If I were a Palestinian Publication Date: 5 January 2009 Author: STEPHAN A. SCHWARTZ Source: The Schwartzreport Link: I have been following the Palestinian-Israeli relationship essentially all of my life, at various times, a private person, a journalist, a government official, and a futurist. Over that time it has become a ghastly kabuki, played again and again – a cultural meatgrinder. A possibly offensive image, which I use deliberately. I won’t go over the details; we all know the chorus. Watching what is going on now I just wish reality could be edited. All of this death, and injury goes nowhere. So how can this murderous ritual be ended? Can we finally agree that it will not be by any of the strategies tried over the last half century? That said let me state my goal: a functioning prosperous Palestinian state, in alliance with a prosperous Israel. When I think about this, it seems to me the power lies with the Palestinians. If I were a Palestinian leader, particularly if I had any secret aspirations to become my people’s historical person, this is the strategy I would pursue: I […]
Monday, January 26th, 2009
If I Were A Palestinian – READER COMMENT
Author: STEPHAN A. SCHWARTZ
Source: Schwartzreport
Publication Date: 25-Jan-09
Link: If I Were A Palestinian – READER COMMENT
Source: Schwartzreport
Publication Date: 25-Jan-09
Link: If I Were A Palestinian – READER COMMENT
Stephan: At the beginning of this month I published a short essay of mine 'If I Were a Palestinian,' which I reprint here to give context to the following comment by an SR reader with direct personal knowledge of this situation. Dr. Beck's response was so heartening, in these sad times, in that region of the world, that I thought other SR readers would like to read it. If any of you can help him I wish you would. Contact him directly at: drbeck@attglobal.net
Comments have been submitted to www.schwartzreport.net.
Name: Dr Don Beck
Subject: Palestine
Comment: Good ideas, Stephan. Please check www.buildpalestine.org and you can see the progress we have made, starting with the design conference on February 2 in Bethlehem, involving 700 Palestinian leaders. You can see/hear the actual speeches by Palestinians. We have now completed the design of a special conference that will do what you have recommended. We are working with Third General Fatah leaders and thousands of face book 'kids' who want to take responsibility for their own future. I was involved in the transformation in South Africa out of apartheid -- 63 trips to Johannesburg -- and my partner, Elza Maalouf, who is from Lebanon, is the key..she presents and thinks in Arabic tones and has a huge personal following. We were supported by several American business men who had no agendas at all..one was John Mackey of Whole Foods Market. We made five two week trips, with major presentations in Israel as well. One has to deal with the dance between the two..by focusing on the value-systems in both, rather than negotiation. We have been working on a pro bono basis and are searching for some funds to keep Nafiz and his team active. They have been visiting university campuses all over the West bank, and have been using the Arab tradition of meeting with families. Nafiz was in prison for five years and was the 'academic dean' and kept educating all of the prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti who is thought by many, us included, to be the 'Mandela' of Palestine. We have been in communication with his wife and son, who have attended our training programs. We hope he will be released following the February 9 election in Israel. He is the only leader who can connect to both the West Bank and Gaza.
Thanks for your interest.
-- Don Beck
