On Israel-Palestine

I am a columnist and I often criticize government policies in the Middle East, by governments in Israel and in the Arab World. But, I have a deep and personal commitment to work for peace in the Middle East, bringing Palestinians and Israelis, Jews and Arabs together.

I oppose violence, condemn terrorism and strive to advocate for peaceful expressions of differing opinions in the contentious Middle East conflict.

I support Israel’s right to exist and the right of Palestinians to a sovereign statehood based on the Geneva Accords and the Two-State Solution.

My columns and analysis challenge extremism on both sides and seek to empower moderate voices. Criticism is an important aspect of that strategy, but criticism that is focused and based on principle, and on government policies, not people.

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I support the Two-State solution, oppose the use of violence and believe that both sides must compromise.

I oppose violence by Hamas and by the Israeli settler movement. Israeli settlements are illegal and are intended to prevent peace. Their continued existence and expansion fuel hatred and violence and will eventually be Israel’s undoing.

I support the original BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) which targeted the illegal Israeli settlements and the theft of both land and products from those lands by extremist Israeli Jews. I do not support a Boycott of Israel and believe that boycotting Israel is a contradiction to the embrace of the Two-State Solution.

I criticize governments in my writing, including criticizing the governments of Israel, Palestine, the Arab World and the Muslim World, and the US Government.

Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism. But, hatred of Jews and Israel as a people is. Also, the rejection of Palestinian rights in Palestine is a form of anti-Semitism. Palestinians are a Semitic people.

I am attacked by fanatics on both sides, which I proudly recognize as a badge of courage and success. Success in that they verify that my writings are significant, important and relevant to the movement to achieve peace in Palestine and Israel.

As a Palestinian Arab Christian, I also believe that the Christian population of the Middle East, especially and including in Israel and the Arab World, are being threatened by extremist government and religious policies. Christians in America must recognize the rights of Christians in the Middle East and do more to protect them.

I perform standup comedy and created “Comedy for Peace” in 2004 and co-founded the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour in 2006 with Israeli comedian Charley Warady. The purpose is to use comedy and humor to break through the hatred and reach Jewish, Arab, Israeli and Palestinian audiences that might not otherwise listen to the other side.

My daughter is Catholic, and my wife and son are Jewish. We had more than 300 people at my son’s Bar Mitzvah and it was fun to watch them fight over who created the Hummus!

— RAY HANANIA