To Understand and Not to Understand!
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a source of contention and debate since I remember. Israel was introduced onto my radar in my youth as the epicenter of Jewish history and culture. We were indoctrinated into looking upon Israel as the chosen people of God, and I vividly recall teachers and those within my community who portrayed Israel as the “home team”. Admittedly, in my younger years, I regarded what I was told as gospel truth and solely believed that Israel was a people who were infringed upon and the source of constant attack because of being God’s chosen. An elementary school religion teacher once doubled down on this perspective, telling our class that from biblical beginnings, the tension and war have continued and will continue until the Lord’s return. As I contemplate what I was exposed to growing up I can easily define my knowledge as ignorance and am grateful for the fact I learned to do my own homework.
Martin Bunton’s writing. The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict further reiterates my summation. Bunton highlights this conflict has existed for centuries and not since the bible was written. [1] Bunton’s perspective is called into question by me as several Old Testament accounts make a compelling argument this conflict has biblical roots. One undebatable point his book speaks to is how he helps shine the light on the Zionist perspective and the true origins of how the battle lines were drawn. Also, his timeline of defining Palestine, highlighting how Palestine did not originally exist in name but rather a territory, gives clarity to the Palestinian identity. [2] This is a new but helpful revelation to me in better understanding Palestinian genealogy.
Another takeaway for me was the level of involvement world powers have consistently engaged in, in a good faith attempt to score peace while also attempting a strong hand towards reconciliation. Living in the United States we are prone to be saturated with the American response to the crisis in the Middle East but Bunton lays out the multiple worldwide governments and individuals who relentlessly have attempted to bring a peaceful resolution to this bitter conflict.
Admittedly, most of the perspectives I have heard in prior years was Pro-Israel and to embrace a Palestinian perspective was rare and many times not held in high regard. The latest clash between both factions has impacted me to bring fresh eyes to the war in addition to the injuries and casualties surrounding it. The media has pivoted more tellingly, showing viewers unforgettable raw images. What was typically shielded and shadowed has been replaced with gruesome and devastating pictures and videos of carnage that one cannot unsee. From my perspective, never has it been so raw and real and in your face that no one can turn a blind eye too. Social media pages and the internet have also given the public unprecedented and uncensored access to real-time boots on ground photo and video coverage.
Navigating this conflict for myself is still hard to embrace. On a denominational level, the church has acknowledged the conflict but has refused to take a hard-line stance in support or opposition of either group. Locally, our church engages in open dialogue about both sides and the pain that is felt watching the injured and the lives lost. Ironically, my congregation has family members or friends on both sides, and some days, the tension in the house does mount. We are advocates for prayer and also have great relationship with a local organization Interfaith Works, who has done an excellent job navigating dialogue around this sensitive topic. Dialogues surrounding ceasefire, tolerance, acceptance, peace, and conflict resolution are at the forefront and we even bring it back home to Syracuse, discussing what can we do locally to curb the violence and divisiveness within our very own community.
As we prepare for another presidential election, conversations about democracy and the liberty we have here in America also arise while simultaneously holding space for all involved in this international conflict. Playing basketball at a professional level in Europe I am reminded of the vivid experience as we traveled to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Our plane, upon landing, was met by a tank escort on the tarmac, then a police and military motorcade escort to the hotel and arena. Being guarded by officers with assault rifles while on the bench for the duration of the game, it felt as though we were playing in a large holding cell rather than the beautiful arena which was lost upon us. Shimon a young staffer better known as Shimmy was an avid basketball fan who worked at our hotel. I asked how his morning was, and I will never forget his response.
He said: “my morning will never compare to his morning and my day will never compare to his day.”
He said: “Every morning you wake up to sun, rain, and wind. We wake up to clouds of smoke.
You wake up with an alarm clock. We are awakened by alarms telling us to take shelter.
You wake up and can look in the sky and see planes overhead; we wake up and see jets and helicopters and see missiles, bombs, and bullets.
Finally, he said you are leaving on a plane to go home, he said I am living in the middle of all this – and this is my home!
In the end being knowledgeable about the conflict is a plus, however I am convinced as Shimmy alluded in our conversation there will be a lot of us on the outside who will never fully understand. So, ultimately, I navigate this conflict with prayer, understanding, and empathy.
- Martin Bunton, The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2013), 2.
- Bunton, 12
About the Author
Daren Jaime
9 responses to “To Understand and Not to Understand!”
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Daren thanks for sharing Shimmy’s response. That provides great perspective that, Praise God, we do not have. I’m so glad that you are able to have conversations at your church and throughout Syracuse. I too have been amazed at the number of countries that are trying or have tried over the years to intervene in this conflict. I wonder, is there a country that has intervened that really surprises you?
Hi Daren,
Thank you for your post. Your conversation with Shimmy poignantly highlights the stark contrast between life in a war-torn region and life in relative safety, even amid the stress of international travel and sports. Shimmy’s reflections offer a powerful reminder of the harsh realities faced daily by those living in conflict zones, emphasizing how our perspectives can be shaped by our circumstances. Our experiences and understanding of such conflicts may be limited from a distance, yet cultivating empathy and seeking to understand the lived realities of others is crucial.
Based your experience and interactions, how has the shift in media coverage and social media access influenced public perception of the Israel-Palestine conflict?
Hi Shela! I think the media coverage this time around has shined a light on more innocent bloodshed. I believe more people are engaged because of the rise of social media causing an increase of both supporters and protesters where prior too many were silent.
To your question about engagement dialogues need to be set up to expose young people to not only the history of this conflict, but also knowing that there are peacemakers who are working around the clock daily.
When authentic dialogue goes forth there are pathways to empathy and relationships can be formed. We do a lot of talking at as opposed to talking to.
Daren, thanks for sharing your journey from youth till now. I some ways you’ve had to deconstruct your understanding and reconstruct a different view on this issue. I also appreciate your stance of prayer, understanding and empathy.
A friend of mine often says that watching the “legacy media” is not the best way to get educated on world issues. I am learning to look elsewhere as well. What other sources do you go to these days as you seek to understand?
Hey Graham, I have searched for some authors who have invested quality time in covering this. Arab and Jew by David Shipler is a good read. I have also been encouraged to read Rashid Khalidi’s The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine. I am also searching for nonpartisan podcasts to become better informed.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for your post and for sharing your story. How can we help young people understand and navigate the complexities of conflicts like the one between Israelis and Palestinians, and apply those insights to fostering empathy and peaceful coexistence in their own communities?”
Daren, I appreciate your approach in this post. I was intrigued by the idea of having families in your congregation represent people on both sides of this conflict. While I don’t have both sides of this conflict in my congregation, I do have a polarized political presence. What have you learned from navigating the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict that might inform how you lead through a heated political conflict?
Hey Chad! Thanks for asking, alot of what comes across in the media never touches the backstory. I have had conversations about land and the value and image it portrays in Palestinian culture. I am sensitive to both sides when speaking publicly and have encouraged our congregants to seek out some of the interfaith discussions which have broadened many perspectives.
It is a misnomer that there are not many on both sides who seek peace. I was struck to hear how many families just want peace in this conflict because the fear is many of their innocent loved ones could become a casualty if a resolve is not soon met.
Hi Daren, Thank you for sharing about your unique experience in Israel. I truly appreciate the final statements of your post. I found much humility in your words. We often think “we know,” but there are many things we will never truly understand concerning specific contexts (e.g., the Palestinian-Israeli conflict). I desire to maintain this posture in North Africa.