Annie's Blog

By attending the Clark Forum Paradigm Lost, I gained a much better understanding of the history of the land currently contested by Israelis and Palestinians, and the conflict between the two groups. The full historical analysis helped me understand the reasons for the conflict today, and how world events such as World War Two affected the region. Through Professor Lustick’s careful explanation of the issues at hand and the ways that governments have approached the resolution of the problems, I was able to understand his argument. His solution argued that Israel will never be divided into two states, and what is required is a more in-depth solution emphasizing equal rights.

One concept he mentioned that I could relate to class was the U.S. role in the Oslo Accords. Professor Lustick described how complex the conversations were, using maps to further his point. It helped me understand visually why he believes in a one-state solution. I was also able to connect the lecture with broader topics we have discussed like countries’ and the UN’s role in fostering diplomatic talks. However, he notes a cyclical pattern of violence and unsuccessful negotiations. In addition, I connected our previous discussions on the aftermath of the World Wars and colonialism to the events occurring in Israel today.

With limited knowledge on the issues, and having heard only his perspective, I can say I found the latter part of his argument persuasive. However, I am not knowledgeable enough on the topic to understand possible counterarguments, or raise any disagreements. His description of a seemingly never-ending timeline in which the two-state solution will no longer be viable was effective as a learner to understand the sorts of debates revolving around the issue. Therefore, Professor Lustick not only had a persuasive argument, he was also able to explain a deeply complex issue to attendees who might have little knowledge on the conflict.