Seek the Peace of Jerusalem

The Role of Religious Leaders in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Over the last seven decades, since the formation of the State of Israel, there has been no shortage of Jews and Arabs desiring peace in Israel-Palestine (the Holy Land). Most peacemaking attempts failed because the parties did not see peace as a win-win deal. The prevailing mantra in this conflict is win-lose or no deal. Today, the Palestinians are not willing to make a deal with the Israeli Jews because they perceive that a deal with the Israeli Jews means the Palestinians will lose. Also, the Israelis are not willing to make a deal with the Palestinian Arabs because they perceive that a deal with the Palestinian Arabs means the Israelis will lose. There are also other geopolitical factors affecting this conflict. This conflict is gradually shifting toward a battle fueled by people relying on religious texts to prolong the struggle.