Losing Faith

The events of the last two months are not helping matters and improving the chances of peace in the Middle East. For the better part of my studies of the peace process, I have kept a positive outlook and thought that peace was a definite possibility. Israelis and Palestinians could overcome their differences on the difficult issues and work out their differences without resorting to violence every time there is a disagreement over a sensitive issue.

The last few weeks have tested my patience and my positive outlook. Perhaps the same could be said for the populations most at risk here. I'm referring to the children of Israelis and Palestinians who see their friends, parents, families, and strangers within their communities rail against their opponents and perpetuate the cycle and cult of violence.

Each day brings about new reports of violence and death among the Palestinians and Israelis. Mothers and fathers burying their children. Hatred by both the Israelis and Palestinians towards Palestinians and Israelis alike is spreading with the violence. It is hard to resist the urge for retribution and increasingly hard line stances by the politicans and demogogues. There are those on both sides that stand to benefit from the violence. The extremists and the hard core individuals who will not allow anyone to change their position and will stand in arms against those who dare challenge their sacred positions all stand to gain from the violence.

The moderates are being trampled by the loudness of the bullets, tear gas, the rocks, and the cries of the deceased relatives.

The world looks on as the Palestinians who continue to be injured and killed parade the dead and wounded at the hands of Israelis, even allowing their children to be used as "veritable shields" as some journalists and commentators have suggested to gain public sentiment towards their position. The Palestinian Authority looks on and encourages the violence with either their indifference or tacit approval depending on whom you ask or talk to.

The Israelis continue to shoot rubber bullets and tear gas at Palestinians who demonstrate and throw rocks or Molotov cocktails at Israeli positions. The supposedly non-lethal weapons have been quite lethal as over 100 Palestinians have been killed throughout the last two months and there will be investigations into how the Israelis could have prevented this bloodshed.

The causes of the violence will prevent the Palestinians and Israelis from stopping the violence because both sides only see absolutes -- the other side is absolutely wrong. Nothing is absolute.

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