THE ISRAEL PALESTINIAN CONFLICT – Part 2

THE ISRAEL PALESTINIAN CONFLICT – Part 2 - NOVEMBER 2008 & SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND – Part 2

After evaluating alternative methods for approaching solutions to the conflict, it appears that the bases for thinking, discussing, and arriving at agreements, are so rigid and intractable as to prevent any realistic method from arising to enable resolution of the conflict.

To start with, the Islamic world is intent on wiping out the State of Israel and Israel refuses to cooperate in its extinction. Past attempts to ignore, breach, or bypass this wall have ended in much death and no change in this fundamental and foundational element.

As with most of the conflicts between peoples on the face of the earth, the intractable elements of history, religion, patriotism, geography, love of country, military strategy, wealth and its power, all work against peaceful solutions and accommodations between the parties. Often, within a country, conflicts arise between competing political entities over the degree and nature of concessions to be offered to achieve peace. The more powerful grouping, the wealthy and the ones who benefit most from conflict are the winners and the mass of populations send their sons to war.

The earth has been and is divided and rotates in two orbits; one, the masses, the pawns, and the other, the power elites – the kings and queens - with their knights, rooks, and bishops.

Through the centuries, “conventional” arms have inflicted limited damage on conflicting parties. However, we have entered the age of “non-conventional” warfare. Nagasaki and Hiroshima are the only real examples of the results of such warfare. The pictures are there for all to see but the experiences of that kind of warfare have been hidden from today’s players in both orbits, by intent and by a kind of stupidity that defies explanation. Power elites do not benefit from holocausts.

The United States and Russia have set examples to the world of that stupidity cloaked in a variety of garments that have been woven from the cloth of history, religion, patriotism, and simplistic bravado. The atomic nations and the nations that aspire to join the nuclear club have been dumbed down by the sheer excitement of owning such destructive power.

Until such moment when parts of our world again experience the immense tragedy and sorrow of nuclear holocaust, no progress will be made in mankind’s ability to solve its relational problems and conflicts. Until peoples with burnt out eyes and immolated flesh are shown to monetary and religious fundamentalists, the “decision-making powers,” will there be any possibility for conflict resolution between nations and peoples.

RESPONSES TO THE ABOVE POSTING:

REPLIES

You conclude that it will take a nuclear holocaust to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine. I find nothing in your essay that addresses the Israel-Palestine conflict itself, and no constructive suggestions toward any kind of settlement. What is the actual aim of this essay?

Adina

Sorry, Nachum, I don't get it. Are you saying that we are so inured to the nuclear age that we need another city to be annihilated in order to solve some problem, possibly the Islamist/Jewish conflict? I think you are mixing metaphors here.

/Rick


There has not been a weapon invented that humanity did not use - and no horrors have stopped wars.
Yes - western Europe has been at peace these 60 years - I am not knowledgeable enough to know why. perhaps those power elites have not seen any advantage to war - yet. Same goes for North America. Our problem - Ahmedinajad (?) and his ilk do not care about the holocaust they might cause - there are those virgins in heaven and who knows what is needed to bring back their missing messiah/immam (the word I would need has just eluded me). remember - it's the Christians who expect Armaggedon before the second coming.
We were in germany talking to classes as part of Kristalnacht commemorations. A girl asked me if I don't want to live in a safe country (instead of Israel). I said, sure - and then gave her the Zionist spiel. So yes, I am happy for every day without catastrophy - and fear for my kids and theirs, and nothing to be done...

TAMAR


Nach- sounds like you are saying that our only hope is nuclear war? Why bother?

ANNE


YOU WANT FEEDBACK..OK..YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND.
I READ EVERYTHING TIL I'M RED.WHITE AND BLUE IN THE FACE. SO MUCH FOR PATRIOTISM. YOU PRESENT ALL THE NEGATIVES AND NO SOLUTIONS. WE KNOW ALL THE BAD THINGS BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THEM. YOU SEEM TO FEEL THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THEM EXCEPT REMIND EVERYONE WHAT THEY ARE AND WHOSE FAULT IT IS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS I AM SUGGESTING THE ONE THING I CAN NEVER EXPECT FROM MY GOOD FRIEND...GIVE UP!.ENJOY THE BLESSING OF THE NEW ADDITION TO THE CLAN AND HOPE (RATHER THAN PRAY) THAT SOMEONE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE SOLVES THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. HOPE YOUR NEW ADDITION WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE THE PROBLEMS THAT, IT SEEMS, THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS. THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT I AM THANKFUL THAT I AM NEARING THE END AND NOT HAVEING TO START AT THE BEGINNING. OLD AGE DOES HAVE ITS ADVANTAGES.

BOB J.


The last entry about how they should forget the past and plan for the future was a memorable idea that will stick in my head, as long as it works.

HARVEY