July 3, 2002

8:55 PM

The light at the end of the tunnel? The findings from a panel of Arab intellectuals on the state of the world's 280 million Arabs, in a Friedman's commentary (NYT). A Palestinian argument against suicide attacks, published June 19 in the Arabic language newspaper Al Quds and signed by 55 prominent Palestinian intellectuals and politicians. "Out of our national responsibility, and due to the gravity of the situation the Palestinian people is in, we, the undersigned, wish to hope that those behind the military actions aimed at [harming] citizens in Israel will reconsider [their acts] and cease pushing our youth to carry out these operations, because we do not see them as leading to any results except for increased hatred, enmity, and hostility between the two peoples, deepening the chasm between them, and destroying the possibility of both peoples living alongside each other in peace in two neighboring states."
posted by semmi (6 comments total)

The light at the end of the tunnel?

Nope. More like a Red Herring.
posted by Rastafari at 9:59 PM on July 3, 2002

It'll have a great effect!.. as long as HAMAS decides to subscribe to the idea of "both peoples living alongside each other in peace in two neighboring states."

Which is to say, it'll have little to no effect. Hint: that's why HAMAS is forming, funding and arming homicide bombings. They see no place for Jews in the Middle East, or indeed anyone but their sick, twisted disciples. Frankly I would be surprised if those who signed the petition didn't themselves become target of HAMAS bombing in the near future.
posted by clevershark at 10:02 PM on July 3, 2002

I don't know, HAMAS would loose a lot of cred if they did that. They are a political organization with real goals, not just terrorist psychoes
posted by delmoi at 10:25 PM on July 3, 2002

Unfortunately their "real goal" is to get rid of Israel altogether.
posted by clevershark at 4:43 AM on July 4, 2002

The Palestinian Peace Camp
posted by Postroad at 6:45 AM on July 4, 2002

These people have always been there. It's encouraging that they're starting to make their voices heard, but it's far from clear that they'll be listened to. When parents dress their babies up as suicide bombers, when children at parties show their hands in red paint in imitation of the mob who tore Israeli soldiers limb from limb, it's hard to escape the conclusion that an entire people has become a death cult. Clevershark is right: even if a pragmatist like Dahlan were to gain power, he would be targeted as was Sadat.
posted by dhartung at 7:39 AM on July 4, 2002