[Why is this as true today as it was in 1968? That was 40 years ago! The more things change... PmR]
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Israel's Peculiar Position
by Eric Hoffer
LA Times
May 26, 1968
[Copy from The Rational Argumentator, August 7, 2006]
The Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews.
Other nations drive out… Continue
Posted by Paul RETI on May 17, 2008 at 7:30am —
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Yesterday I've got a letter about Gazians left Gaza for medical treatments in Jordan, with the promise they will be able to return, but IDF kept them a way, placed at the Jordanian boarders. The story in Arabic الله الرحمن الرحيم.doc .
If the leaders are really from and for the people, one of them should go and sleep/stay with those people instead of… Continue
The fractured triangle: Australian Jews, Israel and the Left
By Philip MENDES
ONLINEopinion
14 May 2008
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7359
Historically, Jews were regarded as a “people of the Left”. This reflected the Left’s support for Jewish political rights including the establishment of the State of Israel. However, in more recent decades, Jews and the Left have appeared to sit on opposite sides o… Continue
Meet Gershon Baskin, an innovator and leader. A self-described "peacenik", Gershon founded and leads IPCRI (Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information) and is devoted to developing practical solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I had the privelege of meeting Gershon at events for peace in Israel… Continue
Most of you probably know what a Hamsa is. Right? For those who don’t; it is a good luck symbol, in the shape of a hand, which has been around as part of Arab and Jewish cultures for centuries. Most Hamsas feature an “eye” to protect us from the “evil eye.” And in recent times, a great many feature a “dove” to symbolize peace.
What would you say are the evils that we need protection from in this day and age? I would point to three in particular. Today’s evil is the evil of ideological extrem…Continue
Posted by Nissim Dahan on May 12, 2008 at 8:30pm —
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Today Americans celebrate Mother's Day. Today is also the day when Mothers here, from all walks of life, take a moment to stand for peace. We remember the words of Julia Ward Howe. Although this was written in 1870, in response to the Civil War, unfortunately this statement rings true today. I think Julia would be disappointed with us...
Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of t… Continue
I found this article a few days ago in Haaretz. Reading it, I was surprised - I hadn't expected that, but this article was talking about me. I think I didn't even realize before, what was it exactly that motivated me to stand up for justice and rights - of everyone. I'm not a "beginner" in this - back in Austria and Switzerland it was Women's Rights, Violence against Women, and similar issues that were urgent there and then... I just… Continue
Posted by Eva on May 11, 2008 at 7:55pm —
1 Comment
My Bittersweet Reflections on Israel at 60
by Dr. David ALBERT
Treasurer, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
May 9, 2008
I suppose the best way to describe Israel's 60th birthday for me is bittersweet. I remember the same feeling 10 years ago on Israel's 50th birthday. On the 50th birthday, Texas Hillel held a big birthday celebration on UT's West Mall while the PSC held a counter-protest recalling Nakba a few feet away. I remember walking back in forth be… Continue
Many of you may already be aware of this Avaaz campaign towards Israelis and Palestinians. Egypt's intelligence chief is about to make a visit to Israel -- bringing a ceasefire offer he has brokered with all the Palestinian groups. Avaaz has asked thousands of their Israeli and Palestinian members to help sign a petition calling for Olmert and Meshaal to stop the bloodshed and agree to an immediate ceasefire, and for the international community to engage constructively and help broker a fair dea… Continue
Yom Haaztmaot / The Naqba
I am torn between these two constructions. Yom Haaztmaot is the Isreeli independence and a celebration of those who gave to make Israel a reality forging a Jewish state out of the remnants of the British Mandate while the Naqba is the catastrophe of the Palestinian people and the Arab world something to be remembered and honored as are other woundings like the Holocaust. Yom Haaztmaot and the Naqba are the same event yet they belong to two different peoples, two differ… Continue
Sixty years have passed since the founding of the State of Israel, and it is fitting, therefore, to look back and to assess. Since her founding, the expectation was that the Jewish State would become “A Light Unto the Nations,” in keeping with biblical prophesies to that effect. Has this hope been realized, or has Israel failed to measure up to the hopes of its founders?
