Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, October/November 2000, page 95

Diplomatic Doings

Seeds of Peace Campers Question Dennis Ross

U.S. Middle East peace process envoy Amb. Dennis Ross and his assistant, Aaron David Miller, answered questions posed by 170 young Arab, Israeli, and Cypriot graduates of the Summer 2000 Seeds of Peace International Camp for Conflict Resolution on Aug. 15 at the Department of State. Seeds of Peace president John Wallach described this summer’s camp as the best session ever, saying the 14- to 15-year-olds had worked to solve the same issues that defied their leaders at Camp David II.

Four young people told their particular stories to the audience. Ariel, an Israeli living in Jerusalem, said that before the camp, “I hated Arabs of any kind. I thought all Arabs belonged to Hamas.” After the camp, however, he could now say, “My point of view has changed. I understand that the Arabs see they live in a conquered land.”

Sara, from Egypt, said she had made many friends. She told a story about one of their group sessions, when a Palestinian left the group crying. An Israeli girl followed her out. “They care as much as we do now,” Sara said. “They recognize our rights and sympathize with the problems we have faced.”

Omar, a Jordanian, said, “It was hard to make Israelis my friends. Now it’s hard for me to leave them. We put ourselves in each others’ shoes…We resolved our conflictswith respect for what each side thinks.”

Tamara, a Muslim Palestinian from Bethlehem, asked Ross to “tell President Clinton that my people are suffering. We have a hard life in refugee camps. We need a resolution for refugees. Please hurry up. We are suffering there.”

Next Aaron David Miller read a congratulatory letter from invited keynote speaker Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was unable to attend.

Special Middle East Coordinator Ross said that listening to the young people was “humbling” and reminded him, after the recent failure of the Camp David talks, “what we’re doing this for.” He added that although there were no agreements, both sides made progress on issues that had been off-limits before. “You are the model of what the future can be,” Ross said, adding that every Seeds of Peace graduate has hopes and dreams and can no longer demonize the people who live next door.

The young people lined up behind microphones to question Ross. After each question, the Seeds of Peace graduates applauded wildly for their friends. Among the many questioners was Najeeb, from Bethlehem, who asked why the United States was against the right of return for Palestinian refugees and disregarded U.N. resolutions calling for their return. Ross replied the U.S. doesn’t have a stand on the refugees but hoped there could be a resolution satisfactory to both. “Neither side can get everything it wants,” Ross said. “Each side will get what it needs.”

Ramzi from Jordan had a complaint. “I was born a refugee. I live everyday in a refugee camp. I’m sick of it. I believe I have the right to return,” he insisted. “Instead of putting pressure on Palestine all the time, put pressure on Israel.”

Seena, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, said that her family owns part of the land on which the U.S. hopes to build its embassy in Jerusalem. She asked why the embassy must be built on her land. Ross replied, “Without knowing all the details it’s hard to know how to answer. Israelis and Palestinians are destined to live as neighbors. They must come to terms with each other.”

Lama from the West Bank told Ross that the young people had visited the Holocaust Museum in their all-too-brief visit to Washington, DC. She was moved by the words she saw there, she said. They explained the museum was built to remind the world to stop violations against humanity so there is never another Holocaust. Setting aside the world’s injustices committed upon her own people, Lama spoke with the idealism and passion of her youth. “But now the world is not doing anything to stop what is happening in Iraq. Children are being killed. When is the U.S. going to do something about it?” she asked Ross.

“We’re not responsible. Saddam Hussain is,” the American diplomat answered. “The world has to continue to stand up to him.”

His response was met with absolute silence.

—Delinda C. Hanley