Opinion: A Hanukkah miracle in Israel illuminates the possibilities for peace
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In a Times Op-Ed from Tuesday’s pages, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael B. Oren, finds light within the tragedy of the Carmel fire. Admitting that they needed help as the fire spread wasn’t easy for Israelis, he explains. ‘We are accustomed to offering rather than requesting aid.’
Among those to help were the U.S. and Israel’s European and Mediterranean allies. The real surprise, he says, ‘were the contributions from governments that are often critical of us.’ That includes Turkey and the Palestinian Authority.
‘For Israelis, who sometimes feel isolated in the world and misunderstood, the international response to the conflagration gave us the rare opportunity to feel part of a caring global community. And for a Middle East plagued by constant tensions and upheaval, extinguishing the fire illuminated the possibilities of peace.’
[And thank you to the Atlantic Monthly for including this Op-Ed in its roundup of 5 best Tuesday columns.]
-- Alexandra Le Tellier
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