Qumsiyeh: A Human Rights Web

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Questions and answers



Questions for US Citizens, for Israelis, for Arabs and Muslims (including Palestinians), and for the rest of the world. These are some of the many, many questions we ponder (I admit a bias to questions leaning towards questioning hypocrisy).  I would like to compile more questions and brief answers at my website at qumsiyeh.org

Please send your questions and brief answers to any or all questions to me at qumsi001@hotmail.com Unless you request otherwise, your name maybe included in posting your answer). Thanks to Carole, Martha, Frank, Yemil, John, Muhammad, Joaquin, Roy, Evelyn, Eileen, Priscilla, Joan, and dozen of others who sent Questions and answers.(names NOT in the order of answers below).  Questions in Italic, answers in normal font.

FOR US CITIZENS

When Israeli forces murdered US Citizen Rachel Corrie, what was your reaction (action)?
- When I opened up my e-mail on March 16, 2003, and saw the crushed body of Rachel Corrie, I felt that I would never be the same again.  I have her picture on a card which I posted by my desk in my office which says, "We will never forget you, Rachel."  I have written letters to the newspapers, letters to Congressmen (including John Edwards), letters to Condeleeza Rice, letters to Ariel Sharon, and joined organizations which have presented the play "Rachel Corrie, a Life for Others." (4 showings so far)  In 2002 I dedicated my life to doing everything in my power to bring peace with justice to Palestinians.  In the process, I hope to see justice done to those who took Rachel's life.
- HORRIFIC and where is the investigation?
- I did NOT know anything about ANYTHING in OPT  until I began researching about I-P in 2003.  I did not come across anything about Rachel until 2004 and what I learned INFLAMED me. Since then, I have written many blogs posts about her altruism and many articles published by secular sites that call attention to the injustice committed by USA Govt. for NOT DOING ANYTHING about it! I have met both of her parents since then at a few SABEEL Conferences and the END THE OCCUPATION OF Palestine March in DC, June 2007.
- I concluded that it was a tragic mistake on the part both of the Israelis and Rachel. I think that the Israelis expected she would leap out of the way at the last minute, and I think that Rachel did not believe they would actually fail to stop. I think her object was to prove the power of the indiviual to oppose the state by demonstrating that the tanks would stop for one person. The one that killed her did not stop. But good can come out of tragedy. Her death focused attention in a way that perhaps no other incident has done.
- Outrage.
- I am upset and appalled that our country has ignored her murder and I have contacted the White House, as well as, my Senators and Representatives with no applicable responses.
-  I was shocked to the point of numbness: it confirmed for me a statement by a Jewish businessman my husband and I know, that couldn't repeat enough, that the most aggressive people on earth live in Israel.  It got me looking at Israel with new eyes
- I knew Rachel personally, I recall most of the media ignored the story and were focusd on the war on Iraq.  I do not know if this was a factor in the murder.
- Horror

We learned in 2006 new facts that show convincingly that Israel’s attack on the US Ship in International waters (USS Liberty) was deliberate and yet our government under the influence of a foreign lobby refuses to address it.  What is your thought on what you can do to address this?
- Always a cover up.
- YOU ASKED FOR IT: so far have written 7 articles/interviews with LIBERTY survivors ...
- I'm not sure what sort of action you want to "address this". Whenever people decline to meet force with force I consider it a desirable thing. I'm not sure what motivated the U S not to so respond in that case. But every now and then you "get a gift" and should appreciate it for what it is worth.
- I have written to the Miami Herald Executive Editor, to individuals on the staff of Miami Herald whom I know. None have responded, and I have not seen anything written about it in the Miami Herald. I have written to my congress persons, to the President of the United States, and to private citizens. I never got a satisfactory answer from anyone. Private citizens react as though I were a voice in the dark. Few know of this incident, though a Google search brings up all the facts known and some lies that should be sliced out.
- I have to say that I have not known these facts about the USS Liberty, but will keep in mind for further calls and contacts.
- This and the Paul Findley book, They Dare to Speak, brought out the nature of silencing we Americans have all been put under, due to the shame of the holocaust.
I have since learned, that even though the German side of the family moved to the US in the early 1800s, I should feel no personal quilt about events in WW2, like I have been made to feel certain American Jews.  The time for all this airing out has arrived - thankfully, and I do believe we are on the cusp of addressing it, thanks to President Carter, Professors Mearsheimer and Walt, and Finkelstein, all making courageous statements to mainstream America
- We showed a film on the USS Liberty.  We distributed lots of literature including in a town with a navy base (received excellent reception and support).  Most people including me mourn the loss of democracy and due process.
- Elect a new president, specifically, Edwards. As recent polls show, the majority of Jewish-Americans do not support the Israel Lobby's policies, but this isn't widely- enough known. Politicians need to be educated to the fact that they will not lose the support of their Jewish-American constituents if they vote against Israel's interests and for American interests. We need to back that up with donations to politicians who vote against Israel's interests.

