Very well put. And it is more than just a thought. Judging by the Fast for Gaza as one of many examples, numerous people are already putting that thought into action.

David

It’s true that for some, this fast is part of a larger desire to see all problems as solvable by talk and compromise.

There’s another way to look at it–or, more broadly, at the sort of initiative and protest that it represents.

In an op-ed piece today (9/11), two Marine Corps commanding officers (a commandant and a former commander in chief of US central command) write the following:

“As our leaders work to prevent terrorists from again striking on our soil, they should remember the fundamental precept of counterinsurgency we’ve relearned in Afghanistan and Iraq: Undermine the enemy’s legitimacy while building our own. These wars will not be won on the battlefield. They will be won in the hearts of young men who decide not to sign up to be fighters and young women who decline to be suicide bombers. If Americans torture and it comes to light — as it inevitably will — it embitters and alienates the very people we need most.”

It may be that this counterinsurgency model does not apply to the Israeli / Palestinian conflict, but what if it does? Efforts to reach out to the other side, person to person or community to community, aren’t necessarily about compromising with extremists and hoping that they’ll return the favor. They could also be seen as efforts to undermine the legitimacy of a very real enemy, and building our own.

In which case, even someone who supported the military campaign and the blockade in Gaza could see the value, perhaps, in the protests against them. Not cynically, but as a necessary second front in a very long, very complex undertaking.

Just a thought.

In my opinion, a Jewish state, which you have correctly indicated does not need to be a theocracy, is consistent with a just state that treats citizens equally. Yes, there is room for improvement in Israel in this regard. What it cannot do is satisfy the nationalist aspirations of non-Jewish peoples, no matter how just it is.

But I don’t see that as our job. That’s why the Palestinians want to create a Palestinian Arab state.

Point by point here are my thoughts:
1) As I said, if even one member of Hamas has doubts about the charter, especially the Islamic Waqf part, I will talk to him or her. Even if they do hold to that part of the charter, but disagree with the parts that are anti-Jewish, and are willing to talk and listen, I will talk and listen to them. AND, even if they hold to the parts that are anti-Jewish, but are willing to talk and listen, i will reciprocate. My bottom line is, whatever the person believes, are they willing to try and resolve issues non-violently. Over time, listening and talking are habit forming, just as shooting and bombing are.
2) By “both are headed in the same direction” I meant the warriors and the peacemakers in either camp. For example, you and I both are working for peace for our people. We just have different visions of how to get there and probably different visions of what peace will look like. Are there any peacemakers in the Hamas camp? I don’t know. People have said there were none in the Fatah camp or among the Palestinians altogether. I do know for a fact that that is not true.
3) Do a majority of Israelis require that Israel be recognized as a “Jewish” state? Probably. But there are many that are beginning to recognize that given the inevitable contradictions inherent in a Jewish State in which the majority of citizens are secular Jews, and a goodly number of whom are non-Jews, (especially if you include the territories), some day we may have to give up the Jewish State in order to embrace a truly democratic and just Israel. Personally, I favor a Jewish State in our ancient homeland where the vast majority speak Hebrew. I love the language and have a deep sense of awe at it’s reawakening. I also love the land itself. I would hate to see that diminished. I also was raised as a Zionist and have that undercurrent of anxiety of a Galut Jew deeply embedded in my soul. But in the end, a just state that treats all citizens equally is a higher priority. Israel is as multi-ethnic as a country can be. This is one of its strengths. For the most part all the minority groups are well treated. But it is far from perfect. And, if we include the territories, is anything but perfect. We should also recognize that Hamas is not the only one with an international image problem. I don’t see all the nations jumping at the opportunity to defend Israel as a Jewish State, as Obama recently did. Even non-Muslim states strongly condemn the occupation and question the concept of a Jewish State. A lot of people still don’t understand the concept of a Jewish People. I hear Americans all the time criticize Israel as a theocracy and I have to explain that Jews are the same as Italians, Germans or French, but admittedly it isn’t that simple.
4) I am a believer in the idea that change comes from the bottom and from the top. It is a feedback loop, especially in a democracy, but also in non-democratic societies although to a lesser degree. The more that Israelis and Palestinians realize we can partner with one another in positive ways in everyday activities, the more that both people will be inclined to press for change in their leadership. Given the entrenched and corrupted nature of politics on both sides (and admittedly on the Palestinian side it is a horrific situation), this process may take a long time. Maybe even one-hundred years. That is what I call looking to the future (to say the least). I am already seeing a difference in the attitudes of many younger Israelis and Palestinians especially the more secular ones. They have a more global outlook and the old entrenched ways don’t attract them so much any more. Some of it is not so good. Hopefully the trend for many younger Israelis to support the positions of Avigdor Lieberman is a passing phase. Talk about an image problem …
Thanks for taking a look at my website. I’ll check out your blog and learn more about your view on Hamas.
Best Regards, David

Even if they did dump the silly stuff about the Lions clubs and the quaint antisemitism (“the Jews started WWI”) I think they are very serious when they say that “all Palestine is an Islamic Waqf”.

