The Risks of Continued Conflict in the Middle East: A Call for Peace

With the Middle East ramping up for a major conflict questions arise.  Israel is finally responding to an external threat that has been in place since its country’s inception.  None of the issues are new.  

How a nation reacts to adversaries can either escalate or deescalate the climate that we live in.  We either enter a lifetime  of animosity or we try to mediate our way through the politics of the time.

I wholeheartedly believe that Israel has the right to defend itself, and yet, just like the people of Israel, I question the continuation of this attack, and the further escalation of the war into Lebanon.

Granted that Hezbollah has been lobbing rockets across the border along with Hamas.  They are most certainly aiding Hamas.  Israel’s response is righteous, but most certainly hawkish. 

It seems to be time to negotiate.  Continuing and expanding the war in the Middle East may have major consequences.  For instance, how many Arab countries might join Lebanon?  Hezbollah can now hit major cities inside Israel, putting the citizens of the country at imminent risk.

So it is with a divided heart that I watch the Middle East conflict. I believe Israel is being led down the incorrect path to more violence and destruction, with a leader who probably believes he is doing God’s will.  However,  Netanyahu is presenting himself to the world as a sadistic, loose canon, killing scores of women and children, shooting reporters, his own hostages, and creating a climate for disease and starvation.

On the other hand, I have serious issues with the Arab countries.  Palestinians are one of their own whether they believe it or not.  Keeping out little children from their countries over ideological dogma is reprehensible and thoroughly disgusting.

I truly believe Israel has the right to exist and defend itself.  I understand that they are finally fed up with the constant attacks at their borders done by both Gaza and Lebanon, or at least by their silence when the attacks happen.  However there are times to raise the olive branch and start to sit down to serious negotiations, and this seems to be that time.