Peace requires justice

Letters

Editor: This letter is a response to the letter by Jack Chivo that you published in the Bulletin, Dec. 21, 2001, which attacks the petition of support for Palestinian refugee rights including the right of return. I am an Israeli living in New York and I am one of the signers of that petition.

Mr. Chivo does not attempt to deal with the right of return issue. He is too busy launching ad hominem attacks against the signers of the petition, calling us "so-called Jewish peace-seekers." This is typical of the criticism against those who support even the most minimal human and civil rights for Palestinians. I guess it's easier to attack the person rather than debate the idea.

Mr. Chivo apparently doesn't consider us real Jews, as no real Jew would even think of questioning the Zionist consensus. Moreover, we are not really peace-seekers since to criticize Zionist orthodoxy means that one has a more sinister goal. Apparently, it is not conceivable for a Jew to support national aspiration, human rights and civil rights for anyone in Palestine who is not a Jew. Does Mr. Chivo imply that being a Jew prevents me from being human?

All this is not surprising, because the right of return for Palestinian refugees makes too much sense. How can one justify the right of return for Jews from Russia or Ethiopia and, at the same time, oppose the right of return of Palestinian refugees, who still have the deeds to their property and the keys to their doors? One cannot do so without being hypocritical or racist. Israel managed to absorb millions of immigrants from all parts of the world who have no connection to the country or the land except being Jewish. Many of them are not even Jewish. Why is it then so outrageous to allow people to return to places where they have lived only a generation ago?

Yes, implementing the return of Palestinian refugees will not be easy. Neither was integrating millions of Jewish immigrants. The real problem is the Zionist vision of Israel as a Jewish state. The goal should be a democratic secular state in Israel, where Jews and Palestinians can achieve their national and cultural aspirations. Living as a Jew in Israel shouldn't mean depriving everyone else of their rights.

It is all too easy to declare one's support for peace, but that is nothing more than lip service. True peace depends on justice; there cannot be peace without justice. To seek peace, one has to seek a just solution that addresses the just aspirations of all sides. I think Israelis are missing this point because they are blinded by their military might; because one has to be blind to reality to expect Palestinians to give up their just fight in return for some elusive peace agreement that will do nothing but prolong their suffering and defer justice indefinitely.

Haim E. Arazy
New York

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