JEWS FROM ARAB COUNTRIES AND THE ROADMAP TO

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

By Ada Aharoni and Alain Albagli

It appears that all interveners in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have endorsed in principle a “roadmap” for the resolution of the conflict leaving the thorniest issues (borders, Jerusalem, refugees) to later. Nevertheless, the nature of the new Bush initiative concerning the establishment of a Palestinian State, and the process of its establishment and its eventual relation with Israel represent awesome challenges. The roadmap foresees that the refugees issue will be resolved by 2005. However, as the roadmap does not even consider another class of refugees: that of Jews from Arab countries, this plan is doomed to oblivion. Almost half of the Jewish citizens of Israel together with their descendants, are from Arab countries, and are major components of the Israeli body politic. Any peace effort must, of necessity, acknowledge these forgotten refugees and their forced migration from the various Arab countries.

The number of Jews, 856.000, who were forced to leave Arab countries surpassed the number of Palestinians, 650.000, who were ousted or fled the newly formed State of Israel. Jewish communities that once flourished and thrived, as in Iraq and Egypt, were compelled to leave and abandon centuries of established culture and tradition as well as vast property and financial assets. The Jews from Arab countries in Israel are still bewildered, angry and hurt, and they object to a reconciliation that does not include their own heritage, history and stolen property. Their intransigence towards the establishment of a Palestinian State is a touchstone that has to be dealt with in any roadmap to peace in the Middle East.

One can identify two camps among Israelis. One camp agrees with the creation of a Palestinian state while the other espouses the various views that there must never be a Palestinian state, or that the time has not come yet to establish such a state. The feeling on the Palestinian side is equally divided between those who accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state and those who deny the legitimacy to a Jewish state and still act through the Intefada and the sending of suicide bombers - for one "pseudo" democratic state. All however, say they share the hope for a peace that will not be temporary or artificial even though the mistrust between the parties is as great as ever. Each protagonist describes their opponent in the vilest manner thus raising questions as to their sincerity in pursuing peaceful relations. The rejectionist camp on both sides includes a large proportion of refugees. Both, Palestinian refugees and Jewish refugees have become influential pressure groups in their respective communities. Unless roadmaps recognize both groups of refugees and their respective power to oust or to promote a political agreement - there will not be an end to the Israeli - Palestinian conflict that will sustain the verdict of time.

Another related aspect to the above, is that western democracies have concentrated their efforts in promoting political and diplomatic approaches to peace making to the detriment of grass root reconciliation. There are several NGO's in Israel and Palestine working for Peace and reconciliation through additional innovative channels, such as IFLAC: The International Forum for the Culture of Peace that promotes understanding and reconciliation through cultural bridges between Israelis and Palestinians (See website : www.iflac.com).

It is also relevant at this point to consider that middle-eastern rituals of reconciliation are based on changes at the community level involving acknowledgement, forgiveness and public reconciliation (The Sulha Ritual). Indeed, one of the lapses in the Oslo process has been the absence of avenues for reconciliation at the community level. Community leaders in the civic, religious, education and media domain need to be encouraged to pursue reconciliation at the grassroot levels. Also, institutions, governments and men, tend to underestimate the contribution that women can make in reconciliation. Women are usually, staunch and faithful allies of peace. These grass root rapprochements are growing, sure and stable cornerstones upon which political leaders will be able to build in pursuit of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and in the whole of the Middle East.

Public reconciliation at the people to people level is also crucial, and a handshake on the lawn of the far distant White House cannot be considered a public reconciliation. This has not happened in the case of the Egyptian-Israeli peace accord but while a cold peace can be tolerated between Egypt and Israel, it will not be possible between Israelis and Palestinians. The levels of mistrust, hatred and hostility caused by the sufferings on both sides, including that of the forced emigration of Jews from Arab countries, and the problem of the Palestinian refugees - are too deep, and have to be dealt with thoroughly and promptly, so as to facilitate a sure road to a sure roadmap to peace.

Western countries have a role to play, but not the present one of attempting to differentiate between the victim and the victimizer. Furthermore, conflict resolution principles; preclude the absolute justification of one side over the other, and the exclusive claim of one party to the high moral ground at the expense of the other. It is high time that a more appropriate balance be established between political processes, morality, and activities at the community level. As long as the protagonists can get western countries involved in their blame game, the conflict will drag on and instability in the region will increase. Support and recognition, based on the factual past and present of both sides, should be given, exclusively, to those groups that commit themselves to mutual acknowledgement and to a real and lasting peace.

In conclusion, the roadmap to reconciliation and to peace must come to terms with history and real facts on both sides, and recognize not only the claims of the Palestinian refugees, but also the dilemma and claims of the Jewish refugees from Arab countries where they were born and grew up, and where all their property and assets were confiscated. The final goalpost will be reached when both the Palestinians and the Israelis will recognize each other's history and mutually accept one another, and will be able to walk safely and surely with their heads high on the sunny side of the street.