Allegations in a latest lawsuit filed on behalf of a Jewish scholar at a Seattle highschool hit near dwelling. The scholar’s mother and father allege their daughter was subjected to months of anti-semitic harassment after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and the next retaliatory strikes on Gaza.
That lady’s scenario, although not as extreme, is occurring to quite a few Jewish- and Palestinian-American college students all through our neighborhood. Nevertheless it doesn’t must be that means.
We’re Jewish-American and Palestinian-American highschool college students. We’re additionally mates, classmates and next-door neighbors. After Alex returned to the USA from Israel just a few days after October 7 assault, he seen the stress right here concerning Israel and Palestine was in some ways as intense because it was in Israel.
Kenan noticed that, a minimum of on-line, many individuals had been fast to insult, however gradual to really discuss concerning the Center East. We each noticed folks calling others silly or flawed (and sometimes a lot worse) as an alternative of attempting to have interaction with them solely as a result of they’d totally different views. Dialogue about Israel and Palestine had damaged down.
This lack of constructive dialogue about Israel and Palestine has been, and continues to be, an issue. Sincere and open discussions can scale back animosity by humanizing “the opposite,” breaking down stereotypes and fostering understanding. Considerate exchanges on any troublesome subject encourage important pondering, humility, empathy and the popularity that a number of views can coexist with out violence or hostility.
Younger folks, particularly at the moment, have to learn to pay attention and course of concepts totally different from their very own. That assertion is particularly true within the age of social media, the place speaking and listening is additional constrained, and groupthink runs rampant.
However constructive interactions, particularly on the subject of Israel and Palestine, are troublesome. To create good dialogue, listening abilities, steerage from facilitators and the presence of an open mindset should information the interplay. To help with these important discussions, we began Voices of Understanding, a non-profit that organizes facilitated, confidential video conversations between highschool college students who might have totally different opinions about Israel, Palestine and the Center East.
By facilitating significant group and one-on-one discussions, Voices of Understanding goals to interrupt down limitations, problem stereotypes and construct bridges of empathy and compassion. And, to this point, it’s working. Members have constantly mentioned that these conversations have elevated their understanding of a special perspective and constructed empathy and understanding round these divisive points.
In fact, there are critics of dialogue applications like Voices of Understanding. Some say that there isn’t any want for dialogue on Israel and Palestine as a result of different concepts are usually not worthy of respect. However with out dialogue, no change will occur, and distrust, violence and destruction will proceed.
Different critics argue that dialogue can result in “normalization.” Within the context of Israel and Palestine, that phrase refers to initiatives which might be seen as minimizing or ignoring the realities of injustice, occupation or violence by making a superficial sense of normalcy or false equivalence between the 2 sides.
But merely participating in respectful dialog doesn’t imply accepting the established order or normalizing injustice; no one who’s keen to pay attention to a different ought to ever quit their want for justice, nevertheless they outline it. And what’s the various? We all know that the failure to speak and pay attention results in mistrust, stereotypes, dogmatism, groupthink, frustration, anger and hatred, outcomes that must be unacceptable to all.
Others say that conversations between American highschool college students about Israel and Palestine won’t change something. Regardless that these troublesome conversations certainly won’t finish the violence in Israel and Palestine, these interactions stay vital. By humanizing and attempting to grasp those that maintain opposing views, we are able to construct a technology much less prone to misinformation and hatred, and a world higher outfitted to construct bridges towards a extra peaceable future.
Editor’s observe: The Seattle Occasions often closes feedback on tales. If you need to share your ideas or experiences in relation to this op-ed, please submit a Letter to the Editor of not more than 200 phrases to be thought-about for publication in our Opinion part. Ship to: letters@seattletimes.com
