By William Markiewicz
(As other short items may follow, I've decided to group them together.)
Inebriating Power (2/12)
For me the Israeli election results express the will to hold on to the Golan Heights and the West Bank Territories annexed by the settlers. After years of negotiations, the perspectives for peace are buried, even the idea of sovereign Palestinian Territories is "buried by silence." The Israelis, inebriated with the shiny victories of the past and lacking political experience, forget that even the most impressive power requires responsibility, especially when you're tiny and not integrated with the neighbors. Far away allies, like the USA and American Judaism, may deceive; let’s remember that "the body is nearer than the shirt."
To Save America, Secular Obama Gathers Heterogeneous Crowd Under the Banner of Prayer (2/06)
I remember reading in Europe about an astute lawyer who had a hard criminal case to defend. Unexpectedly the neighborhood church bells started to ring. The lawyer loudly announced: "It’s a sign from Heaven! Let’s all kneel and ask the Lord’s merciful help for this poor lost soul!" Everybody kneeled and later his sentence was reduced. I doubt that Obama had heard of this case but to gather all sides toward a common cause is a super psychological and political move. Peace, harmony on all fronts, is a giant step for global reconciliation, almost too beautiful to last. He uses simple words and his arguments are irresistible. Those who agree with the rules of our Darwinian universe, placing everybody into "superior/inferior" and "strong/weak" categories, will not allow Obama a victory. We know how easy it is to get rid of a man. Obama should avoid crowd contacts and communicate principally through TV.
Obama, the Man of Peace (1/27)
What a refreshing start after the lugubrious reign of the ‘Klingons.’ Almost too beautiful to last. Obama hasn’t made a single mistake up to now. His dialogue with the Islamic world caught us by surprise. It’s perhaps too early to judge the reactions but they cannot be destructive. He seems to follow an invisible but right pathway. His predecessors, the US and close allies, used apparently invincible power to dominate the world and Obama uses the same to propose dialogue. There are many dark powers who would like him to disappear in favour of a return to previous conditions leading to total war. It’s so easy to eliminate a man; look at not so long ago history. Personally I count the days with crossed fingers. We have no choice but to receive what each new day brings and remain suspended between hope and serenity.
Has Israel Overdone Its Campaign in Gaza? (1/16)
The majority of world opinion accuses Israel of overdoing use of force in smashing Hamas in Gaza. I have a question: Was it war or not? As wars go, the goal is not to compare damage but each side uses its maximum potential for victory. In this case, Israel is doing nothing unusual. When, after 9/11, the US attacked Iraq and Afghanistan – did they overdo it? Yes, because 9/11 was not an attack on the USA by Iraq and Afghanistan but by an anonymous terrorist organization supported by millions of sympathizers in the Muslim world. Hamas is governing Gaza with Gazans’ approval. It is a war between two countries, Israel and, what is, in effect, the country of Gaza though it has not been recognized as such. International law obliges Israel to respect the sovereignty of Gaza even if formal peace cannot be signed because Hamas’s principles exclude recognition of Israel. It is up to Hamas and the population to know when to stop a war they cannot win. With or without mutual relations, Israel and Gaza must end by living in peace as neighbours. Israel can impose de facto peace on Hamas and international opinion could oblige Israel to respect the integrity and independence of the two parts of Palestine, Gaza and West Bank.
"Angry Jew" (1/03)
I was reading the paper and a stranger started commenting on the headllines. He presented himself as an angry Jew. His words:
"World opinion wants us to give a unilateral cease fire because we kill too many and not enough of us are dying! What should we do next? Build our own gas chambers?"
It is a complex psychological situation when the weak, because of their weakness, become stronger than the strong. The passionate build History through their sacrifice, while Israel cannot ignore the world's negativity and doesn't know what to do next.
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William Markiewicz