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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9 KJV)
Here is the outline of a sad but realistic plan for long-term peace in the middle east between Israel and all of its enemy neighbors.
This plan recognizes the following unfortunate realities, which must be recognized and accepted before any lasting progress can be made:
First, that the United States will always stand behind Israel, no matter how brutal or insane Israeli policy may be. This is a fact of life in the United States, under the overwhelming influence of the Israel lobby. There is no meaningful opposition to Israel within the United States. It has all been neutralized.
Second, because of the first reality shown above, Israel will never be defeated and will never go away. Arabs, Muslims, anti-Israel forces everywhere: face it! Israel will never be defeated and will never go away. Live with it. It's a fact of life. Muslims may be consoled with the thought that Allah gives whatever He wants to whomever He chooses. If He gives powerful friends to Israel, Muslims should not oppose the will of Allah, no matter how distatsteful it may be.
Third, Israel will always hate the Muslims, and the Muslims will always hate Israel. Why? Who knows. It defies reason. But it is a fundamental reality that we must recognize. Perhaps it is a genetic defect inherited from Abraham, the father of them both.
Fourth, the nations of the world cannot sit back and allow this irrational and perpetual blood feud between Israel and its enemy neighbors to destroy the world. The adults of the world must control the delinquent children, to keep them from setting fire to the house.
Fifth, because of its strong backing from the United States, Israel alone must be allowed to set the conditions of peace. Why? Because if Israel does not set the conditions, it will never follow them. And if Israel can break the peace whenever it chooses - as it has always done - then there will be no meaningful peace. Therefore, Israel alone must be allowed to set the conditions, no matter how unfair or unjust this may be. It is the price we need to pay.
Here are the conditions I propose for Israel to set and for the world to accept. To me, this seems to be the only rational way to solve the problems permanently, given the unfortunate realities listed above.
A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH FORTRESS ISRAEL
WHEREAS Israel and its neighbors appear to be enemies forever, and
WHEREAS the perpetual conflict between Israel and it's neighbors poses grave danger to the entire world, as witnessed by: 1) the disastrous war in Iraq, started by the United States, in part to protect Israel from its "evil neighbor," Iraq, and 2) the recent bombardment and invasion of Lebanon, on the pretext of freeing two captured Israeli soldiers, and
WHEREAS Israel has a legitimate right to exist, whether its neighbors think so or not, and
WHEREAS Israel will never disappear or go away, as its neighbors desire, and
WHEREAS it is in the long-term interest of the entire world that hostilities cease forever between Israel and its enemy neighbors,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT "FORTRESS ISRAEL" BE IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED, ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
Rev. Bill McGinnis is an Internet Christian minister, writer and publisher. He is Director of LoveAllPeople.org, a small private think tank in Alexandria, Virginia, and all of its related websites, including InternetChurchOfChrist.org,CommitteeForTheGoldenRule.org,CivicAmerican.com, and AmericanDemocrat.net. His agenda is to help maximize the happiness and well-being of all people. His blog is located at http://blog.myspace.com/revbillmcginnis
Your perhaps tongue in cheek ( I dread thinking you are actually serious here) assessment of the future of the State of Israel is not supported by the historical data regarding impregnable fortresses throughout history.
Israel need only look to its own historical past and the so-called unassailable fortress, Masada, and realise the fate of creating a perpetual warlike state. The only hope for Israel lies not with armed might or the creation of walls and isolation but in the acceptance of the right of Palestine to exist, helping financially and technologically in the creation of that state, with much apologies for the past, and in the subsequent healing of the wounds caused by fifty odd years of endless strife.
The USA must help Israel to arrive at this decision using economic threats and other such diplomacy as necesary. When there is no longer an oppression of Palestinian peoples by Israel most of the peace loving Islamic community will begin to accept their cousins in the middle east. Eventually those preaching terror and destruction will become powerless, isolated and fade away.
Actually, helping people to exist in peace and prosperity is a recipe, not only for the conflict in that part of the country, but for ending terrorism everywhere.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 5:41:56 PM
