Q&A: Prof. Rose answers your emails
Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - The Problem
Page 3 - US Support
The Problem
Rose argues that amongst the founders of the state of Israel were those who believed that the state could only survive if it was aggressive in its own defence and were blind to the humanity of the Palestinians they lived amongst.
Today, amongst the many views battling for control in Israel it is that aggressive vision that she thinks is the barrier to an Israeli led peace settlement.
With the death toll on both sides rising by the day and the situation more hopeless than it has been for many years, she argues that the one country with the power and influence to force the warring parties to stop, America, is achieving nothing.
The current administrations in each country leave no room for negotiation and Professor Rose argues that America is ignoring more creative voices in Israel today and embracing the extreme strands of Israeli thought and practice they should most reject.
No room for criticism
Critics of Israel are often branded anti-Semitic, and as a British Jew she feels passionately that criticising what the Israeli Government is doing is not the same as being anti-Semitic or anti-Israel.
In her view it is precisely the opposite.
To explore this viewpoint, Rose travelled back to the region to experience life there today.
Her journey began with a return to Israel, where she visited one of the settlements that are such a cause of contention. Freshly arrived from America, the settlers were open and frank with her about their views:
“This is our home. I think they [Palestinians] have a home. It’s called Jordan, and I think that’s where they should be,” says one simply.
After visiting the city of Ramallah, where she experienced life under the Israeli curfew, Rose gives a brief account on the history of the region accounting for the responsibility of both Britain and the US for the current situation.
Her report includes some harrowing footage from 1982 massacres in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It also includes one of the “most important moments in Israeli history” - the protest of 400,000 Israeli citizens, nearly one tenth of the population, protesting at the actions of their own government.
Her questions ultimately lead her to America, to find out why the US has given Israeli virtually everything it has ever wanted, but has asked for little in return?
Q&A: Prof. Rose answers your emails
Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - The Problem
Page 3 - US Support
