Daily Tar Heel - Letter to the Editor
Maybe coexistence can happen in the Middle East
1/31/08

TO THE EDITOR:

When I first heard that Palestine Week was being planned I felt immediately a sense of discomfort. Not because of the idea of having a week devoted to Palestinians, but because of its name: "Palestine."

I grew up believing that there is no such thing as "Palestine," that this place existed long ago and has now been replaced by the country I was born into - Israel.

Most of my life I believed either "Israel" or "Palestine" could exist, but the two could not coexist. My opinion has been in a transitional mode for the last few years.

Last summer in Jordan, I found a coin being sold by a vendor, dated 1939. It had the word "Palestine" written on it in English, Arabic and Hebrew. Next to the Hebrew word, it had the acronym letters of Alef and Yud, which stands for Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel). "Finally," I thought, "I found something that allows both ideas to coexist, neither canceling each other." I now wear that coin around my neck.

I decided to join the planning of Palestine Week because I wanted this week to be one of debate, discussions and arguments. And guess what? It has.

We can choose to avoid coming to the panels, or we can attend and voice our opinions. Either way, this week is going to effect change. We can be part of it or stand aside and watch it happen. I've made up my mind. Have you?

Shai Tamari
Graduate Student
History

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