Three simple steps to peace
QUEEN Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan grieves with many over the deaths in the fighting in Gaza (“Gaza’s living hell indicts all humanity”, July 27). Her Majesty takes a humanitarian and moral stance, with her main concern being the lives of innocents.
No one can, or would want to, argue with such an ethical world view.
She quite naturally seeks to apportion blame to Israel, but weakens her argument when she sees no blame attached to Hamas.
Her Majesty may need reminding, or perhaps she does not know, that, when Israel left Gaza, it left behind a viable infrastructure, including very profitable hi-tech greenhouses that were providing vegetables and fruit to established customers in Europe. Israel gave an undertaking that it would help develop this economic infrastructure in the interests of creating a viable Palestinian state.
Before any such arrangement could be consummated, Hamas booted the Palestinian Authority out of Gaza, destroyed the greenhouses and all other structures left by Israel, and started launching rockets at the Jewish state.
Actually, the solution to finding peace in the Middle East is very simple.
Just three small things need to happen to stop the fighting tomorrow and bring about mutual cooperation, economic growth and prosperity for all:
1. Stop teaching children from as young as five to hate Israel and Jews;
2. Repeal the shameful Three Nos, instituted in 1967, of No negotiation with, No peace with and No recognition of Israel; and
3. Revoke the infamous Hamas charter that vilifies Jews and commits Hamas to their, and Israel’s, destruction.
Doing these simple, civilised things will elicit a positive response from Israel and the world, and open the road to a resolution of the conflict. — Rodney Mazinter, Cape Town
Selective judgment
ALL would agree that war and killing are abhorrent. What I fail to understand is your condemnation of Israel alone.
The killings throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds, which are of far greater magnitude, do not warrant a mention in your paper. The letter from the Queen of Jordan about the dystopian situation in Gaza points an accusing finger at Israel. She makes no mention of Hamas, the thuggish terror group that controls Gaza and provoked an Israeli backlash by persistently firing rockets into Israel. — Michael Arnold, Cape Town