The problems between the Israelis and Palestinians have made people suffer for a long time. While at first the problem began with a disagreement of beliefs and identity, because the conflict becomes political, it becomes impossible for anyone to live in Israel without having their day-to-day lives affected by this conflict.
"Maslow's hierarchy of needs"
I found Andrew Watson's reference to Maslow's hierarchy of needs interesting: the needs of people living in the conflict-affected areas are being less and less fulfilled, bringing their level of fulfillment down to safety, and sometimes even to physiological. Their worries for tomorrow are so simple, yet due to a difference in identity, people cannot achieve these basic needs.
Problem solving is at the top of this hierarchy. To have the emotional capacity to be able to solve problems, reduce prejudice, accept and respect others, first the bottom needs need to be attained. The situation in which the people live in though, cannot address these needs. The longer the people are deprived of basic needs, the more the situation aggravates: an example being a change in attitude, where people begin to use definitive language and hold dogmatic views. The children grow up in this environment, and the views of their parents are passed on through the generation. The views begin to lose sight of the reason the conflict happened in the first place.
In this presentation the importance of education was justified, because respect for each other can be promoted, and a attitude towards conflict resolution can be created, especially because people have suffered enough hard times. Educating the younger generations can help create understanding of the problems that exist, and create a generation who know how to work towards conflict resolution.
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