The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ‘Dogri’ course-Session 1: "Truth"

Conversations…conversations and more conversations ! This is the answer we offer to the powerlessness that currently prevails in the relations between Jews and Arabs in general and between students on campus in particular! 

A marathon of hours of fascinating discourse with lots of openness, truth, and credibility in the first of three meetings that will take place during the semester as part of a unique course we called "Dogri" open to all students on campus.  The new course conducted by my dear colleague Prof. Uriel Aboloff, and myself.    

The topic of the first meeting included defining the "truth" about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict! Is there one truth? Is this the truth of each and every one? Is there a factual reality? Or is the majority an individual or sectoral interpretation? What is the degree of fake news compared to the facts? Which side has more truth if any? What does the present look like and what will the future look like after the difficult events of October 7 and in light of the severe bloody war in Gaza? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is there a closed channel of a life of despair underground?  Is there a chance to return to 'freedom of speech' in general and freedom of speech in academia in particular? Are we on the verge of an internal explosion between Jews and Arabs in Israel or can we return the discourse to an effective track and strive for a solution based on the truth and not on a lie? Can we take control of the severe hatred that rears its head between Jews and Arabs in Israel and reach a path of true life partnership based on mutual respect, common truth, equality and real fairness? 

During the meeting, we invited two fascinating speakers, Adv. Ridaa Gaber and Adv. Rabbi Moshe Turgman, who shared with us in a fascinating and genuine way their historical and contemporary view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

The basis for today's success is the true openness and sincere participation of the dear Arab and Jewish students from all ends of the social spectrum on campus, from the south including the Gaza Strip from the southern and northern triangle and from the north! 

Many words were flying in the discourse including, confusion, disappointment, skepticism, anger, identity, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and reality, but also hope, forgiveness, truth, reliability and faith! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my dear partner in the academic-social project, Prof. Uriel Abolof, to the guests, and especially to the students who participated, and I look forward to the second meeting on the topic: Trust and Faith, which will take place in about a month... Inshallah 

Prof. Youssef Masharawi