The Only Way Out is Through ... Religion?
Dennis Hoover Thursday, 16 September 2010
As of writing this (July 2010), prospects are dangerously dim for a comprehensive peace agreement that results in a viable state for the Palestinians and a secure State of Israel. Indeed, concern is growing that a two-state solution may soon become a political and practical impossibility. As E.J. Dionne argues in his contribution to this issue, "Time may be shorter than we think. If we don't find a way toward the two-state solution within the next few years, that way of resolving this conflict may go out of reach."
Although religion is by no means the only reason for this grim state of play in the Middle East, it is a critical factor. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has of course long been described as "religious," but often this was conceived more as a matter of cultural and historical reference than as an acknowledgement of the everyday identity and ideas of local communities. Now religion qua religion seems increasingly to be at the forefront.
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