Dear Editor: Alan Hart is a writer, journalist and activist who has made it his life’s work to promote the truth about the core of the Middle East’s century-old state of conflict; That core being the Zionist propaganda machine’s campaign to portray Israel as a poor, helpless victim of worldwide anti-Semitism, which entitles it as the homeland of Jews for eternity, without regard to the rights of any other claimants, regardless of how legitimate

Hart.

Alan Hart was deeply involved, at the highest levels of diplomacy and international efforts, in working to bring peace to the inhabitants of Israel and Palestine. He enthusiastically sacrificed personal safety and prosperity to champion the cause of truth, as he saw it; namely that Zionism, at its core, is an obstacle to peace and is incompatible with any sincere effort to resolve the ongoing state of war between Arabs and Jews in Israel and Palestine.

Over the years, Hart has met and cultivated relationships with a whose who of leadership in the Middle East; from Golda Meir, Peres, Yasser Arafat, King Feisal, King Hussein, Sadat to Nasser.  He has held their attention and had their ears on friendly terms.  His efforts are cited as being instrumental in moving several peace efforts forward, including Camp David and Oslo. His entire life’s advocacy has culminated in his latest and “last” work, titled “MY LAST POST: Final thoughts on Zionism’s success and Arab failure,” which was printed in last week’s addition of the Arab American News. In it, he writes:

“I believe that Zionism could have been contained and defeated by now if the resources (yes, I do mean money) had been available to assist the promotion and spread of the truth of history on the scale necessary to empower the citizens of the Western nations, Americans especially, to make their democracies work for justice and peace, by demanding that their governments end their unconditional support for Israel, right or wrong.

In other words, what he is trying to say is that the Arabs of the world, including rich “Middle Eastern Arabs and rich Palestinians who are part of the huge Palestinian Diaspora,” were afraid, or unwilling to put their money where their mouths were. What a severe indictment. This non-Arab, one of many, I’m afraid, who has championed the Palestinian-Arab cause from a seemingly objective position, was unable to convince, solicit, or cajole enough support from “his corner” for an effort that would truly advance the peace process in a fair and equitable way, while actually protecting the interests of the US, Jews and even Arabs for that matter. 

What is truly more heart breaking is that this good man is throwing in the towel, not from exhaustion, or a lack of conviction, but for “mere” financial self-preservation.  He states that he cannot carry on his struggle alone at the overwhelming cost to his ever-supportive family, especially his wife.  Because of a lack of resources to pay his mortgage, this extraordinary man is being silenced; not by Zionists, or a Jewish conspiracy, but by the very Arabs who he has befriended and defended for over half of his life. This embarrassing event cannot be overestimated in its potential impact on others that have taken up the banner and cause of the Palestinians, nor on those who are considering it. 

Stuart Littlewood, author of the book “Radio Free Palestine,” recently commented on the matter in an article dedicated to Alan Hart.  “I have been in this game a mere 8 years – nothing compared to Alan Hart’s great commitment – and I’ll not leave the battlefield just yet. But I’m aiming to spend a lot less time pounding the keyboard…unless someone comes up with a worthwhile project.” 

Of course there are many worthwhile projects, but unfortunately there are no Arabs willing to put their money where their mouths are, in order to fund them.  I can think of only one word: Shameful.   

— Kassem Allie

Dearborn, MI