Just for a moment, let’s think beyond the violence that began over the weekend. Beyond the previous waves of violence and beyond the failed peace process. Instead, consider the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians. While there are different versions of the Israeli and Palestinian political projects, the key aspirations of both sides are compatible. For Israelis, the goal is to overcome anti-Semitic oppression and violence by establishing a home where Jews can control their own destiny. For Palestinians, the goal is to overcome colonial oppression, occupation, and material insecurity by achieving political freedom. The tragedy is that history has unfolded in such a way that the two liberation projects have found themselves on a collision course.
The reasons for this collision are beyond the scope of this article. They involve British colonialism; European anti-Semitic oppression and genocide; the problematic ideal of a nation-state centered on one ethnicity; and geopolitical interests that run counter to reconciliation. But here’s the main point: the collision was not inevitable, and it is possible to imagine a future where Israeli and Palestinian visions can both be realized.
Clearly, the dynamic in Israel-Palestine is one of power imbalance: Palestinians face the structural injustice of Israel’s occupation and system of apartheid. However, this does not negate the validity of the goal of a homeland where Jews can be free of anti-Semitic oppression.
The stalled Israel-Palestine peace process has focused on a two-state solution—one state for Israelis and one state for Palestinians. However, as Peter Beinart argues in an opinion piece, it is possible for there to be a Jewish home without a Jewish nation-state: “A Jewish state has become the dominant form of Zionism. But it is not the essence of Zionism. The essence of Zionism is a Jewish home in the land of Israel, a thriving Jewish society that can provide refuge and rejuvenation for Jews across the world.” Whatever the specific political structure, a resolution to the conflict requires a safe haven for Jews and freedom for Palestinians.
Clearly, there is no military solution. The military strategies of Hamas (certainly not the only Palestinian political organization but probably the most significant armed force) and Israel rely upon killing and harming civilians. Instead, a just political solution must be reached. It is necessary for the global community to condemn the violence of the moment, both Hamas’ attacks on civilians and Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians. It is also essential to work with renewed urgency toward a resolution in line with the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. Israel-Palestine is a tragedy, but it doesn’t have to be.
The Politics Column 