You write,
“Both eventually are headed in the same direction (the security of their community).”

I think this is false in the case of Hamas. Their primary goal is to get the Jews out of their waqf. If this was not so, then why won’t they take the few simple steps needed to gain international acceptance?

I can say this about your olive oil business: it certainly won’t hurt the cause of peace. But until political issues like recognition of Israel as a Jewish state are solved, there won’t be peace.

By the way, yesterday you said “Israel is stronger than Hamas”. I wrote a long response to this on my blog,

My preference: to dig up even the smallest measure of goodwill and hopefully mold that into something more substantial. There are enough politicians, commentators, generals, and others on both sides to worry about military strategy. Admittedly, limited grassroots efforts at peacemaking are more likely to occur when the peacemakers are protected by warriors. But I don’t see any hypocrisy in taking this position. Both eventually are headed in the same direction (the security of their community). Even the government sends out diplomats to secretly negotiate in times of conflict to see if there are openings for a peaceful resolution. I don’t see why those of us who do what we can as lowly citizens can’t play similar roles. See my website http://www.peaceoil.net to see what I am doing in my role as a “citizen diplomat”. Not quite the same as the fast for Gaza, but along similar lines of thinking. I’d be happy to hear your thoughtful critique of my venture as well. Thanks for the conversation Vic! So far it has been very engaging. David

I’m sorry if I insulted you. That was not my intention at all. My intention is to engage your intellect and your heart.

As you state that you have the wisdom imparted to us in the story about Abraham (to see the humanity of the “enemy”), I have no quarrel with you or any other Zionists that do likewise. Especially considering that I also believe that we Jews have a right to return to and live in peace in our ancient homeland, which I believe makes me a Zionist as well.

But I question if you are fully committed to the principle conveyed in the story from Genesis, which, at least according to my midrash, asks us to see the humanity in our enemy, not just the innocent civilians, but all of them.

Abraham asks G-d to spare ALL of Sodom and Gomorrah, even if only a few righteous people are found.

I know that the vast numbers of Israeli soldiers are good young men and women. I know many of them personally as friends and relatives. But I also know that an attack in a heavily populated area that results in the destruction of civilian infrastructure and lives is not so easily justified as you would like it to be by the bombing of S’derot, anymore then the bombing of S’derot is justified by the lack of justice for the Palestinian people and the material hardships they face. Ultimately, in a sane world, there would be no justification for this sort of endless cycle of violence.

Furthermore, it is my perspective that Ehud Barak and Tsipi Livney proceeded with this operation at this particular moment not only to protect the Israeli citizenry but to prove they were worthy of elected office by demonstrating their “toughness”. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but it was my perception that when Israel pulled out, it made no effort to talk to Hamas in order to obtain concessions re: the security of Israel’s territory in return for guarantees not to violate the security of Gaza.

As a result, it was no surprise that arms smuggling and shelling resumed almost immediately, while on the Israeli side, the embargo resumed. I assume the shelling and smuggling by Hamas were hampered by the destruction of infrastructure and loss of personnel. However, this is clearly a temporary setback at best. So, what was gained by striking out in anger?

We can go on and on about who did what and when, like children arguing on the playground. Perhaps that is the way the world really works and we have no choice but to preserve ourselves through violence. Perhaps.

But Abraham’s demands of G-d, in this classic Jewish struggle with the divine, points to another possibility. Perhaps we are wrong and the path to self-preservation may be exactly the opposite. It may be in seeing the image of ourselves in those we fear most. Naturally, like violence, this process of awakening to the other “takes two to tango”. There was no chance that Hitler would suddenly become sane and so self-preservation required escape, armed resistance, collaboration or simply a combination of great luck and resilience.

I do not believe that Hamas is Hitler (regardless of what their charter says). Number one, Israel is much more powerful than Hamas. Number two, I believe Hamas has indicated a willingness to negotiate. It recently stated it is willing to work out its differences with Fatah and even recognize them as the rightful leaders of Palestine, as long as they have a place at the table in negotiating a settlement with Israel.

Humanity must eventually choose non-violence for resolving issues like that between Israel and Palestine. The ever-shrinking planet makes it paramount. Practical steps include talking about peace and reconciliation as if it is a real possibility and then finding partners on the other side that will do the same.

Many Israelis and Palestinians are already doing this. Given the fringe status of those leading this effort, it is riskier and takes greater courage than promoting fear and rationalizing violence as a reasonable response.

And many more people exist on both sides of this ancient divide between half-brothers, sons of Ishmael and Ya’akov, waiting to be reconciled to one another.

The fast for Gaza by Jewish rabbis is an effort to reach out to Palestinians and show them that we are humans and understand the hardships they face and will do what we can to end these hardships. This effort is based on hope, not on fear. Is it naive and irrational? No more than the belief that force will provide more than short term solutions.

David