Spring Break
Column: Perception versus reality in Israel
Charles Kyle / Columnist
Issue date: 1/14/09 Section: Opinions
Have you ever looked at the illusion picture on the back of a cereal box? The picture that if you stare at it long enough you will see something else?
In these pictures, the lines of perception and reality are blurred. Sometimes we as people would like to believe the perceptions of some things are the reality of them as well.
More often the perception of a situation is far from the reality of it. For a simple example of this, look at oil prices. The perception is that OPEC countries and Russia control oil prices, meaning all fluctuations in the prices are a direct result of these countries. Reality: Although these countries in fact do control oil and have sole power to control flow - as seen by Russia cutting the gas supply to the rest of Europe - many factors go into the pricing of oil from weather to diplomatic issues and lastly, war.
This leads to my next topic: the perception of what is going on in Israel. The perception is that a terrorist group, Hamas, is in control of the Gaza strip and that as long as they are in control no cease-fire, truce or any other resolution will work. Reality: The only countries that recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization are the United States, Israel and the European Union. To the dismay of some, these nations do not constitute the entire world, meaning there are countries in the world that do not recognize Hamas as a terrorist group.
Furthermore, the reality of this situation is bigger than Hamas and Israel. The underlying issue at hand has been the same issue since the creation of Israel in 1948 and was further perpetuated by the Arab-Israeli War in 1973: Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Also there is this perception that with a cease-fire or the renewal of the truce that this problem will go away. The reality of the situation is that this problem will sadly never go away. Only four Arab nations have full diplomatic ties with Israel. Many other Arab nations - Saudi Arabia included - do not recognize Israel. Most of these nations not only do not officially recognize Israel, but many more do not recognize their right to exist.
"What's the difference," one might ask. What one sees in the Middle East are countries that have large feelings of resentment toward Israel.
It will be interesting to see what the Obama administration does with this issue as it will surely be an issue they will not only have to deal with, but take on the bigger task of remediating. One might wonder what steps will be taken to solve the problem seeing how the United States has been a full-fledged supporter of Israel.
Will the administration isolate the U.S. more and more from the Middle-Eastern Arab countries, something that Obama said he does not want to do, or will they find that median where both sides are happy?
Regardless of what happens, the perception and the reality of the situation must be the same as that is vital for peace in the region.
Charles Kyle is a senior biological science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
In these pictures, the lines of perception and reality are blurred. Sometimes we as people would like to believe the perceptions of some things are the reality of them as well.
More often the perception of a situation is far from the reality of it. For a simple example of this, look at oil prices. The perception is that OPEC countries and Russia control oil prices, meaning all fluctuations in the prices are a direct result of these countries. Reality: Although these countries in fact do control oil and have sole power to control flow - as seen by Russia cutting the gas supply to the rest of Europe - many factors go into the pricing of oil from weather to diplomatic issues and lastly, war.
This leads to my next topic: the perception of what is going on in Israel. The perception is that a terrorist group, Hamas, is in control of the Gaza strip and that as long as they are in control no cease-fire, truce or any other resolution will work. Reality: The only countries that recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization are the United States, Israel and the European Union. To the dismay of some, these nations do not constitute the entire world, meaning there are countries in the world that do not recognize Hamas as a terrorist group.
Furthermore, the reality of this situation is bigger than Hamas and Israel. The underlying issue at hand has been the same issue since the creation of Israel in 1948 and was further perpetuated by the Arab-Israeli War in 1973: Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Also there is this perception that with a cease-fire or the renewal of the truce that this problem will go away. The reality of the situation is that this problem will sadly never go away. Only four Arab nations have full diplomatic ties with Israel. Many other Arab nations - Saudi Arabia included - do not recognize Israel. Most of these nations not only do not officially recognize Israel, but many more do not recognize their right to exist.
"What's the difference," one might ask. What one sees in the Middle East are countries that have large feelings of resentment toward Israel.
It will be interesting to see what the Obama administration does with this issue as it will surely be an issue they will not only have to deal with, but take on the bigger task of remediating. One might wonder what steps will be taken to solve the problem seeing how the United States has been a full-fledged supporter of Israel.
Will the administration isolate the U.S. more and more from the Middle-Eastern Arab countries, something that Obama said he does not want to do, or will they find that median where both sides are happy?
Regardless of what happens, the perception and the reality of the situation must be the same as that is vital for peace in the region.
Charles Kyle is a senior biological science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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