Preface: All that is said here is, out of convenience, written from the Israeli side. The demands I make and the beliefs I express would apply with equal force to both sides, with the appropriate changes.

My experience, which I admit is not great, has taught me that the best way to develop a basic and proper relationship is by one attempting to know and understand the other. I presume that most people agree with me in this regard. The problem begins, and also ends, when we try to understand and analyze the other through our personal system of beliefs. Such an attempt is doomed to a bitter failure. Trying to make sense of types of behavior or communication practices of a certain type of person through our own mentality and norms offers no prospect for understanding. The way to understand someone, to really understand, is through education and knowledge: to know where a person is from, where he is going and before whom he must stand up and be counted; investigate his background and his agenda; know his narratives. Only then can we analyze our contemporaries in a precise and significant manner and understand what motivates their actions and expressions.

An example? A good Ashkenazi would be greatly insulted if a Mizrachi uses his hands to eat right out of the central dish during a shared meal because he is guided, in this instance, by the mentality he has grown accustomed to over the years. The Ashkenazi tries to understand the source of this behavior and finds that, according to his belief system, the Mizrachi belittles him and his dinner. Of course this assumption is incorrect. If the Ashkenazi knew the Mizrachi in the way I have recommended, the unpleasant situation, together with feelings of frustration and hurt, would be prevented.

Now, a brief test: Why is Jerusalem sacred to Muslims? What is the difference between Fatah and Hamas? When and how was the Palestinian identity created?

Can you answer these questions? I presume that the average Israeli youth does not know how to sufficiently answer these questions and, worse, he thinks these questions are not important or relevant to his life in the State of Israel. In a small country with so many problems, we cannot allow such ignorance to pervade.

In my eyes, the first and most important thing that the youth can and should do to advance the peace process and improve the relationship of the Israelis towards the Palestinians is to learn the language and culture of the other side. From mutual awareness, understanding will sprout and from there, the path to an accord would be quite short.

An understanding of customs, tradition and history is the key to solving most problems in general and the Israeli-Palestinian one in particular. We try to understand them, but only look at them through our own lenses, through a frame that is often Orientalist and condescending. This is not the right way to look at the other; the right way is to try to understand them through their own eyes, and the same applies to them. We should analyze their side, using their own tools because when they seem like us the problem becomes different.

What can we do? First, we can demand that the Ministry of Education and the government make both Middle Eastern studies and the Arabic language compulsory subjects for the matriculation exams. Secondly, we must fully support the curiosity of our youth in issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Nowadays, the Internet offers a great deal of material for free to anyone who seeks it. This knowledge is portable and can be accessed anywhere. Learning will lead to knowing, which will lead to understanding, which will quickly lead to an end of expressions like "them" and "all the Arabs." We will begin to internalize who this population is with whom we are trying to deal and cooperate with day after day.

Emotional statements like "Palestinians do not want peace," or "All Arabs are stupid" are not scientific and block the possibility for advancing social and political projects. Our youth, guided by the Ministry of Education (which I will discuss later), must learn how to avoid sweeping The first and most important thing that the youth can and should do to advance the peace process and improve the relationship of the Israelis towards the Palestinians is to learn the language and culture of the other side. generalizations and empty statements at all costs, for they will undermine our common ground. Fear and alienation stem from lack of understanding and ignorance, which we must eliminate.

Over the last two years, as part of my regular service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), I studied for my bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern history at the University of Haifa. Within the confines of the curriculum I take courses like Introduction to the Middle East, Arabic, the Islamic Faith, the Muslim Nation, classes on national topics like Jordan and Syria and many other courses on varied subjects. Upon reading in Hebrew the subject for this writing this essay, I read it in Arabic as well, to see if I could grasp another direction or find a word that would ignite my imagination. Arabic studies greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex situation of this country. In the corridors of the university, flyers in Arabic advancing a particular position are often distributed, and most are not distributed in Hebrew. Fellow students and I translate these flyers and try to learn from them as much as possible.

The persistent preoccupation with the everyday life of a different population encourages a sense of identification with the other side. Moreover, knowledge is power, in every sense of the word. Beyond the rigorous university education which consumes every drop of free time, I clear my schedule to attend lectures on issues related to the topic. I recently participated in a conference on Arab-Jewish relations in Israel during 2009, organized by Professor Sami Smooha and also other lectures by professors and researchers who come to the university, such as a lecture by Dr. Dan Schueftan on the status of the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

Of course it is not possible to require each person in the country to hold a B.A. in Middle Eastern history and to devote all his time and energy to the subject. But I do find it legitimate to ask of the youth, especially those who spend their free time roaming in Facebook, to open Wikipedia and check what the Muslim Brotherhood is and explore their connection to Hamas.

All that has been said to this point is of great significance, but ultimately worthless without corresponding changes in the curriculum in this country. The educational principles are utterly worthless if teachers lack the appropriate tools to implement them.

As the system functions today, with teachers undergoing inadequate training, we cannot expect our students to behave in a more mature and intelligent manner. In my opinion, we need to change the entire educational system in this country in order to advance the prospects for peace. The change needs to be made in several areas:

Currently, beyond demonstrations and letters of protest, my generation and I, who are worried and dream about changing the situation, have no way to carry out the revolution needed in the educational system. Yet this fact does not absolve us of any responsibility. It is up to us to read newspapers, listen to the news, look up material on the Internet, explore the other side and most importantly, try to find information that contradicts our deepest beliefs, to expand our critical faculties and, once and for all, to properly understand the other side. I know that many people will oppose these recommended changes to the education system, but we must also stand resolute against our opponents, and explain the importance of the matter to them, over and over again.

What is the connection of all this to Gaza and the situation that exists between the two nations? It is the nature of war to radicalize any existing emotion. Like a magnet, it pulls people to the edges, especially the youth. The mixture of extremism with a lack of understanding of the enemy only deepens the preexisting gaps and digs another grave along the path to peace. It is precisely after the war, when we are at our lowest point, that we must-as the young generation, as future leaders-inspire national It is up to us to read newspapers, listen to the news, look up material on the Internet, explore the other side and most importantly, try to find information that contradicts our deepest beliefs, to expand our critical faculties and, once and for all, to properly understand the other side. responsibility and begin to learn about each other, to provide a true answer to the mess that the older generation has created and to succeed, with the help of a belief in the good inside every person and the right education, in building something durable and real.

Regarding the politicians (I refuse to call them leaders) who are now in power, I am frustrated that these are the people who make decisions on our behalf. How can a man who does not sufficiently understand the political and social history of the area we live in allow himself to sit in the prime minister's chair? How is it possible that only one Jewish member of the Knesset knows Arabic (no, I do not mean Lieberman)? I hope that, with the help of the Internet and new forms communication which contribute to narrowing the gaps between the two peoples, we will come to a stronger understanding of the other side. And, perhaps, in a number of years, we can bridge cultural differences and perspectives and maintain a normal relationship on the way to peace.

Along with all this, despite all the problems, I believe that, sooner or later, we will all understand that the only possible path is that of a warm and lasting peace. Without such an agreement, the two sides will continue suffering from an atmosphere of hatred towards the other alienated and unknown side. Even with all the differences in perspectives and values, at the end of the day, when a child is killed, it makes no difference what language his mother speaks.

Translated from the Hebrew