November/December 1993, Page 66

Arab-American Activism

By Catherine M. Willford

Arab-American Reaction to Peace Accord Hopeful, Yet Cautious

The reaction of national Arab-American organizations to the Sept. 13 signing of a negotiated peace accord between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization ranged from applause and accolades to cautious apprehension. With more than 150 Arab Americans from around the country invited to the historic White House signing, the community formed a notable presence at the South Lawn ceremony. After the signing, Arab-American leaders joined their counterparts from major Jewish-American organizations at a joint briefing with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

Arab American Institute (AAI) President James Zogby called the event "a great and historic moment," adding that "the Gaza-Jericho agreement, while incomplete, represents the best chance for peace in the Middle East this century." Zogby urged the Clinton administration, the international community and other Arab states to support the peace agreement, but stated that "Palestinian statehood and self-determination must eventually be as secure as Israeli sovereignty to make the region safe for all peoples."

The National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) enthusiastically endorsed the agreement as "an historic first step." Executive Director Khalil Jahshan noted that many details had yet to be negotiated, and acknowledged that unforeseen difficulties are likely to appear during the implementation phase, but "we are hopeful that the plan will engender enough momentum and a level of mutual trust and confidence that will propel the parties in all tracks to move the process forward."

NAAA joined with the American Jewish Congress in hosting a post-signing reception at the Hotel Washington. NAAA developed contacts with the Jewish organization in the last year while coordinating a joint response to the Bosnian war.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) was more measured in its response to the peace proposal prior to the signing ceremony. A Sept. 9 ADC statement said that the Palestinian people and their leaders would have to take sufficient time to study the issues only vaguely dealt with or unaddressed in the accord—including specific timetables, the settlements, the right to return of Palestinian refugees, an end to human rights abuses and Israeli troop withdrawal from the occupied territories—before ratifying the agreement. "The decision is one for Palestinians and not Arab-Americans to make," the ADC statement continued. "It is for this reason that due care must be taken to assure that this is in fact the correct course supported by a widespread majority of the Palestinian people."

Following the White House peace accord signing, ADC released a statement that "a just and comprehensive peace for the entire region continues to be ADC's demand." The statement called upon the Clinton administration to exercise its influence toward an immediate end of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza "in recognition of the sacrifices made by the Palestinian people," and urged Congress to rescind all anti-PLO legislation.

At the post-signing briefing, President Clinton urged Arab Americans and Jewish Americans to lobby their congressional representatives to support the agreement and not to retreat from the world stage. "I hope we can find a way to work together as private citizens as well as through government channels," Clinton told the group. "Make as many personal contacts as you can in the region and let them know you support this process."

Secretary Christopher emphasized that the present accord is only a first step, and said it is important that Palestinian elections be held in order to make the autonomy plan work.

Several Arab Americans commented after the briefing that they felt a sincere change in policy and attitude from the Clinton administration regarding the Middle East. They also hoped for an end to the vilification of Arab Americans, particularly Palestinian Americans, after years of being stereotyped in the media and political discourse as "terrorists" and "peace spoilers. "

Princess Basma of Queen Alia Fund Meets with Middle East Organizations

HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan, chairperson of the Queen Alia Fund (QAF), held a Sept. 7 meeting with several Middle East organizations at the Washington, DC offices of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Representatives of American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), AMIDEAST, the U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce and other Middle East-oriented development, commercial and educational organizations attended.

Princess Basma, the only sister of King Hussein, has headed the Queen Alia Fund since its inception in 1977. It is one of the major Jordanian social welfare organizations and acts as an umbrella for smaller non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Fund's primary focus is on the education of mothers and young women. Its main premise is that the welfare of families must depend in the end on the welfare of the women in the family. Programs are designed to help these women gain practical skills that will both generate income and give them a better status in the family and community. The Fund's projects encourage small enterprise and rural market development, pre-school education, and early childhood development.

The Fund oversees a network of 40 social development centers throughout Jordan. Each (enter includes a health clinic, a multi-purpose hall, vocational training facilities and facilities for kindergarten classes and children's clubs. Once a center is established by the Fund, its administration is handed over to a local private organization.

Princess Basma called the Sept. 7 meeting a "dialogue" with other NGOs to discuss how to increase opportunities for Jordanian women. "Jordan will have an even more dynamic role in the region as stability increases," commented Princess Basma in anticipation of a successful conclusion to the Israeli-Palestinian accord negotiations. "Many new opportunities will be afforded, and women at the grassroots level will need encouragement, investment and training to participate fully in these new opportunities."

As director of the Jordanian National Committee for Women, Princess Basma has been involved in town meetings throughout the country designed to elicit opinions on the status of women. She stated that the men who attended were vitally interested in improving family conditions through programs for women. She also noted that parliamentarians from the Muslim Brotherhood, rather than opposing the women-centered work of the Queen Alia Fund, were helpful to the organization, particularly with its major fundraising drives during Ramadan.

For more information on the Fund, contact the Queen Alia Fund International Relations Department at P.O. Box 5118, Amman, Jordan.

Youngstown's Sister City Relationship with Palestinian Town

In August 1992 the Youngstown, OH city council passed a resolution declaring a sister city relationship with El-Bireh, a Palestinian town in the West Bank 18 miles from Jerusalem. Several hundred residents of the Youngstown area originally are from El-Bireh. The resolution was the result of a campaign by the Youngstown Coalition for Peace in the Middle East, which was formed during the Gulf war.

For two years the coalition sponsored a series of programs to acquaint the Youngstown community with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with such speakers as Louise Cainkar, executive director of the Palestine Human Rights Information Center Hanoch Kivneh of Yesh Gvul and Phyllis Bennis, who covers the U.N. and the Middle East for the Pacifica Radio Network.

In June, six Youngstown citizens toured the occupied territories and Israel. At a Jerusalem press conference they presented the key to the city of Youngstown to the last elected mayor of El-Bireh, Abdul Jawad Saleh, who had just returned to the West Bank after 20 years of exile in Jordan.

The El-Bireh Palestine Society held its 12th annual convention in Youngstown Aug. 28-29. More than 400 members of the El-Bireh community in the U.S. participated. At the convention banquet, Abdul Jawad Saleh presented the key of the city of El-Bireh to Youngstown Mayor Pat Ungaro, in response to Youngstown's recognition of El-Bireh and its former residents.

The Society hopes to hold its 14th annual convention in El-Bireh in 1995.