In the 20th Century the clash of civilizations started mainly in the Holy Land.
– The clashing parties that came face-to-face, were:
On the one side, the western culture (Judeo-Christian), represented
by Jews who had been refugees for close to two thousand years
and returned to their homeland, and on the other side,
the Middle Eastern culture (Arab-Muslim), that had ruled the
Middle East for an extended period – represented by Palestinians.
This was a very deep and intensive encounter between the two cultures.
The success of the state of Israel brought a clear mirror to the front of the face
of the quite dormant giant Middle Eastern culture. This helped create,
in the 21st century, the "Arab spring", resulting with a very significant widening
of the clash, to an extent where the original conflict was put into the shadow.
The widened conflict has unfortunately taken a very violent path
that today presents serious perils to humanity as a whole.
If one tries to focus back for a while on the original still unresolved conflict,
it is an outstanding fact that most of the energies of those involved emotionally
or practically in the conflict, are invested in hostile clashes,
mutual recriminations, self-protection and self-justifications.
After about 70 years of violence in the course of the Israeli-Palestinian national conflict
(1920-1991),the two sides have experienced close to 30 years of negotiations,
parallel to ongoing violence. The only thing that these negotiations have achieved
is an intensification of the the suffering of both sides.In light of this reality,
all those who believe in continuing with the direction set forth by negotiations –
a Two-State Solution, must answer the question – How many additional casualties,
what higher level of suffering and how many new refugees are necessary,
in order to understand that this path should be abandoned?
In contrast, those who are objecting to the above solution need to suggest
an alternative that will provide the sides with a better future:
The only way to arrive at a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
a solution that will make it possible to channel all the energies and resources
invested today in the conflict and re-direct them towards rehabilitation,
development and prosperity, is an out of the box solution.
This requires the sides to get high enough above the conflicting narratives
to view the conflict in a better perspective that is enabled by examining
the long-term history of the Holy Land. Only from this perspective can one
see the real roots of the conflict. Only on the basis of the genuine roots of the conflict,
can one build a creative, just and lasting peace in the Holy Land.
Moreover, from such a better-informed perspective,
it is possible to create a common ground for a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Culture
that can move humankind forward towards unprecedented prosperity!
The Alternative solution – The Engagement:
As the idea of a bi-national state, that is suggested as the alternative for the
two-state solution, proved itself as problematic in other places, the remaining solution
is a very surprising one that initially may appear as an unprecedented fantasy –
the engagement of the parties to the conflict to a single nation.
This amazing idea, that is presumably very naive and chance-less,
is supported by a series of studies about the identity of the Palestinians
as detailed further on.
The sharp deterioration that the Palestinian leadership brought upon the Palestinian public, including the situation of many of its most dedicated people,
combined with the high level of corruption that is attributed to this leadership
and with the phenomena of the Arab spring,
all contrasted by the background of Israel being a regional island of freedom,
prosperity and stability, prepare the ground for the Palestinian public to the
realization of the proposed solution. However, these are insufficient enablers
for the proposed solution, definitely for the Jewish side.
Here is where the said series of studies get into the picture.
A very large anthropological study, including various genetic studies,
a demographic-historical research and a historical-geographical one
were published in the 21st century and are detialed in the book
"Brother shall not Lift Sword Against Brother".
All these studies reinforce an earlier work of David Ben-Gurion
(the first prime minister of Israel) and others, in their very surprising finding:
A solid majority of the Palestinians (80%-90%) are descendants of the
People of Israel, who remained in the country following the destruction
of the Second Jewish Temple. The ancestors of most of the Palestinians
were forced to convert, mainly to Islam.
To demonstrate how wide the findings are going into the depth Palestinian society
we mention here that almost the entire high-level politicians of the PLO,
as well and the majority of Hamas leaders, are of a Jewish origin.
This includes Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen – a descendant of a family of Rabbis),
the late Dr. Sa'eb Erikat, Jibril Rajub (Argov), Maruwan Barguti, Nabil Sha'at,
Khanan Ashrawi, from the Fatah movement, the Israeli Khanin Zuabi,
and late sheikh Akhmad Yassin, Ismail Hani'ya, Dr. Mussa Abu Marzuk,
Muhammed Def, Dr. Aziz Duwek (a Cohen), and above all Yikhyeh Sinuar from Hamas.
To pinpoint to the generic similarities found between Jews and Paletinians,
the following list provides their various types and the research institures involved:
1. Blood component groups – prof. Bat Sheva Tamir Boneh, Tel Aviv university.
2. Sickle Anemia – prof. Ariella Oppenheim, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
3. Parental linage – The Y chromosome – Multiple institutes with prof. Ariela Oppenheim.
4. The immune System – Compoltensa university, Madrid.
5. Inherited Deafness – Tel Aviv University
6. The Maternal linage – Dr. Avshalom Zusman-Diskin
7. The Thay-Zacks disease – Ikhilov-Surasky medical center, Tel Aviv.
8. Bone marrow transplant – Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem
9. A gene contributing to increased probability for breast cancer – She'arey Tsedek Hospital, Jerusalem.
When it becomes clear that the parties to the conflict are really blood-brothers,
but are not aware of this situation, it makes self-evident that the continuation
of the conflict is a hopeless stupidity and is an outrageous unjust,
that the only reason for its existence is the ignorance about the
real identity of the Palestinians. All the above lead to one clear conclusion:
To break the deadlock in the Holy Land,
a just and lasting solution is required – by the return of the
majority of the Palestinians to the people of Israel –
an extremely challenging process of an engagement of peace between
the Palestinians and the Jews west of the Jordan River.
This process will form a one state for one people – The People of Israel,
without forcing any religious conversion
(as detailed in The Engagement Pamphlet which is referred to later on).
What is being proposed here may be on the one hand,
an unprecedented and unbelievable revolution in its immensity,
but, on the other hand, for the lack of any alternative,
after the right planning and preparations,
it is going to happen and work successfully.
The above will not, however, complete the required change in the Middle East.
The stormy present in the Arab world, even after it will settle down
to some extent, is incapable of solving the problems existing there.
These problems are much deeper than a change of regime or a change of a ruler,
which may even worsen the situation.
The important use of the various social networks will not guaranty,
by itself alone, that the contemporary Arab world will desert its negative
contribution to humanity' by spreading terror, destruction, violence and
threat to world freedom, done in the pretense of the will to renew
the glory of the Muslim Caliphate.
The use of social networks will not enable, by itself, the Arab world
to bring a positive contribution to humanity, like the Muslim Caliphate
brought in the period of its glory following its beginning,
a contribution that shined above the rest of humanity.
The removal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict form the regional and world's
agenda, followed by shutting down the flames of hatred against Israel, will enable
the united people of Israel to resume its historical role as a light to the nations,
and collaborate with the rest of the nations of the region in moving the Middle East
to the future they aspire to. In particular, in the current situation created in and by Iran.
Iran's leadership will look for any respectable ladder it may use, to get down
from the high tree of nuclear weapon they climbed upon.
A respectable and just solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
can provide the Iranian leadership, the required excuse.
A recent interview by Eliyahu Berkowitz
A set of interviews by Arie Lowell Gellin
In order to briefly read more about The Engagement Peace Plan, choose:</p
The Engagement group in Facebook
An interview by Lowell Gellin for a NY Jewish TV, from August 2012
A press conference of The Engagement Movement from March 2012
Jewish signs among the Palestinians:
An interview by Christine Darg
An interview of Tova Raz on her new book by David Grossman in MENSCHlife