Comments on: Israelis welcomed in Doha Forum in Qatar

By: Wendy Wolfe

Wendy Wolfe — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:33:22 +0000

I have been visiting several internet forums, informing myself on various subjects regarding Qatar. You see, my husband received a very lucrative job offer and we were contemplating moving there. We are both Canadian. He is white which doesn’t seem to be a problem. I, however, am a Jamaican Jew which, apparently is problematic for many. I speak fluent Arabic, Hebrew, French (and obviously English) and I am willing to accept, adhere to and embrace any civil and cultural requirements, in order to fit in and respect the people of Qatar. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be good enough.

In my country, I’m normal, in Qatar, I’m an outcast. Very disappointing.

By: yasmin eliaz

yasmin eliaz — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:24:12 +0000

thank you aziz for letting us, jewish from israel, to feel comfertable.. u are more than welcome to come over…

By: Elias

Elias — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:25:33 +0000

I was one of the Jews with kippahs on their heads, and I was very comfortable at the Doha Forum. However, I was frustrated that our Palestinian cousins could not link the end of the occupation with the end of the conflict. Anyway, it was very interesting to read your comments. Never I would have thought about the importance of this discussion.

By: AYLA

AYLA — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:19:01 +0000

looking forward to your post, Jalal.
*
I woke up this morning thinking: I’d like to live in a world where we all normalize with each other. not because the world is okay the way it is; precisely because it is not. The question is: which way to the same end of which we all dream?

By: Jalal

Jalal — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:47:29 +0000

@Aziz
I couldn’t read other comments, but I read yours mentioning me, sorry I couldn’t reply earlier. I’ll reply quickly to this, and probably I’ll write a piece during the break regarding my views, it’ll be a “civilized” debate.
You might find this unrelated to the piece directly, but its more of a reply.

I will be quoting your comment in between quotation marks.

“some Palestinians might think of you as a normalizer for writing with Israelis on 972″

That is true, some Palestinians do think that way but I absolutely disagree. You see, normalization is a term to be nuanced. You can take it to the extreme and even call the “Joint struggle” normalization, but you know that isn’t true. Not everyone might think logically regarding this topic; people have to study a certain case pretty well before making accusations.
Second, no I do not speak for all Palestinians or consider myself an “authority”, I just present my views and what I think is right.
Defining normalization, I’d say it is to normalize the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to appear as a conflict between two equal sides, two sides which happen to be oppressor and oppressed at the same time, it is to help creating an image of the oppressor as a victim, which is exactly what you did in your piece.

Regarding this:
“Most of the Israelis I saw in Qatar were involved in Peace work and activism. So, are you against Israelis joining Palestinians in nonviolent protests? Isn’t that dealing with Israelis? Would that be normalization?”

Did I even say that anywhere? You certainly didn’t mention that too in your piece, which is a big problem. All you talked about was your surprise to see Israelis in Qatar treated equally and SPEAKING too.

As for this:

“I think it is time to stop this nonsense of self righteousness and accusations for things according to each one baseless opinion.”

Opposing the normalization of the occupation is not “nonsense of self righteousness and accusations” as you call it, and it certainly isn’t baseless. I see in normalization a false portrayal of our struggle, fortunately many Israeli activists agree on this point, especially many of those who are an active part in the joint struggle. They admit the imbalance of this conflict, they don’t seek to normalize it to create cheap one-sided propaganda.

Now regarding this part which I thought was funny, given you think of me as an extremist for opposing this kind of normalization:

“Third, Do you think Palestinians should all agree with your definition. Even if you think the majority of Palestinians agree with your definition on Normalization what do you do with those who disagree? Are they traitors for working for peace with Israelis? What do you think the punishment of someone like me who is willing to meet Israelis and work with them to end the occupation?”

I’d like to tell you, there are three people who I consider my closest friends, the very closest; two of them have already participated in normalization camps which I disagree with. Another close friend who has been my neighbor for my entire life has also participated. Guess what? My friendship with them just got stronger; I have never called them traitors or betrayers as you came to that conclusion alone. We usually have very healthy conversations and discussions regarding issues we disagree with; we talk about the wrongs and rights and eventually both sides of the discussion learn something new from the other. I don’t know who called you a traitor Aziz, but that certainly isn’t my attitude.
I am fine now just replying to your comment, but I am willing to write a post about it whenever I’m free, this topic is absolutely worth the discussion. It is also worth noting that my position on this issue is one of many different positions and it is based on one understanding. There are various opinions regarding this matter, and all are surely welcome to present their ideas.

By: Lutfi

Lutfi — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:44:54 +0000

Are Israelis welcomed by Arabian officials who represent the voice of their nations?
No.
So, can we say Arabs accepted Israel?
No.
Are some Arabs willing to do so?
Yes. Some Arabs seem to be part of IOF. They are killing civilians who demonstrate for freedom and democracy and then they are repeating the same IOF speakpeople’s excuses.

By: Nizo

Nizo — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:29:40 +0000

lelelelelleeeeeeeeeeeeee

That’s my grandmother ululating, the one who is rotting away in a refugee camp in Lebanon. She’s very happy to hear that the Jews who kicked her out of her house are enjoying Arab hospitality in Qatar.

lelelelelleeeeeeeeeeeeee

By: suad jaber

suad jaber — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:33:07 +0000

Comment deleted by moderator.

By: AYLA

AYLA — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:48:39 +0000

@Sinjim–okay, you’re right, it’s good I read the whole thread. Listen: you’re one of the commenters I most appreciate and respect on this site. Regarding this issue, I can understand why you and so many would call for the boycott of the State of Israel in regional diplomacy. However. I don’t believe it’s the best tactic. I believe it feeds the snowball of victim-mentality. That mentality is NOT your responsibility; it is each person’s responsibility to examine his/her own pain-responses (which all have some reality/truth at their root) and to heal and to respond from a place of wholeness. In a perfect world, all of us would be doing that work. But we live in this world. And in this world, what would be most healing, and productive toward the end of the occupation, would be the kind of work Aziz is doing, which begins with the self. I can’t think of anything more brave. or moving. Or empowering. My guess is that by doing that kind of work, Aziz (and others like him on all sides: bereaved families, combatants for peace…) attract others into their lives who are doing the brave work of opening their hearts rather than closing them in the face of grief, and that they feel hope and strength from each other. From this experience of hope and strength comes vision. And then we just try to put that vision’s fire out with our ideology and/or political certainty. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from living in the desert, it is this: you can’t draw lines in the sand; there is always wind.

By: Sinjim

Sinjim — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:36:24 +0000

@Ayla: I encourage you to read everything I’ve written here before saying that I’m clinging to a one-sided narrative. My disagreement is not about narratives. It’s not about Israelis as individuals, either.
.
This is about Arab countries normalizing relations with the state, and that is something that all Arabs should oppose. Instead, dear Aziz is touting this normalization as a good thing and compares it to Taayush and other initiatives of Palestinian-Jewish cooperation, even though they have nothing to do with each other.
.
The state of Israel doesn’t have a right to recognition. It is a privilege, one that it hasn’t earned. So Qatar (and it’s not the only state that’s guilty of this) de facto recognizing Israel as the latter engages in institutionalized racism against Palestinians is not good at all. In fact, it does nothing but reassure the worst elements of the Israeli political class that what they’re doing is fine.