Conflict between cultures has existed for years and the root problem of most of these conflicts has been a lack of communication on some level. What fuels these conflicts is a lack of willingness to understand one another, or to listen to one another. The worst intercultural conflicts come from one or both cultures seeing their cultural traditions and customs as paramount to the other culture and not willing to learn and respect the other group’s way of life. Israel and Palestine have a history of conflict and turmoil that is almost unparallel. Israel and the Palestinians have a deep-rooted hate and animosity for one another and their conflict has been one of a lack of understanding and respecting the other group and a claim to an area they both see as their. This intercultural conflict has been going on for almost a century and there seems to be no resolution. What causes this turmoil and where did it originate?
The Jewish people have been in the land of Israel since the beginning of time and see the land of Israel as their home and their inheritance. This cultural identity is what makes Israel so hostile to the intrusion of any other group in what they deem as their land of inheritance. Israel was conquered by Rome thousands of years ago and renamed Palestine. Over 1,000 years ago, Palestine was conquered by the Arabs and inhabited by them. This conflict over who owns or has the right to the land of Israel is at the root of the conflict between these two groups (MidEastWeb for Coexistence RA., 1998-2008). Both of these respective groups have a biased that they belong in the land and have a right to it. This diametrically opposite perspective is one of two groups of people who see themselves as the rightful heir to the land and want the other group out. Why they both cannot live there and be peaceful is the bias these two groups have that they are the rightful heirs to the land and the inheritance that comes with it. The lack of communication plays every role in this conflict because both are fighting and refuse to listen to one another and see each other as a group who has the right to inherit the land or to live there.
“The Zionist movement arose to restore the Jews to Israel, largely ignoring the existing Arab population. Following the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Palestine was granted to Britain as a League of Nations mandate to build a national home for the Jewish people. The Arabs resented the Jews coming in to take their land. Led by Grand Mufti Hajj Amin El Husseini, they rioted repeatedly and later revolted, creating a history of enmity between Jews and Arabs in Palestine. Britain stopped Jewish immigration to Palestine. Following the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis, pressure on Britain increased to allow Jewish immigration to Palestine. In 1947, the UN partitioned the land into Arab and Jewish states. The Arabs did not accept the partition and war broke out. The Jews won a decisive victory, expanded their state, and created several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees. The Arab states refused to recognize Israel or make peace with it. Wars broke out in 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982, and there were many terror raids and Israeli reprisals. Each side believes different versions of the same history. Each side views the conflict as wholly the fault of the other and expects an apology” (MidEastWeb for Coexistence RA., 1998-2008).
There really does not seem to be a resolution to this conflict because both groups see it from a different perspective and hate each other. While some resolution seems to have been brought in designating land to both groups, the Palestinians were not happy with that and wanted the Jews out completely. The only action they might possibly take is listening to each other, but they see the issue from such diametrically opposite perspectives they will not even discuss the issues they both face and have with one another. This unwillingness to even communicate or listen to one another is one of the root issues of intercultural communication breakdown these two groups have. These devices of the UN partitioning land and Britain once again allowing immigration Palestine failed due to the deep-seated hatred these two groups have towards one another. The two countries differ in their cultural pattern in many ways. One way is religion. The Jewish people see themselves as Gods chosen people and that gives them the right to the land due to several Old Testament promises of a Messiah and a 1,000-year rule on the earth in the promised land of Israel.
With rise of Zionism by Theodor Herzl, he stated, “The idea which I have developed in this pamphlet is a very old one: it is the restoration of the Jewish state."
“Herzl is considered the Father of Zionism, a political movement to create a Jewish state” (, 2011). The rise of Zionism has inflamed the situation even more and made the conflict more hostile than it was before. This movement would restore Israel to the land and have no regard to the Palestinian people. To disregard one group while favoring another group is a demonstration of poor intercultural communication because it regards one group as more important than the other and their rights and needs as paramount to the other group all the while disregarding the needs and desires of the other group. This is a lack of listening and a poor demonstration of conflict resolution skills that takes good communication skills to execute. The problem is that both groups see themselves as the primary owners of the land and their cultural identity is at stake if the other group “wins” or gains the possession of the land. The other cultural barrier they have is religion. Both of these groups have diametrically opposite religions that see the other group as “infidels” or gross unbelievers and this has created a religious bigotry and hatred that I so deep rooted and has such a strong opinion behind it, they are going to find it difficult to find a resolution to their conflict. Some key intercultural communication theorist who could be enlisted to help solve this intercultural communication problem is a difficult question to answer. Nations and world leaders have tried to solve this problem with no success. Could an intercultural communication theorist solve this issue and if so why have they not solved it. We are talking about the lives of people who matter here, women, children, and the elderly who do not deserve to be mistreated on either side. There seems to be no resolution to this issue and the intercultural conflict will continue to rage on until both of these groups see the other group as more important than the land and their religious ideologies. Until then the lack of communication and the unwillingness to resolve the intercultural conflict is going to be one they have to deal with and find a peaceful resolution for or they will continue to have war and violent conflict. If someone is able to resolve in a peaceful manner the conflict between these two groups in a way that is fair for both of them that person needs to utilize such skills to resolve one of the oldest conflicts in history to make a better and more peaceful life for all of those living in the region affected by this ancient conflict.
While intercultural communication is pivotal to relationships with those of differing cultures and religion, some conflicts are so deep and have such a long history that resolution cannot be as easy as using certain theories or skills, especially when both groups want the other extinguished. It is important to remember the most important part of intercultural communication and the skill that is paramount to all of them, respect. If more respect and concern for the individual not ideologies was shown this would have dispelled many conflicts throughout history and made the founding of many nations a different story. Remembering the person and their feelings is sometimes the best and most effective intercultural conflict method available because when one remembers how they would feel if they were the other person that would give them a glimpse into that person’s feelings and perspective. Perspective is important, not just the one perspective but also both perspectives so each respective group can understand how the other feels and where they are coming from. Without respect and a desire to understand, there is going to be conflict, turmoil, and a lack of intercultural communication.
References
