Apr 27 2009
Responsibility, Accountability and Acceptance
In prior entries I’ve talked about the importance of ownership in the group process and the neccessity for accountability to the communities we serve. One political issue I’ve not yet delved into on this blog is the Israel Palestine conflict. I’d like to talk about this today and provide some commentary in a broader context. The three words entitled for this entry I think all apply to what is happening now and has happened with the peace process over the past nearly 61 years. There has been a fight for ownership in this region of the middle east, Who’s responsible for shaking up this situation is constantly debated over along with who’s accountable to do something about it and is that acceptable. This is where it becomes very complex. As I have in prior posts, I will start by stating my stance: I am Jewish, I strongly support Israel and the right to protect its border. Never will I condone or defend actions that violate human rights and I feel that this should not be ignored. This is what makes this issue complex for me.
There are many ways that we can rationalize behavior from the micro to macro levels. We can choose to take responsibility for some things and not for others. However, we must realize that if we do not take responsibility or we are remiss to acknowledge whether our actions have contributed to the pain or suffering of ourselves or others, we are limiting the way in which we can or will be accountable. In addition to this, the ability to accept the problem and find a solution becomes stifled. Yet, the key thing to understand is that all parties play a role in this type of approach to a problem and we must acknowledge the history and context that brought us to where we are.
I often think about the conflict in Israel and the middle east and every time I do so there is a different way of looking at it. We need to ask: Why did Jews need to establish a state and what was the reason for Israel? Why can’t the land be shared and how is it possible that it would have been taken away from Palestinians? What is contributing to the problems with violence and human rights today? Both countries need to ask these questions and answer them within the context of their own history, actions and philisophical view points. We must also ask who was involved in determining, supporting and condoning the ways in which these countries operate. Yet, this is such a complex issue and until we admit that we will never fully understand all of it, there will be no way of coming to consensus.
I’ll conclude by providing a few specific examples in context with these questions. With the recent conference on racism in Geneva and an emphasis on Zionism within this event, many are focusing in on the claims associated with Israel being an opressor of the Palestinian people. However, let’s remember that Zionism started before World War II and it only became an urgent call to action when the Jewish people were nearly destroyed. Additionally let’s remember that throughout history, Jerusalem and the surrounding territory have been fought over which did not have distinct ownership or a ruling power until Israel was founded. Finally, we must recognize that Palestinians in Israel have much better outcomes for health and education than they do in Arab countries and Jews are treated much worse in these countries as well. The US and the middle east must take responsibility for and accountability to the role they play in this conflict, while reaching towards acceptance of a shared role in negotiating peace and prosperity. There’s much more to this issue, of which I plan to write about. Share your thoughts and help me to model open dialogue.
