Israel, to a Hopeful Future

I wouldn’t trade the experience I’ve had on this study abroad trip for anything.  I expanded my knowledge on various issues concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Israeli structure of government, the fragile relations between Arabs and Jews, the Israeli military and its reputation among the Israeli public, and the inequality problems that Ethiopian Israelis face in the country.  Although there has been a lot of information to absorb, especially considering that the issues facing Israel are relatively foreign to my knowledge, I feel exponentially more informed about Israeli policies than when I first arrived.  Regarding the issue of the continued installation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, I believe the settlements should be stopped before any steps towards peace are taken.  This is my opinion, because continuing the building of settlements symbolizes the support of the status quo.  Within this context, the status quo means that the differences and problems between Palestinians and Israelis are swept under the rug and ignored.  This strategy will never solve anything.    

Furthermore, I am very thankful for the opportunities that have been opened for me as a result of working with the Ethiopian National Project.  Volunteering for the organization opened my eyes to the realities of the current condition of Ethiopian Israelis.  They suffer from inequality, however they are aware of their opportunities to grow and better their condition.  The ENP and similar organizations aim to close the gap in education between the minority Ethiopian population and the majority Israeli population.  Over the course of my research, I have found that within the past decade, the gap has been closing.  In order to realize an obvious change in Israeli society regarding this issue, the ENP needs more volunteers and workers who are willing to go into the field to teach and inspire the young Ethiopian students.  This is why I have agreed to continue working with the organization by spreading word of their goals, and bolstering support for the cause.  I am excited to see what the future holds for Ethiopian Israelis.  With the sustained support that the community has been receiving along with a hopeful increase in support, the future is bright.