CONCLUSION
II
We hope that this look at the historical
record concerning the root cause of the Middle East conflict
will give second thoughts to all who have previously supported
Israel's actions.
The persecution of the Jews for centuries in
Europe was the worst of many stains on the European record, and
the Zionists' desire for a place of sanctuary is certainly
understandable. Like all other colonial enterprises, however,
Zionism was based on the total disregard of the rights of
indigenous inhabitants. As such, it is morally indefensible.
And, as previously stated, all subsequent crimes - and there
have been many on both sides - inevitably follow from this
original injustice to the Palestinians.
Given the damage that has been done to the
Palestinian people, Israel's obligation is to make whatever
amends possible. Among these should be assisting the creation of
a sovereign Palestinian state in the entire West Bank and Gaza
with its capital in East Jerusalem. Israel should not object to
this state and, in addition, should help with its foundation via
generous reparations. Besides being the right thing to do, this
would stop the sporadic acts of violence against Israel, as the
Palestinians' legitimate desire for their own state would be
realized. Moreover, all laws that discriminate against non-Jews
living in Israel should be repealed.
Given the history outlined in this paper, we
conclude that the Palestinians have gotten "the short end of the
stick" and that justice demands that wrongs should be righted.
Full and complete justice would entail allowing any Palestinian
to return to Israel if they wished but, practically speaking, we
understand that this is a recipe for even more bloodshed.
Therefore, recognizing that reality, we join Gush Shalom and
other Israeli peace groups in calling for a negotiated, modified
right of return with the bulk of Palestinian refugees being
settled in a Palestinian state, financed by generous reparations
from both Israel and the international community.
As U.S. citizens, we have a special
obligation to see that justice is done in this matter. U.S.
financial aid to Israel has been, and continues to be, enormous;
and our diplomatic support is the crucial factor allowing
Israel's continued occupation of Arab territories. We strongly
recommend that you contact your elected representatives in
Washington and urge them to insist that, as a preconditon of
continued support, Israel must abide by the consensus of world
opinion and withdraw to its 1967 borders, as demanded in
numerous UN votes.
American Jews in particular have a special
responsibility to acknowledge the Palestinian point of view in
order to help move the debate forward. As Chomsky writes in his
Peace in the Middle East?, "In the American Jewish
community, there is little willingness to face the fact that the
Palestinian Arabs have suffered a monstrous historical
injustice, whatever one may think of the competing claims. Until
this is recognized, discussion of the Middle East crisis cannot
even begin."
In the long run, only by admitting their
culpability and making amends can Israelis live with their
neighbors in peace. Only then can the centuries-old Jewish
tradition of being a people of high moral character be restored.
And only in this way can real security, peace and justice come
to this ancient land.