Competing Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
By Gene Aronowitz
I was horrified on October 7, 2023, when about 6,000 Palestinian militant individuals launched a surprise attack on Israel, accompanied by at least 4,300 rockets. 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 815 civilians, were killed, and 251 were taken hostage.
I was equally horrified by Israel’s counteroffensive, which included a total blockade of the Gaza Strip. Reports indicated that over time, about 68,000 Palestinians were killed, the majority of whom were non-combatant women and children.
As I write these words in October 2025, all of the living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas, although the remains of several deceased hostages remain in Gaza. 2000 Palestinian prisoners, held by the Israeli government, have also been released.
I am committed to open, civil, and respectful communication regarding difficult current conditions and events. That is not always easy in our divided country and world, but it is particularly difficult when discussing Israeli/Palestinian conflicts. Two online presentations I experienced dealt with how hard this is.
Of the many podcasts I listen to, I am very fond of a series called “On Being.” I listened to one of its episodes, which dealt with how difficult it is for Jews and Palestinians living close to each other to communicate without antagonism. (Footnote: https://onbeing.org/.../yochi-fisher-and-loaay-wattad-on.../ ) The October 7 massacre and the virtual destruction of Gaza are uppermost in the minds of Israelis and Palestinians. Still, those on each side are not necessarily aware of the physical or emotional traumas experienced by those on the other side. The roots of current perspectives extend beyond recent events. Some Israelis are still deeply affected by the holocaust in the 1040s, and Palestinians are still profoundly affected by the Nakba, an Arabic word meaning catastrophe, referring to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were expelled or who fled from their homes, also in the 1940s.
This On Being episode, entitled “On Seeing the Trauma of the Other,” featured two Israelis—one Jewish and the other Palestinian—who seemed to have made peace with one another, yet still harbored some antagonistic feelings. They also referred to hostile statements made by others, including their parents. The podcast also included the questions and statements made by articulate members of the audience, who were predominantly Jewish and Palestinian Israelis.
I also watched a service from Manhattan’s Central Synagogue, recorded on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, 2025. I was brought up Jewish, but am not an observant Jew. Nevertheless, I occasionally watch the Central Synagogue’s services, primarily because I think that Rabbi Angela Buchdahl is extraordinary. She is thoughtful, articulate, and compelling. Her sermon at this Rosh Hashanah service was even more remarkable than usual. (Footnote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5iVh94ugA ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5iVh94ugA) She emphasized the importance of all of us looking at those who have suffered and are still suffering from the conflict with empathy and compassion. She said we needed to put aside the animosity that has arisen from the divisions that have set us apart, not only after October 7, 2023, but also before that day. She knew that many of her congregants would likely not agree with what she was saying, depending on which side of this conflict they favored.
Rabbi Buchdahl was entirely correct. Anger and animosity can hurt all of us. For our own sake as well as those who have angered us, we need to do what we can to let it go.
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