Breaking down walls in Israel/Palestine

Today's headlines report that former President Jimmy Carter has secured from Hamas leadership a commitment to respect a Palestinian state, if created by a referendum among Palestinians. This is a major victory for those seeking a lasting peace in Israel/Palestine.

Predictably, Carter -- who was excorciated by many on the right in 2006-07 for his important book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid (which in my view, was as strongly pro-Israel as it was pro-Palestine) -- is already being raked over the coals by neoconservative commentators for his effort. After all, in their view, why would he even deign to meet with Hamas? (The meeting took place in Syria, and Carter also met with Syrian officials, which similarly was against the will of the Bush administration.) "If the agreement calls for a two-state solution and the recognition of Israel and Palestine, Hamas will, in effect, recognize Israel, if the people agree on the plan," Mr. Carter told the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, according to today's New York Times.

We need to support his courageous stance, which argues that dialogue is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace, anywhere in the world. An online petition by Just Foreign Policy together with Jewish Voice for Peace is circulating now to advocate on his behalf, especially addressed to the three presidential candidates.

As it happens, it was just this month that the latest Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation was in Israel and the occupied West Bank, seeking to engage in dialogue with Palestinians and Israelis who are Jews, Muslims, Christians, and secular peace activists. IFPB's 26th delegation to the region met with people from a variety of backgrounds and contexts, including a militant Israeli settlers group based in Hebron. Having participated in an IFPB delegation myself (back in 2003), I know what a shock the experience can be when placed side-by-side a visit to a refugee camp or destroyed Palestinian home.

The final set of reports from that delegation was distributed by email this weekend, and one report discussed the settlement visit. The writer reported the settlers' spokesperson telling the delegation:

As far as a solution of the present conflict, he offered a simile for the peace process: “It’s like passing clean water through a dirty pipe.” He explained that because politicians are corrupt they will never reach a fair peace agreement. He said the first step is for the Arabs to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. After that, he wants the Arabs “gone.”

What a striking difference to the view of Carter and others who see peace as an imperative.