How might I describe this place I am in? Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine.- It is a beautiful city, a heavy city- weighed down by tension- political tension, religious tension, a collision of faiths, a collision of the secular with the holy. Continually I must ask where my place is in all of this as an international observer, a student, a nurse, a follower of Jesus. I have been swinging between great despair and frustration and great hope in the face of the situation here, to the point that I feel slightly bipolar. Seeing the reality of checkpoints, the separation wall, the weary eyes of those who have endured here for so long, the great fear and ignorance that oppresses even the oppressors, just makes me so upset that I want to run away from it all- only to find that I cannot be silent about it.
Therefore, I will speak about what is going on here in Israel, or at least around this area of Jerusalem. This is what I see and hear, what I have learned and experienced- there will be many holes in it, for it is an immensely complex situation, but I will share my thoughts in hopes of getting a word out about what is going on here.
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I am taking a class on conflict resolution at Hebrew University. I am not sure what to expect from it but I am at least finding the reading interesting, despite being mostly theory based...“Classical conflict resolution, in some views, applies only to symmetric conflicts. In asymmetric conflicts the structure is such that the top-dog always wins, the under-dog always loses. The only way to resolve the conflict is to change the structure, but this can never be in the interests of the top-dog. So there are no win-win outcomes, and the third party has to join forces with the under-dog to bring about a resolution...From another point of view, however, even asymmetric conflicts impose costs on both parties. It is oppressive to be an oppressor, even if not so oppressive as to be oppressed. There are costs for the top-dogs in sustaining themselves in power and keeping the under-dogs down. In severe asymmetric conflicts the cost of the relationship becomes unbearable for both sides. This then opens the possibility for conflict resolution through a shift from the existing structure of relationships to another." (Miall, Ramsbotham, Woodhouse, Contemporary Conflict Resolution)
I find myself asking, has it yet become unbearable for both sides? Are we at a point here in Israel and Palestine where the conflict must be transformed and existing structures challenged?
Apparently, "Conflict Transformation" is not the mainstream way to approach the field of conflict resolution in Israel, it is considered on the more "radical" end of the spectrum because it challenges existing power structures. There is division among peace groups who are critical of each other's method of approaching the struggle for peace. Should we challenge the attitudes of society, the cultural violence (prejudice, justifying the violence)? Or is it best to go straight for combating the structural violence (the marginalization, policies of power that oppress)? What about simply trying to stop the physical violence?
In the apartheid struggle in South Africa, success came in the ability of all of these groups to work together, recognizing that all these facets of conflict must be addressed.
I believe in transformation here.
Today I stopped on my walk home from class to pray. Looking out on the night scape from Mount Scopus, over the sprawling city, the Dome of the Rock reflecting the city lights, I prayed a prayer for hope, not despair, for courage to speak truth in love, for justice and mercy to prevail in this city and for the first time in a few days I felt great peace.
