Uriel Abulof

Visiting professor in the Department of Government, College of Arts and Sciences

Uriel Abulof is a visiting professor in Cornell University’s government department and an associate professor of politics at Tel-Aviv University. While a ceasefire may help humanitarian aid and a prisoner exchange, Abulof says any chance for lasting peace must be framed as war against ultrareligious and ultranationalists on both sides.

Abulof says:

“Hamas is not a partner for peace, nor is Netanyahu’s government, but Palestinians and Israelis are. We should call [for a] Free Palestine – from Hamas, first, and then, to independence. The ‘rush to the radicals,’ which politicians have cultivated for political gains, must end. To defeat the radicals on both sides, we must help both peoples – Palestinians and Israelis – hope for peace.

“This may be a once in a century opportunity for peace. Both Israelis and Palestinians are so vastly and devastatingly disillusioned with all the vain vows of their self-serving leaders – their destructive hubris is so painfully plain in sight – that there’s a rare willingness among both peoples to dare a breakthrough.”