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Restitution for Egyptian
Jews versus Palestinian rights
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By;
Israel Bonan
[October 19, 2005] Today, at Brandeis University, Waltham MA; an
Academic forum was held, to discuss what the possible next steps are for
Israel and the Palestinians peace process, which was attended by a
distinguished panel of Academics and Research Centers and think tanks
(one notably being the Saban center in Washington, DC). The conference
will extend for a second day as well.
The
keynote speaker was the Egyptian Ambassador to the US in Washington, his
Excellency Nabil Fahmy . Once we found out he will entertain questions,
a friend of mine, myself and my son worked cooperatively to articulate a
pointed question to pose to his Excellency, the tone was intentionally
respectful but direct; the text of which is copied below:
Your Excellency, my father is a Jew who was born in Egypt and still
possesses many fond memories of Egypt and the friends he left behind,
who were protective of him and his family during years of persecution.
But he is also sure you are aware that previous governments have caused
many injustices to a great many of the Jews from Egypt, such as by
incarcerating them, mistreating them, confiscating all of their money
and property, and eventually expelling them from Egypt.
My father is keenly interested in asking you whether the current
Egyptian Government is ready for a rapprochement with the estranged
Jewish community.
And what steps ought and should be taken to acknowledge that episode in
history and see to it that it is redressed. Is an apology overdue? After
all, the US apologized to Japanese Americans for what it did during
WWII, isn't it time, your Excellency, Egypt did the same?
Since neither I nor my friend could attend, my son took the onus of
representing us. After he read the first paragraph, the moderator tried
to cut him off by implying that he is making a speech, and not asking a
question.
And Jacques responded “My father has waited 40 years for an answer to
this question.”
At this point the President of the University interceded and indicated
for my son to “Go ON”. So my son completed the second part of the
question. The whole thing was being recorded (I hope we can get the copy
to circulate it).
The Ambassador replied that the Japanese example is different, that
Egypt has paid some restitution to Jews from Egypt? And that if we
are expecting President Mubarak to apologize, the answer is “No”. We
want to move forward and nothing is to be gained by rehashing the past,
or try to assess who is right and who is wrong!! .
My son then attempted to follow up: “Your Excellency, we are here to
discuss the Israeli-Palestinian situation, and ask ourselves where we go
from this point as to how do the Israelis and Palestinians reconcile.
But shouldn’t we also step back and look at the broader picture in the
Middle East in order to reach a more comprehensive and conclusive
settlement? That there were Jews who suffered too …
At this point the moderator cut him off. An individual in the audience
ran after the Ambassador (who was pressed to take a flight and had to
leave), and reminded him that his answer negated everything he said vis
a vis the Palestinians in his keynote speech. The rest of the audience
rumbling implied that the glib answer was cheesy… and congratulated
Jacques on the question.
I wanted to share with you this episode, and hope to hear from you and
your reactions. I also take it as an opportunity to thank my son for
stepping up to the plate and assert our cause. After all once our
generation has passed on the newer generation already feels the
obligation to carry that torch forward.
A reply to this event could be found here
Yes Your Excellency I Agree
Other articles by Israel Bonan
Forgiveness and Reconciliation and Peace
Restitution for Egyptian Jews Versus Palestinian Rights
Slavery and the Second Exodus
Why I am so Angry
