In 1970, economist Amitai Etzioni wrote a review of a book produced by the American Friends Service Committee (seek for Peace in the Middle East) in the journal Psychiatry & Social Science Review. His main point about the book was the lack of new ideas to deal with the problem. But his perception of the conflict was the negative effect of outside influences on the ability of Israelis and Palestinians to come to an enduring settlement.
Andrew England writes on this in your Dec 8 issue (“Can Jews and Arabs still coexist peacefully within Israel?”, The Big Read, December 8). Not only is the problem the same as in 1970, but consider that it was over 3,300 years ago when Ramses II of Egypt and the Hittite king Hattusilis agreed to a peace treaty in 1280 BCE. After conducting many fruitless wars that cost each empire tremendous losses in men and treasure, the two were able to come to a firm alliance to end the wars. Their several client states were forced to agree and the result was a long peace that held for decades.
It is time for a definitive resolution of the conflict. This must be imposed by world and regional powers to end all military uphold and to demilitarise Israel/Palestine. Everyone would have to sacrifice something, perhaps for Israel some degree of autonomy and for the Palestinians any idea of a future state. But the result would be worth it. Then there can be an opening for a lasting peace and the govern of law. Perhaps we can reach the degree of foresight of Ramses II and Hattusilis.
Niccolo Caldararo
Department of Anthropology, San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, US
