AboutLe Anne Clausen Expertise I can answer questions about life as an expatriate in the Middle East; women's experiences, international human rights efforts and issues, interfaith relations in areas of conflict, with a particular emphasis on Iraq, Israel/Palestine, and Afghanistan.
Experience I was a human rights worker for four years in Palestine/Israel, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I have additionally traveled in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. I speak intermediate Arabic and some Hebrew, and I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations. I am currently working to create an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization
Publications "Be the Healers" (a response to Abu Ghraib), July 2004 issue of the Lutheran magazine. Also: www.christian-muslim.net; www.young-activist.blogspot.com; additional articles and interviews about me can be found via Google search.
Expert: Le Anne Clausen Date: 9/30/2007 Subject: Abu Mazan and his "seeking peace"
Question I see that the "west" is putting it's hope in finding a "peace" with the Fatah (PLO) leader Abu Mazan in dealing with the Palistinian/ Israeli conflict. However, it seems that he has set up his fifedom in the West Bank (still occupied by the Israeli forces directly) and has suspended all ties with the legitimatly elected government party of Hamas. It seems that he has also suspended the charity organizations, and their funding sources that Hamas was know for (hopsitals, schools, aid for widows and so forth). It seems to me that he is siding with the occupiers for political gain and the power that Fatah once had while leaving more than a million Palistinians the the collective punishment of Israel and the west in the form of continuous "raids", restriction of movement, denial or limiting of basic services (electricity, commerce, food...and yes, even paper to school children) in Gaza.
Is this wise to abandon some of his people to seek peace with those who oppress them? Wouldn't this backfire, even amonst his own supporters who may have ties to Gaza, including relatives who are stuck there because of the restrictions the occupiers put upon them? Is it wise to be seen as "kissing up" to the occupiers at the expence of those who are suffering in Gaza. Please give your views on this. I asked you because you responded to me once before, and did not seem to be this blind supporter for the radical zionists.
I want to make it clear though that I am not a radical anti Israeli supporter either. I beleive that we can't really go back to a time when there was no Israeli state because so many innocent Israeli people would be hurt by the displacement. I think that people like me should understand this, and not wish upon another what was so heartbreaking to me, to be uprooted from my home by no fault of my own. However, the world (if not the Israelis and the neighbours themselves) need to come to terms honestly and frankly about their situation, and deal with the root causes of the conflict and the violence and not viel it in ideology. Perhaps bombs, bullets, politics, ideology and religion are a diversion because some really don't want to deal with the situation, and get it solved with all people walking away from the negotiation table with their dignity. As we can see, the current plan of forcing a people to accept defeat and submission to the occupiers is not working.
Answer Greetings Zanubiyah, and thanks for your question. The most important consideration in these peace talks is what happens to civilians' daily lives. You have raised the appropriate concerns--food, water, access to health care and education, and freedom from violence. A government must be responsible for ensuring access to these basic human needs for all its people. Certainly the people have suffered a great deal throughout the conflict, but I am particularly concerned for their well-being under the current circumstances.
I am not sure that the 'peace' being pursued right now is the right answer. It won't be the right answer if people's daily lives continue to be harmed. No answer from any party would be, if this were to happen. When people resort to denying others their basic human needs, it is because they think this will allow them to keep their pride, but it is precisely ensuring the wellbeing of another that allows people to keep their dignity. Let us hope for a resolution that is based on dignity rather than pride.
