I grew up on the other side of the border, in Gaza and Cairo. Born and raised a Muslim at a time when President Nasser of Egypt was committed to unify the Arab world and destroy Israel. Egypt mobilized the Arabs in Gaza to start the 'Fedaeen' movement and make cross-border attacks into Israel.
My father who was a high-ranking Egyptian officer was killed as a result of these operations in Gaza. He was hailed as a national hero, a 'Shahid.' Nasser vowed that all of Egypt would take revenge. He made no mention of the heavy toll of death and destruction brought upon Israel.
After my father's death, our family was lavished with attention for a few weeks. However, widows of shahids, like my poor mother, were left behind holding the bag alone after experiencing the devastating blow to their families. Widows increased in numbers and had to deal with facing life without a husband -- in a culture that respects only families headed by men.
In Gaza elementary schools we learned the hatred of Jews, vengeance and retaliation. Peace with Israel was never mentioned as an option. Only the glory of battle was the ultimate honor. I was told not to take any candy from strangers since it could be a Jew trying to poison me. We learned fear of the word 'Jew', even though we never saw one. We were told Jews were devils and evil. Young girls in school daily recited Jihadist poetry while crying and pledging to give up their lives as martyrs.
I heard Egyptians criticize Palestinians for not resisting Israel enough and for going back to their work like nothing happened. Some even accused Palestinians of collaborating with the Zionists and that they were not trustworthy. In a culture based on pride and shame, Palestinians were shamed, blamed, pampered and manipulated by the rest of the Arab world. They were driven to get their honor back by rejecting and terrorizing Israel. Living in peace with Israel was only going to bring Palestinians more shame. . . . That is how many feel even today.
The infrastructure and economy in both the West bank and Gaza were neglected by Arabs. Palestinians were given weapons and rewarded for jihad and terrorism. . . . While the children of the oil-rich Arabs were living in luxury, Palestinian children were sacrificed as suicide bombers.

I lived in the Arab world until age 30, witnessing three major wars and the ever-growing influence of fundamentalist Islam. Freedom of speech was suppressed. Citizens were basically indifferent to the plight and oppression of other citizens. They developed a degree of comfort in being ruled by dictators. Rulers were glorified and treated as if they were Allah; even top generals kissed their hands and the poor citizens stepped on each other to get favoritism. Statues and pictures of dictators were everywhere---- songs praising them on every radio station. I witnessed oppression of women, honor killings of girls, female genital mutilation, and polygamy with its devastating effects on family dynamics.

I was happy finally to leave all this behind and move to America in 1978. Suddenly, I enjoyed freedom of religion and equality between classes and races. My first job was given to me by a Jewish small businessman whose parents were very kind and generous. I witnessed Christians and Jews practicing their faith peacefully. I could not help but contrast that with the hate, anti-Semitism and violence my culture advocated. Among my Jewish and Christian friends, I heard the words love, compassion, forgiveness and 'Shalom'. They eagerly and sincerely asked: What can we do to have peace with Arabs? I felt betrayed by my culture of origin for advocating violence and talking about peace only in the presence of Westerners. I realized that I had grown up behind a wall of fear, media lies, and deception that separated us from the rest of humanity. These were thoughts I did not yet dare to verbalize.

Nine years ago my bother's life was saved by Hadassah hospital right here in Jerusalem. In time of crisis, Arabs trust Jewish expertise. My whole family was grateful to the State of Israel and the doctors and nurses of Hadassah for taking the higher moral ground and choosing to do the right thing.

I visited the Middle East in the summer of 2001. I noticed a more radical and angry population. Many didn't know of Suddam's atrocities on his own citizens and fellow Muslims. They didn't know and maybe did'nt care about the slaughter in Southern Sudan and Algeria. Arab media managed to keep them misinformed about Muslim against Muslim crimes.
Life in Egypt became even more difficult. I saw pollution, hazardous materials and garbage along the banks of the Nile. I saw extreme poverty, unemployment, high inflation, widespread corruption and mismanagement. But none of this mattered to Arab media- - - all they talked about was accusing Israel and America of causing all problems.

