12 October 2016
The Times of Israel, 5 September 2016, 1:18 am
By: Abraham A. van Kempen
The Hague, The Netherlands
Part 1 of 3
The Palestinian–Israeli Pulse: A Joint Poll, released on 22 August 2016, strongly suggests that the vanilla-flavored, one-bite-feeds-all peace fare is not appetizing enough to satisfy everyone. All sides are coming to the table with their dietary demands; and, they’d rather go home hungry than to try out different recipes. We’re going to need a Plethora of Possibilities to make Peace a Palatable Preference. And everyone knows ‘Trust is the Thrust’ but few if any, trust the other. So, the prospects of peace continue to be a prayer without end.
Yet, the vast majority of the Israeli Jews (73.8%), Israeli Arabs (97%), and the Palestinian Arabs (85.7%) want peace, heretofore, either not realized or denied by all sides of the Divide. This is breaking news affirmed by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute and the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. Check out their survey of Israeli and Palestinian Opinion (executive summary here, full study here). Respondents include 1,270 Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and 1,184 Jewish and Arab Israelis.
Most respondents are shocked that the other craves peace, and just about all misconstrue each other’s intentions. It gets worse. Most everyone wants peace, but few agree on the route to getting there. Even if I invite only the ‘peacemakers’ to partake on a feast of culinary delights buffet-style, I’d have to separate them into two rooms. Why? One group, a small majority, wants a two-state solution (Israeli Jews 53.4%, Israeli Arabs 87.1%, Palestinians West bank 50.9%, Palestinians Gaza 52.1%). The other group, a minority, wants a one-state solution (Israeli Jews 20.4%, Israeli Arabs 52.4%, Palestinians West bank 32.8%, Palestinians Gaza 37%).
But then you might think that each respective group would break bread together in their separate rooms. Wrong! Instead, they’d probably be breaking each other’s’ heads (figuratively speaking). There, they’ll argue who’s right and who’s wrong. Some will still claim, “what’s mine is mine, what’s yours is mine also.” Neither side will go forward with the notion: “what should we do to once and for all get our children and theirs out of the quagmire, a quagmire of history and a quagmire prolonged by today’s deep traumas and collective hysteria?”
What’s more, will they want to come, assuming they are permitted to cross borders freely? Most might be willing to come. However, these peace-loving people fear each other. The Israeli Jews (64.8%) fear the Palestinians more than the Palestinians fear the Israelis. Three-quarters of the Israeli Arabs fear neither.
Right now, it might be premature to offer everyone a smorgasbord to handpick their favorite bits of peace wrapped in regional delicacies. Few will come. When we do eventually meet, I will serve a special treat, baklava; but, which baklava? From Zalatimo, of course! Whenever I leave Jordan, everyone on my list gets a box. But then I hear (especially in Iraq): “you should try ours’, it tastes even better” (no counterargument from me), and just about everyone agrees, “let’s just savor Turkish Coffee and not talk about Turkish baklava,” so I won’t.
What’s my point? If you can’t please your special guests, the very ones who seek peace, not even with the sweetest delicacies baked by Zalatimo in Jordan, haul in an abundance of sweets from all over the Middle East to let people pick and choose to become happy and satisfied. Why not? Zalatimo was founded in 1860 by Mohammad Zalatimo in the Old City of Jerusalem.
So, what must first happen before the peace seekers can freely come to the table?
The first task is to heal the traumas and to commit to understanding each other. It is no longer a question of ‘who is right.’ Let’s focus on building a bridge that will be best served for all, a path that embraces love, kindness, and a generosity of spirit. “As long as each community clings to its own story, unable to acknowledge what is plausible in the story of the other side, peace will remain a distant hope,” says Rabbi Michael Lerner, author of ‘Embracing Israel/Palestine’.
But first, the Arab League, together with the European Union and the Holy See must infuse an estimated EU100+ million to finance the work of thousands of Peace Corp Professionals to help the people of Israel/Palestine to believe in their self-esteem as well as the worthiness and goodness of the other.
And why EU100+ million? It will cost EU billions more if we don’t start buttressing the foundation toward peace now. Plus, the European Union must treat Palestine and Israel as de facto NATO affiliates, an open secret Israel has sustained for decennia. This way, neither may attack, invade, and occupy the other.
After that, the people of Israel/Palestine must reason first within their respective communities and then externally with the other to heal their broken hearts. Reaching a win-win solution will take time, but hopefully not as long as what the majority on both sides anticipate. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the Israelis and 73% of the Palestinians think the chances are low for a two-state solution – or any road toward peace – to crystalize in the next five years.
First of a three-part series: An EU Complement to the Arab Peace Initiative
Read the second part here.
With Every Good Wish to You, I am,
Sincerely,
Building the Bridge Foundation, The Hague
Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
*‘Christian Zionism … Enraptured Around a Golden Cal” (2nd Edition)
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