AJC Radio Message: David Harris

July 25, 2011 – New York – When it comes to peace with Israel, the Palestinians have mastered the ability to say “no,” says AJC Executive Director David Harris in his national radio commentary.

It dates back to 1947. And it continues to this day,” says Harris. “It revolves around the word ‘no.’ And that word keeps coming from the Palestinians every time an effort’s made to strike a deal with Israel.”

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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Unfortunately, it’s the same old story.

It dates back to 1947. And it continues to this day.

Precious lives have been lost, opportunities squandered.

It revolves around the word “no.”

And that word keeps coming from the Palestinians every time an effort’s made to strike a deal with Israel.

The UN tried as early as 64 years ago, but failed.

American presidents and Israeli prime ministers have given it their best shot, but always come up short.

It’s hard for us Americans to understand. How can one side in this conflict always find an excuse or justification for refusing to grasp an outstretched hand?

That hand offers a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis alike, yet it’s never materialized.

Again now, Israel has said yes to compromise, yes to the creation of a Palestinian state, and yes to a new dawn.

The Palestinian response? The all-too-familiar “no.”

How tragic!

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July 19, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, stresses the importance of visiting Israel to understand all aspects of this dynamic, vibrant country.

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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I’m just back from Israel.

It wasn’t my first visit.

But for some around me it was. And it’s always fascinating to see Israel through their eyes.

Having never been before, they tend to imagine Israel as it’s too often portrayed in the media – as a political conflict in a rough-and-tumble area.

How surprised newcomers are then to discover the real Israel.

They learn that Lonely Planet named Tel Aviv the world’s third hippest city this year.

They discover that Travel + Leisure just cited Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the two best cities in the Middle East.

They see a beautiful country full of life, history, and innovation.

They witness a democratic nation with political parties galore, a spirited media, and a vibrant civic society.

They encounter an amazingly diverse Israel of many faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

And they feel, above all, the yearning for peace.

Israel. The more you know, the more you understand.

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July 12, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, celebrates the birth of South Sudan .

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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This week, the world ushered in the newest country, South Sudan.

It wasn't an easy journey.

Millions of people were killed, wounded, and displaced in the struggle for independence from Sudan.

The struggle pitted the Arab and Muslim government of Sudan against the largely African, Christian and animist south.

Now, at long last, the south has achieved its long-sought goal, and there's joy in the streets of Juba, South Sudan's capital.

But there's still a long way to go. South Sudan starts as one of the world's poorest countries.

It will need sustained help, which it richly deserves after the costly sacrifices for freedom.

To its credit, America has played a key role under both Presidents Obama and Bush in helping South Sudan reach this new day.

AJC's Africa Institute has long been in contact with South Sudan's leaders -- and this week offered support for an Israeli-led humanitarian mission there.

We applaud the brave people of South Sudan. We'll be rooting for their success.

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This is David Harris of AJC.

July 6, 2011 – New York

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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Two years ago, I was invited to blog for the Huffington Post.

I was honored. It's a major site with a large readership.

During the past two years, I've published nearly 50 articles.

And now, for the first time, one article was not published. HuffPo simply said "no."

It deals with the Gaza flotilla. It said that those supporting it were, deliberately or not, aiding Hamas.

After all, Gaza is run by Hamas, a terrorist group according to both the US and European Union.

Since aid is reaching Gaza via land from Egypt and Israel, the flotilla's purpose is transparently political, not humanitarian.

That's why the US, the UN Secretary General, and the EU's foreign policy chief have all opposed the flotilla.

But when it came to my article, HuffPo simply refused to publish it. Despite efforts, no explanation has been forthcoming.

But they can't stop you from reading it and deciding for yourself.

Visit ajc.org to read "The Hamas -- Oops, Gaza -- Flotilla."

This is David Harris of AJC.

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June 27, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, celebrates America’s Independence Day.

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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On Monday, we'll celebrate the 4th of July.

Amidst the fireworks and family fun, let's reflect on the larger meaning of our nation's birth date.

Freedom is a priceless gift. We owe those who defend it more than we can ever express.

From the beginning, America has served as a beacon of hope for the oppressed. Just ask those who fled political and religious tyranny what America means to them.

And America is a work in progress, constantly seeking to overcome its shortcomings. This, too, reflects our nation's greatness.

We know we must always do better to achieve our founder's vision, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On this 4th of July, let's recall the words from the Hebrew Bible inscribed on the Liberty Bell. “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”.

Happy 4th of July, America.

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June 21, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, pays tribute to Yelena Bonner, the longtime champion of human rights in the Soviet Union, who passed away over the weekend.

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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Yelena Bonner, a champion of human rights, just passed away.

