WEEK FOUR: Teaching The Middle East

It’s easy to be impressed when you don’t know anything.

Then again, some people are just simply impressive.

As an intern in the Conflict Resolution/Liberia Program at The Carter Center (TCC), I regularly interact with the staff and interns working on other conflicts, including the Middle East. I’ve never followed the Middle East the same way I’ve researched and worked in other areas, like the Great Lakes Region of Africa and Eastern Europe. This is possibly because the conflict in the Middle East has always seemed so complicated that I just gave up, which is of course, inexcusable.

So, what’s changed in the last seven days that’s made me fascinated with the Middle East and eager to learn more? A great teacher.

On Wednesdays, the Conflict Resolution interns meet with Jeff Carter (yes – he is the son of President Jimmy Carter). We informally discuss our projects and progress – though it’s hard to feel informal in front of the President’s son.

Last Wednesday, the Assistant Director for the Middle East program joined the conversation and shared with us highlights from his recent trip to Syria and the West Bank. The Assistant Director, Nathan Stock, started with a kind caveat, “for those of you who don’t follow the conflict regularly…” (i.e. – for those of you like Rebecca who insist on glossing over these articles in the NY Times.) He then proceeded to outline two very specific situations: the steps needed to generate an open dialogue on US-Syria relations, and the status of the Israeli-imposed embargo on Gaza.

In the case of Syria, TCC is initiating a series of open meetings between high-level former government officials from the United States and Syria in an effort to generate dialogue with the ultimate goal of improving relations between the two countries. Syria is a crucial player in the Middle East peace process and is willing to engage with the United States if existing misconceptions can be dispelled. For instance, such a dialogue may lead to a restructuring of the existing sanctions imposed on Syria. Policymakers and the international media need to be part of the conversation if a full, supportive and long-standing friendship is to develop. Syria is open and willing to engage in dialogue, especially if the TCC can foster a series of hospitable, highly-visible meetings bringing both sides together – exactly what President Carter and the entire Carter Center excel at.

Second, Nathan explained the significance of the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza within the context of a protracted interstate conflict. Until recently, Israel had created a short list of selected items that were the only goods permitted to pass into Gaza. This excluded numerous things like cement, shoes and candy, and consequently, it comes as no surprise that the unemployment rate has risen to 44% and eight of ten people rely on aid (Guardian Weekly, 6/11/10). Regardless of one’s political views on a two-state solution, this type of embargo is a barrier to peace. However, Israel has now changed its policy in regulating flow into Gaza from a short list of permitted goods to a short list of prohibited goods. This could be a positive sign, but it is too early to know how this policy adjustment will play out. The actual implementation and adherence to the new guidelines have yet to go into effect.

To hear someone summarize these events and place them into a larger context provided me a method to start my own learning process about the Middle East. I certainly don’t understand the Middle East conflict (yet), but these brief thoughts shared by the Assistant Director sparked a new curiosity in me to learn more, which after all, is the sign of a great teacher.

At the same time, this conversation revealed how pretty amazing some TCC staff are; they work tirelessly on these efforts and are sometimes faced with a series of serious, frustrating setbacks that could halt or reverse all the progress that has been made to generate peaceful dialogue. Nevertheless, they show no signs of fatigue and continue to press onward - while still finding time to teach others the basic foundations of their work.

Like I said, some people are just simply impressive.