In many respects, the light of Israel has shined brightly for the world to behold. Due in large part to the boundless courage… Continue
Posted by Nissim Dahan on May 9, 2008 at 5:30am —
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Originally posted: http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/05/08/wael-al-saad-justice-lost-in-the-age-of-power/
Latest featured version is at: http://internettime.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=656824%3ABlogPost%3A19009
I am not a politician or a journalist or writer. But the… Continue
When a Palestinian questions the presence of the Israeli settlers in the middle of Hebron city between many thousands of Palestinians living there, the answer would immediately reach him, which is because its their grandfathers land and they have the right to live on this land, and to be the only one to have the blessing of living on the holy land of their grandfathers, the same answer would be delevired when questioning the presence of so many settlments that continues to exist and expand on th… Continue
Posted by Hiba on May 9, 2008 at 12:33am —
1 Comment
this is an article by Gershon Baskin one of our mepeace members at the jerusalem Post its very interestine but plz visit the web to see the comments !!!! very sad to see people think in that bad way
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627018144&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Sixty years! Rising from the ashes and faced with six decades of struggle and war, Israel certainly has a lot to be proud of. Not only is Israel one of the world's largest producers of news and interest… Continue
Not really a blog yet, but I would like to put here two of my favorite quotes.
If think that they relate very well to our crazy situation here.
"The traditions of the dead generations weigh like a nightmare upon the living." - Karl Marx
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - VoltaireContinue
Posted by Shaul on May 8, 2008 at 12:30pm —
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Yesterday evening I suddenly thought of posting this little "story" here.
It's not even a story, it's not more than a few words and a lot of emotions. It's a Blog entry I posted on my initial Yahoo Blog (http://360.yahoo.com/the_pilot_woman/) on November 10th, 2006. I felt the need to write down what was then an important turning point for me - not the only one, but one of those which made my world shake...
There is a story before that Blog post, and a loooong story afterwards... (as we're now… Continue
Posted by Eva on May 4, 2008 at 8:30pm —
1 Comment
"No one is free when others are oppressed." [Source: Unknown]
This Interfaith Freedom Seder marking Pesach was held in Sydney by the Jews for Social Action (JSA) group of the North Shore Temple Emanuel. Jews, Moslems and Christians shared a Seder evening at Donna Jabobs' home. Donna put together a secular Freedom Haggadah with quotations and emphasis on the…
I heard this read the other day and it brought me to tears. Hope is a hard thing to come by and I struggle everyday with the feelings that I need to do more - be more. This reminded me that drop by drop, small efforts DO matter.
A Tiny Drop of Water
Author: Bob Perks
A tiny drop of water washed away the land and buildings fell, floating away with other people's dreams.
Roadways planned and formed by huge machines and men who sweat and hammer the world into shape, were pushed away with little… Continue
A little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"
The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made."
Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.
The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."
The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed fro…Continue
This week it occurs that Jews in Israel and all over the world are celebrating the pesach, the question that always cross by my mind during the Jews celebrating festivals is that "Is it necessary for a Jew to celebrate his festival with delight, that the life of thousands of Palestinians would be affected by more closures and "security procurements"?
