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Lieberman heckled at Arab American political conferenceControversy over Middle East conflict
DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman was heckled Friday by several Arab Americans angry with his support for Israel as he spoke about restoring peace and trust in the Middle East. "What about the wall?" shouted several attending the Arab American Institute leadership conference as they interrupted Lieberman's speech. The reference was to Israel's plan to build a barrier that juts into the West Bank Lieberman, who is Jewish, insisted the wall is temporary. "I regret the confiscations," said the Connecticut senator, referring to the Palestinian land that has been taken in the effort to build the wall. Israel insists the barrier is essential to prevent suicide attacks and its construction would help create an atmosphere conducive to peace talks. The Palestinians call the project a flagrant grab for land before talks on the borders of a Palestinian state. "It has nothing to do with security. It has to do with stealing from the Palestinians," shouted Greta Berlin during a question-and-answer session after the speech. Berlin, a Los Angeles resident, had just returned from the West Bank, where she was working with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group. Several of the Democratic hopefuls planned to address the group over a two-day period. Lieberman, who spoke first, acknowledged his religious beliefs in trying to reach out to Arab Americans, an important voting constituency in several swing states. He said they gathered Friday, "Not as Muslims and Christians and Jews, or as people of Arab descent or European descent or African or Asian descent. We are proud to be all those things. But we are more than that. We are Americans. We are children of the same God and of the same father, Abraham. We are brothers and sisters." Lieberman blamed the lack of progress toward peace between Israelis and Palestinians on the failures of the Bush administration. He received applause for some of his comments, including his calls for tolerance and unity. Mark Brewer, executive director of the Michigan Democratic Party, gave Lieberman credit for appearing. "This is really a genuine attempt on his part to engage in a dialogue about very divisive issues," Brewer said. Another Democratic candidate, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, said the United States must use its considerable influence with Israel to ask it stop building walls and settlements, a remark that drew applause. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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