Salim Tamari Conference Call Notes

I took some notes during the call if you guys would like something to reference... I apologize if they don't make any sense!

Salim Tamari
Video Conference Notes
May 4, 2010
9:30 AM
Salim calls from Washington DC

You mention the four communities of Jerusalem: Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish. In our class discussions/readings we have never explored the Armenian community- could you describe it for us a little bit?

· Armenian community is neglected and is one of the most ancient communities in Jerusalem. The Armenian community is declining because they have been immigrating to the West and to Armenia itself. They identify themselves mostly as Palestinians, and are treated by Israelis as Palestinians. They have kept their separate culture and have not integrated because of the separation of quarters, but politically they side with the Palestinians.

How do Armenian Christians living in Jerusalem view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Do they have as much of a vested interest in the conflict as the 2 sides? Do they tend to support Israel or the Palestinians or neither?

· From the writings from Armenian members, it seems that they identify with Palestine. They aretreated like Arabs by the government (ie the airport). Not all Armenians live in the Armenian quarter.

As a Christian, Wasif was better able to maneuver into both Muslim and Jewish cultural spheres?

· Wasif, because he was a Christian, understood the conflicts in his country and thought of himself as a Musician first, Palestinian second, then a Christian so he was able to integrate easily. His band involved Jews, Muslims and Christians. Being a Christian and not living in the Christian quarter answers the question.

In your opinion, do the Palestinians have a legitimate "claim to return"?

· …Should not be used as an excuse against justice. He believes refugees should be able to return (not necessarily to where they exactly came from) or compensated.

Do you believe that relations between the Muslim, Christian, Armenian, and Jewish communities worsened after the British colonization of Jerusalem?

· After the constitution resolution, Muslim citizens became essential to the Ottoman Empire and were no longer seen as second class. They were treated equally. Basically the revolution of 1908 created motions of citizenship. Ottomans didn’t discriminate based on religion. The British actually took a step backwards in political culture. Their thought was that because it was the holy land people should be identified by their religion. Indian soldiers guarded the holy places to make sure the religions were segregated. In this sense the British put the seeds of religious conflict. The British decided that Palestine should be the home of the Jews.

You mentioned in an interview that it is necessary to have international intervention from Europe, not just the U.S.; Which countries in particular do you think need to become more actively involved?

· The only country that can make an affective impact on the conflict is the U.S. Israel cannot continue without U.S. support. This is a problem because in the U.S. there is a group that believes Israel cannot do any wrong. 4 billion dollars a year to support the Israeli army? Britain is responsible for leaving the country with two communities at odds with each other. They are able and can and should be intervening in this mess. Turkey is the inheritent of the Ottoman Empire, they should also be intervening.

The Israeli government claims that the building of the security wall in the West Bank will curb violence (specifically suicide bombings) in the country. Do you feel that this explanation for building the wall is valid?

· This explanation is not valid. There was no violence in the period before Israel separated people, and is highly responsible for the current conditions. Land is the logic of this wall rather than actual security.

Do you think a two-state solution is feasible or would a "one-state solution" where both Jews & Arabs live in one state is better?

· Ambiguity. One state solution does not at the moment seem possible. There are not enough people on either side that are for it. We are facing a grim future, and not a likely solution.

What role (if any) do you think music today has in creating a dialogue for conflict resolution?

· Hybridity is a very modern concept that should not be loosely used for the kind of mixture that existed in the 1920s and 1930s, you see this in cities where various themes of ethnic culture tend to mix together under the conditions of freedom of mobility. Hybridity of the nature of identifying with the musical linguistic and ceremonial features of other cultures. Hybridity under colonial reign is not the same as other places.

I am very interested in exploring creative channels for dialogue. What do you think about the next generation of people to take reigns of this issue? For example, the Arab rap group DAM. Do you feel that groups like this sincerely make a difference in the political outcome of this conflict?

· DAM is a very positively aggressive group n a violent area. A group that is marginalized has to assert its identity. If their identity becomes part of the Israeli culture, it will have an effect. Physicality is vital to change.

As a Palestinian scholar, do you feel that your identity impacts the way that you are received in the U.S. academy (or other scholarly spaces based in specific geographical locations)? Do people expect you to have a certain viewpoint based on your subject position? If so, how has this impacted your work as a scholar?

· People expect a standardized form of diction. “I have immensefear of the telephone because Americans cannot understand me.” The atmosphere after September 11th has changed the treatment toward Arab-Americans. Before their experience was the same as Italians or Russians. The American Psyche needs an enemy. Is this a part of the American Identity? Ie, immigrants having a problem with other immigrants.