The recent recognitions of a Palestinian state and the October 10 ceasefire have been followed by a flurry of calls to “deradicalize” Palestinian society. The New York Times editorial board went so far as to compare this deradicalization project to the denazification of Germany after the Second World War. These calls have the situation backwards to the point of farce.
I am quite eurocentric, so take this as a caveat. France and Germany I guess would be the most obvious and successful example? And Germany with like the Netherlands, Poland, etc. Ireland with the UK are getting there too possibly. Sub-nationally, I would add South Africa to the list, maybe also Catalonia, Basque and Quebec (but they’re not winning the oppression olympics).
For Greece and Turkey I think it’s still an unfinished project (Cyprus is the proof of that). We have achieved a big degree of functional reconciliation, but mistrust, hatred, and shenanigans persist (my theory: this because neither nation properly reconciled with the fact that we based our peace on mutual ethnic cleansing…).
And here is the weird take of the day: I wouldn’t be too shy to say that a lot of the Balkans have “advanced” to a point where in practice memes and teasing (think 2balkan4u) serve as a sort of a weird fucked up balkan version of truth and reconciliation…
But that’s the point, right? Justice seen as a process. Nothing can ever be said to be “done” but you can get more towards it.
The ww2 example (assuming that’s what you’re referring to) is a very brief (if violent) conflict relative to the one we’re discussing in this topic, which is spread over at least centuries. Not too mention that ww2 was a burst of activity and a decisive conclusion was reached, unlike the conflict in question. Greece/turkey is a good example of a conflict that lasts at least a similar duration. Ireland/UK is also closer in that regard, but still is ‘only’ over decades of conflict.
With centuries of bad blood, the respective definitions of ‘justice’ from either side (in their various forms) have clearly drifted very far apart from each other. The ‘how’ aside (as seemingly no one is willing to nor able to achieve it), what would a realistic and just peace look like in your eyes for the region? Because I think we have to accept that (base on Greece/Turkey) a feud that lasts over a century is not overcome in one generation.
I won’t say much about the Balkans as I’m not well read on it and it seems to be one with more than two main actors.
The Franco-German rivalry I had in mind is much older. WW2 was the very final phase of it, but it is clearly present and recognizable at least as early as 1871, ie 70 years earlier, whereas the supposed chronology goes all the way back to the 1400s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French–German_enmity
Regardless, I don’t have the answer, obviously, but I wouldn’t underestimate the capacity of the Israelis and Palestinians to actually get to a (likely implicit/de facto) agreement of what they think is an acceptable answer. But for that, I would imagine serious external pressure to Israel would be needed, similar as the one exerted to the white Afrikaners…
I see. You referred to Poland/Netherlands and Belgium together so I thought it was more likely ww2 that you were referring to.
The extended feud between France and Germany is a good example. Today they are what I think we are is a ‘just and lasting’ peace. This however was precluded by the violence of ww2. Quite far from a peaceful reconciliation although it was quite final (so far).
Over the centuries prior, did other neighbouring nations or further abroad attempt to pressure either (or both) sides to reconcile in a peaceful manner? Did it ever work out?
What I’m getting at here in a rather long winded manner is that the underlying friction between Israel and Palestine (or Hamas or other neighbouring Islamic states) go back very far, and it likely will be only time that will heal this to a lasting reconciliation. External pressures likely will only become counterproductive.
In the meantime, more will suffer. Moreso on the ‘weaker’ side. We can point fingers all we want, but from their frame of reference, our versions of justice are simply incompatible with theirs. To us, their apparent lack of morality is infantile.