Inexcusable behavior

 

http://www.chijewishnews.com/editor.jsp#42885

 

What is happening in the Chicago Jewish community when the Jewish organizers of a visit by the Palestinians' most prominent advocate of peace and reconciliation with Israel are treated to a miasma of insults, threats, and other verbal assaults from members of the Jewish community? This is what I was left wondering following the recent Chicago visit by Palestinian peace advocate Sari Nusseibeh.

 

Rabbis affiliated with all the major Jewish denominations, Jewish leaders from major mainstream Jewish organizations, prominent intellectuals, community leaders, and many members of the Jewish community all took the opportunity to hear Nusseibeh speak at events sponsored by Americans for Peace Now (APN), the American Jewish affiliate of the largest peace organization in Israel, Shalom Achshav. APN is a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, and the Chicago branch is a member of the Jewish Community Relations Council here.

 

Yet, despite the program's sponsorship by a mainstream Zionist organization and attendance by Jewish leaders of all stripes, and despite Nusseibeh's reputation as a long-time advocate of Palestinian reconciliation with Israel, some in our community deem Nusseibeh's ideas to be so intolerable that they tried to prevent his appearance by harassing and threatening those who sponsored the events. The event organizers received countless assaults via email and telephone.

 

I am outraged and ashamed that some in our community would attempt to stifle legitimate discussion and debate. What, after all, could be more legitimate to debate than the viability of a two-state solution in which Palestinians abandon their claim to a right of return to land inside the State of Israel? And yet this is precisely what Nusseibeh has consistently advocated in English, Hebrew, and Arabic for several decades.

 

There are clearly those who reject Nusseibeh's positions, yet among them are those who nevertheless support and defend his right to be heard and our need to listen. Others, alas, are treading on a far less righteous and a far more dangerous path.

 

Emotions in our community are running high at this extraordinarily difficult time for Israel, but this is no excuse for inflammatory and threatening rhetoric against any person. Those of us who care passionately about Israel's future have a moral responsibility to put forth our views about how to bring greater safety and security to Israel.

 

There should be no place in our community for threats and personal attacks. May 5763 bring peace and security to Israel and civility to the Chicago Jewish community.

 

-- Rabbi Andrea C. London, Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, Evanston