Are you pro-Israel or pro-Palestine? It isnt even noon yet as I write this, and Ive already been accused of being both. These terms intrigue me because they directly speak to the doggedly tribal nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You dont hear of too many other countries being universally spoken of this way. Why these two? Both Israelis and Palestinians are complex, with diverse histories and cultures, and two incredibly similar (if divisive) religions. To come down completely on the side of one or the other doesnt seem rational to me. It is telling that most Muslims around the world support Palestinians, and most Jews support Israel. This, of course, is natural -- but its also problematic. It means that this is not about whos right or wrong as much as which tribe or nation you are loyal to. It means that Palestinian supporters would be just as ardently pro-Israel if they were born in Israeli or Jewish families, and vice versa. It means that the principles that guide most peoples view of this conflict are largely accidents of birth -- that however we intellectualize and analyze the components of the Middle East mess, it remains, at its core, a tribal conflict. By definition, tribal conflicts thrive and survive when people take sides. Choosing sides in these kinds of conflicts fuels them further and deepens the polarization. And worst of all, you get blood on your hands. So before picking a side in this latest Israeli-Palestine conflict, consider these 7 questions ~ by Ali A. Rizvi, Pakistani-Canadian writer, physician and musician ( shared my my dear friend HRHP Dajna De Giuli )
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 01:21:13 +0000
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