We returned to the US on September 10, 2001. The next morning the whole world changed. I knew, the very instant I saw the second plane hit the twin towers that jihad had come to America. To my horror, the country that had given me shelter, protection and hope was under a monstrous attack from my own culture of origin. America is not just a military Superpower, but also a moral power. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, terrorists were called martyrs as Arabs celebrated in the streets.
I immediately telephone to a number of Muslim friends. Without exception they all made excuses for terrorism, denied the responsibility of Muslim culture and concluded that 9/11 was an Israeli conspiracy. These were not radical fundamentalists, but were moderate, educated and well traveled Muslims.
I began to reflect upon the conditions of the society in which I grew up, where generation after generation of Arabs were kept in the dark about this great nation- - - Israel. I understood how a psychological wall had been erected to keep Arabs blind as prisoners of misinformation. The Arab population has become one of the most indoctrinated in modern history. Arab propaganda machines consistently deepen the fear and hate in the minds of Arabs with regard to Israel; a tiny country of six million that is the object of a hateful obsession by a 1.2 billion Muslims.
Jihad often starts within Muslim society rather than the outside non-Muslim world. It often turns inwards against moderate Muslims and governments. Those who do not practice Islam enough become a target of Jihad by the radicals. The result is domestic turmoil, political assassinations, fatwas and terror. Internal Jihad is thus a constant danger from radicals within Muslim society, who terrorize to enforce Islamic law.
Arab governments are constantly struggling to maintain internal stability and unity- - - An external non-Muslim enemy is thus essential to rescue Muslim governments. They would rather export popular and well connected jihadists such as Osama Bin Laden and Ayman El Zawahri rather than put them in jail. It is the convenient way to redirect the violence to the outside world rather than have internal civil war.
The infidels on the outside then become extremely useful. They say infidels are out there, not in here; Israel, then became the most useful enemy. And now, they are looking for an even larger enemy- - America.

Moslem clergy have failed miserably in stabilizing their society. Instead of being a source of comfort and wisdom, they have become a source of hate, rage and subversion. They work the worshipers into a frenzy of anger and paranoia against the West, the United States and Israel.
I remember, as a young woman, visiting a Christian friend in Cairo during the Friday prayers, and we both heard the verbal attacks on Christians and Jews from the loudspeakers outside the mosque. We heard "May God destroy the infidels and the Jews, the enemies of God. We are not to befriend them or make treaties with them". We also heard worshipers responding "Amen." My friend looked scared, and I was ashamed. That was when I first realized that something was very wrong in the way my religion was taught and practiced.
These preachers are responsible for turning vulnerable young men into terrorists. They have no respect for the legitimacy of any government, and no government is 'Moslem enough' for them. Arab governments are all struggling to stay in power. Always under the threat of a coup d' ?tat. In this dynamic, only tyrannical governments can survive.
Rather than take responsibility and reform, these preachers of hate accuse Israel of wild conspiracies and for being behind Muslim terrorism. They'd rather lie and accuse Israel of these evil deeds than take responsibility. They call themselves men of Allah, but shamelessly bear false witness against their neighbor Israel. In Islam this is called "Fetnah". To accuse Israelis of conspiracy behind 9/11 is not merely an anti-Semitic discredited lie, but it is a major sin committed by men of God. The way the Jews are being treated in the Middle East is tragic and a disgrace! These lies must end and reformation must begin.
However, reforming the way Islam is being taught for many generations is not going to be easy since change must come from within. So far, Muslims seem to be concerned with reformation only in the eyes of the West. There is a huge well funded PR campaign by Muslims after 9/11. Their top concern is with the IMAGE, just the image, and reputation of Islam rather than confronting their home-grown terrorists.
The same people who say Islam is a religion of peace are not offended by the hate speech of preachers and terrorist defenders. Most Muslims passively ignore the actions of terrorists. Rather than working to rid Islam of those who give it a bad name, they continue blaming the West and Israel. No demonstrations by any Muslim groups against the barbaric beheading of Daniel Pearl, Paul Johnson, or lately Margaret Hassan--- A British woman who dedicated 30 years of her life helping Iraqis.

