A few weeks ago, my assistant came into my office and said that the White House was on the line. I picked up the phone anticipating that my friend Gerry Sigal was calling about lunch. But, to my astonishment, it was an inquiry asking if I’d be available to serve as a member of the official U.S. delegation to accompany President Bush on the then-upcoming trip to Israel to participate in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state. I couldn’t imagine how I had come to receive this invitation. Well, I confess, minority representation crossed my mind: I figured they wanted at least one Democrat. The last Republican I voted for was U.S. Senator Kenneth Keating.
I said “yes,” and so for the last few days I’ve been abroad. There were several notable parts to the splendid adventure: receptions hosted by Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, and by President Bush; and an opportunity to witness President Bush’s address to the Knesset (a speech that played one way to the Israeli audience and another to the American). There was also a particularly engaging, thoughtful and at times even scholarly, three-day conference sponsored by Shimon Peres, organized under the theme, “Facing Tomorrow,” which tried looking to the future. The discussions, panels, and plenary were given, as one might expect, titles such as “Presidents Discussing Tomorrow,” the observations of an assortment of former world leaders; “Facing Tomorrow”; “Tomorrow Through the Eyes of Nobel Laureates,” etc. Local and international media covered the event, and for further details you can check out the English version Web site.
I first traveled to Israel in 1961, was married at the Western Wall 37 years ago, and regularly visit family and friends. Over the years I’ve watched the transformation of Israel from a developing country to a mature nation, at the same time I’ve worried about the tough neighborhood in which it is located. I came away from this brief stay in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem feeling that it was the best of times and the worst of times. So much promise still unfulfilled. Reconciliation always just out of reach.
Tel Aviv is exciting: the architecture, restaurants and the buzz along the shore. And, conversation on all sides about new businesses and technological entrepreneurship and successful commercial affairs feels very cutting edge and 21st century. Jerusalem is Jerusalem: It is beautiful, tugs at the heart, and, even though it is increasingly contemporary, with new luxury residences and hotels going up everywhere, you never, even for a minute, forget its history. To stand at the Western Wall in the Old City, to view, even at a distance, the Mosque at the Temple Mount, is a moving and wonderful occasion for the pious and the agnostic alike. Look around and you know you are in a city precious to all three of the Abrahamic faiths.
With all these positive observations, why then did I come home feeling blue? Well, partly because hours after President Bush arrived a rocket fired from northern Gaza hit the roof of a shopping center in Ashkelon wounding about 15 people, some seriously. It was obviously a “welcome gift” for the President and prompted strong language about a response by Prime Minister Olmert. These clashes are often characterized as between good and evil. It is melancholy to contemplate a future status quo ante, especially so given the economic progress, educational, scientific and medical advances, and the flourishing of culture and the arts that has occurred in Israel during the past six decades. With all of this, Shalom is not in sight either within or outside of its borders.
I’ve always been slightly offput by American Jews and others living in the safety and comfort of the United States or Europe who are quick to give advice to the Israelis about how they ought to conduct their affairs. But it is a long plane ride home in a confined space and reflecting on what you’ve seen is irresistible. So here is a modest thought:
Israel has two groups of Palestinians with whom they have to make peace, or at least come to terms. There are the Palestinians residing in Gaza and the West Bank — external forces, each with its own form of leadership, who represent a complex set of challenges, a subject I leave to my betters.
The second are Palestinians who reside within Israel — a demographically growing internal force — men, women and families that are Israeli citizens. They have always struck me as a tragically missed opportunity, representing a domestic agenda in search of a generous resolution. The Israeli Arabs are among the poorest citizens of the state (along with the Druze, the Ethiopians, and the ultra-Orthodox Jews) and the issues surrounding the socio-economic hierarchy are palpable and increasingly disconcerting.
I believe that the welfare of the Israeli Arabs ought to be an even more direct focus of Israeli public policy, not only for domestic reasons but for international ones, as well. A well-educated, prosperous Arab Israeli community within its borders would be an important statement about the Tikkun Olam values that Israel holds dear. This presents a chance for Israel to do good while doing well. The uplifting of Israel’s Arabs would be inspirational, and serve as a statement about the possible to the world in general and more particularly to non-Israeli Palestinians living next door. While sounding simplistic, its ripple effect, nevertheless, could be significant.
When one travels in the Middle East, one meets Palestinians who are physicians, lawyers, professors, engineers, and civil servants, a well-credentialed and professional class of people residing and working within most Arab countries. Providing additional educational and economic opportunities for the Palestinians in Israel, dare I say it — with affirmative action, and encouraging them through deeds and actions to fully engage as part of the Israeli fabric — could offer a human as well as political resource for the nation whose passports they carry.
Israel has the capacity to unilaterally sweeten the lives of its own citizenry, to reduce internal tensions and mistrust by making socio-economic class less consequential across its census, and to illustrate its capacity to see beyond ethnicity. Greater integration needs to be at the top of the political A list. Support of Arab municipalities from the government should be rationalized. Resource allocation should be more transparently appropriate. For example, currently there are many economic benefits for veterans that Arabs who do not serve in the military do not receive. Finding a way to address this disparity would also mitigate the appearance of second-class citizenship and encourage social equity.
I don’t have an illusion that this idea is novel. I know that some efforts to enhance coexistence, cooperation, and mutual respect have already been made. There are advocacy groups urging greater evenhandedness for the Palestinians and other minorities in Israel. But I can’t resist underscoring my own sentiments partly because it seems to me they represent the just thing to do but also, to be candid about it, the politically wise thing to do. I believe it will lead to a stronger, more equal nation and greater economic development with enhanced standing for Israel in its negotiations with external third parties. It is a matter of self-interest.
Of course, the moment I stepped off the plane in Newark, I had similar thoughts about my own country. Enduring disparity in wealth, education, health, and other social markers lead to questions about our democratic values at best, and civil unrest at worst. The city of Washington, D.C. is only now recovering from the riots of 1968, 40 years later. Blighted neighborhoods are being rebuilt after years of neglect. Under-served communities in Israel and America could both benefit from more affectionate attention.
