Sand in their Eyes

Jacob Kotlicky
Yeshiva University

Ridiculous: whenever I’m asked my opinion on the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that is the first word that comes to mind. People are dying on a daily basis on both sides. Does anyone know or care about the current civilian casualty count? It certainly seems not. Fighting and decimation are what both sides seem to be focused on. It’s a constant blame game between two parties who refuse to accept any of the responsibility for the death and destruction that has occurred in the Middle East since the early 1900’s. And frankly, it is truly revolting.

It is impossible to go for even one week without turning on the news or opening the newspaper without hearing of some act of destruction or aggression committed by at least one of the parties. Most of the time, they are followed by personal commentary of some politician, in an attempt to sway the viewer or reader to side with their group. In this country, it seems that usually the views presented aren’t specifically geared to make the Israelis appear in the "right," but more to make the Palestinians seem "wrong." Both ignite a fire and fan the flames of hatred towards the opposing group.

Walk onto any college campus in the U.S. and you’ll find two distinct groups of individuals. There are those who feel that Israel (and, more specifically, the Jews) is 100% entitled to all that is considered Israel, while the Palestinians who wish to declare part of it as their homeland and continue occupation have absolutely no base. Enough violence and death have come from their hands, and the Palestinians deserve all that has been done to them and more. On the flip side, there are many anti-Israel individuals who feel that the land first belonged to the Arabs and the Israelis stole it from them. They were the initial occupants and should therefore be the ones who control the land.

Have the origins of the dispute been forgotten?

Is it possible that both sides have spent so long being aggressive towards, and blaming, the other that the origins of the dispute have been forgotten? Furthermore, who says that in a situation like this there is always a clear cut right or wrong? Why does there have to be? In my opinion, there isn’t one.

There is absolutely no way to separate the fact from fiction and come to a conclusion that either the Palestinians or the Israelis have had less than equal shares in the destruction over the past century.

I prefer to think of it all in the following manner: Two kids are in a sandbox. One of them throws sand at the other. Instead of either asking why it was thrown or going and talking to either a teacher or parent, this child throws sand back at the first. But this time, they must one-up the other and throw more sand or make sure it hurts by throwing it in the eyes. And this goes on and on, each trying to one-up the other and both getting hurt until either both kids are so hurt that they can’t throw anymore, their eyes sting and can barely see. The other option is that an adult steps in, separates the two and punishes them both, thereby ending the argument. Most of the time, both kids get into trouble because they both were wrong.

'I saw all that happened' in Jerusalem

How fitting! A terror attack occurs, so the Israeli Army decides to go back into the West Bank and retake control after giving it previously to local authorities. This, in turn, is taken as an act of aggression and oppression by the Israelis who, in an act of revenge and retaliation, go and bomb yet another location. In 2000, Ariel Sharon went with a large group of heavily armed guards to the Temple Mount on a supposed tour. Many supporters feel that the ensuing violence on behalf of the Palestinians is just further proof of their opposition to peace and try to say that Sharon was merely there to look at the sacred sight. I was there overlooking the entire scene and saw all that happened. Troops were lining up outside the green doors on the ramp all dressed in heavy-duty riot gear. They filled the entire ramp and there were more waiting on the Kotel Plaza. But if Sharon was really only there for a visit, what was the need for the guards and all the soldiers, ready on a moment's notice? Sharon went up with a group of heavily armed guards (at least a dozen) and at that point rocks began to be thrown and a riot on the Mount ensued. In fact, the demonstrations that followed quickly developed into what became known as the al-Aqsa Intifada. And the two kids keep throwing sand.

Each side is intent on wiping out the other

So the question remains, what exactly can be done? In the example of the two kids, eventually an adult can possibly step in. But here, who’s really qualified to do so? Not the United States, not the UN, but then who? Is it going to take God Him/Herself to come down and punish them both? Or will it really come down to both sides being so hurt that they can no longer fight? Sadly, it seems that the latter is more likely to occur. Each side seems so intent on wiping out the other that they have stopped caring about what is happening to themselves.

Countless Israeli and Palestinian civilians and soldiers are being killed every day, both for what they both consider a "holy war." And neither side wants to admit that there’s even a slight chance that the other may have some validity in their arguments. God forbid they are not 100% right on this. But in reality, no one is. In every argument there are three opinions, one to each of the opposing sides, and then there’s the reality that floats somewhere in the middle. But in order to discover the truth, everyone must stop being so set on destroying one another and be fully willing to take a step back. While it leaves each side vulnerable, it is the only way that a resolution which will appease both sides will come to fruition. Neither side has been willing to literally set everything down and approach the table with a completely open mind. Until then, the only thing we can predict is the continuation of the killing of innocent individuals as the hateful sentiments spread.

All we can hope for is that one day, both sides will realize the absurdity of the situation and that neither will get what they want until they are willing to compromise and come up with a solution to end the violence, hate, and fear.

[Posted 4/19/04]