Ronald s. Lauder
When I planned my trip to the Middle East last week with key representatives from Jewish communities in England, France, Switzerland and Germany, our plan was to try and help in the hostage situation, to promote a peace plan between Israelis and Palestinians and a two-state solution. Friends and colleagues of mine urged me not to go. They thought the very idea of peace between the Israelis and Palestinians seemed impossible at this time. But I disagreed.
I traveled to Jordan, where I met with King Abdullah and the crown prince. Afterwards, in Qatar, I met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and then I sat down with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. We discussed the terrorist attacks by Hamas, as well as the hostage situation and the need to protect civilians on all sides. We also expressed our gratitude for Qatar’s efforts in finding a solution and freeing the hostages.
Though the topics and the timing were difficult and painful, we had open and honest exchanges on the basis of mutual respect and with the understanding that, in the end, we all want the same thing – a better future where Israelis and Palestinians live in peace side by side. A future where a “Marshall Plan” for the Palestinians, as I proposed in a previous article in Arab News, would offer an alternative to the brainwashing of Iran and terrorist organizations. It would be an important step toward long-term security and stability for all in the Middle East. A future where we can actually remember that we are the children of Abraham and should be able to live together as such.
I understand that the idea of talking about peace in the current atmosphere, as Hamas was able to create after the attacks on Oct. 7, could seem ludicrous. However, I believe history will back me up. Fifty years ago, after the devastation of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, peace between Egypt and Israel seemed equally unattainable. But it was precisely that war that led late President Anwar Sadat to travel to Jerusalem to shake the hand of his Israeli counterpart. When President Sadat offered a real peace treaty, right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin gave the Sinai back to Egypt without hesitation. That peace has lasted now for almost half a century.
As a second example, in September 1993, I was among the invitees on the White House lawn when late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and late Chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands and manifested that they wanted to see a future of their people living in peace. Never will I forget the atmosphere of happiness and hope. People who had nothing to do with one another stood up together, applauded and we became friends that day. Out of all the friendships created that day, I cherished mine with the late Dr. Saeb Erekat for many years. I would call him one of the voices of wisdom among the Palestinian leadership. Unfortunately, he passed away in November 2020, a huge loss for all those in the world who wanted to see a future with peace in the region and considered themselves to be bridge-builders.
We visited each other’s homes and I will never forget how his wife offered to teach me how to make maqluba. It became one of my favorite dishes after they graciously introduced me to it. Saeb and I did not always agree on every topic, but we agreed on one thing: that only a two-state solution would guarantee Israelis and Palestinians a life in dignity, safety and with a better perspective on the economic situation, which would lead to a sustainable future. We also agreed that one of the biggest threats came from religious extremists on all sides, who would use violence against the voices of bridge-builders.
And let us be clear, in my opinion, a two-state solution would mean a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. We are missing the voices like Saeb’s today in this current situation. His wisdom, his ability to also raise his voice against the extremists on all sides and fight for a better future; I wish it would be the voices of reason – and I know they do exist on both sides – that would get the airtime in today’s media. Sadly, for now, Hamas, with its attacks and per se declaration of war on Oct. 7, seems to have succeeded in polarizing the world. Not only that, but we also live in times where a minority of people allow extremists to intimidate, silence and cancel the majority.
This is not in the interest of anyone who stands for peace nor for anyone who is a bridge-builder. This is not the time to be indifferent. I call upon anyone – leaders, politicians, business owners, journalists, students – who want to have a future in peace, to not give into the voices of extremism. In difficult times, like the ones we live in today, it is easy to fall into the trap of hatred, but true leadership is when we still hold on to the idea of peace. We must all understand that those who consider themselves bridge-builders will not give into the voices of extremists, who are trying to divide or cancel us.
True leaders – no matter if old or young – stand strong in such difficult times and do not fall into the trap of hatred or labeling others. It is the time where bridge-builders on all sides come together and urgently discuss the long-term solutions and what we all have in common, not what divides us. I have always been a man of peace and I know there are many more out there who think the same way. We cannot give up on a better future for our children and grandchildren.