When you hear politicians speak about American citizens, have you ever considered that America is far larger than the US (incl. North, Central, and South America)?
- Yes, we are only one of the Americas.
- Yes
- America is the accepted term for the United States of America - the others are central america, south america and north america.
- America is the USA only. American citizens are defined in this context only and that's the way it should be.  Let the others do their own thing - we are Americans.
- Of course. And when speaking to Americans from other countries in the Western Hemisphere I take care to refer to us as North Americans and United States citizens rather than "Americans". It would probably be helpful if our officials' public statements used this terminology. But there are so many things of greater impact to work on that it seems rather the case of focusing on the fleas that have hopped off the dog rather than on de-fleaing the dog. Which would be a bigger help in the long run.
- Yes, but I never consider other political units of north, central or south America to be a part of the political unit called United States of America. ...The appelation, America, applies to the entire western hemisphere discovered by Europeans in the 15th century by navigators who did not know that they had encountered a new part of the world unknown to them at the time, but occupied by humans for centuries. The claim by Europeans that the discovered lands belonged to their home state entities was an atrocious application of arrogance common to humans in their primative state of development. Their stupidity in calling the natives they encountered, Indians, was bad enough, but the official United States designation of the native peoples of the Americas, as Indians, belies reason and common sense of a first grader. By the standards of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The United States of America is illegitimate. The designation, ...Of America..., refers to the location of the United States of America in the geographic division of the Planet Earth, known as 'America'. USA is a member of the Americas, other members are not USA, though they are a part of the greater region, America. We err when we refer to USA as America. Canada is not America, neither is USA, but Canadians and US citizens are North Americans. Expand that to Human. I consider myself to be Human, along with all other Homo sapians. I would extend to any extra-terrestrials with sapient powers, all rights of humans, in any political encounter. I live in Florida, though I am from Missouri. I have my rights and I can consider myself to be a Floridian, and a Missourian. Show me Earthman, and I will show you Human.
- Yes,since my involvement with the Hispanic community. Having traveled to islands in the Carribean, to Mexico, to Costa Rica 3 times, and having many friends and acquaintances from Mexico, Central America, and South America, I started to tell people that we are all Americans, and United States citizens are only a part of the whole, including Canada and the other Northern areas.
-  yes, Americans cover a few regions:  but the general term America, probably due to our anthem, means people refer to the most successful democracy.  Whether we  have really earned this honor, is debatable.  We are hitting a new test, certainly
- It goes well with the notion of "white man's destiny" and a light unto the nations.
- Yes, but "American" is taken to mean USA citizen all over the world. "Canadian" "Mexican" "Central American" "South American" "Brazilian" "Panamanian"  etc are used for other countries in the Americas. I once asked a Mexican teacher of Spanish what we could call US citizens. There is a term, "Estadosunidense," meaning United States-er. But no one uses it. Mexico is legally Los Estados Unidos de Mexico, so their citizens are also "estadosunidenses."  

Do you believe in politician’s promise of "change"?  How did we historically have real change (civil rights, ending the war on Vietnam, ending US support for Apartheid South Africa etc)?
- Real change comes from the grassroots.
- I believe politicians are FOXES-meaning they only care about gaining power and keeping it- and i don't trust any of them. It is up to we the people to be engaged and call them on their BS: one example is ...  ONLY on a firm foundation of spiritual/religious/MORAL/ethical grounding can we effectively confront the abuses of power
- Yes, I do believe in the promise of change. Because I believe in the commitment of ordinary Americans to change. We get the kind of laws and lawmakers that we insist upon. And we deserve those we get to the extent that we do not bestir ourselves and tell them with our letters and our money what to do. In the case of the African American civil rights movement and women's civil rights it did take agitation outside the government system, because the members of those groups did not have access to the means of making the laws. In the case of the Viet Nam war, democracy worked. What was at first a miniority position became, through hard work and keeping the issue in the public eye, the majority position, and then got implemented by the government. Ditto official support for apartheid South Africa. With the war in Iraq we also see change on the part of politicians following change on the part of ordinary US Americans. At first most US Americans supported the war because they believed the Neocons lies concerning it being a war against the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center. Now most Americans don't believe those lies any more, and they want the troops brought home. Again, government follows rather than breaks new ground. That is how things work in this country. That is how the Constitution is designed to have them work. Don't you agree?
- Human experience on the Planet Earth is one of change over long periods of time. Ignorance and superstitions have prevailed. Politicians could neither promise change nor to prevent change. Change is a condition of existence, not the credibility of a promise. The moving finger writes...and having writ, moves on....
- Change in all those situations you have mentioned, in my opinion took people pushing the government, whether locally and/or nationally to make the changes, through in some cases drastic actions, and convincing lawmakers of the need and ways to make change.
- This political season of change is setting the bar high.  It is about time.  More scrutiny should be going into our new US leader - which was not heeded in 2000 or 2004.  We have learned the costs, and hopefully not too late
- Most politicians are spineless, change comes from the people in all meaningful incidences (e.g. civil rights)
- civil disobedience, huge demonstrations, boycotts, divestment, sanctions
- I concluded that it was a tragic mistake on the part both of the Israelis and Rachel. I think that the Israelis expected she would leap out of the way at the last minute, and I think that Rachel did not believe they would actually fail to stop. I think her object was to prove the power of the indiviual to oppose the state by demonstrating that the tanks would stop for one person. The one that killed her did not stop. But good can come out of tragedy. Her death focused attention in a way that perhaps no other incident has done.


