Guest Voices: Israelis, Palestinians Both Want Peace

Israelis, Palestinians Both Want Peace

I have been involved for near two decades in efforts at reconciliation between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. I believe strongly that a negotiated resolution of the conflict is possible, even though the prospects for major progress are not auspicious just now. It is in the interest of both peoples to come to a peaceful and lasting solution of their differences, in the form of the creation of a Palestinian state with the capacity to engage in nation-building toward a sovereign entity that has strong democratic institutions.

It is important to understand that, on the Israeli side, the division between those who favor a negotiated solution leading to the creation of a Palestinian state and those who do not is not a division between antiwar and hawk elements, but rather a disagreement over what steps would best protect Israeli security. The peace camp includes many former senior officials in the Israeli military and intelligence communities who believe that Israel’s future is most endangered by the failure to resolve the continuing conflict.

Currently, there are multiple barriers to progress. The governance of both polities is weak and divided. Prime Minister Olmert, while far stronger than he was following the Lebanese war, is still buffeted by corruption investigations, and President Abbas is not even the functioning head of state for a major portion of the territory that is theoretically part of his responsibility. President Bush has been less than helpful for the past seven years, and given that track record, his recent efforts are less than promising.

I like many others believe that the involvement of the United States and other nations is important toward getting serious negotiations started. But the war in Iraq damages the credibility of the United States to be an honest broker. President Bush has from time to time uttered words of encouragement and sent his Secretaries of State and others on missions to the region, but the one consistent pattern through this period has been a consistent failure to be consistently involved. Secretary Rice is in the midst of another of these nice-sounding peace initiatives but, especially given that the days of the current Administration are (thankfully) waning, it is difficult to believe that anything will come of it.

We need an American President who will use the power and leverage of his or her office to bring the parties to the negotiating table and make use of all available carrots and sticks to encourage and push them to a peace agreement. American leadership, exercised in diplomatic concert with the European Community, the Russians, and the United Nations can be powerful and important. Economic incentives can make a great difference, and the offer of a multilateral peacekeeping presence might help, too.

Reconciliation efforts between Israelis and Palestinians at human and community levels are also important. The campaign of Sari Nusseibeh and Ami Ayalon to get grassroots support for negotiations is one good example. They and others have set out to get broad-based expressions of encouragement for the peace process and have added to the sense that the desire for peace is not simply a naive or misguided effort among elites. The various initiatives to demonstrate a tangible desire for progress hardly constitute a tidal wave as yet, but they are worthwhile, and all parties will feel greater urgency and more promise in sitting down to negotiate if there is an expressed sense of support for those purposes.

Of course the barriers are not merely matters of the moment or even of the last six-plus years. On the Israeli side there are sizable groups who are deeply committed to holding on to the West Bank – some because they believe Israel’s security depends on it, some because they believe the Bible commands it, and some who combine the two beliefs. On the Palestinian side there are people who oppose the existence of the state of Israel, and would like to see the Jewish people driven into the sea. The strengthened position of religious zealots on both sides is a destructive force.

It is important to understand that both sides have engaged in actions that constitute obstacles to progress. We all know of the terrorism that has emanated from the Palestinian side. As Israel is a small country, nearly everyone has either lost a family member or knows someone who was killed by a terrorist. Yet there have been civilians killed on the Palestinian side as well. And the settlements that Israel has built on the West Bank are a significant barrier to a peace agreement. The Israeli military checkpoints on the West Bank – perhaps necessary in some number for security – number some 546 in total, not even including border checkpoints. Sad to say, people on both sides who oppose the peace process have timed attacks and provocations to occur at key junctures in negotiations or just as an important meeting was about to occur. The phrase “improvised explosive devise,” or IED, is a recent addition to our vocabulary. It has been a staple for a long time, both literally and figuratively, on the road to peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Yet there has been substantial change over the past twenty years. In Israel it was considered radical to call for negotiations that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. And it was courageous for a leader on the Palestinian side to call for recognition of the existence of the state of Israel. Things have changed markedly. Polling data in Israel shows a clear majority in favor of a Palestinian state, although there are certainly differences within the Jewish community about the contours and characteristics of the state. President Abbas and other leaders openly espouse negotiations that would lead to a two-state solution. It is a mistake to underestimate the positive changes that have occurred.

