I never thought that when I wrote about Israel being irresponsible that I would be attacked. Being Jewish, it was astounding that it was taken to the degree that I was a “pathetic excuse for a Jew” because I did not support Israel 100% and back them even though there have been so many lost lives. Quite frankly, people can call me whatever they would like, but it got me thinking. Why was I a pathetic excuse for a Jew? Then it dawned on me.
Jews are trained to believe that Israel can do absolutely no wrong. The same as the Jews blame the Palestinians for training their children to hate Israelis, the Israelis train their children to believe that Palestinians are evil. Not all, obviously, but there is the population that does.
Because of this constant conflict that has been going on between the two people, I realized that, as cliché as it sounds, there might never be peace in the Middle East. With the Palestinians training to believe that the Israelis are evil and then going off to become suicide bombers and then the Israelis responding with more angst and hate towards the Palestinians, what we are left with is a vicious cycle. The Israelis counter back with a ferocious attack and then the Palestinians react back and things plummet.
With the two people having fought since the creation of Israeli back in the 40s, and both parties not really getting anywhere, perhaps this tactic of trying to obliterate each other isn’t the right one. Both parties need to take a different approach. Rather than have the belief that there can be no peace unless the other group is destroyed, understand that the two groups need to coexist.
First and foremost, the Palestinians can’t elect a group that condones terrorism. So long as the Palestinian people accept the actions of Hamas, Israel will never back down. But, on the flip side, Israel needs to stop being so quick to launch massive air strikes into the Gaza Strip. It is its own state and because of that, Israel needs to stop jumping the gun like it does.
There’s another party to blame and that is the world. For there to be peace, there needs to be firm consequences for the constant battling between the two parties. The United States must stop telling Israel to stop their treatment of the Palestinians and then when they don’t, still support them. The same can be said to the Arab nations: if they want peace, they need to stop supporting Palestinians when they launch rockets into Israel.
If the world becomes more firm with the two peoples, the two might be able to negotiate because they no longer have the support of their allies. But, if this is going to work, the world needs to unanimously agree that this is an issue that needs discussing. If one side still supports their ally even when they are launching tremendous attacks, there will be no solution to this.
In no way am I suggesting that Israel does not have a right to defend herself nor am I suggesting that the Palestinians have not been treated wrongly. But, what needs to be understood is that so long as there is this constant struggle between the two groups, there will never be peace. I seriously doubt that both groups enjoy killing each other. Both groups would probably like to go back to a more peaceful day when there wasn’t fear of rockets and air strikes.
About Jacob Cohen Donnelly
“It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace, only by preparing for war.” JFK – 1969
That is a really sad quote. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to have worked at all in the past. People have prepared for war thinking it secured peace, but instead, all it brought was more war.
I’ll entertain the idealistic notion that one could somehow convince every nation on the planet to destroy their weapons, and stop preparing for war, and that extremist groups would also throw down their arms in favor of negotiation.
Even if I entertain the notion that NOBODY on earth prepared for war – that still would not equat to PEACE. Peace is much more than the absence of war.
Thanks, Siddhartha – likewise: “I know not what weapons with which World War III will be fought , but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” – Einstein
Well we know that JFK sure liked the idea of ramping up the USA’s involvement in Vietnam by expanding the military industrial complex and sending more of our young men to die in a foreign country that didn’t want us.
So I can understand why he would want the ever expanding State to “prepare for war”… the war he supported and was mired in.
I think you are generalizing Jews a little too much. I understand Jewish views of Palestinians are typically less favorable but not all jews are taught they are evil. For example, My family and all my jewish friends families were taught to try and accept them and try and reach and understanding. I have been to Israel 2x and the vibe I got was that although both sides are very suspicious of one another, the average citizen wants to try and reach a peaceful compromise. So to generalize and say “Jews are taught to believe Palestinians are evil” is simply untrue.
I agree it was a generalization, but considering where I came from with my own “you are betraying your Jewish brethren” attack that I received on facebook, it made me think a little. I don’t hate Palestinians, but I am Jewish. However, I do state that I don’t believe all Israelis do this, but that there are some. Sure, the general population would like there to be peace, but at what cost? Is an Israeli willing to concede to the Palestinians or are the Palestinians willing to concede to the Israelis? Both parties expect the OTHER to concede. “I am better, they should concede to me.” That’s one reason and only one reason why there have been, to this date, so many issues.
“If you want peace, stop preparing for war” is equivalent to “If you want a crime-free society, stop employing police.”
Being Jewish, I’m sure you can appreciate that, if there were no military force on the face of the planet – ever – Hitler would still have killed millions of Jews. That’s not peace.
And since publishing this article, my opinions on the matter have developed and change. I stand by what I said in regards to Israel and Palestine going back and forth, killing each other, and the world doing nothing at all to say anything. Sure, there is the occasional, “stop being naughty, Israel” or “you’re being silly, terrorists,” but overall, nothing is done.
If I can direct you towards articles I’ve written in the past six to eight months, you’ll see that, in reality, I approve of the development of a stronger military; however, not for imperialistic purposes, but instead, allowing countries to become more secure so FDI can flow into the region consistently.
You are right, if there had been no military force on the face of the planet, Hitler would have killed even more people. However, no where in my article (other than, I’ll admit, the poorly chosen title) do I suggest that we should get rid of armies. Just that their preparing for consistent war is never going to bring peace; instead, they need to stop war and instead, focus on other ways of agreement.