Peace in the Middle East

In World War II, over seventy million lives were lost. Seventy million. A number that is too vast for many to even fathom. In this fifty million, the majority of all Jews in Germany and surrounding European countries were mercilessly tortured and exterminated. After the war, the state of Israel was created as a new home for the Jewish survivors of the war so that they could rebuild their lives and be protected from religious persecution. However, the goal was not completely accomplished.

For sixty years now, the Israelis and Arabs have been clashing over sacred lands which have significant religious importance to both of them. Each day in the news we hear about killings in the area. Thirteen, ninety, seventy-two, twenty-eight. The numbers really are numbing like the fifty million of the Second World War. Sadly, the situation has been put on the back burner recently, due to other world politics.

I remember the first time I realized how serious the situation really was. I was watching the evening news one day, when the story of a little Palestinian boy came on. It was a video of a police shootout. The little boy and his father were only innocent bystanders who were caught in the crossfire. The father tried to shield his son's body with his own, but the boy was shot by a stray bullet. The boy died in his father's arms. Mohammed Al-Durrah was just 12 years old. Stories like this are what make the numbers real.

After this story, I remember feeling angry at the Israeli's for being so violent towards the Palestinians who had not even half of the resources of the Israelis. But then, once I looked into it, I realized that no one side is at fault.

The image of the Palestinian boy dying in his father's arms is just as painful as seeing the victims of the suicide bombing of an Israeli pizzeria. Palestinian against Israeli, Muslim against Jew, human against human. It is ironic that the state created as a safe-haven for people to seek refuge from religious persecution has become a prison for its inhabitants. Nothing is guaranteed for people living in Israel, especially not life. Death can be found around every corner.

I believe this situation is extremely crucial to society as a whole, since this is not only a matter of land; it is a serious matter of religions. Israel is holy for Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. The political fiasco in the area is tearing the world into pieces, which many fear could easily escalate into a religious world war if peace is not achieved.

The best solution in my opinion is to make the United Nations a part of the peacemaking process. This conflict must be remedied by a global effort, as opposed to an American effort. This could be achieved by some sort of world peace summit in which all nations are incorporated.

The Palestinians will not rest until they are given a state, and the Israeli's will not rest until they feel they are safe. I think both sides need to take into account a very true observation made by Gandhi, the great peacemaker, "Victory attained by violence is tantamount to defeat, for it is momentary."

Works Cited

"Muhammad al-Durrah." Wikipedia. Web. 28 July 2009.
"World War II." Wikipedia. Web. 28 July 2009.