In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine
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In the twenty plus years of failed peacemaking, most Israelis and mostcPalestinians have given up hope that peace can in fact become a reality. They have not, however, given up on the desire for peace, on the longing for normalcy, on their craving for acceptance. Israelis have managed to create an acceptable reality with significant achievements to be quite proud of.
Israel is a formidable state with a secure economy and levels of excellence in fields such as technology, medicine, agriculture, and water conservation that are the envy of the world. Yet Israelis continue to live with a high level of anxiety that one day it could all come to an end. In truth, with the continued failure of subsequent peace efforts, Israel is beginning to face a new reality in the world in which its very own legitimacy is being questioned and challenged.
The Palestinians continue to live under Israeli occupation, which has become increasingly sophisticated in its means of control. Their significant achievements, mainly in the West Bank, in creating relative stability, developing institutions of statehood, building infrastructure and pockets of real economic activity are not only impressive, given their circumstances, but there has been more normalcy in day-to-day life for Palestinians (at least, those who do not live next to Israeli settlements) than ever before. Yet it is also quite clear that without political progress eventually there will most likely be a return to violence. Near the end of 2015, another round of violence did emerge, different from the previous rounds with a much smaller level of public participation, but with a high level of public support.
I continue to believe that peace is possible, and that it is in fact the only option that Israeli and Palestinian leaders really have. For the first time in the history of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, it seems that neither side has a better alternative to a negotiated agreement, yet they still avoid plunging into the only option that will bring an end to the conflict. Negotiation for the sake of negotiation is passé, and it is seen only as a means of stalling while additional actions on the ground happen that make partition more difficult. They are not successful at getting back to the table with clear terms of reference that could actually lead to a comprehensive agreement.
Failure of negotiations is bad for both sides, and both sides know it. Each round of negotiations created unrealistically high expectations and usually ended up in a new round of violence. Caution is wise, but there are solutions. This conflict, I maintain, is resolvable. I often quote a great man, the late Dr. Yehuda Paz, who commented on his own optimism,
“It is a genetic defect, I simply cannot help it.”
Like Yehuda Paz, it is in my DNA. I see the positive, the hopeful, the opportunities, and the chances that greet me on my path of life. I believe that my optimism is guided primarily by my strategic outlook, which enables me to identify opportunities where many others simply see obstacles. Never accept no for an answer. It is never too early to work for peace. These are two mottos that have accompanied me throughout my lifelong journey on the road to peace. From my childhood through my adult life, I have been actively seeking peace.
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