War and Peace Gaza-Style

The terrible events that have unfolded in Gaza over the past few weeks require serious reflection, not knee-jerk reactions.  Sadly, driven by what seems to be an inherent human compulsion to take sides, people far removed from the realities of broken bodies, shattered homes and wasted lives, have instead defended and attacked their chosen heroes and villains.  This is not the World Cup; something a bit more sophisticated than cheer-leading is called for.

Christian Zionists, appear to be willing to turn a blind eye to almost anything that Israel does. Never mind the dubious thinking that equates the modern State of Israel with ‘the Chosen People’ (something that many orthodox Jews reject), how can it be right to ignore the very many Biblical injunctions to pursue justice, peace and mercy? The fact that Israel originally gave support to the student movement that became Hamas in an effort to destibilise the PLO ought to give pause for thought on the part of even the most ardent Israel supporter.

Equally, Hamas is far from being the liberator of an oppressed people that many pro-Palestinians would like to suggest. If given free rein, Hamas would instigate a rigid, Islamist rule over the Gaza population, imposing a distorted form of Islam that the great majority of Muslims worldwide find unacceptable. The fact that an international marathon run, organised to highlight the plight of Palestinians, had to be switched from Gaza to the West Bank last year because Hamas would not permit women to participate, is a minor example of what lies in store were Hamas to be permanently in charge.

Meanwhile, dozens of entirely innocent men, women and children perish in appalling circumstances. It might be true that if Hamas had the fire-power, it would inflict the same scale of casualties as has Israel, but Israel’s shocking over-reaction and continued targeting of homes, offices and even recreational areas cannot be justified. There is no sign that Jesus’ injunction to ‘turn the other cheek’ is going to be heeded any more now than it was two thousand years ago.

The ‘two-state’ solution has been on the table for many years now and remains the only likely way forward. That, or any other solution that recognises the need for both Israelis and Palestinians to enjoy peace, security and freedom, cannot be established by military means.

The greater goal of securing peace and offering hope for current and future generations means that it is necessary for enemies to sit and talk with one another face to face, however unpalatable that might be.  While not perfect, the settlements in South Africa, in Northern Ireland and in Rwanda all share one thing: peace begins, continues and ends with talk; war ends in death.  In only the most extreme circumstances can war ever become a means of achieving justice and peace. To partially quote an old slogan from the sixties: ‘Fighting for peace is like ******* for virginity’.