The Honorable Gordon Gray,
The Ambassador of the United States of America in Tunisia,
Sir,
As fellow alumni of Columbia University in the City of New York, we wanted to strongly emphasize our hope to see Palestine recognized as a free state at the upcoming UN Security Council.
You lived with us our Revolution, and we are quite confident that your presence in the country helped to draft the evolving American position of January 2011 that showed a gradual increase of sympathy to our cause and an understanding of our demands for a regime change.
We, along with President Barack Obama, graduated from Columbia, a place in lumine sua vidimus Lumen. We spent nights in Butler Library and we climbed the stairs of Low to sit by Alma Mater. We either took a class with Richard Bulliet or attended one of his lectures, and we enjoyed the knowledge of scholars affiliated to the Middle East Institute.
Columbia is the core of liberty in the City of Liberty. It is also a place where great Palestinians were able to structure their thoughts, Edward Said being one of their shining stars. Our University was a safe shore for Rashid Khalidi and Joseph Massad, both Palestinians in heart and mind. Notable Columbia professors showed their support to the Palestinian cause (Pr. Bulliet is an example), and so did many students and alumni. Only last year, Columbia launched the Center for Palestine Studies, a clear recognition by our Alma Mater of the State of Palestine.
Tunisia, on the other hand, had always followed a pro Palestinian line. We participated, people and government, to their pain and their joy, and we were once the political basis of their future state. It is with strong convictions that a majority of Free Tunisians is now seconding the Palestinian bid for statehood which is to be presented on the 23rd of September 2011 to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
As the Arab Spring is extending to an Arab Year, we wish to see your government respecting our feelings and the international right of self-determination. We were among the first countries to recognize your right in an independent state two centuries ago, and so were you one of our closest allies in our fight for independence in the 1950ies.
In the name of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, let’s give the Palestinians a viable State!
Rim Nour
Fulbright Scholar
Columbia, SIPA’07
Youssef Cherif
Fulbright Scholar
Columbia, GSAS’09
COUNTRY HOME says
IT’S BETTER A PALESTINA UNDER UN AS WELLAS UNDER AN ARABIC DICTATOR OR UNDER AN AYATOLLA .
YOU HAVE TWO CHOICE :
PESTE ?
OR
COLERA ?
while this letter is an important step to let the American mission know our views of their leadership back in Washington, nothing will change. One should just read their wikielaks cables and how they refer to our so called “biased” views toward the Palestinian issue and the American policy in the region.
When Palestinians use force to liberate their country, they are branded as crazy terrorists and urged to resolve the issue with diplomacy, but when they use diplomacy and seek UN recognition, the US obstructs their legitimate move.
Otherwise We should BOMBARD their mission with these types of letters…
All the best.
I totally support your letter , and we should all as Tunisians do the same , as you did , and go with Mehdi suggestion .
Bravo to all.
free Palestine.
wild el bled
USA.
COUNTRY HOME says
PALESTINA – ISLAM – etc…
IT’S A BIG BUSINESS
i support strongly this letter. \
president OBAMA PROMISED a palestinian state for…..2011 , his talk was so hopeful for the arabe and the islamic nation. we do understand that in 2012 will occur the american election and that the israelien lobby is very effective and powerfull and that ‘s it…
it s unfair ,
but don t forget that arabic people is awakening….and the future obviously different…
”there is no education like adversity”
I fully agree that the Palestinians should have an independent state promised by President Obama in 2011 it must maintain its
uunfair unfair unfair; a few weeks ago Obama admitted the necessity of establishing a palestinian state, and now he’s doing his best to prevent 6million people from having a state : IS THIS THE DEFINITION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY ? SHAME ON YOU USA . History will keep this record
even unfair , even we know that compromises and interests with israelien lobby are stronger, the arab nations , muslims and all people who are sharing the conviction that palestinians deserve and have all rights to live in an independent state should continue the fight . I thank you and fully support your letter.
stop the wank yanks and be truthful to your ideals?.
as an emerging young nation we tunisians are the secong nation to recognise you as an independent state.
we saw you mature and become a beacon of liberty,a leader in most fields, a nation that a lot of world citizens cherish.
we admire your contribution to humanity advancement in lots of fields.
we appreciate your generosity and the help you lend to lot countries and people in need.
what is missing in making you grander than you are is the sens of fairness.and there where you are found short.
every group of humans aspire to freedom,happiness and the ability
to run their life as they see fit.
the blind bias favouring the jews at the expence of palestinians
make any reasonable humans revolted by your hypocrite acts.
it shows the immaturity and fairness in your decisions.
if you are a prisoner of the jewish lobby than as a nation you lack
courage and fairness.
there is as many if not a bigger descendants of arabs that make up your population .
should they choose to vote as a block that may change your perception of the jewish votes and their importance.
in a nut shell what we are asking is that the palestinians are given
a fair chance and the opportunity to have a nation to meet their
aspiration.
to me a human is a human and all humans are valuable and precious.
we are appealing to your noble aspiration and that america acts
in the true sens of fairness which eliminate hate,envy and wars.
for a fair peaceful world .
lets see palestine take it’s place among other nations.
I’m not against jews but in favour of fairness to the suffering palestinians.
an appeal from the heart to end a suffering.
A fair go for palestine?.
to jolt the memory of usa and highlight her shortsightedness.
Once upon a time england was your enenemy and a mother country,
mexico,japan,korea,germany were to.
you had wars with them and now they are one of your most trusted
friends and valuable trading partners.
no one is an enemy or a friend for ever.
in the short history those nations mentioned above were your enemies and things do change.
now those nations are on a friendly terms with you if not outright friends.
israel is your protected pet and who knows in the near future
palestine might be.
A balanced fair outlook may be a desirable course,todays friends
may turn to be your future enemies.
It is a very easy to make enemies as a nation but much harder to make friends.
friends are rarer than enemies.
all this to highlight the need for you the great usa to be even handed and not become an obstacle to a palestinian aspiration.
with lots of respect usa and
to those that see history beyond the immediate.
ENNAHDEGAGE says
ENOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH
fully agree that the Palestinians should have an independent state promised by President Obama in 2011 it must maintain its
COUNTRY HOME says
VITO FROM US OF AMERICA WILL TAKE FUTURE PLAN OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD NOT IN THE ARAB WOLD ONLY.
TUNISIA had RELATIONSHIPS WITH USA BEFOR GERMANY .
IF THE ARAB CLOSE END THE ‘ECONOMIC RELATION WITH GERMANY YOU WILL SEE THE RESULT: BLACK OUT IN THE EXCHANGE TRADE MARKET.
-170 MILLARDEN USD ARAB CAPITAL IN GERMNY ALONE.
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Je m’adresse au Representant D’OBAMA et SON CONGRESS et non représentant des Américains.Je ne pense pas que les Americains sont d’accord politiquement avec ce qui se passe en PALESTINE.
Quand ces Politiciens d’Amérique soutiennent inconditionnellement ISRAEL sous leur VETO et n’egligent et meprisent completement le monde entier je ne vois vraiment ou va cet AMERIQUE avec un aveuglement et en négligeant son interet dans le monde ARABE sachant qu’elle ne peut plus compter sur les DIRIGEANTS FANTOCHES d’avant et la jeunesse qui prend les REINES.
Apres 20 ans de négociations qu’a fait accentuer les colonies dans les territoires occupés.