IDENTITY-BASED QUARRELS
Facts and Remedies to the Israeli-Palestinian Quarrel
According to Rothman, there are specific needs, which are fundamental and universal to all persons in the world. He further adds that some of these needs (identity) serve to distinguish us from one another; they also create value in our interactions. However, when these identity-based needs are threatened by other groups who are also seeking to preserve their identities, identity-based quarrels arise. A case in point is the Israeli-Palestinian war. Through a podcast, Rothman and Waxman seek to examine this conflict more in-depth and offer suitable remedies to the decade long conflict.
- What elicited curiosity in me about the conflict?
Many people (me included) must wonder how the conflict has been active for more than a decade. Such a question also leads to other crucial questions, such as, how deep is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, why is it hard for them to reach a successful compromise, and what issues led to their dispute?
- What is the primary reason for the conflict?
The main reason for the conflict is a profound rooted question, as it sheds light on the issues that created the dispute. Thus, knowing the primary reason behind the conflict will go a long way in helping people understand the challenges the two sides are facing and the difficulty in reaching a solution.
- What can best solve the conflict?
I think the next step after gathering info about an issue is to solve it. Also, i would like to hear the creative solutions that scholars would generate to end a decade long conflict. Additionally, i would like to learn of the compromise that would allow both sides to preserve their identities.
What is the Primary Reason for the Conflict?
According to Rothman, most international quarrels arise as a result of misunderstandings about resources, power, territory, and interests. He further argues that political factors have the capability of improving a country’s fiscal position and defend its people’s agenda. Every human being wants to access and control the factors as mentioned above; I think that is the main reason why people run for positions as opposed to developing their areas or helping those in need.
Studies show that groups, especially minor ones, fight for positions and resources to acquire a platform where they can voice their needs and protect their agendas. The main reason for minor groups to seek these platforms is that they feel forgotten and left out. Significant policies are being implemented without consulting them or without asking for their inputs. With time, such views lead to violence and conflicts with the groups oppressing them. Therefore, as Waxman puts it, the primary reason behind the Israeli-Palestinian war is identity-based; it involves psychological problems affecting citizens from both countries. Besides, opposing interests are further destroying any chances for peace. However, it is essential to note that in the beginning, the conflict was due to territorial ownership and access; with time, it evolved into identity issues.
Distinguishing whether a conflict is identity-based is an uphill task. However, Waxman offers a credible solution. He argues that identity-based conflicts involve collective, psychological, and individual needs, whereas typical conflicts involve material factors and interests. Conflict resolution experts suggest that identity-based conflicts sometimes hide behind material based conflicts. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict backs the above theory. When persons observe the quarrel without delving into crucial details, they quickly label it as a resource-based quarrel -that involving territory. Rothman observes that most people register these types of conflicts easily, as they are tangible, bargainable, measurable, and empirical.
People with average analytical skills will judge the Israeli-Palestinian quarrel as goal-based. Goals, in this case, refer to the preferences, agendas, and priorities of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Conflict resolution experts suggest that the above ‘goals’ often contradict each other because of communication barriers. People who understand critical analytics will label the Israeli-Palestinian war as identity-based, after a slow and cautious examination of the underlying factors. Identity-based quarrels have a characteristic of prolonging the conflict, as they are invisible and hard to be deduced without critical analyzing tools.
Scholars and professors studying identity-based problems suggest storytelling, and letting individuals open up, as effective ways of noting the presence of identity-based issues. Through these stories, mediators learn about the vulnerabilities of both parties and the reason for their hostility. Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian problem, it would be best to focus on the collective needs that the two sides have. Interestingly, identity-based problems point to the existence of both resource-based and goal-based issues. Therefore, leaders, scholars, and researchers have to concentrate on the three types of conflicts if they are to solve the famous, decade long struggle between the Israelis and the Palestinians.