Who is right Israel or Palestine: The Israel-Palestine conflict stands as one of the world’s most contentious disputes, where both parties assert their legitimate rights to the same land:
Israeli Perspective
The Israelis base their legitimate claim on this land on its centrality to their religious beliefs. Moreover, they insist on their right to live in a state of peace, free from missile attacks and acts of terrorism.
Palestinian Perspective
The Palestinian cause primarily revolves around the desire to reclaim their land from what they perceive as a Zionist occupation, striving for liberation. It is worth noting that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officially recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace, marking an important commitment to the Oslo Accords.
Let’s read the story of Who is right Israel or Palestine
Both sides seek recognition from one another and the international community, but with differing objectives. Most Israeli Jews aim for global recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, whereas Palestinians seek acknowledgment of the historical displacement they experienced during the Nakba.
The conflict is marked by a cyclic pattern of retaliation, with both sides responding to provocations and killings in a time-bound manner.
The Israel-Palestine issue defies a simple categorization of right or wrong, as many have observed. Allow me to share my personal journey as a 15-year-old Arabic teenager and an otaku (anime fan)
I was born into an Arabic Muslim family, and I was raised with ingrained beliefs such as Israelis should be eradicated; Israelis are our enemies who usurped our lands and took the lives of our people; we must reclaim Palestine; Israelis are ruthless creatures with a singular goal of harming us; those advocating for peace are mere traitors who will eventually meet their end at the hands of Israelis.
I accepted these beliefs without questioning them, harboring a deep-seated resentment toward Israelis for an extended period. However, my perspective shifted just a few months ago when several events transpired in quick succession, making me more open-minded.
The first turning point occurred when I casually watched videos on YouTube comparing the same anime clip in various language dubs, one of which was in Hebrew. This surprised me on two levels. First, I realized that Israeli children watch TV, play, and enjoy themselves, much like us. But my second surprise was that I was surprised at all.
After all, they are human beings too, right? They have innocent children too, right? My shock stemmed from the realization that the stereotypes we held might be misguided. What if we had misunderstood all along?
Then, just two months ago, I learned about the tragic death of Ayyad Al-Hallaq, a Palestinian individual with autism who was killed by Israeli police. This incident almost pushed me back into my old mindset. However, as I neared the end of an article on this event, I was astonished to discover that Israelis had protested against this action.
It became clear to me that one person’s wrongdoing should not be attributed to an entire race. Just as some people in Israel may harbor animosity toward all Palestinians, just as some of us do toward Israelis, it doesn’t mean that every individual on either side shares these feelings.
On the very same day (a strange coincidence, I know), while still pondering these events, I watched the first episode of the anime “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.” This episode completely altered my perspective. For those who haven’t seen it, let me briefly describe the setting (with minimal spoilers): The anime is set seven years after the fictional Holy Britannia Empire’s invasion of Japan.
They occupied, renamed, devastated the land, killed numerous innocent civilians, and relegated the rest to ghettos, subjecting them to second-class status. It was unquestionably an evil act. However, in the anime’s present, Britannian citizens living in Japan go about their normal lives, attending school and work.
Japanese people, on the other hand, endure racism and discrimination. There are three factions, each yearning for peace and a better life, each with their own nationalistic perspective, each believing they are right:
- Japanese seek to reclaim their country by force, aiming for a better life and revenge for their lost loved ones. They want to achieve peace by regaining Japan, but they are wrong in resorting to violence against innocent civilians. Other factions label them as terrorists, while they see themselves as victims.
- Britannians who wish to eliminate the Japanese, viewing them all as terrorists. They aspire to live in peace without any worries or seeking vengeance for their own losses. They want to attain peace by eliminating Japan, but they are wrong in harming or discriminating against innocent citizens. Other factions view them as racists, yet they see themselves as victims.
- Open-minded individuals from both groups who desire peaceful coexistence, hoping that neither faction has to suffer. They yearn to forget the past and live in harmony, refusing to seek retribution for individual misdeeds. They are right in their aspiration for peaceful coexistence, but their goal is almost unattainable due to the deeply entrenched biases of the other groups. Other factions label them as traitors, yet they consider themselves humanitarians.
To solidify my viewpoint, I searched on Quora and read numerous responses from both sides. I found that most of them held unfounded stereotypes about the other group, except for the open-minded individuals who examined both perspectives.
In essence, it’s not a matter of good versus evil, heroes versus villains. It’s a matter of closed-mindedness, each side thinking they are in the right. It’s a result of misunderstanding, mistrusting people who still bear the scars of the past, and perpetuating stereotypes and racism. It ultimately boils down to a flawed upbringing. The ones truly in the right, capable of resolving the conflict without resorting to genocide, should be:
- – Open-minded and willing to understand the other’s point of view.
- – Unselfish, recognizing others as fellow human beings.
- – Non-fanatical, ready to change their perspective when it proves to be incorrect.
- – Focused on the present and prepared to let go of the past.
- – Unbiased and unwilling to condemn an entire group for the actions of a few.
- – Courageous, ready to face accusations of treason in the pursuit of humanity (which is not my strong suit).
- – Trusting the other side, albeit with some caution.
- – Exceedingly patient.
In brief, the first step is to open our minds and adopt a more objective outlook, stepping into each other’s shoes.
Additionally, there’s a crucial point I omitted, concerning Conspiracy Theories and Paranoia
In our country, many people believe that foreign powers such as Israel, the USA, and Europe are working against us. Those who think otherwise are considered either naive or part of the conspiracy. Unless you use the internet to discover that foreign countries have their own concerns, you may remain trapped in these beliefs. Some, especially religious leaders, even believe that technology was invented to manipulate our minds.
Israel-Palestine war conflict and Hamas Attack On Israel with the video and find the main fault of this deadliest conflict
They are not lying; they were simply raised amidst propaganda and haven’t found the motivation to break free from their narrow perspectives. I myself might have been in the same position had I not gradually explored the world from different viewpoints.
While I may not have an in-depth understanding of Israelis, in general, the first step toward achieving peace lies in living in the present and, once again, opening our minds by actively listening to each other while letting go of our guards.
Furthermore, the solution I find most promising is the one-state solution—a free, secular state, perhaps under a different name—where both peoples can coexist. In this state, propaganda, hate, and racism would be prohibited, and people would be regarded as individuals rather than members of a particular race or faith.
Also Read: How Israel Occupied Palestine
Palestine will be free InshaAllah