By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — A friend asked what is my reaction to the current war between Israeli Jews and Palestinian and Israeli Arabs.
It’s painful to watch. I imagine every other Jew and every Arab feels exactly the same way.
I’ve long held to the theory, probably just a fantasy, that Jews and Palestinians are cousins many, many generations removed. I believe in my heart that we once were of the same family, practicing similar, if not the same, religions in the ancient land of Israel.
Then, when foreigners invaded–Babylonians and later the Romans–we were given a choice. We could give up our religion or we could leave the land of Israel. Those that felt their religion was most important were expelled from the land. Those that felt home and hearth were most important stayed on the land, but at the price of giving up their religion.
And so, I suspect, DNA testing probably would show that we Jews and Israeli/ Palestinian Arabs carry the same distinctive familial genes, which makes this war and all the ones previously a form of fratricide.
I’ve heard all the wounded cries on both sides about who is at fault, and who has suffered more. And I sigh deeply and wonder why we can’t end this unproductive argument, agree to accept one another, and build a harmonious society together.
As I don’t want to be condemned nor vilified, neither do I wish to condemn nor vilify my Israeli/ Palestinian cousins. Arabs have been hurt. Jews have been hurt. Let’s bind up each other’s wounds.
If I could have my druthers, when this bloodshed is once again ended in a tense ceasefire, the Israeli government–as the representative of the stronger of the two sides–would undertake a charm offensive, telling the Arabs in and outside Israel’s borders that we Jews respect them, that we wish to live in harmony with them, that we are willing to address their grievances, and look deeply into our hearts. And the Israeli government should express the sincerest hope that the Arabs can bring themselves to do the same.
I know that this won’t be easy. Look how divided our own country is, even without the long history of mutual bloodshed. Making peace is never easy. But the French and the Germans were able to do it after generations of warfare, so it is not impossible. We Jews believe we have been given a mission to be a “light unto the nations” — a mission that is dependent upon our principled, compassionate conduct toward those other nations. What better places to start than here in the U.S. and in Israel itself?
Call me a hopeless idealist, but I believe some day–with good will on both sides–our family can be reunited.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Here, here Don! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Angie
I hope your vision comes to pass. Good to see you writing again!
A few friends have asserted their right to criticize Israel’s retaliatory actions without being labelled “Anti-Semitic.” Fair enough, but when I ask them how they would respond to a barrage of rockets aimed at killing their families, they really have no answer.
From Thomas Frumkin:
Donald,
You are correct that Jews and Arabs are cousins.
However, Muslims are not all Arabs. 15% of Muslims are Arabs.
The conflict is coming really driven from religious extremists within that other 85% and some overlapping with Arabs.
There are also Jewish extremists to consider, but a lot of the Jewish extremists can also overlap with Christian evangelist zealots.
This problem is rather complex as too many people deny that Jewish is an ethnicity while accepting that Arab is.
This conflict cannot be solved by Jews and Arabs alone.
Others must leave the Jews and Arabs to resolve their differences without funding one side over the other.
Genetically speaking, we Jews are genetically related to Palestinians which makes it all the more saddening seeing such violence between distant cousins.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/05/000509003653.htm