Speakers Debate Mideast Conflict

In the first Rothschild Lecture, an Israeli writer and a Palestinian activist last night presented opposing views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role women should play in solving it.

Yael Dayan, novelist, journalist and the daughter of former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, and Hanan Mikhael-Ashrawi, a crusader for equal rights for women in the Palestinian movement, debated the best process to achieve peace between Palestinians and Israelis in front of a large audience at the Agassiz Theatre.

The heated dialogue was moderated by Pat Mitchell, a contributing correspondent for NBC's Today Show.

Dayan and Mikhael-Ashrawi held opposing views on the role women should play in the Middle East peace process. Mikhael-Ashrawi said she wanted Palestinian women to act on a grassroots level, participating in protests and creating community-based organizations.

"Palestinian women are in large structures of grassroots committees representing all sides of the political spectrum," Mikhael-Ashrawi said.

But Dayan said the government has had a greater effect on the intifada than local involvement.

"The level of violence is reduced because the political process is started," she said, adding that women must be directly involved in politics if they wish to be heard. "My place is where the decisions are being made, not on the streets."

Mikhael-Ashrawi, in turn, criticized Dayan for her belief in the exclusive importance of political involvement, saying it is ineffective for achieving peace and damaging to women's rights.

"You may make a name for yourself as an individual, but you have left your sisters behind," said Mikhael-Ashrawi.

The speakers also disagreed on the nature of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Dayan said the occupation was self-preservation, arguing that "unless we are strong, we are going to be destroyed."

But Mikhael-Ashrawi said the occupation precludes the possibility of peace. "Peace cannot be achieved through coercion," she said.

Dayan and Mikhael-Ashrawi also disagreed on the means of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mikhael-Ashrawi stressed the need for international cooperation, saying, "the mechanism for the peace plan is holding an international conference."

Dayan favored working within Israel's political system, saying that Palestinians had to take responsibility for acquiring their rights rather than wait for the United Nations to get involved.

Despite their disagreements, the speakers did find one major point of agreement. Only through dialogue, they said, will peace be achieved.

"The friendship of these women symbolizes the possibility of peace," Mitchell said.