During the Jews festival times, if a Palestinian intends to move out of his city or village for some reason, then he should count in his mind the… Continue
[Comment:The writer, Robert Wolfe, is a secular Jew. His relatively brief, 3,500 word condensed, Jewish History is a worthwhile read even (or especially) for those who are experts. The related discussion.and Q&A is Jewish History: What you (want to) know about it. PmR]
Outline of a Secular Narrative of Jewish History By Robert Wolfe…
Yes, dear friends, in the familiar words of Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a dream." My dream is that somewhere out there someone will emerge with the vision of a world living in harmony rather than always being at war. I have a dream that some young man or woman will come out of the woodwork who will have the creativity and imagination to see that the only way for our world to survive is to live in peace. I am ninety years old and have had this dream for many years but I have always been rebutt… Continue
I was looking for website, support the peace,meetings and another activities for peace on this land, i think we can do more than we expect to work together toward the peace, writing here is no longer enough if we want to change out situation and push it toward the peace , i have many… Continue
Posted by Mahmoud on April 18, 2008 at 5:43pm —
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I have thought alot about this question and can name countless reasons why people feel hate. But the main reason is fear. We fear what we do not understand, and because most of the world does not understand, we are left here to hate. We have lost our ways, thrown away the teachings of all of our prophets be you of Muslim, Jewish or Christian faith. Would abraham, Jesus or Mohammad (PBH) be happy if they saw what has become of their people? NO! And we continue to fuel this flame of hatred, and it… Continue
Posted by amena on April 11, 2008 at 1:23am —
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To be able to live with myself I must express my views on war and why we continue to have wars with all of their terrible consequences. Just why is that we continue to have these disastrous wars every few years? Some psychologists have argued that while human temperament allows wars to occur, they only do so when mentally unbalanced men are in control of a nation. This extreme school of thought argues leaders that seek war such as Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin were mentally abnormal. Perhaps Pres… Continue
Posted by Earl Prignitz on April 6, 2008 at 8:55pm —
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by Earl J. Prignitz
For several hundred years following the death of Christ, there is absolutely no question that his followers were certain that he had forbidden war. As a result of many Christians refusal to participate in war they suffered the consequences of imprisonment and/or death. These facts are indisputable. A learned writer of the seventeenth century said, "It is as easy to obscure the sun at mid-day, as to deny that the primitive Christians renounced all revenge and war."
There are… Continue
Posted by Earl Prignitz on April 6, 2008 at 7:59pm —
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Hello!
I have been aware of Resolution 1325 and also had the privilege to meet with many Israeli and Palestinian women working to invoke this resolution through third party mediation; i.e. more women involved in the negotiating process for peace. Does anyone know of any organizations outside of Sweden working with this? We have operation 1325 here, but I am really looking to ultimately set up a conference to involve young female researchers from the EU and the states to educate them about joint… Continue
Posted by Elysia Busick on April 2, 2008 at 1:56am —
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...Yesterday's posting. this is a great site w/ some great folks. I keep forgetting how deeply traumatized Israelis & Palestinians are and how healing it is for folks to talk about it. so many of these people have had their hearts broken repeatedly. just to keep them open is real and hard work.
I bring a terrible sense of urgency from my week on the West Bank during the war in Lebanon, July 2006. I feel there is a real shot & that it is slipping away- again. and of course that dovetails… Continue
I know that a lot of Palestinian actions are reactions to Israeli actions. And a lot of Israeli actions are reactions to Palestinian actions. In Buddhism, sometimes they call that "mutually co-dependent origination." I prefer to avoid such long names and think of it simply as "recognizing that we are all connected." No human being exists in isolation. We only exist inside and in relation to a larger society. We are part of this world, not apart from it. And this world that we are part of include… Continue
Posted by MKE on March 18, 2008 at 6:19pm —
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will this be a well intentioned but time consuming sink of platitudes & hand holding? or will I find enough serious partners prepared to roll up their sleeves & help do the hard, unglamorous work of building the prosperity needed to sustain the peace to come? In time to save my company & our initiative? the clock is ticking. Lemuel Melamed asked how much the Palestinian made T-shirts cost. that's a good sign. Eyal says start a discussion group. I think I'll wait till I've made more "… Continue
Posted by Adam Neiman on March 18, 2008 at 4:41pm —
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how do you find adequate resources for a business that is only slightly less risky than betting on peace in the middle east?
this is my company's urgent quandry. here's what we do...
No Sweat Apparel’s new line of organic cotton T-shirts is produced at a sweatshop-free Palestinian owned factory on Virgin Mary Street in Bethlehem. Here’s a link to an al Jazeera segment about the project.
http://www.youtube.com/nosweatapparel
Our Jewish, Israeli & US mainstream press has been just as posit… Continue
Posted by Adam Neiman on March 16, 2008 at 9:42pm —
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Hello,
I would like to invite you to join the global peace coup
http://www.peacecoup.com
Share information and motivation.
We have the ability to live in peace. Continue
Posted by Willie on March 16, 2008 at 3:02pm —
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When I found this community, I had been looking for some time to find a place where real ideas for peace would be discussed, with compassion and open hearts. I had looked at communities on My Space, Facebook and others. What I saw were people that were only there to argue that their “side” was good and the “other” evil - Not a path for creative reconciliation. I can find this all around me, in the ‘real world’, so I was seeking a space where I could ‘breath’, where I could ‘recharge’ my spirit,… Continue
Here's something that I found in Haaretz online. Enjoy.
