Articles
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, November 2008, pages 52-53
Waging Peace
Holocaust Museum Vigilers: “Never Again” Must Include Palestinians
 |
|
|
|
SINCE MARCH, a small, loosely knit group of activists in the Washington, DC area have held at least one vigil a week outside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, linking the ongoing ethnic cleansing and discrimination against Palestinians to the events of the Holocaust. Visitors by the hundreds, with a very high proportion of student groups, see us quietly holding placards with messages like, “”˜Never Again’ Includes Palestinians” or “Why Must Palestinians Pay for the Holocaust?” or “Stop Israeli Ethnic Cleansing.”
Many visitors take flyers that echo the museum’s major theme: “Think About What You Saw.” In deep solidarity with the victims of the Holocaust, the flyers draw attention to the suffering and exile of Palestinians as a current manifestation of ethnic and religious hatred. People ask, “Are you saying that what’s happening is the same as the Holocaust?” We reply, “No, it’s not genocide. It’s ethnic cleansing. But the victims of the Holocaust would recognize it.”
The museum itself is eager to make comparisons between the Nazi Holocaust and modern “genocides” in Darfur or Rwanda, but it avoids making any connection to Palestine. In our literature and discussions, however, we point out the tragic fact that those who oppress the Palestinians often actually invoke the Holocaust as a justification for their violence and hatred. We gently urge that peace is possible, and we provide web addresses of Palestinian and Jewish peace groups and—most hopeful—mixed groups such as Combatants for Peace and Bereaved Parents Circle.
After six months and about 50 vigils, we can report that visitors and museum personnel (especially the highly professional and pleasant guards) have accepted and respected our presence. We consistently encounter support and encouragement, including from staff and interns, as well as from many visitors. Many of the students who come from all around the country and Canada are interested to learn more.
There are far fewer strong critics of our activity than we anticipated. We strive to hear out those who disagree with our message, and, indeed, have had many unusual and interesting exchanges of views. To those who challenge the propriety of our witness in a place of mourning and reverence, we communicate that we share those sentiments fully, but that the museum is also a publicly funded educational institution.
The Holocaust Museum is a unique place—and uniquely relevant to the struggle for peace, justice, and brotherhood in Palestine and Israel. It is quietly exciting to bear witness and educate the general public, up close and personal, concerning the need to take the lesson of the Holocaust and apply it to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We hope to extend our presence if more people join us in devoting a couple of hours a week to vigiling. Our message could be a significant part of the experience of anyone visiting the museum. Questions going forward include whether to affiliate with an existing organization; how to get a Web site or Web page about the vigils and about the issue of the Holocaust and the Nakba; how to form groups of students, especially Palestinian Americans, who could engage museum programs (some museum staffers have expressed interest); and other ways to make the museum a crucible of hope and reconciliation. For more information, contact Steve France at < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > or (240) 498-2502.
—Steve France
