Opinions | Editorials
Address the plight of Palestinians
A peace proposition can only be made after ending the suffering of the people
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:41 February 5, 2008
It is naïve to think that a peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis is possible without looking at the entire matter from a holistic perspective. The Palestinians are in an endless state of suffering that has just escalated over time. Any attempt to engage them in a peace proposition should take this aspect into account.
The recent two suicide attacks on Dimona, the first in a year, highlight once again the state of desperation the Palestinians have been trying to overcome. It is a grave mistake to sideline or oversimplify their plight.
"The terror organisations have showed again who they are and what they are. Their goal was and continues to be to kill Israeli citizens in their homes and their schools and in their shopping centres," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel.
But is the issue at hand truly as simple as that? Why should the need for security, peace and prosperity be limited to the Israelis and not include the Palestinians as well?
If Palestinian attacks have been bracketed as acts of terrorism, then how should the Israeli confinement and siege of almost 1.5 million Palestinians be labelled? How could the continuous Israeli incursions and missile bombings against Palestinian areas be justified in terms of their frequency and timing?
There is no question that the recent attacks may not bring about the best of benefits for the Palestinians in terms of improving their living conditions. Yet with the peace process being stalled for seven years and resuming only two months ago, is it surprising that a suicide attack is carried out at this point of time?
There is a serious, ongoing agony the Palestinians are facing on a daily basis. If a true approach to peace is to be sought, it has to address this issue.
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