An Arab writer talks about empathizing with Israeli Jews. I can't recall ever seeing this before.

Here's an article that is utterly unremarkable - yet it is a message that is very rarely written in Arabic language media.

Elaph is considered a liberal Arab newspaper published in London. Today, Fadel Al-Mansafa wrote that Israel needs to make concessions for peace - and so do Palestinians.

His specific ideas are not as important as the possibility of Arabs reading this message that is commonplace in English and Hebrew, and incredibly rare in Arabic media:

Should hundreds of Palestinians die and starve in order for the idea of ​​Hamas to live, which sees no place for Jews in Palestine? Should hundreds of thousands of Israelis live in fear of rocket attacks from Gaza?

Where is the humanity in all that is going on!? And for how long will we continue with the same methods that lead to the same results. Until the end of the world?

Peace and coexistence is the solution and the only option for resolving the Middle East issue. Otherwise, neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians will succeed in imposing the logic of force, violence and racism. Although I went on to talk that may be ridiculous to some, but it is the closest to the truth.

The moment when the establishment of the State of Palestine will not come without serious Israeli concessions. On the other hand, Israeli concessions will not come without an explicit recognition of the right of the Jews to live next to the Palestinians. Without excluding or denying the right to be on holy land.

The part that stands out, and that I honestly don't ever recall seeing in Arabic media, is an element of empathy. I have never seen an Arab writer even attempt to look at things from the perspective of Israelis. Empathy requires looking at the other side as humans. I've seen articles that insulted Palestinians, but none I can recall that expressed any empathy for Israeli Jews from any perspective.

It's s start.

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