Mazal

After the horrific attacks by Hamas on the state of Israel, how could Israel have responded?

What options were open to Israel instead of the current course of action?

Was violence and retribution the only option ?

I suppose it’s only natural to want to respond by kicking some ass.

And Israel has certainly done that in spades.

But is Israel in responding this way doing good, or are they just making themselves feel good.

It’s important to know.

Suppose there was another way.

Suppose Israel had posed to itself the following questions ?

Why did Hamas do this, and is there something that we did wrong in order to bring this about?

It doesn’t seem like these questions were ever asked.

But what if they had been?

In achieving peace, which is nothing more than making a deal – like buying a Rolex on 47th Street – mazal- we often have to look at the issue from the perspective of the seller.

This takes effort, but it can be done.

The successful deal maker is able to put himself in the other guy’s shoes.

The unsuccessful deal maker only looks at things from his own perspective.

Suppose Israel had put itself in the Palestinians’ shoes.

I don’t need to put all the blame on Israel, but Israel does have the upper hand here.

At this point, the Palestinians who are getting the daylights bombed out of them don’t really have a say.

They do, but they don’t.

Nevertheless, everything I say here applies to the Palestinians as well.

Had Israel asked themselves if they had done anything wrong, they might have been able to conclude that their policy toward the Gaza Strip was oppressive.

Without honestly asking themselves those questions, they are left to manufacture irrational reasons why Hamas is acting the way that they do.

They are crazy, they are animals, they cannot be trusted is the conclusion of your average Israeli.

Now, imagine if you as a buyer went to the Rolex exchange in New York with that attitude toward the seller.

Suppose you went into that exchange with an ultra view of suspicion and distrust.

In that case, no deal would be made.

And that’s where we find ourselves as it relates to the state of affairs in Israel and Gaza today.

No deal is possible, and no deal will be possible, until both sides develop a reasonable trust with each other.

And that can not happen as long as both sides continue to see the other party as vicious animals that need to be exterminated from the planet.

It’s a fine line between trust and distrust.

You can choose to see the other party as someone who is there to help you, not hurt you.

It’s as simple as turning on a light switch.

If I as a buyer approach the seller of a Rolex on 47th Avenue as someone who is going to help me get the watch I want, I stand a greater chance of achieving happiness.

If I view this seller as a crook who is there to rip me off, I’m never going to get to where I want to be.

With the right attitude, I can begin to see things from his or her point of view.

He needs to make a profit to pay his rent. He needs to win so that I can win. If he racks up losses, he’s not going to be there to help me when I want to buy another Rolex or another piece of jewelry.

And it’s the same principle for international relations.

If I am Israel and I want happiness in my life, I’m going to have to give the other guy a win. If I am Gaza and I want happiness in my life, I’m going to have to give the average Israeli a win.

What can Israel give? Full citizenship and rights to Palestinians with full and free access to movement – plus compensation for houses and lands lost.

What can Palestinians give? Peace, the fruits of their labors, their intelligence, and a bridge to the Arab world of which Israel is a necessary part.

Mazal!

Sincerely,

Archer Crosley

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