Spring Break
Peace can only come through willing partnership
Hannah Alexander
Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: Ed-Op
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Israel has stated that it sees an end in sight for its military operation into Gaza, which has caused uproar across the world and in the media. Nearly 900 deaths have occurred in Gaza, making the world question Israel's motives and actions. It is unfortunate and unfair that within the crossfire innocent civilians, unaffiliated with Hamas, were killed; however, it is important to remember that Israel could not simply sit back and do nothing as rocket after rocket was launched at its citizens.
Obama has vowed that when he takes office he will attempt to work towards peace in the Middle East. While this is a commendable goal, is it really a realistic one?
According to the AFP article "Obama vows to tackle Middle East 'on day one,'" Obama hopes "both Israelis and Palestinians can meet their aspirations."
However, the "aspirations" of many Palestinians include the complete and total destruction of the state of Israel. Obama can open up negotiations once again, but the truth of the matter is peace cannot be achieved because Israel has never had a true partner for peace.
On the outside, past negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have seemed solid and hopeful for a new future. I was five years old when the Oslo Accords came into action between Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat. I vividly remember watching the two men shake hands on the White House lawn and thinking what a wonderful world this is for this type of thing to occur.
But the reality was that the Oslo Accords of 1993 did not move the Israelis and Palestinians closer to peace, something that I did not realize at the time. What appeared to be an honest effort (and led to the Nobel Peace Prize for both Rabin and Arafat) was only followed by further violence.
After the Oslo Accords, amid the first intifada, suicide bombing after suicide bombing occurred continually in malls, restaurants, coffee shops and other public places.
Then there was a second intifada following a second attempt at peace between Arafat and then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 2000 at the Camp David Summit. The Camp David Summit was July 11, 2000; the second intifada was launched Sept. 29, 2000.
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