I’ve enjoyed reading your articles. They are always thoughtfully written and heartfelt. And like this site, they function as a reminder that our having different perspectives on history and current events does not detract from the fact that we both seek the same goal – peace and prosperity for our people.

As someone who has been serving with the Israeli military since before Oslo and experienced the pendulum’s swing first-hand, I am concerned about the current trend but not altogether worried. Lives will be lost and ruined on both sides. And it will be a terrible waste. And we have seen this all before.
But eventually we will live in peace. We may both have to wait another 31 years, possibly more, hopefully less, but a Palestinian state living alongside an Israeli state is inevitable.

Moderation is incredibly important. And you define it, after all, very much like the Golden Rule.

Your writing about the “Meek Moderates” really resonated with me. As you probably know, the lack of organized Palestinian moderates is a source of frustration for Israelis. In Israel, there is a vocal right and a vocal left. Jewish Israelis protest what you would consider the immoderate actions of its government and military. And it goes far beyond protesters wearing black every friday at a busy intersection in Jerusalem or the many Jewish protesters fighting their own police while protesting the security fence. There are all of the Israeli professors, artists, media, and NGOs that use their position, influence, and resources to undermine and denounce Israeli policy and focus public attention on human rights issues and settler activity.

And I don’t say this in a oh-israel-is-fabulous way. I don’t tend to agree with the politics, actions, or activities of many of these organizations. I mention this because it is a source of real frustration for me, who sees himself as a moderate, that it seems that there are so few on the other side of the conflict.

Where are their counterparts on the Palestinian side? Where are the people researching the detrimental affects of celebrating suicide bombing on the Palestinian culture or the Palestinian organizations monitoring and publicly listing to international organizations the ways in which the PA fails to meet its political and security committments?

As an Israeli, it is very frustrating that the typical image of the Palestinian public ranges from dancing in the streets after Israeli soldiers are killed, the Farfor type propaganda, and the posters of suicide bombers plastered on city streets. Obviously I don’t expect Palestinians to be all that interested or make decisions based on how I or other Israelis feel, but seeing Palestinians protesting the influx of arms into Gaza from Egypt would make me feel as if we’re a bit closer to a peaceful resolution of this conflict and a true rapprochement.

Also, I am a bit surprised by your equating Qassam rockets with F-16′s. And suicide bombings and extra-judicial killing. Qassam’s and suicide bombers intentionally target civilians. F-16′s and the other methods are employed to kill terrorists (or even if you consider them freedom fighters; they still are not civilians.). Sometimes civilians are killed as a result. Sometimes civilians are killed in the cross fire. I’m not suggesting that this is a good thing. It is unfortunate and tragic for those involved. But it is still very different than shooting off Qassam’s in the hope that you hit a home or a school house. Or attempting to enter a bus full of school children.

And I agree that compromise is the only way to end this conflict. And we’ll get there.

You ended your post saying that we have to try to find a way out of this “hell called the Palestine-Israel conflict.” And we do. But as difficult as things are for the people of Sederot and how difficult it was for the people living in Northern Israel last summer and no matter how frustrated and concerned the people of Israel are about the coming summer and the coming years, it really is not hell in Israel. The country continues to thrive economically, politically, and culturally.

The extremists, unfortunately, do not understand that their strategy has failed miserably. They may make individual Israelis suffer, but the country as a whole moves on without missing a beat. Despite everything that happened last year, the Israeli economy grew at a fast pace. While at the same time, the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza become more chaotic. And the extremists will not recognize that they are, to a great extent, the catalyst for the worsening situation in Gaza and the West Bank — and that they will never be the solution — until Palestinian moderates stand up and loudly state that they want their leaders to change direction.

The best response to anger is no response. The best response to an insult is no response.

Very good advice Ray. I hope more people here would do that, for the sake of healthy discussions at least.

You know what I have also learned. That when people attack, a response is not necessary. When they make claims that are sometimes ridiculous, those claims are better off ignored, also. I learned that at YnetNews.com where I write a column promoting peace and get 50 Talkbacks that basically focus on me claiming I am a terrorist, that I don’t exist because I am a Palestinian, calling my people the worst possible names. The best response to anger is no response. The best response to an insult is no response.

Add that to the list of a good moderate

Ray Hanania

I answered you here, it also applies to this recent posting.