What if we had approached the

Middle East conflict differently?

 

http://www.transnational.org

PressInfo # 148 (Extract)  

April 17, 2002

 By Jan Oberg, TFF director (Sweden)  

Watching the horrors on the West Bank and Colin Powell's predictable "peace" mission

failure, I ask myself at least 3 questions:

 

a) Shall we ever learn to see violence itself as the major problem it is and counterproductive to any peace  to any peace settlement?

 

 b) How much longer shall it be possible to use methods of conflict  “management” that have proven disastrous and contrary to international law in virtually all cases since the end of the Cold War, not the least in the  Balkans and, latest, in Afghanistan? How much longer will it be possible to  avoid the question: does the U.S., the self-appointed mediator, have the required professional skills, altruistic motives and impartiality required to serve as a genuine mediator?

 

c) Can we learn something constructive from the tragic escalation of violence in the Middle East ?

 

In short, I think we need to explore the what ifs. What if all parties had addressed the conflict in a different manner and used another, professional paradigm during the last few decades? Israel's government uses state terror. Some Palestinian groups and individuals use small  group terror. Israel's policies contribute to the Palestinian fear and despair that suicide bombers are made of; suicide bombers contribute to the Israeli fear and despair that the Sharon government needs for its war ….