Page 6 - Pakistan Link - May 28, 2021

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – MAY 28, 2021 OPINION
There Will Be No Peace Without a Process of Reconciliation

n By Dr Alon Ben-Meir logical and practical implications, especially
Center for Global Affairs at NYU as both sides move toward substantive peace
New York talks.
o one should have the illusion that People-to-people measures on the
once a ceasefire is established, Israel ground
Nand the Palestinians should or can As the above measures are taken, people-
negotiate a peace agreement. Given the de- to-people interaction becomes a n a t ura l
cades-long deep hatred and process conducted in a constantly improving
distrust, a process of recon- atmosphere. The following measures are being
ciliation must precede such pursued today on a small scale and should be
negotiations to achieve an greatly expanded.
enduring peace i) Mutual visitation: Israel and the Pales-
Since a ceasefire between tinian Authority must agree to allow mutual
Israel and the Palestinians has visitation. It is hard to exaggerate the value of
been agreed upon, there are such visits when ordinary Israelis and Pales-
those who advocate that peace negotiations tinians meet in their respective places of resi-
between the two sides should commence im- dence to share experiences and understand
mediately to prevent future conflagration and each other’s grievances and concerns, and of-
bring an end to the destructive seven-decades- ten discover that their shared interests and as-
old conflict. I could not disagree more. Where- pirations are far greater than their differences.
as a peace agreement based on a two-state ii) Women activism: Activism by Israeli
solution must eventually be the outcome, no and Palestinian women can be a very impor-
agreement can be reached unless it is preceded tant part of the reconciliation process. Israeli
by a process of reconciliation for a period of at and Palestinian women should use their for-
least five years to mitigate the ingrained hatred against each other. Indeed, rather than prepar- educational institutions. Both sides must stop midable power to demand that their respective
and distrust between them. Such a process ing the public for the inevitability of peace and disseminating inaccurate historic accounts leaders end the conflict. The role of women in
would consist of multiple measures that run engaging in constructive public dialogue, they in their textbooks and reinforce that through ending the conflict in Northern Ireland offers
simultaneously on government-to-govern- have been poisoning the political atmosphere their public discourse. a vivid picture of how women can impact the
ment and people-to-people levels, which can and setting one side against the other, creat- Taking no provocative action: The Pal- course of events.
accelerate and enhance the implementation of ing the perception that peace is an illusion and estinians should not turn to the International iii) Joint sporting events: Sports are an
the reconciliation process. that the differences between them are simply Criminal Court (ICC) to charge Israel with incredibly useful tool in building camaraderie
There are several preconditions upon irreconcilable. crimes against humanity, and must prevent and friendship between the two sides, whether
which Israel must agree to allow reconciliation Establishing an economic relationship: any terrorist attack against Israeli targets. Isra- competing against each other or as part of a
to advance unimpeded. This includes: no fur- Israelis and Palestinians must develop a strong el on the other hand must not unduly restrict joint team. Football, basketball, and other
ther annexation of a single inch of Palestinian economic relationship. Other than trade, Is- the movement of Palestinians, and must stop sports teams can meet alternately in Israel and
territory, no expanding settlements beyond raeli investors should be encouraged to invest the practice of night raids and end the demoli- Palestine to train and compete, and together
their established parameters, and maintaining in the future Palestinian state. Economic ex- tion and/or eviction of Palestinians from their they can cheer the generous spirit of the game
the current status quo of Jerusalem. changes, investment, and development will residences anywhere, and especially in East where the victory is the game itself, not the fi-
foster a very close relationship between the Jerusalem. nal score.
Government-to-government reconcilia- two sides. Maintaining security cooperation: Israel iv) Student interaction: Palestinian and
tory measures Modifying school textbooks: Israel and and the Palestinians should not only continue Israeli students should connect with one an-
Halting the mutually acrimonious pub- the Palestinians must modify their textbooks to collaborate on all security matters but fur- other and talk about their aspirations and
lic narrative: Israeli and Palestinian leaders to reflect an objectively more accurate and ther augment future cooperation. Alleviating hopes for the future. Israeli and Palestinian
must stop their acrimonious public narratives less biased historic account throughout their concerns over security will have both psycho- RECONCILIATION, P24

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