Israeli-Palestinian conflict

ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

One of my correspondents says she cannot support Israel because of the treatment by the Israelis of the people of Palestine. I regret that there are many who agree. I understand that point of view. The Palestinian people have suffered for over 6 decades. What wasn’t said was whether she supported the right of Israel to exist. The Palestinians have made it clear that the destruction of Israel is the only acceptable solution to the conflict..

I as sure my correspondent is fully aware of the history of the Israeli and Arab conflict. It started many years before the Nazi Holocaust, the United Nations partition and the establishment of the state of Israel. The conflict escalated in 1948 when Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq invaded Israel, assuring the Palestinians who fled that they could return as soon as the Jews were driven into the sea. That didn’t happen, and those who fled were kept in refugee camps. Jordan actually waged war against the refugees and many fled to Lebanon.

The 1948 war was followed by a succession of wars, resulting in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Many peace efforts brokered by the United States resulted in agreements that the PLO and Hamas failed to live up to. The PLO and Hamas charters still call for the destruction of Israel. Probably, as you read this, Hamas is sending rockets into Israel.

There are now 7 million Jews living in the state of Israel surrounded by hordes of hostile Arabs and Iran. Israel wants peace. Israel offers peace on terms which concede and meet almost all Arab demands. I wonder what my correspondent would have the Israelis do. Suicide is not an option..

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WHAT’S THE MATTER

It’s true!
Matter cannot be created
Matter cannot be destroyed.
Man dies, the remains are recycled.

What of man’s soul?
If soul is matter
It cannot be destroyed
If not destroyed where does the soul go?

If soul is matter
It would be a waste
Not to reuse the good souls.

Oh well,
Does it really matter?