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Uri Katz
  • Uri Katz
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • United States

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How do we make peace between Israel and Palestine?

Lets take it for granted that both sides are to blame in this conflict, and neither is going to disappear off the face of the earth any time soon.
Answers like "make love not war" would without a doubt work, but I am hoping for a little more substance.
If, like me, you think peace is only achievable in a distant future, but we have to begin working on it now, that is something I would like to hear, especially what we should be doing now.
If you know of a faster track to peace, all the better.

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Closing Statement from Uri Katz

I would like to personally thank all the participants in this conversation.
I think we all recognized the immense difficulty this problem poses. At the same time, most people acknowledged that there is plenty that can be done, not all hope is lost.
Here are a few answers I collected. This is not a summary, only a list of the suggestions I think have the greatest potential to lead to peace. Each stands on it own, but together they have the most power. If we start implementing these ideas, sooner or later the reality in the region will change and a more direct path to peace will become apparent:

1. Instead of broadcasting yet another suicide bomber, give peace a chance by trumpeting every peaceful attempt by both sides.

2. Deflate the issue so that people see it not as cultural & religious issue, but as a localized dispute over resources and land. Then we can ask what a just division of these would be.

3. Recruit moderate religious leader.

4. Understand the other side as best as possible. How are they different? How we are they similar? Make sure your education is fact based and not propaganda.

5. Teach and practice forgiveness, which is key to all true conflict resolution
Also practice: Tolerance, Compassion, Acceptance, Appreciation

6. Remove all hate, and all us-them mentality, from school syllabuses.

7. Both side need to stop looking at themselves as victims. They are not victims of each other or of the larger world. They should take responsibility for their lives and actions.

8. The blame game does not help.

9. Historical arguments are usually used to advance one sided justification for violence and war, as such they are ineffective in the struggle toward peace.

10. Create joint projects such as competitive sporting events.

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    Kate Blake 50+

    • +3
    Feb 6 2013: I wonder if both sides, and especially the media, really emphasised all the peacemaking efforts of both sides. For example here on TED I heard about the Israeli man and his daughter starting a FB page on "we love you". Then there is the talk by the Spanish film maker who documented a couple of peaceful Protests made by the Palestinians against a wall being built through their villages and orchards.

    Rather than hearing constant broadcast of yet another suicide bomber, give peace a chance by trumpeting every peaceful attempt by both sides.

    There are some very valid points below about the Israelis need to initiate, compromise, negotiate on this one. The US has given them unprecedented support and power, now they need to take the middle way in order to be reasonable.

    If land wasn't such a premium for both sides I'd strongly suggest having a no-mans land in between. But I think to make it one new country, with a new name and everyone equal rights in voting, visas, etc to emphasise harmony. All harm needs to stop, for both sides to embrace a joint harmonious compromise.
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      Uri Katz

      • +1
      Feb 7 2013: I love this idea: "Rather than hearing constant broadcast of yet another suicide bomber, give peace a chance by trumpeting every peaceful attempt by both sides."
      However, I do not think all the responsibility lies with Israel. There is no reason why the Palestinians should not be expected to make an effort to change their fate, and why they should not be held accountable when they resort to terrorism. The victim mentality is degrading and harmful. That is not to say Israel is not a guilty party in this ongoing war.
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      Theodore A. Hoppe 200+

      • 0
      Feb 8 2013: Here's the TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/israel_and_iran_a_love_story.html

    • shawn disney 10+

      • +1
      Feb 11 2013: Kate: your suggestion is ingenious, but the Israelis have already rejected it, since they are well aware that they would be outvoted in such a state. Indeed, this idea was already tried out , one might say, in the British run "Mandate of Palestine" State set up after WW1, up to 1948. The main protesters of this were Jews; I hope I will not be considered an anti Semite by pointing out that the Haganah , etc. were "Terrorist" organizations then , with such exploits as blowing up a British hotel with a hundred or so civilians in it. But, "History" is written by the winners. The only problem is that the Arabs do not now, and probably never will , admit that the war is over ,, and they have lost. Incidentally, this whole scheme of calling critics of Israel "Anti-Semitic" is silly, since Arabs are just as Semitic as Jews are.

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