Samson's Fall and Solomon's Judgement: Feelings and Fairness in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

For generations, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (IPC) has been spinning in an existential vortex, emotional and moral. This chapter analyzes the predicament through two biblical tales. Both Zionists and Palestinians have submitted themselves to Solomon’s judgement: embracing a collective sense of righteousness to proclaim an exclusive ownership over the entire land. Failing to achieve their goal, realizing that right may not make might, they sought the reverse – make right through might – and have thus fallen with Samson: Seeking absolute power over their foes (mission impossible), distrusting adversaries from within and without (undermining collaboration), basking in dread of humiliation and death (forgoing bold moves), and opting for faith-fuelled fury (resorting to violence).