Palestine

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Michael Backman's incisive article, 'Israelis are living high on US

expense account', The Age, January 17, 2009, wonders why there is no

peace in Israel. I wonder about it too. So what is going wrong?

The prophets used to blame Israel's apostasy for their defeats and

occasional exiles. Does today's Israel have any time for the wisdom of

Solomon? Proverbs 16-7 says "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." Obviously that

applies nationally as well.

Backman's reference to the Parsees sect in India is also completely relevant.

Although wealthy, they show goodwill toward their neighbours,

generously assisting the people around them and enjoying peace. A contrast!

Politicians generally seem to support Israel's cause? Why? The fear of being accused of being ‘anti-Semitic’ seems to have been powerful in stifling Western governments’ criticism of Israel and neutralised efforts to resolve the issues.

However, we must distinguish clearly between anti-Semitism, an irrational hostility towards Jews over an event two thousand years ago (being irrational, and unchristian in view of the words of Jesus: ‘Father forgive them’), and an objective criticism of recent and current Israeli policies, which Malcolm Fraser undertook, reasonably and well, in his article (The Age 16/1) 'That Israel's actions foster extremism'.

The problems are complex and must be resolved. With the promising new leadership in America to help turn the tide, we look forward hopefully for the fresh wisdom that can break the deadlock.