Afif Safieh — the Palestinian Liberation Organization's representative to the United States — delivered a speech in Dodd auditorium Monday, calling for a more balanced U.S. foreign policy toward Palestine as well as the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
"Nonalignment should characterize American foreign policy. If America aligns itself with one side, it also antagonizes part of its own society," he said, referring to Muslim Americans and citizens of Arab and Palestinian descent in the United States.
Safieh also took issue with the claim that Arab countries are mostly to blame for the decades-long Middle East conflict, saying that he considers Israel resistant to peace with its Arab neighbors. "My feeling is not that Arab countries are rejecting Israel, but that Israel is rejecting Arab acceptance," Safieh said.
The U.S. government's refusal to recognize Hamas, Safieh said, has increased political instability in Palestine. "We can either try to engage Hamas in the peace process or try to rob them of their legitimate electoral victory and push them to more extreme measures."
The Bush administration has said that it will not deal with the Hamas government unless the group renounces its support for violence and accepts Israel's right to exist as an independent state. Israeli officials have also said they would be prepared to negotiate with Hamas if the party denounced violence and accepted Israel's existence.
In his lecture, Safieh recommended that both sides meet and agree upon moving toward the goal of a separate Palestinian state. Jerusalem should become the capital of both countries, with West Jerusalem serving as the capital of Israel and East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
"They should agree on a destination," he said, "not just take forward steps toward no particular destination."
Arguing that Arab states had produced such a plan, Safieh pointed to a 2002 initiative, led by Saudi Arabia and joined by other Arab nations. The deal offered official Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for return of all territory won by the country since 1967, the release of Palestinian refugees and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
At the time, the Israeli government said it welcomed the initiative but demanded a halt to terrorist attacks before entering into any negotiations.
Safieh also denounced the "superfluous" Israeli military checkpoints in the West Bank, which, he argued, "have no security value." The checkpoints impose a heavy toll on the economies of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and restrict trade between Israeli and Palestinian territories, he said.
The main crossing points between Palestinian Gaza and the Israeli West Bank have been closed many times over the past year, he said, damaging commerce in Gaza and leading to the waste of hundreds of tons of agricultural products. In addition to losing crops, Safieh said that "eight million working hours are lost every day in security checkpoints between Gaza and the West Bank."
Safieh also argued that Israel has collected $700 million in tax revenue from Palestinian commerce passing through Israeli ports, and the loss of this money has strained the PLO's ability to run civil services.
Additionally, he criticized what he believes to be Israel's "excessive" detention of Palestinian political prisoners. "There are about 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners," he said, "and I suspect that 9,000 have never engaged in illicit activity."
Read More
Joseph ’25 next Young Alumni Trustee in 21 percent turnout election
Vitus LarrieuGil Joseph ’25 won the Young Alumni Trustee election, which saw 21 percent turnout. Joseph, Stephen Padlo ’25 and Ben Wachspress ’25 competed in the final round of elections after advancing from a notably large primary in April.
Gil Joseph ’25 won the Young Alumni Trustee election, which saw 21 percent turnout. Joseph, Stephen Padlo ’25 and Ben Wachspress ’25 competed in the final round of elections after advancing from a notably large primary in April.
‘A brilliant young contemporary writer and a beautiful human being’: Remembering Lauren Blackburn ’26
Victoria Davies and Caitlyn TabladaBlackburn was found deceased by authorities on April 25, several days after he was reported missing. He was 23 years old at the time of his death and is remembered by friends and mentors as a brilliant writer, voracious learner, and loving friend. A family obituary said he passed away after a “courageous battle with bipolar disorder.”
Blackburn was found deceased by authorities on April 25, several days after he was reported missing. He was 23 years old at the time of his death and is remembered by friends and mentors as a brilliant writer, voracious learner, and loving friend. A family obituary said he passed away after a “courageous battle with bipolar disorder.”
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.