
Israelis increasingly pessimistic about prospects for peace with Palestinians
By Joshua Weinberger
JERUSALEM
After decades of conflict, Israelis remain divided over the chances of reaching a lasting peace deal with the Palestinians — but most are feeling negative about the chances of any breakthroughs for the time being.
Batuga Davon, 54, is the owner of a shop located on downtown Jerusalem’s lively Ben Yehuda Street. As a lifelong resident of the city and the mother of an IDF soldier, Davon said she wants to see “more of a separation” between Jews and Palestinians “because of all the terrorism.”

“I don’t believe it will happen,” Davon said about the prospects for peace.
Just a short walk away at the intersection of Ben Yehuda and Lunz Street, Hillel Dery, an 18-year-old teenager from the large Israeli settlement of Eli, voiced a similar opinion.

“Not with the Arabs. They hate us; they want to kill us,” Dery said, pointing to the periodic waves of Palestinian violence that Israelis have had to endure during the years since the Six-Day War in 1967. “This [Jerusalem] is our city.”
Their opinions appear to represent a growing portion of Israelis who are pessimistic about prospects for peace — at least in the near future.
A poll conducted by Panels Research and published in the Jerusalem Post in May found that 78 percent of Israelis believe there is no chance of a peace agreement being reached in the immediate future, compared to only 18 percent of Israelis who think such a breakthrough is possible. Despite the bearish outlook, a slight majority of Israelis — 58 percent — support a resumption in peace talks.
Sitting next to his brother under an area of shade in the center of the pedestrian mall with a fidget spinner in one hand, Yozam Amah, who lives near Bethlehem and works at a botanical garden, said he believes peace between Palestinians and Jews can happen.
It can be achieved by encouraging “conversation between Israelis and Palestinians,” as well as through American involvement, he said, adding that peace for him would mean no wars, a booming economy, and the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
For Moshe Ben Yehuda, a 24-year-old shopkeeper and security officer at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station, coexistence is “worth a try,” however according to him it is unlikely to succeed.
“It’s a nice idea, but as long as there is religion it won’t work. Religion makes people do stupid things — like terror attacks,” said Ben Yehuda, a professed atheist, inside his convenient store in the bus station. “Still I don’t think that is a reason to hate Arabs. I have Arab friends.”

Waiting outside for a bus was David Rosen, a 19-year-old student who works at a pizza restaurant together with Palestinians. “Both of the people that live here can still live here, and live peacefully,” he said.
For now, peace may indeed sound very much like a dream given the current state of affairs. Though for Rosen, it is a dream he said “I want to come true.”

