I don't know any Israelis. I don't know any Palestinians. There is little bias. I fear that comments here (and maybe blog posts too) may appear slanted towards Palestinian view points because there is no Jihadist, or Hamas member advocating violence against Israel in these threads for us to equally criticize. Should that person appear, you may find that some of us are much more middle-of-the-road - or at least I am.


I oppose violence of any kind. I do not support suicide bombers. I do not agree with Hamas' current agenda to end the Israeli state - particularly if done by violent means. Likewise, I disapprove of IDF's bombing/invasion of Gaza and the inhumane treatment of Palestinians.

I wont be associated with any group simply because we both oppose the Israeli military campaign and blockade. Disapproving of the current Israeli stance towards Palestine does not make me pro-Hamas, or even pro-Palestine. Polarizing people leads to conflict. What's important to remember is that there is no Us vs. Them. There is no good and evil, except that which resides in every human being.

Also, it's a natural tendency for people to congregate towards those with like minds. It is no surprise to me that you have many friends/contacts that agree with you - I don't consider that evidence of you representing a majority of Israelis (not that I believe the contrary - I really don't know) nor do I find it relevant because as you well know it was mainstream Germans who...

... No, I'm not trying to draw a parallel between Israelis and Nazis, I'm just pointing out a flaw in your argument.

Arabs are much more diverse in culture, religion, opinion and identity than you appear to think. Part of the reason that there is so much violence in the middle east is because ancient tribes have been forced together into "nations" based on how European powers, particularly Britain, carved up the land during colonization.

Lest we forget that much of the middle east is desert. Also, we cannot forget income distributions and the disparity between rich and poor - The general Arab population may want to take care of Palestinians, there is a strong history of hospitality, but those petro dollars you speak of, are not in the hands of average Arabs, their in the hands of oil Barons, and wasted away on huge mansions and silver audis. That's capitalism.

The Palestinians are on land that they've inhabited long enough to call home. That land happens to be land that Israel has annexed. It's Israel's problem, they cannot brush it under the Arab carpet.

Why should Israel take care of Arab refugees - who are there not just because of "Arab" aggression, but ALSO because of Jewish expansion? Because it's future generations at stake - people who hold no responsibility for what's going on today and in the last 60+ years - and their all human-beings! Their lives have value! You are what you do most - why not take this opportunity and bring out the compassionate and benevolent side of the Jews?

Most white Americans are not indigenous to North America. There is undeniable proof that there was a large population of Native Americans who resided here. My family have no ancient ties to where my grand parents currently live, but the centuries old piles of clam shells up on the shore near their house are part of the remains of Native American villages - they're very common where I'm from. Do the first nations of North America have the right to kick me and my family out of the land that we grew up on? No. Do I have a right to move onto their reservation if I succeed in retaining my family's home? No. 

It's in the past. It was my ancestors that invaded North America, and I show my appreciation for Native American forgiveness by working with Native American reservation soup kitchens and food pantries in my line of work (food-banking.) 

Let's also not forget that indigenous Jews of Israel are of the same race as the Muslims in the area. Haplogroups J1 and J2, originating in Egypt and Lavant respectively are the most common among Jews AND Muslims in the same region. Both groups of people come from the same area. There was a time when both groups were the same people. That likeness still exists, but the few differences are highlighted too often.

Likewise - I am also not convinced. Culture can be defined as "the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group."

One thing that needs to be understood is that everything changes and that has a lot of implications, but here, what has changed is the definition of the identity of those who inhabit what is regarded as Palestine (now) and are of Arab/Muslim origins. More specifically, the ethnic group which inhabits Israel and which is going through the process of being forcibly expelled. That's their identity, and if they call it "Palestinian," fine. They don't have to have been an historic culture to have rights - they're still people.

The idea of throwing Arabs together in "Arab" countries because they're all "Arab" is racist. You take away so much that makes up part of the identity of individuals in the region and you can't just put some in the land of others because they have the same skin color or because they speak the same language or share the same religion - there is SO much more to people than those attributes. 

These are more generalizations, more lies, that dehumanize the "enemy" to make it easier to go to war. It's easier to attack an ethnicity than it is an individual. Racist comments like that are polarizing and do nothing more than spread animosity. 

