When the Arabs love their children more than they hate the Jews, there will be peace.

> the conflicts that have plagued the Middle East for nearly sixty years

please forgive me for saying but that's far too myopic...

if you've an interest in history, look back to that region, thru Nth Africa and then Spain. Start from 634 (2 years after Mohammed died) and continue to at least 711 and Charlemane.

While this crisis is history in the making, it also has it's roots deep into very old history and concentrating on "six decades" just takes the whole thing out of context. Even "European Imperialism" of a couple of hundred years doesn't tell the full story...

Well,
we all know that this hatred and war should end. But how? Im a Jordanian muslim. And i can say this. Muslims didnt have anything against jews before! Muslims, and christians and jews lived normally in Palestine for centureys. The first act of hatred against jews was done in europe. During those times if you asked an arab he would feel pitty for the attrocities happening in Germany and Poland.

But after the state of Israel was created in the heart of the middle east. And after Israel became the spoiled child of all the world (because they made the jews suffer so much). The situation became hatefull. Arabs hate Israilis more than the fact that they are Jews. But because of their arrogance and inhumanity.

How could you go into someones house as a guest. And after 50 years declare that he is a terrorist? would you accept that? I dont think you would. Neither would I. But as you see this has always have been the situation in history, The red indians in America, the algerians (france). The indians (england).

People just dont give a damn about what they make other nations suffer.

If we only just give a damn. We all be happy

Of course not. Before Israel, Jews were second class citizens of Arab countries and knew their place. Even today, Jews in Arab countries know that they are Dhimmi. To claim that the first act of hatred to Jews was done in europe is to blind yourself to Arab history and the attacks on Jews. And as for pity, it was the grand mufti of Jerusalem who worked hand in hand with the nazis and it's the Arabs of today that deny the Holocaust so your claim of pity is also one I doubt.
I think your putting the cart before the horse here. You say Jews are arrogant and Inhumane? How many Jews have killed entire class rooms of children? I can name an Arab who did. We didn't start this. We simply wanted to live in peace in our homeland, a land that existed before Jordan, a land that existed even before Islam. A land that was cut down to 1/5th of it's declared size in the balfore declaration with the 4/5ths given to you.
We are not some guest in your house. We are the owners of our house and we want to live in peace. We gave land for peace and we got attacked. We were going to give more land for peace and we were attacked. I think we know where the arrogance and inhumanity is coming from.

There's a great cartoon showing two Arabs talking. One is saying to the other
"Ahmed, why did you attack now. They were about to give it all to us"
The other said sheepishly "I just couldn't resist"

If Israel was about to give even more land for a false peace and they were attacked, maybe you should look at who is doing the attacking, why and who is behind it. Another perfect quote was:
"Iran is willing to attack the Jews to the last drop of Palestinian blood".

We want peace. Show us that the Arab nations want it as well. Boycotts, attacks, condemnations for existance, lack of diplomatic contact and all the other games that the Arab world has been playing for the last 60 years does not promote peace, only hatred and war. Show us the peace and we'll be more than happy to show peace in return. Show us attacks and you get what you give.

Well michael, u seem way ahead me in racisim. Firtsly becqause im an atheist. Im a muslim on paper, but i dont practice. I was just testing! And u faild baaad. Doing politics means that you have to leave religion at home. So if you are a jew not living in israel, then this dosnt concern you and if you are then please use logic before religion.

This land was yours? as a religion ? that sounds funny. What about the religion before moses came? why dont those people come and claim that palestine is theirs. Funnny thing about religion. It blinds you! Makes you not even consider other people.

I just support the palestinians in a Nation kind of way. Not religion. Religion is so out of date. So jews all around the world and muslims should keep away from the middle east.

We as neighbouring countries and "arabic" not muslim countries are the only onmes who have the right to act.

Have a nice day Dude! go fight for your own country

Barry, thankyou for your input. The reason why I mentioned only the last sixty years for the article is that my generation and those preceeding have failed to address the issues of the Middle East. Also it is in our hands to try and find a solution now.

