Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Problems with studying the Israel/Palestine conflict

I don't really know a ton about the conflict surrounding Israel and Palestine, but after doing the readings, it has become clear to me that it is a very deep and complex issue that is beyond any one historical event or any difference in religion. The complexity and controversy of the situation poses a real problem for anyone hoping to study the issue objectively or make a difference. There is no clear cut right and wrong in the objective sense, there is only the right and wrong committed by both sides in the process of the struggle. This lack of objective right and wrong make it very difficult to study an issue from both sides, and the differences of opinion of even the students and professor will pose a difficulty in studying this conflict. I also found it interesting that in the readings, even the smallest issues such as funding became major obstacles in the preparation for the preparation for the Festival. As an outsider, I have always wondered why it seemed that there could be no peace or harmony in Israel/Palestine, now I am beginning to understand the incredible tension of the power struggle that rages on (violently and politically) between these two nationalities, and, as I said, the complexity of the situation. I feel that these are the main struggles that will be undergone in the study of the Israel/Palestine conflict: having not grown up in the conflict, it is impossible for any of us to fully understand the complex dynamic or be able to do more than just read about it, which is great in theory, but perhaps will prove less effective for making any real life progress in the resolution of this ongoing struggle.