3000 Palestinians rally against US veto
Nearly 3,000 Palestinians rallied today in Ramallah in response to the US veto of the UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements. There's no mention of the planned demonstration in Bethlehem. [Haaretz]
Palestinian Christian leaders plan demonstration in Bethlehem to denounce of US veto of Settlement Resolution
Palestinian Christian leaders are calling for Palestinians to gather in Bethlehem's Nativity square to denounce the US veto of the UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements. Below is text of an email I received today:
"We call everyone to come together tomorrow in the nativity Square at 12 in order to denounce the U.S. veto against a resolution from the Security Council condemning the settlement in Palestine where 14 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the U.S. used its veto against the resolution. It has become clear to all that the U.S. is not trusted by the Palestinians to be a reference to the peace process and it is part of the problem, not part of the solution."
More on this tomorrow. It remains to be seen what kind of momentum builds behind this call.
US vetoes resolution condemning Israeli Settlements
Yesterday, Susan Rice, the United States ambassador to the UN, vetoed a resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal while simultaneously saying the veto should not be "misunderstood to mean we support settlement activity". Rice also stated that while the US agrees about "the folly and illegitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity, we think it unwise for this council to attempt to resolve the core issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians."
This is double speak at its finest. Essentially, the United States is giving Israel approval of ethnic cleansing through unilateral land annexation while simultaneously condemning it. Israel, however, simply has no incentive to stop settlement activity.
The United States could base foreign aid to Israel on settlement activity: the more settlements Israel builds, the less money Israel gets. But, there is no political will in the United States to make real change. It is clear Palestinians have no partners for peace. [CNN]
Miss USA Rima Fakih on the Ground Zero Mosque
The first Muslim Miss USA, Rima Fakih, made comments about the Ground Zero Mosque during an interview with Inside Edition on Thursday.
"We should be more concerned with the tragedy than religion," said Fakih.
"I totally agree with President Obama with the statement on Constitutional rights of freedom of religion. I also agree that it shouldn't be so close to the World Trade Center"
These comments give us an insight into the many faces of Islam in America. There are Muslims who support the building of the Park 51 Center (the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque") on the basis of religious freedom while others believe the project lacks cultural sensitivity. These opinions are telling in that they reflect the rest of America.
When watching the interplay between Muslims, Arabs, and the rest of America, it's as though one is watching a play whose actors have all changed. Every culture and religion entering into the American mainstream has been looked upon with suspicion by the established America. It wasn't too long ago, for example, when we were concerned if John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic President of the United States, would be taking orders from the Pope.
America is once again struggling with who she is. I'm confident she will, as always, emerge for the better in the play's next act.
24% of Americans believe Obama is Muslim
According to a poll by Time Magzine, 47% of Americans believe President Obama is a Christian while 24% believe he is Muslim.
According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans who believe Mr. Obama is a Muslim was at 18% prior to his remarks about the Ground Zero Mosque. This number is also up from 2009 when only 11% of Americans believed the President was Muslim.
The White House, however insists Obama is a devout Christian. "He prays every day. He communicates with his religious adviser every single day. There's a group of pastors that he takes counsel from on a regular basis," said spokesman Bill Burton.
Christianity Today: The Dispute in Dearborn
Yesterday, Christianity Today published an article about Acts17 in Dearborn. I am quoted in the piece along with David Wood, Nabeel Quershi and Haytham Abi-Haydar (an Arab Pastor in Dearborn). Christianity Today doesn't take a position on the arrests (not that CT should be expected to) but rather points out the differing perspectives.
In the article, Nabeel Qureshi responds to criticism about Acts17's aggressive style by saying those who label Acts17's approach "confrontational" lack knowledge of Arab Culture. He says:
"If you just go and talk to people in the Middle East, that's how they talk," said Qureshi. "You approach someone, and you say, 'Hey, what do you think about this?' …Here in the U.S., that might seem confrontational or aggressive. That's how things are done in the Middle East."
It should be pointed out Nabeel Qureshi is a Pakistani born and raised in California and the UK. Two Arabs who lived in the Middle East and in Dearborn, and who are part of the Arab culture (i.e. myself and Abi-Haydar), do not agree with his assessment of how Arabs communicate.
My concerns also go beyond communication styles to how Acts17 is representing Dearborn's Arab and Muslim communities. Dearborn is simply not a bastion of Sharia Law persecuting Christians.
I very much hope to have the opportunity to speak to Nabeel. I think there's an opportunity to mend bridge with Arabs, Muslims, and the Dearborn community. Perhaps we can work out these differences. In the meantine, Christianity Today points out our areas of disagreement.
Jews, Arabs, and Government Officials: Power Relations Inside Israel
Thought provoking lecture by Dr. David Wesley, speaking at the UCLA Center for Near East Studies, on the topic of government structures within Israel as they affect Israel's Arab citizens.
Dr. Wesley immigrated to Israel in 1955 to participate in the rebirth of the Jewish people and lived on a kibbutz as a citrus grower for over 30 years. His research is an outgrowth of his personal experiences and observations of governmental structures inside Israel.
I would like to get some feedback from my Israeli-Arab and Israeli friends on this lecture. Please keep in mind this is a controversial subject (one I post with some trepidation) and, if you prefer, you may contact me directly instead of posting in the comments.
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If you prefer to listen to the talk on iTunes, you can download it here.
Audio: The Middle East Peace Process: European-US-Greater Middle East Efforts for Progress
Below is audio of a talk by Asher Susser, Director of External Affairs at the Moshe Dayan Center For Middle East Studies at Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Susser gave this talk in December, 2007 at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Even though the audio is from 2007, it is still well worth the listen as Dr. Susser offers perspectives on the different players in the Middle East while reflecting on the prospect of peace and past missteps.
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If you prefer to listen to the talk on iTunes, you can download it here.
Mother of Israeli Killed by Suicide Bomber Reminds Israel of its Security Needs
Frimet Roth, whose fifteen year old daughter Malki was killed by a suicide bomber at a Sbarro's in Israel nine years ago, writes an impassioned article scolding the Israeli left and reminding Israel of its need for security.
Link to Jerusalem Post article.
Libya to Fund Reconstruction of Gaza Homes
Libya has agreed to release an Israeli photographer in exchange for
the ability to underwrite the rebuilding of 1,250 Gaza Strip homes destroyed by Israel last year.
Full article from Reuters.
