An ‘unhealthy’ candidate

Passaic County Democrats are to be applauded for dumping a Lebanese-American freeholder candidate who seemed unable to condemn unequivocally the actions of Palestinian suicide bombers.

Businessman Sami Merhi insists his quotes were taken out of context but somehow seemed unable to convince some of his friends and political allies, including U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Dist. 13) and New Jersey Assembly deputy speaker Al Steele (D-Dist. 35), that he was a viable candidate for public office.

As Steele told this newspaper, “This matter took place in 2002, and he should not have run for office and done nothing for reconciliation. He should long ago have reached out to a community of people who were offended by what he said, whether his intent was to offend them or not. I’ve gotten to know him — he’s a good person — but I think his statements make him unhealthy for political office.”

Steele’s comments encapsulate the troubling aspects of this whole sorry story. Arab Americans are suggesting that a double standard was applied to Merhi because of his ethnicity, while Jewish leaders say it was question of what he said, not who he was. But if there is one point of agreement, it is that there is a gulf between the two communities. Jews have made overtures, often coming back to say that the other side does not understand the real security needs of Israel. Arabs and Muslims say that Jews have made the hurdle too high, interpreting disagreement as support for terrorism.

Can that gulf be bridged? We think so, but it will demand courage, honesty, and forgiveness on both sides. Merhi should have sought to bridge the gulf years ago — before he forced his party into taking the only right action.

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