The denial of the Other has been common in the region for a very long time. Israel is an internationally recognized state, a UN member. It should recognize the Palestinian state immediately — it will show a great openness and willingness to respect the Palestinian people.
A little history: (source Wikipedia, Palestinians)
The Palestinian people were established well before the onset of Israelites (ca. 1200 BC). Canaan was occupied by a sedentary population.The Canaanites were established in large cities and the countryside around (organization in city-states).
It gets interesting with the constitution of the first centralized kingdom (kingdom of Omri) whose capital was Samaria, with a population that was bi-cultural, Jewish on the one hand and Canaanite on the other. Note that according to some sources, the Palestinians and the Israelites would have the Canaanites for ancestors. This leads me to say that there is a family link between these two peoples.
Is it possible to go back to where it all began? A glorious period without any discord–a breeding ground for tolerance and openness.
Recognizing the Palestinians will be seen as ethical one hand, and peaceful on the other.
Jerusalem is a city where many religions coexist. Why not find a legal status that promotes a common capital? She was christened the capital of forgiveness and as Unified Jerusalem.
I cannot help but think back on missed opportunities and all the botched, failed negotiations, with the parade of pageantry and no tomorrow.
What is missing in the region today? — two men who have worked for peace — Martin Luther King and more recently Nelson Mandela. We need men of this character, because they have seen their distant vision asserted, carried by the wind whose echoes still resound in our minds. By dint of determination, they have succeeded by the law of reason, have captured the attention and changed recalcitrant opinions, carrying high the colors of peace, through their speeches, with non-violence their only weapon. Remember what that Martin Luther King said: “Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” We all have the image of Mahatma Gandhi who led the Salt March, March 12, 1930, in opposition to the tax on salt, with the sole motto of non-violence of which he was the pioneer.
The two people are mature, they should carefully reach an agreement for the good of future generations. They should be giving the best of themselves, countering the demons of discord and driving into the depths of the past those who have created pain and hatred of others.
Let’s declare a national day for
1. Peace in the region — a powerful idea that will mobilize all good wishes
2. Israeli-Palestinian friendship
3. The rebirth of hope between Israel and Palestine
In all major capitals, find ways to involve the media and the two peoples through cultural events, cinema, song, and laughter. Say in the best sense “Israel and Palestine are friends again.”
The time has come to change the methods of negotiation. I mentioned before in the previous post, using real professionals, such as historians, sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers, long before politicians who will lead discussions on the history of the two belligerents. The two antagonists must do their mea maxima culpa at each step. This requires finding a neutral ground conducive to the negotiation to complete this arduous task, but ultimately my choice is already made: It will be best in Jerusalem …
March 1, 2010 by Bertrand Deparis
Comment:
M. Bertrand Deparis has powerful, compelling insights — for one example, his statement, “Note that according to some sources, the Palestinians and the Israelites would have the Canaanites for ancestors. This leads me to say that there is a family link between these two peoples.” Indeed, this is a key basis for the Compassionate Dialogue at a peace camp for Palestinian and Jewish teenagers, where I volunteer — and through this Compassionate Dialogue, these young people develop friendship and peace against all odds in the region today.
Another point by M. Bertrand Deparis with which I agree is that, at peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, “I propose that there is at this table psychologists to explain the unspoken and where politicians have failed.” Clearly we need to communicate at these deeper levels of soul and spirit, the levels where we are all connected as members of the human family.
Finally, like Bertrand Deparis I too think often of Dr. Martin Luther King, his words and actions, and imagine how different the Middle East would be today if Dr. King were alive to help bring peace to the region.
As M. Bertrand Deparis quotes Dr. King, Martin Luther King said: “Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”
Merci to M. Bertrand Deparis for the inspiration of his insights.
Posted @ Thursday, June 10, 2010 7:14 PM by Nicole Hunter
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