I would like to thank the Emerald for presenting two balanced views on the current crisis on the Middle East (“Where do we stand?” ODE, April 5). However, I found that both editorials missed a key point.
The current crisis, in my opinion, has more to do with religion and freedom than issues regarding land. The Palestinians and Arabs in Israel are in essence an oppressed people who want the right to be free. Remember these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” and that among these inalienable rights are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Palestinian people are and have suffered tremendously under the Israeli occupation and are treated as second class citizens (or less). As an American, I believe the words “these rights are inalienable” to mean that all people — not just Americans, not just Europeans, not just the Israelis — have the right to live without fear in a free society.
Israel is a religious state; many hard-line Zionists believe they have a ”God”-given right to be in Israel, that the Jewish temple should be re-erected and that Jerusalem should become the new capital of Israel. On the other side, Palestine is, in essence, also a religious state, and the Dome of the Rock (one of the most holy sites in Islamic tradition) is built on what was the old Jewish temple. Jerusalem has also been the Palestinian capital for hundreds of years.
Let’s not forget the Christians either. East Jerusalem and Bethlehem are incredibly important religious sites for Christians. Hence, religion and freedom are a key issue to this conflict. The United States and the United Nations need to take a stand and separate the two parties, give the Palestinians their state and enforce the peace.
However, there needs to be a consequence for both sides, since they can’t settle their own problems. Jerusalem should become a U.N. protectorate — a place that is safe and free for people of all faiths. Since Jerusalem is key to what both parties want, it should be taken off the table and made a non-issue.
Like two four-year-olds fighting on the playground, one of the key punishments is to take away their toys and get them out of the sand box. Both Israel and Palestine should be treated as such.