Today the British Parliament will be debating whether to support a ceasefire in Gaza. The various political parties have differing stances with their subtext and starting point being on balance either –
Outrage at the 7th October Hamas attacks and support for Israel’s right to defend itself, or
devastation at the loss of life in Gaza, and an outright call for a ceasefire.
It’s a mess, and not one that will yield a solution, barring a miracle, in the near future.
It feels like it’s one of those proxy battles – in this case being fought between the more extreme powers in USA/Europe and the more militant of the Arab nations.
The state of Israel, founded in 1948, has its birth and much of its energy coming out of the persecution of the Jewish people over centuries, and has its roots in a modern European way of operating.
The Palestinian people are still essentially a Middle Eastern culture, and identify with nations around with a similar history.
For the USA or European government to call unequivocally for a ceasefire would be seen to side more with the Palestinian people in Gaza and the Occupied Territories, and somehow betray western values, and the state of Israel that has its beginnings in Europe.
And in the end it’s all about money and power and who is going to have your back at the end of the day.
Both sides in this conflict are ‘hurt people.’ And you know the saying – ‘hurt people hurt people.’
I read this verse this morning. Luke’s Gospel Chapter 11 verse 32.
“The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.”
The Old Testament story of Jonah is about his calling as a prophet. He was sent by God to preach to the people of Nineveh to change from their sinful ways. They did repent, and Jonah was surprised and angry. He never imagined that they would repent, and thought they had got off too lightly.
But they did listen and they did change. So they have the right to challenge others who need to change. They saw that they were living on a destructive path and turned around.
Where are today’s Ninevites ? Where are the ones who have seen their failings and made a decision to be different ? We need them to witness to their unholy past, and challenge this generation and condemn it.
And by this generation, I do not simply mean Hamas and The State of Israel, although at this time maybe they are first in line. I mean all those who measure life in their ability to control dollars and bombs, and oil and water, and propaganda and terror.
What we are seeing in Israel Palestine is a playing out of history, and we need someone or something that is greater even than Jonah.
Five Short Words 
“violence ends by destroying itself. it creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
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So true. Violence just perpetuates more violence.
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All they had to do was sit down like adults and discuss one the most tragic situations in the world today. They agree on how terrible the situation is and that we want to help the people of Gaza to receive aid. Whatever they agreed would have sent a message that the UK, like so many other countries, is watching in despair and asking that something is done to bring peace, no matter how tentative, to the region. But no. Like primary school kids bickering the playground, reason didn’t seem to apply. Apologies to primary school children. At least they have an excuse – inexperience of the world.
Unfortunately, the spectacle of the rats fighting harder to save their jobs, is the face of politics for the next year at least. Buckle up and expect the nonsense of MP’s to get worse. Meanwhile, our lives, and this country’s stance on issues such as Gaza, do not seem to matter to our political leaders. O well, never mind, we will just have to continue to watch Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway or Love Island.
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