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Last update - 02:31 06/05/2008
From darkness into light
By Daphna Golan
Tags: Gilad Shalit, Palestinians 

Again we celebrated the holiday of freedom while Gilad Shalit remained in captivity. We spoke of going from darkness into a great light, but left the talks about releasing the abducted soldiers in the dark. We have become accustomed to let our future depend on Shin Bet people who negotiate covertly, and we have stopped asking what we could do to release the abducted soldiers.

Why not talk with all our neighbors, Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah, the presidents of Syria and Egypt and the Arab states, about releasing the abducted soldiers, about stopping the Qassam fire, about reconciliation?

We boast of Israel's democracy and freedom of information, but let the Shin Bet security service direct our reality, although they act in darkness. We have no idea what our future map is, but we have been asked for years not to ask too many questions.
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Since 1967, Israel has imprisoned more than 700,000 Palestinians, about one-fifth of the Palestinian population. According to the last United Nations report, Israel is holding behind bars more than 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 118 women and 376 children, who are incarcerated - in violation of international law - outside the occupied territories. The Shin Bet decides which prisoners are to receive visits and which family members will be barred from entering Israel.

We could release first, as a goodwill gesture, some 800 "administrative" Palestinian prisoners, who have been jailed in Israel for months with no trial. These prisoners, who have not been charged and do not know why they are being jailed for months (sometimes years) with no trial, must be released as the first stage of releasing the political abductees and prisoners. Releasing prisoners can be the first step of a reconciliation process, as it has been in many countries worldwide.

Reconciliation processes everywhere in the world are not conducted in the dark but in a bright light. They include a public debate on victims' testimonies and public recognition of the pain, rights and compromises made by all the parties concerned. Some 22,000 people testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, and millions heard and watched their testimonies on television. Testifying before the committees made it possible for the victims to tell their story and win recognition, enabled many South Africans to hear for the first time about the extent of the apartheid regime's oppression and gave society a chance to deal with the pain of the past in order to build a more just future.

In Israel the authorities prefer to conduct secret talks and not to hear the Palestinian story. We keep telling the story of our renewed return to the land of our fathers. What is the story of the Palestinians who have lived here, whom this country also belongs to? Why don't we want to hear their story, about the deportation of hundreds of thousands from their homes in 1948, destroying their villages and looting their property? Why shouldn't we hear of their dream to return to their homes in Jaffa and Ramle and Lod? About their life under occupation, when their universities were closed for years at the military governor's order? Why don't we hear about children growing up in crowded homes during months of curfew, about roadblocks and fences and family members being beaten, humiliated and arrested, and life without rights?

It is time to talk with the Palestinians about the way we will live here together. Is there really nobody to talk to? Why aren't we willing to talk with everyone about everything, about the past, present and future?

Is it possible that Gilad Shalit is still in captivity and the Qassam fire is continuing not because there is no one to talk to, but because we don't want to hear what the Palestinian leaders have to say? We must speak out loudly and openly with everyone - about the past, present and future, about a life of fair, decent neighborly relations. Without red and green lines and with no prior conditions. Only about how we will live here together and separately, Jews and Arabs, in reconciliation.

