For Palestinians, War Is No Bargain

In an article "Claims About Words Can Distort Culture", Geoffrey Nunberg counters the argument of those who claim there is no word for compromise in Arabic. Besides quoting scholars he has spoken to, he offers the following proof:

But it's hard to imagine how any people could conduct the commerce and politics of a major civilization without having a way of talking about compromise. What's going on in all those souks -- is everybody paying retail?

Nunberg of course is right--it is pretty obvious that the concept of compromise is inherent in the art of bargaining. But Nunberg is of course wrong as well. He thinks he is comparing the souk with peace negotiations. In actuality, he is comparing the souk and war.

In his book, "The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book", by Norman A. Stillman writes:

The Jews [of Khaybar] were anxious to ward off any calamity and were willing to enter into negotiations with the strongman of Medin. Muhammad sent emissaries to Khaybar inviting the war chief of the Nadir, a man by the name of Usayr (Yusayr) b. Zarim, to come to Medina to parley. Usayr set off with thirty companions and a Muslim escort. Suspecting no foul play, the Jews went unarmed. On the way, the Muslims turned upon the defenseless delegation, killing all but one who managed to escape. "War is deception," according to an oft-quoted saying of the Prophet. [see al-Bukhari, Sahih, bk. 56 (Kitab al-Jihad), Bab 157, ed. Krehl, vol. 2, p.254] p.17.

It's all very well to compare the souk and peace negotiations when the war is over, but that is not the case here--neither with Mohammed nor the Palestinians Arabs today.

Mohammed is not the only one to comment on the deceptive nature of war. Sun Tzu also said "all war is deception" and of course no one would deny that war requires deceiving the enemy. However, the key is the agreement among all parties once the war is over and the negotiations begin. The leaders of the Palestinian Arabs are still at war--not just with suicide belts and Kassams; they are at war at the negotiating table, which for them is just an extension of the war that has never ended. And there is no compromise.

With all due respect to Nunberg, the compromise of the souk has no place in the ongoing war of the Palestinians, where true negotiations never began--and the best that Israel can come up with is the security fence. Sun Tzu is also quoted as saying "If troops lay siege to a walled city, their strength will be exhausted."

We can only hope--but don't count on it.

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