Sam Leibowitz is an Israeli-American civil rights lawyer who has litigated dozens of cases on behalf of Palestinians in Israeli courts. Dr. Qumsiyeh is a professor at Bethlehem University and the author of the book "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human Rights and the Israeli-Palestinian Struggle."
Together they have written a piece "Can 'Shana Tova' and 'Eid Mubarak' Coexist in Israel/Palestine?" for CommonDreams.org reflecting on the coincidence of end of Ramadan and the Jewish New Year and a perspective on how peace could be achieved between Israelis and Palestinians:
"This year, just as the solemn fasts of Ramadan ended and Islam rejoiced in its renewed connection with God by celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the Jewish people celebrated Rosh Hashana --the Jewish New Year-- and entered into the 10 Days of Awe and Returning to that same God. These 10 Days culminate with the holiest day of the Jewish year - the Yom Kippur fast (Oct. 9). That Jews and Muslims worldwide were concurrently celebrating their holiest days with prayers and acts of forgiveness gives us a ray of hope.
For many centuries in our history, we have lived together, sharing knowledge and resources and mutually influencing each other's culture and religion. Since the founding of the State of Israel, however, our relationships have been embittered and poisoned.
But why? Why has the State of Israel viewed the Palestinians' different religions as a reason to treat them as strangers and enemies? Why are we using another community's religion to justify dispossession and discrimination instead of learning to coexist together in a neutral political framework?"
And:
"The concurrence of Jewish and Muslim holy days of fasting, prayer and repentance should serve as an urgent reminder to both societies that a viable solution to the conflict necessitates a secular framework in which both societies are free to cherish their own traditions while respecting the rights and freedoms of all people. Shana Tova! (Jewish greeting for the New Year) and Eid Mubarak! (Muslim greeting for the holidays) can and should coexist as equals in the homeland of both people.
Rather than convening futile peace conferences that regurgitate the same old, failed proposals that ignore human rights obligations, politicians would do well to get us, Israelis and Palestinians, to engage each other and draft the constitution of a shared, democratic homeland. That is the real road-map to a durable and just peace."
Together they have written a piece "Can 'Shana Tova' and 'Eid Mubarak' Coexist in Israel/Palestine?" for CommonDreams.org reflecting on the coincidence of end of Ramadan and the Jewish New Year and a perspective on how peace could be achieved between Israelis and Palestinians:
"This year, just as the solemn fasts of Ramadan ended and Islam rejoiced in its renewed connection with God by celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the Jewish people celebrated Rosh Hashana --the Jewish New Year-- and entered into the 10 Days of Awe and Returning to that same God. These 10 Days culminate with the holiest day of the Jewish year - the Yom Kippur fast (Oct. 9). That Jews and Muslims worldwide were concurrently celebrating their holiest days with prayers and acts of forgiveness gives us a ray of hope.
For many centuries in our history, we have lived together, sharing knowledge and resources and mutually influencing each other's culture and religion. Since the founding of the State of Israel, however, our relationships have been embittered and poisoned.
But why? Why has the State of Israel viewed the Palestinians' different religions as a reason to treat them as strangers and enemies? Why are we using another community's religion to justify dispossession and discrimination instead of learning to coexist together in a neutral political framework?"
And:
"The concurrence of Jewish and Muslim holy days of fasting, prayer and repentance should serve as an urgent reminder to both societies that a viable solution to the conflict necessitates a secular framework in which both societies are free to cherish their own traditions while respecting the rights and freedoms of all people. Shana Tova! (Jewish greeting for the New Year) and Eid Mubarak! (Muslim greeting for the holidays) can and should coexist as equals in the homeland of both people.
Rather than convening futile peace conferences that regurgitate the same old, failed proposals that ignore human rights obligations, politicians would do well to get us, Israelis and Palestinians, to engage each other and draft the constitution of a shared, democratic homeland. That is the real road-map to a durable and just peace."
Comments