Oct. 29, 2015

• The Responsibility of Arab Culture in the Continuation of the Palestinian Tragedy – Hassan Mneimneh
  While presented as resistance, some Palestinian militants are engaged in the commission of abject injustice, not a realization of justice. Knifing a bystander is not the means to regain lost rights. Brainstorming creative means to harm the innocent in no way equates to supporting the oppressed. And aggression against these innocents – men and women, young and old – is not an act that bestows honor on the perpetrators, their supporters, or any culture that finds these acts praiseworthy.
  Arab media is saturated with solemn declarations that Israel should be eliminated. Virtually all Arab media jubilantly welcomes the killing of any Israeli. It is only reasonable to expect that this attitude results in an Israeli hardening of position and action as a response.
  There is a need, now long overdue, for an honest reconsideration of the Arab approach to the Palestinian cause. Arab culture must address the fundamental question of whether it conceives of a place for Israel in the Arab region. Currently, the disagreement in Arab culture vis-a-vis Israel is between the proponents of its elimination through active “resistance” and the advocates of waiting for its extinction through passive “moderation.” Either way, there is no room for Israel.
  The end result is an Arab culture that calls for death and prides itself on murder as long as it is inflicted on the other. (Fikra Forum)