To find a peaceful settlement we cannot keep harking back to the past, this is part of the reason why a peaceful solution has never been found.

If I felt this way about the injustices against my ancestors I would be out bashing anyone with Roman, viking or Saxon blood in them.

We have to forget the past to move forward, for the sake of the children of today and tomorrow in the Middle East.
Regards Bob.

Racist? I'm calling for peace from groups who have been attacking my people for generations and I'm a racist? Explain to me how?

Yes, I'm a Jew living in America but it does not matter. I'm a Jew, my parents are Jews, their parents, etc. Judaism isn't just a religion, it's a genetic line of people stretching back as far as yours. We claim no land in the world other than Israel. We've been thrown out of it by invaders and always return. We dream of it and pray for it. There is no other, but people would rather we (a tiny postage stamp in comparison to all other arab lands) not exist. But we've always been there, not just in the last 60 years. I have family there. I'd be there myself except that I could not support my family there (find me a good ColdFusion shop in Israel). Actually, there are ColdFusion shops in Iran. Would they accept me? No? Racism? What about the shops in the UAE? Same question. I see the racism coming from a different side here.

So support the Palestinians for peace. Jordan has a cold peace with Israel and they get a nice percentage of the Kinneret piped to them in return. No rockets from Jordan. Why can't the Palestinians do the same? Show us the peace and you get peace.
You have the only right to act? Like when you rejected any peace 60 years ago? When you invaded Israel before the ink was even dry? Like when you invaded again and again (and in these cases I'm being not only general to the neighbors but to Jordan). You have the right to act but we have the right to react. The latest conflict is Hamas acting. Hizballah acting. Israel is reacting and now the Arab world is calling foul. What about when rockets were being shot daily into Israeli towns. Where was the foul then? Oh, I forgot, only the Arab world has the right to act.

I've said it before, I'll say it again and I'll stop posting on this thread. Show us the peace and you get peace. Show us the love and you get love. Show us hate and you make your own bed for this generation as well as the generations of the children you teach hate to.

Show us the peace.

I've been meaning to comment on this topic, but haven't had the time until now.

The only real disagreement I have with Bob's points is the following: "…the present conflict threatens to escalate to a level that will drag in other nations of the region and ultimately the superpowers. Make no mistake, when faced with destruction, any combatant possessing WMD's will be tempted to use them. Once these weapons have been used, then Pandora's Box will truly open."

First, there seems to be this myth that if Israel goes to far in their response, then nearly two dozen Middle Eastern countries are going to unite in order to obliterate the country. Sure, there are anti-Israeli sentiments throughout various countries in the world, but seeing the Middle East unite as one for this purpose just isn't reality.

Second, the use of a WMD will not "open Pandora's Box". The worst it will do is raise gas prices. Think of it like this - Saddam used Chemical weapons in the Iraq War and insurgents have used some since the US-led invasion, yet no box has really opened.

A nuke hasn't been used aggressively since 1945. And while the term "nuke" tends to scare most of us, North Korea and Iran can barely produce a nuke that would destroy part of a city.

How to achieve peace
I think peace can be achieved. The way to peace is through victory. Israel has received potshots for decades from various terrorist groups. During that time, Israel has relocated Jews from Gaza and withdrew troops. As a result, the terrorists still fire rockets and now kidnap soldiers.

Israel needs to have a total victory. This will most likely involve a ground invasion in Lebanon and Syria, and possibly some bombing Iran. Victory will achieve the peace.

This concept is proven by history. Egypt and Israel were in a bloody war a few decades ago, but Israel achieved victory and the two countries are allies today. In fact, some Egyptians were just killed aboard an Israeli ship in the recent war.

I think of the children. I think of the children living in Lebanon with terrorists. I think of children in Israel worried that a rocket is going to land somewhere in their city. For there to be peace for the children of tomorrow, the parents of today need to act.

