What They Hear, and What We Hear

I read the text of Obama’s speech.  Like most speeches of this kind, different people focus on different parts.

As an Israeli Jew, the following struck me (from the text published in the Jerusalem Post):

“Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed……..It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered…….To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel’s right to exist.”

I cannot speak for the Arabs, but I would assume that the following struck many of them:

“At the same time Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel’s right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestines. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for the settlements to stop.”

What Obama said is not new at all. It really describes most of the world’s perception of the conflict pretty well – although it makes me angry that my living in my home is equated with terrorists killing innocent men, women, and children. Am I really as dangerous as a suicide bomber? I am a suburban mom raising three kids, and have never threatened anyone – I just live in a place that some think is “disputed”. Why are my actions compared to a terrorist who shoots rockets at civilians?

Practically speaking – the real test comes after the speech. Will Obama put pressure on us to “stop settlement action”, and ignore the obligations of Hamas to recognize Israel’s right to exist and to stop terrorist activity?

If he does, (which every other president has done) then there will be no peace here. The Palestinians will just sit with crossed arms and wait to receive everything they want on a silver platter, and their people will continue to suffer. Our leadership may continue to make gestures by tearing down outposts (which will be built three days later), but our lives will not change significantly. And, of course, we will continue to watch our backs and guard against terrorist attacks. G-d willing, most will be thwarted by our soldiers. Unfortunately, some will succeed and we will cry for our dead.

And the cycle will continue.