I have spent considerable time over the years in talking with people on both sides. There is hatred among some, for sure. But there is much good will as well, and certainly a feeling (however unexpressed) among huge numbers of people that they would just like to live their daily lives in peace. I continue to believe the achievement of that aim is attainable.

Religious leaders around the world can play a role is supporting the substantial elements on both sides who want peace. Cooperation among like-minded people on both sides has been a feature of the process for a long time. Nonetheless, conscious efforts to increase activities directed at reconciliation would be worthwhile and helpful. So would the election of an American President who would make a major effort, as President Clinton did, to help move things along.
No one has special knowledge of what it would take to bring peace. There have been too many false steps and too much failure for anyone to say confidently what would move things forward. What one can say, though, is that politics, economics, religion, and human relationships all have a role to play. In all those realms current efforts are not getting us to where we need to go.

Peter Edelman is professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.

Comments

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CTCNL,

You support immoral behaviour:

1)theft of land.
2)stealing oil wealth that does not belong to you.

With respect to the Native Americans. Absolutely!

I am prepared to return my land, and/or begging forgiveness and/or paying my share of the debt owed.

Jesus would not have killed God's children like we (and many others) did in our theft of land and genocide of nations.

I would try to do what Jesus would do. Make it right.

E.g.we can return the western half of South Dakota or we can negotiate a fair value of compensation. I suspect there is no price the tribal council would be allowed to accept by the tribal members (exactly as in the case of the Palestinians for their stolen land).

That's just the beginning.

Posted by: George | November 20, 2007 8:51 PM
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It's amazing what kind of whack jobs post messages on this thread. I have to hand it to you Mr. Edelman, you've written a nice piece about a very serious predicament. I'm not Jewish or Muslim, and am, quite honestly very fatigued with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however I like the context in which you put your opinion. I imagine that you're a Jew because you seem to know so much about the Israeli position on these matters. It's encouraging to hear a Jew that doesn't come across sounding racist and/or insular. One of the biggest turn offs for folks like myself, are that Jews tend to come across as "know it alls", yet when the rubber hits the road, the Jews have one of the most troublesome problems anybody would ever want...land issues.

Posted by: ribs.corn | November 20, 2007 6:44 AM
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George,

I stand by my solutions to the Palestine/Israel conflict.

And who did the Islamic Palestinians steal the land from? Jews. Who did the Jews steal it from? the Hittites, Canannites and Philistines? The DNA from descendents of these "tribes" can be used to determine there exact origin. https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/

Send National Geographic $99.99 and a mouth swab and you just might qualify as being an owner of Palestine or Israeli beach front property.

And if you own land in the USA and are not of American Indian heritage, I trust you are ready to move back to your original homeland after giving back "your" property to your local Indian tribes.

Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | November 20, 2007 2:57 AM
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CTCNL:

THAT's what you learned from history? science?

You are what I described earlier:

Ignorant.
History does not teach, even remotely, what you write. DNA testing? Please. The problem is your recent acts of immorality and not the identification of ancient inhabitants.

Immoral.
Spending land titled to and stolen from Palestinians. Spending oil wealth that does not belong to you - again theft.

Stupid. (Do you live in an informational vacuum?)
Your proposed solution "Doing these three things should finally end this significantly stupid conflict" .......speaks for itself - doesn't it?

Posted by: George | November 20, 2007 12:39 AM
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History being history teaches us that we should be giving Israel and Palistine back to the first hominids i.e. Hittites and Canaanites and whomever who occupied the area some 40,000-60,000 years ago. DNA analyses will help us locate the descendents of these lost tribes.

Barring that solution:

Israel should stay within the borders of the UN 1948 accords that formed the State of Israel. The walls currently being built to separate the combatants should be built on these borders. UN troops should guard these walls.

Jerusalem should be made into a international city under the control of the UN.

The vast oil wealth being accumulated by Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia should be used to aid the Palestinians in recovery and education. Doing these three things should finally end this significantly stupid conflict since the flaws in the religions of both parties vitiates any claims to any land or god preference.

Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | November 20, 2007 12:04 AM
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Peace? No. Two reasons:

1) Israel was formed illegally (do you really want to get into that?).

No justice - no peace.

Justice is long beyond the pale.

Ergo, no peace - ever.

2) Nationalism.

So extraordinarily and tragically sad.

The heart of this horrible tragedy?

1) the immorality, stupidity, and immorality of the US and the UK governments with the support of their immoral, stupid, and ignorant christian citizens.

Why didn't they take in the Hebrews?

Any moron would have seen this coming - would have known that they were mid-wife to a slaughter.

The footnote will read: "Truman trying to cash Balfour's check with the blood of Palestinians and Hebrews alike".

Posted by: George | November 19, 2007 11:47 PM
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CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED....be it not time THE CHRISTIAN be dropped,the days of an SERVANT to the christian fraternity be long gone, now your own master holding the keys to your own destiny,the keys of course, heart as brain, imparting, experience, understanding, reveiling the very essence of creation, thus . .. . THE LIBERATOR . .. .

Posted by: ananymous | November 19, 2007 8:13 PM
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SARI.... you having an good sense of humour...God Bless xxX

Posted by: lucifer | November 19, 2007 7:27 PM
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Peter,
Israelis are not neighbors to the Palestinians-they are occupiers and tormentors.U want security for the occupiers and tormentors but absolutely no mention of security for the victimized,the occupied and the tormented Palestinians.

With the most sophisticated arsenal of American supplied conventional weapons and a monopoly of a formidable nuclear arsenal,occupation of all of Arab historic Palestine,Syrian and Lebanese land-and u are still talking about israeli security!!! Thieves occupying a stolen house-can never feel safe no matter how much weapons they have.

Posted by: Asim MA, San Antonio | November 19, 2007 7:01 PM
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Thank you Dr. Edelman. You try to portray the legitimate aspirations of both sides from a position of hope. I, in turn, hope you are correct. To those who write back and spew anti-Israel hatred, Dr. Edelman clearly portrays the Israeli concern... security. You cannot ignore the Israeli concerns just as you cannot ignore the Palestinian concern for territorial contiguity. Perhaps you would prefer someone just ignore the Israeli concerns and write some anti-Israel diatribe that validates your bias, where Israel exists as the evil zionist agressor state and nothing else matters. If there is ever going to be peace and a two state solution, the concerns of both sides need to be honored and respected. The Israelis know this. The Palestinians know this. Clearly, Dr. Edelman knows this... the rest of you on this blog spewing blind rhetorical hatred should understand this fundamental truth. You do nothing for the cause of peace otherwise.

Posted by: Sari | November 19, 2007 5:05 PM
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Such a close conflict of lasting bitterness, it not only with difficulty but be nigh impossible ISRAEL as PALESTINIAN, PEOPLE'S getting out of the situation without an third party, that be of sound mind, which hold as bring negotiations to fruitation.The problem at present that USA seen as being the key which unlocking the conflict. Yet, the USA in self interest, only wish keeping ISRAEL as an military base, maintaining control of the Middle East, they doing so having in turn allowed the extremists in ISRAEL ever expanding ISRAEL's borders with settlements on Palestinian land,where the complaints by Palestinian people be treated in the most appalling manners,where there being complete abandonment of law, justice an mere farce, ISRAEL allowed to behave as please, such in turn giving birth to PALESTINIAN extremist.Thus the situation but spirals downwards into endless suffering, grief, death, injustice, destruction... .. . The only solution be that the third party dealing in negotiation being not the USA. but such made up of members of the UN... .. . That both ISRAELI as PALESTINIAN extremists come to their senses work together bringing an end to this coflict.If one cannot open heart to brother as sister then it being nigh impossible to open it unto the ALMIGHTY as ALLAH ... .. . Spiritual Development for all be held up, and if I may remind all, SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT unto SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT such being the true purpose of life... .. . The human form, through heart as brain, having the ability of understanding as experiencing, the very essence of creation... .. .It vital we return to the purpose of life, not lost in endless, pointless conflict, which benefit none... .. .It seems through climate change, the planet being for a time unable to sustain human life, we shall have to vacate it for an period till re-healing, thus Earth in time enabled again in sustaining human life... .. .We should use the time having left wisely in ending conflict, enjoying the wonderious gift of "Mother Earth", being enabled to do so by the human form, the jewel in the crown of creation... .. . ALLAH be PRAISED GOD is GREAT... .. .

