Prof slams Israel on human rights

Every Palestinian in Israel must carry an identification card citing his religious affiliation and race, according to Middle Eastern History Professor Bashara Doumani. This requirement legitimizes denial of service, employment and natural rights at the whim of Israeli authority, he charges. For Doumani, this is only one of many reasons why the historical rift between Israel and Palestine has become impossible to bridge by peace talks. As a guest speaker at a breakfast discussion of human rights in Israel and Palestine held at the White Dog Cafe Thursday, Doumani decried what he called the lack of such rights among Palestinians. Both Doumani and Temple University's Bashar Tarbieh, the talk's second speaker, sharply criticized Israel's human rights record in Palestinian territories. A recent seven-month stay in Israel's West Bank territory left Doumani discouraged, he said. Although Palestinians have been willing to settle for much less than most people in the world, he said, those compromises have led virtually nowhere. "Every time there were black clouds, I'd look for a silver lining, for hope," Doumani said. "But now, even die-hard activists don't see a way out. I have never seen such incredible shortsightedness." He contends it is now up to average citizens to take a stand, as he said they did in armed conflict Wednesday which left five Arabs dead and hundreds wounded. Doumani said even if Israeli leaders come to an agreement to recognize the rights of Palestinians, it would take at least a generation to dismantle the infrastructure of the Israeli rule. At present, the relationship of the two enemies is organized chaos under the guise of a peaceful agreement, he added. Tarbieh -- who works for Human Rights Watch to monitor the situation in Israel -- told of interrogations, violations of freedom of expression and other forms of injustice that he said have become accepted reality in the Palestinian territories. He made local news in August when he was arrested and detained by Israeli police while visiting his parents in the Golan Heights. "I do not consider my attention from Israel unique -- I was interrogated like anyone else," Tarbieh said. "If they had known I work for the Human Rights Watch, they would not have done it." Administrative detention can send a social activist to jail for six to 10 years without evidence or with evidence unknown to the defendant, Tarbieh said, adding that Palestinian journalists draw their own lines on what to write for fear of being interrogated. The grim subject matter of the talk contrasted sharply with the atmosphere of the breakfast. Accompanied by scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes and dessert, 30 people chatted about social issues and shared personal concerns prior to the presentations by the guest speakers. White Dog owner Judy Wicks said she hosts a series of talks and other community-building activities throughout the year. Lacking time to deal with social concerns separately from her business, Wicks gladly combines them, she said. "People say I use good food to lure innocent customers into social activism," Wicks explained with a laugh.