Dan Sisken reports on Congresswoman Donna Edwards's town hall meeting earlier tonight in Silver Spring, MD:
For the first hour or so, Edwards talked about how she had come to
get involved in Israel-Palestinian issues and take a trip to the region. Edwards was cautious in her statements, referring
many times, for instance, to the "security infrastructure" but saying
very little directly about checkpoints. She also spoke about Israel's
security needs and expressed fear at the growing influence of Hamas in Gaza. She
saw the large number of kids in Gaza as being especially susceptible to
Hamas's influence.
get involved in Israel-Palestinian issues and take a trip to the region. Edwards was cautious in her statements, referring
many times, for instance, to the "security infrastructure" but saying
very little directly about checkpoints. She also spoke about Israel's
security needs and expressed fear at the growing influence of Hamas in Gaza. She
saw the large number of kids in Gaza as being especially susceptible to
Hamas's influence.
But as the evening wore on, she injected more comments and
observations that one seldom hears in public discussion about the
Middle East in the United States from members of Congress. This was
particularly the case in the question and answer session when she often
directly answered questions instead of just mumbling some pat phrases.
When someone asked her if she would support the current aid bill in
Congress, she said she didn't know (b/c she hadn't read it yet). And by
the end of the event, it was her willingness to go fairly far outside
of the AIPAC talking points that left the strongest impression on me.
observations that one seldom hears in public discussion about the
Middle East in the United States from members of Congress. This was
particularly the case in the question and answer session when she often
directly answered questions instead of just mumbling some pat phrases.
When someone asked her if she would support the current aid bill in
Congress, she said she didn't know (b/c she hadn't read it yet). And by
the end of the event, it was her willingness to go fairly far outside
of the AIPAC talking points that left the strongest impression on me.
One of her main themes was that we do not have an open discussion
of Middle East issues in this country. She made this point repeatedly
(often to vigorous cheering by a sizeable minority in the room). She
noted that her delegation (with two other representatives) spent a day
at the Knesset meeting with Israeli MKs, observing the proceedings.
She remarked that she wished we had similarly spirited debates on Middle East
issues in Congress. Later on, she made the point that she thought that
there was a vigorous debate within the US Jewish community and that as
an African-American it would be extremely offensive if someone assumed
that all African-Americans thought the same way about something. She
encouraged all Americans to bring this debate into the open (more
applause) and that it was an important American security interest.
of Middle East issues in this country. She made this point repeatedly
(often to vigorous cheering by a sizeable minority in the room). She
noted that her delegation (with two other representatives) spent a day
at the Knesset meeting with Israeli MKs, observing the proceedings.
She remarked that she wished we had similarly spirited debates on Middle East
issues in Congress. Later on, she made the point that she thought that
there was a vigorous debate within the US Jewish community and that as
an African-American it would be extremely offensive if someone assumed
that all African-Americans thought the same way about something. She
encouraged all Americans to bring this debate into the open (more
applause) and that it was an important American security interest.
On Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Edwards strongly
supported Obama's attempts to get a freeze on all Israeli construction
(and received more applause). On Gaza, she said that the border
closure "was not helpful" and that while Israel has legitimate security
concerns, it was important to let goods in and let people out. She
thought this was a high priority.
supported Obama's attempts to get a freeze on all Israeli construction
(and received more applause). On Gaza, she said that the border
closure "was not helpful" and that while Israel has legitimate security
concerns, it was important to let goods in and let people out. She
thought this was a high priority.
On a final solution, she said she strongly supports a Palestinian
state side-by-side with Israel with a clear border between them. In her
view, this was an Israeli interest, a Palestinian interest and an
American interest. She said that while there might be some adjustments
to the green line, the international border as of 1967 was the starting
point for diplomacy.
state side-by-side with Israel with a clear border between them. In her
view, this was an Israeli interest, a Palestinian interest and an
American interest. She said that while there might be some adjustments
to the green line, the international border as of 1967 was the starting
point for diplomacy.
Finally, she called many times for more open discussion of
Israel-Palestinian issues and asked people to support this at the
community level.
Israel-Palestinian issues and asked people to support this at the
community level.
I found it interesting that Edwards' somewhat heretical views were
aired with not a lot of resistance or even surprise. I would put the number attending this meeting at between 200 and 250.During the
question/answer period, a few (almost all elderly) people stood up and
recited the standard AIPAC talking points, but they were often shouted
down ("ask your question!") and didn't appear to get much traction. I
left before it was over so don't have a sense about what sort of
conversations might have taken place afterward.
aired with not a lot of resistance or even surprise. I would put the number attending this meeting at between 200 and 250.During the
question/answer period, a few (almost all elderly) people stood up and
recited the standard AIPAC talking points, but they were often shouted
down ("ask your question!") and didn't appear to get much traction. I
left before it was over so don't have a sense about what sort of
conversations might have taken place afterward.