It's so easy to slip into the good vs. evil mentality because it paints what appears to be a clearer picture of the world. We humans and our small brains have a hard time wrapping our heads around how amazingly complex the world and even individuals are. Don't get lazy and start generalizing about groups of people based on their differences from other groups of people - that has only ever lead to conflict. The truth is what things we human beings have in common are vastly more in number than the things that separate us. Discovering this will make living with each other much easier. 

I've already answered this above, but I'll try to be more blunt. What you call "Arabs" and "Israelis" have much more in common with each other than what differentiates them. They're all human beings, all of their lives have value, all deserve love and respect. Every human being has the responsibility of every human being because all of our actions are interrelated. You may buy a t-shirt today, but you may be increasing demand for more sweat-shop labor. You drop your cigarette on the ground and it makes its way to the ocean (as everything does) contributing to the huge garbage island the size of Texas in the Pacific. You build a house in East Jerusalem, after evicting an innocent because they share the same religion, language and skin color of your enemy. 

When Israel builds a settlement in West Bank, there were people there before - people who refer to themselves as Palestinian - and they were evicted. Israeli settlers did the eviction - they made them refugees - that's where their responsibility originates from. Maybe you're right, and the the "Arab" CULTURE wasn't there first, but at least 50% of the Palestinian population is under 20 years of age - they can't be punished for the "invasion" of Israel that happened over 40 years ago - they didn't do it! 

I imagine it's difficult for the Palestinians to trust the sincerity of the Israelis as well. There's another thing you two have in common. Verbally, the Israelis offer peace, but actions speak louder than words. 

My ideas are not some fantasy of a "perfect" world. I'm very aware of human's animal instinct to compete and kill, but it's our souls that separate us from our primal ancestors. We're evolving spiritually and there is more evidence of this every day. The idea of peace, trust and love is pragmatic. Look at your next-door neighbors for proof. Every instant, actions of love and trust take place. Non-violent resolutions vastly outnumber violent ones. Every day, we face conflict, but instead of beating each other we sort it out. More people live in peace with those around them than those who don't. More nations are at peace with each other than those who are at war. Ahimsa is the natural tendency of human beings and it goes unannounced daily because it's the right thing to do and it's so extremely prevalent and a fundamental characteristic of all human beings that is so obvious, we rarely have to point it out. 

But some of us forget. Some of us hear about alien cultures and because we cannot see them, or are taught not to look, either in school, or by media or family - we forget, as you have forgotten, that they are human too, and they subscribe to Ahimsa in their daily lives and have the capacity to reach out in Ahimsa to you. Instead you define the alien culture by what scares you about them. You don't nurture the Ahimsa inside them. You forcibly take what you think is rightfully yours, and it may be, but regardless and whether you mean to or not - you're nurturing another fundamental part of every human being inside the Palestinians (and yourselves) - the Himsa. The desire to compete at all costs. Despite temporary cease-fires and press announcements, they feel threatened by you. It will take more than cease-fires, and words and pacifism to gain their trust - it will take something that has no word in English to describe but what Gandhi coined as Satyagraha - Sanskrit for "force of truth" literally, but what he calls "love-force" - despite how trite it may sound. (Of course, it's trite because of how common and obvious and true it is.)

Regarding your last paragraph more specifically - and apologies ahead of time for posting so much, Charles -

 "The Arabs have to stop trying to eliminate Israel and sincerely want to live side by side, and they will see that we are willing to do so. So far Israel does not see this sincerity from the Arab side."

What I'm saying is that the Palastinians want to live side by side AND they want to eliminate the Israeli state at the same time. Just like you want to live in peace, but support measures of violence. We're human, we're allowed to have internal conflict. The point is to nurture the side that wants to live in peace - it's there - you cannot deny it - it's in every human being - no one ULTIMATELY wants war. War is perceived as a means to an end - which is peace. Ironic, really.

An Hamas leader once said that the charter (particularly the part about wanting to eliminate the state of Israel) was not written by a prophet or set in stone. Likewise, an essay you just sent me quoted something from the Qur'an:

"And thereafter We [Allah] said to the Children of Israel: 'Dwell securely in the Promised Land. And when the last warning will come to pass, we will gather you together in a mingled crowd'.".- Qur'an 17:104 

...Implying a desire by true Muslims to coexist with Jews. The Hamas charter, and the alleged beliefs of Iranian Ayatollahs are not absolute. Don't allow the words of "extremists" inhibit you from reaching peace with all Arabs and anyone.

