The Future of Israel

source: NPR

Amidst all of the unrest happening in the Middle East (specifically in Libya),  a question has lingered on the minds of many American Jews: what does this mean for Israel?

I've seen people have this concern all around me, and most of the people I've spoken with seem to have the same concern: on one hand, they want to support the countries in breaking free from tyranny and establishing democracy. But, they fear what will happen to Israel if this is the case.

And it's easy to see why people are concerned. Israel's history with her neighboring countries has been messy and violent. The stability of Israel is brought into question nearly every day. And, in recent weeks, violence in Israel has been steadily increasing.

But what happened? Wasn't it just in September when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas began peace talks? Why the sudden outbreak of violence after what seemed to be steps towards improvement?

Some, such as University of Maryland professor Shibley Telhami, believe that the unrest in the Middle East has been a major setback for Israeli-Palestinian peace. He says: "There's a lot of pressure in the Arab world as a consequence of these revolutions, including from Egypt, on the Palestinian Hamas to make up, which has not been kind of the trend in the diplomacy. So all of that sets it back, for sure. But to assume that it's going to go away is almost laughable, almost laughable."

But the question still remains: will peace ever be attainable?

Especially now, with the relationship between Israel and Egypt's new government unknown, there is fear that Israel may be eradicated. In fact, a recent article from the Jerusalem Post  warns that if demographic trends in Israel continue, its statehood may cease to exist.

So, leave your thoughts in a comment below. Is Israeli-Palestinian peace achievable? Will Israel ever be accepted by neighboring Arab countries, or will the tension always exist?