Outburst of horror Blue text = a clickable link. To highlight pictures please click themI find myself compelled to write again today, as I wrote a week or two ago, about what I see and hear reported of the plight of Gaza. I declare at once that I have a one-sided and distant view. While I am terribly sorry that so many Israelis have been killed and kidnapped, I can't help but think that Israeli attitudes and policies over many years have led to this present outburst of horror. Collective punishment is wrongHelen Clark, a past Prime Minister Minister of New Zealand and after that, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been saying during the last few days
An angry Palestinian viewWriting on the Aljzeera website, Marwan Bishara a highly qualified, hugely experienced researcher and journalist on Middle Eastern affairs, offers a severe view of Israel, of its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and of the present war.
'Netanyahu’s arrogance, corruption and callousness are to blame for the country’s political and military failures that led to the October 7 attacks. He thought he could just transform all of historic Palestine into a Greater Land of Israel, by making the occupation of the Palestinian territories permanent and keeping millions of Palestinians in an open-air prison in Gaza and segregated bantustans in the West Bank – all with no repercussions.' I look with hopeClark looks from the West – born a Pakeha in Hamilton, New Zealand. Bishara looks from the East – born a Palestinian in Nazereth, Israel. I, like Clark, am a Pakeha New Zealander, but born in Dunedin not Hamilton. I look from a distance. Yet I look with hope. I hope that Israel will look at their Hebrew Scripures – what Christians call the old testament. Surely Netanyahu, even if he is as arrogant as Bishara says he is, must know Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. He must also know Proverbs 11:17, “The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” Jews are 'people of the book'. I hope they take note of it. If the hope I have is to be fulfilled it has to come from Israel. They have the power. Hamas by comparison is weak. Israel has to make a move of reconciliation. Will they? □ John McInnes Friday 27 October 2023 ##########
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