From top to bottom, in descending order of severity.
1) Different narratives
that are sometimes conflicting.
2) Lack of hope
among the general public on both sides.
3) Lack of trust
on both sides.
4) Continued Palestinian
rejectionism of the negotiation process.
5) An international,
(and Israeli) peace movement that is more of a cult of Israel bashing, rather than
any actual peace advocacy, or peace making.
6) An array of “neutral”
ngo’s that are in-fact an extreme expression of the former.
7) Anti-Israel biases
within the global media that makes it clear to everyday Israelis why peace
should not be trusted. Also, an expression of 5.
8) The UN.
9) A hopelessly
divided Palestinian leadership.
10) Chronically unstable
Israeli governments. This is due to Israel’s current system of government.
11) The settlements.
What defines
severity here is the ability to change/remove these obstacles.
Settlements
had been removed before; and therefore, can be removed again. The question is
what Israel gets in return.
Israel’s
political system can change. It requires public support. The need to change it, is
mainly due to internal reasons; unstable coalitions, and extortion power to
smaller political parties. Changing it requires public support. When it comes
to the peace process these weaknesses can be bypassed. But not always successfully.
The Palestinian
leadership can unite. If the leadership will it. Since their motivation for maintaining
the division is that of personal gains that is less likely. And if they do
unite, will that be behind an extremist message, a practical one, or a moderate
one?
The UN will
change if global politics change. Right now, it is another battlefield.
I don’t
know what can change 5,6, and 7. But if they can, they can help alleviate, 3,
2, and 1. In that order. They will help the process; the process will do most
of the work. The process will create trust in the process itself. This will
serve at first as substitute to the lack of mutual trust. As the trust in the
process increases, it will lead to some degree of mutual trust. As this is
increased, hope will be rekindled. As hope, and trust increases, they will
energize the dialogue. Opening the way for a dialogue of narratives, the hardest
part of the process. Where it can all fall apart again.
