Palestinians: Not Numbers

 

By Kathleen McQuillen; reprinted with permission; first published for Catholic Peace Ministry newsletter; see catholicpeaceministry.com

 

Dr. James Zogby, co-founder of the Arab-America Institute, and its current president, brought a fresh perspective to the conflict in Palestine-Israel. Brought to Des Moines by Catholic Peace Ministry and several co-sponsoring organizations, (Editor's Note:  these included Iowa Peace Network)  Dr. Zogby spoke on Veterans Day, to over 100 people at First Unitarian Church.

Dr. Zogby chose to speak about the history that reveals the reality that the seeds of the next war are planted in the current war. Though called “the war to end all wars,” in reality the First World War laid the roots for the Second World War.

The on-going violence in Gaza suggests only more of the same for the future. To help the public understand this, Dr. Zogby broke the media and DC pattern of telling only the Israeli perspective.

Zogby, an expert on the Middle East, an author, presidential advisor, and negotiator is capable of speaking on almost any angle in the decades-long conflict in Palestine and Israel. Dr. Zogby chose to speak of the humanity of the Palestinian people.

Noting that media and DC policy makers tell well the story of Israelis - those killed, those kidnapped, their families. . . The U.S. media puts them on air and gives them voice. As an example Zogby noted that the stories of the 200+ Israelis kidnapped by Hamas were told over and over. We often met the parents. We saw the celebrations as each one was released. The 2000+ Palestinians kidnapped were never more than numbers. We never heard their names, their stories, or saw their families.

Zogby emphasized how important it is to know both realities. “We have two peoples and two traumas.”

Dr. Zogby encouraged the audience to think about the 12-year-old kid in Gaza. “This is the age when you are just beginning to develop a sense of security in your world. You have a sense of physical space.” You know where your family is, your friends, your school, and your play area. “The kids in Gaza, forced to move, lose not only their home, but the entire physical world in which they grew is gone. . . We have to wonder what impact that has on the psyche. We are talking about a whole generation or more of kids. . . The total liquidation of where they found their space, and found and defined themselves is gone.” What does this portend for the future?

Dr. Zogby ended his comments by telling of his experience several years ago of going through one of the ubiquitous Israeli cage-like checkpoints. He explained Israeli soldiers, young men with rifles, sat atop the steel dividers and demanded to see the IDs of Palestinians going through, and demanded further, “Don’t look at me.” Palestinians en route to work or home silently kept their heads down while lifting up their IDs. This, Zogby said, was the “master/slave dialectic.” The soldiers presented themselves as angry, but were deeply scared inside. The Palestinians acted submissive “but inside were burning with anger that was just waiting to explode.”

It exploded on Oct. 7 and did terrible things to Israelis, and it did not help the Palestinians. It is known in Palestine, “If you throw a stone, Israel will shoot you. If you shoot them, they will bring tanks. If you have tanks, they’ll use their fighter jets.”

“Palestine is fighting an enemy who knows no limit to the violence they are willing to use.”

Still, in the end, Dr. Zogby shared words of hope. Though, he has been working on this issue since the 1970s, he has never seen so many people speaking with care and empathy for Palestinians. . . “All of you in this room can make a difference. You know how to engage the candidates. Let them know the days of unchecked support for Israel are over.”

With thanks to Rodger Routh, follow this link to hear the whole speech by Dr. Zogby:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-CbgTo-Cvc

 

Kathleen McQuillen is director at Catholic Peace Ministry, based in Des Moines, IA.  She has in the past worked with AFSC (American Friends Service Committee), directing the Middle East Peace program, in Des Moines as well.