Editor,
I find it disconcerting that Vicki Johnson wrote another letter likening Israel to China published in the Daily Lobo on Monday.
Her response to criticism is particularly insulting. She suggests that those who disagree with her only do so because they have been socialized into a system that somehow parallels the Chinese Communist Party propaganda.
Johnson's oversimplification of issues and distortion of fundamental realities is striking. The differences between the Israel-Palestine and China-Tibet issues have been addressed by readers. Johnson skirted responding to points raised about the failure of Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist.
Instead, she reproduced informal comments made by a reader on the Daily Lobo Web site, then portrayed herself as a victim of hate and demonization.
This is too convenient. If Johnson is passionate about human rights, she must attempt to appropriately address policy issues. This involves a concrete analysis of events and proposed solutions.
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Clearly, a de-escalation of military operations in Gaza must be met with guarantees for Israel's security. As Hamas encourages Qassam rockets and terror as a means of achieving its goals, the situation deteriorates.
The stated goals of Hamas include the eradication of Israel. To further complicate the situation, Palestinian National Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah lack credibility among Palestinians. This is predominately a result of the entrenched financial corruption of Fatah - a legacy of Yasser Arafat.
Any cessation of violence must stem from a negotiated agreement. Yet, how do you negotiate with a party that refuses to recognize your right to exist?
Johnson also evaded mentioning the internecine violence between Fatah and Hamas, which has claimed hundreds of lives since March 2006.
Given this existential division, can any single party claim to speak for all Palestinians? I ask Johnson: Is there a viable negotiating partner for Israel? More important, how does she propose to solve these problems and advance her human rights platform?
Past publications have taught us Johnson's approach: Blame Israel, ignore key issues and then proceed to compare Israel to China. Does this really aid the cause for human rights?
The results of the Iraq war demonstrate that egregious errors result from failing to understand the complexities of a region. In her Web site JusticeFirst.info, Johnson recalls forming her impressions of the Israel-Palestine conflict after touring the region for one month in 2004.
For foreigners who do not speak Arabic, it is very difficult to travel and gather reliable information in the Palestinian territories. Foreign news correspondents who cover these areas rely on a "fixer," an Arabic interpreter familiar with the region, who can lead them to proper sources. These relationships take years to cultivate, as Jerusalem Post correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh recounted during his recent presentation at UNM.
One month in this region could not adequately expose an individual to all the facets of the conflict. This lack of understanding is evident in Johnson's letters, which skirt policy issues and fail to encourage progress.
Rachel Fredman
UNM student
