Michael Schulz
What are our options in resolving a conflict?
The Conflict Triangle
- Galtung's Conflict Triangle which points to content/issus/contradiction; attitudes/stereotypes/imagery; and behavior/actions/violence.
- Attitudes/stereotypes/imagery are the principle problems in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The conflict staircase
- Mutual personal mistrust is prevalent in this conflict.
o The media plays an extremely important role here.
o The media’s bias is not surprising because it exists everywhere (including Sweden) but it plays an enormous role in socialization and the creation and perpetuation of stereotypes.
o Israelis are often proactive in the media while Palestinians are reactive.
- Schulz: This conflict ranges from stairs 4 (scurrilous images)-9 (total annihilation) on the conflict staircase but most people are at stairs 4 (scurrilous images)-6 (strategical threats).
- Some describe the participants as members of honor-based societies that must revenge ‘loss of face.’
- Of course, there are always involved parties that have attempted to climb the conflict staircase in the opposite direction.
o Example- Israeli parents of children who died in a suicide attack who visit Palestinian parents of the suicide bomber.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, Israeli society was deeply divided over peace and conflict.
- Unfortunately, movement up the staircase is quite rare.
Iconic Images of Conflict
-It is impossible to be impartial in this conflict.
- Muhammad al Dura and his father die in Israeli/Palestinian crossfire. Images of their death were used to mobilize Palestinians during the 2nd Intifada.
- 2 Israelis are killed in Ramallah police station. Images of their death and the treatment of their bodies were used as evidence of Palestinian violence and brutality.
- Palestinian humiliation at checkpoints
- Arab suicide bombing
- The 1972 Munich Olympics
- These images create fear on both sides and make it difficult to seek and secure peace.
- Maps are also used as images to incite fear and conflict.
- Images of the 1973 October War have traumatized Israeli society.
o Prior to the war, Israelis were very afraid that the Arab states would invade and “throw them into the sea.”
o Meanwhile, the military was certain that they would achieve victory.
o After 1973, many Israelis believed that they were at risk. The Arab states were thought to be a greater threat than Palestinians. Today, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran are still viewed as huge threats.
- Enemy images and stereotypes are so deeply ingrained that they seem irreversible.
The Path to Reconciliation?
- Key questions: How can Israelis and Palestinians move from a divided past to a shared future? / How do we achieve mercy, justice, truth, peace, etc.?
- For Israelis, this conflict is about the security of individual Israeli citizens and the state of Israel.
- For Palestinians, this conflict is about justice, rights, and identity.
What is Mercy?
- Schulz: at the moment, the right of return is the biggest obstacle to peace.
- How can the Palestinians forgive “expulsion”?
- How can the Israelis forgive “terrorism”?
What is Justice?
- How is justice defined?
- Should justice be defined contextually?
- How do you bring “terrorists”/ leaders to court?
- Can tradition forms of justice be applied?
How can we approach “the truth”?
- How do you reverse socialized stereotypes?
- How do you understand the perpetrator?
- How can history be written in a fair and balanced way?
- How do you teach history to children?
- How do you objectively approach a painful past?
How can we approach conflict resolution?
- How do you restore justice to Palestinians and security to Israelis (simultaneously)?
- How do you approach the following incompatibilities: refugees, settlers, borders, water, citizens’ rights?
- How care you restore trust?
- How can we approach a long-term time-frame for peace-building?
Components of Reconciliation
- Non-violence
- Equal partnership (This conflict is extremely asymmetric.)
- Recognition of the legitimate existence of the rival group
- Societal beliefs about Peace
- Unfortunately, Palestinians who develop relationships with Israelis may put themselves in danger.
Is Forgiveness Necessary?
- Are some deeds unforgiveable?
Methods of Reconciliation
- Apology
- Truth and Reconciliation Commissions
- Writing a common history
- Education
- Mass media
- Joint Projects
- Tourism
- Cultural exchanges
- NGO projects
- Publicized meetings between representatives of both groups
Unfortunately, leaders in this conflict have never apologized to each other.
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