When Bush visited Yad Vashem, did anyone point out to him or to our media in the US that the remains of the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, inhabitants of which were massacred by some of the folks standing with him in the same building across the valley?
- Of course no one did this.
- what i did was write this that is all over the www under different titles: WAWA Blog January 11, 2008: The "O" Word and Jesus Christ!..
- It is ironic isn't it that he was where he was? But there's hardly anywhere in that country that he could stand without it being associated with some sort of embarrassing event.  I think we should focus on the fact that he is at least going through the motions of trying to promote a deal between Palestinians and Israelis and hope that something positive does result. A broken clock IS RIGHT two times a day after all--even though nobody fixed it!
- I don't know, but I doubt it.
- No one pointed out to Bush what they didn't want to acknowledge to him,as always. From his poor joke about the checkpoints, I'm not sure if it would have mattered to him. It's an understatement that he is not intelligent,nor adept at seeing the real picture, or is in denial due to the funds provided by AIPAC and other groups, and he just doesn't care.
- I do think Bush was stumped on many levels on this visit - watching his body language.  I believe he realize he is in over his ears - and he probably grateful to his dad for making sure Condi Rice was on his team from the beginning - some glimmer of hope in that, given her own persecution in the black South
- The hijacking of the suffering of Jews in Europe and its abuse by Zionists to steal other people's lands and pillage billions are well documented (e.g. in Finkelstein's book).

In Bush's stay at King David Hotel, did any one point out to him that his host, Tzipi Livni belonged to the same party that bombed it killing scores of British and Palestinians (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) and that it was actually her father who oversaw that terrorist operation?
- No
- you gotta be kidding!
- Many Israeli government leaders were terrorists against the colonial regime and against the Arabs. In our own history, Samuel Adams and his Sons of Liberty--the men who dumped the tea into Boston harbor, burned Tory farms and tarred and feathered and otherwise tormented Loyalists, are still lionized in our history books a "patriots". On the other hand, Abraham Lincoln during his Presidency was denounced by both North and South as a dangerous dictator who violated the Consitution up one side and down the other and conducted virtually a military dicatorship in order to "preserve the union". And our history books lionize him as a champion of human rights. Even while events are unfolding and people are active in one cause or the other, the issues are never so clear cut as we might now pretend that they were nor are the characters of people unalloyed in their nobility or perfidity. And then life goes on...What is your point? Do you think Bush should have made some sort of political statement by refusing in a huff to stay at the King David Hotel? What would have been the message? What would have been the point?
- I don't know, but I doubt it.
- Obviously, none of his tour guides were going to tell him the true story of the bombing of the King David Hotel.
- again, thankfully Condi Rice spends more time with Livni than Bush does
- Shameful!
- I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised.

In Bush's visit to Bethlehem, why did he not call for dismantling the wall around Bethlehem? (He did say he looks forward to the day that there will be a Palestinian state, meaning Bantustan, without walls and without implementing International law)?
- Because he probably did not even know that and if he did he would not do it.
- look, for him to say OCCUPATION was major breakthrough-
- Do you seriously expect that the Commander in Chief who has carved Iraq up into little enclaves in order to control the civilian population would not be in favor of the Israelis doing that in their own country?
- I don't know, but I doubt it.
- Bush has ignored International laws from the start of his Presidency. Two items not totally related to the Middle East, but to the whole world is that the US has refused to sign a 20 something year old resolution protecting the rights and welfare of women; and also resolutions regarding global warming. He appointed the very representative to the United Nations (Bolton)who detested the entity. He has no regard for any law except from his own agenda. He, of course is not the first to ignore International Laws from the International Court, the Geneva Convention or the UN.
- I did hear Bush utter statements in support of the Palestinians - again, a start instead of silence
- Because he is a puppet of political special interests.  They won't allow him to deal with any human rights issues.

