Diplomacy: No thanks with class

January 15, 6:39 PMForeign Policy ExaminerAimee Kligman

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 There is no dearth of news regarding world protest vis-a-vis the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza as a result of the Israeli invasion. President Chavez expelled the country's Israeli ambassador, and a few days later, his Bolivian counterpart,  Evo Morales did likewise with his ambassador. In Kuwait, an Islamist MP rhetorically suggested that the Arab League be moved to Caracas from Cairo, as an indictment of the Mubarak's response to the war in Gaza, calling Chavez more Arab than the Arabs. Protests have been staged worldwide, and today the EU decided to defer upgrading ties with Israel in view of the tragic circumstances in the area. 

One response to the Arab-Israeli conflict was particularly striking. On January 15th, 2009, Op-Ed News published an article by Meryl Ann Butler which talked about Greek Parliament member Theodoros Pangalos' (photo) reaction to the current situation in Gaza. Ms. Butler's article is titled "Model of Diplomacy: "A Greek Returning Gifts" which you can read below in its entirety:

Theodoros Pangalos, a 70-year-old Member of the Greek Parliament, received three bottles of wine as a holiday gift, with best wishes from Israel’s Ambassador, Ali Giachia. (Wikipedia lists him as Ali Yihiye.)

In a Trojan horse reversal, Pangalos returned this gift and thanked the Ambassador with the following letter:

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

Thank you for the 3 bottles of wine that you sent me as season’s greetings. I wish to you, your family and everybody in the Embassy a happy new year. Good health and progress to you all.

Unhappily, I noticed that the wine you have sent me has been produced in the Golan Heights. I have been taught since I was very young not to steal and not to accept products of theft. So I cannot possibly accept this gift and I must return it back to you.

As you know, your country occupies illegally the Golan Heights which belongs to Syria, according to the International Law and numerous decisions of the International Community.

I take the opportunity to express my hope that Israel will find security within its internationally recognized borders and the terrorist activities against Israel territory by Hamas or anybody else will be contained and made impossible, but I also hope that your government will cease practicing the policy of collective punishment which was applied on a mass scale by Hitler and his armies.

Actions such as those of these days of the Israel military in Gaza remind the Greek people of holocausts such as in Kalavrita or Doxato or Distomo and certainly in the ghetto of Warsaw. 

With these thoughts allow me to express to you my best wishes for you, the Israeli people and all the people of our region of the world.

Athens, 30/12/2008

Theodoros Pangalos, Member of Parliament (Greece)

Wikipedia tells us that the Greek name Θε?δωρος (Theod?ros) means "gift of god" (from the Greek words Θε?ς, (theos) "God" and δ?ρον (d?ron) "gift".  Pangalos’ words seem to have a gift of divine diplomacy. 

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist and author of articles on a variety of subjects, including the book, 90-MInute Quilts: 15+ Projects You Can Stitch in an Afternoon. She notes that "quilts aren't called 'comforters' for nothing!" www.90minutequilts.com