Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Israel and Palestine
A lot of people have asked me about my opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Well, this week's On Faith question brings the issue to the forefront. You'll be able to read my post on it later today or tomorrow at http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com.
My central thesis, is that peace can only be brokered by the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves. Like the old adage about horses and water, you can lead these two sides to the peace table as many times as you like, but you can't force them to eat. Until they are both ready for peace, progress is not going to be made. I am hopeful that, after 60 years of conflict, both sides are getting weary of war, but I am not holding my breath.
I also feel, it is not our place to enforce a one or two state solution. That is up to the parties involved. I don't see the two state solution as being particularly viable, but a one state solution has its issues as well. In the end, everyone is going to have to give up something, and the two sides will each have to decide what they are willing to give up.
The bottom line is, that everyone deserves to live in a place where they feel safe from the violence of other humans. We all need to have a home where we feel we can survive comfortably, where we can raise our families in security, where we can lead lives of dignity. Achieving that goal has proven illusive, not only in the Middle East, but around the world. ¶ 12:56 PM
My central thesis, is that peace can only be brokered by the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves. Like the old adage about horses and water, you can lead these two sides to the peace table as many times as you like, but you can't force them to eat. Until they are both ready for peace, progress is not going to be made. I am hopeful that, after 60 years of conflict, both sides are getting weary of war, but I am not holding my breath.
I also feel, it is not our place to enforce a one or two state solution. That is up to the parties involved. I don't see the two state solution as being particularly viable, but a one state solution has its issues as well. In the end, everyone is going to have to give up something, and the two sides will each have to decide what they are willing to give up.
The bottom line is, that everyone deserves to live in a place where they feel safe from the violence of other humans. We all need to have a home where we feel we can survive comfortably, where we can raise our families in security, where we can lead lives of dignity. Achieving that goal has proven illusive, not only in the Middle East, but around the world. ¶ 12:56 PM
