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September 10, 2013
COMMENTARY
The Valley Catholic
New peace talks offer an unusual spark of hope.
Making a Difference
New peace talks engineered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry offer an unusual spark of hope. Father Sullivan said, for the ?rst time, core issues of borders, mutual security, return of Palestinian refugees, the future of Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories will all be on the table. Unlike past failed negotiations, these core issues will be dealt with ?rst, and in complete secrecy, to avoid outside pressure. A bold nine-month timetable for reaching final status agreement has been set. At the conclusion of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2009, he said, “Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to
By Tony Magliano
Negotiating peace before the trains collide
travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream.” Help peace become a reality. Go to Churches for Middle East Peace (www.cmep.org), and at the bottom of their homepage under “Recent Network Messages,” click “Take action! Tell your senator to support the peace process.” Then send a message to your two U.S. senators. During a recent press conference, Secretary of State Kerry said, “While I understand the skepticism, I don’t share it and I don’t think we have time for it. I ?rmly believe leaders, negotiators and citizens invested in this effort can make peace for one simple reason: because they must. A viable two-state solution is the only way this con?ict can end; there is not much time to achieve it, and there is no other alternative.” • Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist.
Father Sullivan also reported that “The Israelis and Palestinians are like two trains on the same track Palestinian building permits in the heading towards each other,” said West Bank and East Jerusalem are Maryknoll Father Jack Sullivan, ashighly restricted, while Israel continues sociate for the Maryknoll Of?ce for to build settlements in the occupied Global Concerns. Focusing on the issue territories. The International Court of of peace in Israel/PalesJustice has declared that tine, Father Sullivan said Israeli settlements in the Palestinians are exthe occupied territories ‘A viable two-state tremely frustrated living are illegal according to solution is the only under Israeli occupation, international law. and that their growing The same court ruled way this con?ict that the Israeli separation sense of hopelessness can end.’ barrier of walls, barbed is “a disaster waiting wire and trenches in the to happen.” West Bank is also illegal. In the occupied West This barrier — built overwhelmingly in Bank, Palestinians have no sea or air occupied territory — effectively takes access, cannot cross into Israel, and are more land away from Palestinians, forced to endure an endless series of and prevents many Palestinians from checkpoints and roadblocks, he said. normal access to their vineyards, olive Since water is controlled by Israel, Israegroves and ?elds. Gaza is even worse li settlements receive as much as seven off. Israel’s blockade is strangling the times the amou ?B?bvFW"6??&VBF??W7F????2F?W&R?v?B?W7F????f???vW2&V6V?fR?6F???26V?WFW&?W3?gV?W&??????r?2?'F??"?'???'??F??f?vW"&?6??WG&V6?6??&F??F?"6F???26V?WFW&?W2vR???rF?R7F?'???'F?vV?6??W2?W7W2?B??2F?66??W2??F??W"???R?6?R&V6??W2F?7G&7FVBv?F?&W&F???2v???R?W"6?7FW"??'??6?G2BF?RfVWB?bF?R??&B??W7W26?2?( ??'F????R&Rv?'&?VB?BW6WB&?WB???F???w2??'??26??6V?F?R&WGFW"'B?B?Bv?????B&RF?V?g&???W"?( ???V?R?3??C?F???R?FV?F?g?v?F?F?W6Rv??V????R?'F??vR?gFV?&V6??R??W2&?WB??F??rF?RW&vV?B?V6W76'?FWF??2B??B?'WBF?vR???R?'???VW????BF?RgV??W"?7GW&R?F?R&WGFW"'C?BF?RF??R?b?W"FVF???bF?RFWF??2?b?W"gV?W&??fR??B&VV?F?67W76VB?F?7V?V?FVB??B???VBf?"?vR?VfR?W"??fVB??W2v?F?F?R?WG??b6?V?F?W72FV6?6???2?BW?V?6W2?F?f6R???R?"F?&Rw&VVBW??v?F??F?W'2???F??27G&W72V??2V??RvR??fRg&??f?7W6??r??F?RgV??W"?7GW&R( BF?V?"w&F?GVFRF?v?Bf?"?fRvV????fVB???r&V??rvV?6??VB??F??VfV???BF?R&??6R?b??RF?&V??r&WV??FVB??7B???WFR?????rBF?RWfV?B?bFVF??WfW'???R?2W7V????6??V6?6??6???B?2F?ff?7V?BF??VfRF?W6RFWF??2?BW?V?6W2F?F?R'F?W"??b??^( ?2v?6?W2&R???v???B??W2?BV6?W"??F?R&W7B?bF?Rf???( ?(
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