MP clarifies views on Mideast

SVEND ROBINSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

I struggle to know how to begin. Where to start, when I am confronted yet again with images of innocent Israeli civilians blown up in a bus. Grieving families cry for revenge and their political leaders call for expulsion of Yasser Arafat, the building of new walls and the annexing of Palestinian lands. Desperate Palestinian families mourn the loss of their loved ones, killed "in error" by the Israel Defence Forces, and search through the rubble of bulldozed homes for personal possessions. Settlements multiply, killings escalate on both sides and many of us feel a sense of hopelessness for the future. What is to be done?

I came away from my last visit to Israel and the occupied territories with more questions than answers. The trip also raised many questions back home in Canada, including from friends in the Jewish community. Why would I try to meet with Arafat? Why didn't I meet with Israelis to hear their stories, understand their perspectives? Why did I "take sides" in this dispute? Wasn't I really driven by a deep-seated anti-Semitism?

Because I found such a vast gulf between the reality of my visit and the perception of it in the mainstream media, I welcome this opportunity to clarify some of the above issues. You may not change your mind, but you will at least hear the truth.

It has been the veiled and not-so-veiled charge of anti-Semitism that has been most personally painful and unjust. While I have over the years had many vigorous discussions and, sadly, some lost friendships as a result of the position I have taken on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, no one has accused me of anti-Semitism. I have fought discrimination all my life. I have worked with B'nai Brith over the years on a number of anti-discrimination issues. I have worked closely with Canadian Jewish Congress and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, among others, on the issue of bringing those responsible for the horrors of the Holocaust to justice. My own family in Denmark were among those who sheltered Jews fleeing the Nazis, helping them to escape to Sweden.

I travelled to Israel as a guest of the Canada-Israel Committee in the mid-1980s and was deeply moved by so much of what I saw, including the kibbutz movement. I have always strongly supported Israel's right to exist and flourish within secure borders, free of external threats from Arab neighbors. Indeed, I recently joined a U.K. parliamentary delegation to Iraq and publicly called, in the presence of Tariq Aziz, for the full recognition by that country of Israel, and called on Saddam Hussein to stop glorifying the suicide bombers.

On the issue of the suicide bombers, I have condemned these attacks as terrorism. Last fall, I was the only MP who spoke out in the House to condemn the murder of former Israeli minister Rehavam Ze'evi, and call for an end to such killings. That was one of the messages I was to bring to Arafat had I been allowed to meet with him.

While many have raised concerns about the human rights record of Arafat, he is the recognized leader of the Palestinian Authority. Similar concerns have been voiced about Ariel Sharon's record, but no one would suggest that he is not the proper interlocuter for the Israelis. I believe that the massive destruction of the Palestinian Authority's infrastructure, including its security forces working with Israeli authorities to stop suicide bombers, was a terrible mistake, as was the isolation and humiliation of Arafat. Does anyone seriously believe that destroying the Palestinian Authority and respected leaders, such as Hanan Ashrawi, will not lead to even more militant, destructive voices in Palestinian leadership? And as the loss of innocent Palestinian lives increases, along with Israeli civilian casualties, hard-liners on both sides are empowered.

Despite what you may have read in the Canadian media, I spent more time in Tel-Aviv during my recent visit than I did in Jerusalem or the occupied territories. While there, I participated in a large Peace Now rally at Rabin Square. I met with members of the Knesset and Tel-Aviv's city council. I heard the stories of courageous reservists who have refused to serve in the occupied territories. Activists in Gush Shalom and Ta'ayush shared their perspectives on the current situation. I also met with Israelis who strongly supported Sharon. My offer to meet with Israeli government officials was unfortunately declined.

I am convinced that the only hope for a future of peace with justice lies in a two-state solution: a Palestinian state that respects and honors all of its citizens, and ensures full equality for women and minorities, including gay and lesbian people; an Israeli state that ensures full equality for all of its citizens in all aspects of society, while welcoming Jews from around the world to make it their home and heartland. This will only come about with an end to the occupation, the dismantling of settlements and an end to all terrorist activity, be it that of the suicide bombers or that of Sharon's government.

It is heartening that more and more Jews are joining in speaking out for this approach. In the United Kingdom, for example, Labor MP Gerald Kaufman recently spoke out in the Commons:

"Sharon has ordered his troops to use methods of barbarism against the Palestinians.... It is time to remind Sharon that the Star of David belongs to all Jews and not to his repulsive government. His actions are staining the Star of David with blood. The Jewish people, whose gifts to civilized discourse include Einstein and Epstein, are now symbolized throughout the world by the blustering bully Ariel Sharon, a war criminal implicated in the murder of Palestinians in the Sabra-Shatila camp and now involved in killing Palestinians once again."

While we may not agree on all of these issues, I do trust that we can maintain a respectful and open dialogue. My door is always open to constituents who wish to discuss this issue further. Let us hope that peace and an end to the horrors of violence will come to the Israeli and Palestinian people soon.

Svend Robinson is the member of Parliament for Burnaby-Douglas.

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