Letters to the Editor II
The Wisconsin State Journal, June 20, 2004
Madison’s plan to strike a sister city pact in the Gaza Strip, scheduled for a vote this summer, continues to bring reader response. Here’s a sampling.
More honors for killers
I’m delighted that the City Council – or the al-Madison Martyr’s Brigade, as I assume they preferred to be called – has solved all the city’s problems and has the leisure to address foreign affairs, where they no doubt have equal expertise.
But I feel making terrorist stronghold Rafah Madison’s sister city doesn’t go far enough. The next step, of course, is to rename Madison’s streets in honor of suicide bombers. The more Jewish children you kill, the longer a street gets named in your honor. East Washington Avenue should rate a school bus full of dead Jews.
- Robert A. Hall, Madison
No terrorists there
Regarding the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board opinion on Madison-Rafah sisterhood:
* Number of citizens of Rafah who strapped on “those explosive-laden vests” since the beginning of the second Intifada: 0
* Number of houses in Rafah bulldozed by Israel since the beginning of the second Intifada: more than 3000.
- Bernhard Geyer, Madison
A political soapbox
The Wisconsin State Journal’s editorial critical of the city of Madison’s politically motivated decision to pair up with the Gaza Strip city of Rafah was on point. This was all about showcasing a political agenda, not an unusual occurrence for Madison alders.
I agree with your call to end this nonsense. But a counter proposition might suggest that Madison select a “sister city” partner in newly freed Afghanistan or Iraq. Such a gracious gesture to foreign policy diversity would effectively dismantle charges of “soapbox” diplomacy.
- Steve Brenton, Madison
Rafah backers respond to claims
As members of the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project we would like to respond to serious charges made by the group Kavanna on the editorial page May 23.
First, Kavanna repeats the charge that Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, which has facilitated our contacts with Rafah, is somehow “anti-Semitic” because its director participated in the Durban conference on racism.
Tens of thousands of people and organizations from nearly every country in the world participated in the Durban conference. The conference never “dissolved into anti-Israel hatred.” Rather, the United States and Israel withdrew to avoid criticism of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. Ever since, Israel has slandered the conference as “anti-Semitic,” equating those who legitimately ask if Israeli policies resemble South African apartheid with the small number of individuals who distributed truly anti-Semitic materials there.
Second, money that we raise goes through the Rafah municipality directly to humanitarian projects run by respected groups. The Rafah municipality receives and channels hundreds of thousands of dollars from groups like Norwegian Aid. All funds can and must be accounted for. Kavanna states that this money might be “embezzled” by “terrorist groups” without the slightest shred of evidence. This is cruel and irresponsible at a time when thousands in Rafah are without adequate food, water or shelter and desperately need our assistance.
More than a year and a half ago we decided, after careful consideration, to adopt Rafah as our sister city. If Kavanna sincerely wants to pursue other ideas to benefit Palestinians and/or Israelis, let them do that instead of attacking our efforts.
Tsela Barr and Barb Olson, Madison
Cite this article
“YOUR VIEWS.(FORUM)(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/1G1-118431145.html
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