-gabi
Ten Commandments for Arab and Jew at war
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Ten Commandments, Israel
There is no conflict in the world more complex, more closely watched, and more historically intractable than the war between Israel and its Arab neighbors, a tireless blood feud now on the threshold of its seventh decade.
It helps little that each side lays claim to ultimate morality and consummate victimhood.
For Palestinian Muslim and Isr… Continue
from the bouphonia blog's weekly post entitled "friday hope blogging", i found a link to this web site:
"We are a group of Israeli and Palestinian individuals who were actively involved in the cycle of violence in our area. The Israelis served as combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinians were involved in acts of violence in the name of Palesti…Continue
Posted by Erik Rader on March 14, 2008 at 11:32pm —
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Man With a Hoe
By Edward Markham
THE MAN WITH THE HOE
by Edward Markham
Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans
Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground,
The emptiness of ages in his face,
And on his back the burden of the world.
Who made him dead to rapture and despair,
A thing that grieves not and that never hopes,
Stolid and stunned, a brother to the ox?
Who loosened and let down this brutal jaw?
Whose was the hand that slanted back this brow?
Whose breath blew out the light within this br… Continue
Posted by Mirium Ahmed on March 13, 2008 at 5:07am —
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Libby and Len Traubman are an inspiration to the thousands who know them. I heard about this California couple when I participated in a dialogue between Palestinians and Jews in New York. This special couple de… Continue
Whilst this petition was triggered by some politcal games here in Australia, it seems to that it is universally valid
If you feel heartbroken when words are used as weapons please sign Donna’s petition at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/6/a-petition-for-truly-peaceful-petitions.
Or
http://tinyurl.com/2oo25u
I trust that all who sign, also value the work of organisations like:
== http://www.crnhq.org/
== http://togetherforhumanity.org.au/ and
== http://www.sulha.com/ and
== http://www.mepeace.or… Continue
Posted by Paul RETI on March 12, 2008 at 7:00am —
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Hello
I am studying the word compassion for some time and i want to share with you the things that I have learned and the relevance it has for peace.
Compassion is a way of being which encompasses a few feelings:1. Love and empathy - to love a fellow human being just because he is a human being like you, who like you his life is very fragile and can end at any minute and like you is suffering at times and happy at other times. 2. Clearity - a compassionate person looks at his fellow friends and… Continue
Posted by Michal Dover on March 11, 2008 at 11:00am —
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I have been wrestling with the concept of peace with justice. Rationally, I understand that a peace without justice is not a real peace. It would be a detente, but not really peace. On the other hand, when the word justice is used like a flag, it feels like a threat to "the other". They wonder "what do you mean by justice?", "Do I need to give up my home, my way of life, my security?" I agree that justice has to be the endgame, but to demand it up front is very similar to demanding "security" be… Continue
The TV news brought the story of one Pinchads Zlotosvsky, a former neo-nazi thug, living in Poland. One day his mother revealed to him his Jewish origins. He shifted gears and became an ultra-orthodox Jew. I thought of this story when we visited Hebron yesterday. Our tour was led by Yehuda Shaul, a former IDF sergeant who served in Hebron, and who now leads groups of Israelis and foreigners on informative tours of the city. On the bus he described an evening when, as a soldier, he and his unit w… Continue
Posted by Howard Shippin on March 8, 2008 at 7:30pm —
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I've lived in Israel for 30 years but somehow evaded a visit to Yad VaShem, the Jewish Holocaust remembrance museum. My youngest son is now in his final year of high school - the year when Israeli schools place an emphasis on holocaust studies - and the teacher invited parents along for a day at Yad VaShem. Dorit and I took part.
The museum underwent a major alteration a few years ago, in an attempt to modernize and find a way of reaching people as the chronological distance from the H…
Bringing the sun back. That's what we were doing after a week of bright sunlight in Amsterdam was replaced by mist. Almost 3,000 flowers came to Amsterdam for The Valentine Peace Project.
