Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Don't Go

Dear College Campus Pro-Israel Activist:

You may be tempted, but don't go to this event:

Ready for September - UNGA, Durban III, Middle East Peace Process?
Register Today...for an Emergency Fly-In that will prepare you to discuss pertinent issues sure to be addressed on campus quads and in college classrooms this fall.

When: Thursday, July 28th - 9:00 am-4:00 pm Where: Washington, DC - Grand Hyatt Hotel (1000 H Street NW) Who: Campus Professionals, Faculty, Campus Administrators, Student Leaders Why: To Educate Yourself on the Issues

Guest Speakers already include: David Makovsky, Ziegler Distinguished Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Ghaith al-Omari, Executive Director, American Task Force on Palestine.


Additional details will be announced in the coming days.
 
*This training is free of charge. Travel and lodging (if necessary) will be arranged by the training organizers.

Why?

A pro-Israel group of any stripe does not need to host Ghaith al-Omari.

He has

...served in various positions within the Palestinian Authority, including Director of the International Relations Department in the Office of the Palestinian President, and advisor to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. In these capacities, he provided advice on foreign policy -- especially vis-à-vis the United States and Israel -- and security. He has extensive experience in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, having been an advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team throughout the permanent status negotiations (1999–2001).

True, the organization that employs him

is strictly opposed to all acts of violence against civilians no matter the cause and no matter who the victims or perpetrators may be. The Task Force advocates the development of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized and neutral in armed conflicts

but on Jerusalem, they demand that

Unilateral measures taken by Israel since 1967 and that continue until today, cannot be allowed to dictate or prejudice the final status of Jerusalem. Such measures include buildings, confiscation of land, barriers and walls, as well as political and legal documents.

and also that

there can be no monopoly of sovereignty in Jerusalem

And on the issue of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, the ATFP head in 2009 said

settlements entrench the occupation and are the most pressing political and logistical impediment to peace.

True, this has been going on for some time, but you don't need to have a Jewish pro-Israel group pay him to tell you that.

^

1 comment:

Michael said...

Ghaith is very well spoken for. If Barry Rubin can serve on a panel with him (which he did at this year's AIPAC Policy Conference) I am sure you can make things work out. He has a very interesting perspective and no, he doesn't tow his organization's line on Jerusalem.