During the course of my internship this summer at Israel and Palestinian Affairs at the State Department, I had a lot of time to reflect on the issues of the conflict. As the violence escalated and every suicide bombing was followed by a retaliatory attack from Israel, I tried to truly understand the nature of the conflict. I was privy to international intelligence and had the various embassies, as well as the State Department archives, at my disposal. I came to see a more complex and dynamic view of the situation and the U.S. role. Certainly, the situation cannot be viewed in the simplistic, common media perceptions of right and wrong. The view of the U.S. policy makers is a cessation to violence and “restraint,” as is the mantra in Washington. But what does it all boil down to? Equality and justice.
Since the beginning of time, a basic role of civilizations was the establishment of justice and its dissemination through a divine or secular path. This fundamental premise is viewed by the world community as lacking in the Palestinians and, to a lesser extent, in Israeli Arabs. Israelis don’t feel like they’re viewed fairly by the international community and vice versa with the Palestinians. Each court of law to which one group subscribes, the other does not. Consequently, there is really no foundation set, recognized by both, for the equitable resolution of grievances.
In terms of social equality, the Arab segments of Israeli society feel that their status is that of second-class citizens. The frustration of limited opportunities for economic and social advancement, as well as not feeling a just government is protecting their rights, led Israeli Arabs to aid in the bombing attack at the Dolphinarium. This phenomenon has also led Israeli settlers to attack Arabs because they feel they don’t get the same amount of protection as Israelis in Green Line Israel.
Economic equality is one of greatest threats to security in the region. The nascent Palestinian economy is no longer existent because of the Intifada, which sealed the borders and froze all assets in the US. The corrupt Arafat regime swallowed up whole chunks of money, and, with no transparency demanded by the U.S., much of the money has gone into the pockets of Arafat and his cronies. The economic frustration is driving hopeless people to do unspeakable acts of violence against themselves and their community. With each attack, nothing is solved and more retaliation comes to harm their community and its people.
For even the recent rash of bombings, there is no quick fix and no shortage of blame to go around. A just beginning with the U.S. as a moderator must be the basis for lasting peace. The implementation of the Mitchell Report is the first step to getting back to the bargaining table. From there a dialogue must be formed with tangible and equal resolve by both sides. Hopefully, the fruits of these negotiations will result in permanent peace and economic security for both sides.

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