So in response to Amer’s plea for mutual respect, I
agree!
Now is the time for us to pursue peace with more commitment than
ever. But true peace cannot be reached unless the Palestinians
understand that the Jewish people have as valid a claim to the land
as they do and that their heartaches at the hands of Arabs have
been just as vicious, painful and angering.
At the most recent Yom Kippur services, Rabbi Chaim
Seidler-Feller of UCLA Hillel stated that in order for there to be
true peace, the Israelis and the Palestinians have to acknowledge
the wrongs they have done to each other and accept each
others’ right to live in peace. I think this a beautiful
statement and very true despite how difficult it might seem.
So, how can we as students make peace in a country halfway
around the world? I encourage all readers to write your
congressmen, senators and even President Clinton, telling them how
much you value peace in the Middle East and that you strongly
support legislation that will keep the peace process alive. It does
not take much time and it really will make a difference.
As for peace at UCLA, it would be nice if Israeli Independence
Day was not surrounded by propaganda including speakers and
graffiti attacking Zionism and equating those in favor of a Jewish
state to neo-nazis. This is not a step toward peace, but only
antagonizes fellow classmates.
Instead, I encourage students to research both sides of the
story. Stay open-minded. If one group was all good and the other
was all bad, a solution would have been made years ago. Reaching an
agreement that is fair to everyone would have been easy.
Unfortunately, it’s not that black and white.
Once we begin to understand each other, it will make it much
easier to work toward peace. Once a peace agreement is made both
Palestinians and Israelis will begin to heal from the years of pain
they both have suffered.