Arab-Americans protest Seeds of Peace award to Peres

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In a news release announcing the award, Seeds of Peace President Aaron Miller said, "The presence of Shimon Peres and Sari Nusseibeh in Detroit is a powerful statement about the importance of Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation and a commitment to the value of the work of Seeds of Peace in equipping young people with the skills to promote coexistence."

When he was foreign minister in 1994, Peres shared the Nobel Peace Prize with then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat for their work in bringing about the Oslo peace accords.

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Asked about the protest, one of the guests at Monday's dinner, Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, said forgiveness is needed to end the Middle East conflict.

"There have been five wars, two intifadas - uprisings. There are a lot of hard feelings on both sides about this conflict. The only hope for peace is to begin the process of forgiveness," he said.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/370058.html

and he has worked for peace for a long time. His biggest sin was remaining in a cabinet under Sharon for too long. That might have been motivated by political considerations however.

:grouphug:

disconcerting.

if Peres is considered deserving of an award like this, then it is meaningless.