Originally published on the CGS blog on January 17, 2014.
The fight between Palestine and Israel is one that has been in the news for the past 70 years, and a literal fight it has been. With prolific violence on both sides, and even from outside of the country, this dispute over territory and religious rights has been devastating for all involved. While there have been attempts at peace, talks with both sides, and leaders who want to end the conflict, violence has continued to trump every effort at peaceful negotiation. But why is this so?
Why does violence continue when everyone wants the same thing, an end to the conflict and the killing? Some will say that it’s because the people feel powerless to effect change through nonviolent means. Others will say it is because the other side attacked first or violence is the only way to take back what has been stolen from them. While these all probably contribute greatly to the perpetuation of violence, I believe that the root of it stems from the teaching of violence and the cultural norm it has become.
An article published by the New York Times on January 14th titled “Training Fighters of Future Across Gaza” is what got me thinking about this issue. The article focuses on a boot camp that “target[s] the students to create future soldiers and leaders who can defend their cause and appreciate the value of resistance.” This program, called Futuwwa, was originally offered as an elective in Gaza high schools and consists of lectures on weapons, street fighting, fitness, and Israel’s recruitment of spies. Instead of being taught tolerance and negotiation skills, these students are instead being flooded with militant ideology that is only reinforced by the attacks they have experience from Israel in their lifetime. Similarly, with a mandatory draft into the military for all men and women, the Israelis are being taught the same code of violence.
If there were to be resources focused instead on the teaching of tolerance, peace, negotiation, and diplomacy, a community and ideology of talk first and hit later would develop, opening the doors for more communication and an outlet through which positive talks could begin.
Albert Einstein said, “We must begin to inoculate our children against militarism by educating them…I would rather teach peace than war, love rather than hate.” Most of those growing up in Israel and Palestine only know violence. The only way they can understand and work towards peace is through education and the knowledge that there is another option besides the violence of war.
