When I went to Syria in January (to visit my wife’s cousin who teaches in Damascus), I signed a visa application on which I had to check a box saying that I had never been to “Occupied Palestine.” I’d never been to Israel; I checked the box. I didn’t feel good about it.
Just now an angry Ambassador Ja’afari of Syria came out of the U.N. Security Council and condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestine that has gone on for “four decades.” He was obviously referring to the occupation of the West Bank. I believe that this is an indication of Arab attitudes: that they are ready to accept the existence of Israel within the ’67 borders. Even Hamas does, per the prisoners’ proposal. Don’t such signs relieve the “existential” fears?
