Within the hearts of the Israeli people lurks a hate so deeplyrooted, one almost forgets where it all began.
Arewe fighting over religion? Land? Or, is it purely for power?
Somewhere along the lines of all this fighting the incentiveappears to have been lost in an entangled knot of hatred. It hassimply become too complex for me to understand. But what I dounderstand is this fighting, this hate, is sadly still close at hand.
This past week in the Old City of Jerusalem, fighting has onceagain began. Instigated by Arial Sharon, who, according to the LosAngeles Times, provoked Palestinians by entering what Jewish peoplecall the Temple Mount — one of the three holiest sights for theMuslim people.
I keep trying to rationalize why he did this. What was this goingto do to help the Jewish community?
The answer is simple: nothing.
Sharon simply entered the Mosque to show Israeli sovereignty, amove calculated by Sharon to stir up trouble among the people. Heknew he would get this sort of response, a response of anger andanimosity. Has he forgotten that there are people, Israeli and Arabalike, who have been fighting and working for peace? Of course not!It is well known that Sharon goes against peace efforts, and it isthought that Sharon has “exploited the most sensitive site in theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict for political reasons.” With this onemove he has managed to bring out all of the hate and bloodshed thatonce again plagues the people of Israel.
Do you think that he would have appreciated the Palestiniansmaking an “appearance” at one of our holiest sites, like the WesternWall? No! He would have been justly upset! What he has done is simplydisrespectful! It is disrespectful to the Muslim people who hold thatsite holy, and it is disrespectful to all of us who would actuallylike to live to see the day when Palestinians and Israelis can livepeacefully.
I know that as a Jewish American I should be fighting for the sideof Israel, but in this case I can not help taking the other side. Mybest friend is Muslim; we respect our individual beliefs and loveeach other regardless of our heritage. So, when in the Los AngelesTimes it is written that the people feel that this is not simplyabout Israeli occupation, but is personal, I can not help butsympathize with their feelings of disrespect by this man entering aplace that they hold sacred.
I know that I’m not perfect and am not free of this deep-rootedhate. I too have my moments of impulsive anger after years of hearingstories of the fighting my family has been through, or the time whenmy grandfather’s delivery truck was planted with a bomb. I too amguilty of wanting Israel to at least maintain what little land theyhave for the Jewish community, but I am learning to look past that. Iwas elated when hearing the peace talks were going well. I thoughtthat maybe my family would be free of living with bloodshed andtears. I thought, maybe people will be able to work toward somethingpositive and live with respect for each other. But it seems as ifSharon’s action has shred the delicate fibers between the Jewish andthe Arab people.
People are dying, and all I can ask myself is, why? Why do we notwork towards a greater cause instead of unleashing our hate in murderthat only adds to the already existing problems? I can only hope thatmen like Sharon will not gain further power, so that we can restorethe peace efforts and work towards a better future for both theIsraelis and the Palestinians. We need to start respecting oneanother — only then can we really begin to work out our differences.
–Jackie Fleishon is an English junior. Send e-mail to daletter2000@hotmail.com
–This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec.
