ADDENDUM TO YESTERDAY'S RANT

The insanity of the conflict in Gaza is stupefying the world. Indeed the whole of the Middle Eastern imbroglio seems to be an insolvable problem. There are two articles on the conflict that make an attempt at understanding the consequences of what is going on. Matthew Syed in an article in the Sunday Times from Saturday 17th May and Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian on Friday 23rd May both express clear and considered opinion, accompanied by a tinge of despair.

Mr Syed’s piece is introduced by: “Like every true friend of Israel, I am obliged to say - enough. With each bomb, each bullet, each meal denied to Gaza’s children, Hamas is getting more of what it wants”. What he means is that as long as the Israeli Government and defence force behave with such disregard for humanity, they are loosing sympathy and support which is now turning markedly towards  the Palestinians. The violence is such that far from turning away from Hamas the population is more likely to increase its membership and support. That goes for any observers as well. Mr Syed is of the view that the atrocity committed by Hamas last year was deliberately intended to draw Israel into this kind of retaliation, sufficient to turn the tide of world opinion, and they have succeeded beyond their wildest hopes. Israel fell fully into the trap.

Mr Freedland’s statement is prefaced by: “A biblical hatred is engulfing both side in the Gaza conflict - and finding them to reason. Israel starving Palestinians, two killings at a Jewish museum: both are atrocities. But vanishingly few can see it.” There is no doubt that the Israeli Government has lost all sense of foresight and that rational behaviour has been exhausted. So much so that any sense of support or sympathy has been eroded and all that is left is blind rage and violence. With mind and eyes filled with blood, all sense of humanity disappears. Endless retaliation is all that is left. It blinds one even to distrust and oppose those who would be on our side and in effect only succeeds in turning them against us. It is blind and therefore ignorant in every direction.

Both articles are considered and worth seeking out to read. They provide no solace, but perhaps something to reflect upon and find some understanding. Finding understanding however is not finding a solution. Finding a way of moving people back to rationality and considered compromise towards coexistence through a Niagara of blood is still far away.