By SARA PANAG
The word Hebron is derived from Arabic and Hebrew words that both mean 'friend.' Hebron is also a description of the Arabs' and Jews' patriarch, Abraham. Yet people living on the land fight against those who aren't considered their own.
Recently, a milestone was reached with the signing of the Hebron agreement in which Israel turned over 80 percent of the land to the control of Palestinians. Previously, under the Oslo I and II agreements, Israel ran the city center, and the Palestinians ran the outer city.
Daniel Peterson, a professor of Asian and Near Eastern languages, said there is a good possibility the people will live peacefully with each other.
Although it might seem that on both sides there are people who don't want the peace process to continue, Peterson said, in the long run, there is no other choice but to live side by side.
'Arabs will not all go away,' Peterson said. 'Likewise, all the Israelis will not move away.'
Peterson said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was able to sign the agreement because he would not put aside the wishes of his people.
'It was the same reason that Nixon was able to go to China, because a Republican would not be supportive of communists,' Peterson said. 'Whereas, democrats are seen as soft.'
In a speech to the Knesset, Netanyahu said the agreements signed by the previous governments were binding and the present government had to face the reality of it.
Chad Emmett, BYU professor of geography, said the silent majority is being listened to. 'His decisions are not solely based on the small majority.'
'He can't have the security without the agreement,' Emmett said. 'They can live together. They have before.'
When Emmett went to Hebron with a Mennonite guide, he met a Palestinian family who had their car pounded in. The Israeli settlers are seen as expansionistic, Emmet said.
Quoting a left-wing Israeli politician, Emmett said, 'Jews have the right to live in Hebron, but not those Jews. They should be removed.'
In 1978, Peterson visited Hebron and said the city felt like a WWII occupied city. 'There were sandbags with machine guns behind them -- soldiers watching everywhere.'
'There is not an Israeli family that has not been affected by violence,' Peterson said. 'It is also true on the Palestinian side. People are saying can we end this.'