Dowty addresses Middle East conflict
By MARIA SMITH
News Writer
In the latest lecture of the Saturday Scholar Series, Political Science professor Alan Dowty discussed the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He compared the public conception of the conflict to the famous fable of the frog and the scorpion.
According to the fable, the frog agreed to give the scorpion a ride across the river. When the scorpion stung him halfway across, both began to drown.
"`Why did you do that, now we're both doomed?' asked the frog," said Dowty. "The scorpion replied, `Because this is the Middle East.'"
Dowty denied the view that the conflict is illogical or insoluble despite the violence and conflict that envelop the region.
"It certainly may seem like there's no solution," said Dowty. "My thesis is that the gap between the sides has already narrowed considerably, and a likely solution is beginning to emerge."
Although people might construe the conflict as a basic conflict between Islam and Judaism, Dowty denied that this was true. He pointed out that the original movement that created the Israeli movement was secular.
"It's not a religious conflict in origin, but it's acquired religious dimensions," said Dowty.
He acknowledged that a resolution to the conflict did not seem to be immediately forthcoming.
"In order to be optimistic, you have to have a long-term perspective," he said.
Dowty outlined what he saw as the three possible resolutions to the conflict. One side or the other could claim the entire territory, the two sides could agree to bi-national control of the area, or the sides could divide the land.
Dowty saw the first two solutions as improbable. Neither side currently tries to claim the full extent of the territory, nor does either show any sign of relinquishing its claims.
"A state that doesn't allow a Palestinian homeland is not fair to the Palestinians, nor is a state that does not allow an Israeli homeland fair to the Israelis," said Dowty of these solutions.
However, Dowty thought the idea of dividing the land was a plausible solution. A few remaining points of conflict such as Israeli settlements in the West Bank, control of certain areas of Jerusalem, and the future of Palestinian refugees still impair the agreement.
"The West Bank settlers are only two to three percent of the Israeli population but they've made it a hot issue," Dowty said. "There are almost four million Palestinian refugees who want to return to their original homes in Israel."
Though Dowty believes a solution to the conflict is possible, he doubted whether this could happen under the current governments of Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat.
Dowty emphasized Israel might have to give up its occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the good of both itself and Palestine. He did not believe Israel could successfully maintain its occupation, remain democratic, and remain Jewish, considering the growing Muslim majority in these areas.
"Israel can do two of these things, but not all three," said Dowty.
Dowty closed by reasserting that despite problems, this conflict is not without possible solutions.
"This is not terribly hopeless," he said. "It is merely terrible."
Dowty teaches in the political science department at Notre Dame. He is a Fellow of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and has written extensively on the conflict.
All News Stories for Monday, November 4, 2002
