Thinking on Palestine

Objectivity gets buried in conflict. I come to you fresh from the University of Jordan Student Union (Deanship of Student Life) where I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by the Palestinian community on the history and land of Palestine. The occasion exhibited many of the characteristics of daily life in Jordan: it began late, featured repeated offerings of tea and coffee, and had more recitation of dates and statistics than enlightened conversation and debate. Nevertheless, now is as good a time as any to address an issue that profoundly shapes life in Jordan, where over 60% of the inhabitants are of Palestinian descent, and throughout the region.

Firstly I should confess that while I will be as objective as possible in this post, I do not believe that both Palestinians and Israelis can claim equivalent moral high ground or justification for their anguish. I detest conspiracy theories, half-truths, selective histories presented by both sides. Listening to Palestinians talk about the conflict is disappointing and frustrating because of their willingness to move beyond what I feel are legitimate grievances into absurd positions.

I feel there are legitimate camps within both Israel and the Palestinian community, but listening to the average it is very hard to associate one's self with either the Palestinians or Israelis because of the lengths to which they distort reality to favor their position. A passionate advocate divorced from objectivity is often a terrible messenger to with which to confront the undecided.

We began with a history read in English from the 1895 origins of modern Zionism to the current condition of Palestine in 2010. Dates were accurate, but any mention of Israeli suffering was brief, unmentioned, or justified. I don't want to forgive this, I don't think such omissions are necessary to create a compelling Palestinian Case, but I do believe that in limited time advocates will rarely go into a comprehensive explanation.

The mostly Palestinian audience wants to hear the history they are reminded of every time the subject is broached for both sides, the admission of flaws is often rejected for the sake of ideological purity that is impossible in any conflict of this length and complexity. For Palestinians, the entirety of the conflict's history is often lost in this narrative of profound suffering at the hands of an implacable and mighty oppressor.

Following this rehashing of facts, which while true do not constitute truth any more than Confederate history month can mention the truths of state's rights while remaining profoundly inadequate without a discussion of slavery, we watched a short film on the "Wall of Hate" (see also security fence - Israel, apartheid wall - Palestinian, separation wall - relatively neutral). It was similar to the histories: it told truths yet presented them without distance. This distance may be an impossible hope for anyone so profoundly affected by any issue, but I hope I never fall victim to such temptation.

We listened to a CIEE student who had traveled and volunteered in Bethlehem over spring break. He was especially interesting to me because I'm planning to travel in the West Bank and Israel before I return to the States at the end of May. He talked about checkpoints, the organic farm where he volunteered, and the people of Palestine. We then listened to more impassioned and less impartial accounts of travel from an Australian and Colombian of Palestinian descent. They spoke of descrimination and the terrible pressure exerted by Israeli officials and soldiers on Arabs who attempt to communicate with the West Bank.

The Israeli Defense Force and Israel's general posture is to make life in all its facets as unpleasant, difficult, and humiliating as possible for all those of a non-Israeli bent. This can be seen in the settlements that dot and divide the occupied West Bank, the water policies denying agricultural or economic development to Palestinians, and the humiliating routines that stymie life and commerce on a daily basis for thousands of Palestinians at the over 500 checkpoints that dissect the territories.

I believe that is all true and summarizes a great deal of the substance presented at the meeting. The formal event concluded with a ten minute amateur video shot at various crossings from a sympathetic Israeli perspective. It featured some Israeli soldiers and many Palestinians. It was not narrated and appeared about as honest a record of the checkpoint experience as possible. It was disturbing on many levels and confounding until you confront the underlying reasoning that has spawned this status quo.

Israel does not want commerce or communication to occur within the Palestinan population under their control. They have objectives of preserving security for Israelis, but their presence and behavior can not be justified on these grounds. The following is my opinion of the current state of affairs.

"Israel's dissection and repression of the occupied territories cannot be seen as rational unless you believe they see a world without a Palestinian state or Palestinian presence as attainable. Within this context their activites can be seen as sustaining and extending Israel's domination of the West Bank until all other sides abandon their positions in despair. I do not believe this is justifiable, but without legitimate and significant pressure from within Israeli society, from the Palestinians under occupation, the Arab neighbors of Israel, or the West that such a goal is unfortunately at least within the realm of possiblility, though the profound suffering and inhumanity of such a development makes me loath to broach it."

A Jewish CIEE student and friend of mine spoke when questions where solicited. He spoke with great care, but broke the fundamental rule of inquiring if we could not all recognize that there have been injustices on all sides. This is the truth. I will no more associate or approve of suicide bombings and indescriminate rocket fire than the systematic oppression and eviction of a society. The Palestinians unfortunately were not willing to do so. It pains me that a cause I believe has

The CIEE student's words provoked instant and uniformly negative responses from our hosts and surrounding Palestinians. One began by saying that only when two sides have equal position and equal strength can you begin to discuss injustices on both sides. Another protested that the Palestinians are so weak, that they attack from fear, that the rockets are not capable of killing children. He literally said that the rockets may be capable of breaking an arm or a leg, but they are not strong enough to kill a child. Even suicide bombings were defended as killing Arabs as well as Israelis and then all is done from fear.

I want to travel to Palestine. I have no expectations that I will hear objectivity from within either community, but I hope to supplement the opions I hear and the facts I have read with photographs and memories untainted by the hands or minds of others. I think that seeing something so profound and complicated first hand will be an incredibly valuable and potentially life-altering experience. I hope it works out and that I am able to share it with those who will listen.

Just imagine, I could be interning this summer with Russ Feingold, a Jewish (this doesn't matter to me personally, but it could be relevant in this context) senior Democratic member of the Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees. I wonder if he would listen to what I might have to say?