tear down the wall, a human consensus

Cathryn Hannay

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-winded and complicated matter that remains multifaceted in allies as well as political associations. It is seemingly impossible to place blame in such an enduring conflict. The younger generations have been raised in settlements and refugee camps. Both sides are living in controlled and mostly poor housing communities. But young Palestinian Protestors are resorting to destruction instead of violence to make a point. Comparing themselves to the protestors against the Berlin Wall, these Palestinians are dismantling the symbol of oppression they feel is being imposed upon them: the Israeli border walls. These walls have notoriously separated families and friends from contacting each other. They have also aided in the land grab processes practiced by Israeli annexing.

I do not believe that either side should be considered the moral right party. Both sides have made many mistakes and have made offensive gestures to their opponents. I do agree, however, that the wall represents the outward repression of the Israeli force weather or not they are guilty of this action. Walls, as a function, limit the travel ability of a group of people. This has been an unfair tactic imposed upon oppressed peoples of the past and the use of such a barrier does not seem to alleviate these associations. It is clear that many groups of people do not agree with the use of this border wall indicating that it blocks their personal freedoms and right to humane living conditions. It is not possible to reunite these groups without an amount of give-and-take. It is difficult, however, to find a balance when both sides feel as though they have suffered unfairly at the hands of their neighbors.

“…It's very difficult for Israeli society to move and to feel that it can also see the other side and to understand that the other side is also a victim.” paragraph 1703 of the Goldstone report

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/2009119151639325464.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/11/2009111174626931966.html