Volunteers came, the Dutch Flower Council sent a photographer, - lots and lots of kids and members of the Pijp community center gasped and awed at the bunches and bundles of carnations, tulips and irises shuffling from room to room as poems were wrapped, tied or taped around them.
I knew similar parties putti… Continue
Yael Patir is smart, determined and generous. Indeed, when I asked her to submit her photograph for this feature, she submitted a picture featuring her (on right) with her capable Palestinian partner, Nancy Sadiq. These two women share responsibility for more than 120 organizations working for Palest… Continue
According to the BBC this morning, the Israeli army went into Gaza last night and detained "dozens" of Palestinians. But such incursions could be just a warm up for a major operation. See the following article from Ynet. A friend said, "Maybe we can protest BEFORE the next war, instead of AFTER?".
Gaza op already in works
Decision on major Gaza incursion…Continue
Posted by Howard Shippin on February 18, 2008 at 9:45am —
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In the interview with Donna Qawasmi for a recent "peace maker of the week" feature, I was impressed by her whole-hearted praise for her country and government. As a PR person in a peace community I get to meet dignitaries, ambassadors, and officials of various countries - recently even a former secretary of defense. They invariably laud our activities, and sometimes their governments support our efforts through specially designated funds. Yet we know that such funding is just a fraction of the a… Continue
I met Bassam Aramin one week before his daughter was killed by the Israel Defence Forces. We met at Tel Aviv University, where Bassam shared his story at Tel Aviv University with Combatants for Peace, an organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have chosen to fight for peace.
Kenya is burning with ethnic cleansing, hatred, killing and starvation due to post-election violence. There is need for humanitarian support for these innocent children and women. Over 800 people have been killed and over 300,000 displaced!! Any suggestion as conflict resolution members!!
As former UN Secretary General is continuing with negotiation process, lets see what we can do as Mepeace community on humanitarian ground. You can contact me on: otie… Continue
This is from the TIKKUN newsletter that I just received: http://www.spiritualprogressives.org
The policy of force has failed, prison walls broken
End the blockade - completely !
Ceasefire now - for the sake of Sderot and of Gaza!
Saturday 26.1.08: A countrywide relief convoy and Israeli demonstration in solidarity on the Gaza border with a parallel Palestinian demonstration in the Strip.
It is impossible to keep one and a half million people in a huge prison, an… Continue
Donna Qawasmi is a proud, modern, and brave Jordanian woman. I remember how warmly our community responded to her when she joined. She shares herself openly and creatively on her page, and that helps us get to know her. Naturally, when we initiated the feature of Peacemaker of the Week… Continue
Jeff Halper of ICAHD (see below) offers an original take on the situation in Gaza. Loosen all tight clothing and enjoy....
POWER TO THE (PALESTINIAN) PEOPLE!
Jeff Halper
January 23, 2008
The people of Palestine have done it again, taking their own fate in their hands after being let down by their own "moderate" political leadership and, indeed, the entire international community in their struggle for freedom. Early this morning they simply…
My older blogging
The Hamsa and the Businessman
Mother's Day
What motivates us...
Welcome to Family of Nations
A Right For a Palestinian
Encountering Peace: Next year in Palestine by " Gershon Baskin "
Two of my favorite quotes
I Have A Dream!
why did i join this site...
What fuels hatred?
Joint Peace Initiative-Empowering Women as Third Party Mediators
not fair....
The whole world is a single flower
The Ten Commandments
What Makes Peace Happen
Libby and Len Traubman are an inspiration to the thousands who know them. I heard about this California couple when I participated in a dialogue between Palestinians and Jews in New York. This special couple de… Continue
Compassion and Peace
The Hebron Trip
Peace Valentine
I met Bassam Aramin one week before his daughter was killed by the Israel Defence Forces. We met at Tel Aviv University, where Bassam shared his story at Tel Aviv University with Combatants for Peace, an organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have chosen to fight for peace. 
Dear Mepeace fraternity,Kenya is burning with ethnic cleansing, hatred, killing and starvation due t…
Donna Qawasmi is a proud, modern, and brave Jordanian woman. I remember how warmly our community responded to her when she joined. She shares herself openly and creatively on her page, and that helps us get to know her. Naturally, when we initiated the feature of Peacemaker of the Week… Continue
