It's hard to be a blogger in these times and not comment on the Middle East so here are a few thoughts. I think we should all heed Jordan's ambassador to the U.S. Dina Kawar's words for "strategic" thought and action, particularly in the absence of humanitarian feelings or a moral compass.
Common ground is a call for peace.
Hence, the only way to be for both Palestinians and Israelis is to call for a ceasefire of the kind that takes leaders back to the negotiating table.
We should be additionally haunted and forewarned by Kawar's wise words that, in effect, Netanyahu is only re-creating Hamas when considering that a majority of Hamas fighters today are themselves already orphans.
An additional 18,000 orphaned children and counting, will ultimately only find a home among other similarly orphaned children and youth, spelling ever-more trouble for Israel in the near and distant future—and just as importantly, to Gaza. Why add to that count by bombing indiscriminately?
It is also wise and accurate to not conflate Hamas with either Palestinians or the Palestinian Authority. To understand this in greater depth, read What is the Palestinian Authority and what is its relationship with Israel?
All should also be aware that there is a growing Jewish movement for a
ceasefire and that there are organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace at national and local levels like Jewish Voice for Peace Austin that are calling for a ceasefire and asked via petition for Jews and allies to sign-on for peace on their Facebook page, as well.
Add your name now.Sign the petition at jvp.org/ceasefireThe [New York Times] ad copy:B’Tzelem Elohim * All life is preciousNever Again. For Anyone.Those of us grieving both Israeli and Palestinian loved ones this week know there is no military solution. The only future is peace and safety for all – grounded in freedom, justice, and equality.Half of Gaza’s population are children. They have nowhere to flee to. The Israeli government has trapped them in Gaza and cut their water, food, and electricity. It is starving them while bombing their neighborhoods one after another.Join us – American Jews and allies – in demanding the Biden administration facilitate an immediate ceasefire, and stop sending the Israeli military more weapons.Millions of lives depend on it.All people of conscience are invited to sign on: jvp.org/ceasefire
This ad already appeared in the New York Times. There is still time to sign. I just did. Not sure whether a two-state solution is where this is all headed or something else. What we do know is that before any policy solution can occur, a ceasefire must be in place. Not a "pause" or "pauses," but a ceasefire with all the hostages, civilians, and detainees on both sides returned.
Thanks to Gary Bledsoe for sharing this insightful peace.
Peace/paz,
-Angela Valenzuela
NOVEMBER 19, 2023 / 1:27 PM EST / CBS NEWSWashington — Jordan's ambassador to the U.S. said her country is calling for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas because her country's leaders believe the conflict will fuel radicalism.
Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar told "Face the Nation" on Sunday that up to 18,000 children could be orphaned from the war in Gaza.
"What do we do with that?" she asked. "Some studies have shown that some of the Hamas — the majority of Hamas fighters were orphans. Our call here is for a cease-fire. … Not because we want to think differently from the rest of the world, but because we feel that with the Arab countries and with Islamic countries, this is the only way forward to stop this war and to sit around the table and go back to negotiations."
Kawar also questioned the strategy behind the Israeli military ordering civilians in Gaza to evacuate the northern half of the territory as it prepared for a ground invasion in the days after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas militants. In recent days, Israel has told Palestinians to leave parts of southern Gaza.
"These displaced people were asked to leave the north in no time to go to the south, and now they're asked to leave the south. Didn't didn't anybody think that if Hamas is in the north, they would go to the south?" Kawar said. "Our worry is that this violence is going just to breed violence and it's putting pressure in the region. And if we cannot talk to the moral compass of the world, nor to the humanitarian feelings, let's talk strategic thinking."
Jordan's King Abdullah has criticized the Israeli offensive, calling on the international community to push for an immediate cease-fire to end the killing of innocent Palestinians and allow humanitarian aid into the region.
U.S. officials have said anything more than a temporary cease-fire to allow for the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid would empower Hamas, while Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas.
"It is putting a lot of pressure on His Majesty, on the government because people are angry," Kawar said of whether the war could destabilize relations between Jordan and Israel. "They see the images every day. I mean, we're all angry. It's very humiliating. It's very hurtful and it's inhuman. And we're just wondering how far is this going to go? We're calling for a cease-fire. We're calling to go back to negotiations."
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