Letters to the Editor
The Wisconsin State Journal, May 23, 2004
PROJECT FITS PROGRESSIVE TRADITION
After the recent carnage in Rafah, I feel compelled to express my support for the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project. In spite of what its opponents claim, I see no empirical evidence that this is a “thinly veiled mechanism to bash the state of Israel.” Furthermore, I think this sister city project is an important endeavor that is consistent with Madison’s progressive tradition.
Madison already has established controversial relationships with other towns that in earlier days were considered by many to be inimical to the United States. For example, Arcatao is in a region of El Salvador that was largely controlled by the Marxist FMLN in the 1980s. Also, Managua was the seat of power for another Marxist movement, the Sandanistas. Although our erstwhile presidents shunned the FMLN and the Sandanistas, and many Americans were suspicious of such leftist movements, Madison residents bravely and presciently stepped forward to forge productive, enriching and peaceful partnerships with Arcatao and Managua.
I hope the mayor and City Council will take advantage of this opportunity to renew Madison’s leadership in forging positive relationships with other people around the world.
– Dwight Haase, Madison
Look at other options
The Madison City Council is considering a resolution that would establish a Madison-Rafah Sister City relationship with the city of Rafah in the Gaza strip. The Madison Jewish Community Council has unanimously opposed the resolution and has mobilized to stop the resolution from passing. Kavanna, the progressive Jewish student group on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, joins them in opposition.
We oppose this project because we are concerned about Hamas activity in Rafah and about Al Mezan, the Palestinian nonprofit that would be responsible for implementing the sister city project on the Rafah side. Al Mezan participated in the U.N. Durban conference on racism that dissolved into anti-Israel hatred. There is also the question over whether Madison-donated funds to Rafah would go to the right place or people — or might be embezzled by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas or other terrorist groups.
Kavanna affirms Madison’s desire to support reconciliation and peace between Israel and Palestine. The Madison-Rafah Sister City resolution is an unacceptable way in which to achieve this objective, but there are other ways to establish a supportive relationship with the Palestinian people. Therefore, while rejecting this resolution, Kavanna applauds its intentions and offers other possibilities for the city of Madison to support peace in Palestine and Israel:
* There is a Palestinian industry enclave in the northern Gaza Strip that we can support, hospitals and schools we can adopt, and other humanitarian and cultural support the city of Madison should give to the Palestinian nation.
* There are other Palestinian and Israeli cities that deserve our support. One example is Kibbutz Metzer and Village Kaffin, neighboring Israeli and Palestinian villages separated by the Green Line between Israel proper and the West Bank. These Israelis and Palestinians have lived as peaceful neighbors for decades, and today both sides oppose the location of the new Israeli security fence being built through Village Kaffin’s fields. Madison could become sisters with both Village Kaffin and Kibbutz Metzer as they try to resolve this issue.
Kavanna calls on the Madison Jewish community, along with the City Council and pro-Palestinian movement in Madison, to cooperate on a viable alternative to the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project.
– Jeremy Manela and six other members of Kavanna
Stop Israeli storm troopers
While the Wisconsin State Journal editorialized against having Rafah as a sister city, Israeli storm troopers are killing and maiming citizens of Rafah who protest being occupied and having their homes bulldozed by Israeli forces. Even Israel apologized for murdering 10 or 15 protesters the other day, but the State Journal evidently has less compassion in its heart for the Palestinian people than the would-be Nazis from Israel.
– Walter Todd Zechel, Sauk City
Project’s foes need education
Opposing the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project bycrying anti-Semitism is a shortcut to thinking. I would suggest those opposed to helping the Palestinians should educate themselves on what the Israeli government and military have done to the people of Palestine for the last 50-plus years. Read “The Palestinians : In Search of a Just Peace” by Cheryl A. Rubenberg.
You can’t argue with facts, and the fact is the Israeli government has been practicing a prolonged form of ethnic cleansing — genocide — for the last five decades. Did the Holocaust teach us nothing? This must stop. The Madison-Rafah Sister City Project is a small way the people of Madison can make a big difference in the lives of Palestinians. Our governments have failed us. We need to step in and make things right. If you oppose the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, you are indirectly supporting genocide.
– Paul C. Aud, Madison
Cite this article
“PROJECT FITS PROGRESSIVE TRADITION.(OPINION)(Letter to the Editor).” The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI). McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 2004. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-117127084.html
COPYRIGHT 2004 Capital Newspapers
