An Interesting Lecture

Last night the students were invited to a lecture in the "forum" to hear the Ambassador at large to the United Nations for the Palestinian government. He was very personable and the hour and a half was extremely informative. Dr. Whitchurch introduced him and explained due to Dr. Zomlot's demanding schedule, we were fortunate to have him as a guest lecturer.

Dr. Zomlot is Palestinian and was born in a tent in a refugee camp on the border of Palestine & Egypt. He said if you took one step further south, you would be in Egypt. He grew up in this camp and said there was a strong sense of community and this shaped who he is. He explained that he had 20 mothers watching over him and there was no concept of privacy but each woman had their role. At the age of 12 they left the camp and then went to high school education. To have status in life, he was taught to be either a doctor or an engineer. He went one year to medical school and hated it so that left the engineering option. However, after pursing that he wasn't happy so he shifted to economics as that really sparked his interest. Upon graduating from college, he never told his father he was changing careers. At graduation they announced those graduating in engineering and his name wasn't called. When he was given a diploma in Economics his father was shocked and angry. However, this has proven to be a very successful career.

He received his Master's degree at the University of London, School of Economics and also his PhD. He held teaching and research positions at the University of London and Harvard University. Dr. Somlot is co-founder and co-ordinator of the Palestine Strategy Group. and adjunct professor and co-chair of the School of Government at Birzeit University and served as a PLO representative to the UK from 2003 to 2008. His work experience includes the United Nations, the London School of Economics and the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute. Dr. Zomlut is married and has two children: a 4-1/2 boy and a 2 year old daughter and was so proud of his little family. Her explained that the goal is to have a peaceful existence for Palestinians in Jerusalem but they don't have the means and the tools to enforce a formula where Israel will take them seriously. They need better leadership and that is a serious problem.

Originally the Palestinians owned 78% of the land but now only have 22% and they are seeking freedom and dignity. He explained it is hard to give up privileges when you don't have the leadership you need. The Palestinians have faced some serious problems as the Jewish government had their people establish property within the Palestinian's area. In doing so, they have driven the Palestinians out of the area which was rightfully theirs. It's truly a very sad situation for the Palestinians but the Jews and the Mormons have also had the same type of experiences. Because Palestinians have no power to protect themselves, they have asked the world to help them without avail. They begged America to help them but that is as far as it ever got.

Their teenagers have little possibly of a good future so they join the PLO (Palestinain Liberation Organzaiton) and strike terror to the Jewish communities which are being built on their land. This has caused conflict between the two ethnic groups.

He compared the economics of the Jews to the Palestinians: an average annual income for Jews is $38,000 but only $2,000 for Palestinians. People want peace and they need better leadership to establish relationship of the state of 4.4 million people.

There are 90,000 Palestinians who are more than 60 years old and 80% of the Palestianin population are teenagers. A report published by the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics says even as the average Palestinian family decreases in size, the number of Palestinians living in both Israel and territories will exceed that of Jews in 2016.

Why can't this world learn to live in peace?