ATLANTA, USA, Oct 31 (IPS) – Probably the most solemn and terrifying phrases ever uttered are these inscribed over the gateway to Hell in Dante’s Inferno: “Abandon all hope, ye who enter right here!” Hope is important for human survival each as people and as nations.
Surveying the historical past of the seemingly infinite collection of wars and counter-wars between Israel and its foes in Gaza and Lebanon from 1948 till now—a interval of 76 years—evidently all hope for peace has been misplaced. Palestinians, Lebanese, the individuals of Gaza—and sure, the Israelis too—are all residents of this inferno, the infinite Hell of conflict.
Should you pay shut consideration to the weak, mealy-mouthed utterances of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken—the emissary of the equally weak President Joe Biden—you will perceive that the Center East area and subsequently the world is quickly approaching the Ninth Circle of Hell.
Each of them utter meaningless phrases that reveal their lack of awareness at greatest, or at worst their vicious, inhumane complicity.
Now, the most recent, and probably most obscene, third act on this trendy Greek tragedy was performed out October 28 in Israel’s Knesset. Almost 100 of the 120 members of that smart and honorable physique voted to chop the lifeline for thousands and thousands of Palestinians who rely upon the UN’s Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA) for well being care and training.
In addition to irrationally imposing new cruelties—rubbing salt within the wounds of a whole inhabitants of harmless individuals—the Knesset’s resolution constitutes cultural genocide, a vital issue underlying the supreme worldwide crime of Genocide as outlined by the United Nations.
UNRWA’s registry constitutes the first hyperlink thousands and thousands of 1948 Conflict refugees and their descendants must their misplaced properties. Destroying that hyperlink erases a whole individuals from historical past. It obliterates Israel’s “Crime of the Century,” which is the theft of the nation of Palestine.
Is that this the hand of friendship, the “Mild to the Nations” Israel’s founder Ben Gurion promised in 1948? Evaluation the numbers: there are nonetheless 1.2 million registered Palestinian refugees depending on meals help in 68 camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Financial institution, and Gaza. UNRWA companies in Gaza alone embrace 140 well being care facilities and 700 colleges educating 300,000 college students.
Is there hope on this darkened situation? Really, there’s. Solar Tzu’s long-ago Chinese language traditional, The Artwork of Conflict, data the next sardonic, understated remark: “There is no such thing as a instance of an extended conflict benefitting anyone.”
Which signifies that sooner or later individuals must come to their senses, or else generations will move away earlier than their descendants, with new points to take care of, will marvel what the fuss was all about.
However that is sooner or later—maybe the distant future. What about now? Is there any hope? Surprisingly, sure, there’s.
In an interview on al-Jazeera tv on October 25, 2024, after greater than a yr of essentially the most devastating and genocidal conflict on Palestine’s civilian inhabitants, main Palestinian politician and spokesman Mustafa Barghouti, expressed optimism.
He stated that the only optimistic improvement in the course of the longest and most damaging conflict towards Palestine in its historical past is the persevering with dedication of the Palestinian individuals to stay on their land and to withstand efforts to expunge their nationwide id, as is their proper.
In Arabic it’s referred to as Sumud, “steadfastness,” loosely translated as “Endurance.” Hope survives. The place there’s life, there’s hope.
James E. Jennings is President of Conscience Worldwide, a world help group that has responded to wars in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Gaza since 1991.
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