I had to break my silence After 9/11. I began writing and speaking. A few other Arabs and Muslims also found the strength, commitment and honesty in their hearts to speak out in support of the US and Israel. I also salute the honorable kings of Jordan, the late President Anwar El Sadat and other brave men who worked hard for peace. They became an inspiration to all of us. It is not easy to speak out in Arab culture.
I was privileged to meet with many people across America. I shared tears and embraces with many women and young students. Americans are simply puzzled by Muslim culture and often ask me: Why are Muslims not outraged over 9/11? Why are "moderate" Muslims not speaking out?
At one speaking event I met a woman about my age. We looked familiar and slowly it dawned on us that we had both been students at the American University in Cairo at the same time. At the time she dared not admit to being Jewish. Shortly before graduating, she was forced to leave Egypt along with her husband-who was tortured for 3 years in Egyptian prisons after the1967 War for simply being a Jewish man. I never knew there were Jews in Egypt at the time.
I began receiving many emails from Moslems who agreed with my opinions and said they wanted to live in peace with Israel but too afraid to speak out. I realized there was a need for a forum for them to exchange ideas and speak freely, either anonymously or openly. And so I founded the website Arabs for Israel. Just recently a Palestinian woman now living in the US, who shares my views, sent an email which I posted on the website. Out of habit I protected her by signing it, "Anonymous." She wrote back: "No, put my name on it," she said. "My full name."
The Muslim world is leaving the burden of eliminating terrorism to the victims of terror, the US and Israel, instead of cleansing the mess ourselves.
It is time for us Arabs to set ourselves free from the taboos against self criticism. We need to clear our confusion between the idealism of Islam and the reality of our actions and our teachings.
I am cautiously optimistic that the good side of human nature will win. I see more and more journalists from Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia speaking out. Supporting Israel does not take away from our love of the Muslim and Arab culture. We need to change the paradigm of how we view Israel. Many Arabs cannot understand how I can do both, support Israel and still love my culture of origin. To them I say YES, it can be done. It does not have to be black or white or one at the expense of the other. If we just take the hate out of the equation we are left with love 'or normal' for both cultures. SIMPLE..
Radical Islam and hate speech are destroying the moral fabric of Muslim society. . . No religion should end its services by the horrible prayers to "Destroy the infidels" and no people should be called "enemies of God".
Muslims around the world should be up in arms against the terrorists who gave Islam a bad name. The culture of Jihad is in a head on collision with the rest of the world and many believe we are already in WWIII.
A Reformation movement from within the Muslim world is desperately needed. There is plenty of virtue and goodness in Islam that should be uplifted. It is the duty of good Muslims to bring out the compassion and tolerance in Islam not only verbally but also through their actions.
We need a Middle East culture that reflect the diversity of its people and that has respect and equal rights for all --- Jews, Christians and Muslims. The people of Israel contribute greatly to the richness of Mideast culture and should be welcomed by its neighbors to flourish and co-exist in peace.
Moslems could show the world that the Holy Land can be made truly holy by giving the Jewish people the respect they deserve in their homeland. Having seen Israel now for the first time, I am even more committed to ArabsforIsrael. I am amazed and in awe of Israel's resilience despite all the adversity. You are an inspiration to the world.
I pray that the next Islamic conferences, instead of the usual bashing of Israel, we hear prayers for peace with Israel. This will not be a sign of weakness of Islam, but a sign of strength. What grace and elevation to the stature and prestige of Islam that would be!
Prime Minister Golda Meier once said that the Middle East will see peace when Arabs love their children more than they hate Israel. I want to tell the former Prime Minister, God Bless her soul, there is a considerable and growing number of Arab women and men, who not only love their children, but also love Israel's children.
Thank you.

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