Israel’s Other Intractable Conflict (Part 1)
1Digest
This podcast delves into the intricacies of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, offering insights from both Palestinian and Israeli perspectives. The episode begins by exploring the origins of Nathan Thrall's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "A Day in the Life of Abid Salama," which uses the story of a Palestinian father searching for his son to illustrate the oppressive nature of the occupation. The conversation then shifts to the perspective of Palestinian lawyer and author Roger Shahadeh, who discusses the long-term goals of the Israeli occupation and the fear of Palestinian recognition. Shahadeh reflects on his childhood in Ramallah, the impact of his family's displacement from Jaffa in 1948, and the enduring hope for peace based on mutual recognition. The episode further examines the changing political landscape in the West Bank, including the rise of Hamas and the impact of the October 7th attack on southern Israel. Shahadeh discusses the growing support for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is seen as a hero for challenging the Israeli occupation, despite the violence. Finally, the podcast explores the perspective of Israeli religious Zionists, who view the land as exclusively Jewish and see any acknowledgment of Palestinian concerns as a betrayal. This perspective, which rejects any shared claim to the land, creates a major obstacle to peace and makes compromise difficult.
Outlines
The Occupation's Impact on Palestinian Life
This chapter explores the complexities of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, focusing on the impact on Palestinian life and the origins of Nathan Thrall's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "A Day in the Life of Abid Salama."
Israeli Perspectives and Fears
This chapter delves into the perspectives of Palestinian lawyer and author Roger Shahadeh, who discusses the long-term goals of the Israeli occupation and the fear of Palestinian recognition.
Growing Up in the Shadow of the Nakba
Roger Shahadeh reflects on his childhood in Ramallah, the impact of his family's displacement from Jaffa in 1948, and the enduring hope for peace based on mutual recognition.
The Changing Political Landscape
This chapter discusses the changing political landscape in the West Bank, the rise of Hamas, and the impact of the October 7th attack on southern Israel.
Keywords
West Bank
A territory located between Israel and Jordan, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. It is home to a significant Palestinian population and has been the subject of ongoing conflict and negotiations.
Occupation
The control of a territory by a foreign power, often involving military presence and restrictions on the rights of the indigenous population. In this context, it refers to Israel's control of the West Bank.
Settlements
Israeli civilian communities built on land claimed by Palestinians in the West Bank. They are considered illegal under international law and a major obstacle to peace.
Nakba
The Arabic word for "catastrophe," referring to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Hamas
A Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. It has been involved in armed conflict with Israel and is considered a terrorist organization by some countries.
October 7th Attack
A major incursion by Hamas fighters into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and the capture of Israeli hostages.
Apartheid
A system of racial segregation and discrimination, often involving legal and social structures that enforce the separation of different racial groups. In this context, it refers to the alleged discriminatory policies of Israel towards Palestinians.
Right of Return
The right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties in Israel, a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Q&A
What is the main argument of Nathan Thrall's book, "A Day in the Life of Abid Salama?"
Thrall's book uses the story of Abid Salama, a Palestinian father searching for his son after a school bus accident, to illustrate the oppressive and bureaucratic nature of the Israeli occupation.
What does Roger Shahadeh believe is the ultimate goal of Israel's policies in the West Bank?
Shahadeh believes that Israel aims to annex the West Bank and remove the Palestinian population, creating a situation akin to apartheid.
How does the October 7th attack impact the political landscape in the West Bank?
The attack has led to a shift in Palestinian sentiment, with many now viewing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a hero for challenging the Israeli occupation, despite the violence.
What is the significance of the Israeli religious Zionist perspective on the land?
This perspective, which views the land as exclusively Jewish, creates a major obstacle to peace by rejecting any shared claim to the land and making compromise difficult.
Show Notes
Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River since 1967, after the third Arab-Israeli war, and ever since Israelis have settled on more and more of this contested land. Violence by armed settlers against their Palestinian neighbors has increased dramatically in recent years, as a far-right government came to dominate Israeli politics. Unless things change, the American journalist Nathan Thrall tells David Remnick, the future for Palestinians is “not unlike that of the Native Americans.” Thrall won a Pulitzer Prize for his book “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama,” which uses one isolated incident—a road accident in the West Bank—to illustrate the ways in which life under occupation has become nearly unlivable for Palestinians. On July 19th, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice issued an advisory ruling that the occupation violates international law. While the world’s attention is focussed on the devastating war in Gaza, and the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the occupation of the West Bank remains a fundamental challenge for any peaceful resolution.
Remnick also speaks with the Palestinian lawyer and author Raja Shehadeh, a longtime advocate for peace with Israel who lives in Ramallah. Palestinians “are, in a sense, living under a different law than the law of the settlements. And so the settlers are going to be part of Israel, and the laws of Israel apply to them—and that's annexation—but not to us. There will be two communities living side by side, each subject to different laws, and that’s entirely apartheid.” Shehadeh’s new book is titled “What Does Israel Fear from Palestine?” He argues that, as much as a concern for their security, many Israelis refuse to contemplate a two-state solution because recognizing Palestinians’ claims to nationhood challenges Israel’s national story. Although Thrall believes that any false hope about an end to the conflict is damaging, he acknowledges that U.S. sanctions on violent settlers is a meaningful step, and Shehadeh sees the I.C.J.’s ruling as a new degree of global pressure. “That could bring about the end of the era of impunity of Israel,” Shehadeh believes. “And that can make a big difference.”
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