Madison Rafah Journal

Noam Chomsky, TomDispatch, April 27, 2010

The fact that the Israel-Palestine conflict grinds on without resolution might appear to be rather strange. For many of the world’s conflicts, it is difficult even to conjure up a feasible settlement. In this case, it is not only possible, but there is near universal agreement on its basic contours: a two-state settlement along the internationally recognized (pre-June 1967) borders — with “minor and mutual modifications,” to adopt official U.S. terminology before Washington departed from the international community in the mid-1970s.

The basic principles have been accepted by virtually the entire world, including the Arab states (who go on to call for full normalization of relations), the Organization of Islamic States (including Iran), and relevant non-state actors (including Hamas). A settlement along these lines was first proposed at the U.N. Security Council in January 1976 by the major Arab states. Israel refused to attend the session. The U.S. vetoed the resolution, and did so again in 1980. The record at the General Assembly since is similar.

There was one important and revealing break in U.S.-Israeli rejectionism. After the failed Camp David agreements in 2000, President Clinton recognized that the terms he and Israel had proposed were unacceptable to any Palestinians. That December, he proposed his “parameters”: imprecise, but more forthcoming. He then stated that both sides had accepted the parameters, while expressing reservations.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met in Taba, Egypt, in January 2001 to resolve the differences and were making considerable progress. In their final press conference, they reported that, with a little more time, they could probably have reached full agreement. Israel called off the negotiations prematurely, however, and official progress then terminated, though informal discussions at a high level continued leading to the Geneva Accord, rejected by Israel and ignored by the U.S.

A good deal has happened since, but a settlement along those lines is still not out of reach — if, of course, Washington is once again willing to accept it. Unfortunately, there is little sign of that. (Read on …)

Bright Stars of Bethlehem Benefit
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Madison Club [Map]
Madison, WI

Bright Stars of Bethlehem local representatives Bonnie Van Overbeke and Nancy Baumgardner invite you to attend a benefit for the children and families of Bethlehem. Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church and director of the Diyar Consortium, will be the guest speaker at this benefit. The Diyar Consortium includes programs for children and their families, senior citizens, a health and wellness center, and a college. For more information, go to www.brightstarsbethlehem.org.

The Benefit will be held at The Madison Club. There is a suggested $50 donation. If you are interested in attending this event, contact nancybaumgardner (at) gmail.com.

Voices of the Peacemakers: From Roots to Reconciliation
May 23- June 5, 2010
Delegation Leaders: Anna Baltzer and Cathy Sultan
Co-Sponsored with the National Peace Foundation

This delegation will explore Palestinian and Israeli efforts to achieve peace and a resolution to their conflict based on justice. The delegation will feature meetings with Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers — leaders of civil society groups, grassroots organizers, religious leaders and more. Given the current situation in the West Bank, the delegation will focus on learning about the current challenges facing nonviolent activists resisting occupation. May also marks the annual commemoration of Israel’s independence and the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) and the birth of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Your participation as an eyewitness to the situation will enrich your understanding of the conflict and empower your work back in the United States.

As with all delegations, you will meet with ‘ordinary’ Israelis and Palestinians, and people and organizations working for peace and justice. Delegates will confront and analyze the US role in the conflict and wrestle with ways to translate your experience to others when you return home.

Click here to learn more about the standard components of all delegations. (Read on …)

7:00 – 9:00 pm
1221 Humanities Building
455 N. Park St
UW-Madison [map]

Dr. Jad Isaac will present research on Palestinian agriculture, environment, land use and water, highlighting the problems facing farmers and residents in the occupied West Bank. His presentation will cover current and future water conditions, and options for a more sustainable water management system.

Dr. Isaac, a Palestinian resident from the Bethlehem area, is a former professor of life sciences at Bethlehem University and currently the director of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ). He headed the Palestinian delegation for the environmental working group in the multilateral talks and is an advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team on final status issues with Israel.

This event is sponsored by Hillel’s Israel Celebrates 62 Committee, Kavanah: An Open Dialogue on the Israel-Palestine Conflict, The Middle East Interest Group, and the American Friends Service Committee in Chicago.

“The world isn’t willing to accept that Israel will rule another people for decades more. It’s something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.”

AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press, April 19, 2010

JERUSALEM – Israel must recognize that the world will not put up with decades more of Israeli rule over the Palestinian people, the country’s defense minister said in unusually frank remarks Monday.

Ehud Barak’s comments came against the backdrop of severe friction between the U.S. and Israel’s hawkish government over an impasse in peacemaking.

Last week, President Barack Obama issued a surprisingly pessimistic assessment of peacemaking prospects, saying the U.S. couldn’t force its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they weren’t interested in making the compromises necessary to end their decades-old conflict.

Barak spoke to Israel Radio on the occasion of Israel’s Memorial Day, dedicated to the nearly 23,000 fallen soldiers and civilian victims of terror attacks. The day is observed with a two-minute nationwide siren when people stand at attention, traffic is halted and everyday activities come briefly to a standstill. (Read on …)

A special tribute to Cecil Findley, who died peacefully in his sleep, April 13, 2010.

His wife Helen writes: “I am so grateful that he went so peacefully and quickly. We had 55 wonderful years together.”

William Cecil “Cecil” Findley, born March 12, 1930, in Drummond, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at his home at Oakwood Village in Madison on Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

The son of the the Rev. Cecil and Ruby Findley, he followed his father’s footsteps into the ministry. He graduated from Newton, Kansas High School in 1948, North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1952, and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, Illinois in 1955. He received a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Peabody/Vanderbilt University in 1979.

While in seminary, Cecil met and married the love of his life, Helen (Farnham) Findley, who survives him after 55 years of marriage. Surviving family also include three sons and daughters-in-law, Brian (Kate), Keith (Susan) and Greg (Hayley); four grandsons, Michael, David, Parker and Benjamin; a brother, Stanley (Jeanie) Findley; and two sisters, Margaret (Richard) McGlachlin and Elaine Solomon. (Read on …)

Green Olive Tours was established in 2007 as Tours in English, and changed the name in early 2010.

Green Olive Tours is a social enterprise tour agency providing tours that are informative and analytical, covering the history, culture, and political geography of Palestine (West Bank) and Israel. The tours provide benefit to the indigenous population through the hiring and training of tour guides, overnight stays with families & small guest houses, and encouraging visitors to purchase local crafts.

The wide range of itineraries include interaction with Palestinians and Israelis, and visit areas that embody the history and current status of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and between Israel’s Jewish, Palestinian-Arab, and Bedouin citizens. The complex mosaic of religions, nationalities, and political viewpoints in the Holy Land are explored in depth. Many of the tours visit sites of historical, cultural and religious interest, placing them within the context of the ongoing analysis provided by the guide.

Green Olive Tours aims to provide our guests with:

• A cultural, historical and political understanding of Palestine & Israel.
• Visits to cultural, historical and religious sites.
• An experience of the political facts on the ground.
• Interaction with Palestinians and Israelis.
• Analysis and commentary based on:
1. Human Rights
2. Cultural self determination
3. The right to political self determination
4. The right to live in safety
5. The right to political freedom
6. The right to a home

(Read on …)