Endurance and self-sacrifice: Religion and People’s power in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abstract

In this short opinion article, I propose two somewhat heretical ideas: (a) I argue that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved through military or geopolitical power alone. Its outcome largely depends on the endurance of the populations involved. While Gaza suffers the most, the war also affects the State of Israel. If the total extermination of the Palestinians proves impossible, their spirit of self-sacrifice, rooted in the ideal of martyrdom, will eventually lead to a prolonged war of attrition, ultimately resulting in the defeat of the Zionist regime. (b) In this context, contrary to what is widely believed, religion could play a profoundly positive, even crucial, role in fostering a democratic resolution to the conflict. I contend that a shared vision of justice, based on mutual religious understanding among Palestine’s native peoples—Islamic, Jewish, and Christian—could pave the way for lasting peace and democracy in the region.