In presidential election in 2004, over 70 million dollars in donations went to candidates from Jewish supporters of apartheid Israel.  More than 2/3rd went to the Democratic party (hence Kerry/Edwards just like Bush/Cheney catered to their demands).  In this election campaign, Zionist controlled media and large sums of cash mad sure that any candidates who do not pander to Israel are excluded (e.g. Paul and Kucinich).  Most candidates made more trips to Israel than they did to Chicago or Detroit.  What is left of the US democracy?
- Because that would get him in trouble in US politics.
- NOBODY is worse than The Democrat Demimondaine and Consummate Pandering Politician: Hillary Clinton
- Even more money--MUCH MORE MONEY--was--and is being--donated to campaigns of both parties by international coporate interests. The Jews would LOVE to have peace in Israel as long as it meant that the Arabic speaking majority wouldn't be running the country. It  does NOT suit global corporatism to have peace in the Middle East any time in this generation. It suits them down to the ground to have oil speculation driving oil prices, fueling unbridled commodity speculation of all sorts and artificially inflating corporate profits while U S interest rates on debt are being kept artificially low by the FED.  Not to mention the outrageous profits being derived by direct sales of goods and services to the military to keep this most-outsourced-in-history war going! Why let the relief of human suffering and the institution of human rights in Israel interfere with a cushy corporate income stream?? Follow the money and you will see what really drives the NeoCons who really run George Bush!
- This is standard operational procedures for post monarchist governments. Political liars are successful because of ignorance and ignorance is controlled by political liars. Historians and journalists concentrate on their income, prestige, and jobs. Truth is God, and Deception is Satan. What's new?
- Is this the US Democracy or the "new" Zionist machine? Since our government makes it difficult to donate to Palestinian causes, I think we should find ways around it. For instance I donate to the Friends Society and Amnesty International to benefit Palestinians.
- With my new proposed organization, we need to shame members of Congress to balance the trips made to Israel/Palestine, with those made with CNI:  another good goal
- Not much.  But we do have the Green Party which we should all support.
- Good question. See my answer above. How much money in donations came from Jewish-Americans who do not support apartheid Israel, but are not identified as such? I believe that quantity, whatever it is, could be made larger.

The US Navy now admits (after Iranians released their own video/audio) that the source of the audio "threat" against a US ship may not be from Iran.  The US Navy shot down an Iranian civilian airplane in 1988 due to what later became obviously known as US radar error.  Considering the above and the desire of Zionists for Bush to wage yet another war for Israel, what is the likelihood of a gulf of Tonkin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/7182637.stm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011108J.shtml
-  Who knows.
- :-(
- The Iranians are also saying that the boats, which the video does show acting in an agressive manner, heading straight for the US ship, were not "official" Iranian vessels....Unless there was a clear communication detailing nonhostile intent--and neither side is saying that there was anything of the sort--the Navy was justified in suspecting bad intent. But of course, as a pacifist I'm against the Navy being there to begin with! And I am against the Middle Eastern practice of planting bombs in innocent looking places and on innocent looking  people and thereby making everybody paranoid about anybody and everybody else.
- If we can recognize these errors, why can't we recognize the errors in the Liberty Ship affair? Golf of Tonkin, Persian Gulf, and even errrors in the Spanish American War, are known and reported. Why the silence on Liberty Ship?
- I felt that the recent confrontation was deliberate on the part of the US. I feel that most US Citizens, not influenced by Zionism, would be totally opposed to another war in the Gulf area and hopefully be more active than at present in sending that message to our leaders.
- the time for pressure is now
- Neocon Zionists have their eyes on Iran.  We must not let them do it.  Media worrk, letters to politicians etc can help.

Considering that a number of scholars are attacked by Zionist forces in the US and some lost their jobs because they spoke the truth, what happens after academic freedom is lost?
- The fight continues here for that freedom. It is not totally lost yet, nor will it be.
- - :-(
- There are also people complaining that unless you espouse a politically liberal line that your tenure is in question at most major universities. It depends on where your funding comes from how much "latitude" the administration of the college will allow you to buck the norm of the institution, be it conservative or liberal. And your funding sources determine what the norm is. Show me a Southern state university that is as liberal as a private Northern university, and I will "eat my hat!" Maybe Zionists held the purse strings for particular departments of particular insitutions, but I don't think you can make a blanket case for all insitutions being controled by Zionist money, and the "game" was and is in place at all institutions, Zionist influenced or not. Has been ever since corporations rather than individuals became primary donors. There's that global corporatism again. Zionists only WISH they had THAT much money!
- Over centuries Truth survives. Truth is God. Though every image, idea and myth has been represented as God by philosophers, priests, and charletans, only Truth qualifies as "...That than which nothing greater could be..." "No God is higher than Truth." M. Ghandi.
- It's a disaster to lose academic freedom and we need to fight it as much as we can. One way is to continue showing it for what it truly is and continue demonstrating against such happenings in all ways possible.
-  I believe the professor at Harvard (Dershowitz) responsible for Professor Finkelstein losing tenure at DePaul should be boycotted:  his classes and his books
- I myself lost a job in such a witch hunt.  But I also think we are making headway.  "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, tehn they attack you, then you win"
- Again, Jewish-Americans and other Americans need to make it known to politicians and to other institutions that they are being misled by the Israel Lobby, the ADL, Alan Dershowitz, et al., into believing that Jewish-Americans support Israeli policies. Polls indicate they don't. The Israel Lobby is loud and rich. Those who oppose the Lobby need to be louder and donate more to institutions and politicians.

