Region | Palestinian Territories
Is a peaceful future possible?
Whether a just resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is close at hand or close to impossible is in the eye of the beholder.
- Reuters
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
- Neama Ebrahim is hopeful of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Occupied Jerusalem, Bethleham, Abu Ghosh: Whether a just resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is close at hand or close to impossible is in the eye of the beholder.
Palestinian pupils about to graduate from high school in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as in Israel where they are called Arab Israelis, paused during final exams this week to give the following snapshots of their views on the future.
Most were born in 1991, the year the Madrid Conference began a "peace process" that, 18 years on, has yet to yield the state desired by Palestinians or to settle other disputes with Israel.
Palestinians in the West Bank live under occupation in a poor but semi-autonomous region, ultimately controlled by the Israeli military. Arab Israelis complain of discrimination, but have access to Israel's modern economy and welfare system.
In Gaza, ruled by Hamas Islamists who preach armed resistance to Israel, Palestinians live in a blockaded coastal enclave often described by symapthisers as an "open-air prison," to which Israel and Egypt have the keys.
Seven of ten pupils were pessimistic about peace.
Three said peace was inevitable, however distant, because "we live in a modern, progressive world".
Mohammad Abu Surour of Aida refugee camp said: "Peace is hopeless because Israel is a Zionist state."
Margaret Zarour of East Jerusalem, at school in Bethlehem, said: "It's possible to have peace if both sides make concessions and forgive each other and forget their losses."
Would there be a viable Palestinian state in 10 years?
Six said it was not likely.
"The Palestinian Authority was established nearly 20 years ago with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state," Murad Nassar of Bethlehem said. "This has not happened."
But four foresaw some form of handicapped state.
"Israel is talking about a demilitarised state, with limited sovereignty and no territorial contiguity in the West Bank, which is cut off from the Gaza Strip," Zarour said.
What about the risk of another major war?
Four said any major war would involve Iran and probably the United States so it was unlikely because it could go nuclear.
"There will be no major war because the Iranian elections are a catastrophe for that country and it was partly the work of American and Israeli meddling," Abu Surour said.
Asked if they might leave the region for good, seven out of the ten said they would like to study abroad where they'd have better opportunities. But they would come back.
"This land is ours and it is our right and duty to stay here in our land," said Majdi Abdeh. "My land and family need me."
"I want to study abroad and work in the Gulf for some years. Then, I will come back and stay," Jeryis Mansour said.
Arab Israeli pupils at the Abu Ghosh High School near occupied Jerusalem, in one of the most integrated towns in Israel, were divided on the viability of Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Neama Ebrahim, 18, said: "I am hopeful there will be peace because people have a basic right to live in peace. Inshallah (God willing).
"I have a conflict about who I am, where I am and who is my people ... I don't feel my situation is stable as an Arab living in Israel. The way Israel defines itself [as a Jewish state] is perhaps racist. But I don't want Jews to leave and I don't want Palestinians to leave. I want them to have their own states."
Yousuf Jamal, 18, said: "The two sides have conflicting demands that makes any solution almost impossible. But in the end there will be peace."
All feared war in the region. Almost all planned to stay except Zed Abou Kuraish, 17.
"Peace between Jews and Arabs is hard to achieve because there is a struggle between two nations. There will not be a Palestinian state," he said. "And there are difficult problems in Palestine itself, in the West Bank and Gaza."
Hadil Hussain Ebrahim, 18, said: "I introduce myself as a Palestinian citizen living in the state of Israel ... And I can tell you that in Israel we have good living standards ..."
Reuters
Optimism
Mousa Hassan and Neama Ebrahim are hopeful of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
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