I want to be optimistic as well when it comes to world issues esp plight of innocent civilians in Palestine. Truth of the matter is that there can be no PEACE where JUSTICE is not served. As long as Israel continues its oppression, aggression, occupation and killing of innocent people in the name of defending itself,then how can anyone expect peace. I am amazed to hear people saying that terrorists( freedom figthers) in Palestine are attacking Israel and so Israel is defending itself. What about Israel’s more than 50 years of FORCEFUL OCCUPATION. NOBODY HAS ANY RIGHT TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE NEITHER ISRAEL NOR HAMAS. If we want to come to a common ground then we have to at least face the TRUE cause of this conflict.

Count me in!

Think anew! Both sides must think again and again and again. They are stuck in the past. Anything is possibe with tolerance and a common endeavor, like love, but then I am dreaming.

I wrote my comments this morning but after a while it was taken off, any explaination or was it too bold ?

Davel,
There is a love story between a Israeli and a Palestinian that got made into a docudrama on PBS. It was pretty lovely (well they did get married and had children. It would be nice to find out how they are doing now).

Sascha,
Sorry sometimes it takes time to get to messages. For new bloggers the message has to be approved. I do not edit messages (except for typos sometimes) regardless of the point of view offered. That is the purpose, to exchange views. I do not agree with your ‘interpretation’ of history. And that is the problem with both sides they do not realize where facts stop and interpretation starts. Since almost the beginning Israel has had a military superiority and this difference, in military strength, has grown dramatically over the decades. Yet Palestinians continue to want to make this a military struggle and then cry wolf when they come out worse. I believe civilian casualties are a terrible thing. But Israel is not the only one doing this. I have written about this at length before, you can look it up. Everyone in the world has shown disregard for civilian casualties and it isn’t something we can single Israel out on. So, both Israel and Palestinians are not really working for peace. Hence my new mantra, if they can make peace in South Africa why can you (Palestine/Israel) make peace?

Maybe he wasn’t putting yogurt in the water. Maybe he was planting a roadside bomb…

Seriously, it is a wonderful and worthy dream Khalid, and as I said last time if it can happen in Northern Ireland it can happen anywhere.

sacha,

If it’s vengance you want then count yourself part of the problem.

As long as Palestine elects terrorists (your ”freedom fighters”) to rule them, lob rockets across their border and surround their terrorist freedom fighters with innocent people, the blood is on their hands.

Palestine must be free of Hamas before they could be free of any percieved Israeli oppression. And the PLO, and any other wolf in sheeps clothing they choose to elect. If you are led by those who will not stop fighting until Israel is gone, then you will never have peace in Palestine.

Mike,

I would say look in the mirror. Everything you say fits you as well. If by your standard everything Israel does is in response to Palestine and is totally justified then you too are part of the problem. This same argument is used by both Palestinians and Israelis to justify their actions. “They are bad, we are good, we have no choice”. Well both are wrong. Both have a choice its just that neither really wants peace yet. So, if we REALLY care for there to be peace we have to ask BOTH sides “if they can have peace in South Africa (or N. Ireland if you please) why can’t you make peace?”

There is one thing in favor of Israel. There is a small peace movement there. This gets ridiculously little coverage here in the States so for this reason I am copying the entire article from Israel that was sent by a good friend. We can hope that this peace movement grows and the voices for peace in Palestine can also coalesce in to a unified peace movement.

January 14, 2009

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - At a press conference yesterday, Israeli political party Brit Olam announced its plan to change the leadership in Israel.

“A new approach is needed because the old way of doing things is clearly
not working,” said Ofer Lifschitz. Mr. Lifschitz ran as the number one
candidate on Brit Olam’s 2006 slate and today serves as its party chair. He expressed dismay at the lack of vision with the current Israeli leadership, “If we prolong the status quo and fail to support the dignity and rights of all, then the suffering that we all see today will surely continue.”

Brit Olam, in Hebrew “Eternal Convenant” or “World Alliance”, has put
forward the most diverse slate of candidates in the nation’s upcoming 18th
Knesset Election. The party list includes secular and religious Jews, Arab
Druze, Hasidic and Breslov orthodox–and has been endorsed by several
prominent Israeli Arab leaders in the Muslim community.
Israel is often cited as a “lone democracy” in the Middle East. Two days
ago, a Knesset Elections Committee voted to remove Israel’s Arab Parties
despite the fact that they were legally seated. This unexpected turn of
events has underscored the importance of Brit Olam’s inclusive role in the
upcoming election, namely, as a referendum condemning the dismantling of
democratic principles.

