This are two letters I have submitted to the New York Time:

1)
Dear Editors,

"Louder Voices on Streets as Mideast Strife Grows" described a New York City rally in support of Israel's military offensive and argued that "as casualties in the Mideast mount, so have the voices for each side." The piece neglected to mention that a third voice is also emerging, one that is refusing to take sides. Across the street from the aforementioned rally, a different group gathered, composed of religious Jews, Muslims and Christians committed to rising above the "blame game." They presented a balanced platform supporting both Israel's and Palestinian's aspirations for their own safe and secure homelands, recognizing that the two people's have complementary, not conflicting, goals. Their mosaic was not just an ideal, but a tangible reality, one that modeled the vision all people of peace hold for the embattled region. And they are far from alone. In recent months, organizations across the country -- like Tikkun, Rabbis for Human Rights, and The Fellowship of Reconciliation -- have called for an end to the region's violence while refusing to accept anti-semitism or anti-Arab racism from either party. While some protestors are playing out the current tensions with signs instead of guns, it is no less important to show where others represent the solutions we all seek.

Respectfully yours,
Barry Joseph

2)
Dear editors,

I was dismayed to read in the April 19th coverage of the Pew Research Center's Survey on the Middle East that respondents were asked "In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, which side do you sympathize with more?" Isn't it time we move beyond choosing sides? Who is recording the voices of those who refuse to be pitted against either Israelis or Palestinians, who do not view sympathy as a zero sum game? Have not both people suffered from oppression? Do not both want to live in peace? The opinion of those who support justice, peace and security for all peoples of the region needs to be heard in these challenging times.

Respectfully submitted,
Barry Joseph

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