Thanks to Will Martindale for gifting me this book, a thoroughly illuminating history of the conflicts in the middle east over the last 120 years.
With all that is going on between Israel and the Palestinians, Hamas and all the other myriad players in this complex region and globally this book helps give tremendous context that is immediately relevant today. Jeremey has been the BBC ‘s correspondent for the middle east and lived through practically every conflict since 1989. There can be few people as well positioned to illuminate the topic.
Depressingly but realistically he does not offer solutions, it just seems to me that there are none. It seems we are doomed to an endless cycle of death, destruction and reprisal. This cycle seems to be something that many of the key players seek to perpetuate as they pursue extreme ideologies on all sides despite the death and destruction they wreak on the innocent.
Is it possible for global players, the US, UK, Europe, China and Russia to demand these enemies come together and finally a solution? It seems they have stoked and contributed to these conflicts over many years. There is no one innocent in the leadership of all of those involved both within the middle east and without.
The only hope I see is that one day some truly visionary leaders emerge who are prepared to look past previous hurts and towards a truly peaceful future for their children. The Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk of the middle east. But until those leaders arise, the people who live there vote for them (or demand their leadership in those countries that are not democracies), and the extremists opposed to peace on both sides fail to assassinate or derail the process, I see very little hope for any resolution.
How are we as bystanders, appalled by the loss of life and injustices able to help? I have no answers, other than prayer and the continued media spotlight on the injustices perpetrated by all sides. It truly makes me weep.
Here's something that inspired me... 