Tensions Rising

We've had our share of heated discussions throughout the year, but people are finally letting their guard down. I honestly expected it to happen much earlier in the semester, but I guess between having a relatively large group, people leaving on the weekends, and staying occupied with classes, we haven't had the chance to get on each other's nerves so much. That has finally started to change, though. I mean, among a few individuals it has already happened, but that can't be avoided. I'm talking about more widespread frustration and tension that has been building up and is starting to boil over within the group as a whole.

Gershon Baskin, founder and co-director of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), came to speak to us about "the day after" or what possible scenorios will be when a ceasefire takes effect in Gaza. He came before the ceasefire was declared this week. He has done some really interesting work including working directly with Hamas in an effort to free Gilad Shalit, the soldier who was captured shortly before the beginning of the Israeli-Lebanese war in 2006. He ended up talking a fair amount about his role in the situation and his opinions on why Israel decided to invade Gaza, why the Israeli public is so supportive, etc.

The talk quickly deteriorated into a heated discussion between a number of students, mostly Arab and Israeli. There were a lot of triggers throughout the talk, and people reacted emotionally and directly at one another. Despite the fact that the academic director and executive director were sitting in on the discussion, very little facilitation occurred. Mr. Baskin literally had to yell above us to quiet everyone down on multiple occassions. It was intense.

The most controversial parts of the conversation were about Gilad Shalit and Palestinian prisoners. Why do Israelis care so much about one soldier? What message is it sending that the option of a prisoner exchange would be one soldier for hundreds of Palestinians? There was a lot of frustration over talking about the treatment of prisoners, how Hamas and the Israeli government are handling (or not) the situation, and how the Gaza invasion was affecting everything.

It was interesting to see the back-and-forth that occurred. We have had similarly difficult conversations, but they tend not to devolve into a shouting match. I think that people are finally able to start saying what they think without worrying about someone else not liking them. Between the increased comfort with each other and the incredibly high tension from both within and outside the Machon, it makes perfect sense to me that this would be happening now. What doesn't make sense to me is why the Machon hasn't done anything to address it. Maybe Avodah is too engrained in me, but there are ways of dealing with these issues in a constructive way. And since the Machon has been around for 10 years and has been dealing with these very issues, it seems that they would have some tools for us to use.

In the meantime, everyone is hibernating in their rooms studying for exams. But the end is in sight. It'll all be over next week...