In a world torn by violence dissension, we redouble our efforts to conceive peaceful and constructive approaches to the conflicts that threaten to engulf us. At this moment this is especially true of the Middle East and South Asia, where the names Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Kashmir are synonyms for bitterness and bloodshed that stretch over many decades. Can such seemingly intractable problems be resolved by peaceful means?
A question like this demands both clarification and response. First, these problems are not "intractable." Despite the widespread belief that they have gone on forever, these conflicts and tensions have come into existence in the recent past, often within living memory. They do not date from "time immemorial." Their root causes are well known. What is needed is a concerted effort to identify concrete solutions that address the fundamental problems, rather than allowing ourselves to be obsessed with violent acts that serve only to detour progress. We also need to persuade the parties involved that these solutions will address their needs and interests far better than continued conflict.
There is no lack of ideas or imagination among those working on these solutions. Where we have fallen short is in finding effective ways of engaging the parties in the process of peaceful settlement. How is it possible to induce people who seem possessed by bitterness, resentment, fear, and revenge to set these feelings aside and to discuss difficult issues in a new spirit?
