Recognize Palestine’s right to exist
The Muslim Students’ Association of SMU was shocked anddeeply disturbed by Laura Knapp’s editorial on Nov. 18,arguing the error in establishing a free Palestinian state. Theassociation focuses our efforts on educating our campus communityon the qualities and characteristics of our often misunderstoodreligion. This is especially important after the events of Sept. 11and even more so after reading the op-ed by Laura Knapp. Whenstatements like “the Iraqi people and Islamic people desireworld domination, thus creating a threat to all civilization”are made, we are forced to respond to a political issue rather thansimply a religious one. (Didn’t we just fight a war to freethe very same Iraqi people who, as Knapp contends, are bent onworld domination?)
Knapp begins her piece noting her research of a “differentviewpoint,” but her sources and statements suggest that sheresearched one viewpoint. Knapp cites several sources for hereschewed opinion of Palestinians, Iraqis and Muslims, most notably”her friend from Israel” and an “Israeli militaryman.” Clearly, these individuals might share a pro-Israeli,anti-Palestinian stance. Knapp also refers to John Rourke’swritings, but Rourke merely compiles essays and speeches originallycomposed by various individuals on both sides of controversialworld issues.
Rourke includes the speech delivered by P.J. who sharesKnapp’s and “her Israeli friend’s” narrowopinion on this complex issue. But Rourke’s book alsoincludes several speeches or essays by others who believe inPalestinians’ independence, much like the internationalcommunity and our own national leadership. Furthermore, EmanuelWinston, not unlike Daniel Pipes has made careers of Arab-bashing.I urge you to do run a quick Internet search of his writings andyou’ll likely agree.
Knapp is correct that the proper understanding of this conflictrequires a close study of history, but not the misconstrued factspresented. The great Ottoman Empire was primarily Muslim andproduced significant advances in the sciences and mathematics. Infact, history also shows that the Arabs and the Jews livedharmoniously for hundreds of years, dating back to the time of theCrusades. Thus, Islam being increasingly prominent is notnecessarily synonymous with a threat to civilization, as Knappcontends. It is also important to clarify that no doctrine of Islamcalls for complete world domination.
Furthermore, the 1967 battles she mentions were actuallyinvasions by the Israeli military into Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon; amove that Ariel Sharon repeated just a few months ago.
History also suggests that peace can be achieved if both sidesabide by the “not so secret” Oslo Accords.
Peace between Arab countries and Israel is not impossible. Peacepacts of Jordan and Egypt with Israel had been in effect for 30years until Sharon’s recent moves.
Moreover, the political and economic problems Knapp mentions canbe attributed to the Palestinian’s lack of independence.Having traveled to the region a few years ago, I witnessedfirsthand the discrepancy between the posh Manhattan-esque Israeliside of Jerusalem and a substandard Palestinian one. ContinuedIsraeli military check points, which prevent commerce, and Israelicontrol of the Jordanian River’s water flow, make economicviability for the Palestinians an impossibility until completeindependence is granted.
Furthermore, Knapp’s remarks about the Palestinians areblatantly inconsistent, nonsense and unsubstantiated. Arafat hasbeen trapped in his compound for months and has never ruled withthe “cruelty of Saddam Hussein,” as Knapp claims.Recent opinion polls support the contention that Arafat isgenerally viewed favorably, except for his inability to achieveindependence — the number one priority of the Palestinianpeople. Knapp, how can one man “not control his ownpeople” while simultaneously controlling them with the”cruelty of Saddam Hussein?” Also, to counter Knapp,the Palestinians have no military. They fight the Israelioccupation of their land by throwing rocks and with a crude militiathat is no match for the American-made arsenal of the Israelimilitary. There is no money to steal from impoverished andgrief-stricken Palestinians. Most Palestinians are not terrorists,but refugees. As for Knapp’s denial of a “uniqueculture,” many Yemenis, Egyptians, and Saudis will stronglydisagree. The difference in dialect, custom and food make thePalestinian culture a unique and vibrant one.
Admittedly, suicide bombing is a sad last resort of somePalestinians. However, Islam in no way permits suicide bombing orthe killing of innocent lives for any purpose. The drastic measuresthat these extremist individuals have taken are a sign thatsomething must change. Each day, the failure of the internationalcommunity to intervene is costing many innocent lives, both Israeliand Palestinian.
Considering the birth of our own nation, the Palestinianstruggle for independence is one that most of us as Americans canrelate to. Our leaders and the international community generallyfeel that Palestinian statehood is essential to peace. Leaders onboth sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have acknowledgedthat peace can only be achieved when Palestine gains independence.Just as Arab nations must recognize the state of Israel, supportersof Israel must recognize the right of Palestinians to establish asovereign state.
Let us work together for peace that not coincidentally, is themeaning of Islam.
We invite Knapp and anyone interested in educated and rationaldialogue to attend the association’s events or contact uswith questions they have about Islam and the political issuesfacing our world.
