Obama's inauguration could signal a new effort to find middle east peace
Published Thursday January 22nd, 2009
The Gaza ceasefire was too long in coming. But this is the Middle East, an astonishing confluence of divergent world cultures and religions. Having been there on two tours as a reporter, my impression now is the same as it was then. The people there need outside help to resolve their difficult problems. And to this point, they really haven't been getting the right kind of help.
It isn't as though world leaders aren't concerned over the constant threats to peace in this tinder box. And it isn't as though world peoples haven't been dismayed by the series of wars, attacks and counter-attacks leading up to the most recent horrific carnage in the Gaza Strip, where I spent some time.
A big problem is that those offering support to the State of Israel, or to its Arab neighbours, have been motivated by their own special-interest agendas. And there has been failure, so far, to come to agreement on common, basic goals to meet the real needs of the people who inhabit the region.
I have crawled into sandbagged trenches with young Jewish troops in their bunkers at the Suez Canal. I've spent time with Canadian peacekeepers at Egypt's "Sweetwater Canal." I saw the burnt-out wreckages of tanks and trucks. I visited ragged refugee camps in Gaza, where resigned old people and sad-eyed children stare with hopeless eyes. This place is called "The Holy Land" because of its historical connection to three of the world's great religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And it is a beautiful land - but anything except "holy" in these terrible times.
Israel needs peace and security. The Palestinians need justice and a viable state. There are forces in this world - including some states and governments - who really don't want this to happen, except on their own exclusive terms. That is one of the factors prolonging the conflict.
The urgent goal for people of goodwill has to be finding the clear road map to make it happen. We can get to the moon. Why can't we untangle the Gordian Knot that is the Middle East?
U.S. President Barack Obama's dazzling inauguration, with its message to extremist enemies - "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist-" could signal a new effort to find a solution to one of civilization's most dangerous problems. I'd like to see Canada get on board in an even-handed quest for peace.
My sympathies lie with both the Israelis and the Palestinian people. I believe it's acceptable for Canada to recognize Israel's right to defend itself from hostile rocket attacks (a primitive version of which I witnessed when I was there). But there is a growing world consensus that the Gaza assault was an overreaction, with so many civilian lives sacrificed. Hamas rocketeers also share the blame for this terrible carnage among civilians.
But in the longer term, it is crucially urgent to press for both parts of this equation - secure borders for Israel - and a just and permanent solution for the displaced and dispossessed Palestinian people.
This is a complex situation with no easy answers. The State of Israel was created after the chaos of the Second World War, when Hitler's Nazis tried to eradicate the Jewish people of Europe. Tensions with Arab occupants of the Middle Eastern region, where the new Jewish state was established, led to a series of wars - in which the Israelis won a majority of the battles but were never able to win a peace.
They've just won another battle - demonstrating that Hamas terrorists are no match for the Israeli military. But what the world needs to pitch in on now is the search for that elusive, just and lasting peace.
Fred Hazel is a retired editor-in-chief of this newspaper. His column appears on Thursday.
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