Yes, dialogue is good

@normalcoy:

As a representative of Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (CJME), I would like to thank and commend Carrie Mlynarczyk and Mark Donig for acknowledging the fact that CJME has been open to co-hosting events that foster mutual understanding and cooperation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ("Divestment defeated for good reason," May 3). However, I am a little disappointed that they have painted the Stanford Israel Alliance as the purveyor of dialogue and peace while neglecting to mention the many attempts by both Students Confronting Apartheid by Israel (SCAI) and the ASSU to organize a town hall meeting on divestment.

They also failed to mention that CJME has recently presented the Stanford Israel Alliance (SIA) with an opportunity to co-host an event by members of Combatants for Peace, an NGO that was co-founded by ex-Palestinian combatants and ex-Israeli soldiers who have renounced violence, and are now working hand-in-hand in ending the occupation through dialogue and other non-violent means. Unfortunately, SIA has refused that invitation because CJME has signed SCAI's divestment petition.

CJME is interested in dialogue. As a matter of fact, Tim Gregory (CJME's financial officer) and I have both been devoted members of a student-initiated dialogue group called Seeking Harmony in Israel and Palestine. Dialogue is important, especially in understanding the "other" side. It's important to realize that both sides are emotionally and personally invested in this conflict, a notion that is commonly lost between the rhetoric of politicians and other so-called representatives of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.

Dialogue alone, however, cannot achieve everything that we hope for. CJME, just like SIA and (surprise) SCAI, is committed to achieving a just peace and an end to the occupation through non-violent means. Divestment is one of those means, but our decision to sign SCAI's petition certainly does not mean that we do not wish to genuinely pursue dialogue. To vilify us and to sever ties with us because of our decision is unfortunate and unproductive.

@@line:Tala Al-Ramahi '07, an Economics major, is president of the Coalition for Justice in the Middle East. She can be reached at alramahi@stanford.edu.