Posted by: ananymous | November 19, 2007 3:13 PM
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It appears another "prophet" is in our midst. Oh, what great religion does he/she represent? Oh, what great god has bestowed upon him such blessing and wisdom??

Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | November 19, 2007 12:39 PM
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Oh, France this is your appointment with destiny! This is your moment of opportunity! You have hidden potential in your future! For you will be raised on high to elevate your status as a friend to many nations! For God has this message for you now, I have brought you to a time and place where you will be raised above every trial that comes your way, and your voice will influence nations, in the White House, in the United Nations and in the European Union. For I am allowing you to be a wise ally in the war on terror and you will not bend on your positions as many have already done.

The royal family of England hear this word, the Holy Spirit is going to give you blessings and grace shall flow out of your hearts! For you have been seen in the eyes of God as searching and looking for a voice that can give you hope for your future, and Miss Elizabeth will have a heath problem that will go away as fast as it came, says the Spirit of God. And they will speak of her as a legacy to a great nation for all times.

America, don't be afraid of your enemies, for I say to you now, this war, this barrier that is causing so much discomfort is about to be broken, and in time they will say, it couldn't have ended at a better time.

You enemies will be your footstool America, for in 2008, there will be a victory that will cause the nations of the earth to awaken and say, this is victory and this is what it means to be triumphant! For in '09' there will be an end and God says, what will come out of this will be blessing upon blessing, upon blessing, for the negotiations that are taking place now shall continue, and when My man enters the White House, he will bring peace to this nation again! For what is happening in the Middle East will be a wave of My Spirit that will be so great and so terrific, that the sounds from the Iranian people will say Christ has become our liberator!

From coast to coast and from sea to sea the Spirit of God says, I created the weather to be in the atmosphere of the people of God to have faith and say to the cloud, give us water, and to the earth, give us life, and to the wind, give us breath. For your faith has shaken mountains, your faith has caused the earth to cry out with you. Be ready America, for what you thought could not happen in your nation is going to cause the earth to shake, in a way that they will say, 48 years and nothing has happened until now.

For underneath your rocks and sand is a great element of surprise for you, What goes into your sewage and what you think of as junk is going to become a valuable resource for your nation! For when it begins too develop you will be on the verge of some of the greatest technology that will cause your debts to fall and your economy to rise and you will be a forerunner in the advancements in hybrid technology!

Oh Persia, oh leader of Persia, have you not been terrified as of now, have you not been in fear? For I am rising up China who will deal with you and many other great nations! For why would I have a nation defile those who are innocent under the king of mockery to a great land?

Rejoice America, for acceleration will continue into 2008 and once again America will look to Ohio for they hold the promises of God in their hands. This is not one but one by one they will begin to realize that My appointed leader is going to have his breakthrough and the pack will be left to look back and say, this must be a miracle. And God says, why would I have it any other way for this is your year for victory, says the Lord!

http://jcudell.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Joshua Udell | November 19, 2007 12:06 PM
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Mr. Edelman:

There is almost nothing more pathetic or ludicrous than some all out pro-Israeli whack job trying to fashion what they think are even handed arguments about the peace process. You have been a supporter of Israeli ethnic cleansing for years. Israeli settlements are war crimes, and every Israeli settler is a war criminal - read the Fourth Geneva Convention. These settlements are not an obstacle to peace, they are THE obstacle to peace. Israel must get no reward for its ethnic cleansing of Palestinian and Syrian land. Immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal is the only path to peace.

Posted by: DZ | November 19, 2007 11:34 AM
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Jerusalem should be made into a international city under the control of the UN.

Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | November 19, 2007 11:23 AM
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This is all from the Israeli side!
I cannot even imagine what you mean when you say you are "deeply involved".

Deeply involved in blaming Palestinians?
What extreme hypocrisy.

Posted by: YOU CANT BE SERIOUS | November 19, 2007 10:12 AM
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