Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

The Jewish Advocate

October 29, 2004
Sanford Goldfless

Shimon Peres speaks at Kennedy School at Harvard

I wish to applaud our Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and Temple Israel for hosting upwards of 700 people who came to listen to former Ambassador Dennis Ross on Oct. 11.

It was an opportunity to hear the special envoy’s inside account of the negotiations at Camp David and Taba, and his understanding of what U.S. support for Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy can and cannot do now.

The event continued JCRC’s important contribution to the Greater Boston Jewish community in the area of education on Israel issues.

JCRC has again provided a civic forum where sharp questions can be raised and vital insights communicated, yet which is welcoming and respectful of divergent opinion.

At a time of considerable anxiety among American Jews about Israel’s situation, we really do need to hear and consider multiple approaches to constructive action.

I was impressed by Ross’s argument that U.S.-sponsored diplomacy can increase the possibility of success for Gaza disengagement. It can at least curtail violence during the process, something that threatens it even at this time.

Readers who share this appreciation may be interested to know that several American Jewish organizations, including Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, have been gathering thousands of signatures on a petition of requesting the new president who takes office in January to re-engage decisively and as soon as possible on the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

It’s an interesting coincidence, I think, that the petition even calls for appointing “an internationally respected envoy at the highest level” who can serve, as Ross did, as an intermediary available full-time to both sides and who will “pursue full implementation of the disengagement plan.”

I hope it comes about.