Finding a resolution to a seemingly impossible task may seem daunting.† However, it is possible, and we must work towards a solution.† The Israeli-Palestinian conflict demands a resolution for peace.
First, we must ease up on letting medical and construction workers into Gaza and the West Bank.† We’re witnessing what happens when an animal is backed into a corner.† The only reason that people are aligning with Hamas is because Hamas, through radically anti-Israel policies, is promising better conditions for their people.† Once the people of Gaza start living at an acceptable standard ó let’s start with getting them enough clean water to survive the year ó then they can start approaching their political decision-making with a more reasonable head.† Unfortunately, there will always be extremists who will blame Israel for everything.† Once reasonable conditions for living have been set, though, these people will start decreasing.
As citizens of the United States, we have been blessed with the freedom of speech, a right that constantly sets us apart from other countries.† We can attack any president’s policies without fear of a knock on the door in the middle of the night to whisk us away.
We need to start doing that more when it comes to Israeli or Palestinian policies that get in the way of peace talks or substantial augmentation of living conditions.† We must be aware of the fact that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. The U.S. seems to automatically renew it’s multi-billion dollar commitment to Israel, and we should start questioning those decisions more vigorously before we hand over now more than three billion dollars annually.† We should speak up if we hear about problems. King Abdullah II of Jordan the U.S.’s biggest ally in the Middle East expressed concern about a war breaking out if peace talks weren’t continued.† We need to expect peace talks to grow, not break down.† Many have resigned to the “oil and water” theory, which states the people of Israel and Palestine will never make peace.† These defeatist attitudes only impede progress and need to stop.
Most importantly we need to start being aware of these issues ourselves.† Due to the complications of the crisis and the context of today, not many understand or sympathize with the plight of these turban-covered men speaking in languages we misinterpret and praying to a God we associate with evil.
I have been to Jerusalem and parts of Palestine.† I have seen the beauty of the land, and why seemingly everyone wants to fight for it.† Going inside the Dome of the Rock ó the most religious place in Islam after Mecca and Medina ó is breathtaking, and walking the trail of Jesus’ crucifixion is haunting.† I’ve also witnessed the demonization that comes with entering such hallowed land – interrogation, strip searching and in one of the scariest moments of my life, being denied entry into Jerusalem.† The level of distrust towards any group is alarming and in no way conducive to prolonged peace talks.
In the middle of Jerusalem, there’s the Wailing Wall, a remnant† of the† ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple, one of the most important sites in Judaism.† Every day, people wait in line to deposit prayers written on tiny slips of paper.† I can only imagine how many of them pray for peace.† We must start taking action, though, so those prayers can be answered.