Middle East Peace: We cannot afford to do nothing.
Wed 19 Jul 2006Once again, the extremists on both sides have demonstrated that they are masters of provocation and over-reaction. In this conflict, there are no good guys or bad guys, just Perpetrators and Victims.
The blogosphere has an air of despair over the Middle East. Some point out that the peace process is kaput. Some suffer. Most of us gape in horror.
Standard solutions clearly aren’t working; the whole world needs a radical new approach.
Stop asking: Who is to blame?
For starters, we need to stop asking who is to blame for the latest outbreak. The answer to this question will only lead back to the previous outbreak, then to the one before that and so on, past the Six-Day War, past the Holocaust, into antiquity. There is no solution there.
One Lateral Thinking Solution
When Edward de Bono was in Brisbane recently, he offered a radical solution: Let each side vote in each other’s elections. Let Israelis vote in Palestinian elections and let Palestinians vote in Israeli elections. That way, only constructive people would get elected. Extremists on both sides wouldn’t stand a chance.
Admittedly, obstacles to this proposal may be numerous. However, I’ll put it forward as an example of the type of solution that our planet’s leaders need to be exploring.
Who can pull this off?
The world now more than ever needs help from the UN, backed by the European Union, the Arab League, Russia and as many neutral parties as possible. Perhaps it is time to ask even China to help?
OK, I have to say it: “US, Out Now!â€
Obviously, it is time for the US to step back from its role as the world’s policeman. Sadly, George Bush’s presidency has sapped any credibility the US had as a broker of peace. Any solution with overt US military involvement will now be inflammatory.
The US still needs to be involved, but financially, not militarily. It needs to fund the construction of schools, hospitals and infrastructure throughout the Middle East. Its taxpayers might ask “What’s in it for us?†But the benefits of peace in the Middle East will clearly flow to the US, and not just by the tanker-load. Plus, it will be cheaper than the current mismanagement of Iraqi construction projects. Not to mention saving the lives of US servicemen. I saw the 2000 crosses on the beach at Santa Monica last October. Have we hit 3000 yet?
We cannot afford to do nothing
We must explore the radical solutions now! Otherwise this conflict will continue to foment global terrorism. We will then waste all of our planet’s resources on warfare and responses to terrorism, bringing closer the day when our species ceases to exist.
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Update: I’m pleased to see that my comments on the blog of my local newspaper, the Courier-Mail, were picked up and printed in today’s edition.
July 19th, 2006 at 15:02
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the comment on our blog - its nice to meet a fellow Qlder in the blogosphere.
Also, thank you to the pointer to the CM’s blog on the issue. I’ve added my 0.02 and I’m sure Nicky will have something to say as well.
– Nora
July 21st, 2006 at 8:28
Hi Mike
I’m so glad there is some constructive thinking coming out of this. I recall you referring me to lateral thinking before, but I confess I didn’t give it much thought at the time.
You are right, the current course of status quo semi-peace or all out war are not working. We do need some radical new approaches that don’t include bombing children. As much as I prefer the US to be a leader in the world, I agree that our current Administration has made that impossible right now, and I hope that positive leadership can come from somewhere else.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:46
Mike
The 1st barrier to progression in the peace process is the respective militias of Hamas and Hezbollah - until they have been disarmed they will constantly be a threat to Israel and the nations they inhabit. No matter what negotiations and peace settlements Israel negotiates with Palestine and Lebanon, if the Governments are powerless to stop Hamas / Hezbollah attacking Israel, they are bound to fail. Israel in modern times is not an agressor, unless there is provocation. They most definetly don’t follow the Law of Armed Conflict principle of proportionality, which is something they need to change. Israel cannot sit on its hands as the militias of Hamas and Hezbollah ignore cease fire arrangements and peace treaties their governments have made - sooner or later, Israel will strike back.
The UN and international community AND the Arab League need to take the lead in disarming the militias - only the national defence force should be armed and have the right to conduct warfare in the country’s name. Only when this have been achieved can we actually expect progress in the Middle East to be made.
July 27th, 2006 at 12:31
I like the idea of both Israelis and Palestinians voting in each other’s elections - it has it’s attractions but, as you say, I’m not sure how implementing it will go. I agree that more global co-operation is needed but I find that the UN is like a de-clawed cat, mostly incapable of doing anything. It gets bogged down in diplomatic processes to the point where action comes too late to be truly useful. However, in the absence of any other likely global union, the UN it has to be. I would disagree, quite strongly, however, with Ben’s comment that Israel is not an aggressor. Although I’m neither pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli, I feel that historical events and current actions would lend themselves (for me anyway) to a valid interpretation that Israel is just as aggressive as Arabs in these conflicts, if not more so.
July 31st, 2006 at 18:52
I’m not entirely sure if a political solution is going to work, unfortunately. History and religion are two very strong factors in the region, and at loggerheads with common sense.
Now it looks like Syria might get drawn in as well.
July 31st, 2006 at 19:05
Yeah, History (aka the blame game) and Religion (a tool to divide men) are exactly the things that need to be consciously put aside before peace can be discovered. And I agree, it won’t be easy.
It frustrates me that people put History and Religion before the lives of human beings, and before our very survival as a species.