In search of the promised land

JAN 7, 2009 — The latest escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict is most worrying to the international community but one that is not unexpected.
Israel insists on wiping out Hamas with all its sophisticated arsenal and armoury; the Palestinians, on the other hand, with light arms and pebbles are determined as ever in defending their sovereignty.
Israelis cower whenever Kayutsha rockets come flying into their homes and at the same time, innocent Palestinian civilians especially women and children are turned into refugees if they ever manage to survive the carnage in Gaza.
The United Nations, with its hands tied and mouth shut, looks on in despair, unable to undertake any peacekeeping mission, what more broker any ceasefire between the warring parties.
The world body cannot even pass a resolution condemning the Israeli aggression due to the veto by the United States.
The mighty US has demonstrated time and again that any attempt to twist Israel's hand in the face of the international community's anger will come to nought.
The conspicuously silent US President-elect Barack Obama on this dire issue is certainly putting off hopes for a more sensible US President in dealing with international conflicts.
The cost on human lives due to this conflict is unbearable.
For every Israeli shell that destroys homes and schools, all peace-loving people around the world shed a tear.
Hamas, on the other hand, is putting on a brave face, trying in vain to stop the incursion by the Israel Defence Forces into Gaza.
Try as it may, the Kayutsha rockets that it sends flying into residential areas in Israel are causing no more than tarnished egos on the Israel military.
At the time of writing, 555 Palestinians have been killed with only handful of casualties on the Israeli side.
This has caused a displacement of innocent victims in large numbers towards the border with Egypt.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is brewing into a tragedy and all parties, especially the UN, the European Union and the OIC, have to be decisive to prevent the loss of more innocent lives.
On the other hand, the inaction of the OIC and Arab League is most despicable, being unable to answer their Muslim and Arab brother's cry for help.
It is shameful that Muslim countries are unable to even raise a finger, what more send peacekeepers to protect their brothers and sisters who have been turned into refugees in their own backyard.
Furthermore, there is not even any hint of talk among the OIC and Arab League countries to even consider sending troops to defend the sovereignty of Gaza and Palestine.
Ordinary Muslims blame these leaders as the cause of Palestine (under Hamas or Fatah administration) being treated as a pariah and humiliated time and again.
The Palestinians have never been able to call Gaza and the West Bank their home or their land.
Israel, on the other hand, has spent much effort and cash in creating instability in the region by its antagonising posture and attitude towards Palestine.
This latest acts of aggression began when the Palestinians put Hamas into office in the last election and by kicking out the corrupt Fatah government.
Following this, Israel with the support from US has been doing everything possible to ensure that the Hamas administration is crippled and sidelined in the international arena.
It is to everyone's benefit that the Middle East is peaceful and this can only be achieved if Palestine is a sovereign state and Israel feels secure surrounded by its Arab neighbours.
One after another the peace accords in Oslo, Madrid, Camp David, etc have passed without any lasting solution in sight.
Most Palestinians and Israelis wish for the land they reside in — and which is considered holy to Islam, Christianity and Judaism — will achieve peace and tranquility for their children's future.
The promised land for both Palestine and Israel remains elusive for as long as they are unable to reduce hostilities and break down barriers between them.
We certainly cannot depend on the US, not even their new President, to correct this wrong and return the promised land, peace and harmony back to where they belong — for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side with each other.

- published in The Malaysian Insider : Jan 7, 2009