Page 1 - Israel-Palestine Conflict Call For Peace, TOI, 07.08.14

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The Times of India
Title : THE SPEAKING TREE - Israel-Palestine Conflict: Call For Peace
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Article Date : 08/07/2014

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Practical Vs Ideal Peace Palestinian Arabs live in West Bank, Gaza and Israel; their population in the three
regions is almost the same. Arabs live in peace in West Bank and Israel while Gaza suffers violence. Why this
difference? Arabs in West Bank and Israel have accepted practical peace, while those of Gaza are aiming for
ideal peace. Practical peace is achievable at any moment, whereas ideal peace is precisely that: an ideal. If
you accept the status quo, you get peace instantly. That's practical peace. If you want ideal peace, you will
have to change the status quo, so there is confrontation. The defeated party seeks revenge, and this sets off a
series of wars, leading to a cycle of revenge with no end in sight. This is what is happening in Gaza.

According to the law of nature, only two options are available: accept practical peace and establish normalcy,
or pursue ideal peace and face constant violence. Here is an example from early Islam. The Prophet started
his mission in 610 CE. Arabs, then tribals, were in constant conflict, and they turned hostile to the Prophet,
leading to an 18 year war. Then the Prophet adopted unilateral peace, accepting the conditions of the other
party by signing the Hudaybiyyah Agreement, bringing peace, throwing open opportunities that enabled Islam
to easily spread throughout Arabia. This was practical peace. The Hudaybiyyah Agreement shows that
unilateral peace is not about losing, but is about gaining.

Similarly, when Mongols destroyed the Abbasid Empire, the demoralised Muslims were not in a position to
fight. So, they accepted the status quo and within 50 years history changed. About this Philip Hitti has said:
“The religion of Muslims conquered where their arms had failed.“ Acceptance of reality is the key to success.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

There's Only One Way First, to resolve conflict, build trust between the two sides. But the long history of
bitter war between Israel and Palestine makes this difficult. All the talks so far have failed to resolve the
dispute due to absence of trust.
Attempts at ceasefire have not been long lasting either. Often war rhetoric unites people in a strange way.
Nationhood and religious ferocity take it beyond borders, complicating a local issue and making it an
international one. A conflict arises over small differences initially but when it runs into decades, it is kept
alive by vested interests on both sides. Blinded by hatred and political motives, fanatic elements including
those in positions of influence become numb to the suffering that their own people go through due to
violence.
Liberal leaders on both sides who tried to make peace have come under fire by extremists from their own
side. The conflict thrives on fanaticism in the garb of righteousness.

A prolonged war gives rise to generations of people who grow up without ever knowing peace and so become
part of the culture of conflict. Every conflict should be seen beyond its regional identity. To end the vicious
cycle of violence, leaders should place humanness above religious identity, and nationhood. Dialogue based
on trust is essential for peace and all vested interests like the arms lobby should be kept out. Often Track 2
diplomacy (people-to-people contact) works well. Public polls clearly indicate that people on both sides are
eager for peaceful settlement.
Leadership on both sides have to promote peace and consolidate public opinion towards it instead of inciting
aggression. This is the only way. Follow the masters on speakingtree.in and post your comments there.

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