Y O U R T U R N
Leading by example
Israel is a modelfor how homelandsshould be created
ByDavidBorhani
began reading your recent cover
I
story by Martha Akstin (WM, "One
nation," Oct. 4) with great anticipa-
tion. Unfortunately, I was very dis-
heartened to find complex issues dealt
with in simplistic and , in some cases ,
incorrect terms . The article that began as
an honest look at valid Muslim issues in
America and abroad degenerated into a
biased and unwarranted attack on Israel. I
would like to provide what I hope is a
more balanced and realistic view of the
complex situation in the Middle East.
First and foremost , claims of
Palestinians being deprived of "their" land
by the modem State of Israel need to be
placed in an honest historical context .
Jews have lived in the land then known as
Canaan (later Israel, most recently
Palestine) for more than 3,000 years.
Palestinians have lived there for a compa-
rable time. Arguments about who was
there first are beside the point and are
counterproductive (as are similar argu-
ments that could be raised about most
modem Americans vs. native Americans) .
More productive is a frank appreciation of
recent history. For the past several hun-
dred years, Palestine had no true national
identity, as it consisted of isolated, often
warring, nomadic tribes ruled first by the
Turkish Ottoman Empire and then by the
British. Modem "countries" in the Middle
East were created in the 20th century by
drawing (mostly straight) lines on maps
- they do not .reflect historical bound -
aries, because there were none; nomadic
tribes knew no such "boundaries."
Nonetheless, these borders , and the
countries thereby created, such as Syria, bloom." If the Palestinians had chosen the and upholds human rights to a far greater
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Israel are same path in 1948, they too could have extent than any of its autocratic neigh-
now very real, and need to be respected as had this legacy. bors. For this reason alone Israel deserves
such. Similarly, it is clear that the
Unfortunately, the Israelis have been our unflagging moral support and finan-
"Palestinian" people, i.e. those Arabs (pre- forced many times to defend their borders cial aid. Indeed, a long-term goal of the
dominantly Muslims, but some Christians against aggression by their neighbors over United States should be to promote
and those belonging to other faiths as these past 50 years. The United States has democracy, such as that practiced freely
well) living in "Palestine" and openly in Israel in
at the time of Partition by the entire region .
the British (1948) into
Palestinian and Jewish
The Palestinians and the Israelis Finally, the quote by
the Palestinian psychi-
countries , have a right to atrist Dr. Eyad Sarraj
self-determination and a
homeland . Thus, just as
both had a homeland delivered to about the rationale of
suicide bombers was
Israel has a right (recog- entirely inappropriate.
nized by the United
Nations) to exist, the
them in 1948 - each was given There is no justifica-
tion for terrorism. The
world community Jews, who lost 6 mil-
acknowledges and agrees bits and pieces of Palestine by the lion kin in the
that the Palestinians have Holocaust, did not, by
that right as well.
Let us not, however, British. The Israelis chose to and large, resort to ter-
rorism to bring about
rewrite history . The the establishment of
Palestinians and the
Israelis both had a home- accept, without question, their the State of Israel. To
the contrary, they
land delivered to them in endured three years of
1948 - each was given
bits and pieces of
portion. continued maltreat-
ment at the hands of
Palestine by the British. the British, albeit
The Israelis chose to benign compared to
accept, without question, their portion . never really known such a challenge , until what the Germans had meted out, from
They went on to establish the onlyJewish Sept. 11, that is. Despite this difference, the end of World War 11until May, 1948.
homeland in the entire world . The most Israelis sympathize wi.th the Rather, they used the far greater power of
Palestinians, by contrast, chose not to Palestinians cause and support the peace- reasoned argument and impassioned plea .
accept their portion . Instead, they chose ful establishment of a Palestinian state Terrorists, and would-be terrorists,
to fight to gain all of Palestine for them- that recognizes Israel's right to exist. around the world would do well to learn
selves, to deny the Jews even a meager Regarding our country's support of from their example. 0
homeland, despite the fact that all the Israel, it is essential to acknowledge that
vast, surrounding lands were already (and Israel is the only democracy in the Middle David Borhani lives in Worcester.
still are) Arab and/or Muslim homelands. East. Israel is most @ertainly not always
The Israelis persevered and built a thriv- right, just as the United States is not (as Comments?
ing democracy - they "made the desert Ms. Akstin noted). But, it defends justice E-mail editorial®worcestermag.c -'-
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WORCESTER MAGAZIIE • November
. 15, 2001 1