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Memorial Words for Ned Hanauer
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by Liza Burr, September 16, 2006
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I want to say a few memorial words about Ned Hanauer, who died on August 10, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Ned was a major Jewish activist on behalf of Palestinian rights and Palestinian self-determination; he was also a dear friend of mine since the early 1980s. As many of you know, Ned directed Search for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, the organization that he founded in 1972 after leaving a teaching career in political science. Ned was a humanitarian and a pacifist with a passionate commitment to justice for Palestinians, without which he knew there would never be security for Israelis. His work focused on educating the American people about this issue through more truthful media coverage, and ultimately on changing U.S. policy in the Middle East. One of Ned’s noblest qualities was his refusal to give up in the face of, or even to become deeply discouraged by, the massively and increasingly unjust “facts on the ground” in Israel/Palestine.
Let me conclude these words by quoting the first and last sentences from Ned’s July 6 op-ed published in USA Today with reference to Israel’s then recently launched assault on Gaza (the invasion of Lebanon was six days away). The title of his piece is “Don’t Blame Hamas”: the first sentence reads, “Israel’s brutal response in Gaza – called ‘war crimes’ by Amnesty International – to the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants will not further peace. Israel, more than Hamas, blocks peace.” And the final sentence: “The United States should press Israel to cease violence, freeze settlements, honor human rights, and seek talks with both Hamas and Abbas.” Ned spoke with the voice of a prophet; he will be sorely missed and long remembered. |
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© 2006 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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