With a lot of work and some luck, the Israelis and Palestinians can get out of an unhappy marriage with a friendly divorce, three experts said Wednesday.
University associate geography professor Shaul Cohen used that analogy during a discussion on the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Dr. Sherifa Zuhur, a visiting professor of national security affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, and Dr. Jonathan Seidel, a rabbi and adjunct instructor of Judaic and religious studies, joined Cohen in the discussion.
Zuhur said her views do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army or the United States government.
“I’m concerned, very concerned, that the U.S. is not engaging in the right way with the Palestinian-Israeli issue,” Zuhur said.
Zuhur said that the Palestinians could spiral into civil war if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the U.S. government continue to exclude and refuse to recognize Hamas, the newly elected governing party of the Palestinian National Authority.
Zuhur said that with support of the United States, Israel has frozen millions of Hamas’ dollars in its banks.
“This really disturbs me as someone working in the government that the answer is to somehow starve the Palestinians into doing what we want,” Zuhur said.
She said Hamas, which serves the public first as an entity of social welfare and second as a political force, has always done so in the spirit of Muslim brotherhood. She said although Hamas has used violence the party can help move toward peace.
She said Islam guides Hamas, but secular nationalism guides Palestinian politics.
Cohen said the U.S. promised Palestinians better living conditions as part of the Oslo peace accords, but living conditions have gotten worse.
He said that while Israel’s Olmert is a weak leader, Olmert said in his prime minister acceptance speech that Israel needs to make painful changes to obtain peace with the Palestinians.
The American government treats Hamas “as if it’s solely engaged in the business of terror,” Cohen said.
“Hamas is an opportunity, not an obstacle,” he said.
Cohen said the situation will improve if the Americans, Palestinians and Israelis create a plan for peace and realize their common ground.
“It is possible for Palestinians and Israelis to be decent neighbors and strong allies,” Cohen said. “Oddly, I’m feeling fairly optimistic.”
Seidel said “Jews shouldn’t allow people to suffer who are under their control and domination.”
“I would suggest a policy of targeted assassinations,” Seidel said.