Considering that hundreds of detainees in Guantanamou and elsewhere continue to be held without charge or trial, what is the status of constitutional protections?  How about even treatments of US residents and citizens like Dr. Al-Arian?
- We are in a time of great testing of our constitution.
- This is the really scary part of the NeoCon efforts in Washington. It is not just the rights of people like Dr Al-Aian, but the rights of all ordinary citizens that are being put in jeopardy. It is in the interest of global corporatism to reduce us to low paid, permanently indebted, high-spending labor without a voice in our own fate. Follow the money and see if I am not right!
- United States of America is on the road to fascisem a la Nazi Germany, where the regime of Adolph Hitler came to power in a constitutional election and function of the Weimar Republic. It remains to be experienced if George Bush gets by with declaring the Constitution "...a scrap of paper..." If America allows Bush/Cheney to stay in power beyond January 1009, we will be on track. If on the other hand, we elect another president who proceeds to take office under our constitution, we could restore that legal fiction to its proper place of protecting us from our own politicians.
- I have an auto plastered with stickers, much to the consternation of my children; ie:"86" Gitmo "Close it down"; "Restore the Bill of Rights, Impeach Bush", and urging negative comments from a few. I have written/and or called about the case of Dr. Al-Arian, and have never thought him to be guilty. It's a national disgrace upon our country.
-  I do believe there will be reprecussions with new leadership in the White House come this November - let us ensure that leader is Obama - and I hope with so much debate potential still left, that issues in the Middle East will start surfacing, if not in mainstream media, through non-mainstream media, which can be just as incriminating
- The erosion of liberty is sad.  Founding fathers of the state (Jefferson and Washington) warned that the best guard against that is a citizenry well informed/educated.

Do you respect opinions of those who differ with you politically?  Do you work with them in any collective and democratic way?
- Of course!
- Well, being an internet presence i am routinely attacked for my stand on human rights and international law for Palestinians, justice for the USS LIBERTY, freedom for Vanunu, and it ain't easy maintaining a respectful attitude when one is maliciously cyber slandered, i am tempted to get sarcastic back, but i do my best to keep it under wraps and laugh a lot that i am pissing particular people off
- Yes, I support many interfaith and ecumenical groups and am active in social justice issues through my church.
- I respect opinions only when they comply with truth and consequences. I do not respect distortions of history, denial of human rights, suppression or distortion of facts by anyone, or liars by any other name. Political opinions are like AHs. Facts are created by Truth, Who is God.
- Yes, I respect the rights of people to differ with me politically and can work with them in a collective and democratic way. I have a very difficult time dealing with injustice. I have shown my tolerance,I think, by being open minded and not fearful of meeting people of different races,ethnicities and faiths and showing respect for them. I truly believe we are all God's children. I have learned by talking and studying that it is a complex situation. On a personal level, I respect my daughter's choice, even though I believe her husband married her for the green card,which is hurtful,sad,and is of concern to our family.
- Yes, I work with numbers of different groups across the country, receiving their emails and incorporating into a group network for discussion via email.
It has evolved into some well planted actions, and I believe is expanding now
- Yes and Yes

If you really care, what have you personally done to effect a positive change in your/our collective circumstances?
- Signed petitions, protested, spoken out, written letters to the newspaper, called in questions to the radio, worked on political campaigns, etc.
- My first book is a 100% fund raiser for OTFFP "Memoirs of a Nice Irish-American Girl's Life in Occupied Territory"
- I vote, I write, I teach, I publish. I try not to villify or lionize one side or other in a conflict. I think that only polarizes things further. I try to get people to focus on the mutual benefits to be derived by trying things a new way. Are you familiar with the book "Getting to Yes" ? I find the principles in there work quite well regardless of how small or how large the issue or the group(s) involved. Read it, if you have not done so. You may find some useful ideas, as I have.
- I write daily to friends, relatives, countrymen, congressmen, senators, presidents, prime ministers, and anyone who has an email address or a venue for public input. My response to this survey is an example. Truth is God.
- Someday, I would like to visit Palestine and Jerusalem.
- Besides planting meaningful actions, I support the action of groups that I believe are making a difference:  International Solidarity Movement, the Free Gaza Movement, CNI, Carter Center - have bought numerous books by authors that I believe are making a difference with their intellectual discourse - I owe a donation to Justice on Wheels - I will take action on that soon - and I dare to speak out with "on the fence" American Jews who should take stronger stands who don't.  I do witness more conflictedness among them - thankfully - so the BDS Movement is clearly having an affect.  The sooner it is accelerated, among students groups and in mainstream society (I encourage consumer boycotts of Motorola, GE and Blockbuster Video - all aid in the Occupation in Palestine), the sooner it will reach more mass in the American consumer
- Nearly 20 years of work which your are familiar with.
- I attend demonstrations, I participate actively by internet with UU's for JME, I tell all my friends, Jewish as well as non-Jewish, where I stand, I donate money to any number of anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian causes.

