Maysa Gayyusi comments on our Letter to Mr. Obama

Maysa Gayyusi, a dynamic Palestinian community leader, sent us this letter expressing her renewed faith in a potential independent Palestinian state after the election of Mr.Obama.

"Dear Elza,

You said it all to President-elect Obama. You have no idea how high the expectations are among young Palestinians. Words that Obama said that "we can, and we will" inspired many youth here to see the light at the end of the tunnel; and to realize that change is doable.

I was in NY, in Time Square when the result of the elections were revealed, you have no idea how loud I screamed cheering for Obama. My friends told me the next day, "Maysa, you acted like a crazy kid. You jumbled and yelled". I replied why not, A drowning person will not think twice before grabing a stick handed to rescue him. This is how I feel, young Palestinians as well as Israelis are desperately looking for the day when they can leave the conflict behind and look for better future.

My brother kept asking me for an Obama shirt, saying "Maysa I don't want anything from you except a shirt with Obama photo." I brought him one that he wears to impress his friends!

I hope that your words will find their way to Mr. Obama, and that he will put the Israeli- Palestinians issue among his priorities.

Let me know how I can help,

Regards,

Maysa "

This is the letter that we sent to President-Elect Obama: http://humanemergencemiddleeast.org/open-letter-to-barack-obama.php

Maysa Gayyusi has been working with the Center For Human Emergence Middle East on the Build Palestine Initiative since 2005.