[WCUSP] Fw: Apartheid as our frame? Dems Repudiate Carter Book

[Joyce McLean]

thanks for the full quote on Conyers...another case of media distortion...however Libby his words also go along with the theme of your letter to Joan......Israel and Jewish people are often considered synonomous (SP?).....it is good that you remind us of this trap....but how can this list serve go beyond its internal unhappiness  and send some letters expressing our concern about US present policy in its support of Israeli actions unconducive to justice to people like Pelosi?  For the record, I am Jewish an ex-Zionist...so I know very well there is a difference between being Jewish and Israel and feel frustrated that this list serve can't be speaking out instead of so much in.....I am unhappy that Dem leaders are being critical of Carter's book...trying to remove themselves from it (which the media then pushes further) I want  WILPF to be saying to them what I say personally to my Congressperson.....stop aiding a country that is doing what Israel has been doing....land, fence,cluster bombs, Gaza ,etc.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Libby and Mort Frank 
  To: WCUSP at Wilpf.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 4:19 AM
  Subject: [WCUSP] Fw: Apartheid as our frame? Dems Repudiate Carter Book


  Dear Joan and all,

  I have the deepest disagreement with your comments, Joan.  You have characterized the U.S. Jewish community as a united force that hasn't been and can't be reached, no matter how,  claiming that "reason doesn't work..."  I find your characterization insulting.  Criticicism of U.S. or Israeli policy is certainly called for, but characterizing the entire U.S. Jewish community as not listening to reason is not acceptable.

  You go on to confuse Israeli policy with that of the U.S.: "international human rights conventions and the Geneva Accords have no impact on Israeli policy -- words of the victims have no impact and the facts on the ground have no impact on ..."  And, you quote Golda Meir who made her reprehensible statement as an Israeli leader. 

   I share your impatience and want to scream as I read of the situation in Palestine.  But thousands and thousands of Jewish Americans have opposed Israeli policy, have opposed U.S. policy.  We have reached others and continue to do so.  

  Rep. Conyers said the use of apartheid in Carter's book "does not serve the cause of peace and the use of it against the Jewish people in particular, who have been victims of the worst kind of discrimination, discrimination resulting in death, is offensive and wrong..."  So the establishment Jewish papers say Conyers is "Standing up for Israel Against Jimmy Carter."  That is Wrong.  One can oppose the use of incendiary words about Israel and not be "standing up for Israel."  

  Looking at the 2006 Congressional Scorecard published by the Arab American Institute, one can see that Conyer's voting record is among the best on issues considered crucial to Arab Americans.  He is hardly beholden to the pro-Israeli government lobby.

  I stick with my deep belief in the absolute necessity of changing U.S. policy.  Being sensitive about where people are coming from doesn't mean we're mincing words.  It means we have the possibility of opening minds and changing minds.  I've done it, as have many others.

  Libby




    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: JoanWDrake at aol.com 
    To: lmfrank1 at verizon.net ; beejayssite at yahoo.com ; kzaidan at wilpf.org ; wcusp at wilpf.org 
    Cc: turacc at earthlink.com ; odilehh at gmail.com 
    Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:20 AM
    Subject: Re: [WCUSP] Apartheid as our frame? Dems Repudiate Carter Book


    Over the past twenty years or more I have concluded that there is no way of framing the issues posed by Israel's 60-year long military occupation of Palestine that will be acceptable to the US Jewish community. So I see little difference in mincing words or being expansive when trying to reason with or appeal to Jews in the US on this issue; I don't believe our choice of vocabulary words will make much difference in being heard and responded to in a reasoned discussion. Reason does not work -- international human rights conventions and the Geneva Accords have no impact on Israeli policy -- words of the victims have no impact and the facts on the ground have no impact on the wall of silence and steadfast denial that American Jewry has built around Israel's total debasement of the Palestinian community and its people. Golda Meir denied the very existence of Palestine and Palestinians -- and today's generation follows in that vein by denying Israel's vicious policies of extermination and control. While there are notable exceptions in our community, such as Libby and Odile and their Israeli counterparts, they are few and far between and they do not speak for the mainstream -- and their attempts to point a way to peace and stability in the region is appreciated more in activist circles than within their own community. I know that they experience the same frustrations that those of us working on the issue have experienced. The knee jerk response to Carter's book title by Democratic Party office holders is quite understandable -- you don't serve in Congress unless you are in line with AIPAC policy -- the politicians who have spoken out on the matter clearly want to hold on to their jobs. I really think the current debate is not very enlightening or helpful -- call it what you like, but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...? 


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