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The Staff of Moment Magazine asked twenty-four leading intellectuals the question: What does it mean to be pro-Israel today? The following excerpt is from Aziz Abu Sarah, co-executive director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University and columnist with Al Quds newspaper and +972. To read responses from Eric Alterman, Peter Beinart, Jeremy Ben-Ami, Caroline Glick, Hillel Halkin, Michael Lerner, Benny Morris, John J. Mearsheimer, Amos Oz, Judea Pearl, Martin Peretz, David K. Shipler and others, please visit Moment Magazine to read the article.
Aziz Abu Sarah on What it means to be pro-Israel today
I think of being pro-Israel as supporting a country to be free from fear and occupation, and not having to live in a place that is always engaged in struggle and conflict, but to instead support a place that will have freedom, equality, democracy and social justice for all. Being pro-Israel also means protecting the humanity of the people there and knowing that if you have continued conflict, people will lose their sensitivity to what it means to be a human. So being pro-Israel doesn’t mean supporting continued conflict, but supporting finding a solution so Israel doesn’t have to engage in war, conflict and hatred with its neighbors, and can live with the Palestinians in peace. Being pro-Israel goes along with being pro-Palestinian because both are connected. If Palestinians don’t have freedom and security, neither will Israelis. When American Jews come to the region they should not just meet with Israelis and Jews; they should also try to learn the Palestinian narrative and find a way to bring the two narratives together, to bring the two sides together. Instead of supporting one side or the other, you could become a bridge of peace between the two sides.
Aziz Abu Sarah is a columnist with Al Quds newspaper and +972 and is the co-executive director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.
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