Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
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A quick comparison of narratives about Israel-Palestine and some of our own perspectives.
Narrative Comparison Chart
Some of you may be curious about which “camp” we fit into. Here is the bottom line up-front.
[draft in progress… feedback welcome…]
Footnotes
[draft in progress]
Where does the story begin?
Some major themes to understand:
The evolution of Nationalism and Zionism in Europe.
The experience of persecution and wandering among European Jews.
"Terrorism" in the American mind before/after 2001.
The role of Western empires in other parts of the world in the modern era, especially after industrialization in the Middle East, Africa, India, etc.
The effects of WW1 on the Middle East.
Competing political and economic philosophies of the 20th century and their effects on the Middle East-- socialism, capitalism, ethnic-nationalism, communism, etc.
The Cold War between the U.S. and Russia and its effects on the Middle East.
The Holocaust and the Nakba and their effects on modern Jewish/Palestinian identity.
The competition of historical "narratives" about Palestine, especially after the 1948 War. For example-- Israeli government speeches and statements, oral histories from Palestinians, the "new" vs. "old" Jewish-Israeli historians, news coverage of the Middle East in America vs. other parts of the world.
Whose fault is it? Who started it?
Responsibility (Oxford):
"The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone."
Responsibility is not directly related to fault. It does not obsess over the past but over the present and future. Those with the greatest responsibility are those with the greatest power/control to affect a situation, not those who are most "at fault" for it. To take responsibility is to embrace the fact that you are not a "non-player character" (only a victim) but have a role in the chain of cause-and-effect in a situation-- both in the past and future.
Attitude toward responsibility
Radical responsibility is the best attitude for peace-making. It says, "Regardless of what anyone else does, I am going to do everything in my power to work toward the best possible outcome."
Radical responsibility does not blame other parties for the effects of its own actions although it does seek to hold other parties responsible for the effects of their own actions.
Radical responsibility does not complain about something unless it has possible solution in mind. Even if another party is at "fault" in a situation, radical responsibility looks for ways to make it better on its own power.
What is the biggest barrier to peace?
Where does the Palestinian violence come from?
Who needs justice?
How will a lasting peace be achieved?
What is the best final solution to the conflict?
What should I do?