Harold Beu says the Middle East is in a continuing conflict that never gets resolved and makes the world less safe. As the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel is observed, he says it will take several generations to come to a resolution.
Beu is a retired minister, member of Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents of War and has taught a class about the Israel-Palestine conflict for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Although the idea of a “two state solution” is often discussed, Beu says at this point it probably won’t work. He says there is not enough contiguous land for a Palestinian state. Beu says moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem also complicates a two state solution because Palestinians have wanted East Jerusalem as the Capital of their state.
Beu says the best long-term solution would probably be a secular state for Jews, Muslims, Christians and people of all faiths. Beu says he doesn’t approve of violence from either side, and he says fear on the part of Israelis is understandable. But Beu says Israel holds the power.
