For those of you worried that the tone of the so-called Occupation is a bit too confrontational and unpleasant, I have some optimistic news. As reported in Haaretz, a company of reservists is introducing politeness into the everyday checkpoint encounters between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli soldiers who decide if and when workers can go to work, children can go to school, family members can visit each other, and the sick may seek medical attention. Instead of barking out harsh directives, soldiers will now preface their requests for Palestinians to obey orders with “’min fadlakum’ (please), with an emphasis on the request,” according to Eliezer Cohen, the poet and social worker who is the brainchild behind the initiative. Cohen adds that is not "just the words. We decided that we would look everyone in the eye and that we would not aim our gun at anyone.” Of course, if Palestinians stubbornly refuse to comply with these cordial invitations to obey softened by eye contact, guns may indeed have to be pointed. Sure, it’s still in the experimental stage, but if it works, the program could be extended to other reservist groups and perhaps the entire IDF.
There are two conceivable outcomes. One is that the effort will be a resounding success, thereby diminishing worldwide pressure on Israel to end the “occupation.” The other unfortunate possibility is that the Palestinians will not graciously accept the soldiers’ sincere efforts at courtesy, and continue to make unreasonable demands for freedom from foreign military dictatorship. It will not be the first time that the Palestinians have missed an opportunity for genuine reconciliation.