FOR ISRAELIS

When you travel throughout the land of what you call Israel, how do you feel about the fact that 530 Palestinian towns and villages were depopulated from the landscape that you observe?
- I feel proud that Arabs can live in Israel with a better standard of living than almost anywhere else in the Arab world (apart from those controlling the vast oil wealth for their own use). There are still many injustices to correct in Israel. The poor residents of these 530 towns and villages paid the cost of their leaders wish to destroy the Jewish state at birth. Those kept in suffering by their Arab "hosts" are cruelly treated for the sole purpose of still wishing to destroy Israel.

How do imagine a life that ignores atrocities unless they are committed against what you consider your "people"?
- Who ignores atrocities? Where is your condemnation of the daily shelling of Sderot in an attempt to kill innocent civilians? Do you know how many Jewish human rights groups there are working for and together with Palestinians?

Have you ever used the Zionist mythology terms of Arab vs. Jew? (Arab is anybody whose mother tongue is Arabic and that includes members of many religions including Judaism, Jew is somebody who believes in Judaism as a religion; there can be no "Secular Jew" or "Atheist" Jew any more than a "Secular Christian" or "Atheist Christian")
- No. What is "Zionist mythology" anyway? Jews and Arabs are clearly defined in this region, why make this another issue?

Aren't all humans created in the image of God and/or evolved from the same group of primates in East Africa? If that is the case, do you believe in notions of chosenness (Chosen by God, unparalleled suffering of Jews, Am Yisrael vs Goyim etc)?
- Chose- es, but not chosen because they are born any better than anyone else.
"unparalleled suffering of Jews" We didn't suffer at the hands of the Persians, Greeks, Romans, medieval Christians, Nazis etc.? OK, so compared to some peoples who got totally exterminated our suffering wasn't unparalleled.
"Am Yisrael vs Goyim etc)?" A sad fact of history perpetuated by those who wish to destroy us today (Yes, I've  said it before, but just listen to Palestinian or Iranian broadcasts.)

When Olmert and Bush speak of the state of Israel for the Jewish people, what exactly do you propose to do with the 1.5 million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship/residency?
- Give them full citizenship and rights like the Jewish residents of the Church state of England have or the Muslim state of Morocco.

Does this also mean that Palestinian refugees are going to be permanently denied their Internationally recognized right of return? If so, how do you think this is compatible with a stable peace?
- Yes. They can be compensated in many other ways.

When nonviolent resistance to occupation continues to be repressed violently (as happened gain this week e.g. in shooting at Bil'in demonstrators), then what message is that sent to the oppressed/occupied about value of violent vs non violent resistance? Why did you and millions of others object?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=387BJWIwOXo (latest video from Bilin)
- Unfortunately, "non-violent resistance" is a tiny part of the resistance. It should be respected and encouraged.

Israel withdrew from South Lebanon unilaterally and under fire (as they also did from Gaza) leaving these areas in the hands of militants while refusing to withdraw from areas of the West Bank (including Jerusalem) that are under a Palestinian authority considered "moderate" by both Israeli and US governments.  What message does this send about the value of "negotiations" between oppressed and oppressor?
- That there's no-one to talk to on the other side. If only there was a single voice, within Palestine speaking for the people with the power to honour negotiated agreements.

Do you support keeping the illegal settlement in East Jerusalem (e.g. Maale Adumim) in the Hand of Israel in a two state scenario?
- Yes

If so how do you reconcile this with International law or the fact that they are built on the mere 22% of Palestine that you claim you support for a Palestinian state?
-The Palestinians pay no respect to International law. Once there is a serious negotiating partner then there is a place for discussions on final borders which take into account the security needs of both Israel and Palestine

Do you think Ashkenazi Europeans or North Americans whose mother tongue is not Hebrew are Semites?
- Yes. Semites is nowadays another term for Jews, anti-Semitism is specifically anti-Jewish. To argue that Arabs are Semites is semantically and historically correct but is irrelevant to the current use of the word.

Did you ever call those who support Palestinian rights "anti-Semites" or "self-hating Jews"? (Please define Semite and Jew!)
- Yes. Some who support Palestian rights (such as myself) do so out of a sense of justice. Some look only to find fault with Israel and they slander their Jewish origin. These are clearly people who "have a problem" with their Judaism. Others, such as those who lick up to Ahmedinijad in Iran are deluded Jews in other ways.

If you really care, what have you personally done to effect a positive change in your/our collective circumstances?
- I maintain close professional and personal contact with Arab Israelis. I am ready to offer professional help to any Palestinian who is allowed to have contact with me.

FOR ARABS AND MUSLIMS (INCLUDING PALESTINIANS)

Do you believe all humans deserve equal rights and responsibilities regardless of sex, religion or ethnicity?
- yes
- Yes

Have you ever used derogatory terms like "Abeed" for blacks, "Asfar" for Chinese?
- No
- No but I in my family such trms were used and I sometimes did not challenge it enough

Do you care about the future of fellow citizens of your countries and the future of citizens of Palestine and Lebanon (your fellow Arabs and Muslims and those who are not Arab and/or not Muslims but fellow citizens)?
-Yes
- Yes.  I donate causes ranging from Amnesty International to Bangladesh

What concrete measures have you taken to alleviate the brutal siege on Gaza (1.5 million people who are worse than imprisoned but are literally starved and methodically destroyed)?
- I cannot ... only speek
- I published many letters to the editor, gave talks and educated fellow human beings.  I wrote to Congress and met with Congressional staffers.  I may join the boats that are going to Gaza.

