Author:Ralph Seliger
I'm currently editor of this website. I was the final editor of "Israel Horizons" in its incarnation as a print magazine from 2003 until 2011 and I edited the Meretz USA (now Partners for Progressive Israel) Blog from its inception in 2006 until 2015. I've been an active supporter of the Zionist peace camp since 1982. Among other print and online platforms which I've written for: The Forward, Tikkun, The Daily Beast, In These Times, Jewish Week, New Jersey Jewish News, Jewish Currents, Huffington Post, Dissent.
Sounds as though your Third Narrative is onto something Ralph. I believe in dialogue, led an inter faith dialogue group; New Hope for Peace many years ago and then took another interfaith group to Israel-Palestine with Leah Green of the Compassionate Listening Project. My belief is simple. Peace talks between governments need to be amplified through the sponsorship of an ongoing National Dialogue Program that gradually brings enough Palestinians and Israelis together to shift the political landscape to once again favor peace.
You make an interesting point, but my guess is that the Forward wants to expose its readers to Palestinian points of view, which it didn’t used to do, and which is a big, glaring hole in any publication that claims to be discussing Israel, and if you want to show Palestinian points of view, you really should expect that they will be anti-Zionist. I think they made a good decision.
But readers are unclear about what The Forward actually believes about Israel. Can’t the publication find ways to present Palestinian opinions as “Palestinian opinions” and not raise doubts about its editorial point of view? If The Forward’s editorial viewpoint is all about “diversity” and “openness” now, and therefore will not highlight or emphasize Zionist views (we would prefer liberal or leftwing Zionist perspectives), then it’s become muddled in its political thinking. In other words, can’t it be both clear in where it stands and be open to other views (clearly labeled as such)?
The Forward is clear where it stands when the piece is signed by Jane Eisner. She is the editorial stance. All else is Op-Ed.
Judging from my own bewilderment, Sheldon, I’d say that this distinction is less than crystal clear.