Israel and Palestine: looking for peace on the horizon

Who am I to worry about Israelis and Palestinians? What inspires me to be involved in the Israel Palestine conflict? The following is the story of my struggle to see a cohesive world, the story will take you through different emotions but at the end, I hope you feel a sense of completeness of the story. Please let me know. Thank you.

I believe at the heart of the world peace is the Israel Palestine conflict, it is the mother of all conflicts, and if we can find a solution to this, peace is on the horizon ready to shine on us.

Until we can see our own faults, peace for both people becomes a forlorn hope. The burden to find solutions falls on all of us, but particularly Jews, Muslims and Christians.

HUFFINGTON: Continue

Rabbis sign for peace

85% of Jews are for peace
Similar percentage of Arabs want peace...
a Majority of Americans were against the war...
It is amazing how that tiny percentage runs our lives.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr. President,

Please accept the heartfelt congratulations of Brit Tzedek
v'Shalom on your inauguration as President, on the spirit of
inclusion that you bring with you to the nation's capital, and
on the hope you have given to all.

**************
Watch this important video message from 1000 rabbis and then
share it with friends, family, and your members of Congress.
[http://btvshalom.org/video/1000rabbis.html#video]
**************

As you begin your Presidency, we send you a videotaped message
from a cross-section of the more than 1000 rabbis, cantors, and
Jewish seminary students who signed "Time to Choose Peace," a
rabbinic letter recently delivered to you. The letter
underscores the urgency of your declared intention to address
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict beginning today, this first day
of your Administration.

These leaders include:
RABBI JOHN FRIEDMAN, National Chair, Rabbinic Cabinet of Brit
Tzedek v'Shalom
RABBI CAPERS C. FUNNYE, JR., member of the Chicago Board of
Rabbis and your wife Michelle's cousin
RABBI PETER S. KNOBEL, President, Central Conference of Reform
Rabbis
RABBI BRANT ROSEN, Immediate Past President, Reconstructionist
Rabbinical Association
RABBI TOBA SPITZER, President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical
Association
RABBI ARNOLD JACOB WOLF, z"l, beloved rabbi of KAM Isaiah Israel
and your late friend and neighbor

*IDS are for identification purposes only

These are the people who inspire and represent the more than 85%
of American Jews who support a negotiated two-state solution to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; they inspire and represent
also the tens of thousands of Brit Tzedek volunteers, grassroots
activists who have chosen to consistently advocate for what is
best for Israel, by advocating for peace.

Because we know that the road before you will be hard and you
will have to stand firm on unpopular positions, we pledge
ourselves today, on the first day of your Presidency, to stand
by your side, and mobilize the Jewish community behind your
peace efforts.

Congratulations, Mr. President! We wish you all the best as you
undertake this urgent task.

BiVrachot shel shalom (With best wishes for peace),

Diane Balser, Executive Director
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Attached please find:

* Text of "Time to Choose Peace" rabbinic letter
[http://ga3.org/campaign/letter_mccainobama/]

* List of 1011 rabbinic letter signatories
[http://ga3.org/campaign/letter_mccainobama/explanation#signers]

* Rabbinic letter and signatories in The Forward on October 3,
2008
[http://btvshalom.org/mccainobamaletter.pdf]

* Rabbinic letter and local signatories in:

Albany, NY
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Albany.Ad3.pdf]
Boston, MA
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Boston.10.25x7.pdf]
Eugene, OR
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Eugene.Ad4.pdf]
Kansas City, MO
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Kansas.City.Ad.pdf]
Minneapolis, MN
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Minnesota.Ad3.pdf]
New York, NY
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/NewYork.Ad2-NoPartyInfo.pdf]
Portland, OR
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Portland.Ad4.pdf]
San Francisco, CA
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/BayArea.Ad3.pdf]
Santa Cruz, CA
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/SantaCruz4.pdf]
Seattle, WA
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Seattle2.Ad2.pdf]
Providence, RI
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/BTVads/Rhode.Island.ad4.pdf]

* Op-eds about rabbinic letter by signatories:

Op-ed: Reach out for a two-state solution by Rabbi John
Friedman. The News and Observer. October 16, 2008.
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/2008/20081016a.shtml]

Op-ed: We Do Need Change--In U.S. Policy In The Middle East by
Rabbi Marc Gopin. The Washington Jewish Week. October 2, 2008.
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/2008/20081002.shtml]

Op-ed: Obama administration must pursue Mideast peace by Rabbi
Arnold Rachlis. The Jewish Journal. November 19, 2008.
[http://www.btvshalom.org/pressrelease/2008/20081119a.shtml]

* News announcement on rabbinic letter that played on 1557 radio
stations on October 7, 2008.
[http://btvshalom.org/resources/20081007_au.html]

_______________________________________________________________________________

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
11 E. Adams Street, Suite 707
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 341-1205
Fax: (312) 341-1206
info@btvshalom.org
http://www.btvshalom.org

A dialogue for peace

When it comes to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, Mona Eltahawy wrote “our respective sides demand not only absolute lockstep with their ideas but that those on the other side march in step too.” In an article entitled On Self-Hate and Fence Sitting.

