By Jonathan Licht, M.D.
DEL MAR, California — My mother was born in 1930 and was a Zionist, a person who believed in establishing a Jewish homeland. My father was a computer scientist when computers took up an entire room. In 1960 he was asked to install for the Israel Defense Force their first computer. I was seven and even though we stayed only a year and a half I was imprinted with my mother’s love for the founding of the modern Jewish State and my father’s contribution to it. I returned to Israel with my wife in 2001 and decided to buy a home there for a future retirement. In the meantime I live in Del Mar and work as a Neurologist at Scripps Mercy Hospital. I realize that I cannot enjoy the benefits of living in these wonderful democratic countries without making some contributions as well. So I joined J Street in 2012, an American organization devoted to changing the conversation among American Jews on how best to support the future of Israel as the democratic homeland of our people.
I returned from a J Street leadership mission to Israel and the Palestinian territories a few weeks ago. From Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to Ramallah, Hebron and Shilo we met with politicians and activists from both sides, with Settler Leadership and Palestinian business leaders. Our goal was to understand the urgency of the two state solution, the constituency in Israel and in Palestine to support peace and the role of the U.S. in bringing about a resolution to the conflict.
The urgency is readily apparent. The occupation and the security fences may have been brought about by necessity but its corrosive forces and limitations for the societies involved grow every year and the violence can only be contained for so long and at great costs. Secondly, the settler movement which began with settlements along the 1967 borders has now moved deep into the Palestinian territories in east west corridors. The number of Settlers in the West Bank is approximately 300,000. But a one state solution will not work. Israel cannot rule over 2,360,000 Palestinians in the West Bank because eventually this reality will threaten Israel’s survival as a Jewish State if the Palestinians are given a vote or threaten it as a democratic state if they are not.
There is a constituency on both sides for peace. The polls of Israelis and Palestinians show it but more importantly our mission met the people supporting it. It includes those who have lost their children to war and have decided to work for reconciliation but extends to members of the Knesset including distinguished military leaders and religious members. Even ministers of the current government who in the past would not meet with us, sat down with us this time, a sign that our pragmatic position is becoming too powerful to ignore. I will admit that in my time alone in Israel visiting with friends and relatives they voiced great mistrust and doubt in the implementation of a two state solution but they have not given up the dream of one day agreeing to it as long as it will bring them lasting security. And the ordinary Palestinians who have grown up their whole lives being occupied are also pessimistic that their lives will ever change but they expressed their profound appreciation to us for trying to bring about an end to the status quo.
Which brings me to our final goal: what is the role of the U.S. in bringing about a resolution to the conflict and a two state solution? We have been asked by both sides to bring mediation to the conflict. Read Secretary of State Kerry’s speech of June 3rd to the American Jewish Committee He eloquently talks of the perils of not achieving a two state solution and the promises that succeeding could bring to Israel, the region and the United States. He says “send the message that you are behind this hopeful vision of what can be. Let your leaders and your neighbors alike know that you understand this will be a tough process with tough decisions, but that you’re ready to back the leaders who make them.”
We in the United States who want Israelis and Palestinians to fulfill their aspirations and make the world more peaceful should rise above our prejudice, rise above our cynicism and say we are ready to back them.
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Preceding provided by J Street