Civilized world must stand up for peaceful solution
The new war in the Middle East will have no victors or vanquished. This is history repeating itself.
At least three times in the past decade, we have seen this situation - innocent lives lost, buildings and infrastructure destroyed, innocent children, women and men dying. Yet, the net result is that these ravages of war repeat like a cyclic storm every few years.
It is time the civilized world stands up for a just, long-term peaceful solution.
Hamas is not Palestine. While many consider it a force of resistance to occupation, its tactics have caused much suffering for the civilian population and have not advanced the cause of Palestinian statehood.
The result of 2.3 million people herded like cattle in an area roughly the size of greater Washington, D.C., has caused despair which is hard for the rest of the independent world to imagine. This current situation provides an opportunity for other countries to exploit the situation for geopolitical advantage.
While Hamas talks about the destruction of Israel rather than the possibility of a negotiated solution, the Israeli government continuously encourages settlements and has not given indications that it will allow the same rights for a Palestinian homeland as envisaged in the Oslo Agreement negotiated by the U.S.
The U.S. has an official policy of a two-state solution backed by at least three previous administrations, but it has not been successful in enforcing the Oslo Agreement that gives the Palestinians an independent state alongside a strong Israel with an ability to defend itself.
The immediate basic needs for food, water, etc., of the affected civilian population need to be addressed. This is best achieved with a cease-fire agreement negotiated by neighboring states Pushing the large population out of the area will result in a flood of refugees that will keep the conflict alive for many years to come and will not lead to equitable peace in the area.
The Middle East has been blessed with great resources and potential for development. A peaceful region which can result in prosperity for people living in the area and long-term peace and harmony is not just something of dreams; it can be realized if the U.S. and the world work earnestly toward creating a state of Palestine alongside Israel. Implementing the policy will be good for the region and also for the world.
The money spent on the war machine can be directed toward helping humanity, fighting global warming and eliminating poverty and suffering. Such an outcome will be possible through goodwill from both sides.
As a first step, both sides should do the utmost to prevent loss of life and hardship to the innocent civilians in the region and implement previous agreements reached in good faith.
• Vaseem Iftekhar, of Hawthorn Woods, is a retired senior executive in pharmaceutical research and development. He is a member of the Daily Herald's Editorial Board advisory Sounding Board.