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T he window of opportunity to restart talks between the Israelis and Palestinians is still cracked open. It behooves both sides to respond, however slim the prospects amid escalating unrest. Israel can't continue its military occupa- tion and settlement expansion in the West Bank interminably. And the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) must ponder its anti-Zionist mindset and the hatred taught in its schools, mosques, summer camps and TV shows. In his Oct. 1 speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended a political olive branch to P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas. Noting he was shot during Operation Isotope in Tel Aviv in 1972 and his brother, Yoni, died during Operation Entebbe in Uganda in 1976, Netanyahu declared, "Those who know the price of war can best appreciate what the blessings of peace would mean — for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren. I am prepared to imme- diately, immediately, resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority without any preconditions whatsoever." That's a sterling offer from a prime minis- ter who has foundered at diplomacy. The day before Netanyahu spoke, Abbas, who also chairs the Palestine Liberation Organization, the governing body in West Bank areas controlled by the P.A., seem- ingly spurned seeking a negotiated bilateral agreement, telling the U.N.: "It is no longer useful to waste time in negotiations for the sake of negotiations." The United Nations recognizes "Palestine" as a nonvoting observer state. Abbas is pur- suing increased recognition of the "state of Palestine" beyond the current 137 countries, "international efforts to oversee an end to the occupation" and "international protec- tion for the Palestinian people in accordance with international humanitarian law." Still, he revealed a glint of hope in appealing to the Israeli people for peace "based on justice, securi- ty and stability for all." He affirmed support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on pre-1967 borders and a time frame to end the "occupation" — both certainly preconditions. Clearly feeling the tug of Fatah hardliners, Abbas foresees "two states" emerging via international affirma- tion. If pushed hard enough by the U.S., U.N. and Arab League, Abbas would be compelled to genuinely negotiate once more in pursuit of statehood. Abbas had the gall to lament the Palestinian yearning for statehood going back to the U.N.'s founding in 1945. The Arabs rejected the 1947 U.N. Partition Plan for dividing British-run Palestine Mandate while the Jews accepted it. Consequently, the Jews of Palestine, part of which became Israel, have been forced to repeatedly defend their ancestral homeland from Arab invad- ers. And Palestinian Arabs have rejected all negotiated possibilities toward an indepen- dent, demilitarized Palestinian state. CAMERA, the U.S.-based Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, gives historical context: "The fun- damental fact remains that had the Arabs and the Palestinians accepted the Partition Resolution and not violated the U.N. Charter by attacking Israel, there would be a Palestinian state today next to Israel, and there would not have been a single Palestinian refugee." Ordinary Palestinians don't deserve the misery, indoctrination and dashed dreams imposed by ruthless leaders. Statehood would work only if built upon a "culture of peace and coexistence between our people and in our region," as Abbas unwittingly put it at the U.N. His Fatah leadership, despite inherent corruption, has been able to install some governmental infrastructure and institutions. And it grudgingly has developed some economic, water and security arrangements with Israel. Yet Fatah's inviting Hamas, a terrorist group, into a desired national unity govern- ment is senseless. So is unilaterally rejecting the 1993 Oslo Accords. So is not denouncing Fatah's terrorist wing, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The day after Abbas addressed the U.N., a Brigades cell orchestrated the mur- der of a young Israeli couple driving home to a West Bank settlement; the couple's four kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 9 years, were in the car but unhurt. The Palestinian sovereignty and the regional peace and prosperity imaged by Abbas can best be achieved through the cracked-open window of opportunity, through direct, unconditional negotiations punctuating not xenophobia, but such final- status issues as borders, security, settlements, refugees, Jerusalem, mutual recognition, water rights and holy sites. * I n the past few months, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has undertaken a national initiative to get mayors from cities around America to issue a universal statement against anti-Semitism, including from cities in the Detroit metropolitan area and other parts of Michigan. Approximately 300 mayors have issued the statement from municipalities in almost all 50 states and the District of Columbia, representing more than 71 million people. The statement is a strong condemnation against anti-Semitism. Its highlights include concern over the alarming spread of anti- Semitism around the world, especially in Europe, and from which the United States is not immune; anti-Semitism not being just an attack on Jews, but also an assault on the core values of any democratic and pluralistic society; condemnation of anti-Jewish hatred in all forms; rejecting political excuses for anti-Semitism; supporting government efforts to eradicate anti- Semitism; and anti-Sem- itism being incompatible with fundamental demo- cratic values. AJC is now expanding this initiative to mayors throughout Europe, with additional commitments from those European mayors of pursuing a zero-tolerance policy on anti-Semitism; ensuring that anti-Semitic incidents are thoroughly investigated; and assuring the physical security and safety of their Jewish communities. It is our hope that this will have an impact on combating anti-Semitism. At a minimum, it is a high-profile and strong start to addressing this problem. Our AJC offices in Paris, Berlin and other parts of the world are actively pursuing other efforts on the ground to combat anti-Semitism. There is also something that each Jewish person can do right here at home to help in this effort. Each Jewish person should see himself or herself as an ambassador of the Jewish people. Our interactions should not give any person a reason to believe that there could ever be any justification for anti- Semitism. Whether we realize it or not, each non- Jewish person with whom a Jewish person has contact could very well view all Jews through the lens with which they have that one interaction. If each such interaction cre- ates a positive feeling, perhaps we can each in our own small way start to combat anti- Semitism on a grassroots and eventually global basis. The best way to be treated like a mentsh is to be a mentsh. * Todd R. Mendel is president of the American Jewish Committee, Detroit Regional Office. viewpoints » S e n d l e t t e r s t o : l e t t e r s @ t h e j e w i s h n e w s . c o m 10 October 8 • 2015 Todd R. Mendel guest column AJC Unites Mayors Against Anti-Semitism essay Talks Only Way To Solve Israeli-Palestinian Crisis community view Importance Of Music Education Helen Kerwin I love music, the performing and the teaching. I have been studying since I was 8 and teaching others since I was 14. My bachelor's degrees are in piano, education and humani- ties, and I've played for Jewish composers including Copland, Julius Chajes and Elaine Lebenbom. The foundation for music study is critical. Not everyone teaches theory, history and jazz basics in a "fun" way. Often I hear, "When my child gets serious, I will call you." By then it is too late. Music stores and music teachers know qualified teachers. Look at the website Music Teachers National Association for teachers as well. Music study is important for life skills: creativity, discipline, doing four things at one time, concen- trating, taking orders, following directions, working independently, making choices, developing self- confidence, developing personality and humor — initiative, too. When employers are asked what skills they need in potential hires, they say relationship-building, teamwork, creativity, transforming, cultural sensitivity — all skills piano study addresses. Music lessons may be a precursor to a future job. Music is physical: using muscles, fingers, arm, feet to pedal, etc. Music is corroborative. Children express ideas about fingering, dynamics, style and pieces to learn. They learn to make decisions on the spot, to incorporate many com- plex things at once. They also see music as a reflection of life's happi- ness and sadness through music and learn to choose certain music to suit them. Parents must see the need and have the patience to allow for music study even when children do not practice. The one-on-one relationship of a private music lesson is great, but so is group learning. I'm planning a series of five-week group classes for young children that will teach basic concepts necessary. Piano instruc- tion should be available to all. * For information on piano lessons, call Helen Kerwin at (248) 353-6245 or send her an email message at HKerwin@comcast.net. Robert Sklar Contributing Editor