Do you want to liberate Palestine?  If so, what does this mean to you and what have you contributed to that?
- by understanding
- Yes. See my other responses on actions I did.

Do you respect opinions of those who differ with you politically?  Do you work with them in any collective and democratic way?
- Yes
- Yes and Yes

Do you care about AND PRACTICE democracy and true representation at your home, at work and in your place of worship and in your local organizations?
- I try to.  It is sometimes not as easy as it sounds especially when you know some things need to be done quickly and democratic procedures take too long :-)

Did you ever challenge elites serving imperial/Zionist agendas even at a personal expense?
- Yes.  Lost a job, received hate mail etc

Do you believe that when mistaken, it is OK to admit the wrong done and apply corrective action or do you think "losing face" is bad? (For others and for you personally)
- I try.

For those in the more wealthy Arab elites who hire servants (domestically or internationally, do you pay them appropriate wages, treat them with respect, fairness and honesty? http://www.hespress.com/?browser=view&EgyxpID=4048
- Not in that category but feel this is an issue that does need addressing

Considering that China is a rising economic and military power with very different interests than those of the US, what have you done to get China's foreign policy to support International law and human rights vis a vis the key issue of Palestine?  BTW China was always a great supporter of Palestine but this is shifting as they buy (US) missile and other technologies from Israel.
- Nothing
- Learning Mandarin and published a few articles in Chinese newspapers (interviews translated)

What have you done to prevent your government from normalizing with a racist Zionist Israel?
- In my case, I chastized the Palestinian Authority on Palestinian private TV, in lectures etc.

Did you ever buy a product labeled made in Israel or those made "in Jordan" or "in Egypt" but really is made in joint Israeli-Egyptian and Israeli-Jordanian factories owned mostly by those who live on stolen lands and support the racist Zionist regime?
- No
- Not to my knowledge

If you really care, what have you personally done to effect a positive change in your/our collective circumstances?
- Little
- 20 years of activism with lots of good results (and some mediocre results) in communications, direct support, etc.

FOR THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Why do you allow your government (in so many countries) to bend to the whims of the (made-in-Israel) US policies?
- IT IS NOT THAT WE ALL ALLOW IT, BUT JUST WE DO NOT DO ENOUGH FOR MAKING NATIONALS TO REALIZE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS.

Why do you continue to use the US dollar, to buy US and Israeli products, and to do business as usual with Israeli officials, visitors and academics?   When was the last time you told them they would not be welcome until they respect human rights and International law?
- UNFORTUNATELY ALL OUR MEXICAN ECONOMY DEPENDS ON US DOLLARS.
I DO NOT HAVE ACADEMIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANY ISRAELI NATIONAL.

Why do you accept humiliating conditions of trade and politics?  Why do you allow erosion of democracy for moneyed interests (e.g. racist Zionists buying up media outlets around Europe and Asia)?
- AGAIN IT IS NOT THAT ALL MEXICAN PEOPLE ACCEPT THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT YET AT THE THRESHOLD TO CHANGE THAT.

Why do you allow US citizens in your country without visas when the US restricts arrival to the US from your country to those with Visas (and even among those discriminate by excluding Muslims, Arabs, leftists, and any critic of its foreign policy?  
- WE CERTAINLY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SUCH AN ISSUE AND PROPOSE THAT THE SAME POLICY THAT US APPLY TO MEXICANS IS THEN APPLIED TO US NATIONALS.

When was the last time you challenged a US visitor with that question?
- A MONTH AGO WHEN DOING FIELD WORK IN NORTHWESTERN MEXICO WITH US COLLEAGUES.

If you really care, what have you personally done to effect a positive change in your/our collective circumstances?
- FIRST, I HAVE TRIED THAT MY OWN FAMILY REALIZES OF THE PROBLEM ISSUES, AND THEN TO PARTICIPATE WITH DEMOCRATIC DEMOSTRATIONS AND MOVEMENTS INSIDE MEXICO.
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Other comments, new question etc:

From Rev. Roy Hayes

What can Christians in the Holy Land do to inform Christians who live elsewhere that Christians who live in the Holy Land are Palestinians?  And that Christians and Muslims suffer together under Israel's occupation?

What can Christians and Muslims who live in the Holy Land do to help the world make the distinction between Judaism and Zionism?  And between mainstream Christianity and Christian Zionism?

What can Christians in the Holy Land do to help the rest of the world understand that there is no quarrel between Christianity (rightly understood) and Islam (rightly understood)?

