March 12th

Gaza: Gateway to Palestine or Anarchy? In Print by Ziad Asali - Arab News (Opinion) - March 12, 2004 - 1:00am After initially reacting with caution, the Bush Administration is now taking the Israeli proposal for unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip more seriously. The initial reaction of tepid interest has gradually given way to a highly engaged conversation. » Read more

Breaking the Gordian knot In Print by Ziad Asali - Al-Ahram (Opinion) - May 1, 2003 - 12:00am As tension persists in the Arab world over the Iraq war, it is imperative to act quickly to repair the political and diplomatic damage to US-Arab relations and our reputation in the Middle East. » Read more

Bush Letter to Sharon In Print by Ziad Asali - Congressional Quarterly (Opinion) - January 4, 2005 - 1:00am Before making any serious comments about the letter that President Bush presented to Mr. Sharon we must take note that it was written before the passing of Chairman Arafat and the changes that have lead to the democratic election of a new Palestinian President. Political reality has changed and will unquestionably have an impact on policy. » Read more

Tangible Results Needed In Print by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) - September 12, 2006 - 12:00am The agreement on forming a new unity government among the Palestinians, coming at the heals of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s diplomatic tour of the Middle East, could constitute a significant opportunity to heed the growing chorus of respected American voices calling for an urgent effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However progress will require more than words. Serious actions and tangible results will be indispensable. » Read more

Building an alliance towards the historic compromise In Print by Ziad Asali - The Jordan Times (Opinion) - November 19, 2004 - 1:00am A consensus about the contours of a genuine and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is well known. Its essential elements have been expressed in Clinton's Taba proposal, the Geneva and Nusseibeh- Ayalon plans, and the roadmap. Surveys of Palestinians, Israelis, American Jews and Arabs indicate support for a two-state solution. However, an opposing minority in each camp has exercised its power predictably and effectively to thwart the will of the majorities. These forces are opposed to peace because they think time is on their » Read more

Where do we go from here? In Print by Ziad Asali - The Baltimore Sun (Opinion) - November 18, 2004 - 1:00am You would have thought that now that he is gone, we would not have Arafat to kick around anymore, but you would be wrong. The sheer volume of words uttered and written to vilify him and define his legacy in the worst light surly seems excessive for a dead person who was considered irrelevant and “ not a partner.” Having criticized him publicly and clearly in both Arabic and English, I feel that this persistent attention, may have more to do with hurting the image of the Palestinian people rather than that of their departed leader. » Read more

Of Image and Peace In Print by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) - January 9, 2004 - 1:00am Newspaper headlines on the day after Christmas read: “12-Week Lull in Mideast Ends,” on the cover of the Los Angeles Times; “Attacks broke a lull that had lasted more than two months,” reported the Chicago Tribune; “Lull in Violence Ends,” was the headline in the San Francisco Chronicle and 3,000 miles away The New York Times reported, “The suicide bomb attack…broke a relative calm that existed on both sides since October.” » Read more

America Must Restore its Middle East Credibility In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star (Opinion) - April 13, 2003 - 12:00am As tension mounts in the Arab world over the new war in Iraq, it is imperative that we act quickly to repair the political and diplomatic damage to U.S.-Arab relations and our reputation in the Middle East. » Read more

Morality and Interest in Helping Lebanon In Print by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) - June 20, 2006 - 12:00am It is, of course, a reassuring sight to see thousands of American citizens and other western nationals being evacuated by their governments from war-torn Lebanon. But spare a thought, and some serious political consideration, for those not so fortunate, especially the Lebanese and Palestinian people who are presently baring the brunt of the suffering caused by the conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas. » Read more

Time for better decisions to be made on Palestine-Israel In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star (Opinion) - May 21, 2003 - 12:00am The Palestine-Israel conflict has become a hostage to fundamentalists and ideologues of every description, to people who advocate a clash of civilizations and religions in pursuit of their own warped visions of history and mythology. These fanatics, whether Jews, Christians or Muslims, can best be called “clashists” (to rhyme with fascists.) The sad fact is that the issue of Palestine has become the latest “last refuge of scoundrels.” The rest of us, unencumbered by divine certitude about the future and open to reason and compromise, have found it harder to have a public voice and space. » Read more