you can have your cake, but there will be no eating
I've read my fair share of books and other sources about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, one of which, From Beirut to Jerusalem, by Tom Friedman, I thought was particularly insightful. This article from the Economist is equally as insightful, and touches on many of the same issues.
There's no easy answer to the problem. But it is clear that the problem lies as much in Israeli attitudes as it does Palestinian. The Palestinians draw international attention by using terrorist tactics. These tactics should by no means be applauded. But I found it interesting to note that there is a fundamental problem with Israel as well, one that stems primarily from disagreement about the nature of the Israeli state.
Basically I think it comes down to the fact that a certain segment of the Israeli population want their nation to be three things - Jewish, democratic, and geographically more extensive than it is at present. The problem is that these three things are wholly incompatible. If the borders of Israel are extended to include the Palestinian territories and the country remains democratic, it will no longer be Jewish. This is a simple and unavoidable matter of demographics. To remain a Jewish state while still incorporating the territories necessitates that the nation give up the priniciples of democracy. This is the current situation that Israel finds itself in. The territories are being ruled by an oppressively militaristic system that defies the fundamentals of democracy. The only other option is to retain both democracy and a Jewish majority by forgoing geographical expansion. The current pull-out from the Gaza territory is the necessary first step toward such a resolution. But the fierce resistance from Israelis makes me wonder about its feasibility.
Certainly, the region will be chaotic until something is done about the treatment of the Palestinian near-majority. But nothing can be done until some agreement is wrought between Israelis themselves. Who knows when that will come.
There's no easy answer to the problem. But it is clear that the problem lies as much in Israeli attitudes as it does Palestinian. The Palestinians draw international attention by using terrorist tactics. These tactics should by no means be applauded. But I found it interesting to note that there is a fundamental problem with Israel as well, one that stems primarily from disagreement about the nature of the Israeli state.
Basically I think it comes down to the fact that a certain segment of the Israeli population want their nation to be three things - Jewish, democratic, and geographically more extensive than it is at present. The problem is that these three things are wholly incompatible. If the borders of Israel are extended to include the Palestinian territories and the country remains democratic, it will no longer be Jewish. This is a simple and unavoidable matter of demographics. To remain a Jewish state while still incorporating the territories necessitates that the nation give up the priniciples of democracy. This is the current situation that Israel finds itself in. The territories are being ruled by an oppressively militaristic system that defies the fundamentals of democracy. The only other option is to retain both democracy and a Jewish majority by forgoing geographical expansion. The current pull-out from the Gaza territory is the necessary first step toward such a resolution. But the fierce resistance from Israelis makes me wonder about its feasibility.
Certainly, the region will be chaotic until something is done about the treatment of the Palestinian near-majority. But nothing can be done until some agreement is wrought between Israelis themselves. Who knows when that will come.
posted by stoerzie at
7:09 PM
