The Lemon Tree

I admit that prior to about two weeks ago everything I thought I knew about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was for the most part false and inaccurate. (Thank you American media) Two weeks ago however I started reading a book title The Lemon Tree that accurately portrays both sides of the struggle for peace. For those of you who have little in depth background and are interested in the roots of the conflicts that have occurred in the region of Palestine since the creation of the Israeli state I highly recommend reading this book. The author, Sandy Tolan, intersperses the stories of a displaced Palestinian named Bashir who is heavily involved with resistance movements and an Israeli woman named Dalia with histories of the conflicts that have connected their respective people's. Bashir and Dalia grew up in the same house but at different times, Bashir prior to the Israeli occupation and Dalia upon emigrating from Bulgaria with her family. In the back yard of the house is a lemon tree that Bashir's father planted long ago. The tree connects the two individuals who eventually meet and form a friendship. 


This book was difficult for me to put down some nights and after reluctantly putting it down I would often pick it up and read on the hour bus ride to school every morning. The story is captivating and the view of the history from two lenses challenges the notion of one side being more right than the other. Never before have I sympathized with the Palestinian plight to the extent I do now after reading this book. The American media largely fails at portraying the Palestinians as victims displaced from their homes. Instead the media tends, as has been our government's practice until recently, to heavily favor the zionists and the aggressive Israeli state. The Palestinians are often shown as anti-semitic Muslim terrorists rather than a people who want nothing more than to return home, a right granted to them by UN resolution 194. The Israeli state not only doesn't recognize this UN resolution but also doesn't recognize resolution 181 that originally established Israel's borders. 


It's important to note that Palestinians and Arabs alike will tell you that they have zero problems with Jews but have no good things to say about Zionists. The Zionist movement has it's roots prior to WWII and was started by largely secular Jews. These non-practicing, often atheistic Zionists assert that the God promised the lands of Israel to the descendants of Abraham's son Isaac. In 1917 the British Issued the Balfur Declaration which called for the creation of a Jewish society inside of Palestine but not the creation of a separate state. Jews began to move to the area but peacefully coexisted with the local population until WWII. It's sad to say that WWII provided an opportunity for these individuals to convince the world that they deserved a Jewish homeland that for the past 4,000+ years has been the homeland to another people. How could the world not grant this wish in the wake of WWII? Several UN delegations reported having been hassled or bribed by Zionists in the weeks leading up to the vote on UN resolution 181, which established Israel. Three nations: Haiti, Liberia, and the Philippines, changed their votes at the last minutes after the US threatened to reduce aid to these nations. The Israeli state was created under fairly shady circumstances. 


The Palestinians are not innocent victims in the struggles since 1948 but in my opinion have a legitimate bone to pick with the Israeli state. The Palestinians were given the right to return to their homeland but do not have and will not have in the near future the ability to exercise that right. Out of this longing for their homeland and desire for their rights the Palestinians have formed resistance groups like the PLO and have staged attacks on innocent Israeli's. How could we expect them to do differently? For decades families have been displaced from areas where they have historically resided for centuries. These displaced persons spent a great deal of time living in squalid conditions in refugee type camps where food was often scarce. How could we expect them to accept this fate lying down? Would you? Before I anger anyone else I again recommend this book, The Lemon Tree. Whether you agree or disagree with anything I have written I guarantee you will walk away from the book with a new view on the situation. Nobody is right and the only way to end this conflict in the near future is to go back to 1948 and convince three nations to vote no. The creation of separate Israeli and Palestinian states has led to 60+ years of violence, displacement, and strife. The road to peace in the foreseeable future is quite rocky unless more people can begin looking at the conflict through two lenses. 


Great links for further reading on the subject: 
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
http://jfjfp.com/
http://www.onevoicemovement.org/