Getting off the dime with Gaza impasse

Dear Editor, The prophetic scriptures describe many instances of nations losing their soul, often abetted by the nations’ leaders. Hundreds of years from now, what will readers conclude from modern day prophetic accounts of current events in the Middle East?

To pull back from a moral abyss, the Rev. Galen Guengerich suggests some simple first steps in the case of the IsraeliPalestinian situation.

Start by acknowledging the truly difficult situation in Gaza — very limited electricity and water and extremely restricted access to and from Gaza, making it unable to function economically while facing a looming health crisis.

He suggests that Egypt and Israel could readily supply the electricity needed to turn the power and water crisis around. In parallel, the U. S. could restore full funding to Gaza to keep schools open, giving youth a more positive situation. Easing border restrictions could help those unable to get medical treatment in Gaza while also alleviating the food and economic situations.

Many powerful nations have used oppressive restrictions on recalcitrant populations. But a long history does not make the practice any less repugnant. The powers with the levers — U.S. Israel, Egypt — should use them to alleviate Gaza’s suffering, and then begin, with a broad international workgroup, to tackle the stalled peace process. Frank Stoppenbach Red Hook, N.Y.