Important to note that Israeli citizens have been anti-Netanyahu for quite some time and I think that’s important. Also the young up-and-coming Israeli generation seem to have been serious peace-niks especially regarding Palestine. Now they’ve been radicalized, most probably for life.
Important to note that Israeli citizens have been anti-Netanyahu for quite some time and I think that’s important. Also the young up-and-coming Israeli generation seem to have been serious peace-niks especially regarding Palestine. Now they’ve been radicalized, most probably for life.
I’m not as sanguin as you that ordinary Palestinians are as secular-thinking (meaning they just want a good life regardless of their culture and religious beliefs) as you imply. Sad to say, but islamic countries don’t seem to fare well overall, especially for girls and women. West Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, and on and on. Those who have inherited a great bargaining power (oil), do well economically but they have a one-horse economy that is never good in a changing world. And we see the unrest in Iran. Part is due I suppose to economic decline due to international sanctions, but mostly I think the young people are fed-up with the status quo.
I hope you’re right Justin, but I remain deeply sceptical. I believe given freedom, Palestinians will squander it.
While I think colonialism can become an excuse for bad, corrupt governments behaving badly, it's hard to separate out all the promise and opportunity in some of these countries — Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq — from Western (and Soviet) meddling, which left them ravaged, poorer, angry, and susceptible to takeover and radicalization. Once upon a time, I was pursuing a history degree with this general focus.
Anyway, I think you're right that young people (and, increasingly, old one too!) are fed up with the status quo in many of these countries. They want security, liberty, and stability. Israel has a really great opportunity, here, to help Palestinians get all three — and to help itself in the process.
I agree « Israel has a great opportunity to help Palestinians » but as it stands now I can’t imagine Palestinians ever cooperating with Jews. My brother backpacked around the Middle East back in the 70’s and 80’s when it was somewhat safe then for a white male, and he was invited to share dinner often with families (men only, of course). He said languages, cuisine, and culture changed depending on region, except for one thing in common: hatred of Jews. Dogs, they were called. I never forgot that, anecdotal as it is. I truly want to be an optimist like you Justin and I do wish the best for Palestinians. They live in paradise. In my very humble opinion (hope to be argued out of it) I think they would have to rise above Islam and Sharia to overcome a medieval mindset and truly flourish.
Reading that comment it strikes me that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence for populations. Countries that are blowing up want stability and countries that have had stability for decades currently have pretty big chunks of their populations that seem to want to blow it up.
Hard one.
Important to note that Israeli citizens have been anti-Netanyahu for quite some time and I think that’s important. Also the young up-and-coming Israeli generation seem to have been serious peace-niks especially regarding Palestine. Now they’ve been radicalized, most probably for life.
I’m not as sanguin as you that ordinary Palestinians are as secular-thinking (meaning they just want a good life regardless of their culture and religious beliefs) as you imply. Sad to say, but islamic countries don’t seem to fare well overall, especially for girls and women. West Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, and on and on. Those who have inherited a great bargaining power (oil), do well economically but they have a one-horse economy that is never good in a changing world. And we see the unrest in Iran. Part is due I suppose to economic decline due to international sanctions, but mostly I think the young people are fed-up with the status quo.
I hope you’re right Justin, but I remain deeply sceptical. I believe given freedom, Palestinians will squander it.
Would be extremely happy to be proven wrong.
I appreciate the skepticism!
While I think colonialism can become an excuse for bad, corrupt governments behaving badly, it's hard to separate out all the promise and opportunity in some of these countries — Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq — from Western (and Soviet) meddling, which left them ravaged, poorer, angry, and susceptible to takeover and radicalization. Once upon a time, I was pursuing a history degree with this general focus.
Anyway, I think you're right that young people (and, increasingly, old one too!) are fed up with the status quo in many of these countries. They want security, liberty, and stability. Israel has a really great opportunity, here, to help Palestinians get all three — and to help itself in the process.
I agree « Israel has a great opportunity to help Palestinians » but as it stands now I can’t imagine Palestinians ever cooperating with Jews. My brother backpacked around the Middle East back in the 70’s and 80’s when it was somewhat safe then for a white male, and he was invited to share dinner often with families (men only, of course). He said languages, cuisine, and culture changed depending on region, except for one thing in common: hatred of Jews. Dogs, they were called. I never forgot that, anecdotal as it is. I truly want to be an optimist like you Justin and I do wish the best for Palestinians. They live in paradise. In my very humble opinion (hope to be argued out of it) I think they would have to rise above Islam and Sharia to overcome a medieval mindset and truly flourish.
Reading that comment it strikes me that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence for populations. Countries that are blowing up want stability and countries that have had stability for decades currently have pretty big chunks of their populations that seem to want to blow it up.