The writer teaches on human rights at the Hebrew University's Law School.
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  1.   If Israel had reasonable neighbors... 10:07  |  Linichka 06/05/08
  2.   Time to listen to Palestinians plight 10:15  |  Arthur 06/05/08
  3.   Palestinian suffering is part of Israels strategy 10:20  |  Natallie Durson 06/05/08
  4.   WHERE is Hamas version of Daphna?Who admitt Israelis are human? 10:24  |  PETER SM 06/05/08
  5.   The ONLY Thing To Discuss With The Philistines Is Their Surrender 10:27  |  Yishai Kohen 06/05/08
  6.   Welcome voice of reason - it`s about time, running out of time! 10:32  |  Ivar 06/05/08
  7.   Huh? 10:34  |  Sal 06/05/08
  8.   Zionists need another few thousand years of exile 10:36  |  Chanalau, Tova 06/05/08
  9.   From Light to darkness 10:36  |  Ben Menachem 06/05/08
  10.   We pay this Dits salary! 10:42  |  FOX 06/05/08
  11.   When will the Palestinians listen to Israel`s plight 10:46  |  Hastaroth 06/05/08
  12.   The Irish Example 11:03  |  Seán 06/05/08
  13.   If you start listening you can`t continue with the "mission"..... 11:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  14.   Daphna..Arabs say your ancestors are apes and pigs... 11:13  |  SLAVO 06/05/08
  15.   PROOF THAT ZIONISTS DON`T KNOW WHAT THE WORD SUFFERING MEANS... 11:17  |  TripleJump 06/05/08
  16.   Daphna with colonial surname,pals want to settle in Israel 11:19  |  Absolute Sweden 06/05/08
  17.   To Mrs Golan: Reciprocity 11:23  |  Altalena 06/05/08
  18.   Brave Daphna Golan 11:30  |  Sylvie 06/05/08
  19.   Nobody I know, Swiss, is 11:44  |  Linichka 06/05/08
  20.   THAT WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH 11:47  |  indrajaya 06/05/08
  21.   Sal and huh-duh #7 11:49  |  Hastaroth 06/05/08
  22.   Leftists whine but they too want Jewish state which Pals reject 11:50  |  Sam 06/05/08
  23.   SWISS The majority of Israelis DO want to give it up for PEACE 11:50  |  PETER SM 06/05/08
  24.   she is a teacher? in LAW SCHOOL?? 11:52  |  henry 06/05/08
  25.   Sean,did you Irish wanted to annihilate the UK? 11:53  |  Hastaroth 06/05/08
  26.   No choice but to live side by side 11:55  |  El-Birawi 06/05/08
  27.   Chanalau the British settler 11:58  |  x-ray 06/05/08
  28.   A beautiful piece by Daphna Golan 11:58  |  Palestinian in UK 06/05/08
  29.   If the Swiss Dinosaur starts reading (#13) 11:58  |  Hastaroth 06/05/08
  30.   David Trimble says the "Irish example" is irrelevant 12:10  |  Absolute Sweden 06/05/08
  31.   It takes courage to face up to one`s demons 12:21  |  Ben Alofs 06/05/08
  32.   Excellent article! 12:22  |  Helen 06/05/08
  33.   When the Naqba of Arab Jews is accepted 12:23  |  Jonathan S 06/05/08
  34.   What takes the sword out of one`s hand? 12:45  |  Ben Alofs 06/05/08
  35.   Sylvie in Holon writing nonsense #16 13:03  |  FOX 06/05/08
  36.   Ben Alofs dishing out pablum #29 13:09  |  FOX 06/05/08
  37.   Helen...Why? #30 13:16  |  FOX 06/05/08
  38.   Daphna, there is light and there is `LIGHT.` 13:16  |  d.dor 06/05/08
  39.   Right! 13:21  |  English Resident 06/05/08
  40.   Very funny 13:31  |  Avital 06/05/08
  41.   Why does haaretz pump out daily pro-palestinian crap 13:39  |  Steve Randolph 06/05/08
  42.   #10 Fox`s shameful double standards 13:40  |  Dutch 06/05/08
  43.   Why do you Israelis allow Israel-hating professors to teach 13:44  |  Steve Randolph 06/05/08
  44.   Peter SM #23 13:51  |  Guido 06/05/08
  45.   sparks and light 13:59  |  carol 06/05/08
  46.   # 19 Linichka 14:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  47.   Good article 14:08  |  Henrik 06/05/08
  48.   # 23 PETER SM, the truth will be revealed rather soon..... 14:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  49.   daphna... you for real? 14:14  |  ravi 06/05/08
  50.   # 29 Hastaroth 14:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  51.   It takes no courage to talk in Israel - 14:26  |  x-ray 06/05/08
  52.   15 14:32  |  tit for tat 06/05/08
  53.   FOX 37 14:42  |  Helen 06/05/08
  54.   Daphna Golan Human rights stops when my my human rights are 14:44  |  Aby 06/05/08
  55.   Tommy Can You Hear Me? 14:47  |  daphna who? 06/05/08
  56.   A Question for Palestinians: 15:15  |  MIKE 06/05/08
  57.   number 41 15:21  |  Maccabi 06/05/08
  58.   # 45 Swiss...in regard to political ears 15:25  |  Lynn 06/05/08
  59.   To the Swiss Dinosaur again (#50) 15:27  |  Hastaroth 06/05/08
  60.   #15 Triple Jump, I agree Israelis don`t connect well 15:33  |  Dutch 06/05/08
  61.   #41 Steve, The only thing idiotic is your assessment 15:37  |  Dutch 06/05/08
  62.   Author should go live in Sderot - enjoy the piss she believes in! 15:37  |  Ronny 06/05/08
  63.   First things first 15:39  |  Tosefta 06/05/08
  64.   Doris the Dutch Cadigan Dragonwoman 15:43  |  Dror 06/05/08
  65.   # 58 Lynn 15:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  66.   "we don`t want to hear what the Palestinian leaders have to say" 15:48  |  Yakov 06/05/08
  67.   # 6 Ivar - "The international picture of Israel .." 15:49  |  17 06/05/08
  68.   # 59 Hastaroth "Mundo bizarro" 15:54  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/05/08
  69.   Real Jews. 15:57  |  Cool B 06/05/08
  70.   #15 Triple Jump , I forgot to add the Moose story 15:57  |  Dutch 06/05/08
  71.   I want to let Fox know how cool I think he is 16:11  |  Dror