Abu Mazen Visits
President Obama is about to host Abu Mazen, the former president of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza. Since he lost Gaza to Hamas in a civil war and his term expired in January it is unclear what legitimate authority Abu Mazen brings with him. Nevertheless, President Obama will treat him as if he is a head of government, able to enter into agreements and then to execute them. Skepticism is called for.
On the other hand, Abu Mazen does represent what is sometimes called "moderate" or "pragmatic" Palestinians, so it is important for the President to probe his thinking on subjects of intifada, naqba and the legitimacy of the State of Israel. We offer some questions he might ask to illuminate the subject for himself, the American people - who are being asked to hand over nearly $1 BILLION in additional aid to the Palestinians - the Israelis and even for Palestinians who may someday have another opportunity to vote for their leadership. *
- Palestinians call the establishment of Israel in 1948 the naqba, the catastrophe. Is the catastrophe the fact that a Jewish state was established in part of Mandatory Palestine, or that the Arabs did not permit the establishment of the corollary Palestinian Arab state? If the former, how do you think the United States can help you correct the injustice, and why do you think we would?
- When did Israel's "occupation of Palestine" begin and what area constitutes "occupied Palestine"? Does the Kingdom of Jordan also constitute "occupied Palestine"?
- When my administration demands a "settlement freeze," we mean for Jews to stop building houses east of the 1949 Armistice Line. What houses for Jews constitute "settlements" on the Palestinian map? (Look at the map and ask, "Where is Israel?")
- When I talk about a future State of Palestine, I refer generally to the West Bank and Gaza, with an arrangement for Jerusalem. Where do you conceive the State of Israel to be after a future peace agreement? ("In the sea" is not an acceptable answer here.) Can Palestinian national aspirations be satisfied with a split state wedged in between Israel and Jordan? If not, what do you propose?
- You are receiving American money, equipment and the help of an American Army general to improve your security force capabilities. How can you give the American people confidence that our military is not simply producing more capable Palestinians terrorists?
- The Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured while you were in control of Gaza and you did not permit visits from the International Red Cross. Will you join me in a demand that the Red Cross visit him as a POW?
- And, speaking of Gaza, it was under your control there that Qassam rockets began to be fired at Israel. I will not tolerate fire from Canada or Mexico into the United States, even into sparsely populated parts of North Dakota or Arizona. Will you join me in a demand to end to the firing of rockets and mortars at Israel?
- In the United States, Samir Kuntar and Dalal Mughrabi are considered the vilest form of murderers. Kuntar smashed the skull of a four-year-old girl with his rifle. Mughrabi killed Gail Rubin, an American woman taking nature photographs, and then killed a group of bus drivers and their families on an outing. Why did you send greetings to Kuntar on his release from an Israeli prison? Why is there a school in Hebron named for Mughrabi?
And one additional question:
- Speaking of schools, my daughters are in the second and fifth grades. May I have a set of school textbooks from Palestinian classrooms of those grades along with lesson plans?
* Variations on these were suggested in JINSA Reports #735 and #796.
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