The President says, “One year ago, I stood at this podium and called for an independent Palestine. I believed then – and I believe now – that the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own. But what I also said is that genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves.” His words, unfortunately, are like mental illness – there is no basis for optimism. The Middle East peace process has only allowed the Palestinian people to fall a little bit deeper into despair and oppression, dying amid useless dialogue and nonstop occupation. Death, torture, refugee camps, more settlements, an apartheid wall and the passage of time are evidence that the Palestinian people are not free, but worse – they have not been treated human. It is more sickening, more repulsive, when this optimism comes from those who are so well-informed and cannot recognize that they are lying to themselves while the Palestinian people are being annihilated.

The President does not say, “It is a fact that loyalties cannot be built on a framework of moral disloyalty. Human need is not answered by mere ideas, which has been the only thing offered to the Palestinian people.” If the president should make this kind of statement, and if other world leaders gave up the will to be silent and respectful, things might finally change and there would be no reason to believe that they are committing political treason or continue to corroborate in the lie that has continued for more than 60 years.

The President says, “Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side,” He says, “Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem.” If it were any other situation, we might be able to believe that these words are backed by sincerity and raw truth and not on behalf of those who have cash and power or who have the advantage of the hour.
The President says “Israel deserves recognition. It deserves normal relations with its neighbors.” He did not say that the Palestinians deserve recognition or that the Palestinians deserve liberty and justice.
Here alone is where we must stop pretending that serious changes will occur within the lives of those under occupation, without the need for unjust ideals to be altered. The end results of this conflict are tied directly to the value of America’s contribution; this obviously means much less, especially when impartiality and fairness are so obviously missing. It’s time for the UN to do more and the US to do less.

Khalilah Sabra
MAS Immigrant Justice Center

from what i’ve heard the bds campaign is replacing the anti war movements on campus, which is exactly why israel on campus coalition exists. needless to say there was no need for this when i was in school.

“A: For many campuses, the delegitimization of Israel and prevalence of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is a real concern. To this end, ICC has mobilized its network of partner organizations and professionals to collaborate on countering-BDS materials. These materials include case studies, documents, resources, and best practices guides for campus and community professionals, and students dealing with delegitimization of Israel. With numerous contributors, the ICC’s materials provide a comprehensive, user-friendly resource to assist in important efforts on campus. Check out our resources for countering delegitimization (link to the page) or give us a call. We’re here to help”

it’s here, it’s real, get used to it.

this is funny. you should check out some of the little districts all across america with no jewish populations. even the desert in nevada where people couldn’t find israel on a map. they never even discuss israel in their districts. you know why their politicians support israel? because if they don’t the lobby dumps a ton of money into their opponents coffers in the next election.

Do you know how many times I have heard from you “progressives” that “Americans have had it with Israel”. This is so false yet you guys keep repeating it. In the 1970′s the Arabs tried to blame Israel for the oil embargoes, yet the Americans blamed the Arabs and the oil companies, not Israel. Most of what you write here is simple wishful thinking.

Taha’s tragic case highlights the plight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who live in squalid refugee camps in Lebanon and who are the victims of an apartheid system that denies them access to work, education and medical care”
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http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=212512
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Written by Khaled Abu Toameh who is a Palestinian journalist.