Essay #3

https://docs.google.com/document/d/148QsKwg4JA5E1rQGfAmlz0Om12dT7fIIaaJrdl1_itI/edit
**Link is to updated version in drive**
thesis why meeting each other can help conflict in middle east

reconcile

others pov

common ground

conclusion

Peter Sullivan

Mark Hertz

English 2

2/3/13

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Kids in Israel/Palestine don't usually get a lot of attention. The spotlight tends to gravitate toward more sensational topics like the latest rocket attack or the state of the ongoing peace talks between the two countries leaders. But those kids might be the solution to the ongoing hatred and violence in one of the worlds oldest civilizations. In Promises, by B.Z. Goldberg we see how kids from these warring nations befriend each other and how that could be helpful in ameliorating the tensions and system of retaliation fueling the conflict in israel/palestine.

thesis

meetings between israeli/palestine kids could help ameliorate the tensions and system of retaliation fueling the conflict in israel/palestine because they can XYZ.

In the movie Promises, by B.Z. goldberg, we get a glimpse of several kids who, although separated by only 20 miles of distance, are worlds away in terms of culture. BZ journeys to the homes of several kids living in the Old City district of jerusalem. We then meet Daniel and Yarko, Jewish twins from West Jerusalem, on their way to school, Shlomo, an orthodox Jew who is the son of a rabbi in the Jewish quarter, Moishe, a Jew from a settlement in the west bank who dislikes the Arabs, Faraj, a Palestinian who was involved in the second Intifada, Mahmoud, a Palestinian living in a refugee camp in the west bank, and Sanabel, who lives in the same camp as Mahmoud. They seldom share opinions, but all are suffering from the effects of the conflict. Daniel and Yarko live in constant fear of suicide bombers. Faraj watched as his friend was shot by Israeli soldiers during the Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israel from the 80’s to 90’s. Sanabel’s father is in Israeli prison without charge for being a member of the PLO, a political party for the liberation of Palestine, and Moishe’s friend was murdered by Anti-Semites.

stereotype removal

Meeting each other in person can help remove stereotypes, for example when Daniel and Sanabel come upon some of Hamas’ post-Intifada  graffiti and Daniel is pleased to hear that “All Palestinians aren't Hamasniks”. A similar occurrence is when mahmoud finds out his new best friend B.Z. is an “authentic jew”, born and raised in israel, and fluent in Hebrew. This causes him to review his previously hardline stance on Jews, and if it could be replicated, would be of enormous help.

reconcile

others pov

While the kids in Promises differ considerably in terms of ideology, religion or lack thereof, they share many other qualities that could bring them together. Faraj and Daniel are botha athletes,

common ground

meeting each other in person can also help kids realize their common ground. faraj and yarko are equally fed up with the system of retaliation in place, despite their differences  

conclusion

in conclusion, meetings between kids of separate factions in the israel/palestine conflict can exert a substantial positive effect. meeting each other  disproves stereotypes, and by meeting each other in person, they can see the other person's point of view of the conflict. it also helps them realize their common ground

just in case i needed it

The city of Jerusalem is holy to almost all the major monotheistic religions. it was claimed for the Jews by Abraham, along with the biblical land of Canaan, where Palestine and Gaza are now currently located. The islamic prophet Muhammad was ascended to heaven on his way there, and Jesus Christ was crucified on the Mount of Olives not far from the Old City. its divided into quarters based on ethnicity and religion