Born in the Soviet Union, her father was killed by Stalin, her mother was imprisoned in a labor camp.

Yelena Bonner courageously joined the human-rights movement in the 1960s.

She married the legendary Andrei Sakharov, the best known Soviet dissident. Together they formed a formidable human-rights couple.

They were threatened repeatedly and banished far from their Moscow home, but the Kremlin couldn’t silence them.

They continued to speak up for basic democratic freedoms.

They also spoke up for oppressed Soviet Jews, including their right to emigrate. And they staunchly defended democratic Israel, while the USSR mercilessly attacked it.

Sakharov won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Bonner accepted the award, as the Kremlin wouldn’t let him go to Oslo.

Sakharov died in 1989. Bonner died a few days ago. May their extraordinary example of moral courage serve as an inspiration to us all.

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June 13, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, speaks about the close relations between AJC and Germany that began shortly after World War II, and expanded significantly over the decades.

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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In recent days, we received two groups of German officials at AJC.

What’s important is that such a program would have been unthinkable not that long ago.

The ravages of the Second World War -- and the Nazi attempt to eliminate the Jewish people -- left long shadows and searing pain.

AJC was the first Jewish organization to try to write a new chapter in German-Jewish relations.

It began tentatively decades ago. It’s evolved and grown.

It’s touched more and more young people on both sides.

Needless to say, essential discussions about history are never easy.

Yet the conversations have also focused on the present and the future.

A common agenda has emerged – to defend democracy, protect human dignity, combat anti-Semitism, and guard against historical denial.

At AJC, we’re proud of this new chapter.

It tells us to never stop dreaming about what can be – and to never, never, stop working for a more hopeful world.

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June 6, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, salutes Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada for his stalwart and courageous support of Israel.

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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Mark Twain was a legendary American writer.

“Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” are classics.

Here’s something else that Mark Twain wrote: “Moral Courage and a Hankering to learn the Truth ... are on vacation in the human race.”

What he wrote is especially true these days in the Middle East.

Too often truth has been thrown to the wind.

Moral courage has yielded to moral ambiguity at best, cowardice at worst.

But Mark Twain, who visited and wrote about the region 150 years ago, would be proud of Canada’s prime minister today.

Stephen Harper stands for “Moral Courage and a Hankering to Learn the Truth.”

He’s insisted on Israel’s right to live in peace and security.

He’s defended Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself.

He understands the true nature of Israel’s enemies.

And he grasps that, much as democratic Israel yearns for peace, it needs genuine partners to seal the deal.

To learn more about Harper’s Middle East views, visit ajc.org.

This is David Harris of AJC.

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May 31, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, speaks about the extraordinary reception for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu when he addressed the U.S. Congress last week.

“Democrats and Republicans joined as one to welcome the Israeli prime minister,” says Harris. “He received thirty standing ovations during his eloquent speech.”

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

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The full text of this week’s commentary follows:

In these politically charged times, there was an extraordinary scene in Congress last week.

Democrats and Republicans joined as one to welcome the Israeli prime minister.

He received thirty standing ovations during his eloquent speech.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Israel has no better friend than America. And America has no better friend than Israel. We stand together to defend democracy. We stand together to advance peace. We stand together to fight terrorism....

“In an unstable Middle East, Israel is the one anchor of stability. In a region of shifting alliances, Israel is America’s unwavering ally.

“In a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel stands out. It is different.

“Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel’s [one million] Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights.”

Stirring words all.

The U.S. and Israel: shared values, shared journey, shared goals.

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May 24, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, says that Israel is ready for peace, but the Palestinians are not.

“Israel has said yes. Yes to direct talks. Yes to two states for two peoples. Yes to peace,” says Harris. “But the Palestinians have gone in the opposite direction. They’ve brought in Hamas.”

The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary.

LISTEN.

The full text of this week’s commentary follows:

Peace.

Can there be any greater goal?

Israel has sought peace from day one. But its Arab neighbors had other ideas.

They wouldn’t accept the Jewish state.

It didn’t matter that the Jews had always been connected to the land – or that the UN recommended the Jewish state.

So democratic Israel had to defend itself – time and again.

Eventually and happily, peace came with Egypt and Jordan.

But not with the Palestinians.

Successive Israeli leaders offered a two-state deal. All were rebuffed.

Now, again, there’s talk about how to get a deal.

Israel has said yes. Yes to direct talks. Yes to two states for two peoples. Yes to peace.

But the Palestinians have gone in the opposite direction. They’ve brought in Hamas. Go online and read the Hamas Charter for yourself. You’ll see its true nature as a genocidal terrorist group.

Let the Palestinians decide – Hamas or peace.

Let’s hope they make the right decision. For the sake of peace.

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