Palestinian UN Bid and the Inevitability of Change

As Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority marches assertively into the UN assembly to bid for a recognized Palestinian State, there is no doubt: Change is coming. To his denouncers Abbas says: "it is inevitable."

In today's diplomatic arena change is ever present. But New York is far from the streets of Jerusalem where Identity Travel is guiding a tour group through the ancient sites. For most Palestinians living here, and for their Israeli neighbours the thought of a Palestinian deceleration of statehood without a bi-partisan agreement is a petrifying concept. The unanswered questions and daunting challenge that lie in store are like darkness around a forbidding forest trail. Who can help but fear the violence that seems to lurk around every corner. Who dares contemplate the mere possibility that the wrong path has been chosen.

The tour group walks with me through the Arab Quarter of the Old City. The scenery of old stone and tourist mementos (for all faiths and denominations) has seen little change over the years. Talking to people here, one finds their opinions to be as diverse as their reflection. An old Arab market vendor with a long white turban and a thick moustache says "Why this? Why now? No good for business!" Down the pebbled alleyway a head covered Jewish woman with a long Jeans skirt says; "This country was promised to the Jewish people by G-d and no one has the right to give it away!" A soldier in uniform cuts her off: "Let them have it! Let them deal with their own problems, I would rather be out in Tel Aviv than spending my time in the checkpoint on the way to Ramallah."

Regardless, of their preference they all seem to rush and make their judgment: For or against, good or bad. But while there are pitfalls in every path, surely, each route we travel also has its merits - if only for the experience gained along the way.

It is important in these dynamic times to realize that every change entails an opportunity and a challenge. Every unknown future into which we stride cannot simply be labelled as better or as worse than the present – it is, however, simply different.

The current challenge to the status quo, whether it shall bring about real change or not for ordinary Palestinians and Israelis, will no doubt elevate the Israel-Palestine conflict back into the limelight of public discussion. A Palestine with 1967 borders, recognized or not by the international community, leaves an Israel with 1967 borders as its necessary partner. My tour group walks the invisible green line and we all wonder: Decelerations aside, what will happen next?

My guess; after all the dust settles at the UN, the Palestinians and Israelis will find no other choice but to return to the negotiations' table and there, as they will be forced to choose their path, they will face yet again the inevitability of change.

Identity's tour groups will keep strolling through Jerusalem's markets and asking people for their opinion, After all, the dynamic nature and extraordinary diversity of thought is Israel's most powerful tourist attraction.

Glenn Beck Preaching to the Choir in Israel

Popular and controversial American TV commentator Glenn Beck arrived in Israel. Speaking at a meeting of the Knesset Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee Beck Said: "We have created a system of politicians who are afraid to tell the truth. Instead they're telling people what they think they want to hear," said Beck, recalling that he mistakenly viewed Israel as a hostile, war-torn nation before actually visiting himself.

When asked why he retired his show on Fox News Beck said "I was tired of preaching to the choir".

Beck touches on an important issue. He complains that the only people who tune in to his show, are people who already agree with his opinion, people who subscribe to the gospel he preaches.

Becks gospel like any other is a narrative, a story. People are storytellers and the stories are the way our mind views history and justice. It serves as a framework for our human experience and the foundation of our moral, social and national values. Although truth may be predominantly the premise of the stories we choose to tell ourselves it is seldom an entire and all-encompassing truth.

However flawed our perception of the world may be, we are inclined to strengthen our conviction with the embrace of like-minded individuals and communities. We find people who agree with us, at least to some extent, and surround ourselves with their soothing voices of solidarity, adding our own to the mix to the constant sound of their applause.

It is in this spirit that chairman MK Danny Danon (Likud) invited Glenn Beck to share his support of Israel with the Knesset committee and the reason he was so lavishly praised by its members. "It isn't a coincidence that you're a religious person [and support Israel]," said Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely. "This conflict isn't territorial. If it was, it would have been solved a long ago".
Hotovely continued: "This is a religious battle led by Islam. We can't ignore this basic truth. It's important that we stand behind a historical truth: We're not just here because of Zionism, but because of the Bible."

As an Israeli, I believe in this truth, in our right to be here, in our just cause, in the danger of fundamental Islam and yet it does not suffice me to hear this truth alone. If its truth we are after it cannot be partial it must be inclusive, it must include the Palestinian story, the Muslim story, the Christian story, the Jewish story. It is not history and fact that lend importance to these stories but rather the abundance of people that believe in them and live their lives by them.

On August 24 Beck will host a "Restoring Courage" rally in Jerusalem. He said thousands are expected to attend, including 70 prominent world politicians and four US presidential candidates. Beck said he hopes the event will help Israelis see that they are not alone, even if the mainstream media tries to make it out as though they are.

Glenn Beck is right about mainstream media covering only the stories in line with their school of thought. But the reason Glenn Beck is still preaching to the choir is that he acts in precisely the same bias.

What is needed in order to achieve true change is not more preaching but rather more listening. Not bigger mega-phones and rallies but rather bigger and more sensitive ears and hearts. if we seek a truth that is more inclusive we can find a narrative that leads to peace, a story with a happy ending.