photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem

We don’t hate each other this much. Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs, do not feel so much venom for one another that we could see any justification for the burning of an 18-month old toddler. That toddler could be Ali Dawabsheh or any other child–it just seems that this act may have been too much. Maybe, we’ve finally had enough. Israelis and Palestinians have had enough. This is what it took for settlers to mourn alongside Palestinians, for the hospital bed of an injured Palestinian family to be visited by the Prime Minster of Israel. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a two-state solution, one-state, or ten million-states; anything would be better than another event like this. Such wide-ranging condemnation of horror rarely grips the Israeli-Palestinian sphere so strongly. This is not Deir Yassin nor is it Itamar, this was one group’s twisted idea of “nekamah” or revenge in Hebrew. It is up to us to decide who will have the last word.

Unfortunately, Jews and Arabs have mourned tragedies like this for over a century. This has occurred since long before the UN voted on the partition plan in 1947. Israel’s actions moving forward, however, will speak louder than any verbal condemnation or visit from Prime Minister Netanyahu. MK Tzipi Livni worked hard last year to classify price tag attacks as terrorist attacks and though the bill failed to pass, its message gained popularity among members of Knesset and the Shin Bet. Should a revamped version of this bill pass, it would signify that in addition to Israel condemning these horrendous actions, Israel works equally hard to protect its Arab citizens as it does its Jewish citizens. Members of the far-right Bayit Yehudi party have already called for Jewish terrorists to face the same punishments that are used against other convicted terrorists.

Additionally, the Palestinian Authority must cease naming streets and parks after convicted terrorists—thus beginning to honor their requirements outlined in the Oslo Accords. Dozens of protesters attempted to burn Joseph’s tomb in response to the murder of the Palestinian baby. The Palestinian Authority has yet to denounce this and the Western Media has mostly ignored it. The media focusing exclusively on Israel’s response to its own extremists normalizes Palestinian terrorism and works against any viable peace deal. If we honestly wish to end the baseless hate, we must hold the leadership of the Palestinians accountable just as we hold Israel accountable for rogue settlers’ actions.

Political leaders must bring an end to their incitement. Extremists must be shunned and their actions condemned in all aspects of society. But most importantly, Israelis and Palestinians must recognize what the shared emotion was that so many people felt following the death of Ali Dawabsheh. It was horror, despair, and anger. It was the culmination of the loss of thousands over a number of decades—all brought into public reflection with the death of one toddler. If there was ever a time to end the use of the word “conflict” with regard to this coarse relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, now is the time. This can be the turning point where both sides work together for a more peaceful life. That is, if we all choose to make the move.

Article co-written by Jonathan Muhlrad and Kevin Lefkowitz