I have taken some time before writing about the latest terrorist attack that left 6 dead in Bnei Brak on Tuesday. This attack came after similar attacks in Be’er Sheva & Hadera last week and the killing of young people by the IDF in the Occupied Territories recently. Two more were killed yesterday (Thursday) when the IDF tried to arrest Palestinians suspected of helping the assailant in the Bnei Brak attack
Just to condemn theses killings from either side without offering any way to stop these killings happening seems an empty gesture.
I wanted to take time to think how we can best help those on both sides change the dynamics of the conflict to give hope to those suffering under the Occupation while also giving the feeling of security to those living in Israel.
It isn’t easy to be honest. Too many on both sides cannot see past their hatred or fear of those on the other side. The first (and often only) reaction to such killings is to double down on the very actions that gave those who committed the killings their justification for their attacks, increasing the separation between Palestinians & Israelis, growing suspicion of those on the other side, the desire for weapons to “protect” themselves from those on the other side.
However, such reactions do not stop the killings, indeed they make them more likely to re-occur.
The separation doesn’t work. Even the infamous Separation Barrier has many holes in it through which Palestinians can pass into Israel & Israelis can travel to the parts of Palestine they are forbidden (by Israel) from entering. Also, Israel needs Palestinian workers (over 100,000 legally work inside Israel & many more illegally) while the Palestinians need the extra pay they can get working in Israel. Indeed, where Israelis work alongside Palestinians, both learn to trust each other more, learn to talk with each other as fellow workers rather than enemies.
We all know the suspicion of others can lead to fear of them and hatred as well. These fears lead to young Israel soldiers shooting first and thinking later when confronted by Palestinian youths, the hatred means too many young Palestinians feel they have no options but to turn to violence.
The increased number of weapons will only lead to more killings as they are used when the weapon holder acts out of fear and suspicion.
So, what can we do, especially living thousands of miles from the area?
I feel that rather than increasing separation, increasing suspicion, increasing fear & hatred we need to find ways to help Israelis & Palestinians meet, talk, build the confidence in each other and understand that most of those on the other side just want to live in peace, earn a living and raise their children to have a better, more secure future.
I realise this is not a quick solution and that, sadly the deaths in the last few days may well be repeated with victims on both sides. However, I cannot think of an alternative that gives any hope for the people of Palestine & Israel to learn to live with each other, to learn to accept that they must share the land between the River & the Sea in one way or another.
In conclusion, my thoughts go out to the families of all those killed, Israelis & Palestinians, Muslims, Christians, Druze & Jews. May their hearts not turn to hatred, may they find ways to use their grief and pain to help to stop other families suffering similar pain, may these senseless deaths give them the strength to find ways to stop the killing. May we find ways to help them on this path, to support them and others on the long and difficult road to reconciliation