“The loosening of one-sided politics and prejudiced parties by our
broad-based coalition makes Brit Olam a shining example of democracy in
action,” proclaimed Joel Zeitlin (#8 on slate), formally with the right-wing orthodox party Yahadut Hatorah. “Brit Olam’s politics are neither Left nor Right, but rather hold a holistic and Universal perspective.”

Several members of the humanitarian Hatnua Lema’an Yeladeinu (Movement for
our Children) have joined the Brit Olam coalition. Ya’akov Elia (#6 slate), through his work as an independent social service auditor, uncovered disturbing evidence negatively impacting children. Mr. Elia intoned, “34% of Israel’s children live in poverty. It is unacceptable that this Western country leads the modern world with the highest percentage of children suffering in a state of resource deprivation. Tens of thousands of these at-risk youth have been surrendered into an inefficiently state-run program costing billions resulting in disastrous emotional and Spiritual consequences. “Left unchecked, child impoverishment leads to countless other societal ills affecting everyone.”

Brit Olam’s Ya’akov Elia has dedicated himself to exposing this injustice,
and will spearhead a comprehensive legislative plan to address this problem.

Kinneret Golan, a media professional and mother of two, heads the Brit Olam slate of candidates. At last night’s meeting she expressed dismay at the number of lives lost in Gaza, and sympathy for those Israelis under the threat of rocket attack, she echoed the call for change, “We have had enough of our Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister constantly telling us that we have no choice. We deserve leaders in the Knesset with vision, individuals driven to do whatever is necessary to get us there.” Ms.Golan, active with various humanitarian and environmental groups, is one of two women on the Brit Olam slate. Kinneret Golan is a passionate advocate for exploring alternative political solutions to the seemingly intractable Israeli / Palestinian conflict. “As long as peace is only a dream we are all going to wake up in the morning and see that we are still at war; we must vigorously pursue our working together to make this dream a reality.”

Brit Olam (”Eternal Convenant” or “World Alliance”) is an Israeli olitical
Party running for Israel’s Parliamentarian Elections to be held on ebruary
10, 2009 Website: http://www.Brit-Olam.org

Thank you Khalid, for being willing to take your stand.

Peacemaking is hard work. Perhaps even harder in this situation more than in others like Ireland or South Africa. Why? Because everyone involved does have legitimate grievances.

On the comparison to South Africa, I’m reminded of a movie I saw about it. I don’t remember the title, but it starred Julliete Binoche and Samuel L. Jackson, and it was about the Truth and Reconciliation hearings. The biggest impediment to Peace there, and in the middle east, is the unwillingness of all parties to actually face the truth. Pilate famously asked “what is Truth?”, and we find ourselves asking the same things.

Each person on the ground there, and here as well, has what they believe the truth is. To make peace, however, each person has to be willing to not only state their truth…but they have to be willing to hear the other person’s truth. Further, everyone has to be willing to face the consequences of their share of what has gone on.

The Palestinian Authority MUST face the fact that they, and their predecessors (Arafat in particular) have not truly kept the welfare of their people in the forefront. The missing Billions of Dollars must be accounted for.

The other Middle Eastern States (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq) MUST face the fact that they have a part in keeping the camps open. Again, they were more interested in getting rid of Israel than in actually taking care of their brethren.

Israel, also, needs to face the truth. They have not been the saints they think they have been. They have, all too often, treated the non Jews in their lands as lesser people, as people to be held in contempt. They hold themselves out as a beacon of Democracy and so on…while they wall off their own citizens. The fortress Israel mentality is a big part of the problem.

Answers? I don’t know that I have one. Maybe the Christian, the Jew, and the Moslem can all come together at the grave of Abraham, as the sons of Abraham did at his death. Maybe, there, is where Peace can begin.

hs suggested

Maybe the Christian, the Jew, and the Moslem can all come together at the grave of Abraham, as the sons of Abraham did at his death. Maybe, there, is where Peace can begin.

Genesis 25
5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. [b] There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac,

17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward [c] all their brothers.

Just a reality check.Surely wish it were as simple as just meeting together.Showing respect for a common father does not form an automatic respect for each other.

But,having said that, It is ok to dream a little.