Speaker Zaru wishes for peace in Mideast

by Anna Roy
Editorial Director

Jean Zaru, a devoted peacemaker and advocate of the non-violent struggle by many Palestinians to end the occupation of their country by Israel, addressed a crowd of about 100 students, faculty and staff last week in Founder's Auditorium as part of the university's annual International Festival.

Zaru, who was born in Ramallah, Palestine, spoke passionately about the violence and continuing conflict involving Palestinians and Israelis in the Middle East.

"From the midst of Palestine, a tortured nation held in captivity, I have come to join you today," Zaru said. " I represent a narrative of exclusion, denial of basic human and community rights. But I do come also with a message of hope embodied in the sprit and will of those who refuse to submit to all the forces of oppression, violence and injustice.

"The situation in Palestine calls on everyone, especially when governments, politics and power systems have failed us," Zaru said.

The modern history of the conflict stems back to the disintegration of the Turkish Ottoman Empire towards the end of the World War I.

According to the United Nations' informational web site, "Palestine was among the several former Ottoman Arab territories which were placed under the administration of Great Britain under the Mandates System adopted by the League of Nations pursuant to the League's Covenant (Article 22)."

The British government enacted the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which expressed support for the, "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."

The Palestine Mandate, from 1922-1947 led to the large-scale migration of Jewish people to Palestine, many of whom came from Eastern Europe following the Holocaust of the 1930s, carried out by Nazi Germans and resulting in the death of six million people. Palestinians initially rebelled against Jewish migration.

In 1948, before the actual creation of two states, the U.N. had a plan to partition the land into two states, one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish. Before the plan could be implemented, the two sides fought a war in 1948 and Israel declared its gaining 77 percent of Palestine's territory. This gain in territory led to the migration of millions of Palestinians from the territory of Palestine. International law states that these refugees have a 'right to return' to that land.

Violence has continued throughout the years with negotiations, peace agreements, U.N. resolutions and other solutions never being implemented as a lasting solution.

The U.N. reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in 1974, including their right to return to their land, in addition to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty.

Currently, Palestine has an observer status within the U.N.

Zaru advocates that two states be created in the area, with each state acknowledging the rights of the other.

She addressed the current hardship faced by Palestinians, including lack of water, food and electricity in addition to the destruction of Palestinian refugee camps, particularly the recent massacre in the camp of Janin.

Terrorism by both sides has increased the complexity of the situation. Violence, Zaru said, is usually done by extremist groups and individuals.

Currently, the U.S. allocates three billion in military aid to Israel every year. Zaru said that the United States' role in the conflict is pivotal.

Zaru also spoke about the failure of the U.S. media in portraying the conflict by being biased in not reporting on Palestinian injustices fairly. The media, Zaru said, only reports on physical violence and does not report on the structural violence that is prevalent.

"Structural violence is silent. The television only captures direct violence," Zaru said.

She gave examples of how Israel has destroyed Palestinian infrastructure, including water tanks, homes and sewage pipes.

Last year, Zaru stated, septic tanks flooded the Gaza Strip, leading to numerous environmental and health problems.

"Imagine a woman trying to raise a family without a house. It's not easy," she said.

Palestinians are usually denied building permits and live under a curfew on a daily basis. In addition, they are banned from traveling from village to village, which results in the isolation of communities as well as economic hardship.

"Whenever movement is restricted from one village to another, you can't go to school, bring building materials, go to a funeral, wedding or the birth of a child, even a grandchild," Zaru said.

Following the Oslo Accords of 1993 with the leadership of President Clinton, it was made impossible for Palestinians to enter the city of Jerusalem, their historic cultural capital.

"People are traumatized by violence that is perpetuated against them," she said. "People need time to mourn and heal wounds."

Although, she said the time to heal is oftentimes interrupted with incidents of violence.

Zaru, a self-claimed pacifist since 1975, said that 85 percent of the Palestinian population also support non-violent resistance to the problem. The movement began decades ago, and was begun by faith-based organizations. Today, several women's groups, international non-governmental organizations and other individuals participate.

"Palestine became the victim of the victim," said Zaru, speaking of how Jewish people have historically been the victims of numerous injustices. Yet Zaru emphasized that now the people of Palestine are suffering for something that they do not deserve. "Our misfortunes are not few. Our country is becoming a prison and a cemetery," Zaru said.

Zaru mentioned that international law must be adhered to and that the U.S. can put a lot of weight on Israel for a solution.

Zaru said that those who are powerful are held to a double standard of morality, and that one standard of behavior should be applied to everyone, including individuals and nations.

She said peace equates with the presence of social justice and the absence of war, poverty, hunger and unemployment.

"Peace is when we have no fear," Zaru said.

Of the 3.2 million Palestinians in the area, 34,000 are permanently handicapped as a result of the violence, 600 of which are children.

"The first victim of war is truth," Zaru said. "Human rights cannot be founded on the loss of rights of another human being."

"So long as the discussion remains moralistic, it's going to be really easy to hammer away at the occupying power," said Jason Neidleman, assistant professor of history.

"But we live in a political world. It's necessary to face the political challenges that lie before us."

In regards to possible solutions to the conflict, Neidleman believes that Ariel Sharon, president of Israel, should not remain in power. "I don't think Sharon has the interests of his own people in mind," Neidleman said.

Neidleman also supports the imposed separation of the two peoples, through the enforcement of an international body like the U.N. or NATO.

He also stressed the importance of the masses of people on both sides accepting the separation. By building economic ties between the two separated people, animosities could be softened.

According to Neidleman, the 'Land for Peace' model was successful between Egypt and Israel, which came about through the Camp David Accords of 1978-79.

"It's true that most Jews don't like it when I talk about the occupation," Neidleman said. "But do I believe that we acquired that state without committing acts of injustice? No."

Neidleman himself is happy that the nation of Israel exists as a democracy with a strong military, for a sanctuary for Jewish people. "I just want to be honest about the acquisition of the state, and how we preserve it," he said.

Further, Neidleman said that addressing the issue moralistically and ethically will work to persuade others. However, addressing issues of power, politics and security is vital, particularly in an academic setting. He also believes that a silent majority exists, within both the Palestinian and Israeli world, which would support the separation of both peoples.

Zaru spoke of her international travels to Switzerland, Denmark, South Africa and Australia, where she does her advocacy work, oftentimes working side-by-side with people and organizations of Muslim and Christian backgrounds.

Zaru, the Presiding Clerk of the Ramallah Friends Meeting is also a founding member of the Palestinian Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem.

"Ms. Zaru put u.s. in touch with events in the Middle East in a very personal manner," said Philip Hofer, director of the international student center.

Following the speech, a luncheon was held with Zaru, where she answered questions posed by students, faculty and staff.

"I commend Phil for putting together an event of this magnitude. But as an American Jewish woman it was hard for me to listen to a one-sided Palestinian opinion, based on opinion rather than history," said director of campus activities and commuter programming Deborah Gordon.

However, Gordon also felt happy that Palestinian students felt empowered by the Zaru.

"This event is so important because we don't hear that side of the story," said Debbie Roberts, head of peace studies and Protestant campus minister. "Look at the news we have, photos of grieving Israeli people, which is important but no photos of Palestinians who have lost loved ones, and since we give 3 billion to Israel we have to report on this perspective."

"I told her 'thank you, I'm Lebanese and I feel what your people are going through'," said senior international business student Sophia Andary.

On Saturday, Zaru attended a silent peace vigil at the Claremont Post Office, where she and others brought attention to several issues, including American foreign policy, racial profiling and the military industrial complex.