It's a tough question, and one that I am hardly qualified to answer, but I'll do my best. One disclaimer though, no solution is without casualties. I've never said Satyagraha will be easy, in fact, it's probably the hardest, but it does ensure long term peace. It requires patience and self sacrifise at times, by either side trying to do it. The following isn't exactly what I would try to do, but I feel it's a solution that you may be more apt to accept and one that I could live with.

Obviously, protect your people. Provide shelter for them. Provide the means to rebuild what they lose. I believe Israel has this already, and thankfully the thousands of rockets that do hit Israel kill as few as they do. 

Arms shipments can be intercepted. I don't know how Iran gets the rockets to Hamas, etc... but planes can be diverted and ships can be stopped. Arms embargos have worked elsewhere, no reason they wont here. Satyagraha.

Consider apprehending terrorists instead of destroying a hospital, with patients inside who may be used as shields. Paramilitary forces have a good track record of apprehending people. Rubber bullets and tear gas can go along way. Gaza is a small area, there are only so few places they can hide. If a small group of "terrorists" can kidnap your soldiers, you can "kidnap" them... and their rockets. Satyagraha.


Among the huge arsenal that the United States has and which Israel shops from, there must be some anti-rocket weapons available. While I normally wont support the purchasing of weapons, I can hardly imagine anyone giving you a hard time for shooting rockets out of the sky. Satyagraha.


Now those are just a few short term measures that could be considered. There are some brilliant logistics people out there who could probably think of something better.

For the long term - Satyagraha and Ahimsa is what you should subscribe to. Don't give the children, who are innocent and not responsible for what's going on, a reason to hate you. Don't kill their parents. Don't evict them. Don't blockade them. Don't inhibit them from thriving. But those are easy inactions. Satyagraha is Action. On top of eliminating reasons for them to hate you, GIVE them reasons to love you. Help them thrive. Build schools for them - giving you the right to ensure their curriculum does not include hateful ideas about Jews. Build hospitals for them, saving them from ill taking away their ability to blame you for biased treatment. Love them, as you would want the children of Arab/Muslims to love you when they grow up. 


They will witness the benevolence of Israelis and question their elders' desire to do harm. When a suicide bomber blows up an Israeli built school, with Gazan and Israeli children inside - the Palestinians will start to see these actions and move away from radical/violent Hamas leaders. 


Influence the next generation - they are what matters most. They can guarantee continued violence or an end to it for good. It's up to you how to raise them. 

You asked me what Israelis could do, so I hope after all that you're not assuming I expect Israel to do all the work. I ask the same from the Palestinians. I ask them to endure what they can reasonably endure. I ask them to practise Satyagraha against Israeli actions they cannot endure. I ask them to cooperate in mutualy benefitial endeavours. 

It only takes one side to start, though. 

It's not easy. I know that. But if the Israelis play an active role in providing a civil society for Palestinian children to grow up in - you will have peace. Long lasting peace. It will take 30-60 years for a generation to assume responsibility and governance of its own - but a majority of Palestinians are young, and I imagine it happening on the shorter end of that range. 

Despite the obvious truth about the dualistic nature of humanity - the fact that every human being is capable and motivated to live in peace; despite the fact that the evidence is so abundantly clear, you still believe that there is a human force so absolute and evil and bent on your destruction - and that the only solution is violence. 

You don't even take the time to prove my methods of Satyagraha wrong - you just scream RETALIATION!


Such tragedy. There is the circle of violence. After centuries of oppression culminating in the mid 20th century holocaust, we get people like you - hell bent on revenge. 

I pray the children Palestine don't think like you. If Israel continues on its path of violence the next generation won't witness the holocaust and other atrocities against your people. They wont see the good side of the Israelis. They wont see the love that is capable inside of you. All they'll see is your bombs in their homes, their schools, their hospitals, everywhere! They'll only see your soldiers shooting their parents. They'll only face the reality that there are no jobs because of crippling blockades. They'll only see your flag, up on the hill with all the "good stuff" holding them back with rifles and tanks and witnessing all this and no good as an counter-example to learn from - you'll only teach them one language to use when communicating back with you - hate and violence. You ensure continued attacks against your people. You ensure another round of retaliation. You endanger yourself, you family, Israel and every Jew in the world. 

Give the Palestinians a reason to love you! 

Likewise.