by Dana Penrice, Human Venture Associate
Even if you haven’t been paying close attention to the news, today should still stand out as a day to pause and reflect.
It has been one year since the Hamas attack on the Kibbutzim in Israel and the escalation to a new level of offensive on the Palestinian people. October 7th, similar to September 11th, will now likely be marked annually to solemnly remember the deaths and hostages taken in the attack on Israelis. But unlike September 11th, I believe that for many around the world, it will also solemnly mark the death and destruction of Palestinians.
This is the continuation of a long conflict, but observers have noted that this past year has seen some new dynamics.
One very shocking distinction has been the escalation and relentlessness of the Likud party and Benjamin Netanyahu in their policies and actions. In their attempt to eliminate the threats to their state (and these are very real threats as October 7, 2023 demonstrates), they are doubling down on their strategy of invasion and control, facilitated through intimidation, fear, and violence. In January 2024, Netanyahu stated at a press conference: “In any future arrangement … Israel needs security control over all territory west of the Jordan River,” he said. “This collides with the idea of [Palestinian] sovereignty. What can you do?”
In March 2024, Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, spoke at the UN Human Rights Council. She said, “Following nearly six months of unrelenting Israeli assault on occupied Gaza, it is my solemn duty to report on the worst of what humanity is capable of, and to present my findings. … There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide … has been met.” And the six months since her report has seen continued escalation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
There is also reported change on the ground in Israel. For instance, on This American Life, in an episode marking October 7th, host Ira Glass said, “I have an Israeli friend who said to me that this war is different from ones in the past in Israel, because in the past, he said, once the war started, everyone united.” This time we see much more vocal disagreement among Israelis. On September 8th this year, an estimated 750,000 Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv. Al Jazeera has produced detailed reporting mapping the rise of protests in Israel and the reasons for protesting. Protests are calling for a cease fire to secure the return of hostages and some are calling for an early election because of the handling of the Gaza war.
The attention is shifting globally too. Angela Davis and Dr. Gabor Maté, in a June 2024 Sounds of Sand podcast, reflected on the Palestinian struggle for freedom and the state of the conflict today. They remarked that there is more global awareness and willingness to speak out than there has ever been, something they thought they might never see. This awakening is happening among individuals and among nations. While many want her to go further, it is significant that U.S. Vice President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris spoke of the devastation of Gaza in her nomination acceptance speech. This public signal to Israel is a big change from American administrations of the past who sided with Israel, for the most part, unquestioningly. We have also seen conversations within the media about bias and improving their coverage.
I am interpreting these developments as indicators of change in our collective ability to grapple with the complexity of managing conflict and resisting violence and oppression. The level of horrific, devastating violence and the blatant disregard for humanity is forcing us, as globalized society, to become more nuanced in our understanding of history, where we are today, and potential solution space going forward.
There are some important questions that lie ahead. Have the American’s learned from their blundering perpetual wars in the Middle East and can they play a more effective role in the support of peace? What is the role of the UN and how does it enforce accountability among nations? And as Roméo Dallaire, retired lieutenant-general in the Canadian Armed Forces, has been asking for years, how do we not just stop genocides once they have begun, how do we prevent genocides from happening in the first place?
As I have been reading and listening to reporting this week, I have been paying special attention to how one perceives the other – is it with humanity or is it sliding into tribalism, othering, and dehumanization.
Personally, as I look ahead, I hope we are maturing in our ability to have conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with other individuals in our lives. I’ve heard from many people about how difficult it was in this past year, as we felt forced to choose a side, or felt silenced from our lack of understanding. I hope we have learned that it is possible to hold a high level of caring for everyone suffering through this conflict. I hope we have learned to listen to more voices and different perspectives to get a more sophisticated understanding. And I hope we have more people who have awakened to the fragility of human life and the need to reduce ignorance, waste, suffering, and injustice.
Today had me pulling up some quotes from the “The Human Venture & Pioneer Leadership Journey Reference Maps” to reminded myself that progress is not inevitable; it requires commitment and persistence among many. It can feel slow and disorganized. Here are a few that spoke to me:
Human progress never rolls on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless effort and persistent work of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.
– Martin Luther King. Jr. (1929-1968). “Letters from Birmingham City Jail,” 16 April 1963
Periods of confused anarchy… seem always destined to precede the birth of a new society.
– Gustav Le Bon (1841-1931). Introduction to The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, 1895, Viking Press edition, 1960
In order that progress be realized, perhaps it is necessary that all evil alternatives be exhausted.
– Louis Blanc (1811-1882)
This last quote leaves me with a chill. How many times must we repeat the same mistakes over and over again to change our ways?