Friday 3 September 2010

Israel - Men of violence

Peace talks have begun and, as was to be expected, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have voiced their intentions to step up their murderous activities in a bid to scupper anything that looks like peace. Mind you they aren't alone in this as the right-wing of israeli political thinking posture and push settlements and other issues forward as 'non-negotiable' in the hope that this will drive talks onto the rocks as well.

Both sides are fuelled by people who want it all. As one israeli put it, "To have a nation state of Palestine would be to deny Israel, we must have it all!" Sadly, the Palestinian interviewed felt that unless Israel stopped encroaching on 'their' land then it would end in all out war.

Both sides have many who want it all and this is not the path to peace. Both sides have their aggressors, political and physical. Both sides are breaking international laws and both sides have their supporters, Israel of course leaning on their US connections to add weight to them - but how long will this continue I wonder and what of the support of Iran and other Islamic oriented unsettling influences?

Obama is a man who appears to be playing a great game of international poker, but he isn't all that he's billed to be and unless he has some hutzpah in this situation is looking set to bring off another failed attempt at being 'the man'.

The only thing that looks certain is that nothing will change in the Israel/Palestine situation and that more blood will be spilled despite the Netanyahu/Abbas efforts.

A comment from the Guardian:

"In Kiryat Arba there is another reason for regarding the negotiating effort now underway with deep disdain. Deep inside the West Bank, Kiryat Arba is one of the settlements – illegal in international law – that would have to be uprooted if the talks were to produce an end of the 43-year-old occupation."

Sad reading when you realise that some people will never learn and only want peace on their terms, isn't it?

Pray for the peace (and sanity) of jerusalem and the stilling of violent men on both sides of the debate.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think your right in your assessments.

Obama is billed as the superhero saviour of the world by some and as the antichrist by others but he's got very little in his hands one you see past the hype.

It's a shame you can't criticise Israel without being labeled antisemitic and your right when you say that too many christians are blind to what god would want from them.

Thank you for your posts they are provocative, challenging and honest - wish there were more Christians I could say that of.

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

Thank you for yourcomments - glad I could be of assistance.

V