For a Peace
Pragmatism marks China’s proposal to bring Palestine and Israel together for talks By Mara Lee
When Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on July 18, Xi proposed a new, trilateral dialogue mechanism for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The proposal came just days before weeks of violence and turmoil in the Middle East region, the worst so far this year.
After an attack at the holy site of Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, known as the Temple Mount to Jews, that killed two Israeli police officers, the Israeli Government closed the site for two days, adding cameras and metal detectors. However, it was later forced to remove the metal detectors after enormous pressure.
Heart of the conflict
The recent unrest in and around Jerusalem underscores how the city is both the geographical and symbolic heart of the conflict. It is the holiest city in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Jerusalem is also home to diverse groups of people: secular and orthodox Jews, Muslims, Christians and many others. Engaging in meaningful efforts toward conflict resolution therefore requires an understanding of the history and important cultural and religious sensitivities of the region. But it also requires understanding that at its core, this is not a religious conflict.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is largely a product of political decisions and has continued partly because of the lack of political leadership and partly because of the frequent hijacking of the agenda by extremists.
As violence escalates in the region, it is urgent and necessary for external actors to adopt a solutions-oriented framework and support the moderates in both communities working to end this conflict.
Moderate majorities
Inside Palestinian society, which is deeply fractured, there is a struggle between those who advocate violence and those who are committed to gaining independence through peaceful means. Zimam is a civil society organization working in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, supporting Palestinian statehood through nonviolent means.
“When young Palestinians have no hope and nothing to lose, it is easy for them to be attracted to and resort to violence,” Zimam CEO Samer Makhlouf said. “We want these young people to live for Palestine. Palestine will benefit if they are alive as doctors, teachers and engineers, serving their communities as well-educated citizens and participating in building our state and its institutions. As a Palestinian, as a person and as a father, I refuse and reject all forms of violence. It’s not taking us anywhere.”
Makhlouf believes that the majority of Palestinians support his views and wish to live at peace with their neighbors in a free and independent Palestinian state. Public polling has demonstrated this for decades. However, there have been dips in support for a two-state solution in recent years. When people feel hopeful of its prospects, they are overwhelmingly supportive, but during spates of violence and increased Israeli military presence in Palestinian territory, it dissipates.
Israeli public opinion often follows similar trends. When violence and tension are high, the belief that a resolution is in sight drops. When meaningful efforts are made to advance