Rachael Holt

The Clashing of Cultures between Israel and Palestine

Several years ago when I was a nave middle schooler who didnt worry much beyond
whose house I was sleeping over that Friday, I remember reading a status on Facebook that
left a lasting impression on me. The status read Theres nothing worse in the world that a
young person could be than apathetic or indifferent. Immediately I looked within myself
(and the words up on dictionary.com) to see if I fulfilled these traits. The word apathy is
defined as lacking interest or concern towards the happenings around oneself. That day, I
realized I was indeed apathetic and that from then on out I did not want to be so. As a current
college freshman, I am proud to say that current events and conflicts interest me deeply and
culture is something I cherish. Recently I have learned more about the particular culture
surrounding the Israeli and Palestinian conflict which the news covers heavily but that I still
feel people know scarce amounts of correct information about.
The ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel has been around for thousands of
years, however, different and intense problems have popped up more recently. For a brief
history of the issue, it started when a group of Jewish extremist minorities known as Zionists
claimed part of Palestine for their own. The goal was to create a Jewish homeland of sorts,
and problems did not arise until more Jews migrated to the area. Hitlers rise to power was a
leading cause of more Jewish people settling in a safer place that the Zionists created. The
natives of the land became concerned at the growth and eventually the clashing of cultures
led fighting to break out. Eventually, an outside source known as the United Nations made a

decision; over half of the Palestinian land was to be given for a Jewish state. This angered the
Palestinians because the Jewish Zionist made up less than thirty percent of the overall
population (John W. Mulhall, 1995). What it boils down to is that both cultures want to stay
where they are and both desire more land and resources for themselves, constantly creating
havoc between them.
Although the American government clearly favors Israel, the American public is
divided on which side to take or whether they should take one at all. News on both sides can
be biased because neither culture wants to seem more selfish or violent than the other. Tales
of constant riots, threats and missile launchings flood the news and people all over the world
are forced to choose who they believe to be right and wrong when in reality both cultures are
acting in similar ways. A Jewish interviewee, Robyn Marowitz, when asked if she believes
the media to be biased one way or another, says it depends what youre looking at. Since
she is Jewish, when Robyn is online she sees articles posted by Jewish people that are
biased toward Israel. But like some of the news stations like CNN are biased toward
Palestinians, and you know, are portraying Israel in a bad light. Through two separate
interviews with young Americans in favor of either Israel or Palestine, I got an inside look at
how passionate young people really feel about the issue.
Robyn Marowitz, a freshman at the Ohio State University has a close connection to
Israel through her devoted Judaism and also having lived there for several months a few
years back. Marowitz says she has a very big connection to the area and feels really
passionately about protecting it. Typically there is dispute on how Israel and Palestine started
having conflicts and when asking Marowitz her opinion, she claims well it depends on what

youre asking in that situation because this time around the issue began because of the
kidnapping of three Israeli teenaged boys from Hamos and the murder of them. But in
reality, the conflict has been going on for thousands of yearssince Israel began to exist.
As an American, she thinks the American government in sot necessarily handling the IsraeliPalestinian conflict poorly, but that theyre just not really handling it at all most of the
time. Some might wonder if Robyn Marowitz is one of few young people that feel strongly
about the conflict, but Marowitz states that a majority of Jewish Americans are very
active about it but people who have never been to Israel are notyou never really know
what youre gonna get but most Jews are pro-Israel I would say, in America. She has family
and friends in the country and her close friend from high school just joined the Israeli
defense force so Robyn feels an extra strong pull to Israel and its safety at this time. She
describes the conflict as very scary because its so close to home, everyones there and if
something happens its a risk for peoplelike my close friends. Interestingly enough,
Marowitz says life in Israel goes on as usual when threats such as missile launchings
happen, saying its horrible but like its normalthey cant stop their lives. Robyn
Marowitz is a great example of how a distant cultural conflict can deeply affect someones
culture in a different place such as America.
A different perspective I got to explore was from that of Ohio State freshman,
Nicholas Crossman who although has no familial ties to Israel or Palestine, is still very
passionate about seeking justice for the Palestinian nation. Crossman describes that people
might think its weird that hes involved with the subject at all because hes not
Palestinian or Jewish but Nick is really into history and active in todays current events.

He has conducted a lot of research and claims Palestine is not as bad as the American media
makes it seem. He describes Israelis government as very hypocritical. They proclaim to
desire things like peace, yet continue to act violently toward people on the strip of Gaza (the
people on the strip of Gaza being native Palestinians). Nick believes that Israel and
Palestine can work towards peace but that their governments need to compromise with each
other and describing that it is hard because no one wants to sacrifice anything. He thinks,
to his dismay that something very violent will happen between the two cultures before they
will realize the violence is not worth it. Nick claims I feel very blessed as an American to
have all the freedoms that I do. One of which being that Im allowed to have an opinion and I
always want to support my opinion; I just want people to believe the right thing.
Culture is something young people have the opportunity to be passionate about and
sometimes can even be a matter of life or death. Culture is everywhere whether it be
demonstrated through food or something as intense as bombings between two nations.
Although not everyone is deeply interested in why Israel and Palestine just cant seem to get
along, many people are and some are right here in America. It is important to realize that
when discussing culture clashes, biases from both sides must be considered. Hearing and
researching perspectives from both the Israeli and Palestinian side helped develop my ability
to learn without judgment and to expand my horizons in a sense. I was very fascinated to
learn more about an issue that has been all over the news for years in personal ways.
Interviewing two college students close to the subject really gave reality to the fact that
cultures around the world affect people everywhere.