Let the debate begin

LET THE DEBATE BEGIN: Jonathan Tasini, a Jew who has lived in Israel and is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in New York, says that it is time for Jews to speak out on behalf of Palestinians and for dialogue in the U.S. about American foreign policy on Israel. He makes it clear that he is for a secure and prosperous Israel.

But he also believes that "the occupation is draining the moral and economic strength of Israel and that there will only be a just peace agreement when a Palestinian state--a strong, vibrant, prosperous, independent state, able to provide jobs and a good life for its people--thrives alongside Israel." One problem is that most Jewish Americans, and most Americans, don't know how brutal the occupation really is, nor do they know the U.S. role in perpetuating it (www.rachelswords.org, March 23).

COPYRIGHT 2006 The Christian Century Foundation
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