Historic hatred of Jews to blame
ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
OH, the poor Palestinians. Downtrodden and abused by the evil Jewish invaders, and now facing the indignity of America declaring Jerusalem as the capital. The reality is the Palestinians were squatters on what had been the capital of Israel for centuries upon centuries.
Most of the Old Testament was written there. One of the most sacred monuments of the Arab world is built on the foundations of Solomon’s Temple. But even ignoring a couple of thousand years of history, look at what has happened in the past 70 years. Time and again, both under internal and external influences, Israel has attempted to reconcile with the Palestinians. Under almost every instance, the Palestinian reply was: “This is our land, you (Israel) have to leave.” On the rare occasion a Palestinian leader was willing to talk, Hamas derailed any effort by attacking Israel and Palestinian facilities and personnel.
The blockade of Gaza was imposed to stop Iran and Syria from arming Hamas with military weapons. Israel is surrounded by countries that not only object to Jews living there, but have declared they will destroy the Jews, wherever they live. Arab maps of the area still deny that Israel even exists, labelling the area as “Occupied Palestine”.
Pilgrims from all religions can freely travel to Jerusalem because the Israelis protect their freedom of religion. Declaring yourself as a Christian in some of the surrounding countries, notably Syria and Saudi Arabia, can result in being jailed, flogged or worse.
It is true there are illegal settlements on the West Bank, and the Israeli Government has come under fire for forcibly tearing some down and displacing the Palestinian families that lived in them. The Jewish people have the same faults as everyone else. But I, personally, think that given their history and current situation, they are doing as well as can be expected, and certainly better than the fragmented Palestinians would be doing.
Two-state solution
THE violence perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza is entirely unacceptable. Seventy years ago Palestinians were pushed out of their homeland to make way for the new nation-state of Israel. It justified its actions by stating that the Holocaust provided “the licence to occupy” this land.
Now it seems as though a people who were so brutalised at the hands of the Nazis in World War II are in a position to mete out brutality on the very people whose land they now occupy. The relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem appears to have heightened this urge to mistreat the original inhabitants. A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website.
The recent deaths of dozens of Palestinians and the wounding of thousands of others reflects poorly on a country that values democracy and the rule of law.
The United Nations is best placed to arbitrate this dispute and to help bring about a two-state solution.
Shroud of blood
ISRAEL has by its past and present actions of deliberate disregard for human life, the wanton destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, humanitarian relief centres and continued breaches of international law, noncompliance of UN resolutions and contempt for the Geneva Convention, show it to be a state without soul, conscience or honour — a state that has not covered itself with glory but a shroud made from the blood and misery of others.
The Jewish community has given much be proud of, but the policies and practices of Israel cannot be counted among them.
Strength in numbers
WOULD those who support the cable car join me on Parliament lawns on June 3 at 11am? I bet there will be more there than the small number who opposed it at Cascade Gardens.
No guarantee
THE state’s GST share is as safe as Rene Hidding taking the Speaker’s chair. All smoke and mirrors.
Northern lights
IT appears the only way we are likely to have a cable car is if it is built in the city of progress ... Launceston.