Any effort that can lend civility to the treatment of the other, is helpful. Thank you for your work (especially if it is informative more than propagandistic).

"The panelists, Arab-Americans, sought to assure him that no one wanted to kill Israelis, they wanted to live with Jews; and even the fiery Joseph Massad said that he disapproved of Hamas's language."

Important statements. Thank you for asserting them.

It would be of added importance if they were similarly made in Palestine though, say in communities where there is the prospect hatred of Jews. (Is there some more profound danger in doing so though?)

The dissenting Israeli military that witnessed and objected to the persecution of Palestinians in Hebron, expressed courage in speaking on behalf of the other, even with the danger of prison and alienation from their own community.

In the light of continuing terror, aren't the statements though somewhat parallel to me assuring Palestinians that Zionists don't really want to drive Palestinians from their land.

We both need some changes in fact, beyond rationalizing words.

Why is that Phil?

I think the oppossite. I think that we should be of help to work that Palestinians and Israelis are doing, moreso than agitating from outside.

My sense of the critical links are:

1. Ecological (If they really love the land, then DO it, which requires working with the other for what they state to mutually love)

Loving the land is DIFFERENT than loving control over the land.

2. Medical – The Hippocratic oath (the primary statement of what it means to be a physician, a healer) is a means to cut across racialisms, nationalisms.

3. Cultural – Learn each other's language, have Palestinians teach Israelis Arabic, and Israelis teach Palestinians Hebrew.

4. Academic – Science is not national (in spite of the nazis rejection of "Jewish science"). Even study of history can cross bridges, magically.

5. Infrastructure – Collaborate when there is a basis to. Now, empower Palestine using solar to form a new grid. Don't rely on nuclear (like the Iranians) when the sun is free and will remain so. (The photovoltaics aren't though.)

6. Economy – Encourage trade. Form the institutions that can mediate and adjudicate inter-communal trade.

7. Polity – Support civil political parties that participate in both states, or at least have links to similar in the other community.

8. Oppose terror as a means.

Where academic LINKS are the basis for forming real cultural connections and breaking down the prejudices that result from ignorance of the other and separation from the other, the attempt to boycott against those institutions is COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.

Two steps back to take one step forward.

"I haven't seen a spontaneous conversation of this sort in all my reporting on this issue."

It seems that some students who were taught during childhood to reflexively support Israel are questioning that conventional wisdom. As they should.

A deeply unpopular war (Vietnam in our youth; Iraq, Afghanistan and the Second Intifada now) provides a provocative backdrop for the young to question EVERYTHING their parents' generation stands for — the ones who engineered the bloody catastrophe.

Maybe Nadine Gordimer will have some conversations like those Phil witnessed. From Haaretz:

————

Nadine Gordimer has confirmed she will participate in the International Writer's Festival in Jerusalem next month, allaying concerns that she would cancel due to political pressure. The 84-year-old South African Nobel laureate had warned festival organizers last week that she would cancel unless they arranged meetings for her with Palestinians.

She reportedly said her attendance was perceived at home as support for apartheid in Israel. "She will meet with Sari Nusseibeh, with students from Al-Quds University, travel to Ramallah with [Meretz MK] Haim Oron, and meet with Robi Damelin of the Parents Circle organization of bereaved Palestinian and Israeli families," festival director Yael Nahari said. (Shiri Lev-Ari)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/978737.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3537078,00.html

Carter: Israel rejected Hamas truce offer

Ex-US president blames Israel for denying Gazans food, water; says Hamas won elections 'fair and square'
Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – Blaming Israel, again: Former US President Jimmy Carter says that following his meetings with Hamas leaders the group offered a truce in Gaza but Israel rejected the offer. During an interview with NBC, Carter also blamed Israel for denying the citizens of Gaza basic supplies such as water and food.

A less than stable floor.

The last time there was a hudna, Hamas allowed Islamic Jihad to shell Sderot at approximately the same rate as Hamas was doing prior.

Some said that Hamas personnel gave Islamic Jihad materials and people to conduct the shelling.

It led to Olmert's rational response of "We will not abide by a truce in which Hamas merely subcontracts its terror out."

Also, the negotiations for a cease fire were orchestrated to be mediated by Egypt. The cease fire proposal from Egypt is still pending, in Hamas' offices.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/979049.html

30 members of Hamas and other Palestinian factions meet in Egypt to discuss ceasefire

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies

Tags: Egypt, Israel, Tzipi Livni

A Palestinian official says 30 members of various factions are gathering in Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian mediators over finding a comprehensive truce with Israel and a measure of unity among the divided factions.

In retrospect, my assessment of things a week ago was pretty dead-on:

http://commentariat.specblogs.com/index.php/2008/04/22/so-about-those-sensible-discussions-of-the-middle-east-i-was-once-so-excited-about/

Great to see you last night, though.

the nakba did begin in the 19th century. pogroms or retaliations? the causes? give us the whole story. why didnt the russian jews go to a country next door? why so far?

funny that the aggressor, the victimizer has to be reassured re the victim. reassured about what? justice.

the disease has bored deep and goes from generation to generation.