Why Israel Matters

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  It is the little things that tend to guide our daily routines: what should I wear to class?  How long should I study for this exam?  Where will I eat dinner?  We often find ourselves lost among these little questions.  Caught up in the rush of daily life, we seldom take the time to examine questions and issues that we deem too abstract or detached to truly affect us.  

Perhaps it is time we, as a student body, take the time to explore a question so complex, it may very well never produce a clear-cut answer.  That question is Israel.

The question of Israel is multi-faceted.  In order to avoid the topic altogether, we are quick to use fiery rhetoric, throwing words like “apartheid” and “oppression.”  Understanding Israel takes time, dedication and research.  

In this evermore interconnected world, truth and fiction are often tangled in a dirty web of hearsay and rumor.  When exploring Israel, it is crucial to understand and abide by the facts, not the myths.

Fact number one: Israel is, was not and never will be an apartheid state.  Apartheid, by definition, refers to a series of laws and regulations enforced by South Africa’s National Party from 1948-1994.  The more astute may argue that Israel has adopted an Apartheid Ideology and I would remind them that we, too, here in America are fighting a war on terror.  We are fortunate enough to be insulated by oceans and a vast landmass.  Israel is not so lucky.  For Israelis, the fight against terrorism literally takes place in their backyards. The Palestinian Territories – the West Bank and Gaza – continue to function under ineffective leadership and continue to threaten Israel and her citizens despite the continuing peace process.  Israel has the right, as a sovereign nation, to protect her land and her citizens in the same way that we, as Americans, fight to protect ourselves from outside threats of violence.

Fact number two: Israel is unequivocally committed to peace.    Though it has not been without missteps along with way, Israel has been working on forging a path to peace with the Palestinians since its founding in 1948.  Peace, seemingly simple, is endlessly vast in its complexity and practical application.  As the world well knows, peace never happens overnight.  A major breakthrough in the struggle for peace came in the form of the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993.  Israel agreed to withdraw from most of the Territories and, in exchange, the PLO promised to renounce terrorism and accept Israel’s right to exist.  Despite the Accords’ failure, by 1997 98 percent of the Palestinian people were governed by the Palestinian Authority – a fact that holds true still today.  

The year 2000 brought the Camp David Summit with former President Bill Clinton acting as a mediator between former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.  Barak offered 95 percent of a contiguous West Bank, 100 percent of Gaza, a capital in eastern Jerusalem and $30 billion to aid the resettling of Palestinian refugees.  Arafat and the PLO did not respond to Barak’s offer, effectively ending the Camp David Negotiations.  No matter how frustrating the process, Israel will forever be committed to making peace with the Palestinian people.  

How, you may ask, does any of this affect my life?  The United States was the first nation to recognize the State of Israel in 1948 and continues to maintain incredibly strong ties today.  The bonds between America and Israel are strategic; Americans and Israelis alike benefit economically, technologically and diplomatically.  Israel is the only democratic nation in the Middle East.  As members of a democratic society, it is of paramount importance that we maintain our unwavering support for the State of Israel.

The Indiana Israel Public Affairs Committee is a student organization dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship.  If you or your student organization would like to get involved, please contact Ben Dorson (bdorson@indiana.edu) or Ben-Ari Boukai (boukaib@indiana.edu).