From here:
Archbishop of Canterbury calls on leaders in Israel and Gaza to immediately end the violence, and urges Anglican churches both to pray and offer support to all victims of the conflict.
[…..]
“While humanitarian relief for those civilians most affected is a priority, especially women and children, we must also recognise that this conflict underlines the importance of renewing a commitment to political dialogue in the wider search for peace and security for both Israeli and Palestinian. The destructive cycle of violence has caused untold suffering and threatens the security of all.
There is no cycle of violence. Hamas does not fire rockets into Israel because Israel is attacking Hamas. It fires rockets into Israel not because of what Israel does or does not do, but because of what it is – a country filled with Jews, a people it hates and is determined to exterminate. The only way the violence will end is if Israel wins – decisively.
“For all sides to persist with their current strategy, be it threatening security by the indiscriminate firing of rockets at civilian areas or aerial bombing which increasingly fails to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, is self-defeating.
Not at all: the self-defeating option is for Israel to quit before the job is completed.
The road to reconciliation is hard, but ultimately the only route to security.
How can you reconcile with an organisation whose sole aim in this life and the next is to eradicate your entire race?
All this highlights the need for underlying issues to be addressed, whether the ongoing terror threat to Israel or the expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The failure to find constructive paths to peace poses a threat to the future of all the peoples of the region.
Just like the constructive path to peace Neville Chamberlain found in 1938:
“We, the German Führer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for two countries and for Europe.
[….]
“My good friends this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace in our time.”
You’re so right about the “reconciliation” … and it raises questions about Abp Welby’s “reconciliation” strategy in the C of E … might it just mean one side slowly conceding to the other …? Er, which side, do we think, might in the end have to do the conceding …?
However, “The only way the violence will end is if Israel wins – decisively”; it could end (I hope not) by Hamas, backed by the West, destroying Israel, no doubt to the jubilation of many …
Peace in our time?
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matt.24:36
Stay tuned.
The only way violence will end is if and when Hamas makes a reliable decision to stop sending rockets into Israel. That was made clear by Israel and Hamas has stated quite clearly they will not and they continue to send the rockets from locations where residents are located. This shows there total rejection of any reasonable resolution to the conflict.
“Anti-Semitism Is Rising Again In Britain – These Are The Words That Could Stop It.”,
Melanie Philips, ‘The Spectator’, August 2, 2014, edition. (also at ‘Anglican Mainstream’)
Let me see if I understand this correctly…
Hamas launches rockets with little or no aiming deliberately into residential areas of Israel. In the process Hamas kills women and children (which Welby seems to be concerned about) and also men (which Welby seems to not care about). Israel responds by trying to locate and destroy the rockets that Hamas uses. Hamas hides these rockets in hospitals, schools, etc., thereby using civilians (the women and children that Welby worries about and also the men that Welby has forgotten) as human shields. Israel gives advance warning that the rockets are going to be destroyed and advises the civilians to get out of the way. Some civilians do not heed the warning. Some civilians are killed.
And that some civilians are killed is entirely the fault and blame of Israel.
I have to wonder what the idiots who blame Israel are going to say and do when the day comes that Hamas starts targeting us here in Canada.
I think people are mostly upset that “some civilians” actually means more than 1,400 people. Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, that’s a pretty shocking figure, and a normal Christian should feel some sort of pang when confronting it.
Both sides are led by intractable individuals. The Hamas leadership is reprehensible. The Netanyahu government, unfortunately if one supports Israel, is also ideologically blinkered.
Since when is defending oneself from those who commit genocide against you being “ideologically blinkered”?
The government of Israel has all along stated that when the attacks against the Israeli people stops that the measures it has taken to defend those people will also stop. Measure such as walls and shipping blockades, which are peaceful ways. Sadly, even these peaceful ways have not stopped the hate motivated attacks by Hamas.
Lets not mince words here. It is Hamas that is completely and solely in the wrong. Israel, whether it be the government or the people of that country, are simply defending themselves. And defending oneself from those that actively try to kill you IS a basic human right.
I can’t believe you’re making me look like I’m somehow anti-Israel. 😀
Two things.
One: the deaths of the three kidnapped Israeli youngsters, which precipitated this crisis, was not in fact an official Hamas operation. This has been established and admitted by the Israeli government. But “rogue terrorist cell that shares some of Hamas’ philosophy kidnaps three Israeli youths” doesn’t ring quite as solidly on the news.
Two: before this crisis, Netanyahu’s coalition was on the ropes, since Yesh-Atid, the other big partner in the coalition, was about to bring down the government to oppose other settlements being built. This crisis saved Netanyahu’s arse. Netanyahu is not interested in peace. Ariel Sharon was interested in peace. I won’t dispute that Hamas solidly screwed up the aftermath of the Gaza withdrawal of 2004-2005, but then we all know that Hamas are nuts.
I fully recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself. I fully recognise that Hamas are a crazy bunch who don’t actually care about your regular Palestinian family. I fully recognise that when you fire rockets from densely populated areas, and you don’t encourage and help civilians to get out and run somewhere safer, civilians are going to be killed. I don’t actually know how peace could be brought to the region. You seem to have a well tought-out, surefire plan, however, and I encourage you to submit it to Netanyahu and Hamas.
But we are still talking about more than 1,400 people killed, many of them children, and I cannot for a moment believe you’re telling me that your Christian heart doesn’t bleed when you think about that.
Over 1400 people killed were human beings. We should really pray and work for peace in the Holy Land.