Emmanuel Thomas l Sunday, July 20, 2025
GAZA, Palestine – No doubt Israel wants peace, an enduring one – the desire of Palestine is not different either. The notion of achieving enduring peace in Israel, particularly in the aftermath of widespread destruction in Gaza, presents an immensely complex and deeply challenging proposition.
While the physical landscape of Gaza might be altered, true peace cannot be built on rubble and resentment.
It demands a fundamental shift in approach, acknowledging the intertwined destinies of Israelis and Palestinians and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The idea that destroying all houses in Gaza could lead to peace is a dangerous fallacy. Such an act, far from bringing security, would only deepen the wounds, fuel cycles of vengeance, and ensure that any semblance of peace remains fleeting and fragile.
History has repeatedly shown that military might alone cannot resolve deeply ingrained political and national aspirations. Instead, it breeds further extremism and despair.
The idea that destroying all houses in Gaza could lead to peace is a dangerous fallacy. Such an act, far from bringing security, would only deepen the wounds, fuel cycles of vengeance, and ensure that any semblance of peace remains fleeting and fragile.
The actual, difficult path to enduring peace necessitates a multi-faceted approach built on the following pillars:
1. Acknowledging and Upholding International Law and Human Rights:
Any credible path to peace must begin with an unwavering commitment to international law and human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians.
This includes:
* Protection of Civilians: Ensuring the safety and well-being of all civilians, regardless of their nationality or origin.
* Accountability: Holding all parties accountable for violations of international law, including war crimes and human rights abuses.
* Right to Self-Determination: Recognizing the inherent right of both peoples to self-determination within secure and recognized borders.
2. A Viable Two-State Solution:
Despite ongoing challenges and skepticism, the two-state solution remains the most widely accepted framework for lasting peace.
This entails:
* A Sovereign Palestinian State: The establishment of an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps.
* Secure Israeli Borders: Ensuring Israel’s security within internationally recognized and defensible borders.
* Shared Jerusalem: A just resolution for Jerusalem that respects the religious and historical significance for both peoples, potentially through shared sovereignty or special status for holy sites.
3. Addressing the Root Causes and Core Issues: Peace cannot be sustained without addressing the historical grievances and ongoing issues that fuel the conflict.
The only path to enduring peace is one that courageously confronts the painful realities of the past and present, commits to justice and international law, embraces a viable political solution, and invests in a future where both Israelis and Palestinians can live with dignity, security, and freedom in their own sovereign states
These include:
* The Refugee Question: Finding a just and agreed-upon solution for Palestinian refugees, in accordance with international resolutions.
* Settlements: Halting and dismantling illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which undermine the viability of a Palestinian state.
* Gaza’s Reconstruction and Future Governance: A comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, ensuring humanitarian access, economic development, and a legitimate, unified Palestinian governance free from extremist control.
This must involve international cooperation and significant financial investment.
* Ending the Occupation: A clear timeline and mechanism for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
4. Economic Justice and Development:
Sustainable peace requires more than just political agreements; it demands economic opportunity and justice.
This means:
* Rebuilding Gaza’s Economy: Investing massively in Gaza’s infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and education to create a vibrant economy and provide hope for its population.
* Palestinian Economic Empowerment: Fostering economic cooperation, easing restrictions on movement of people and goods, and opening markets to Palestinian products to improve the living conditions of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank.
5. Regional and International Cooperation: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not solely a bilateral issue. Enduring peace requires a concerted regional and international effort:
* Active Diplomacy: Sustained, high-level diplomatic engagement from the international community, particularly from the United States, European Union, and Arab states, to facilitate negotiations and ensure adherence to agreements.
* Security Guarantees: International guarantees for the security of both Israel and a future Palestinian state, potentially involving a multinational presence.
* Combating Extremism: A collective effort to counter all forms of extremism and incitement to violence from both sides.
6. Fostering Mutual Recognition and Empathy:
Ultimately, true peace requires a shift in narratives and a willingness to recognize the suffering and legitimate aspirations of the “other.”
This involves:
* People-to-People Initiatives: Supporting programs that bring Israelis and Palestinians together to build trust, understanding, and shared societal values.
* Education: Reforming educational curricula to promote tolerance, historical accuracy, and mutual respect.
Destroying houses in Gaza or any other act of collective punishment will only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence and despair.
The only path to enduring peace is one that courageously confronts the painful realities of the past and present, commits to justice and international law, embraces a viable political solution, and invests in a future where both Israelis and Palestinians can live with dignity, security, and freedom in their own sovereign states.
This path is arduous and will require immense political will, compromise, and international solidarity, but it is the only path to a future free from perpetual conflict.
