The Tripod - Editor
Issue:
4/13/04
Panel on Controversial Issue
Well-Assembled
By Janet
Bauer
To the Editor:
VOID
and the Arabic Club did an admirable job of putting together a panel on a
difficult subject - a panel that represented different perspectives (South
African, Israeli, and Palestinian) on "the wall." It was important to have
Palestinian and Israeli views even if the particular individuals did not
represent the full range of positions.
Apparently, controversy arose
because the Palestinian panelist is associated both with "a one-state solution"-
which calls for a democratic state that would include Palestinians and Jews (and
perhaps others, like Thai guestworkers living in Israel) - and with an
organization calling for the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland.
The so-called "one-state solution" raises important issues about democracy; it
should not be simply labeled as "the destruction of the Israeli state." (There
are both Palestinians and Israelis on both sides of the "one-state solution"
question, as well as the right of return.) Some believe that a one-state
solution threatens Jewish identity/sovereignty by recognizing non-Jews as equal
citizens (and thereby, requiring transformation of the current Israeli state).
However, calling this the destruction of Israel does a disservice to
open debate and misdirects and limits discussion of very complicated
issues of rights, self-determination, and security for all concerned - e.g.
there may indeed be reasonable arguments against a one-state solution, but we
must then frankly deliberate the consequences of a Jewish state for non-Jewish
citizens, who by definition will have second-class status.
We are all
deeply involved in these issues given the US government role in the area.
Clearly, each situation is unique, but the South African example has shown us
there are pathways to justice even in difficult political contexts. Perhaps that
is why a South African voice was included on the
panel.
Respectfully,
Prof. Janet Bauer
Prof. Fred
Pfeil