Activity 11 - Intercultural Conflict

I decided I would do a intercultural conflict that is still somewhat present in our lives today. The conflict I chose is between Israel and Palestine. I think that this conflict is interesting because it is so controversial.

The Jewish people had wanted their own land for some time, they wanted to build a country that was entirely devoted to their way of life. In 1947, the United Nations partitioned off the land (which was Palestinian land) into Arab and Jewish states. The Arabs were very upset by this because it had been their land and they felt that they were being treated unfairly. The Jewish people on the other hand were very happy about this because it allowed them to have their own state. Palestine refuses to recognize Israel as a state and because of this there is constant fighting. There are problems that this area faces (scarcity of water primarily) and they refuse to help each other out. There have been four wars that have broken out as a result of this conflict. Each side of the conflict believes that they are in this conflict because of the other side.

Have you ever been part of conflict that ended like the Israel/Palestine conflict, with no side winning? If so what was it?

I think that a major conflict issue for Palestine is that the United Nations made the state partition some land off for another state without asking. I know that that would irritate me. However, for Israel, I think that a major conflict issue is that they do not have major rights over the land. For both states, they think that whatever happens can be blamed on the other state.

I think that the cultural conflict style in this conflict is quite obvious, avoiding. Neither Israel nor Palestine cares about what happens to itself or the other state as long as they get what they want when and how they want it. I think that this is most evident by the fact that four wars have broken out. I think that if the two states were trying to get along, they would care about, at least, the well - being of their own state and possibly the well - being of the other state. Our text notes that this style can result in more harmonious relationships (if both parties use this) however, I think that both parties are using this style and it is not having this effect. I do also see the dominating conflict style in this conflict. Israel received its goal at the expense of Palestine - thereby dominating over it. I think that Israel may not have completely thought that it would turn out this way when trying to start their own Jewish state.

I think that for Israel and Palestine, there is always going to be a conflict. I do not see Palestine suddenly getting over something that is this big to them, and something that has gone on for this long. I think that these two states will have to go through a lot more fighting before an actual resolution can be reached between the two.