What can Christians in the Holy Land do to help Muslims explain to the rest of the world what a Hudna means to Muslims?
------------------------
I am a pro Bolivarian Revolution Venezuelan-Canadian. I don’t profess to be well informed on the Middle East, but I read what you write as well as other sources and I appreciate your efforts. The questionnaire is interesting but I don’t usually limit myself to what someone else asks, so I will just give you my take on this, i.e. my two cents, for what they may be worth

I personally favour a secular “binational” state solution, although I think it should be secular and multinational. It seems to me that a two state solution with two such unequal partners who must at some point coexist (in my opinion) is not sustainable and will not bring about a “binational” state, but continue the present impasse.

In such a “binational” state, I would envisage separation of state and religion (not acceptable to the most powerful actors on the Israeli side and to very important and powerful/popular actors on the Palestinian side), with complete legal equality between different ethnic groups, races and sexes (controversial for the profoundly religious).

There are many big problems with this solution, but I think it is the most likely to last, however difficultly. One of the consequences of this solution would be the creation of a police force comprised of Palestinian Arabs and Jews, under a joint command, a water authority also under a joint command that was beholden to a fair constitution, a joint land authority under the same type of command. Demographically, the state would eventually have an Arab majority, which I think would not be a problem for the Jews if by that time the country was used to coexistence with equality and fairness over a period of at least one generation.

On the question of refugees, I believe that the right of return, which I think is a right, should not include forced displacement of people without compensation who are presently living in Israel. Two wrongs don’t make a right. However, I think that compensation that was acceptable to refugees could be offered, either in Israel or in other countries. Jews who were displaced by the Nazis have not demanded to displace the people who live in the homes stolen from them, mainly because there were often good alternatives. The refugee camps are not an acceptable alternative. Here, I think the rich countries of the world could help, by offering options for the refugees who would like to avail themselves of them.

The question of Jerusalem is a very difficult one for both Jews and Arabs in a two state solution, but not in a “binational” state solution. Perhaps if the two state solution prevails it could be declared a UN patrolled city with a binational authority governing it. (Probably generally unacceptable).

I believe that racism is on the increase both among Jews and Muslims against each other, and this is fomented by governments as well as political movements that do not really want a solution that is acceptable to both Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Israel/Palestine. Part of this racism is the use of language describing ethnic groups in ways that are not conducive to dialogue, such as the word Islamofascist and the revival of documents such as the Protocols of Zion, which I have now seen even in Spanish.

I think it is worth remembering that early Zionists did favour a binational state, including the famous Jewish philosopher Martin Buber. Today the term Zionist is used to describe right wing Neozionists. The word Zionist is therefore problematic, because there are people who consider themselves Zionists, because they believe Jews should have a state where they are not “guests” to be tolerated, yet who are not in favour of the Occupation, the massive abuses of the Israeli state and who believe in a two state solution, like many Palestinians (such as Peace Now). These should not be treated as the enemy, in my opinion.

Your question about what are you doing about this is probably the best one. I must confess that I have been much more preoccupied with Latin America than with the Middle East, but I have participated in debates following the showing of documentaries, I have been in demonstrations and other such activities. I admit that is not a whole lot and I should do more, but to be honest I feel uncomfortable with both the so called Zionists and with a number of the Palestinian groups, because it seems to me there is too much emphasis on telling the world how bad the other side is and not enough on looking for a solution that is acceptable to the majority of both Jews and Arabs, who are there to stay and don’t want to live in fear.

I am writing this to you because I respect your efforts to inform and dialogue with people. Right now I have to get back to work so I can leave in time to have supper with my family.

J

I really appreciate your wtiring back.  As I noted in sending the questions
" These are some of the many, many questions we ponder (I admit a bias to questions leaning towards questioning hypocrisy).  I would like to compile more questions and brief answers ..." so obvioudly I did not want to limit anyone to my st of priorities.  Your response was indeed what I was hoping for: thought provoking and thoughtful.  I thank you.

I do want to address a couple of issues you raised.  On the concept of living together in one state (binational, confederal or other), I agree with you 100%.  I actually wrote a book on the subject which was just translated into Spanish (see http://www.qumsiyeh.org/espanol/ ).  I actually would appreciate your introducing me to peopel in Latin America and helping me publicize this.  The new introduction to teh Spanish version speaks of the interests of people in Latin America (e.g. Israel's military and intelligence support to right wing dictators and against Bolivarian and other revolutions in Latin America).

On your other points I generally agree.  I do want to clarify that Zionism like any new movement did not have a uniform face and had many branches (e.g. the cultural Zionism of Martin Buber, the religious Zionism of the Ultra Orthodox).  But by the 1940s, these were all swept aside and the dominant emergent form was political Zionism (both the Ben Gurion brand and the Jabotinsky brand later evolving to Labor and Likud).  This chauvenistic nationalistic brand was actually mimicking chavenistic nationalist trends in Europe (trends that gave rise to WWI and WWII).

Anyway, I would like to get to know you better and hopefully work with you on a tour of Latin America.