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Peace Will Take More than Trust and Hope

(Canadian Jewish News) Gerald Steinberg - The results of negotiations between warring nations, tribes and religions are determined by power and interests, not amorphous psychology. Although Kerry and U.S. President Barack Obama emphasize the need for faith and trust between Israelis and Palestinians, these terms disappear in their conflicts and discussions with China, North Korea or Vladimir Putin's Russia. The concepts of trusting each other, "feeling each other's pain," empathizing or apologizing for past actions - taken from interpersonal conflict resolution - are irrelevant in politics, in which the fates of nations in a violent, anarchic world are determined. In November 1977, Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat began negotiations leading to a treaty that has prevented war for more than three decades. Begin and Sadat didn't trust each other. Instead, they recognized that after many destructive wars, both countries needed peace. Similarly, Netanyahu and Abbas will only make progress if the tangible benefits outweigh the costs and risks, and if they can sell this to their constituencies. Before Israelis agree to transfer more territory, realistic security arrangements are necessary. In this process, terms such as trust, faith and hope are entirely irrelevant. The writer is a professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University and the founder of the Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation.
2013-08-23 00:00:00
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