August/September 1991, Page 67

Arab American Activism

By Catherine M. Willford

American Task Force for Lebanon Conference

The American Task Force for Lebanon held a conference on the theme "Unity, Independence and Peace for Lebanon" June 27-30 at the Sheraton Washington Hotel in Washington, DC. In announcing plans for this major event, Conference Chairman James Sams stated that, "After more than 15 years of conflict, there is a new spirit of unity, hope and productive energy surging through Lebanon as the process of national reconciliation moves forward." The Task Force called the conference as a forum for a variety of scholars, policymakers, and US and Lebanese officials to address regional developments in the aftermath of the 1989 Taif accords.

More than 400 delegates heard similarly upbeat remarks from such speakers as former US Special Envoy Philip Habib, Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nassib Lahoud, Brookings Institution Fellow William Quandt, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs John Kelly, and past and current members of the Lebanese cabinet.

The speakers also voiced a general consensus that the Lebanese army must extend its authority to "pacify the south" and disband various remaining factional militias as an essential element of implementing the Taif accords and negotiating Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Lebanese Minister of Education Marwan Hamade expressed his belief that "the international community (will) move to obtain Israeli withdrawal " as militia activity subsides.

Many delegates called upon the Bush administration to enforce UN Resolution 425, which supports the territorial integrity of Lebanon against outside powers, as it has UN resolutions regarding Kuwaiti sovereignty. Assistant Secretary of State Kelly responded that "the US will encourage the people of the Mideast to settle their differences; it will not enforce settlements. " Former Ambassador Philip Habib called for the implementation, of Resolution 425 with or without a Middle East peace conference. Kelly agreed that "progress on the overall Mideast peace process is not a precondition for improved stability in Lebanon. " Information on the conference or the American Task Force for Lebanon may be obtained by writing 3550 M Street NW, Suite 305, Washington, DC 20037, or by calling (202) 223-9333.

ADC President Meets with Arab Leaders

Albert Mokhiber, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), recently returned from a trip to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon where he met with Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, Syrian Prune Minister Mahmoud Zubi, and Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan, as well as Palestinians in each of the three nations.

Mokhiber said he received assurances that each nation was prepared to join the Arab-Israeli peace process, and to take a seat at the negotiating table. Noting that the Lebanese and Jordanians had already made such positions known, Mokhiber was pleased to report that " Syrian officials stated that their official response to President Bush's letter seeking Syrian participation would be forthcoming soon, and would be very similar to the positive response of Egypt." The Syrian response to President Bush arrived July 14th and was positive, as the ADC leader had predicted.

All three governments expressed serious reservations, however, over the ability of the Bush administration to obtain good-faith participation from the Israeli government. Prime Minister Shamir and the Likud government have refused the "land-for-peace" option, and have actively opposed the Bush administration by continuing illegal land expropriations and the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.

Regarding Israeli land confiscations, ADC is actively seeking out US citizens who are property owners in the occupied territories. Such persons may have a cause for action in the United States under the Hickenlooper Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act, which states that any government confiscating the property of US nationals is subject to the curtailment of foreign aid. Palestinian Americans interested in participating in such a legal action can contact ADC at (202) 244-2990.

ADC plans a fall conference in the Middle East on the issue of hydro-politics, in response to Palestinian, Jordanian and Lebanese concerns about Israeli diversion of their scarce water supplies. "It was repeated to us on several occasions that water, more than oil, has become a more precious and hence volatile resource in the region, " said ADC President Mokhiber.

Palestine Travel Guide

The San Diego-based Middle East Cultural and Information Center (ME C) has published a 19-page booklet, "Travel & Resource Guide to Palestine." The guide is designed for "people who are newly interested in working in solidarity with the Palestinian people."

The guide, which serves to dispel myths about traveling in the West Bank and Gaza, contains information on civil disobedience and strikes in the occupied territories, resources in the US and Palestine, and regional culture. For information contact MECIC at PO Box 3481, San Diego, CA 92103, or call (619) 293-0167.

US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (Pacific) Focuses on Kuwait

"The West Coast Connections to Kuwait Reconstruction" were discussed at a luncheon program held June 7 in San Francisco at the Sheraton-Palace Hotel. The event was sponsored by the US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (Pacific) Inc. and the US Department of Commerce, California State Chamber of Commerce, California State World Trade Commission and the San Francisco City Chamber of Commerce.

Speakers included Dr. Zaid El-Taki, chief economist and assistant general manager of the National Bank of Kuwait, and J. Sorton Jones of Graham & James, which has been the only US-affiliated legal firm in Kuwait.

Catherine M. Willford is circulation director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.