Palestinian human rights activist Bassem Eid may already be known to you for his spirited defenses of Israel and harsh criticism of those who seek to destroy her – including the palestinian Arab leadership.
On the occasion of the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Bassem wrote how Israel embodies the spirit of the great Dr. King – and the palestinian Arabs need to do the same.
Every year on this day, my American friends ask themselves how they can honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. But maybe you don’t know that thousands of miles away, many of us are asking ourselves the same question. As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict drags on, those of us who call this place home also look to the great civil rights leader as a role model. And for me, the way we honor him is simple: Palestinians should try to do what Israel has already done.
As a Palestinian living under Israeli occupation in Jericho, I am keenly aware of how much more there is to do to ensure equal rights for us Palestinians. It is obvious that the status quo does not serve the interests of either side. And yet, after a generation of living under Israeli occupation, it has become increasingly clear to me that the Palestinian leadership deserves much of the blame for the lack of progress.
One need only compare the state of Palestinians living within Israel’s borders with those of us living in the occupied West Bank to see that this is true. In Israel, Dr. King would have been proud to see the progress Israel has made toward making his dream of a free, equitable society a reality in the Middle East.
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Today in Israel, one can see the manifestation of Dr. King’s dream. Israel is a sprawling, diverse nation, where diverse communities coexist peacefully. Regardless of their background, Israelis—be they Jews or Arabs—can practice their religion freely, serve in government, and raise their children without fear of retribution.
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Every day, thousands of Palestinians are allowed to cross the border into Israel to work side by side with Israelis.
Meanwhile, the feckless Palestinian leadership has rejected this vision for decades, to the detriment of our people.
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But Palestinian leaders like Abbas have made clear that their politics come far before any efforts to build bridges between Israelis in Palestinians. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PA withdrew from a deal with Israel that would have put safe, effective vaccines in the arms of thousands of West Bank residents. Sadly, this is just one example of the PA placing its hatred for Israel before the needs of our people.
Read the entire thing.
Hat tip: Stuart
