|
|
May 3, 2002
Hope for Middle East peace remains
Israel Consul General Meir Romem talks about current intifada
in historical terms.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Despite decades of conflict in the Middle East, Israel Consul General
Meir Romem still talks about the possibility of peace in the region.
Romem addressed about 75 people who gathered at Or Shalom Synagogue
after Shabbat morning services last weekend. Struggling at times
to be heard above the sound of children playing and running about
the synagogue, the soft-spoken Romem tried to put the latest intifada
into context.
Approximately 500 Israelis have been killed, he said, saying that
this is a large number for a country of Israel's size and a large
number compared to how many Israelis have died in other instances
of violence. He then detailed the history of the Israeli-Arab conflict
back to the early part of the 20th century.
Romem said he remembered where he was and how he felt, at age 16,
when Israel was created: there was dancing in the streets, David
Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence and, the next day,
seven Arab nations attacked.
Romem gave Egypt as an example of how peace could be made between
former enemies. As part of that peace process, Israel relocated
Israeli settlers - proving that it is possible to resolve the issue
of settlements, he said. Romem called Anwar Sadat a man of vision
but was very critical of Yasser Arafat.
The 1993 Oslo Accord was a moment of great hope, said Romem, but
Arafat rejected the offer. Nonetheless, said Romem, Israel continued
its peace efforts up until, and even after, the current intifada
began.
Some of Romem's remarks were challenged in the question-and-answer
period that followed his opening statements. More than one person
questioned the sincerity of Israel in its Oslo Accord proposals,
given that settlements in the occupied territories continued to
expand after 1993, checkpoints were being built and Palestinians
were not particularly well-treated by Israelis. One person claimed
that, even back then, ambulances carrying Palestinian patients were
not always allowed to reach the hospital.
Romem responded passionately that checkpoints were only put into
place after the violence began, that Israeli hospitals are full
of Palestinian patients and that Israel is willing to dismantle
some of the settlements.
It was during this exchange that some members of the audience started
mumbling critical comments, but in voices loud enough for people
to hear. Or Shalom Rabbi David Mivasair had to remind the audience
to keep any discourteous comments to themselves. Mivasair called
on people to show respect, saying that such commentary may make
people feel good in the moment, but they do not help the situation.
One person had even stormed out of the talk after telling Romem
that Romem was starting to believe his own lies.
Despite this incident, there was some productive discussion. Romem
said he was encouraged by the way in which the North American media
was covering recent events in the Middle East. In response to another
questioner, he categorized Israel's bilateral relationship with
countries such as New Zealand, Australia and China as good, but
said that the relationship with these countries is different when
considered in terms of the United Nations, which he pronounced a
corrupt institution.
Romem said that Israel is still trying to get back to the negotiating
table, with a Middle East peace summit held under the auspices of
the United States. He said that Japan has offered to host such a
meeting.
^TOP
|
|