Kindly know that every one is hunkering for some one to take a neutral stand in finding solutions. I will take that approach in developing an understanding of the problems and finding solutions.

I want to develop a small team of about 10 people, some of whom are passionate and some are not, but both must have the will to sit down and listen and have a genuine dialogue. A dialogue occurs when both sides give full value to the other, if one starts out with an idea that the other is wrong, even before listening to him or her, his efforts will be to assert his position, and obviously the other will dig in his heels. What is the point?

Why is the dialogue necessary? I believe, we have to bring a resolution to the ongoing conflict; neither party can annihilate the other or drive them to the sea, neither one can become God. The Palestinians deserve to have the very basic of life in their lives; hope and the Israelis deserve to live in security; to be able to drop their guards and live in peace.

I am planning on setting up a dialogue on Israel Palestine conflict. The first phase of the dialogue is to have both sides to share every aspect of the conflict from their point of view, let's put everything on the table. The next phase is to separate the myths from facts, those myths that would be acknowledged by both sides. Finally work on finding common grounds that may be acceptable by listening to each other's point of view. I would like three passionate Jews (Israeli-American, Israeli and American) and three Passionate Palestinians (Palestinian Muslim, Palestinian Christian and Palestinian American) armed with facts and information to be on the panel.

PR on Second Annual “Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides"

PR on Second Annual “Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides"

II Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
Sunday, January 25, 2009 5:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance
211 N. Record St. Suite 100,
Dallas, TX 75202-3361
Website: www.HolocaustandGenocides.org

Admission is free - Your are invitedLimited Seating -

Please RSVP to: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com

You may become a part of the history as this event is a stepping stone towards Peace in the Middle east.

Continued: http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Articles/Holocaust-and-Genocides-Press-Release-011709.asp

HR 34 : Are we pleasing the lobbyists or the people?

HR 34 : Are we pleasing the lobbyists or the people?

HR 34 : Are we pleasing the lobbyists or the people?The question is about the House Resolution 34 which “barely mentions the human suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza.”We are the most powerful nation on the earth and Israel is the most powerful nation in the Middle East, both of us can decide whatever we want. Who will question us?

Continued: http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/House-Resolution-34-Congressman-Ellison.asp

Gaza Petitions to stop Killing

Gaza Petitions to stop Killing
Mike Ghouse, November 25, 2008

The leadership on both sides seems to rejoice death and destruction. In reality, these criminals don't give rat's xss about the Jews or the Palestinians, manufacturing and then destroying the enemies makes heroes out of these criminal leaders. These individuals have made shameful statements about each other.

They can be still heroes working for peace and dialoguing instead of killing and blaming each other. Shame on us if we revel death and destruction of any human being and shame on us if we keep electing these opportunists. When we elect the leaders, the critical requirement should be their peace making plans despite the hurdles and road blocks. It is time the majority of Israeli and Palestinians speak up, the few on both sides are determining the fates of all people.

Saving a life is like saving the whole humanity, says Torah and Qur'aan, it is time the individual criminal leaders follow their books and not stain their faiths, both of them are violating their own religion.

They are not Israelis, Jews, Palestinians or Muslims, they are simply criminals. It is time that we single out the individuals leaders on both sides and bring them to justice, neither public wants war and destruction and the bullies are not giving a crap and running propaganda's to justify their criminal activity of killing each other. To be true to ourselves, we need to hear both sides of the story to bring an end to the killing spree.

We need to question our prejudice and integrity as humans, if we are bent on blaming each other instead of saving the lives. Saving life should be our priority at this moment. Please sign the petitions and leave your comments at the bottom of this page.

http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/Save-Gaza-Petition.asp

Mike Ghouse

A few evil men, some Jews some Muslims

A few Gazans and Israelis rejoice each other's death, shame on them;
A few Israelis and Gazans are revengeful, forgiveness to them;
A few Gazans and Israelis are hateful to each other, love to them;
A few Israelis and Gazans are messing up others lives, prayers to them;
A few Gazans and Israelis cannot see their mistakes, wisdom to them;

A few Israeli and Gazans Politicians are seeking re-elections, dump them;
A few of us are excited about killing and mayhem, humility to us;
A few of us Justify one side or the other, we shouldn't justify any killing;

To Kill a human is like killing the whole humanity says the Torah and the Qur'aan
To save a life is like saving the whole humanity says the Torah and the Qur'aan
Don't call them Jews or Muslims, they are simply killers individual or enmasse;

The war is not between Israelis and Gazans, it is between evil men and evil men.
May God help each one of us to learn to see the pain of the other and let's be human.

And speak out louder to stop this killing spree.
In pain,

Mike Ghouse