Bernard Wasserstein is a specialist of issues related to Middle East who has rendered his services in a number of renowned educational institutes including Oxford University. Bernard Wasserstein is also known for his research on modern Jewish culture and issues, at present he teaches history in the University of Chicago. Wasserstein has written a number of widely acclaimed books and research papers on several issues with a specialized approach and focus on the Middle East as well as on the Jewish issues. This paper intends to discuss one of his books, Israelis and Palestinians Why Do They Fight? Can They Stop? in order to find the answer of this question in the title of the book itself.
Wasserstein in his book presents a very logical approach on the issue of Israel and Palestinian struggle and produces a number of facts figures, statistics in order to corroborate his arguments. Author examines the causes of the fight of duo nations and presents an analytical view of the issue before its readers. The author presents recent facts and analyses the whole scenario with a presumption that readers are aware of the issue which prevents it from being a book for beginners. Wasserstein has his own style of writing and believes in writing with the facts and produces a good analysis of the subject. Author has well researched while writing the book and this aspect makes his book more reliable.
Wasserstein, in his current book, Israelis and Palestinians Why Do They Fight and Can They Stop? examines the issue of Israel Palestinian struggle in the lights of a special mechanism. Author examines the pros and cons of the issue; he tries to know the main causes of the Israel Palestine conflict and finds that, “they fight over definable interests, motivated by comprehensible value systems, in pursuit of identifiable goals”. On the basis of his analysis, He suggests that there are some hidden powers that are fueling the Israel Palestine conflict. Author talks about four components like socioeconomic, demographic, territorial and environmental. Wasserstein discusses the issue in a multidimensional approach and thoroughly talks about the internal as well as external conditions of Israel and Palestine.
The author shows a positive thought and believes that if a proper mechanism is followed, there is still a hope that Israel and Palestine can exist in a state of peace. Since the author is an expert of the issue and has a special approach to see the things, he suggests that if these four components work together, a peaceful solution to this problem is not very far and it can be reached. Based on his formulae and four components, he finds that borders, refugees, settlements and Jerusalem are still creating main hindrances in solving the disputes between two countries.
Wasserstein suggests that demography has an important role to play in the conflict of Israel and Palestine. He says that immigration along with the pattern of population growth is an important aspect that affects the issue in a significant manner. Mentioning demographic aspect, He says that Jewish migration is the matter of the past while Palestinian immigration will keep flooding in this area. Focusing on his socioeconomic aspect, Author says that Zion values and agricultural trend among Jews is decreasing on the other hand poverty is on rise among Palestinians.
Palestinian youths are becoming poorer due to increasing unemployment trends. Discussing environmental aspect, author suggests that the region has a shortage of water and from other natural resources. Mentioning territorial aspects, he suggests that the history of territorial dispute in both the countries is as old as ottoman period and adds further that the current situation is not tolerable for Palestinians while Israelis cannot accept the ongoing situation.
Wasserstein asserts that there are pros and cons in both the side which make it difficult for the duo nations to get it resolved. Israel has its own perspective of handling this issue while Palestine sees the issue with different angle. Author has analyzed that there are also some political games from both sides that are to be pacified in order to make peace in the region. Author says that Palestinian rejectionist attitude has worsened the issue in recent years while he also says that there is a change in the Israeli policies and this is something related to the religion but this is something that is related to the internal and external political policies.
After having observed the abovementioned analysis of the Bernard Wasserstein’s book, Israelis and Palestinians Why Do They Fight? Can They Stop? In order to get the answer that whether there can be peace between Israel and Palestine, it is good to say that Wasserstein has a good understanding of the subject matter and his analysis on this issue seems to be true. The four mechanism suggested by Wasserstein sounds to be a practical and plays significant role in the existence of the issue. Findings of the author give a ray of hope for the people of Israel and Palestine that peace is still possible in the region if both the nations are determined to make serious efforts in this regard.
These factors can play significant role in maintaining peace in the region. The beauty of this book lies in its impartiality. The author represents the facts that are very transparent and genuine without taking side of either party. Some may find the book as ambiguous as it suggests the ways but does not clearly directs towards an idea that could solve the issue but people should not forget that he is a writer and not the policymaker. Author concludes that this is the demand of the time that the peace process should be started in order to make this region peaceful. Belligerent nations should take a break in the interest of their own people so that people also could realize that how peaceful life is beautiful.
Work Cited
Wasserstein, Bernard. Israelis and Palestinians: Why They Fight and Can They Stop? New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2001.
