Rashid Khalidi on C-Span's Book TV
Reader comment on item: Rashid Khalidi's Appointment at Columbia University

Submitted by Luke Lea (United States), Nov 29, 2006 at 23:49

First, I am a steadfast friend of the state of Israel and always will be; it would be an unspeakable tragedy for Jews everywhere, and for the world as a whole, were that state to disappear. That said, I just caught Mr. Rashid Khalidi on C-Span speaking at a bookstore somewhere in D.C.

I must say the guy strikes me as the smartest and most reasonable guy I've heard in a long, long time, speaking up for the Palestinian side of the conflict. Granted, even if one accepts everything the professor said -- and I found little to disagree with on the surface, at least, and much to applaud -- the situation looks hopeless for the forseeable future, at least in so far as the Palestinian people living in the West Bank and Gaza are concerned. But why vilify the Mr. Rashid I saw today, and who presumably is represented in his new book, The Iron Cage? If I were an Israeli I would far and away prefer him as an interlocuter than just anybody else I've seen lately, or even not so lately?

I think it is crucial that Israel's defenders in the United States not be seen as as adamantly unreasonable in their response to a figure like Mr. Khalid. Give the guy a chance. thanks.

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