When I wrote this article I thought it would spawn some worthwhile suggestions for peace in the Middle East. Perhaps I was naive in my thinking, for the dream of a lasting peace in that troubled region of the world still seems impossible today.
As this conflict has deepened, anger has spread beyond the borders of Lebanon, Israel and Gaza. The tragic shooting of several Jewish women in Seattle by a disgruntled Muslim indicates how high tensions and frustrations are.
In Sydney Australia a synagogue in the western suburbs was attacked and graffitti sprayed on a mosque several suburbs away. Worldwide protests are increasing in number and in the intensity of emotions displayed, often with anti Israeli rhetoric.
At the battlefront the majority of casualties on both sides have been civilian. The deliberate targeting of civilian areas in Israel is to be deplored, while the collateral damage from Israeli bombing raids is equally as deplorable.
All peace efforts have failed.
Condaleeza Rice has failed.
The UN has been weak kneed and failed.
And the killing goes on.
The destructive bombing and killing of civilians, many of them innocent children in the town of Qana in southern Lebanon has sparked outrage and violent protest.
Israel has responded with apologies and the suspension of military operations for two days.
Presumably the killing will then recommence.
In my naive way I believe we must begin to resolve the situation by all sides recognizing the rights of children.
Of course Israel like any other nation has the right to defend herself if attacked. She also has the right to lead a peaceful exsistance, as her neighbours. Perhaps all nations involved must ensure all nations have the right to a peaceful exsistance.
Someone must take the first step to peace.
Regards Bob.

> In Sydney Australia a synagogue in the western suburbs was attacked and graffitti sprayed on a mosque several suburbs away**

twenty-odd years ago, Christian and Muslim Lebaneese were fire-bombing each others restaurants in Cleavland St (Sydney). 10 years ago, Serbs and Croats punched each other up at soccer matches.

fifty years ago the "white Australia Policy" was offical. Only the grandmother down the street cares that my neighbours are Japaneese (her sisters husband died a POW in New Giunea, 1945). Today, our favourite foods are Lebaneese, S-E Asian and Indian.

It's OK to have a care about "the old homeland"... to a point. but previous "Reffo's" like Greeks, Italians, Malteese, Vietnameese, etc, are very mindful they are in a new country now and the troubles half a world away don't need to come too.

On the whole we're a laid-back, welcoming, multi-cultural mob with simple rules: make the effort to get along with your neighbour and enjoy your weekend. I mean, the Aboriginies have had to put up with "us lot" for the last 200+ years....

just a quick thought, nothing more.

** and Wally Lewis' statue got painted black all over by New Zealand rugby fans last week. In neither case were firebombs used. lets keep it in perspective, eh?

If there is a god no man or religious leader speaks for him.

It is time to crusade for peace not for religious beliefs.

I want to go to the Middle East and willingly give my life by walking into the war zone with a placarded saying:

There are no martyrs only murderers.

Listen to your hearts not to the words of Religious leaders or politicians. The leaders of America, Israel or Islam do not have the answers they are just people no better or knowledgeable than you or I. You give them the power they have over you

For the sake of your children and all the other human beings around you too scared to speak out - Refuse to co-operate with the people who say violence or revenge is a solution - The dead and the grieving know they are wrong.

Please join me, go to the Middle East, offer your life and show the leaders of any conflict that what ever justification for killing others they have - they are wrong.

The religious, ethnic, political or cultural differences between us have no value when compared to the murder of a Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, Grand Parent, Aunt or Uncle.

If we do not do something now then people with the power to frighten us will always cause us death and suffering.

The only way for the US to achieve their peace in the Middle-East is through the alacrity by which we stay out of there. Ceace and decist! Too easy!

The UN was set-up as the Worlds Peacemaker. But, unfortunately is only a Paper-Tiger." All other countries may follow the USs proposed style. But again--too easy. "There will always be wars and rumors of wars."

We have been going out of our way by thousands of miles not to not engender peace. How counterproductive for "our" peace in the Middle East. We have only joined in the fray!