Saturday, July 8, 2006

Is PEACE possible?

I have been thinking over the last couple days...is peace possible in the Middle East? Or, is the best one can hope for a temporary detante? There is a general myth in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that somehow there was a peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Jews for centuries, under Muslim rule. Hell, I was taught that in Hebrew School by a ZIONIST teacher. The truth, however, is quite different. The truth is that there never was real peace in the Middle East between Jews and Muslims. In fact, to the extent there ever was peace, it was because Jews accepted their status as "dhimmi," or a non-believer, accorded second class status. They accepted paying crippling non-believer fees, and having to relocate when they were told to relocate, at the behest of Muslm rulers. They were never able to take comfort in even owning their own property. Then there is the myth that somehow all was peaceful, until the "Zionist settlers came in and stole land." The Jewish Virtual Library (an invaluable source), documented each wave of Jewish immigration to the Holy Land, and it is clear that in fact the settlers had many obstacles to overcome even to be allowed entry, and NEVER had the opportunity to just STEAL LAND. In other words, they purchased land lawfully. This link, provided by Steven, further explains things. Another myth is that there was no terrorism against the settlers until they "stole" land from the Palestinians. This is in fact a LIE. Modern terrorism started merely when Jews moved to Israel, in the hopes of driving Jews OUT, and the attack on Hebron, a city that had Jews living there continuously since recorded history, is proof that the attacks were not just against settlers, but rather were against Jews as a people. One myth that gets screamed about quite often is how "Palestinians are suffering for the wrongs of the Germans." The myth is that Palestinians are the innocent puppy dogs who had their land stolen from them as recompense for the Holocaust with the 1947 UN Declaration of Israeli statehood. This could not be further from the truth. In addition to decades of Palestinian terrorism against settlers, they also were led by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a man who was personal friends of Hitler, and recruited 20,000 Palestinian Arabs to work for the German SS, to engage in killing of Jews in Croatia and Hungary. In other words, the Palestinians took part in killing Jews during the Holocaust and are NOT innocent bystanders to the Holocaust. This all happened prior to Jews having their own state in Israel. In short - there never really was a time of "peaceful coexistence." This is a MYTH. And since the creation of Israel, there have been continuous border attacks and terrorism aimed at Israel's destruction. I guess I am a realist. Given the history of Jewish-Muslim relations, how can we really expect that things will change now? If there never has been peace in the past, how can we expect there can be peace in the future unless there is a MASSIVE change in the culture? Yet, with each passing year the Palestinian victim mythology and lengths they go to in their terror against Israel only increases in intensity, not decreases. Things seem to be getting WORSE, not better. Is peace possible? Under what conditions are peace possible? And is peace possible within my lifetime? (I am in my 20s) I am doubtful about that...

8 comments:

Red Tulips said...

Steven,

GREAT COMMENT. I was thinking that myself. But even giving up the entirety of Israel to the Palestinians would not ensure peace - I believe that would only lead to a Palestinian civil war.

Anonymous said...

Steven,
Your question at what cost is actually directly attached to the "Is" Question.
Of course peace is possible - If all Israelis move out of Israel and desmantle it there will be peace. Or if we go back to the Days of being 2nd Class Citizins.

Do I think there will ever be peace?? ya there will be and the cost question can also be turned towards the Palestinians. The problem is that what each side wants from the other is 2 big to bridge (at least today). I have answers to this, but they will never be accepted (one is using the GFA - Northern Ireland concept)

Oleh Yahshan said...

Steven,
GFA - Good Friday Agreement - was the peace deal signed between the IRA and the british Govt.
It resolve a close to 70 years of conflict between Northern Ireland and the UK, and says that NI will stop trying to achieve independance and in return will create a power Sharing System in NI for the Local Population.
I have been reading up about it recently due to University paper I wrote about Self determanation, and have concluded that this might be our best chance for peace. I am planning on writting about it in my Blog (French Hill) - so stay tuned!

Tsedek said...

If everybody involved in this conflict keep on looking to the past there will never be peace. It did not exist before and thus won't exist ever. The ONLY way to achieve a better future for ALL - is to look at the future and what one wants outta it.

Does somebody wanna die for obtaining more land? Holding on to any land already in their possession? Or, do all involved shed off their ideology cloaks and start to think about living and the future of one's children?

Personally I'm quite disgusted about "my own" government allowing settlers to harress Palestinians and for building on lands (around J'lem) that they just confiscate. I would like to shout out STOP THIS!!!!! It is not fair! But, I can't. I can't because opposite those settlers I see Palestinian terrororganizations that seem to control the whole of the Palestinian society and are after COMPLETELY erasing Jewish existence from this land. Then, for me, I think facing up to those terrorgroups and protecting one's life is more important.

That's how I see Palestinians shooting themselves in their own feet because I truely believe there are loads of other Israeli's that for the cause of peace for ALL! and equality (also in spreading the land) for ALL wanna stand up and "fight" with the peaceloving Palestinians together - soon as they are not the target of Palestinian terror themselves anymore.

Tse.

Anonymous said...

Removing Israel will not bring stability to the region either.

I sometimes wonder if Isreal is just an excuse, and is this would be more or less the same in the middle east whether Isreal was there or not.

Red Tulips said...

I believe that Israel is a stablizing force.

Hatred of Israel is the one thing that unites the Arab world. Take that away, and it would be utter mayhem.

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't like the idea that we should be making someone in to the scapegoat of the muslim world.

Oleh Yahshan said...

kittynboi,
It's the reality. Otherwise how do explain the fact that the arab countries have been using the Israel excuse for 60 years now - so not to deal with the real internal issues in their own country???

The answer to peace today is not by creating a Palestinian State but by make an autonomy that would be under Israeli control - that will help them develop and make them into a sucsesful place. Of course they will neve agree to it - although I think that if we pound the heads of the PA hard enough (what we are doing today isn't close to it), we can get them out of here, and then start dealing with the local population - meaning take care of them to make thier life better.
I am working on an idea now (as I said based on the GFA) and I will let you know when I am done. who knows maybe there will be peace after all..